The “secret” (Death of the seed) In the parable of the leaven and the dough, Jesus uses the reaction between the two as an example of how fruit production is brought forth by the believer. A woman “hid” yeast in a ball of dough and soon a mystical story was told. What was that story? Somebody had done something that caused a mystical, noticeable change. The idea is that you could see the results. Bear in mind that this analogy is linked to the idea of sowing and reaping by virtue of that very idea being found in Mark chapter four where Jesus in his doctrine is talking about seeds and ground, and candles under bushels. Luke 12 1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the LEAVEN of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. Can you see how that this scripture ties the leaven and the dough parable with Mark chapter four? Leaven (hypocrisy) was hidden in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees much like yeast in dough. The subsequent results are covered in terminology that’s very similar to Mark chapter four. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Marks account says “for there is nothing hid that shall not be manifest, neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad”. What’s Jesus saying? Hypocrisy was played out in them in living color. It’s like a radio station playing music in the background. Everybody could hear the music on a subconscious level but they-the scribes and Pharisees-were too sly to ever get caught out in the open. And yet they were outed. Everybody KNEW that they were hypocrites. Though, nobody ever said anything about it due to fear. They couldn’t help but to manifest the contents of their hearts in the presence of people. Truly their lights were shinning. BUT SHINNING WHAT? Hypocrisy. Jesus said “take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”… Ok, enough with all of the metaphoric talk. Why would this be? What is the underlying principle at work here that makes this all work? Allow me to share with you what I think is at play here. I think that if you see it in a certain light then the light will be turned on indeed, and the idea of “secrecy” and “hiddenness” or as one person called it “crypticness” will be dispelled. Look at these synonymous terms used by Jesus that seem to be the catalyst or activator of what is a work here. Hid Concealed Kept secret Covered Planted BURIED Did you notice the last one? BURIED? Does that get you thinking? I once noticed when looking at these words in a concordance, the similarity between these words and DEATH or the dying process. Why death? For instance the expression “nothing kept secret”. Do you know what the meaning of the word secret is (found in this context)? It comes from the word for CRYPT, a cellar. As in tomb, burying place, vault, secret chamber for housing something that is dead. But it’s a “secret” place. All right, what does that have to do with anything? Do you remember doubting Thomas? Did you know that he too wrote a gospel? Now, I’m not either endorsing or pooh-poohing it, he was one of the twelve, and he was there in the upper room when the Holy Spirit was given, but I’d probably choose the latter (dude really was backwards). But get this. He said: “THERE IS NOTHING BURIED THAT WILL NOT BE RAISED”. WOW, I think that’s a bombshell. That confirms what is really being said. But still how does that apply to us? Jesus said: John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Paul said: 1 Corinthians 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: A lot of Christians are TRYING to get things to come to pass in their lives. THAT’S WHERE WE ARE GOING WRONG! Can you see that when we pray for something and receive the word of his promise, that we must allow it to DIE? To me that means that I have to resign to the fact that it’s is impossible for me to bring it to pass. I must cast the care of it over on God. I must enter into the rest that Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 refer to. We must “cease from our own works as God did from his”. And it’s a PERCEPTION. If you perceive that you have to do something on your part other then praying and invoking God, than your perception is one of working and not of resting I.E. Dying to the works of the flesh, as we’re supposed to do. Subsequently, the seed never dies, and we are locked in a state of forever barren. Now look at the idea of “hiding” something. A person who is hiding something IS NOT TRYING TO GET IT TO COME TO PASS. A person who is “keeping something secret” (within his heart) is not TRYING to reveal it. With the idea of the death of the seed in mind we can see that the idea of “hiding” or “covering” something up isn’t a tongue in cheek expression. It’s not any kind of reverse psychology. It’s literally dropping that thing into the hands of God and leaving it with him. Look at the two examples given in scripture that support this idea of killing the seed for the sake of invoking growth. Abraham’s son Isaac was around twenty years old when God ordered him to offer his son as a sacrifice. Why on earth would God demand such a thing? Abraham was so faithful and diligent to believe God for this miracle child and yet God demanded that he offer him as a sacrifice? I submit that there is magic when a person resigns to something being impossible to them. Some will say “but with God all things are possible”. Yes but the idea of killing something in order for it to grow is Gods idea. Is it not found in nature? Is it not found all around us? Everything that we see in the botanical kingdom has come forth from a seed that died and was buried. And yet this idea of the death of something is not found in our understanding of faith. The other example is that of Jesus. He lived a perfect life as the “Word” of God and yet he deemed it necessary to play out the death of the seed scenario so that we could be the fruit of his faith. Notice where he leaves the earth-in the tomb. Some will say “but he was raised from the dead”. Yes I believe that too. However, it requires faith to believe that. The only ones who ever saw Jesus thereafter were the true believers. Might identifying with Jesus’ life, place us in the tomb right along with him? He died fOR us you know. The beautiful thing about it is how we can go on a journey with the son of God and be dropped off right along with him in his burial chamber (secret place). We can become “hidden” in him. But remember “there is nothing hid that will not be manifest”. “There is nothing buried that will not be raised”. Can you see how that all of the teachings of the kingdom have overtones to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus? All of this and we don’t even have to literally die! Let me put this in common vernacular without using kingdom terms. Jesus in his sinless life was in communication with the father all of his life. Jesus by the spirit of wisdom considered the seed. He noticed that when it dies and is covered by soil, it invokes a mystical response from the spirit of resurrection. Mother Nature-so to speak, monitors all seeds that die, are carried by the wind and deposited in the earth. In sequence he goes to work to raise it from the dead. GOD ALMIGHTY, MOTHER NATURE, THE SPIRIT OF RESSURECTION IS A LOVE SLAVE TO SOMETHING THAT IS DEAD AND BURIED. HE CAN’T RESIST RAISING IT TO LIFE! But get this. The thing that makes a seed grow is the fact that it’s a recipient of a promise given to it in Genesis. That promise being, “when you are dead and buried, I will raise you up” (my paraphrasing). BUT IT’S THE WORD OF HIS PROMISE THAT’S BEING PERFORMED. Jesus knew that you don’t need a piece of cellulosic material to invoke a response from the spirit of Mother Nature (resurrection life). In other words you can dupe the spirit of eternal life to raise you up if you will but mimic a seed that’s dead and buried. Can you see how it’s a miracle when a seed which has been in a pyramid for thousands of years is planted, and yet springs to life? IT’S IMPOSSIBLE THAT THAT HAPPENED! And yet it does everyday! A seed is an impossibility made possible. MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY! But you must know how to illicit a response from this mystical being-the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Now, the idea of being baptized into his death makes sense:) (Big smile). Romans chapter 6 says: 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Does that sound familiar? 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Can you see it? In Christ we are planted in the earth with him. We are mimicking the idea of a planted seed. Then, as supernaturally as a seed is moved upon by the spirit of Mother Nature-GOD, and raised from the dead, WE ARE TOO! Somebody might say “yeah, but I’ve done all of that and God still leaves me in the cesspool”. Have you hid your candle? WHAT? Jesus said in Mark chapter 4: 21And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. Have you proactively RESISTED works of the flesh? Strivings? Busy work? “Acting your faith” (as holy as this sounds it’s not scriptural, all that it is, is carrying the care. The one scripture that refers to the actions of faith refers to helping a hungry indigent person vs. saying “be thou clothed and fed”. Give em some money!). Have you become the candle hidden under the bushel basket of the enclosed prayer closet? Notice that Jesus said bed. “Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel or under a BED”? Why, a bed? A BED IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REST ON. YOU REST ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE HIDDEN CANDLE, HENCE CANDLE UNDER A BED. It all takes place in the darkness of your bedroom-that’s what was in Jesus’ mind when he spoke these things. Then, you rest in humbleness I.E. DYING to attempts to bring it to pass. If you pray for financial help, don’t go out and buy a lottery ticket because God is so stupid that he needs your help. Do you get it? When you pray for the Holy Spirit, resist this garbage “take one word and go with it” that\'s just you. You’re not even allowing your faith to grow. Trust me when the time of harvest comes you’ll know it. The Holy Spirit will \"MANIFEST\". David said “he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty”. Do you want to abide there too? Then learn the secret of hiding your candle. God is well able to remove the bushel and call you out into the light and that’s what we’re looking for:) God Bless and “tell no man”.