AM NONYE I WILL LIKE TO TELL OTHER CHILDREN LIKE ME THAT IT IS GOOD TO SAVER GOD WITH SPIRIT AND TRUET, COS IT IS WAS MAKE LAZARUS TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD TODAY, PRAY ALWAYS AND HAVE THE FAITH, THANK GOD BLESS U AS YOU DO.
AMEN.
^ TOP

THis story is do be prepared for the coming of christ, be wise and bear all you have for he will accept all. The lord does not think kindly of the ones that turn blind to him or are sinners. The oil is the repersentation of reconslitation
^ TOP

Every hurting person is your neighbor. Many times our concentration is on the good samaritan but what made him a good samaritan was the victim! What was his character, a hurting person and stripped of everything. Would you help or avoid him? They are every where, you do not need to travel to a third world country.

Christopher Lobo
^ TOP

Like the other parables of Jesus, this one is about fruit-bearing, and the un-fruitful are thrown into hell. Those who hear the TRUE word of God, they are cleansed by it by doing it. Christ abides in the TRUE hearers and doers. Luke 6:47 - Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them..." John 8:47 - He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 Corinthians 4:15 - For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" 3 John 1:11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Who can do good, but the true ones on the vine? Even TRUE faith is not from flesh and blood, but from God. John 3:27 - John answered and said, A man can receive NOTHING, except it be given him from heaven." 1 Corinthians 12:9 - To another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" Not one man can TRULY say that Jesus Christ is the son of God nor can any man truly tell people,(so-called preachers, ministers, or pastors) Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Also, to put an end to false teachers that say if you believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and saviour, you'll be saved, NO MAN can come to Jesus unless God Himself decides that he would. Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." But then, those people heared the TRUE word of God, and the words of JESUS CHRIST, John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then again, same gospel, 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.(God revealed it to them, and had faith in him, that faith is not from their own heart, but from God) 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve(God approved those 12, not the other disciples, because if He did give it to them to come to Jesus, they would of stayed, like the true disciples), and one of you is a devil?" Now all you people that read this, the false christians will not believe this, but the true christians will. John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." These sayings are in the bible, those who just ignored them in the bible will ignore my words(no, not truly mine) also. Those who believe these things, or knew them already, please, please contact me, at dallascourchene @ hotmail.com (NOTE: there are no spaces in the address.) Also to the so-called born-again christians, what did God call you to do? Live a normal life? I don't think so. People who are truly called are CALLED to do something for the LORD, not just worship Him and those who are called, know what they have to do by a certain wonder, or phenomemon. Acts 16:10 - And after he had seen the VISION, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had CALLED us for to preach the gospel unto them." Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, CALLED to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 1 Corinthians 7:20 - Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," We MUST be also worthy of this calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 1 Peter 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" 1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 2 Peter 1:3 - According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" And yes, we can be perfect like Jesus. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 1 John 2:13 - I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father." 1 John 3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." We are called to be made into the image of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus said so himself, the called can and will be like him. Matthew 10:25 - It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord..."
^ TOP

I hear your words and what you say could be true if that is what the scripture is talking about. My belief is that the 10 virgins are more of an example of being ready to meet the Lord than that. Some will be taken up in the rapture and some will not be ready. 5 were ready to go in to the Bridegroom and 5 were not ready.--I believe that the rapture will take place and it will happen before the 7 years of tribulation. Some of the people will be ready and some will not be. Here is an example of those not ready.

Years ago I did a research paper recounting the people who might be alive at the time of the tribulation. I am a pre-tribulation person and believe in the rapture. Very simply put, the paper was like this. If all of the people on earth stood in a group and then the tribulation started, I believe it would go like this.—
1. The first to leave the group would be those taken out in the rapture at the beginning of the seven years.

2. Of those left behind, there would be those who accept the mark of the beast and the bible says that they are lost.

3. There will also be those who will not have anything to do with believing on God so lets put all of these off to the side as those who will be judged and go to the Lake of fire.

4.. Of those left behind, The Anti Christ will require them to take his mark in their for heads or their right hand. If they refuse, they will be slain for their faith and they become those who are under the altar.

5. Of those left behind, there will be those who the bible says will make it through the 7 years of tribulation and will be accepted so lets just add those who go to heaven.

5. Then there are the Jews. They will be those who are mentioned as having signed a 7 year peace treaty under false pretenses. When the Anti Christ stands in the new temple that will be built and declares that he is God, the Jews will realize that they made a big mistake and they will pull out of the peace treaty and head for the hills for protection. Probably to the city of Petra which is carved in the rocks. At the end of the 7 years, Christ will return to earth for the beginning of the 1000 years of peace.

5 virgins were watching and waiting for the Lord's return and 5 were not. There are those waiting and watching to go be with the Bridegroom at rapture time and there are those who say
it is all nonsense and will not be ready.
I hope you won’t be out looking for oil when that time comes.

^ TOP

I agree with your interpretation that the neighbor is the Samaritan, i.e. Jesus.

The dying man trusted the Samaritan and took the Samaritan's help without doubt and hesitation, even though he despised the Samaritan.
In this parable of Good Samaritan, the dying man is ourselves. People should beleive in God humbly like the dying man did.

This Parable of good samaritan tells me that men should humble themselves for believing in God and loving Jesus.


Thanks,

Donna
^ TOP

Violation of any command is an act of disobedience or rebellion. Sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man. There are many commands from God unambiguously expressed in different parts of the Bible. Contravention of these commands is a sin punishable in different ways.

The most rtragic consequence of disobedience, however, is the hardening of heart due to habitual practice, which makes it impossible for the guilty to confess his/her sins and seek divine forgiveness. The sin of disobedience thus separates us from the glorious presence of God, an eventuality played out in the very early days of God-human interaction.

Another point to be noted is that there is very little leeway for us to justify ourselves by means of contextual explanations of our disobedience. Once we are convinced of our error, the only way back to His grace is through confession and renunciation. Remember the Pharisee and the tax collector at the synagogue, and the contrasting cases of the two thieves on the crosses flanking our Lord's cross on Calvary.
^ TOP

I think you are all missing the point. Why speculate when Jesus told us. Two of the parables are explained. should not all the others be understood in the same light?

1-leaven IS a bad thing in the Bible. I think you are missunderstanding the verse. Three measures of meals refers to fellowship. In the mid-east culture this is well understood. Leaven would never be included. It would be insulting and shocking. Jesus was Jewish, His disciples were Jewish. We have to understand this from a Jewish perspective. The leaven is hidden and corrupts the whole lot. This is a WARNING from the Lord.

2-No all the kingdom parables are not 'bad' so to speak. The treasure is not bad. The treasure is the remnant of the body of Christ. The field however, represents the world which IS bad. The man of course is the Lord who did give up everything to purchase the field. And yes it is a corrupt field, but He paid the full price in order to get the treasure.

3-All these parables must be kept in context. Remember - Jesus explained two of the parables, the rest can be understood from this. Use the Bible for context, not our assumptions or imaginations. Jesus explained the two then asked if He had to explain the others. The disciples said basicly, 'no need, we understand now."(Matt 13:51)

In Christ

Jeffrey


^ TOP

need for my sunday school lesson Feb. 25, 2004
^ TOP

How do you mean we need to identify the return of Christ with such a message?
^ TOP

I encountered different opinions about the parable of the mustard seed...
but during the times of Jesus mustard is considered as the tiniest seed and concluded as the tallest of all the herbs before.with so much discoveries as of now,different interpretations come out.as for me Jesus compares heaven in to a mustard seed that started to a person,to a group then to a much bigger one...the world...now known as christians.the kingdom of God started into a scraped work but as years have passed,it grew and influenced each and everyone.if you'll observe a growth of a mustard,it is small before you'll plant it.but as it grows,its roots deepens down to the ground sucking up all the nutrients to live to grow tall.if you'll interpret it in the life of Jesus,he started as one, a carpenter and a poor man.as he grew old,he met some people.he called them and became his followers.he preached and preached until his words reached everyone,even alarmed the church before for he was considered as the awaited messaih,the savior.the small packed of Jesus grew and his teachings influenced each and everyone.as the faith of the people were united they stand tall to all obstacles against the people who are in contrast with the faith like Nero's occupation in roman history.if you'll see it the seed that was the tiniest one during Jesus time was him and the kingdom of God,the growth of the mustard is the apostles of Jesus,its roots is Jesus teachings influencing every jew,the nutrients is people's belief or faith and the height is the strength of christianity and its success doing its very best to reach the highest peak of the sky.
^ TOP

Christ said to those Jews who believed in Him in John the eigth chapter
if you continue in my word then are you truly disciples of mine. In the new testament it says that we have the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Revelation to the Apostle John Chapter 4 says that the
LAMP IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. If the lamp is the Holy Spirit then the oil must be the WORD OF GOD. When you believe in Chirst you recieve the
Holy Spirit you are a believer. But Christ said you are a DISCIPLE IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS WORD.
^ TOP

I have not overlooked the last verse of the Parable of the Unjust Steward, that is, Luke 16 : 13. On the contrary, I have explained on the Unjust Steward site that most churches today are trying to serve both God and mammon. They have overlooked this verse by ignoring its context.

Our Lord Jesus Christ never expected His people to live completely providently. His way was that we would give freely to one another (Matt. 5 : 42 ), blow off our concerns (Matt. 6 : 24 ff ), continue to ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7 : 7 ), and He likened whoever heard or read Him and would do so to a man who built his house upon the rock rather than to the man whose house built on sand fell with a great crash (the Parable of the Wise / Foolish Builders). On that page I have posted my stand that the things to be obeyed to be like the wise builder consist entirely of the Sermon on the Mount, yet it slipped my mind to include whatever may be needed to follow Jesus' teachings from it. In contrast, our Modern English speaking culture clearly ignores the Sermon on the Mount even at the pulpit. Americans today scarcely give to the needy who come to ask from them. Next, I show that it is this stinginess which shows that someone is serving Mammon in preference to God.

By condemning the servant of two masters as inadequate and refusing to acknowledge service of God as valid from those serving Mammon (wealth), Jesus Christ makes clear to us that any excuses of ours for withholding our wealth will anger Him (Luke 16 : 13 ). We should not rely upon prudent earnings of our own, but, rather, have the security of the favour of rich folk to lean on because they are more prudent than followers of Christ (Luke 16 : 8 ). Jesus went on in verse 13 to explain the two outcomes of trying to serve both God and Mammon:

"Either he [the servant] will love the one and hate the other," as happens when an unbelieving man cannot understand his wife's faith in Jesus Christ and thus makes ungodly choices, "or he will cleave to the one and despise the other." This latter result happens at churches all across the English-speaking world every time church staff hews to its Budget to withhold money from one who asks while at other times in the week professing strong faith in Jesus Christ.

I conclude that we cannot serve God on a budget. Still, if we have not yet obeyed Luke 16 : 9 - 12 and thus have not even met any rich friends of the members of our congregations, the predictable result of such genereosity is a totally unfair exploitation of our wealth by the needy until we have practically nothing, whereupon we shall be called by Christ to ask, seek, and knock despite the many martyrdoms of such persons among the churches run by evil servants today (Matt. 24 : 45 - 51 ).

I will never forgive the evil servants in charge of so many contemporary churches, the evil staff who are swift to get angry and to call the police and to complain about a presumed mental illness. If I must share heaven with them, they will be absolutely chastened first as I have requested -- or left behind to be martyred when I am raptured into heaven, or fast for forty days and pray together on their knees, and if any one of them have turned ten men or boys over to psychiatry, he or she has no chance whatsoever for heaven without amputations anyway. For example, evil servant Bill Meier in charge of Twin City Bible Church in Urbana, Illinois, known to defend sophisticated English manners in preference to Jesus, already stands with "a who...le WEE...k of RE...PEA...TI...NG 'terribly sorry beyond [b]wyrds for what I did to Kevin' " demanded of him by telephone as of May 2001, before his lawyers notified me of their threats. Where shall I post the messages to doom the evil servants? I need help to find the most visited Christian forum to doom the evil servant so that world evangelism might be accomplished for Jesus' sake under truer leadership.

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg

a martyr for asking, seeking, and knocking (
^ TOP

The parable of the mustard seed continues with the same central thoughts set forth in the previous parable, the parable of the wheat and tares. Fruit-bearing remains at the forefront [v.31], as well as Satan's contining activity as he seeks to stop Christains from bearing fruit
And the method which Satan uses as he seeks to stop Christians from bearing fruit, revealed in the previous parable, is through sowing tares among the wheat. Then the parable of the mustard seed reveals that which would happen because of this activity of Satan.
In this respect, the parable of the mustard seed is simply a commentary on the previous parable, providing additional explanatory help. The mustard seed is seen growing after an adnormal fashion, showing Satans success in stopping Christains from bearing through causing an unnatural devoloping so abdormally that it eventually became a tree; and this tree is seen to be of such a nature that" the birds of the air", indivduals doing the work of Saten, found a lodging place in its branches[v.32;cf.vv.4, 19.] Thus the third parable, continuing the thought from the second parable, presents the tares being quite effective. They are seen deciving Christians to the degree that they bring about an unnatural growth in Christendom, resulting in unfruitfulness, barrenness; and the matter is carried to the point that, in the end, the tares even found acceptance among those whom they had decieved. Through producing an unnatural growth in Christendom-- one in which they themselves could find acceptance-- the tares stopped Christians from bearing fruit. The destruction has to do solely with [ The Word Of The Kingdom], the subject matter at hand. Then the tares were able to simply settle down in that which they had produced.
^ TOP

The brother who stayed home had a lot of issues. He was not happy or content with his life. He thought he should have been given sometype of reward for doing what was "his reasonable service." We need to examine our motives. You don't hear much about the one who stayed home, but it would be interesting to see how it can be tackled. Why did he stay home? Should he have received more because he stayed home, etc.
^ TOP

thankyou for this well thought out extension of the parable of the good samaritan. It certainly left me with a lot to think about.

^ TOP

i am doing an essay on this parable and it is very interesting i think that it really is sincere in this conventional way of constitutionalized decons.
^ TOP

Those who hear and understand the parables are of God, those who don't are not of God. Jesus said that. Also warned in proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." That is a really bad thing to be found as too. Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood," What happens to liars? Proverbs 6:19 - A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape." Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies SHALL PERISH."
^ TOP

Verses 27 -31 is not as it seems.

No good can come from hell.

This man was still selfish enough to protect himself against the ever lasting hatred of his brethran. He was not saving them to heaven, he was trying to avoid them coming to hell to add to his torment forever.

They would inflict more torment on him for him setting them on their path to hell, he was still thinking of self.

I repeat the first comment, "No good can come from hell."

Rob t
^ TOP

This is an interesting parable that can run into lots of different thoughts and ideas, but the basic idea of it seems to be discussing fruitfulness as a result of faithfulness to the master. The only person who claimed to work for the master and wasn't "fruitful" showed his true colors when he tried to justify himself and his lack of activity by blaming it on the master for being too harsh and for gathering where he had not sown...the servant didn't understand that all was the masters to start with. Perhaps this servant represents those that claim Christ's name but don't truly believe? Chrys _________________ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.


^ TOP

THE SPIRITUAL EXPLANATION IS THIS. A PERSON WHO LOVES HIS MAKER FATHER-GOD FOR HIM MONEY MATTERS PROPERTY JEWELS BONDS THE RICHES THAT WORLD GOES AFTER ARE NOT IMPORTANT AFTER-ALL ALL ARE CLASSIFIED AS MAMMON PERIOD. MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HUMAN LIFE IS WE ARE STEWARDS THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THE CREATIONS, LOVE AND RESPECT HIS CREATIONS AND HAVE COMMUNION WITH OUR MAKER FATHER-GOD ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE TO BE SMART NOT DUMB NOT ANTI-CREATION WHICH IS ANTI-LIFE THEREFORE ANTI-GOD THEREFORE THE BEAST. WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE RESOURCES WITH WISDOM. SHARE CARE COMPASSION FORGIVENESS AS JESUS SAID AND PRACTICED TO THE END WHEN HE WENT TO THE CALVARY AND SAID "IT IS FINISHED" AND WHAT IS FINISHED THE WORK FATHER-GOD WANTED AND HE BECAME THE SACRIFICE, SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD GAVE HIS LIFE WILLINGLY TO WASH THE SINS OF THE WORLD THOSE WHO WHERE SACRIFICING OTHER CREATIONS FOR THEIR SINS AND FINALLY SO BELIEVE JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD WHO HAS TAKEN THE SINS OF THE WORLD "FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO" AND SEE THE RESULT THAT OUR LORD IS ALIVE AND WELL SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF OUR FATHER-GOD WITH ALL THE ENEMIES AS FOOTSTOOLS AMEN. JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD AMEN BECAUSE HE PRACTICED ALL SCRIPTURES TEACHINGS PERFECTLY BUT HE ALWAYS PRAYED COMMUNED WITH THE FATHER-GOD THE GOD OF ALL GOOD CREATIONS THE MAKER, THE FATHER OF ALL WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, GOD ALMIGHTY IS THE ULTIMATE FATHER OF ALL CREATIONS AND HE IS THE LIVING GOD THE GIVER OF LIFE IN ALL CREATIONS AMEN. IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE FOR OUR BEING IS IN HIM AMEN. GOD IS CLOSER THAN OUR BREATH AMEN. THANK-YOU FATHER-GOD FOR EMMANUEL GOD WITH us AMEN
^ TOP

Hello, God's great blessings to all......I found a page in the back of a bible that had the prodigal' son's ring on it. It had 8 stones, each signifiying a different thing, such as love, peace, hope, etc. Do you have any more info on this? or the sandals? Im letting the Lord lead me into making a banner of the ring. Also, it must mean the same thing about the reconcilliation of the Jews to Israel.!! This is a new revelation of the Lord, as I am also very interested in our role as Christians to the Jews.As the Messianic movement is the bridge of reconcilliation , bringing the Jew's to Jesus. Therefore, the restoration of Israel. Please answer soon, this is quite powerful in the Lord.................Love in Christ.......Chris
^ TOP

Thanks for the insight, I was looking for insight on the web about this parable that I am teaching on Sunday morning. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you.

I can see how a church getting larger can get out of control, regarding the birds of the air making their nest in it.

May the Lord help us "small or large" to keep the birds out.

God Bless.
^ TOP

You're right. Salvation is enough to be ready. And you can't lose your salvation. That's why they call it eternal life. If a person could lose it then it wouldn't be ETERNAL LIFE; it would be TEMPORARY LIFE.
Being ready means being truly saved and not just going through the motions. It means being born again by the spirit of God.
^ TOP

My take is first thing I have read the tree by the rivers take and I must say I disagree. Jesus never has need for anything. He is the almighty, omnipowerful God. He wants something he has it.
Anyway, My take is that Jesus had come to the barren fig tree and used it to symbolize the man. The man as a christian had not beared fruit for three years and I think God is trying to tell us that if our christian tree doesn't bear fruit then it is more useful to be cut down. As christians we have a spiritual fig tree and It is our job to make it bear fruit. And that comes through studying the Bible,praying, and believing and working for the Lord. If we do not do these things and our tree's do not bear fruit than we are useless as christians. That's my take. Love ya Jim
^ TOP

WE AS CHRISTIAN'S NEED TO WELCOME SINNER'S!! OUR TESTIMONY COULD EITHER PLANT THE SEED FOR THEM OR BRING THEM INTO GOD'S PRESENCE AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
IT IS HARD SOMETIMES AS A CHRISTIAN TO IDENITIFY WITH SINNERS BECAUSE WE HAVE JESUS LIVING WITHIN US TEACHING US THE RIGHT WAYS. JUST REMEMBER THAT EVEN AS A CHRISTIAN YOU ARE STILL A SINNER BUT WITH BENEFIT & ETERNAL LIFE.
APPLICATION TO MY LIFE:
IDENITIFY THAT DESPITE A SINNER'S TROUBLES & ATTITUDE THEY TO ARE JUST AS ELIGIBLE FOR HEAVEN AS I WAS. IT WASN'T UNTIL JESUS CAME TO LIVE IN ME DID I CHANGE MY WAYS.
GO AFTER SINNER'S TEACH THEM, GUIDE THEM, & LOVE THEM. SHOW THEM JESUS IN YOU.
THANK YOU FOR READING! I HELP IT CAN BE A HELP AND A BLESSING AS IT HAS BEEN TO ME.
^ TOP

In the postings found below I’ve extracted many different ideas out of the teachings of the Kingdom that are true and hold water all throughout scripture. But as of late I’ve been getting something that I feel is even more profound then anything I’ve laid down as yet. I think if you get this it will answer a lot of questions as to why we aren’t getting anything from God and why we are so barren spiritually.

Christianity was to be a message of power, resurrection life and of totally victory over death. And yet we don’t even have the bark of a chewawa when it comes to having any kind of influence in this world. Pardon the expression but man have we been impotent. Consider what I’m about to say and just see if you can see why our prayers are misdirected or that the connection with heaven is never made.

Quite often in writing about the teachings of the kingdom I try to ride the words of Christ as much as is possible. And yet I think there is one area that it would do me well to sever off from them and to put them in my own words.

I’m talking about the usage of the word “heart” vs. “spirit”. Why would this be important? Consider these two scriptures and just see if contradicting ideas don’t surface.

There is a scripture in the Bible that says that God will “write his laws in the fleshy tablets of the heart”. Now look at something that Jesus said:

John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Can you see how that even though the terms spirit and heart are quite often used interchangeably, in some instances they shouldn’t be?

What I’m getting at is this. If our perceptions concerning the word heart are that it is somehow tied to the flesh then we are bound to have missed the spirit which Jesus said doesn’t have “flesh and blood”. It’s like an email that ends up in cyberspace instead of getting to the person that we are sending it to.

“OH, THAT’S REDICULOUS” YOU SAY. “THAT’S THE DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE”.

Is it really? When was the last time you had a prayer answered? “Forty years ago” you say. I REST MY CASE. Isn’t it clear that God is holding us to a higher degree of accuracy in spiritual matters these days? Remember, we are the ones who can use computers, text messages, download music to I pods. Some of us can get pretty snooty about techy things if we’re asked the wrong questions. Jesus said “with what measure you mete it will be measured unto you”. That means what you put in is what you get out. And it’s quite clear that God is saying to us “if you would put one iota of interest into spiritual things like you do that tech stuff, then maybe you’d get somewhere in your spiritual life”. FUSHTANE? (Do you get it?)

Let’s continue.

Could it be that all of this talk about “hidden” things, “secret” things, things “spoken in darkness”, “mysteries”, could all of these sayings be fingers so-to-speak that are pointing to the human spirit? Isn’t the human spirit a mystery of sorts? You can’t locate it. It’s subconscious. You can’t feel it. Don’t we have some ninety percent of the human brain that we don’t use? Could that be a reserve for when we revive the human spirit? Maybe it will come back on-line. The book of James says that God is the father of “spirits”. Are you a spirit? If you can read this I would submit that you are. The problem is that our perceptions about spiritual matters are all over the board. We never do isolate the part of us that runs the show. Kind of like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. “DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO HIM”. Yea it’s YOU ya turkey!

The reason why it’s important to isolate the human spirit is because that’s where faith comes from. It’s the place where we either believe or fear.

GOD IS A SPIRIT. To contact God we have to use our spirits. I’ve totally replaced the use of the word heart in prayer with the word spirit. It’s making a difference.

In Luke 17:21 Jesus said.
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Matt 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Have you ever looked at this scripture and thought WELL WHICH IS IT? DO YOU BIND ON EARTH OR DO YOU BIND IN HEAVEN?
Why does it matter? Because one will work and the other won’t. It’s these kinds of things that are defeating us, and we only have ourselves to blame. We’re just not a very diligent people. We’re content in living lives that make the word of God a lie (there is no power, no answer, no Holy Spirit-nothing). But things are changing. If you’re reading this there is a good chance that you too might be looking for answers.

When Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you, might he have been referring to the human spirit and that how it’s already separate from the realm of the natural? In other words, to affect the world around you, you must approach the Kingdom of God that abides within. IT’S YOUR SPIRT. Your spirit will abide after your body is lying in a coffin holding its breath. But when we use the word heart, the whole matter gets washed out and we never do isolate the spirit.

So then, we bind satanic forces IN OUR SPIRITS. We loose the things that we desire to enter our lives IN OUR SPIRITS. Our spirits subsequently shine these bindings and loosings out onto the picture screen of our lives. I will admit, I never thought that this scripture worked (binding and loosing). But then, I thought that you were to look out at the world and bind it in the world. NO, IT’S ALL DONE IN THE SECRET PLACE. The secret place is a metaphor for going into the realm of the spirit and establishing things there. THEN they show up in our lives. To attempt to affect the flesh or the world around us by the perception that we are dealing directly with it, is as foolish as using the word “manifestation” in prayer. DON’T DO IT. IF YOU DO YOU’VE BEEN DUPED BY THE DARK SIDE. That word doesn’t belong in your prayer life. It’s attempting to change things illegally. You’ll open the door to the adversary.

Our spirits are a place that Satan wants direct access to. But we are the only ones who have the “KEY” (as in “keys of the kingdom”). We set things there (establish). Then it’s just a waiting game. When you deal with your spirit your dealing with power, and there are checks placed on the system whereby the only things that get in there are due to either determination, or unreasonable hardheadedness-as in the person who reaped tragedy as a result of stubborn rebellion.

Proverbs 4: 20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the ISSUES OF LIFE.

When we use the word spirit in our prayer time as in “I bind the powers of darkness in my spirit, and I loose all of heaven in my spirit”, we are entering a realm that God has given us legal access to. The realm of the spirit is subject to different rules. In essence, what God says goes. It’s the sole truth. Nothing in the world can call it into question. But that’s the place where the Kingdom of God abides. Solomon said “the spirit of man is the candle of the lord searching all the inward parts of the belly”.

USE THE WORD SPIRIT NOT HEART IN PRAYER. You’ll be putting your finger right on the pulse of the issue. The power button.

The treasure that Jesus spoke of is the spirit of man. It’s the thing that at the time was a tremendous mystery. But when we hide things there, or bind or loose things there, truly it is the incubator or the loading dock that eventually ejects things into our lives.

If nothing else I think that this generates “kingdom thinking”. God bless you in your endeavors.

Tell no man.

^ TOP

Respected authorities,

Greetings in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.

My name is Imran Bhatti and I am a director of Sunday school of Christ Revival Church. It is situated in Lahore, Pakistan. There are about 200 children learning about Jesus Christ in our Sunday School. We often take them to other churches where they learn from other teachers also. We also take them to different programs arranged by Scripture Union Pakistan so that they may learn more. I have 5 permanent volunteer teachers working with me and I also call a few other volunteers to help me in different programs, whenever it is needed. In our Sunday School children also learn by drama. On every Christmas and Easter children perform different dramas regarding Christmas and Easter. By this people can learn more about our savior. As you know that we are living in a computer age and there is a lot of Biblical material available on different web sites. For example Bible stories, Biblical games and puzzles. Such soft wares are very effective for children because children are more interested in moving pictures than in still pictures. We have some still pictures in the form of flash cards of Biblical stories. But flash cards can not fulfil the strong impact of motion pictures. So in order to build a strong base of our children and church family, we are in great need to get some donation in the form of new or used video projectors, screen and a overhead projector. We also need these instruments to make the messages more effective and to display songs for choir and congregation. Kindly let us know, what you can do in this matter.

Looking forward to hearing a positive response from you SOON.

May God bless you.
Yours in His Service,
Imran Bhatti
Director of Sunday school & Bible Teacher
Office Tele:- 092-042-5855968
Cell Phone:- 092-042-03004095074
E-mail: heaven3_ct@yahoo.co.uk

^ TOP

HI..WANT A COPY OF THE SERMON FOR THE GOOD SHEPPERD


THANK YOU....SO MUCH

SINCERELY YOURS,

RAUL GAWEC
^ TOP

The 5 wise virgins were getting married to the bridgroom.


^ TOP

Does anyone have an opinion on what the sandals represent?
^ TOP

Because Jesus told this parable (and had therefore not died yet), keep in mind that a person could not simply "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved-Acts 16:31. Jesus had not died yet. Sin's debt had not been paid "once and for all". This passage therefore does NOT show where a New Testament believer in Christ will go, but rather where Old Testament believers would temporarily exist. I say temporarily because both the rich man and Lazarus will one day stand before the Great White Throne where the book of life will be opened and THEN their FINAL destination will be decided; either eternity future with Christ on a "new heaven and a new earth", or in torment forever in the lake of fire. Remember that Abraham obeyed God and it was "accounted to him for righteousness". This parable gives us an insight to the waiting place of the Old Testament believer; not the New Testament. This is NOT a proof text for the Catholic view of limbo. This does NOT relate to a present-day Christian.
Looking at the parable, I find several interesting points:

(1) The rich man and Lazarus were in the SAME place. Yes they were separated by a "great gulf fixed", but they could see and recognize each other.

(2) Being able to see one another, we see that they must have had bodies that were visible to one another. The rich man could still see, speak (to God), and feel the pain of his torment.

(3) However, Although their physical senses are functional, they do not still have their physical bodies. Verse 22 is clear in explaining that the rich man's physical body was indeed buried!

What I have covered thus far is merely an introduction to this parable (only covering up to verse 24). The real meat of this story is in Abraham's warning in verse 25 and the importance of the spiritual rather than the temporary things of this world. To quote one of the humblest Christian poets of my generation:

"Who have I in heaven but you Jesus? What better could I hope to find down here on earth?" -Rich Mullins

I hope this has been helpful.
Myself your servant for Jesus' sake
-B.D. Means

^ TOP

I like what you wrote for the parable but I need something different for childrens church. Something the can understand. If you know of anything please let me know. Thanks for all you do in Christ name!

Mary Rogers
^ TOP

Jesus told the disciples on the road to Emmaus that all the scriptures spoke of him.

We should be particularly mindful of:

Eze 17:2 Son of man, put forth a riddle , and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Da 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences , shall stand up.

Jesus not only told the parable, but spoke a riddle in the parable. You have been discussing the parable. Let me share on the riddle. The riddles always speak of Christ. So we start with Christ as we parse the parable.

In every other parable of Luke, the rich man is Christ. We should not expect it to be different here. Christ is portrayed in the language of the riddles as prophet, priest, king and judge. In this riddle he is the judge since he wears purple. Yes. Kings wear purple also. But they wore it because Kings were judges as well.

After the judges, Samuel judged Israel, then he made his sons judges, bu they were evil. So the people asked Samuel to give them a king to judge them:

1 Sam 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Gold is the color of the king, but he wore purple as judge. So the rich man is Christ as judge.

Fine linen represents burial clothes. Christ as judge died and was wrapped in fine linen. Before we go on, some will stop me and say that Jesus was not a judge. But John says his life was the light of the world, and that the light was condemnation. His perfect life condemns us and puts us to shame because he resisted sin when tempted in every way as we are. In the riddles, the judge must die to signify that judgment ends. In the same way, the prophet dies to signify that prophecies have all been fulfilled.

Now the name Lazarus means "whom God helps" and he also represents Christ but in the role of Priest.
Lazarus has the Hebrew equivalent name of Eleazer, who was the high priest. The narrative of the other Lazarus is a picture of the death of Christ and he is represented as a sick priest who then dies and rose again. This Lazarus is also sick. So we ask the riddle: In what way is Christ a sick priest? The answer is that while Jesus was alive he was an ineffectual priest because he was from the wrong tribe to be a priest. To be high priest, he had to die and be raised from the dead like the other Lazarus.

Jesus had 'emptied himself' of deity, and we call this kenosis. He partook of only a small portion of the bread compared to what he experience prior to the kenosis.

The dogs are the gentiles, and there is some word-play taking place that resolves to: they were separated by gleaning his wound. Christ's harvest began when living water poured from his pierced side, and the harvest included the gentiles which were gleaned.

When Lazarus dies he becomes fully the High Priest. As the rich man is tormented in death he typifies Jesus and cries out "Why have you forsaken me?" He receives no relief. This is the cry of the judge. There was no evil in Christ's judgment, why then did he have to die? So that judgment would end.

It is Christ as High Priest that sits at the right hand of God.

5 is the number of man in the riddles, 10 the number of the dual-natured man. So Christ as judge pleads and says he has brothers of flesh only who are likewise doomed and pleads that the Priest return to tell them. If Christ as priest had remained on earth, he would not be making intercession in heaven. Therefore Lazarus is not sent back.

Moses and the prophets are a sufficient testimony to show men that they are lost. And Christ in heaven is a sufficient priest to save them.

So we see a changing role for Christ as judge to Christ as Priest. Judgments cease. Judgment and grace cannot be mixed, so Lazarus cannot visit the rich man.

Pr 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
^ TOP

The Ten Vergins are not the Church they represent the Virgin daughters of Zion. The Jews were to keep their lamps lit to show the every lasting covenant not the Church. It will be the Virgin daughters of ZION that go forth IN THE DAY OF DARKNESS to meet their Lord with their LAMPS Lit! When jesus returns he will be returning from the wedding Luke 12, so then these are not Christians at all! The oil in this parable is not the Holy Spirit. In acts when Simon tried to buy the Holy Spirit he was told it was a SIN to even THINK such a thing. So, no one is going to be able to say that Jesus in a parable is implying that these unwise Virgins can go buy the Holy Spirit. This can not happen and it contridicts all scripture to say that you can buy the Holy Spirit.

This is actually a closer to literal picture of the believing and non believing Jews who will go forth IN THAT DAY. But remember he is returning from the Wedding Luke 12. So, the Church is no longer on earth but returning with Jesus!
^ TOP

What is the main difference between the prodigal son and the elder brother? The prodigal son came to his senses.

The elder brother does what he is supposed to do, but as we can see at the end of the story, his heart is not right either. He is only following with his head. I think he would be considered "luke warm".

My question is, what would it take for the elder brother to come to his senses?
^ TOP

Consider the usage of the word "Earth" elsewhere in Jesus' parables. The word earth is always used in reference to a man's heart. We sew seeds (the Word) in the earth (men's hearts).

Likewise, earth is used in this parable. He who was only given one talent (given one gift) hid it in his heart, afraid to use it for God's gain, and he lost it.

He who was given many gifts used them all, and was given more, because he has shown faith in what he all ready had, and would surely do the same if he had more. God is using his servants wisely.
^ TOP

The Jewish lawyer asks him 'Who is my neighbour?'
When Jesus is telling the story we think 'the dying man is the neighbour needing to be loved' and YET this is not Jesus' conclusion!
The neighbour surprisingly is the Samaritan who loved (not the one who was loved - remember the question 'who is my neighbour? ie who is the one I am to love?' - Jesus answer is effectively 'the samaritan'.
What does Jesus change the subject of the neighbour? Is it hinting that we should love the saviour figure who everyone despises - ie Jesus!!!

What do you think?
thanks
frederick
^ TOP

The father in the story of the prodigal son required no proof of repentance. God's love is stronger than his vengeance, as seen in Hosea 11:9.It also teaches us that the Father's love does not depend on our actions, and He loves us unconditionally.
To Davobrian, perhaps we could think of some of the offenses we have particular difficulty forgiving. Do we give others a second chance? Take, for instance, the ex-convicts, do we give them a chance to reintegrate themselves back to society without discrimination?
The younger son travels a journey similar to all Christians. We sin and fall from grace but the Holy Spirit within us constantly reminds us to return to the father, and when we are spiritually dry, we will return. Yet, when that happens we also yearn for our brothers and sisters to welcome us, not only the Father.
^ TOP

Vs 17 states "When he came to himself". It's important to stay with God.

When do not know how long God's mercy is going to last. You may not be

as fortunate as the Prodigal son coming to himself. You may not come to

your senses (NIV). "Stay with God"
^ TOP

Biblical Text: Luke 19:11-27

Title of Message:

Accountability and the Kingdom of God

Central Point or Truth:

There are three central truths, that judgment will come upon the unfaithful stewards and leaders of God’s people; that the Kingdom of God is present now; and the need for faithfulness and obedience. “The parable of the pounds is certainly not, as Luke 19:11 assumes, an announcement of the delay of the Parousia…” (Jeremias, The Parables, 99). Jesus had acquired the kingdom during the present time of his ministry, this being declared or manifested by his majestic triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The power and authority of the Kingdom of God is in operation now. “The kingdom of God involves two great moments: fulfillment within history, and consummation at the end of history” (Ladd, A Theology , 91). The kingdom of God is not only a future realm but the present dynamic power and dominion of Jesus in this present history as it is known. This parable conveys the point that “the ‘kingdom’ in question was not a realm or a people but the right to reign as king. According to this passage, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God in terms of the exercise of divine royal power” (Ladd, Jesus and the Kingdom, 132). This is contrary to traditional opinion that the parable’s central truth is about faithful stewardship after Jesus’ ascension and until the second coming of Christ. “Everything gets carried out with the dispatch. The ‘getting of the kingdom’ is not an unrealized event of the future, but one already accomplished in the story. The reward to those who have handled their charge well does not consist in some future overseeing of possessions, but present, and consist in power over cities within the Kings realm” (Johnson, 144). The kingdom of God now is not only God’s rein, which is similar to the concept that rabbinic Judaism held, “it is rather a dynamic power at work among men” (Ladd, 235). The power as demonstrated in the person and mission of Jesus the Christ. Those who did not recognize the present power and rule of the kingdom would be condemned at the future consummation of God’s kingdom. Johnson suggest that “we must take seriously the possibility that Luke intended his parable to confirm 19:11, for the progress Luke’s story after the parable shows us in fact a ‘manifestation’ of God’s kingdom ‘immediately’” (Johnson, 152).



Context:

The scribes had been entrusted with the spiritual leadership of the nation. These leaders did not accept Jesus’ authority. A recent political incident was a part of their memory. “This parable closely parallels the details of the trip of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, to Rome in 4 B.C. to receive imperial ratification of his hereditary claim to rule Judea, along with the Jewish embassy which opposed him and Archelaus’s subsequent revenge of the Judeans” (Blomberg, 218). This parable is a warning of judgment.. “The sanguinary revenge inflicted upon the people by Archelaus after his return had never been forgotten; Jesus appears to have used this incident in a crisis-parable as a warning to his audience against a false sense of security” (Jeremias, The Parables, 59).
There was an expectation by some that the kingdom of God would appear immediately (Luke 19:11). Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and it was there that some possibly believed he might set up the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the talents, particularly in Luke’s account, relates to his triumphant entry into Jerusalem as king. “The progression towards Jerusalem takes place ‘after he had said this’. These words establish a link with the preceding periscope. That periscope has indicated that the kingdom will not appear immediately in Jerusalem. However, the subsequent story has an almost immediate declaration of Jesus’ kingship in Jerusalem. The apparent futurity of the kingdom in v. 11 must be read in the context of the presence of the kingdom in v.38” (Guy, 128). Not only is the event after the parable significant. The event prior to the parable is also important to understand the parable. “Luke’s introductory clause, ‘as they were listening to this’ v. 11, counsels against making any significant structural separation after v 10 and deans that we grapple with the relation of the parabolic teaching in vv 12-27 to the preceding account of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus (vv 1-10)” (Green, 674). Salvation arriving at the present time to the life of Zacchaeus is a notable reference that Luke makes about the presence of salvation, today. The parable was told, according to Luke, for two reasons, he was headed towards Jerusalem and because they expected the Kingdom immediately.

Content / Exegesis:

Jesus was possibly speaking to the crowd, the disciples, and the scribes, his opponents. “In the journey narrative, Luke is generally careful to specify Jesus’ audiences, and purposefully. To the disciples, he has Jesus address teachings on discipleship; to the crowd, calls for repentance, and warnings; to the opponents, sayings of rejection and judgment. His failure to make this audience clearer to his reader leads one to think that the group to whom the parable was spoken was meant to consist in all those with Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, with the parable addressing each segment in diverse ways” (Johnson, 145).
The parable being addressed to the spiritual leaders of Israel is a warning of Judgment. Joachim Jeremias refers to this parable as being against the opponents of Jesus as being the claimant to the throne. “God has entrusted them (scribes) with much – the spiritual leadership of the nation, the knowledge of his will, the key to the kingdom. Now God’s judgment is at hand; now it will be decided whether the theologians have justified or abused this great trust, whether they have made good use of his gift or turned it to their won advantage and to the imposition of burdens on their fellow-men, whether they have opened the door to the kingdom, or shut it their judgment will be specially severe” (Jeremias, Rediscovering, 131).
The traditional view of the parable is that it is about parousia (return) of Jesus. There are some who do not hold to this traditional view. This may be because it is interpreted in light of the Matthean account of the parable. The other view under investigation is that the parable is about Jesus’ immediate Kingship, and the kingdom of God being present immediately, yet not in the form of the future consummation. “There is little in the parable itself which demands considering it an allegorical tale about the ascension-parousia. In particular, there is nothing in Luke’s version to indicate a temporal delay. Matthew’s Parable of the Talents appears to have affected the reading of Luke’s story” (Johnson, 143). Johnson also states that the getting of the kingdom is not a future event not yet realized but one that is already accomplished in the story (Luke 19:15). He also states that the reward do not relate to some future overseeing of possessions. “They (the rewards) play a present leadership role within the kingdom gained by the nobleman” (Johnson, 144).
The traditional opinion of Luke 19:11 is that Jesus is refuting the expectation of the kingdom. It is interesting to consider the view that 19:11 is not refuting but confirming instead of confuting. The verb “appear’ may have different meanings apart from only a full-scale, visible realization of the kingdom. “It is not al all impossible that Luke intended to mean that ‘the Kingdom of God was going to be declared.’ This would find immediate confirmation in the proclamation of Jesus as King in 19:38” (Johnson,150).
Fitzmyer argues that Luke intentionally altered Mark’s reference to the David kingdom to Jesus being just king. “It is not the kingdom of David that is coming, but Jerusalem’s ‘king’ himself” (Fitzmyer, 289). Fitzmyer does so because he understands that a declaration of a kingdom here would be incompatible with the postponement of the kingdom’s appearance in 19:11. Yet it is wise to consider that “king” implies “kingdom”. “19:11 is not a distancing by Luke from an imminent or present kingdom. Rather 19:38 is to be read in conjunction with 19:11. There is not yet a kingdom, but there is a king, and so by implication there is a kingdom” (Guy, 134).
Guy states that when it is argued that 19:11 is clearly futuristic and that consequently all the other present-oriented statements must be interpreted in a futuristic sense that may be an imposition of our twentieth century western understanding with its dichotomous approach to logic and thought upon first century Lukan thought (Guy, 136).
The parable of the talents is about the present kingdom of God in the life and ministry of Jesus. The key verse of this parable is 19:11: “While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.” The parable of the pounds does not deny the expectation but confirms it. “Jesus is proclaimed as a King and does exercise rule through his apostles in the restored Israel. This is a ‘manifestation’ of God’s kingdom” (Johnson, 157).
The parable is not only about the timing and manifestation of God’s kingdom but also about faithfulness. “Jesus underscores the certainty of the ‘appearance’ of the kingdom, but characteristically shifts the focus from the question of when to the issue of faithfulness in anticipation” (Green, 674). The kingdom of God is associated with faithfulness to its King. The message of the kingdom is associated with faithfulness to God’s revelation of his word entrusted to the leaders of Israel. Because of the lack of faithfulness judgment was approaching.

Practical Application:

The Kingdom of God’s authority may be exercised now. The future consummation and all of its glory is not an excuse to not use the dynamic power of the kingdom now. Faithfulness to God is not only being a good steward in holding the correct teachings and revelation of God but it also involves living a life of power manifested by godly character as well and ministering to others the powers of the world to come. The pounds that are now entrusted to believer is the preaching of the cross with its message of salvation, the healing of sick bodies, setting free from satanic bondage, and the other works that Jesus and his disciples performed.
The pound entrusted to Israel was the revelation of God’s redemptive plan and correctly representing the character of God. The teaching of the coming Messiah as a suffering servant was hid and exchanged for a mean legalistic Lord (“For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow” 19:21). The Gospel of grace must be preached and lived. This is only possible as long as the church is alert to the deception of legalism. The natural tendency of religious bodies it towards legalism and self effort instead of the grace and inner transforming power of God.
The futuristic aspect of the kingdom is a challenge for watchfulness and accountability. Because of the impending judgment Jeremias states that the primitive church interpreted and applied the parable of the talents as one of the five Parousia-parables. “The five Parousia-parables were originally a group of crisis-parables. They were intended to arouse a deluded people and their leaders to a realization of the awful gravity of the moment” (Jeremias, The Parables, 63). The other four crisis-parables are the nocturnal house-breaker, the bridegroom arriving, the master of the house returning, the merchant returning from his far journey. Ministry must be done today in light of the judgment seat of Christ.
The church, especially each individual Christian, must be burdened for the horrible punishment that awaits, the citizens (Luke 19:14, 27), those who do not serve Christ. Compassion for the lost will change the eternal future for some who do repent. If the church does not have compassion then that many more people will face an eternal catastrophic ending.
The parables illustrate the mystery of the kingdom of God. “the Kingdom of God has come into the world , but it comes with persuasion rather than power and must be accepted to be effective, even as the ground must receive the seed” (Ladd, Jesus and the Kingdom, 238). As agents of the kingdom of God believer should continually persuade others towards Christ.


WORKS CITED

Blomberg, Craig L. Interpreting the Parables. Downers Grove Inter Varsity Press, 1990.

Fitzmyer. The Gospel II. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1990.

Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke (Word Bible Commentary).
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

Guy, Laurie. “The Interplay of the Present and Future in the Kingdom of God.” Tyndale Bulletin 48.1 (119-137) 1997.

Jeremias, Joachim. The Parables of Jesus. New York: Scribner’s,
1954.

Jeremias, Joachim. Rediscovering the Parables. New York:
Scribner’s, 1966.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. “The Lukan Kingship Parable.” Novum Testamentum 24.2 (139-158) 1982.

Ladd , George Eldon. Jesus and the Kingdom. Waco, Tx: Word, 1964.

Ladd, George, Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament.
Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1974.

^ TOP

Fred what did you mean by yet he was saved yet so as by fire. I don't understand what you are saying here?


^ TOP

Denny,

I honestly didn't intend to leave the impression that we are praying to ourselves but I guess I did. And in a sense, any time we try to "establish our hearts" in something (be it good or ill), we mix repetition and emotion.

In some circles, it's called "positive affirmations". All it is, is self-talk. The world blasts us with negative self-images all the time. Really, the church does too (but that's a topic for another post).

Television and radio advertising conditions us to believe certain ways. The beliefs of our hearts drive what we spend our money on. Advertisers mix repetition and emotion through the senses. This sensual stimulation is designed to make us feel a certain way. Then it is repeated over and over until it becomes a pattern in us. When that pattern is laid down, the course of our lives follows.

We do the same thing as Christians. We immerse ourselves in the word because we it makes us feel good. We worship God because it feels great! We pray for the same thing over and over - not to convince God to do something He was originally unwilling to do, but to open up our hearts to the truth that we "have received" His blessing.

Mark 11:24 (NIV) says - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Jesus said "... believe that you HAVE RECEIVED it and it will be yours". Well, I don't know about you, but that doesn't come easily to guys like me. Think about it - I don't have it but I'm praying to God believing that I already have it. That's not altogether intuitive, ya know?

Paul said - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phil 4:6 NIV)

Did you ever pray with anxiety? I did. "God please have mercy!" That's really not the "kingdom way" to pray, is it? "Do not be anxious" but pray and petition - WITH THANKSGIVING! Thanking God for what? I'm just guessing - I'm no bible scholar - but I'd say we should be thanking God for the very thing(s) we were praying and petitioning about. "Dear God thank you for prospering me as my soul has been prospered. Now I can pay the rent." But your bank account is zero. God is good and He does deliver us from harm. He who trusts in the Lord shall not be disappointed.

Kingdom thinking is NOT intuitive but we get good at it after awhile. Fully trusting in God's grace is a challenge but it's not hard. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. His commandments are not grievous. And none of this is automatic. We spend time renewing our minds, don't we.

We conform to the world’s pattern when we pray with anxiety or think we've got to change God's mind about something. We are transformed when we renew our minds with "kingdom thinking". We "fully persuade" our hearts to receive the bounty of the kingdom of God - to believe God's promises by walking in His abundant life.

We condition our hearts the same way we've always conditioned them. We mix belief and emotion then we repeat it so that it gets down in our hearts, "GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!"

Denny, if you do that, you will be light years ahead of everybody you go to church with (unless you go to a MOST unusual church). If you get in your heart that God will not fail you, your study of His word will change. Things will begin to jump off the page. I know. It happened to me :)

God is NOT holding out on you. The good news is that God is not some "unjust judge" withholding His blessings. The apostle Paul understood that because he said, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:32

God has come to our rescue (past tense). All we have to do is start believing it.

Or so it seems to me,
Rob




^ TOP

Please send me a picture of a of a full grown mustard seed tree. Please send it as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Rosalind
^ TOP

our theater group has been staging passion plays for the past 30 years. Our theme for this year is about faith, we need to know more about the mustard seed and mustard plant. if you could possibly give us a picture of the plant and seed and what is its significance to faith perse as described in the parable. thanks and more power. God bless
^ TOP

a good story to remember

The sinners all gathered round Jesus to hear him speak. One of the teachers of God said this man welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Jesus then spoke this parable: Which off you, if having a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, does not leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that’s lost until he finds it? And when he finds it he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbours and says to them, Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep, which was lost. I say to you, that as with the sheep joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents more than over ninety-nine people who don’t need to repent.

^ TOP

Very thorough exposition. I wish more and more people, Christians and non, will pursue a less identitist ethic and embrace and imitate the example set by Jesus. By the way, I am a volunteer in an ecumenical interfaith community in Manila. It is called Kaalagad (fellowship of fellowservants). It is a very small community engaged in ecological and gender concerns, ecomonics of sufficiency and critical pluralism. The murderous ways of the Arroyo government is patent, but even the Philippine Left is a Jericho of ideological segregation.

Thank you so much for the reassurance. Bless you and your family and your community.
^ TOP

Jeffery, I think that Sue is more correct than you. That's a wonderful, inspired comment she made. The compilers of the Bible often didn't put things in order. There are many compilations that straightened these verses out and put them back into their ORIGINAL order whatever that may be, so the KJV doesn't look or read in the same order as you see in your Bible of today. So to say that Sue has taken something out of context because it may be out of order, belies history. Not only verses in our Bible are out of order to the original, but chapters and whole books of the Scriptures too. Quite often compilers added their own notes also.-----What makes you think that Matthew, a tax collector, wrote the Gospel of Matthew and that if he did, he had a ready pen and paper and wrote down in shorthand everything that Jesus said and IN ORDER? Don't you think that he would have been more interested in really listening to Jesus and gaining some spiritual insight? Are you even sure that he heard Jesus in person? If he did, and I think as a disciple may have heard some, are you sure he walked the long trek home after listening to Jesus and was able to print by hand, everything in order and in exactly the same words? Do you think that he may have left something out on occasion? As all of us know, the stories were always word of mouth, not the printed page. Many of these things were written years later after they were heard. The synoptic Gospels are most generally the same and in the same order, but not all were disciples, so they copied from one another, hence their sameness in a lot of areas. Let me tell you that most authorities say that Mathew had Mark's Gospel before him as he wrote his book, inserting his own valuable additions, very seldom diverting from Mark's order. Also, Matthew borrows about half of his narrative from St. Mark and aprox. one third was borrowed from Luke. His main source of his discourses was a document called the Logia. -----There were numerous other Gospels that are not now in our Bible, although were transmitted in earlier history. The Gospel of Peter, for instance is contaminated by fiction. The despised Mathew, employed by Herod and the REPUTED author, was writing for the Jews from his tax collector's viewpoint. His point of view would necessarily be different than that of Luke who was St. Paul's interpreter and a physician. Mark was writing for the Romans. John's recordings were SELECTED by him to make a certain other point----that of illustrating the incarnation of the Son of God. So each was a scribe and not necessarily a reporter, scribing from others’ copies with a personal point of view and with a particular purpose and audience in mind.----The two different viewpoints of you and Sue illustrate my point that all of us take and see from the Scriptures different things because of our different backgrounds, personal history, occupation, likes, dislikes, and purposes----even though we all are reading the same words. This is good, for God speaks to all of us individually and according to our need. The point is for each of us is to gain the SPIRITUAL meaning of the Scriptures and not get hung up on semantics. Is there any one of us that can dictate another's inspiration? Your origanl inspiration taken from Sue's was what you should cling to.


^ TOP

I wonder what is the meaning of clothe he wear,the ring,and the sandals..Please anyone can explain.Thanks ..
In Christ,
Edgar
^ TOP