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.
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First, to fully understand what was happening, let's look at why the events in this parable happened the way they did.

It was common practice in these times that if a person owed somebody else, the person they owed was allowed to sell him, and his family, as servants until the debt was paid off. Here's another example of where it happened, this one in the old testament. 2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. A more detailed description of this practice is found in Leviticus:

LEV 25:39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

LEV 25:40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee.

LEV 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.

LEV 25:42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.

LEV 25:43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor; but shalt fear thy God.

LEV 25:44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.

LEV 25:45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

LEV 25:46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigor.

So this is what we see happening at the beginning of this parable. There was the servant of a man who owed his master a debt, and he was unable to pay it. The master did what was common in that time....prepared to sell him, his family, and his possessions in return for the payment owed. The servant begged for more time, and his master had compa/s/sion. He could have just had *some* but and gave him more time to come up with what he owed, but instead he had TOTAL compa/s/sion, and forgave the amount owed.

The amount forgiven was approximately $16,180,000.

After he was forgiven, this servant then went to one of his fellow workers who owed him (approximately $14). He choked him and demanded his payment. His fellow worker requested the same thing the servant had requested.....more time to pay what he owed.

You'd think that a man who'd just been forgiven an amount that nobody at that time would have been capable of paying off would understand and be compa/s/sionate towards another in the same position...and this wasn't even CLOSE to the same amount! Yet he didn't...he was angry and unforgiving, and had the man imprisoned.

When his master found out what he had done, he reminded him of his previous debt, and wondered that the servant didn't have the same compa/s/sion on his fellow worker.

The master then reinstated the debt. I'm not sure what the tormenters were...I'd guess it was worse than being sold, unless it means the same thing. Someone else can jump in and explain this part.

Anyhow, the moral of the story? Do unto others as you'd have done to you! Christians, you have been forgiven a debt you could have never paid. In comparison to that, how hard can it be to forgive your fellow men offenses against you?

Chrys _________________ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth.


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I've recently seen some facetious replies to this perfectly serious question by people who obviously dismiss the whole story as a fiction. Wrong! Back in the 1970s I spent several years researching the identity of the Prodigal and privately published a book on the subject (Brussels, 1981, in French). There seemed to be several approaches to the problem, some starting at the family end (stories of exultant fathers, calves unexpectedly killed, jealous brothers etc., possibly legal documents relating to the original unconventional division of the property), others at the "far country" end (stories of extravagant strangers, records of itinerant Jewish labour). The problem is, of course, that the documentary record for any of this is very patchy. For example, I found a possible 882 pig breeding farms where the prodigal might have worked, but only 17 (SEVENTEEN) had any surviving labour records. However it as while examining some pig farming records in the National Archives of Syria that I found what I believed, and still believe, to be a possitive identification. Another resercher was working on prostitution at around the time of Jesus, and shared some notes with me. I was *thrilled* to discover that he had found a kind of diary kept by a prostitute called Lilia in Damascus (really a client record with comments). Several records referred to a Jewish stranger who had recently come to the area and was spending lavish sums of money on parties and women. Lilia seems to have been a little bit in love with him, and included more details than usual: she says he was short, but strong and aggressive-looking, and most importantly that "he had had his inheritance." She records his visits for 6 months, then he is mentioned no more. HOWEVER she mentions chronic food shortages just after the last reference to the Jewish stranger. These facts fit the Biblical account of the prodigal son so well that I think it 99.9% certain that it was him.
But his name? That's still a bit of a problem, as Lilia seldom referred to her clients directly by their names. And on only one occasion (in what remains of her "diary", which has several missing pages) did she actually refer to the Jewish stranger by name, and there, as bad luck would have it, the manuscript has been torn. The first part of his name can be read however, and it is "Ron...". There are several possible names of the period, all discussed in my book. As further information is unlikely to be forthcoming I suggest that we simply call the prodigal "Ron", though.
Your readers may be interested to know that I am now writing a book identifying the Good Samaritan. I hope to publish this in English, and possibly to make parts of it available on the internet. There is still a huge amount of reasearch to be done identifying the persons in the parables.
Peter

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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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Dear Pastor

Who is mammon?

What does it mean 'to make for yourselves friends with mammon of unrighteousness' so they may receive ye in everlastings habitations?'.
Which friends? which habitations?
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A mustard seed should stay an herb,if it becomes as a tree it is not good for seasoning.It has become something it shouldn't be and the birds perch in it looking for an easy meal.
Mustard seed = The Church,GOD's children Birds = satan and his croneies,false teachers
To GOD be the glory.

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Often times when we stray away from the Body of Christ, we feel as if we can't return. We are often embarrassed and ashamed of our actions. Sometimes we feel as if God has somehow revealed to everyone the dirt that we have done. In similarity to the Prodigal Son for a while he rather stepped down from returning to his father because of the wrong he had done. He had went out and had a worldly time with his share of the wealth. He felt bad about his actions,but he knew his father, he didn't know what to expect but he knew his father. Just the same as we know the "FATHER", if you are saved, and you have fallen short, you still know God and can identify with his fogiving and loving spirit. You may not know the consequence, but you know that through the blood of Jesus, you are saved and forgiven if you go to our Lord with divine, and sincere repentance. All you have to do is call on the Father and we will restore you to your rightful place, just as the Prodigal Son was restored to his.
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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
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Father God in the name of Jesus I pray please deliver me from this deep depression that I am fallen into. God I pray please bring people around myself, Kevin, Kim, Christy, Betty, Dean, Delbert, Wanda, and all other family members that are under the Blood of Jesus. God I pray please put the love of Jesus in the hearts of my family members. God I pray please lead, guide and direct me by your spirit. God I pray please bind up fear, doubt, unbelief, lying spirits, pain, confusion, witchcraft spirits and all other demonic spirits that are attacking me. God I pray please send the right person to my sister Dean. God I pray please bring my sister Betty someone that will love her and get her out of that situation that she is in. God I pray go ahead of me next week and please keep the devil and his demons off of my back. God I pray please strengthen my faith and help me through these terrible times that I am going through. God I pray please clear the way for the person you are sending to get me out of bondage and that will love me and take care of me. God please give me your blessed assurance that help is on the way. God I ask all of these things in the Holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen
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It's not a parable about literal money. Like Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John 3, Jesus is using the literal, physical world--the things we can understand--to explain the spiritual. Over and over again in the scriptures God uses analogies and metaphors and the like to teach unseen, spiritual principles to the earthbound minds of fallen men.

"I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" (John 3:12)

Maybe this proverb sums up the parable of the talents:
"The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment." (Proverbs 10:16)

Even if the parable of the talents had a literal meaning there is nothing wrong with putting our "money to work" (vs. 16). Playing the market is only one way of bringing increase to money. You can buy things and sell them at a profit, or produce products to sell at a profit as long as we do it honestly and don't violate any of the Lord's commands.

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."
(Proverbs 10:4)

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement." (Proverbs 12:11)

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." (Proverbs 13:11)

"The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight."
(Proverbs 11:1)

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Mt. 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
This is so simple...
The leaven represents the Holy Ghost
The three measures of meal is man - body, soul, spirit
When we receive the Kingdom of God within us, we are changed until we become whole, one in Him
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copy this url to your address bar, it not a picture but it may help :)


http://www.khouse.org/6640_media_serve.php?show_id=229&show_day=wednesday
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to people
is love your neighbour really right?
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I have a copy of the KJV1611 - it must not be inspired because it was revised numerous times. The version this website uses is the KJV 1769.

For God so loued the world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.

What? Doesn't seem familiar?

Yes, that's the KJV 1611.

Maybe you've been told you read the 1611, but chances are, you don't. You read the 1769 revised KJV.

Don't be upset. It's a tactic leaders have used for centuries. They make their congregations feel "special" and "set apart" by trying to separate them from other people.

For that matter, should Chinese people use the KJV 1611, or are you suggesting it is only for English speakers?
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Hello-
I have taught a women's Bible Study for many years, and my lesson next week is on mustard seeds. I would love a picture of a mustard tree to show the ladies. Thank you. Bea Heid
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I agree, it's not designed to make us beg, it's designed to show us how eaiser it is for us to count on God than anyone else
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The other night I watched a program that was just brutal to watch. A college campus had assembled a forum of “religious experts” to discuss salvation and weather Jesus was the only way to salvation. A basic understanding of the parables of the Kingdom could have really dispelled a lot of the unbelief that was perpetrated.

The panel consisted of about seven to nine diverse people. Jews (I think Christian Jew), Catholics, Muslim, fundamentalists and a self proclaimed “Christian Liberal”.

As the panel began to meander away from Christ being the only way to salvation (with every smooth argument in the world), the crowd began to get visibly annoyed. One by one they would stand up and try to bring the conversation back to what Jesus did at Calvary and his atoning work. One woman said in essence, your dismissing the whole of the word of God and aren’t respecting it as the WORD OF GOD.

At that the Christian liberal spoke up proudly quoting the word of John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, the was with God and the Word was God. This was the person who was the most dismissive of the idea that salvation was ONLY in Christ (such arrogance). The Muslim woman proudly stated that from day one, Islam has ALWAYS believed that Jesus IS the WORD OF GOD, and that he is even nicknamed that-if I understood correctly. She also expressed no need nor desire to accept Jesus a Lord or personal savior.

I couldn’t believe what was transpiring. I visualized a bowling alley and all these experts, apart from the fundamentalists, being pins that were ready for a person who knew the parables of the Kingdom to roll a perfect strike. Unfortunately, no one had the insight to call his or her bluff.

What if a person would have stood up and said this: “Sir, (the Liberal) you claim that Jesus is the WORD OF GOD. Is that right? Mam, (the Muslim) you also claim that Jesus is the WORD OF GOD right?

Peter said in his epistle, “Being born again not of corruptible SEED, but of incorruptible SEED, by the WORD OF GOD, which lives and abide forever”. JESUS-THE WORD OF GOD-mind you, said in Mark chapter four, “THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD”. So then there is a type of trinity in Jesus being the SEED and the WORD.

The functionary place of the seed is in the heart of a man, …“Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that is sown IN THE HEART.”

Which of you knowing a farmer, who HAD NEVER planted his seed for the year, and yet he believing that a wonderful crop was about to be produced, wouldn’t say to him (as kindly, political correctly, as respectfully-the fundamentalists were not of these) “sir I have news for you, your not going to reap a crop this year? He might say, “Well why not? I’m as good as the other farmers. I desire a crop really bad. What gives you the right to say that I won’t reap a crop? You in turn say “being good or wanting one has no bearing on weather or not you’ll reap a crop. Harvests are determined by seeds planted, not thinking, not wanting, not begging.” I would venture to say that not one of the panelists would allow a poor fellow with bills to pay, children to feed, a wife to keep, to believe such foolishness. And yet did you know that the “experts” were doing the same thing?

JESUS IS THE SEED. He is to be planted in our HEARTS, by “receiving”-planting, him in there (I call it the sinners prayer). Mark chapter four states:

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and RECEIVE it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

And yet in their way of thinking, they were going to reap a crop of incorruptible fruit-salvation, without planting incorruptible seed. NOT!

A little bit of understanding could have pinned these unbelieving believers to the wall. And yet the fundamentalists, who as wonderful as they were, could not call the bluff’s of these panel members.

The panelists no doubt walked away smug, knowing that the scorecard in their heart read, liberals ten fundamentalists zero.

Oh, what a tragedy!

The next time someone says that they can obtain salvation without receiving Jesus, just say, “yea right, and farmers who never plant seed can expect a wonderful bumper crop!

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i hope i am not asking too much but can you send me a picture of the mustard tree via e-mail
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When you trust in God, He will give you a love, for whatever He calls you to do. He can give you the talent of music, being a mom, being a christian friend to someone in need. Ask The Lord to show you, His plan for your life, He will lead you in the right path, and when you find the path, you will know it's your calling, because the love in your heart for what you are doing, will tells you so!
God Bless You!
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I realize that your E-mail is not a serious one , and I do not know your real name, but I am praying that The Lord Jesus Christ will bless your life with his Holy Spirit in many ways. Consider your reply and know that you are not mocking me and other people , but you are mocking the Lord.

God bless you in every way.

Chris Godwin....servent of Christ
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I'd like more parables to read and appreciate. The Sower is wonderful.
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Webmaster, I found the link for the "Parable of Servants" to lead me afar to the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Without a page for Matt. 24:45-51, I include it with this Parable of the Ten Virgins.

The preceding Parable of the Two Servants is critical to the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which begins with the word "Then" (Matt. 25:1). Therefore, the fulfillment of the Parable of the Ten Virgins will shorly follow that of the preceding Parable of the Two Servants (Matt. 24:45-51). Well, when will that be? Who are the servants in charge, and who is their master?

For centuries churches have taught that Jesus Christ is the Master of His parable, but this understanding is collapsing before our very eyes in today's end times. He has prophesied that the end of the age, when He would rapture us home to heaven, would come once the gospel of salvation through Him got spread throughout the whole inhabitable earth for a testimony to all peoples (Matt. 24:14). My problem with the traditional church teaching is as follows: what if the evil servant in charge should prevent world evangelism so that Christ should never return? Well, in that case, Jesus Christ obviously was not the master of His parable. Hebrew and Aramaic grammar can shed light on this.

In English, we usually speak of classes of things in the plural unless we use collective nouns. The same was true of Greek, yet Hebrew and Aramaic were exceptions. In those two tongues, there is a "general (use of the) masculine singular" as we see in Psalm 1, in which a righteous (man) in Hebrew represents righteous people ("am) in general. In the Parable of the Two Servants (Matt. 24:45-51), the general masculine singular "master," "wise and faithful servant," and "evil servant" have been retained upon translation to Greek and English rather than receiving grammatrically correct plural translations to preserve the meaning of the text. The verb "dichotome^sei" (will cut asunder) could merely mean "will categorize" if the evil servant were presented naturally in the plural in Matt. 24:51. By leaving the general masculine singular forms intact upon translation to Greek, Saint Matthew makes it completely clear to us that, yes, the master(s) will most certainly cut the evil servant(s) to pieces. Now that we understand the general masculine singular, I examine the plural meanings of the master and each servant in charge.

If the master be not Jesus, he must have entrusted the servants in charge of his wealth or at least now hold the position to return and judge them. Only the people, or successors threof, who entrusted the servants in charge of the goods of God's people and responsible to nourish them can then be this master. Furthermore, when this master returns, he must recognize faithful service and entrust the good servant with all his goods: who is so incredibly generous today? Furthermore, he must conceal his intentions to return to the evil servant unawares, do so in good times, cut him to pieces, understand how the evil servant was hypocritical and assign him his portion of the hypocrites, cast him out knowing the weeping and gnashing of teeth to result, and beat or flog the evil servant according to the servant's conscience (Luke's account). The text to condemn the evil servant is Matt. 7:7 to refute the spiritual claims of every pastor who browbeat his needy while he lived it up. By putting his needy down when they made requests, the evil servant has caused them to sin habitually (worth a curse, Matt. 18:5-7) by putting aside Jesus' commands not to worry but to ask, seek, and knock. In light of the general use of the Hebrew or Aramaic masculine singular forms, the master, if not Jesus, over servants, represent the following situations...

Board of elders (master) over pastor, treasurer, Sunday school teacher;
State legislature or accreditation board (master) over psychiatrists, corrections officers, physicians, psychiatric gatekeepers, etc.;
HR Department (master) over hospital billing staff, nurses, etc.;
College of cardinals (master) over Roman Catholic bishops (servants);
Head of the United Methodist Church (master) over itinerant ministers;

and so on. Still, this judgement cannot happen yet because these masters still have today's laws to fear, laws against aggravated assault and battery. Remember, in order to return as master, each of these gatherings in power must be able to amputate the evil servants, so literal a word in the Greek as to make Matthew retain the general masculine singular of Hebrew in Greek translation to preserve its meaning of cutting into pieces, of absolute amputations, perhaps just one, perhaps several amputations. Furthermore, from Luke's account they must have the power and will to beat the crying evil servants already kicked out severely according to the content of the conscience of each. How the various masters will gain their rights to impose these corporal punishments, judgements of Scripture, I leave to the Lord Almighty. (Lord's Prayer)

Next, after all this has happened, the Parable of the Virgins will be fulfilled as the church worship industry dies and loses its buildings. The five wise virgins with extra oil represent believers, such as churchgoers, with salvation and sufficient obedience to Jesus to be received into house churches. In contrast, the five foolish virgins represent lukewarm so-called or backslidden Christians who believe or go to church for social reasons and are unwilling to desist from sin in order to stay welcome at a house church. When the Kingdom of Heaven moves out of the dedicated church buildings and into house churches to meet in mundane places, will the social churchgoers indeed feel locked out! And thus our "extra oil" represents sanctification beyond the oil in the lamps, justification. Lastly, the wedding banquet will occur then in the house churches if not after the Rapture in heaven.

Finally, the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) will be fulfilled as masters call their rank-and-file stewards to account. Each steward, each of us in charge of wealth of our own, however little, has been entrusted to make a profit according to our abilities. The good stewards or servants (not necessarily in charge of people) will have profits to show their masters, their rich friends of Luke 16 if not Jesus Christ in heaven. The lazy servants have failed to do what was right: to trade with their wealth and make profits. Perhaps the load of seventy-six pounds avordupois of silver was too heavy for the lazy to carry; soldiers who drop their seventy-pound rucksacks are those most likely to get killed because others have to carry their packs for them. Perhaps his experience is with funerals and burials rather than in trading; perhaps he does not trust in his master's return, thinking instead, "He won't ever come back. When he dies, I won't trust his heirs; they won't know what I have hidden to free myself." In the worst case, however, the lazy servants say they never had money to invest. In that case, I, Kevin Douglas Rosenberg, prophet of Luke 16, or some ally of mine, shall be their master if the faithful servants answer to their rich friends then instead of to Jesus Christ after the Rapture.

I will tell the hard-lot lazy servants that they had Luke 16:1-13 in their bibles; how come they contented themselves with financially limited congregations despising Jesus' commands to generosity as they hewed to their Budgets? Very few of them indeed in Christ can say they never had the chance to read this passage, only that no one led them to it. I will be far less sympathetic toward those lazy servants who did not have such a problem as incarceration yet still ignored Jesus' clear command to make friends with the rich people of the world so that people might welcome us into everlasting dwellings if we lost our homes and so that our congregations might be granted the wealth for our ministries. And the profitable servants will be commended by their grantors while the lazy servants get stripped of their little wealth and possessions and cast out into the outer darkness of homelessness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yes, the lazy servants content to serve God by themselves with what they have will lose it all, and that will be given to the best stewards.

By obeying Luke 16, we may know the rich people of the world, and they may let us in on their investment advice. In contrast, the proud among us who avoid the rich will make dumb investments such as gambling. Therefore, faithfulness even in the unrighteous mammon of Luke 16:1-13 is even more important than investment advice for hard-earned money.

I wish you all the best of luck in these end times as we get our houses in order for these awesome events.

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg

(reply here; e-mail is exclusive of junk mail)



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I think that this parable is a great way of christian love. I think it is good because, the samaritan and the jews never liked each other and the only person that helped the jew on the road of jericho was a samaritan. Tnis is showing that the man that helped the jew wasn't racist. In the same way as this samaritan loved this man as much as he loved his own people, we also should have the same kind of love for all races. We shouldn't have a grudge against people of certain races. Loving all races is a positive kind of love. This is a great example of Agape love. Christian love.
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I don't really know about any of these things that are talked about and one of my teachers told me that there was a religion that was really into animal rights and said that the people of this religion wear masks over their faces in order to keep the bacteria out because anytime that you breathe in, you are killing living organisms. This struck me as very interesting and I was just wondering if this was that religion, and if not, then do you know what that religion is called because I need information on it for a speech. Thank you for your help,
Kayla
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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 WAS TOLD THAT A MUSTARD PLANT IS ONE OF THE FEW PLANTS THAT WON'T CROSS POLLENATE WITH ANYTHING ELSE. IT THAT TRUE?
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To confirm my belief that God's destroyer angel was released on July 29, 2003 And is now surveying the United States, I was given a dream on July 30/31, 2003 that is similar to the parable of 10 virgins.

My reality was this: a clear water, cement canal, that winded, so that you could not see far ahead or behind because of the curves. I was swimming in this canal, when suddenly I saw a great white shark patroling the waters and coming my direction. I quickly climbed out of the waters onto the bank. I watched for awhile the creature swimming. Then I gathered the confidence to go back in. However, I knew that I must be vigilant incase the creature came back. Lo and behold, the creature did come back, but was on top of me so fast that I could not escape the water. But the creature passed by without harming me. I believe this to be the destroying angel patroling our nation which was released on July 29, 2003. I believe he does not have the power to destroy yet. And I believe we must remain vigilant, because the day and the hour inwhich he receives the power to destroy may come at any time. Dream/Commentary 2003 - www.bigfootlivesindallaswestend.com

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Shaloom Guys (again, I'n not a jew),

The traditions spoken of the pharisees are actually the book of Talmud, which is their interpretation of what the Torah actually means, and how to comply them.

In example, the Talmud says that the meaning of not working during the sabbath are, to name one, not walking more than ### number of paces. Lifting things are considered working, but holding a baby is not. However the baby must not carry anything more than the usual baby clothing, in example a lamp. So lifting and holding a baby is not working, but if the baby holds a lamp you are breaking the Torah, so they say. (That's why israelis nowadays have moslem servants ha ha ha). One famous talmud tradition is washing of hands before eating.

The Talmud is not considered THE WORD OF GOD by Lord Jesus, rather HE called it a human tradition.

Sugeng Wiguno

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thats it, brother
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pls. give me an ending to the parable of good samaritan!
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cornell
I dont have the scriptures.. but the way i understand it is ...
There is repentance and blasphemy of the holy spirit.. i am not to clear on it either.. but here is what i do know

When we sin, if we confess our sins and turn God will forgive us.
Sin could be murder, murders,stealing, hate lust, lying, gossiping

Blasphemy as i understand it, not quite sure is when a person totally reject God , they have been given over to reprobate mind, they have
completly sold out and have no desire to come back home to God the Father

God knows the diffenence and he is not confuse when someone has completely rejected and refuse his Love, Him, His Son, His Spirit, His ways...

a story, testimony i love in the bible, is saul that perscuted, killed christians, one day on the road to Damascus was stop in his tracks
turn around repent of his evil ways was forgiven and greatly use by the same God, the same Jesus he tried to kill, and destroy his name and his people.....What a great testimony....God loves it when we turn, he is not a tricky God is not trying to trick us, sometimes the enemy tries to trick us into thinking i have gone to far God will never accept me now, look how i reject him,look at all those time he spoke to me, warn me and i walked away, rejected him and would not listen, will he listen to me now.... this is want the prodigal son parable son 's essence of the message is he will accept you, love you, bless you, if you come back home, return, repent confess, Lord, Father God i have sin against you
i have rejected you,i have(you fill in the blanks)
i want to come back home
i believe in You Father God, I believe in Your Son Jesus that he died for my sins, and that he arose on third day, and now i am made free by
The Blood of Jesus, and i ask for you The Holy Spirit to come into my heart and live inside of me,
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The text of the good Samaritan story does not say whether the man is Jewish or Gentile or Samaritan or anything. The greek uses an indefinite pronoun, so the best translation is "certain man". One may infer that he was Jewish because he was traveling from Jerusalem (a place Samaritans wouldn't be welcome), but it is not certain.
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I am a catholic teacher and would love a copy of the mustard tree as we are looking at how our faith grows from a little seed. I want to use the parrable in our class prayer service.
Thanks and God bless Liz
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Very recently I had two opportunities to talk about the parables of the kingdom of God with friends. It amazes me how dull of hearing people can be. They look at you like you’re from another planet (huh?). As if to say why on earth would anybody show such an interest in the words of Jesus (kingdom parables)? It reminds me of the old expression “batting their eyes like a calf with a new gate”. WHY you might ask? You REALLY have to ask?

The creator was talking about MANIFESTATIONS!

Mark 4-22 for there is nothing hid, which shall not be MANIFESTED; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Look at what dictionary.com says that manifest means:

Manifest
adj : clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses; "the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields"; "evident hostility"; "manifest disapproval"; "patent advantages"; "made his meaning plain"; "it is plain that he is no reactionary"; "in plain view" [syn: apparent, evident, patent, plain] n : a customs document listing the contents put on a ship or plane v 1: provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes; "His high fever attested to his illness"; "The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication"; "This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness" [syn: attest, certify, demonstrate, evidence] 2: record in a ship's manifest; "each passenger must be manifested" 3: reveal its presence or make an appearance; "the ghost manifests each year on the same day"

Look at what the last sentence says.

“Reveal its presence or make an appearance; "the ghost manifests each year on the same day".

Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus Christ-the miracle worker, God almighty, was walking around in a physical body teaching people how he was doing his miracles via the kingdom parables?

“HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR LET HIM HEAR”

Isn’t that what a “manifestation” is? A miracle? I realize holy Joes will lament “NOW THAT’S GOING TOO FAR! But is it? If a ghost were to “appear” before you right now, wouldn’t that be a miraculous experience? Wouldn’t it be a “manifestation”?

Now, there’s more to it. Jesus was doing his miracles by the HOLY Ghost, but how do you think he got the Holy Ghost? How about by these teachings of the Kingdom?

By the latter definition of manifestation found above; couldn’t we conclude that Jesus merely obtained a “manifestation” of the Holy Spirit?

I believe that everything that we will ever need or obtain from God in reference to the fulfillment of his word is routed through the teachings of Mark chapter four.

And people wonder why I spend so much time pursuing understanding into the teachings of the Kingdom of God.

I WANT GOD MANIFEST IN MY LIFE!

Is that really that hard to understand?

And yet people are clueless as to the fact that there is a system laid down by Christ whereby we can tap into these things, calling them into existence (make them a reality).

But it doesn’t come from crying and whining and asking for Manifestations.

DID YOU GET THAT!

It comes from HIDING the things that we want, within our hearts. We do the “hiding” (planting, sowing, covering, “keeping secret”, it’s the idea of planting a seed) and God “rewards us openly”…-MANIFESTATION.

I have heard Godly people pray and make the biggest blunder possible in prayer. They use the word manifestation. THAT’S A NO-NO (it will produce fear. “Hiding” produces faith-now you know where fear comes from).

Learn the secret of humility. HIDE his word in your heart and keep it hidden (the opposite of manifesting it-in and of ourselves-as though we could-PRIDE). So that God-through the seed planting, cultivation, process, CAN reward you openly.

Have you noticed that everything in the teachings of the Kingdom seem backwards of the way that we do things? Actually we’re the backwards ones.

“There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death”...

“The first will be last and the last will be first”.

These are the “secrets” that Jesus came to bring to light. And yet Christians are more interested in Hollywood than they are in obtaining the ability to manifest Gods word to the world around us. I know people that will give you the biggest grinniest smile when talking about a Hollywood production (just for fun tell them that there’s full backal nudity and watch that smile grow). But if you ever mention the word of God they’ll turn that smile upside down (I call it the baby diaper look i.e. an imaginary baby diaper beneath the nose). They’ll “manifest” the spirit of sourpuss. No excitement. No glee. NO NOTHING!

Why is that? That’s not right. AND THEY JUST DON’T GET IT. That’s what Jesus called hard heartedness (seeds that fell upon the rock). And they could just decided to HEAR what Jesus is saying but no. Hollywood’s better apparently

Weather you believe that a manifestation is a miracle or not it doesn’t matter. But if something appears out of the blue and it’s a good thing, then I’m going to want more of the same. And THAT IS A MANIFESTATION.
.
What if you had a whole body of believers that had this ability to produce fruit unto God in this way and instruct others as to how to do so as well? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? But instead of learning what Jesus taught (this is what HE chose to teach), we’re out fussing about water baptism, or weather you can have a swig of beer. Dear Lord (lamenting vehemanently)!

But as long as we’re going to blind as bats, I guess we’ll be experts on water baptism.

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Please forward photo of mustard tree.

Thanks much.
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I was recently asked if this parable referred to lost people or backslidden christians. I think both. This, to me, is a story of God's unconditional love. I will not get into as to whether or not we lose our salvation. I believe that the point is we are allowed to make our own decisions and that if we are willing to repent, God will accept our return with great love and understanding. We will never be perfect in this life and will always be guilty of sin.
Thank for letting share my opinion.

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I heard that the mustard trees bark is petrified and has a dew that keeps insects away from sheep. That when a goat gets under the mustard tree that same dew will drive them mad and they will ram the tree until they die. That there are only 2 things that grow under it, one the Rose of Sharon, and two a weeping willow (humility). Has any one else ever heard of this?
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HARVESTING

The harvesting is nothing more than concentrating the yeast cells by
passing the fermented liquid through large centrifugal pumps called
separators. This process is similar to spinning clothes dry in a washing
machine. The result is off-white liquid called cream yeast. Further
processing is dependent on the type of yeast desired.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

In all the yeast processes, utmost care is taken to produce a product of
the highest possible quality and purity. Samples are routinely checked by
the laboratory and frequent cleaning and sterilization of the equipment
are conducted to assure the proper standards are met.



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I believe that the 10 virgins are bridesmaids. Wedding signifiies a good and wonderful time, and in our daily vocubarlary, "Let us celebrate and go partying".

When we go partying, it applies to everyone. In our christian world, every ordinary christians are invited. But if you are not alert and not watchful, you will miss the party time.

So, the virgins are just us, the ordinary christians. Bridesmaids help the wedding party, but they are not someone improtant enough to make or break the wedding.
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Jesus sais in Matthew 17:20 If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

I only have a very short space here and must be very brief but hopefully I will impart enough to get you started. If not please email and I will give full discourse.

The mustard seed (as well as all seeds) has been given a commission by God. You may read this in Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

We also have been given a commission to go into all the world and teach all people what the Lord has taught us. But to many times we look at situations and circumstances and say "I can't do that." But if the mustard seed said that it would never sprout and come out of the ground. A mustard seed is to be planted approximately 1/4" deep in the ground. Considering the physical size of the mustard seed to the depth that translates to a depth equal to over 100 times the size of the seed. It does not say I can't push the ground away and bring forth. Once it is planted it only has one intention. To bring forth seed. That is the program that is on the inside. The Master Programmer put this program in place way back in the beginning when He said "bring forth seed."

The same way God has put a unique program (or purpose) into each one of us. We each have a "destiny" that God planned for us before the foundation of the world. If we will allow ourselves to be planted, then the program will bring forth that thing in our lives that God has before ordained. Nothing will be impossible unto us, because we will only be concerned about doing what is our program. I will not try to emulate your program (ministry), and you would not try to emulate mine. You know that you have a special calling from the Lord, as do I. When you know what God has told you to do, then nothing is impossible. God does not instruct us to do what is impossible. He does not prepare us for failure. He instructs me to do what I can do (sometimes only with His help are these things possible), and has prepared me to do what He instructs me to do.

Hope this helps. I could go on for days if allowed.

brothertommy@hotmail.com
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can i request a picture of the mustard tree
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Please help me find congregations already faithful in the unrighteous mammon of Luke 16. I call on another Scripture passage for help:

"Ask [keep on asking] and it will be given to you; seek [keep on seeking] and ye shall find; knock [keep on knocking] and the door will be opened unto you. For everyone who asks [continues to ask] receives, and everyone who seeks [continues to seek] finds, and everyone for everyone who knocks [continues to knock] the door is opened unto him." (Matt. 7:7; I read in Greek)

I am at a loss for where to turn to find a congregation already faithful even in the unrighteous mammon of Luke 16, and I continue to knock on my keyboard despite medical hindrances so that doors from your replies may open up for me. Such a congregation must not be full of members who claim not to know any rich people, and it must not turn its bankrupts over to unbelieving lawyers out in the world. Our God is great with His rich heart, yet the vast majority of American churches professing faith in Him remain severely limited financially because they are trying to earn almost all the wealth for Christian endeavors. Budgets are tight because most of today's building-based ministries have served Mammon rather than God. Now, brethren, I ask you where this is not so, and I am willing to look far away, so far as to have to flee, if such a congregation have welcome and great wealth to give me.

I despair of becoming a bankruptcy lawyer because I believe that Jesus will return too soon. If I do not know where or how to meet rich people somewhat near me, that leaves me a horrible search for a church or Christian gathering or organization which already has done as I have written that the churches should have done to assure plenty of wealth, for if I must strike out in search, I can expect to run into many tens or even hundreds of wrong churches still financially limited and unwilling to be taught Luke 16:1-13. Each of these has a terrible surprise or a concealment of their limitations in store for me when I press on and persist for faithfulness according to Jesus Christ (Luke 16:1-13). Obviously, I refuse to waste Sunday morning attendance on them out of tact (Matt. 7:6). Overwhelmed, I ask you for guidance which the Lord has not given me clearly.

After establishing ties to such a group of Christians mostly obedient according to Jesus (Luke 16), I shall at long last possess the wealth for my ministry and be free of many worries (Matt. 6:24) which have plagued me ever since I was browbeaten and harmed and ruined by the evil servants Richard Smith and William Meier of Twin City Bible Church in Urbana, IL in 1993 (Matt. 24:45-51). I have had to pursue the education for ruined careers before because God's people failed me; please help me build my life on the solid Rock of faith by showing me where to turn for a congregation you know to be already faithful in the unrighteous mammon as I have described.

Please post your replies here because oppressive spam has forced me to acquiesce in exclusively filtered e-mail. If you do not happen to be aware of any congregation already faithful according to Luke 16:1-13, please ask around. Great will be your reward in heaven. Amen.
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The non-Prodigal son was guilty of the sin that many of us fall subject to: Pride. He had clearly lived his life with an objective of pleasing his father (or others) so as to receive their acceptance and approval. When the praise and glory was given to another (who he concluded was less worthy) it was more than he could bear. We should live our lives with a mind to please only God. In doing so, we are guaranteed God's approval, and will never be disappointed as the brother was here. Moreover, in doing so, we are likely to please our fellow man anyway, as they experience the warmth that come from associating with a christ-like person.
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Leaven is always represented as a bad thing in the Bible and in the context the women also. I think this is sin and false teachers being in the church and the church growing into something it shouldn't be.

To GOD be the glory

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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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Is it true that when the small mustard seed is planted should grow into a large garden plant instead of a tree....?
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hello there,
in respose to your question Jesus Christ is how i am doing, living
and breathing acts 17:28 and john 14:27 let not your heart be
trouble or let it be afraid. my friend i pray you are baptized
in Jesus Christ acts 2:38 and not his titles matt 28:19 pay
close attetion to in the name of (single not plural )

J E S U S C H R I S T is the father , son ,and holy ghost in one name

and if you are in the name of Jesus Christ ask the father(Jesus Christ)
any thing in his name and he will do it. believe and have faith in

God(Jesus Christ) come ye that are heavy laden and daily give your
cross to him
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What Jesus taught this parable which 5 foolish virgins refer the wicked and 5 wise virgins refer the righteous. Only 5 wise virgins keeps watch concerning their lives to prepare for the Bridegroom comes at midnight, but the foolish virgins didn't watch concerning their lives because of their carelessness. Christ admonishes that we like 5 wise virgins keep to be watched and prepared for Him to come by our holy lifestyle! God bless! Bro. Worley
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In a christian club i was baptised in the holy spirit and i sope the word asabia. i searched on the web and i found this. can u help me out?
jack

ps e-mail me backl

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The parable is about the kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said the kingdom is inside of us(his true disciples). What was inside of his disciples? His word. Jesus Himself was a humble man, showing us an example to follow. He existed before we were all created, the Word was with God in the beginning, the Word was God. The Word dwelt in the flesh and was so humble, more humble than any man, because of that, he was exalted to sit beside the highest. The parable has connection with the sower and the seed, the seed can be related to the mustard seed, and He interpeted the seed to be the word of God. Jesus is the bread of life, and whoever eats his flesh, has eternal life. But bread must come from wheat, from a seed. And water must feed the seed. And people must tend and labour for the harvest. We must tend to the word of God, not only hear it, but do it, not be a slothful servant(proverbs talk about slothful servants, they are overcome with thorns and tares). When we tend to it, it grows, the word of God increases(the bible talks about this, I wont tell where the exact scriptures are, you'll have to work for that yourself) inside of us,(Jesus said one must be born of water and Spirit to inherit eternal life) the word of God is like water, washing our conscience(so we have a new conscience, born to abstain from all sin) so we can be baptised and then baptised with the Holy Spirit, born of Spirit. But before that we labour for the word to grow so the birds of the air with nest in it(the Spirit of God, there are gifts of the Spirit, working miracles, speaking differant languages, prophecy, revelation, faith, knowledge and wisdom), be not deceived, Paul said that everyone attending to the TRUE church of God, will and has to bring these things to every gathering. 1 Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, EVERY ONE of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Most of these so called churches are worshipping in vain if the gospel is not preached with power also, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross have no effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." 1 Corinthians 2:4 - And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:" 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:" 2 Corinthians 3:6 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
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