The Parable of the Dragnet [Matthew 13]

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

RECAP FROM LAST WEEK:

• We often don’t like direct confrontation – parables go thru the back door.

• WHY DID HE USE PARABLES? He used them TO AWAKEN

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” EPHESIANS 5:14

“Have you understood all these things?”

52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

• Mighty works are often attached to belief – and distress and confusion are often attached to unbelief.

Belief: an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.

Faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

It appears that Unbelief prevents God from working in some areas.

TRUTH Must Be Acted Upon

Belief and faith are REVEALED through attitude and actions

*Scriptures from here on out are from the ESV

TRUTH #1: Belief must be watered in order for it to grow: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

TRUTH #2: Belief must hear the correct voice in order to grow…it must be planted in the correct soil: Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

TRUTH #3: Belief relies totally on God even when we don’t “feel” like it: Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

TRUTH #4: Fear is the enemy of belief: Mark 5:36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

TRUTH #5: Unbelief does not please God: Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

TRUTH #6: Belief grows in adversity: Psalm 91:1-16 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, …

TRUTH #7:

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Closing: worship and prayer increase our faith – don’t just look or listen to the words, but internalize them.

We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.

― Oswald Chambers​​