"the Tares, The Wheat & The Harvest."

A self-centered person usually does not have a disciplined prayer life but wants what others have without paying the price to get it. This allows an enemy spirit of deception to come in and cause them to make selfish decisions to satisfy their selfish desires.

Beloved, it does not bother a self-centered person to cause division among others to accomplish their own goals. They can quickly point out a fault in the character of others but never admit to having one on their own because it does not bother them to spread gossip and slander the name and character of another person.

In summary, let me say that, after looking at the characteristics of a person who is selfish, proud, arrogant, and living with a self-righteous spirit, we can wonder why the Lord would allow these kinds of people to dwell among the righteous but beloved like the wheat when harvest time comes, the Lord will do the separating; but until then, we must show patience and not root them up, lest we root up some of the wheat with them.

"THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WHEAT."

(Matthew 12:35) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things.”

Did you know that the wheat seed is the only seed known to man with little feelers on it that act as little legs, and did you know that if it is sown in loose soil, it will work those little legs to bury itself? Jesus referred to this seed in (John 12:24) speaking that unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abideth alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Beloved, the image of the grain of wheat dying in the earth to grow and bear a harvest can be seen as a metaphor for Jesus' own death and burial in the tomb and his resurrection because he knew his predestined end. He knew that the only way to victory over the power of sin and death was through the cross.

The lesson from the wheat seed is that as it goes into the earth to get rid of the outer physical part that makes up the seed, it has new life inside. But for that new life to come forth, the outer part of the seed must die, which reveals to us that when we "die" to ourselves, we "rise" to new life in Jesus Christ. The Lord sums it up for us in (Matthew 16:25) "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The good seed realizes they are no longer their own but have made themselves available for God's work so that He may leave His signature to future generations. They read their bible and pray daily because their mind is upon seeing the kingdom of God flourish. They are not concerned about satisfying themselves but living a life of holiness and consecration to the Lord, refusing to give in to the flesh and its fleshly desires but making every attempt to crucify the flesh by walking. They are praying in the spirit by prayer and dedication.

Those who center their lives on God recognize that the earthly realm is only temporary and not their ultimate dwelling place. Their viewpoint on life diverges from that of the world because of the transformation they have experienced within their hearts.