This is the only parable we are told(!) to learn.

could be '48 or '67.

starts with Adam 'n Eve weaving APRONS (not face masks) of FIG leaves to cover the sin; winds up in Revelation.

it meshes directly with the Parable of the Wheat & Tares... which also starts in the Garden and culminates in Revelation.

just like the Word of God.

phil

http://WordStudy.org
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I am teaching childeren ages 4 to 6 years at campmeeting and I would like to show them a picture of a mustard "tree". Do you still have the one with the little boy standing in front of such a tree? Thank You very much
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I have traveled the Country and always heard the same interpretation of the Mustard Seed and never say one mention above (unless I just missed it). There are many times people feel down but if they can maintain their faith, even if it feels so small, small as a mustard seed, God will always be there to grow that faith into the largest of seed baring plants. If you want to debate herbs, plants and trees, go nuts (no pun intended). The importance of the parable is that God is there-Always. Keep the faith, even when it seems unbearable, He will grow your faith to the largest.
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If the wise virgins are the Church as many of us(including me) why did they not tell the foolish virgins to come as you are to the master? We as the Church often fail to see the wideness of Gods mercy and grace. God welcomed the prodigal as he was not requiring that he go to those who sell oil first. The wise virgins basically told the foolish to go and cleanse yourself and make yourself ready for God. We cannot do this. Justification comes from God alone and through Grace we are sanctified. We too tell those who are seeking Christ that they must pray a certain way, act a certain way, tithe etc. in order to be the right kind of Christian. In short we send the foolish out for the oil of the world, that is works. But praise be to God, even though we who have tasted salvation continue to be blind to the wideness of Gods mercy we are still welcome at the Lords Table. I am fully convinced if the foolish virgins came out and fell at the Bridegrooms feet he would have embraced them. And further if when they came to the gate and told him that they had tried the oil that the world offered but now have come to God for salvation that God would have thrown wide the door and let them in. When they came however they came still trying to gain entry with the oil of the world. Let the Church stop offering the oil of the world and start offering Christ.
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Of course you have other desires besides your greatest, "to see a sinner turn to the Lord". Still, the issue of desire for earthly things is best explained as follows:

Jesus Christ did indeed command us, that is, each congregation, to make friends with "the mammon of unrighteousness" (Luke 16:9 ). This is not sinful because it is God's command. What is sinful in seeking wealth is to refuse to let it go out as gifts or loans to whoever dare ask for it (Matt. 5:42, Greek ). It is to tell someone who has asked for something material or some money "No" or some worse warning when you have the right to give the stuff asked away which is sinful love of earthly things.

To seek the favour of rich folk out in the world is not sinful for Christians, but God's command for some people in each congregation to obey. We need fundraising from the rich because otherwise the poor will bankrupt us with their requests when we keep on obeying Christ, who condemns our natural refusals of material aid. And if we obtain wealth thus, it will be wealth which Jesus might call us to give away.


Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg

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The Bible is its own interpreter. Rightly divide the word by taking proper consideration of other scriptures that provide the total picture of its true meaning. Maybe the key to the passage is found in verse 29:

"For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an
abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will will be taken from him."

Jesus used these very same words in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:12. And we know from that parable that the seed sown is the WORD OF GOD, the MESSAGE ABOUT THE KINGDOM (verses 18-23). Is the 'seed sown' and the 'talent entrusted' the same thing? I think so.
Both parables are about bringing increase to the knowledge of God in your life by acting on it--putting it to work. In fact we have an obligation to do so. Do other scriptures refer to knowledge being like money or something of value being given to us?

"What you HEARD from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Gaurd the good DEPOSIT that was ENTRUSTED TO YOU..."
(2 Timothy 1:13,14).

"...that they may have the full RICHES of complete UNDERSTANDING (knowledge), in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the TREASURES of wisdom and KNOWLEDGE" (Colossians 2:2, 3).

How would you bring increase to an amount of money entrusted to you?--put it to work--do something with it. Keeping it hidden in an old mattress won't bring any increase and your master will be disappointed with you. The very LEAST you could do is entrust it to someone else, like a bank, who would then put it to work and bring increase to it. They get the increase and you receive a pittance. The greatest return is realized when YOU put it to work (open a business, etc...). It's the same with the kingdom of God. There is a big difference between living out the will of God and sharing that knowledge with someone else.

Anyone who does not act on and retain the word of God--like hiding a talent in the ground or having the ravens snatch the seed away--will lose that knowledge and its eternal benefit, condemning themselves to the wrath of the one who gave it.

"...since they did not think it worthwhile to RETAIN the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind...(Romans 1:21, 28). "...darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance (lack of knowledge) that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (Eph. 4:18).

"That servant who knows his master's will and DOES NOT GET READY or DOES NOT DO what his master wants will be beaten with many blows...From everyone who has been given much, much will be damanded; and from the one who has been
entrusted much, much more will be asked". (Luke 12:47,48b)

All the rewards and benefits of good stewardship will go to the faithful:

"...do not throw away your confidence; it will be RICHLY REWARDED. You need to persevere so that when you have DONE THE WILL OF GOD, you will receive what he has promised" (Heb. 10:35, 36).

What are you going to do with the word of God?--discard it, or use it wisely by acting on it, bringing increase to it. It's a matter of turning a seed of knowledge into the visible, ripe fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22,23) or putting the riches of God's truth to work insuring your future, eternal security. You decide.

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly ACCEPT THE WORD PLANTED IN YOU, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS." (James 1:22).

"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven...Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a wise man who built his house on the rock...But everyone who hears these words of mine and DOES NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a foolish man who built his house on sand"
(Matt. 7:21, 24, 26).

What are YOU doing with the knowledge of God's will? Will you bury it, or act on it? Which one will bring praise from God on 'that day'?

"..find out what pleases the Lord...do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Eph. 5:10, 17)

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I am doing Children's Message on faith and the mustard seed.
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I think what the Hebrew translates more accurately to is "Which of these three...proved neighbor" which in this case, only the Samaritan "proved" to be the neighbor in the biblical law sense of it. Before this the "lawyer" or religious scholar with a lot of spiritiual knowledge of the law recites that "You shall love...your neighbor as yourself." Thus the only one to prove his is a neighbor through loving another person as himself was the Samaritan. Isn't Jesus deep?! God is good...continue seeking, ye shall find.
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What is and needs to be hidden?
God's gift WAS hidden. Lots of good things were hidden to protect them.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Is 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Matt 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Ps 31:19-20 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Col 2:2-3 the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 3:3 your life is hid with Christ in God. Matt 13:33 The kingdom of heaven (leaven) which a woman hid in three measures of meal. Matt 13:44 the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Ps 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Ps 63:1-2Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Is 45:2-3 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Ps 17-19 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. Ps 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Ps 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; Ps 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Is 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. John 8:59, 12:36 Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 1 Cor 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Col 1:26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

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You have made serveral statement, that you need to take another look at God's Word, and you find you are in error. When we are in Christ Jesus, there is neither Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or FEMALE for we are all one in Christ Jesus! God has used women in The Gospel from the begining of the Gospel, the woman is not a second class citizen unto the male, in the Gospel of Chrst! (Philippians-4-1-3) Therefore my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
(2) I beseech Euodias, and beseech Synthche, that they be of the same mind in Christ.
(3) And I entreat you also, true yoke-fellow HELP THESE WOMEN which LABOURED with me in the GOSPEL, with Clement also, and with other FELLOW-LABOURERS whose names are written in the Book of Life.
(Acts-9-36) And there was at Joppa a certain DISCIPLE name Tabitha, which interpretation is called Dorcas: this WOMAN ws full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. Now to be called a Disciple she had a role in the Gospel of Christ same as an male disciple!
The scripture you have quoted, came because there were some women, in gossip causing confusion in the Church, asking question, instead of listening!
Are you trying to tell me, because I am woman, I am to keep silent in the Church?
Are you telling me, I am not to make witness to a male concerning the Gospel, because I am under his feet?
The male as the head of his wife is correct as long as he treats her like Christ and the church, enough for you to give your life for her, but onething you need to remember, Christ Jesus is the Head over His Bride! Whomever He calls, He also justifies! Be it male or female!

Statements like this has caused many women to turn away from God's calling, that His Voice is made silent! I sure would not want to face God with this charge against me!
(Jeremiah-31-21-23) The Lord has created a new thing in the earth, A WOMAN shall lead a man!
Now come off your male ego, and remember, the Greatest Gift God ever gave unto this world, was His Son, Yes by using a WOMAN, no need of a male!
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This is one of the hardest parables to understand. Yet I offer my personal opinion as the way I see it. All due respects to the fact I might not have the truest understanding.
Mammon is the power of wealth in the world, and its a fallen world where justice does not prevail.
When the unjust steward was accused of mismanagement he became against his master. Mammon became the thing he hates or the thing he despised. We dont know if he was unfaithful or not, but he was accused. Judgiing by his actions, he loved justice more than mammon.
Therefore he resolved to leave his job and give away some of the debt owing to his master.
Already you can hear the Pharisees who loved money jeering at this behaviour, as Jesus spoke this parable. Thier haughty spirit and proud ways were all about the so called decency of wealth. Perhaps the steward had inside knowledge all along that the debts were too much for people to pay and a burden that God had never ordained. The steward knew the sham of wealth and could make good conversation with the class of people usually oppressed by the people of wealth, no less also than the relgious leaders of the day - and today. He knew he might at least have somewhere to stay if by his generosity he would be remembered when and if he had no place to live and no more job to depend on.
Whether he was commended by the principle of mammon or by the Lord I am not totally sure. I think it is Jesus who commended him for his resolve to uphold true justice knowing that there is no righteousness in mammon. Thus, the idea is to be giving it away, not hording it up. This is consistent with so much the New Testament says about riches. That is, to lay them down and follow Him, not lay them up on earth where moth and rust corrup and thieves break through and steal. Use it to make friends and be giving, and be more concerned about true justice that only God is the author of. For the unjust steward, to remain in his position would therefore be made to remain as the accused and unjust. This would be being faithful to his master, and despising or hating God, truth and justice. In whatever seemingly small way there was faithfulness, there would also be great faithfullness. He that is unjust in the least, is also unjust in much. Therefore, the steward had to make his resolve one way or the other. You cannot serve two masters. I feel that the parable illustrates more about the stewards contempt for mammon than the love of God and so the Pharisees revolted as they heard this because they were steeped in the ways of wealth, believing it to be the ultimate tool for good. Yet God in Jesus announced, 'that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God'. I believe the steward was fed up with the things of the decietfulness of riches and the cares of this world and became resolute enough to reject his place with mammon and stand up for true justice by deploring its principles and forgiving the debts the way he did. Its a bit like Moses who forsook all the pleasures of Egypt and went and lived with the Hebrew outcasts, 'esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the [ heavenly ] reward. Heb 11:26
Thus we can see the Godly things to esteem are heavenly things and the earlthy things are an abomination. Paul counted all his losses as a dunghill. I dont know for sure, but his high rank in the Jewish orders would have had a lot to do with wealth and the principles of mammon. Man sees the good works in it. God sees the heart. What do we have in out heart? Will we be like the unjst steward and take up our cross, or we will side with mammon and not care about truth, about justice, about firstly seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. Will we have faith like Moses, not knowing fully about God, but leaving all, forsaking all and following Him - not as a prosperity doctrine, but in his reproach? Even I am convicted by this. amen
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you cant ask the internet a question you got from mr. mcgowan.. geez man
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I have been told by a counselor, professional, that i have Cyclothymia, but I am also a christian, and I am wondering, can saten attack one who is saved, just like symptoms of depression, as well, to trick you into thinking you have this when you don't, or, if you do, it is a trial? How should I look at this. I don't want to take meds, I am not suisidal, or bad behaviour, but I wonder if it is a trial, or if it is saten messing with me, to get me to doubt God. Do you understand this? THanks for the help if you can . I am just now seeing this might be the case.
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i am interested with the plant growth cycle including its seed's size and weght, and height of a mature plant.
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The older brother had kept the First Commandment but not the Second, i.e. love of brother. The Second Commandment is like it - like the First. Therefore, there is no 'Second', but only two 'Firsts'.
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Mustard. Several kinds of mustard-plant grow in the Holy Land, either wild, as the charlock, Sinapis arvensis, and the white mustard, S. Alba, or cultivated, as S. nigra, which last seems the one intended in the Gospel. Our Lord compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Matt., xiii, 31-2), a familiar term to mean the tiniest thing possible (cf. Talmud Jerus. Peah, 7; T. Babyl. Kethub., iiib), "which a man … sowed in his field" and which "when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs"; the mustard tree attains in Palestine a height of ten feet and is a favourite resort of linnets and finches.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12149a.htm

http://www.understandingbibleprophecy.com/Parable%2520of%2520the%2520Mustard%2520Seed.htm


http://www.web.odu.edu/webroot/instr/sci/plant.nsf/pages/mustard

http://www.bibletexts.com/qa/qa081.htm

The black mustard grew wild in Palestine on the shores of Galilee. This herb reached 1.8 to 2.4 m. (60 to 8 ft.) in height and as covered with yellow flowers. The seeds were used to flavor meat and vegetables, and were a favorite food of the birds.
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I think this story gives us the clearest explanation in the bible of what happens to a person after they die
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Big Island, please see my response under the topic of "leaven and the dough parable". But yes. I think you've seen the light!
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You said I should read you last posting, well I did and it's more of the same nonsense! I will tell you, Instead of knocking, (11Corin-13-5) You need to examine yourself, and be sure whether Christ Jesus is in you, except you be Reprobate! You will find no one, who loves My Lord Jesus Christ, more then I do, I have been homeless, I have gone without my daily needs, I am disabled, I have been cold, hungry and without proper clothing, but no matter what state I have been in, or may be in, He has given me Riches according to His Glory!
(Ephesians-3-16) He has granted me, to be strengthened with might, by His Spirit in my inner soul, that I am comfortable, no matter what condition I find myself in!
My only concern is for this lost deceived world, that He gave His Life for, that the world might receive the knowledge of Him, that they might be saved! If you don't love the Lost, enough to give your life that they might be saved, you need to find another way to make the almighty dollar!
That's the very problem with today's religious leaders, their first love is like your, their own self gain, the Riches of the World, the almighty dollar!
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the parable has so many lessons and each of us will take a different lesson away from it.

both sons thought they knew better than the father and were both proven wrong. the father knows what we don't and we need to respect that.

i'd like to draw attention to some of the verses:
(12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. (the younger son); and (29) ... And yet thou never gavest me (a kid), that I might make merry with my friends (the older son).

notice: both sons asked for the same thing.

the difference follows: when the younger son sinned he sinned. then when he repented he repented. his dirt was dirty and his clean was clean (because his father forgave him without malice). the older son had the same sinful inclination but lacked the nerve to follow through. with the older son, his dirt and his clean were almost identical; not quite dirty enough to be sinful, but not spotless enough to be righteous. his righteousness changed depending on how much you knew about him. there isn't a right son/wrong son debate. to me, one son was wrong in public where his sin was exposed and corrected, and the other was wrong in private where his sin was well hidden but the father knew it all along and corrected him also.

the younger son and older son alike were also selfishly demanding. it wasn't until the younger son lost all that he learned to pray. furthermore, the younger son learned to be decisive, to stand and account for his actions (in v18 and 19). the older son never did but instead resorted to excuses (v29) and blame (v30). he stayed selfish to the very end.

only one son repented and only he was happy to be in the mansion. how many of us who have been saved too long will enjoy being in heaven? i'm sure some of us 'older son' believers will complain when we see streets of gold and whine because they're not streets of platinum. surely god owes us some platinum after we've served him all these years, doesn't he? i won't even mention what we'll say about some of the other 'younger son' believers we scorn as 'unsaveable' who arrive in heaven before we do. the devil himself would be ashamed to utter such backbiting and cursing.

now i'd like to contrast the sons' demands with the father's actions:
(22) ... Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry (to his younger son); and (31) ... All that I have is thine (to his older son).

bring the fatted calf! all that i have is yours! could either son say the same thing to their father? this shows the error of both their ways. the first couldn't say this because he had nothing. the second couldn't say this because he was selfish. neither son could be generous to their father because they were dependent on what he gave them. neither one was an earner. both failed to learn the lesson of wealth-building their father taught them daily with his words and actions. if you can't learn to be wealthy from a tycoon, who will teach you to be wealthy. if you can't learn to be generous from one who can afford generosity, who will you learn it from. these are important lessons neither son learned. again, it's not about which son was 'better' off. both missed the mark.

and now, let's contrast the story with the storyteller.

jesus himself was a son who inherited his father's great wealth. he's also a son who left home, so he did what both sons did. unlike the other sons, jesus increased his father's wealth and returned home to unselfishly share with his father. he didn't sqander his returns like the younger son or try to angle his way to his father's portion of the family money like the older one. jesus didn't try to cut his father out of the picture like the other sons. his father was ever foremost in his mind. jesus didn't divide his wealth from his father; he multiplied it unto his father.

so often we read this parable and we wonder which son we're like. instead, we are free to look to the storyteller for the best example.
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I heard a preacher preach on the mustard tree.
Sheep can lie under it and be healed of fleas and ticks from the sap that runs free.
The tree has white blooms with a gold center.
The goats hate this tree.
The only flower that will bloom under the tree is the sweet rose of Sharon. when it blooms the white flowers on the tree turns crimson red.
Also the tree is battered and beaten in the winter time, the leaves fall off and in three days it will bloom agasin.
This was the pretiest story i've ever heard and want to know if there is some way I an get a copy os the tree. and the story, or legend of the mustard tree.
It is over twenty feet tall and huge around.
Thanks for your time, and may God bless you.
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The Parable of the 10 virgins that our Lord told in Matthew 25 is broad and not very well defined, and so, can have several interpretations. One can think of the girls representing believers and unbelievers when the Lord, as the bridegroom arrives as the second coming, or may be even as Jews who accept and don't accept the Lord at His first coming. It is not easy There are problems of logic and truth at each turn. I think we are on thin ice when we make the oil in the lamp the HS. After all, how can I carry a store or buy more of Him? Are the girls who go in really the ones who are saved and the others not? If so, then it sounds like salvation by works to me! What I can do to be saved, such as be properly prepared?

The best interpretation I can put on it, and I think the Lord's hearers may very well have taken it that way, is that this is guidance and a warning to those who believe. Guidance and a warning for you and for me. We are given a task, we have access to the materials and we have time. All are under the control of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no doubt who is in control. It is his wedding and he is the kingpin. Nothing starts before He is ready and in His presence.

All the girls are given a task to do; the same task. I must use my time and opportunities properly so that I am ready and behaving as the Lord requires to be able to participate in the task. Successful participation means that
1.my contribution to the ministry is accepted and so am a I. I can't just go on doing things, even if they are those of God, my way. If I do, there is going to be a problem! This is not about salvation, but participation in ministry.
2.If I am found prepared and present, then I will be swept in in the wonder of the Lord's presence and participation in far more than just my contribution makes.
3.If I am accepted or 'known' in ministry, then I will participate and enjoy the warmth, celebration and joy of the outcome of the ministry with the Lord Jesus. Ministry is not the end itself, just as welcoming with light wasn't the end of their task.

The Groom's response is harsh, yes! But God doesn't compromise with our dilly-dallying, lack of commitment and mucking about in ministry. In terms of our task in a ministry, either He accepts our contribution and us, or neither. We can't muddle through or do it our way. I must remember I am dealing with almighty God, the one with all authority.
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The elder son represents those who stand to inheriet the kingdom of God,yet are unwilling to follow God's standards on forgiving those who have trespassed against us. God has such a loving heart, He freely shows love to those who have strayed from Him, but come back with a repentant heart seeking His forgiveness. The elder son should take a few lessons that his father practices and learn how to be more forgiving.
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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

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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.
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I was searching for the pic of brassica to do my botony proj. I wonder if u have... (at least accoring to google description u do)...can u send me one?..
By the way, wat type of min is this?.. christians right?
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I'd be interested in your response to these questions, too.

After Paul instructs Titus and the Cretian believers "to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need" why does he then go on to say: "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE FOR DAILY NECESSITIES AND NOT LIVE UNPRODUCTIVE LIVES" implying (again) that providing for ourselves and the ministry is through our own labors? (Titus 3:13, 14) Why no mention of getting this support elsewhere, like, rich unbelievers?

According to James, isn't it wrong to "show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes (rich folk)"? Instead of the rich man being seen as a friend and help of ministry, James says the rich are "the ones who are dragging you into court...(and)...slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong...(Read the entire slam on 'rich' people in James 2:1-7). How should one understand this in light of your interpretation?

Isn't it inconsistent of Jesus to commend the POOR widow for her 'two lepta' while minimizing the "many rich people" who "threw in large amounts", and who gave "out of their wealth"? (Mark 12:41-44) Is she a poor steward of the 'unrighteous mammon'? She was not commended for having solicited the favor of the rich people, but rather, for the greater value of HER small gift. Is it right for Jesus NOT to emphasize the value of the rich people's contributions over hers?

In John 12:3-8, why didn't Jesus commend Judas as a faithful and shrewd steward of 'unrighteous mammon' when he objected to wasting the perfume, worth a years wages, on Jesus's feet?

Wasn't Jesus disobedient to his own command to faithfully recruite the wealth of the rich by letting the rich young ruler leave discouraged without offering up some kind of persuasive argument to stay and finance his ministry? (Luke 18:18-25)

Peter and John are guilty, too. In Acts 8:9-25, they turned Simon the sorcerer (rich unbeliever) away when he "offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit'." (vs. 18-19) In fact they rejected his PARTNERSHIP in their ministry because his "heart is not right before God" (vs. 21). A right heart is not even a necessary requirement in your version of the unjust steward, only money is. Did they let a big fish get away in direct disobedience to God's command?

Do you find anything wrong with the understanding of the 'parable of the unjust steward' I shared in another response?































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The father does represent God.
The younger son represents sinners - those seperated from God.
The older brother represents the Pharisees. In verse one we see that Jesus was speaking to tax collectors and and sinners. In verse 2 we see that Pharisees and scribes are listening also. The Pharisees were angry resentful that sinners were being welcomed into God's Kingdom. The Pharisees, like the older brother thought that deserved the greatest reward because they had done so much. Did either have a heart of forgiveness?
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Once upon a time there was a little girl. She lived very poorly.
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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.

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This is not about the rapture of the church at all. Jesus is speaking to Jews about the tribulation period. The virgins are Jews. Five responded to the preaching of the 144,000 evangelists and worshipped God and five did not. When the king comes to reign at the end of the tribulation period, the tribulation saints are raptured as He gathers the elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. 24:31 Notice that they go out to meet the bridegroom, not to marry him. He is already married to the church which is a virgin in the singular never in plural. This parable which begins with "then" (Identifying the period that is being discussed) is nestled between Matt 24:30 describing the Lord coming in in the clouds in His glory (Rev 19) and Matt.25:32 where is is seated on His throne and judging the nations. While these foolish virgins go out to buy oil, they take the mark of the beast, forever shutting themselves out and sealing their destiny to be cast into the lake of fire. Rev 14:1-6
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The bridegroom,Jesus Christ actually comes(Raptures) the Wise righteous (born again) New Creatures! In fact, this passage says that after trying to buy oil from the wise virgins, the foolish virgins had time to go to the marketplace in pursuit of the oil(Matthew 25:9) Similarly in (Revelation 3:18) the Laodiceans are a picture of the foolish virgins left behind! They are told to go,and buy gold tried in the fire,and to buy white raiment.

[Matthew 25:9]

[Matthew 25:9] But the (wise)answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and (buy for yourselves.

Revelation 3:18

I counsel thee to (buy) of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and (white raiment) that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and (anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see)

The white raiment represents the robes of righteousness that these foolish virgins will have to obtain in the tribulation. The fire of the furnace of tribulation that these Laodicean, foolish virgins will go through will motivate them to be on fire for the Lord. The heat that they go through during the tribulation, will skim off their impurities, purifying them, and qualifying them to join the Bride for the Judgment Seat of Christ and Marriage Supper of the Lamb as the Wrath of God falls on this earth.

Door is associated with the rapture. In this verse Matthew 25:10 when it says the door is shut, the rapture of the Bride is over and the door or gate into the New Jerusalem at that time is shut.

Door in Greek can be seen as Portal,

Notice the Door is open in Revelation 4:1,and Matthew 25:10 shares the Bridegroom(Jesus Christ) came,and those who were Ready(Wise)Lamps Lit,and filled with oil(Holy Ghost) went in with him to the Marriage,and then the Door was shut.

2 Samuel 22:29

For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

Proverbs 21:20

(There is treasure to be desired) and (oil in the dwelling of the wise) but a foolish man spendeth it up.


The foolish neglect the Word of God. The Foolish become deceived by man made religion,and fall for the ways of the world(back sliding,and lukewarm)

God is preparing His bride,His righteous born again New Creatures for the rapture and the wedding of His Son. The day is coming, in our lifetime! Some will be taken, but many will remain to suffer God's wrath.

Jesus tells us to pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.(Luke 21:34-36)

Luke 21:34-36

(And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares)

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36(Watch ye therefore) and pray always) that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

king Jesus Christ prophetically warned, Take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (overindulgence)and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, so that day come upon you unawares.(Watch ye) therefore, and (pray always) that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things .

(Luke 21:34-36) Here, in praying always, it is the Christians that are instructed to be sober,and not to be overtaken with overindulgence and the cares of this life,not just the unbeliever (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8) First, note that unbelievers do not believe.

Secondly, unbelievers do not pray,and Worship God! nor will they pray always,and Watch which is an explicit Christian directive for saved Christians to be Watching in preparation for King Jesus Christ! Lest That Day overtake them unawares.

We must continue to share,and teach the Powerful Gospel with anyone,and everyone at all Times!

One must remember to Pray the Back sliders,Lukewarm,and unbelievers Wake up(Romans 13:11)get Saved,and abide in King Jesus Christ!

Also we must continue to share,and teach that the Christians need to (Wake up) (Watch)and (Abide) in our wonderful King Jesus Christ!
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I ask you please read the webpage called(Rapture of his Bride) on the website www.raptureprophecy.com




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I agree with you! The fowls of the air are from Gen 1:20-21, 31 where God, who is Love, brought forth the fowls of the air to fly in the firmament of heaven and God saw everything that he made and behold it was very good. (Why would a good, loving God create evil birds to fly in His heaven? He did not.) Why would anyone want to take a symbol of inspiration, love and protection such as birds reflect and want to see them as they are described but once in the Bible as unclean, foul and hateful? There are so many inspired references to wings, brooding, flying, nest, eagles that are beautiful in the Scriptures. I'd rather take the inspired Word of the Bible. Mustard seed and leaven are synon. and both small but growing and changing into good, useful things. The woman hid the leaven in three measures of meal---modes of human thought. Meal in the Bible stands for healing. The leaven is NOT that of the hypocritical Pharasees but of God's Christ, Truth. This leaven of Truth is changing the whole of thought until the whole of evil thought is leavened--changed into Truth. The grains of mustard signify this growth of Truth too, until the leaves of the tree of Truth are used for the healing of the nations--knowing the Truth that makes us free----free from what? A lie. Truth always frees us from lies. Truth never frees us from itself! Only, only from lies. The devil is a liar and the Father of it and abides not in truth. John 8:44
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I aggree with B. D. that this passage does not show where Christians are. And I would also agree with Ih or lh that the last part of the passage is a key that Jesus wanted to drive home to the Pharisees. He wanted to kind of plant the seeds in their minds that they wouldnt believe even if someone were to come back from the grave and smack them up side the head and say "look, I'm ba-ack"
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I am the prodical son. I need all of you to pray for me, and with me. I need to come back to my father.
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HI
i am doing this parable for a school essay

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i used this site , thanks alot for your preaching and to that kid , id have to say it is true +++_
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Hi,

I understand, that the Good Samaritan was a real person who lived long before Jesus, and the same thing happened to him, he was perscuted for doing good deeds to other. That's the reason why Jesus was able to tell this story. I forgot the name of this person.

Could you help me? What is the Good Samaritan's name?

Thanks
Willy
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Actually augusta, the idea of the Trinity originated in Genesis Chapter One and reaffirmed in John Chapter One. The Trinity is threaded throughout the entirity of Scipture. Remember, the Trinity does NOT represent three gods.
God is ONE. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as you are one: mind, soul and spirit. Just because you have three parts does not mean you are three different entities. Consider the egg. It has shell, white, and yolk; yet is one egg. I like to think of the Trinity exampled this way. The sun:
That large ball of fire 93 milliion miles away representative of the Father, the light which reaches us representative of the Son, and the heat which we feel representative of the Holy Spirit. Three definitive parts yet:::::: ONE SUN!
It is an interesting theory that the trinity idea started about 345 AD, but the Bible was written well before that date!!!!!
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Although many of those who dare interpret the extremely difficult Parable of the Unrighteous Mammon (Luke 16:1-13) have seen the lessons to be learned as otherworldly for heaven, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ still expects His followers to obey it beyond conversion to Christ to get out of coming damnation for sin sure to be found out. This parable is no mere allegory; it has practical value, sadly neglected by today's churches. I aim to show the following twin points:

(1) The availability of individual faithfulness in the unrighteous mammon through personal practice of bankruptcy law (vv. 1-8).

(2) The importance of corporate faithfulness of a congregation in the unrighteous mammon by sending the members in Christ out to befriend the rich people of the world (vv. 9-13).

These points are of great importance to depose the evil servants in charge of so many of today's churches and to dethrone stingy Budgets which have severely limited the work of God in most congregations.

First, let us examine the practical value of the parable alone in Luke 16:1-8. I leave it to others to explain the allegory in which the master represents God threatening damnation yet offering to afford our salvation; still, however, as it continues to speak differently to the converted, there is great practical value even for surely born-again Christians to heed in it. Let us now examine the transactions of this parable as a triangular double exchange.

These exchanges are reminiscent of bankruptcy proceedings. If we follow the example of the Unjust Steward, except his dishonesty, as believers, we should seek a way to offer mercy to the world as the fired steward offered partial forgiveness of perhaps legally binding debts --- in exchange for the debtors' good will (vv. 4 - 7). We should seek a way to arrange for the indebted people of the world to provide partial payment to its masters in exchange for the masters' words of forgiveness (vv. 6 - 8). We should seek a deal with the masters of this world to offer them our professional services in exchange for the commissions or fees of the steward's position (vv. 1, 3, 8). Such a position is available out in the world for us to take up: bankruptcy lawyer.

In almost any modern bankruptcy case, the judge and creditor(s) hold the master's position in the parable; the debtor holds the debtors' position; while in the position of the steward being fired are bankruptcy lawyers. The bankruptcy lawyers corresponding to the parable are not permanent employees of the creditors and will seek other cases when the case at hand is closed. The deal is similar to the parable as follows: The bankruptcy lawyers grant mercy to the debtor by arguing the case for forgiveness of debts before the judge in the presence of the creditor(s). The debtor provides partial payment to the creditor(s) and remains grateful to his lawyer in addition to paying the lawyer's fees. The judge presents the word of justice to all creditors and to the debtor through explaining how the settlement thus reached is fair according to all applicable laws and precedents. The creditor pays lawyer's fees in exchange for legal services. Thus does the profession of bankruptcy law embody personal emulation of the role of the Unjust Steward.

Alas, it is not easy to take this position up in modern English-speaking countries. In the days of Jesus' ministry, nigh any freeman, or servant or slave with his master's permission, well-behaved in court, could argue as an advocate for the creditors or the bankrupt; Roman bankruptcy law was simple and harsh. Today's English-speaking countries, on the other hand, aim to protect the public from "unqualified" professionals; the result is a long, expensive and worrisome training of law school and certification such that disbarment is greatly feared. There are therefore two good reasons for Christians not to train for the professional position of bankruptcy lawyer: worry (Matt. 6:24ff) and belief that Jesus might rapture us saints out of this world before the career could pay off. Nevertheless, whenever an entire congregation of many Christians has left the profession of bankruptcy law completely to worldly lawyers, that church is not following the example of the Unjust Steward.

What brings me to my second point is that it is not always possible for Christians to hold the positions of bankruptcy lawyer. A missionary is uniquely ill-equipped to argue cases at law in a foreign language, for instance. For this reason, Jesus Christ has given us the real requirements for faithfulness in the unrighteous mammon in practice on a congregational level (Luke 16:9-13): that at each congregation claiming to follow Jesus we make friends with the wealth of unrightous people so that they might take us in if we should lose our homes through persecution, disaster, or financial trouble (v. 9) and so that the rich people of the world might endow us with the wealth created by God for us which accrues to the rich so that we might be well-funded for generous Christian ministry (vv. 11-12). That we cannot serve both God and Mammon (wealth) (v. 13) indicates what happens whenever a church is thoroughly unfaithful in the unrighteous mammon and relies on hard-earned donations for its function and replaces the generosity of God with stingy Budgets. Such churches have held to their Budgets and despised Jesus Christ's commands to give freely and set people free from financial worries, just as He predicted! Judgement is coming for these evil servants in charge!

Now if you read Luke 16:9 or any discussion of it with "it" in the second clause instead of "ye" or "you" (all, as a congregation), the text has been corrupted and translated from a Greek text missing the two letters Tau and Epsilon present in the word "eklipe^te," "(when) you fail financially," in the correct text. Please ignore such an author's or preacher's pronouncements from the wrong text (e. g., NIV) and pick up a King James Version to interpret correctly. Even experts reading from the corrupted translations make false promises of houses and welcomes in heaven and claim a false need to have the favor of many poor people in Christ for heaven's sake in eternity. Do not believe their mistaken promises; the "failing" in verse 9 is loss of home in the here and now rather than loss of dominion after death. Now, if we neglect the rich mission field as most American Christians have seen fit to do, we shall continue to lack the means for faithful local ministry, let alone world evangelism (v. 12). I, Kevin Douglas Rosenberg, refuse to tolerate this abominable state of affairs any longer; I decry and denounce the evil servants in charge of most churches and cry out for their master to return in the here and now (Matt. 24:45-51). Let it be known that those evil servants in charge when their master returns have no forgiveness from me, but sure awareness of the wrongness of their expedients to serve Christ in stinginess while His Holy Word requires their generosity. If the laws in the way of this judgement were repealed, I could gladly call a respected pastor an evil servant in charge and hack him apart and kick him out and flog him if I had the position; that position, however, is not mine, but that of the gatherings which hire such individuals. In the meantime, be sure of each church's need for favor with the rich people of the world, especially if there be no bankruptcy lawyers in it.

Let God enrich your churches through the favor of the rich people of the world, not through hard, proud work. Good luck!


(Erratum to my earlier message: A transposition occurred in my typing afflicted with carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes in both arms: "Matt. ... 6:42" -- a nonexistent verse -- should have read "Matt. ... 6:24, ..." in which Jesus taught against worry.)
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Here is what I see fits better.

1.The leaven is the Gospel. 2.The woman is Israel which hid or cut off the Gospel in the world. 3.The 3 measures of meal can mean the Jews, the Gentiles, and the people during the melennial reign of Christ.

When a new believer is added to the body of Christ, the number of the redeemed grows. Similiar to leaven, it grows until it is fully grown, and then it is finished. This does not mean that everyone will be saved, but that the harvest is ripe to reap at this time.

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to me, the prodigal son`s elder brother did not know his rights despite his loyalty to the father, not until he was told by the father himself. As a child, you have every right to your father`s properties and that was why it was easier for the younger brother to receive his own portion without any query from the father. (well, it now depends on how you spend it)
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Go to the church where you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and ask them to explain it further. Tongues is a devine language that God understands. A direct communication line to him that the Devil can not understand. Also, check out..
http://www.bible.com/answers/ahsbaptiz.html
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Emilee, I have just come across this site as I gave a children sermon on having the faith of a mustard seed. If you still have this picture that you mentioned above, would you email it to me? It is amazing that these trees grew so large in the days Jesus was here on earth and we never hear of a mustard tree. I would find this very amazing to see one. Thank you so much for your time. God bless!
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You missed a very important point in the scripture you used, 'if it were possible' the elect shall be deceived.
It is impossible for God's Elect to be deceived, God uses His Elect, to fulfil His Word!
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i think 1948 is the super sign no doubt, we are already 60 years into the future so we can't be too far off,it's close.
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i think it is roung
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hi, i am doing a project in my theology class where i have to read the parale of the to virgins and explain to the class what i learned on it. I will actually be teaching the class!! You commentary will helped me understand what this parable meant. Thankyou George!
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hey I'm 17teen years old, and I am trying to find my talents b ut i don't know how to begain? can you give me some bible verse or some infomation on where to begain looking for those talents God has given me. do all people have talents or just some ? i'm not talking like spiritual gifts i'm talking like drawling , playing a music insterment or something like that to let you know.

thanks your sista in christ

sarah drury
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God warned us of these days, the falling away from The Spirit, which I think, is the Oil of the candlestick (Rev-1-20) The Rock (The Holy Spirit) to Build His Church, the candlestick! (1Corin-2-13-16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ! (1Corin-4-20) For the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in Power. The Power of The Spirit, to teach us His wisdom of His Word! (James-1-5) (1John-2-27) His anointing upon His anointed ones, no need that 'any man' teach them! (1Corin-3-1-7) God, not man and his Theology, nmust give the increase. I truly think, this is why we have so much confusion in the Religion of today, man, thinking they were wise, thought we no longer needed God, to teach His servants, took this power upon themselves, that they might establish the Bible College, that the religious leaders might be taught by man, approved or disapproved by man, and sent by man, into the local churches as servants of God, when indeed they have heard nothing from God! (Jeremiah-23-18-22) We see the results! Instead of turning the people away from their sins, they have created a Religion, that has justified continued sin against Holy God, while they promise their followers everlasting life, calling such Religion, the Grace of God (Jude-4-13) that they might take claim of salvation! (11Thess-3-12) God does not force Himself on any man, instead, He removes Himself, therefore, the Oil is no longer in the candlestick - The Church! (Rev-18-23)
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