MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM ©
by Steven Lambert, ThD
SAMPLE CHAPTER:
Chapter Six
Those Like Rocky Ground
Mark 4:5,6,16,17: This portion of Jesus' parable concerns the second category of hearers, who Jesus allegorically described as "rocky ground." He indicated that the Word was not fruitful in the lives of these hearers because their hearts were like "rocky ground." |
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Next to the seed itself, the most important element in agriculture is the soil. The soil is what the seed is actually implanted in. It is the incubator, or "womb," if you will, in which the seed undergoes its gradual metamorphosis unto life. There are two factors regarding the condition of the soil that are crucial to successful crop production. The first one is the fertility and condition of the soil, and the other is the depth of the soil. There must be sufficient depth of soil to foster the development of a root system adequate to sustain the crop all the way through its development to full maturity. Otherwise, the crop will die before reaching maturity and fruition.
Jesus revealed in verse five of our text that not enough depth of soil was precisely the problem in the case of this category of hearers. Because the ground was "rocky ground" "it did not have much soil." It did have some soil, enough to receive the seed implanted, but not enough to foster the development of a root system adequate to sustain the proper growth of the plant unto full maturity.
The root system of a plant is its "umbilical cord." The plant is wholly dependent upon the root system to supply vital nutrients it absorbs from within the earth. It can only grow proportionate to the extensiveness and effectiveness of the roots. The deeper and broader the roots extend, the more water and nutrients it can supply to the plant. The more water and nutrient it supplies, the more developed and fruitful will be the plant.
Moreover, it is during the hot, arid summer months, when the sun's rays are at their peak intensity, that the plant's dependence on the root system is at its maximum. Water in the surface soil soon diminishes. The root system must then draw water from deep within the ground to keep the plant from being scorched.
But, this ground was "rocky ground." The soil was shallow because of rocks underneath. Therefore, the crop "had no root," Jesus said (v. 6). Thus, "after the sun had risen, it was scorched." It was scorched because there was not an adequate root system to supply the plant with sufficient water to survive the intense heat of the sun. Consequently, "it withered away" before it could grow to the fruit-bearing stage of full maturity.
Jesus indicated in verse five that there was some initial growth, however, prior to it withering away: "and immediately it sprang up." There was some growth, but in the end it proved to be futile, since the plant subsequently withered away prior to maturing to the stage in which it could bear fruit.
The Explanation
When Jesus began to explain this portion of the parable to His disciples, He said this whole scenario was representative of people on whom the seed of the Word of God is sown whose hearts are like "rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy." In others words, their initial response to the Word was to receive it joyfully, which seems good. However, what was not readily visible was the fact that their hearts were still full of rocks, which would eventually be their downfall.
What did the rock represent? Rock is characteristically hard and unyielding. Thus, it symbolizes hardened, unyielding disobedience of the Word. Being likened unto "rocky ground," indicated that there was still a lot of the "heart of stone" (Ezk. 36:26) remaining in these hearers' lives, which represents disobedience to God and resistance of His Word.
In contrast to the rock, the soil, with its pliant and yielding nature, represents acceptance and obedience of the Word. Jesus gave a clue to that in His description of the last category of hearers, who He likened unto "good soil" because they accepted the Word when they heard it and thus bore fruit, "thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold" (Mk. 4:20).
Further evidence that the soil represents acceptance of the seed of the Word is found in a passage alluded to before: "receive the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls" (Jas. 1:21). As mentioned before, it is the soil that receives the seed implanted. To receive something is to accept it.
The shallow layer of top soil these people had, therefore, represented a superficial acceptance of the Word. They had enough initial acceptance of the Word to "receive the Word implanted," and thus to be saved. The initial growth Jesus described by saying, "and immediately it sprang up," was further evidence that these people were saved and had begun Eternal Life.
This did favorably distinguish this second category of hearers from the first, in that the first category rejected the Word entirely when they heard it. Thus, they remained unsaved, "beside the road" of Eternal Life. The "rocky grounders" did receive the seed implanted, and were saved. Then, as the Life cycle progressed, the seed began to undergo its metamorphosis unto life. Their root system began to grow and extend downward as the Word says is necessary: "Let your roots grow down into Him (Jesus) and draw up nourishment from Him" (Col. 2:7, L.B.). But, as the roots grew deeper, they soon reached the rock which lay hidden beneath the surface soil. The rock obstructed the root, preventing it from extending any further. So, then, when the roots could grow no deeper, the stalk of the plant began to grow upward above the ground: "and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil."
But, the underdeveloped root system could not supply ample water and nutrient for the plant to endure against the elements and continue growing unto maturity. Soon it withered and died.
What did all this mean?
Insufficient Repentance
Allegorically, what all this that Jesus was saying here meant was that these people had not made a complete repentance in their lives and thereby removed all of the rocks of sin that were present deep within their soul, hidden beneath the superficial layer of soil, which we established typified repentance. Rather, their repentance was only superficial and insufficient to allow the root system to extend as deep as was necessary for the plant to survive the scorching heat of the sun. Thus, "after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away."
Now these "rocky grounders" obviously did do some repenting, as evidenced by the fact that they at least had sufficient topsoil in which to "receive the Word implanted" (Jas. 1:21), which certainly was good and commendable as a first step. However, the problem was that their repentance was only that superficial, and not deep enough. The reason Jesus described these people as being like "rocky ground" is that even though they did have some top- soil, beneath that superficial layer of soil there still remained rocks of rebellion and sin and disobedience of God's Word and general revealed Will. Hence, Jesus was indicating here that this category of believers only repented of the conspicuous "surface sins," but not of the attitudinal sins that lay deeper within their inner-being and which were not so readily visible to others.
First Word of the Gospel
Repentance is an absolute imperative and the initial prerequisite of true salvation and complete sanctification. It is the very foundation of the Gospel, as this phrase in Hebrews 6:1 indicates: "...a foundation of repentance...." In other words, "repent" is the first word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, it was the first word of the Gospel which John The Baptist preached: "Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, `Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Mat. 3:1,2).
It was the first word of the Gospel that Jesus preached: "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Mat. 4:17). In fact, Jesus bluntly and explicitly preached that everyone must repent or they would all perish: "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3,5).
"Repent" was also the first word and essence of the Gospel preached by the original twelve Apostles of the Lamb who Jesus personally trained, commissioned, and sent out: "And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs....And they went out and preached that men should repent" (Mk. 6:7-12).
After the same manner, Jesus also commissioned the entire Church to preach that people must repent in order to receive forgiveness of their sins unto salvation:
...and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." (Lk. 24:46,47)
The Apostle Peter forthrightly proclaimed in his now infamous first sermon after his own falling
away and subsequent restoration and having been empowered from on High by means of the
promised Immersion in the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that repentance is the initial
required response to the true Gospel of Christ, and a mandatory prerequisite for whosoever
desires to receive forgiveness of sins and the infilling of, as well as the Immersion in, the Holy
Spirit:
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37,38)
Peter also declared that a person must be willing to fully repent of all acts and attitudes of sin and
to return to God in order to truly receive remission of the guilt and penalty of sin, and receive
Jesus into his heart:
Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you. (Acts 3:19,20)
There simply is no salvation without repentance. Repentance is the Divine imperative to
receiving Eternal Life:
And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to (Eternal) life." (Acts 11:18)
What Then Is Repentance?
Now if all this concerning repentance is so, and it is, then it certainly is imperative that we all have a thorough and accurate understanding of what repentance is. The word "repent" literally means to have a change of mind which results in a resolute decision to turn from going in one direction, turn around, and go in the opposite direction. Repentance is not merely an intention, or a desire, or an emotion, but rather an act. As it has been said: "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions." And, so often, people somehow genuinely believe they should be judged based on their intentions, though they judge others on the basis their deeds. But, repentance is not what you intend to do; it is not real repentance until you have done it.
True repentance is not just some determinate resolution, like those made by people of the world at New Years. Neither is it mere reformation, that is, "turning over a new leaf," as people often resolve. Such self-willed resolves and outward reformation, even if successful, can never bring anyone into fellowship and rightstanding with God. True repentance, instead, is the act of turning away from every form and appearance of evil and turning unto God, not by the might and power of self-will and self- discipline, but by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:6). It means to turn around from following after "the course of this world" (Eph. 2:2), in order to follow after the course of Eternal Life. True repentance is the act of turning away from sin and self, and turning unto God in complete surrender and subjection of one's entire being spirit, soul, and body unto God and His Word unto the accomplishment of His Will via His Ways.
Repentance is not remorse. Repentance and remorse are not synonymous, though many people think they are. Remorse, no matter how intense and sincere, is only an emotion. True repentance, on the other hand, is not merely an emotion, or a feeling, but a deliberate, decisive, and definite deed. Remorse is something you feel; repentance is something you do.
Now this is not to say, however, that remorse does not serve any purpose. On the contrary, remorse is a powerful motivating force of the conscience of man which even in the natural keeps those who are guided by a basic sense of propriety and decency from engaging in patently improper and injurious behavior. However, simply feeling remorseful does not itself constitute true repentance. Many people feel remorseful for misdeeds and sin they have committed, but that remorse does not always cause them to repent and cease from engaging in that wrongful conduct.
Moreover, there is a genuine remorse, a "godly sorrow," which is "according to the will of God,"
which is the working of the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sin, and which is a precursor
and motivation unto true and effectual repentance. If those who are under that conviction and
"godly sorrow" of the Holy Spirit will but yield to it, it will lead them to true repentance without
remorse, which in turn leads to true salvation:
For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it for I see that the letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful according to the will of God....For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret (remorse), leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this Godly sorrow has produced in you....(2 Cor. 7:8-11).
Superficial Repentance
As alluded to earlier, to their credit, these "rocky grounders" apparently did at least comply with the requirements of the Gospel to the extent of effecting some superficial repentance, whether acquiescently or enthusiastically. We know this based on Jesus description of this category of hearers' eventual course. In verse five of the text, He said those who were like "rocky ground...did not have much soil," and that they "had no depth of soil." He did not say they didn't have any soil, only that they did not have much and that what they did have had "no depth." Indeed, they did have enough soil, which we established symbolized acceptance of and compliance with the Word of God, to initially receive the seed of the Word of God implanted (Jas. 1:21), for Jesus said "when they hear the word, (they) immediately receive it with joy" (Mk. 4:16).
Moreover, because the Word of God is the ever-living and abiding "incorruptible seed" (1 Pet. 1:23-25) which lives forever and cannot cease to live, and which is "constantly bearing fruit and increasing" (Col. 1:6), it did spring up, according to what Jesus said, "and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil" (Mk. 4:5), even though the soil of these hearers in which the seed of the Word was implanted was shallow and had no depth. But, this testifies more of the efficacy and virility of the Word of God than it does of anything meritorious in the receivers.
Jesus was saying allegorically here that there was a certain amount of initial spiritual development of the stalk of the plant above the ground, which gave the false and deceptive appearance of legitimacy and normalcy, and that it would in time develop and bear fruit. However, ultimately, that would all prove to be untrue, because "after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away" before it could fully develop to the fruit-bearing stage of full maturity and bear forth fruit. As is always the case, Jesus chose carefully and deliberately each word He spoke in this parable. Thus, by saying, "immediately it sprang up," He was subtly hinting about these "plants" growing in "God's field" (1 Cor. 3:9) what every farmer or even amateur gardener knows when a plant springs up faster than normal, that is not a good, but a very ominous sign. It is an indication that something is wrong with the development of that plant, because the initial and most important part of the development of any plant is the development of its root system, which is its downward and invisible development. Whereas, the upward and visible development of the plant, which occurs above the ground must only take place after an adequate root system has developed.
As we have already firmly established, the superficial layer of soil within these hearers' hearts, into which the seed of the Word was implanted, represented superficial repentance. Beneath this superficial layer of top-soil, there still remained rocks of disobedience and sin which they had not removed. These rocks of unyieldedness to God and the principles of His Kingdom were irrefutable evidence that their repentance was only superficial. The primary point Jesus was emphasizing with regard to these "rocky grounders" was that as zealous as they may appear to be at first, they would eventually fall away from the faith, and the primary cause of their eventual apostasy was that their repentance was only superficial.
Unfortunately, there are many people who are of this ilk which Jesus described as "those with rocky ground," who have no depth of repentance. They are willing to repent of the outward, "surface sins," such as smoking, drinking, and cursing, and some of this category are even willing to go as far as to repent of some of the more obvious and conspicuous sins of the flesh such as immorality, impurity, sensuality, carousing (partying), and the like, which is all well and good. But, there is more to the complete repentance which God desires of believers. He wants and even requires more than mere superficial repentance. As King David wrote in repentance and contrition after finally coming to his right senses and coming under conviction concerning his sin, God desires (and what He desires, He requires) uprightness and integrity in our heart: "thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom" (Ps. 51:6)
Inward Repentance
You see, all sin is preeminently of the heart, the inward man, the "innermost being" and "hidden part" as David referred to it. Sin can be aptly defined as inward attitudes of rebellion which are expressed in outward deeds. Sin is rebellion against God's Laws. It is disobedience of God's Word. Moreover, all sin, whether it exists in the form of inward attitudes or whether it has found expression in outward deeds, causes a breach in fellowship with God, and spiritually defiles the offender.
But, the point that must be emphasized is that before sin finds expression in outward deeds, it
first begins in the heart in the form of a rebellious attitude. And, it is actually these inward
attitudes of rebellion that defile a person spiritually, whether or not they are ever expressed in
outward speech and deeds, as Jesus Himself revealed in the following passage:
But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man. (Mat. 15:18-20a)
"The things" which Jesus described in this passage are inward attitudes of the heart. He said it was these attitudes in the "innermost being" that actually spiritually defile a person. His point here was that it is not really the expression of these iniquities in outward speech and deeds that defile people spiritually, but rather the inward rebellious attitudes from which they are generated.
It is from these inward attitudes of rebellion that we all must repent in order to make a complete surrender unto God. We must go beyond superficial repentance to inward repentance, turning away not only from the obvious and conspicuous sins of commission, but also from the inward attitudes of sin in our "hidden part," which though they are not always as readily visible to the eyes of men, they are always plainly visible to God. While Abraham Lincoln's famous quip may be true "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all of the time" the fact of the matter remains we cannot fool God at all, anytime. He sees it all, for "there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13).
Pure Hearts
Does God really require inward as well as outward repentance?
The answer is: Yes, He does. As already mentioned, David said to God, "Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being" (Ps. 51:6). The "innermost being" of a person is his spirit, or heart. The Triune God created Man in His own Image as a tripartite being, that is, consisting of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. Like God, Man was created preeminently a spirit- being; we are a spirit, we have a soul (mind, will, and emotions), and we live or exist in a physical body. That is what we all are. Man's spirit is his "innermost being," or what is also called his heart, which does not refer to the anatomical organ inside our chest that pumps our blood. The words "spirit" and "heart" are used interchangeably in the Bible.
When the totality of Scripture is considered, it becomes unmistakably clear and irrefutable that
God does indeed desire and even require that believers have pure hearts, having repented of both
inward and outward sin. Indeed, even though such a statement is a definite departure from
modern liberal theology, I will nevertheless even go so far as to state categorically that having a
heart purified by the shed blood of the Lamb and the miraculous, supernatural sanctifying power
of the Holy Spirit is a requirement for being granted entrance into the Portals of Heaven:
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord (Heaven)? And who may stand in His holy place (Heaven)? He who has clean hands (outward deeds) and a pure heart.... (Ps. 24:3,4)
The Apostle Paul summarized the goal of the instruction of the entire New Testament as: "love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). Furthermore, he also exhorted:
Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things (unrighteous and lawless conduct he had delineated), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Tim. 2:21,22)
Jesus Himself taught that the "pure in heart" were blessed and were the ones that would "see God" (Mat. 5:8).
James commanded, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners," speaking of repentance of sinful outward deeds, and "purify your hearts, you double-minded," speaking of inward repentance (Jas 4:8).
God's Part: Sanctification
Repentance is our part of the bargain, so to speak. God requires that we turn away from serving Satan to serve Him, that we turn away from sin unto purity and holiness. But as we do that, there is another process that the Holy Spirit begins to effect in the lives of believers. That process is called "sanctification." Simply defined, sanctification, as the literal meaning of the Greek word so translated connotes, is the process of being made holy. It is the working of the Holy Spirit to bring the believer into obedience of Jesus Christ: "...by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood" (1 Pet. 1:2).
No one has the power or ability to sanctify himself, even by the most determinate and willful efforts. Sanctification is not self-discipline, though self-discipline is essential and necessary. Sanctification, however, is effected solely through the residency of the Life of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, in the heart and life of the believer:
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption, that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:30,31)
Sanctification and its fruit, holiness, is a mandatory prerequisite for entrance into Heaven and eternal fellowship with God: "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification ("holiness," KJV) without which no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).
Some people balk at the premise that God requires holiness of believers. Nevertheless, holy
behavior most certainly is a requisite for true Born Again children of God:
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be Holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "you shall be Holy, for I am Holy." (1 Pet. 1:14-16)
God is a Holy God. The Divine Nature, or the Holy Spirit, consists of pristine and perfect Holiness. That's the reason the Spirit of God is called "the Holy Spirit." In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul alluded to the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of Holiness" (Rom. 1:4). When a person is Born Again, the spiritual transaction that takes place is that that person's heart is actually "regenerated," which is to say their human spirit is brought back to life from languishing in spiritual death (see Eph. 2:1). What effects this miraculous transaction is the infusion of the Life of God, the Divine Nature, into the human spirit.
Thus, at the rebirth, we are, as we say, "filled with the Spirit." The Spirit with which we are filled is the Holy Spirit, or the "Spirit of Holiness." In other words, when we are born again, our Spirit is impregnated with "the Spirit of Holiness." The indwelling of the Spirit of Holiness within our hearts enables us to manifest the holiness of the Divine Nature in our outward "behavior," as Peter indicated. Albeit, because the carnal nature is not eradicated, or removed, but co-exists contemporaneously within us as well, we are not able to express or live out the holiness of God with the same absolute perfection as it exists in the Divine Nature. Nevertheless, the more we "walk by the Spirit," the less we "carry out the desires of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).
Conversely, those who have not been regenerated by the infusion of the Holy Spirit cannot possibly live truly holy. Some people may live relatively "good" lives, but "good" is not "holy." Only God is truly Holy. Without holiness, "no man will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). Multitudes of people live relatively "good" lives, compared to the multitudes of overtly evil people who have lived or are now living. But, good is not the same as holy. Only God is truly Holy.
Contrary to the thanksgiving prose recited by so many before meals, God is more than just "good" and "great," God is Holy! If you want to have Eternal fellowship with God, you must be filled with holiness, not just be "good."
The Apostle Peter, speaking words inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared the Church consists not
of people who are merely good, but of people who are a Holy-- "a Holy nation"
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light....Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Pet. 2:9-12)
Make no mistake about it, repentance and sanctification are both vital and essential elements of true salvation and mandatory requisites for attaining unto Eternal Life. To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe the Word of God, all of it, for He is the personification of the Word (Jn. 1:1). To believe in Jesus Christ is to receive Him, to receive Him is to obey Him. To obey Jesus Christ is to obey His written Word, the Bible. Obedience is the ultimate objective of repentance and the sanctification of the Spirit.
Anyone who does not obey Jesus Christ through obeying God's Word through a purified heart
and sanctified conduct, simply does not know God, and has not entered into communion and
fellowship with Him. And, anyone who says he does know God, but does not obey His
commandments and live a holy life, God Himself calls an outright "liar":
And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 Jn. 2:3-6)
Anyone who does not obey God's commandments does not know God, and he certainly does not
love God either, as John says in the above passage. He says it is the person who obeys God's
commandments in whom "the love of God has truly been perfected." And, John received that
information on good authority too, from none other than Jesus Himself, who he himself heard
say:
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (Jn. 14:15)
He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him. (Jn. 14:21)
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me! (Jn. 14:23,24).
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. (Jn. 15:10)
To summarize, the point that is being established here is that repentance and the process of sanctification which ensues are absolutely vital to the spiritual livelihood of every believer.
The problem with this second category of hearers, those with "rocky ground," is that their repentance is not deep enough. They are only willing to repent of "surface" and external sins, and not the sinful attitudes that lay deep within their hearts. Until they repent of that deeper sinfulness and carnality, the sanctification process can only be incomplete, which will eventually prove to be spiritually fatal, as the parable goes on to indicate, in that these hearers ultimately fell away from faith in and their relationship with Jesus.
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Steven Lambert, ThD is an ordained minister, author of numerous books and teaching publications, an editor, and publisher of two newsletters, The Real Truth Digest and Prophetic Perspective Bulletin. Insight concerning Church government/order, the coming restoration, and ministry issues are the hallmark of his ministry. This is a sample chapter from his book, Mystery of the Kingdom, which may be ordered through this site using the PayPal® payment service or by mail/fax using our order form. Dr. Lambert may be contacted by E-mail at: slambert@slm.org. |
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