i dnt agree with ur points...... they are well thought of but not agreeable... how could you question the bible?

only in heaven will we find the answers for such questions so why waste energy that you could use to praise GOOOOOOD now!!!

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

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have a good day. can you provide me the picture resembling the following
parables of Jesus,

1. The Laborers in the Vineyard
2. The Good Samaritan
3. The weeds in the grain
4. The Sower and the Seeds
5. The two Debtors

I'm very much thankful if you can provide it for me and let me to view it.


Thank you very much and may God bless you always.

Abet
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I'm sorry, it looks like I forgot to address the last question on called and chosen.
Maybe the chosen are the ones who were called to do the greatest work. Relate it to martyrs, or people God has given special talent to to complete great works in short amounts of time.
Such as
Bob has been a Christian for 25 years and obeyed and honored God and witnessed when he could.
Bill was a Christian for 1 year, devoted every moment to publically speaking for Christ in China and was caught and executed.
Both were called, God chose a special assignment for Bill and blessed him with the ability to be able to do it.
Both were called, Bill was chosen.
Both get the same reward.

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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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would like to have a picture of a mustard to show my
sunday school class fo first and second graders
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I'll just quote a sentence from this mail then put my oppinion....

In this view, who would Gods mercy fall favor on in salvation?

My oppinion...............God looks apon the heart............people miss the point of this story, because they look at it through their eyes, and through their justification, so ofcourse those that are poor and suffer are more worthy than those who dont, God said their is none righteous no not one, rich people will go to hell exactly the same as poor people, we can sympathize with the poor but it is only aggreeing that envy has a place in Gods kingdom it doesnt............Jesus could have told the same story in reverse because gauranteed he knows one poor man that is going to Hell and one rich man that is not, but that would have not had the same appeal to our views on justification, we have to be led to the truth, line upon line precept on precept............. tell me when they shouted crucify him to pilate, were there more rich than poor? When Jesus said you seek me because your bellies were filled, ie they followed him fore the bread, and said Abraham was their father, and he said if Abraham was your father you would Love me................are these poor going to heaven?...............God looks upon the heart, it doesnt matter if youve lived the best life ie rich, or the worst life ie begger............circumstances wont change your heart, rich or poor if you have no love for God you have no love for God............10 lepers got healed only 1 came back to thank God........... I believe this story is not about rich vs poor it is about the heart of Lazurus and he had a heart for God ..................and it is a story of the Beauty of God because he is no respecter of persons.
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Rev 20:1-15 KJV At the end of the 7 years after the tribulation
(1) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
(2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
(3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
(4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The "rest of the Dead" below are those since the 7th trumpet resurrection, which is called the first resurrection.

(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
(7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
(8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
(9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
(10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

JUDGEMENT DAY AFTER THE 1000 YEARS,

2nd resurrection, these are those that has died since the "7th trumpet resurrection" and since the beginning of time.

This does not include none of those who took part in the 1st resurrection!

Christians appeared already before the judgment seat of Christ, remember the (wheat & tares) or (good & bad servants) are separated!

Note: The ones who will have to stand before God are different then the ones that appeared before the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

These will have to stand before God and will be judged according to their works from the books OR if their name is not found in the book of life they will be cast into the lake of fire! This is the second death/resurrection.

(11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
(12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
(13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

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My conscience simply will not let me solicit the friendship of someone (saved or unsaved) just to realize some financial gain for myself or the ministry. The thought of it is completely contrary to what God has been teaching me about what reaching out in true love really is. I can't think of a more selfish way to use somebody.

Partiality and favortism is at the very heart of our sinful nature--entertaining people for whatever benefit they can provide. That is precisely the 'old man' I want to see crucified.

Thank God that He (God) did not do that to me, leaving me an example to follow. Just when I had nothing to offer Him, He saved me:

"...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRANSGRESSIONS..." (Ephesians 2:4)

"You see, at just the right time, when we WERE STILL POWERLESS, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)

One of my favorite scriptures that almost always causes me to well up in tears is Luke 14:12-14 (THIS is the very heart of God!)

"...When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, OR YOUR RICH NEIGHBORS; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, INVITE THE POOR, THE CRIPPLED, THE LAME, THE BLIND, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, YOU WILL BE REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS."

God, create in me THIS kind of love that you might be glorified and my joy will be complete.

"...the ONLY thing that counts is faith EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE." (Galatians 5:6)
















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I dont know what this is about...will someone give me sum help?? I am scared
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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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I am teaching this Sunday on parables. A picture of the mustard tree will help my visual presentation. Can anyone point me to any source?
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I see the difference between the foolish and wise in this way. The lamp represents God's word (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet). The oil is the truth in the word revealed, empowered and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. I see the wise and the foolish historically as well as in a contemporary and yet even in a personal application. For all through history and even now, there are religious movements which hold the bible, but the foolish ones empty thier bible of it's power (for they have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof). They deny miracles, they excuse and interpret away the holy commands and warnings of judgment. They dismantle prohecy of end times events by academic interpretation instead of spiritual. The foolish virgins are dead religion! Empty lamps. Empty Pulpits. Whitewashed tombs full of dead mens bones. They attend what they call "church", but they do not want Jesus to confront sin or the preacher to stand up for truth. They love a religious social club. They will miss the rapture and be left in the tribulation, whille the true body of Christ-the believers who take Gods word as absolute and who hold to the doctrines of the apostles and who let Jesus deal with daily and sanctify them- not perfect, mind you, but neither deceived either. The follish are the decieved religious who think they know what christianity is, but do not.
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Although Jesus says through this parable that God will restore you to what you`ve been before you left, and I take by that he also means that the Holy Spirit will come and live in us once again. The Apostle Paul says that once we let go of the Spirit that gives life (i.e the Holy Spirit) it would be impossible to get it back. Would you please clear this out for me `cause I tend to find this confusing. Thanx
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Would you please send me a copy of that picture? If it's good, I'd like to use it for my sermon on Sunday.

Mike
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I am sorry. I thought this was about the prodigal son. This is indeed the complete text for this parable.
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In response to Big Island’ inquiry posted under the topic of the mustard seed as to how to “hide” the Word of God, here’s my response and thanks for “hearing” what I said.

Notice what Luke 12 says:

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Look at the word “therefore” in verse 3. Therefore mean because of this. Because of what was spoken in verse two, which is the same thing that’s stated in Mark chapter four “there is nothing hid that shall not be manifest, neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad”. So you can see already that speaking “in the ear” (out loud where you and only you can hear yourself say it) is a prerequisite to performing the idea in this scripture.

Look at Mathew chapter 6:

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
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.

Notice the dichotomy that forms. Jesus speaks of doing things which merits mans reward and doing things that merit Gods reward. Mans reward is valueless. God’s reward is eternal and substantive. But notice what sets these two approaches apart. One man ATTEMPTS to be seen of man, the other shuns or does the exact opposite.

Look at verse 6. When you pray, enter your closet, shut the door and speak to your father, which is in SECRET. “There is nothing kept secret but that it should come abroad”. Can you see how that this idea connects up with the teachings of Mark chapter four?

I believe the Idea is this: Though the place where the Word is sown is in the heart, through speaking “in the ear” (out loud) the promises of God; might the place where he is doing it be reflected in Marks account of this parable?

Mark 4:
21 And he said unto them, is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick?
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 these two terms, bushel and bed. A candle is being enclosed or enshrouded in darkness. Light is sealed out. Does that remind you of anything? “The things spoken in DARKNESS shall be heard in the light”.

Could this be a metaphor for a man praying in his prayer closet? The man sealed himself in a room where only God could hear him say something. Like under a bushel. But also notice the word bed. Why bed? Might what Jesus perceives in his heart at the time of this utterance be a bedroom?

So then the term “hide” or “hidden”(there is nothing hid that shall not be manifest) takes on a new meaning.

It means to speak something out loud in private where only God can hear you say it. And for what purpose do we do this? “And thy father which seeth in secret shall REWARD THEE OPENLY”. The catch is this. IT HAS TO REMAIN A SECRET. If you tell anyone you get mans reward. But if you harbor it in your heart, over a period of time, God will explode it out into the open. Hence there is nothing HID that shall not be MANIFEST.

Look at the expression “let not the left hand know what the right hand doeth”. Doesn’t that now take on a new meaning? Might that mean that one part of the same human knows that it did something (in prayer), but it keeps it from the outer parts, not allowing you to act upon it in any way? It’s a secret and will remain a secret from the world around us, until God almighty brings it to light. But too many people are going the opposite direction thinking they have to act a certain way. No! That’s man reward and it’s just an act-worthless. It’s going contrary to what Jesus taught.

We hide things in our hearts by speaking out loud in our prayer chambers the promises of God. We become the candle that is covered by the bushel of the enclosed prayer closet. But without realizing it, when doing this, we place the candle upon a candlestick (I believe the kind with a mirror or reflective device behind it) and our hearts functioning in unison with the father begin to radiate your prayer into the world around you. But it takes patience. Faith-which is what we are doing-GROWS! But in time, that which was covered will be revealed. And the things kept secret will creep out into the open. People will see IN YOU, the things that you have “HIDDEN” in prayer. “As when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light”.

God bless.
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What is the scientific name for a fungus on bread? If possible i really need the answer today..it is for a biology project!
Thanx a bunch!
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I’ve read what you’ve written under the mustard seed and the leaven parables and I think I see the light…I think.

Correct me if I’m wrong but are you saying that Jesus taught two different analogies pertaining to the heart of man? The one likening it unto a garden in which the fruit are brought forth in relation to the seeds planted (ideally the Word)? And the leaven parable in which the heart of man would be like a lump of dough that the yeast of God’s word is “hid” in? It in turn manifests the fact that yeast was put in. Or it tells the story that something was “hid” in it. In other words “there’s nothing hid that will not be manifest”. Kind of like a candle shinning light (metaphoristically speaking). Is that right? Are these two parables saying in essence the same thing but from different angles?

Are you saying that THIS is Gods endorsed way of getting his Word manifest in our lives, or receiving a fulfillment of a biblical promise?

If that’s true, then do you have any idea how we “hide” the Word of God in our hearts? Or is it buried in metaphors that no one can figure out? Anything that you can share with me would be much appreciated.

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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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There was a lot of talk about the "bad" wayward brother and the "good" brother who stayed home and minded and got hacked when bad boy came home apologetically and resumed his place. Well, what about those other guys in the field who just do their job for pennies taking care of slopping the hogs or whatever. Aren't they human beings also, don't they have souls, aren't they capable of attaining status. In Judaism your mother has to be a Jew or you will not be allowed at the table at all. Speaking as a low waged hog slopper, I suppose my reward awaits me in heaven, right?
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I don't know which subject you are speaking of, since I was the last one before your comment, let me share the Scripture in God's Word, concerning continued sin in the life of a believer! First, Jesus said unto sinner that came unto Him and were forgiven their sins, sin no more less a worse thing come upon you! The Judgment of God!
(Hebrews-10-26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth (Christ) there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But CERTAIN fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.
Satan has always been the liar and murderer that deceived mankind, from the beginning, to take of the tree of knowledge, knowing good and evil!! (Genesis-3-4-5) (2-17) But God said, The day you eat thereof, knowing good and evil, you shall die!
(Romans-6-16) Know you not to whom you yeild yourselves servants to obey, his servant you are to whom you obey: whether of sin unto death (continued sin) or of obedience unto Righteousness! We cannot obey God, and the Devil! God never changes, (Genesis-2-17) that wages of sin is death, neither does Satan! (Genesis-3-4-5) you shall not surely die!
(11Thess-2-3-12! That all might be Damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness!
Also note, (1John-3-7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is Righteous!
(8) He that COMMITS SIN is of the Devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning, For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might DESTROY (not justify) the works of the Devil!
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i am currently doing an assignment in school on biblical parables. i was wondering if you had a simplified childrens version that i could get hold of. thank you
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One thing I am reminded of while I was reading through your messages was, not hiding the lamp under the bowl, but letting the light shine. Does everyone remember the concept of not hiding the light and letting our light shine? The last servant was scorned because he had buried into the world whatever the master had entrusted.
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i want to know to. A couple of weeks ago i saw a film about Barabas, where he eventually became a christian but it took him ages and he mucked up alot along the way. The facts fit. the times, but i want to know if its true, because if it was it would be cool. ive always felt that there was something of Barabas' story we werent hearing. I always felt like he should have changed. I hope some one can prove that right.
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My Aunt is doing a bible study on the mustard seed. She ask me to find her a picture of a mustard seed tree to use in the bible study.
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I believe that when the Good Samaritan gave the coins to the Innkeeper he established that he would return to the Inn and pay whatever amount was necesary to cover the mans needs for his injuries.
This personnally tells me that when I help someone , that I need to be ready to pay whatever price that it takes to meet that need if possible. We are called to be Good Samaritans like Jesus was, and to set that example for others.That price may be money or it may be many ours praying and talking to the person.It may be shelter or clothing.
Whatever the need may be , when we help someone are we ready to tru0ly help and pay the price?
I hope that this was helpful to you David. God Bless You.
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The Trinity has always been a permanent part of God's kingdom (God is All) but hidden from view to the Church because of their blindness, and is still hidden from their view in a big degree. The true Trinity is not a human invention. The Church may THINK they know what the Trinity is, but your view of it is a better view than theirs. I doubt if the Church would acknowledge your view. It is interesting to note that just about that time, (300 A.D.) the raising of the dead ceased. Many think that when the Church government got into religion with all their rules, dogma, symbols, rites and rituals that that was the reason that raising of the dead stopped. "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? " Acts 26:8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12. Spirituality was lost to ritualism, consequently healing power lost too. The true Trinity is most certainly part of the Leaven, and the other way around also. Your idea of the Trinity is a better one than that of the Church. Why do we feel that it is incredible that Christians were able to raise the dead 300 years after the crucifixion of Jesus? We need to rethink our methods to be able to "go and do likewise."
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The 10 virgins are bridesmaid. They are NOT brides to the groom. It was devasting because they could not fulfil the role they were were supposed to play. The characters are used to convey the story of the certainty of the wedding. In interpreting the parable, we are not to allegorise the parable (like the lamp means this and the oil means that) - because all parables carry a central message and a main thrust. (The school of allegory belongs tot he times of Oriegen that follows the school of typology. )

The central thrust of the parable is this:

The Kingdom of God is coming with all certainty. We must be prepared like the 5 prudent virgins. The essential consequence is that those who are unprepared will miss the boat - hence will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven refers to the sovereign reign of God here on earth and also eternally in Heaven. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah will enter the Kingdom of God and will be counted as the SAVED. Salvation is only in Jesus ALONE! We are not saved by our titles or respectable religion but only on our trust in the Lord Jesus.

Jesus saved us from the penalty of sin because sin is cupable. Here is 3 basic Steps in entering God's eternal kingdom.

1. "Sorry"
"Dear Lord Jesus, I am sorry that I have greviously sinned against you. Please forgive my sins and wipe away all my trangressions. (1 Jn 1:9 says that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleansed us of all unrighteousness.)

2. "Please"
"Please take full rein of my life. Please enable me to live with a sense of God in my life so that I will transfer alll my trust in you. Please give me your guidance how to live a life worthy- that I may be your disciple."

3. "Thank You"
"Thank you for your saving grace, so that I do not need to face the eternal damnation of hell. Thank you for leading me into your kingdom."


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to people
is love your neighbour really right?
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Does anyone know the meaning of "Abrahams Bosom"?
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birds of the air
Strong's Ref. # 3772 for air
Romanized ouranos Pronounced oo-ran-os'
perhaps from the same as GSN3735 (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specifically, the Gospel (Christianity):
KJV--air, heaven([-ly]), sky.
so it could be written as? so that the birds of heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

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Dear Peter,

Your note on the web touched me. It sounded like a cry for help from a young man struggling to stay afloat. Internet correspondence with people I don't know is not my habit but I feel a concern for you.

I am not privy to all that is in your situation.

How old are you and how long have you been a Christian?

Are both of your brothers Christians?

Does your brother who stayed home share your feelings?

On what terms was the returning brother brought into the business? Is he an employee or did he buy into the business?

Are you involved in an unequal yoke, ie. are both of your brothers believers? You could be faced with selling your interest and starting a business of your own.

How does your father see the situation? Can you appeal to him for guidance?

If you and your brother bought the business why do you still retain the irritations?

If your father has a will how can others take what is not theirs?

There is so much that I don't know but it sounds like it is time for a family conference to clear the air and redefine everybody's limits and responsibilities.

The closer we come to home the more crucial relationships become.

Have you thought of seeking advice from a wise business man in your church or community?

Above all don't become weighed down with resentment and bitterness. You need to forgive your brother and deal with him graciously. It only takes one to forgive. To forgive wrongs gives the soul buoyancy and joy.
It is a reminder that we also are forgiven by One who was offended by our sin in a way that we will never understand.


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Dear Beloved Brother / Sister in Christ,

Greetings to you in Jesus Name Amen!

First of all I praise and thank Lord Jesus for giving an opportunity to have beautiful fellowship with your Blessed Ministry by sending this Email. This is pastor pravardhan varma from SOUTH-INDIA. Running a church named by Good Seed Church Ministry since the year 2000.

Good Seed Church Ministry is moving with a vision not only preaching Gospel, but also feeding the destitute street Children with Food, Cloth & Good Education. Most importantly, all of this work is carried out in the name of the Lord, with the result that many are finding Salvation, deliverance and personal healing through faith in Christ.

For this we are in need of your powerful prayers for my country Orphan Children’s. If you are having a vision to work with our Good Seed Church Ministry to spread Gospel for children and people here in INDIA in these End Days, we heartily welcome you to visit India and share gospel here for the people who are in darkness. And win souls for God. We need your ministry Branch here in India.

We are going on prayers to be fulfilled in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. Please pray for us and for my Ministry. Convey my Greets to your family & Staff.


We are waiting to hear favor from you soon as God leads you Amen!

Our Email Address: - info_goodseedchurchministry@yahoo.com

In His Service,
Pastor.Varma & Family.
GOOD SEED CHURCH MINISTRY.
Gospel On Wheels,
South India.


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I encountered different opinions about the parable of the mustard seed...
but during the times of Jesus mustard is considered as the tiniest seed and concluded as the tallest of all the herbs before.with so much discoveries as of now,different interpretations come out.as for me Jesus compares heaven in to a mustard seed that started to a person,to a group then to a much bigger one...the world...now known as christians.the kingdom of God started into a scraped work but as years have passed,it grew and influenced each and everyone.if you'll observe a growth of a mustard,it is small before you'll plant it.but as it grows,its roots deepens down to the ground sucking up all the nutrients to live to grow tall.if you'll interpret it in the life of Jesus,he started as one, a carpenter and a poor man.as he grew old,he met some people.he called them and became his followers.he preached and preached until his words reached everyone,even alarmed the church before for he was considered as the awaited messaih,the savior.the small packed of Jesus grew and his teachings influenced each and everyone.as the faith of the people were united they stand tall to all obstacles against the people who are in contrast with the faith like Nero's occupation in roman history.if you'll see it the seed that was the tiniest one during Jesus time was him and the kingdom of God,the growth of the mustard is the apostles of Jesus,its roots is Jesus teachings influencing every jew,the nutrients is people's belief or faith and the height is the strength of christianity and its success doing its very best to reach the highest peak of the sky.
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The prodigal son is a lesson that not too many churches teach or believe in today.

It is a lesson in assurance.

God took for himself the name of "Father" so we could some how relate to Him. (Isa 55:8)

A Father can never say that a son or a daughter is not His.(Gal 4:6)and (Rom 8:14-17)

The father can write that person out of his will or kick him out of the house or correct him by discplinary measures (Proverbs 3: 11-12), but the child will always be the child of that Father.

Once you are born again (John chapeter 3 teaches one how to be born again) You can never "not be a child of God".

The world constantly misqoutes the Bible by saying "we are all God's children."Galatians 3:26 is often quoted without the second part of this verse.
Gal 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."


We Christians should correct them and say we are all God's creation but you don't become a child of God until you are born again.

1Pe 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." You see when you are born again it is forever.

The lesson in the prodigal son is that no matter how bad one acts (Thank GOD that this is true) you or I will never be disowned by the Father.



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Jesus makes his point clear by telling the story in three parts. First thing to note is who was the parable told for? The parable was for tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and Scribes. In my opinion the message applies to all four groups, but it was mainly for the Pharisees and Scribes. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep it has a pattern of losing something(a sheep) and finding it then rejoice TOGETHER. In the Parable of the Lost Coin it follows the same pattern; something is lost(a coin) but is found then is followed by rejoicing TOGETHER. Similarly the prodigal son was lost then found but was there rejoice TOGETHER? As you may have notice i capped TOGETHER to bring in a point. The older son did not rejoice together with the family. This is how the Pharisees/Scribes were. Even though Jesus was bringing people to God(teaching to repent,etc) the Pharisees tried to stop him and plotted against him. It is similar in a way how Jesus use "Should he heal on the Sabbath?". Rather than being bitter about it, they should rejoice. If Jesus is bringing a new soul toward God and if we are all children of God, we should rejoice! If the Pharisees/Scribes are all children of God they should rejoice together when a sinner is admitted in.
Also notice how Jesus did not say how the older son replied, which is smart because it was a question for each Pharisee as an individual to answer.

It is also incorrect to say there is only one thing you should learn from this parable, but many things. As you can see we gather up quite a bit of different points in the story.
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Interesting and varied comments thus far. I have given this parable some thought. I do not agree with the reverse parable conclusion. Jesus spoke to his audience in a way that they would understand. Servants or managers were entrusted to carry out the business of their master. Each of the servants were chosen to manage the talents according to their abilities. God does not entrust great authority and responsibility to a new believer.
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Please can you send me the picture of the mustard tree with the boy standing in front of it. Or else the e-mail address. I would like it for my Bible College.

Thanks alot.

Lynne




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Dear Mary, was just surfing for info and noticed your message. I have taught children's church for 7 years both in finland and Canda. Speaking of the parables, I have found an excellent teaching material. ( you may have heard of this already, since this message of yours have been here for almost a year now, thought I'd still leave you a note)
The material is called "the Parables of Christ" and it is published by CEF Press, located in Warrenton, MO. this material has 12 lessons which can be divivded into two- thus giving 24 lessions if you so choose. I have used one lesson per church. and have used this material for the entire year- twice already.
hope tihs helps you and may God bless your ministry with the children!!!
In Him, aura
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Kevin,
I too have a desire of a Reward! I want to earn a Crown, I can lay at the Feet of My Lord Jesus Christ, for He only is worthy to receive Glory, Praise and Honour from His Servants!
He died for me, He changed me, and He saved me, the only reward I want for myself, is to Hear Him say, Well done My faithful servant!
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To Lucius,

The Holy Spirit has caused me to consider the brother who stayed home with the Father. For years I thought the brother's indignation was justified. Jesus was speaking to the Pharasees when teaching this parable. So I must consider am I like the Pharasees? If I take the side of the brother who stayed home then I do not have a tender heart for the lost. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. If the brother cannot even love his brother and celebrate his return how can he love his neighbor.
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The non prodigal son is the one who attends church every week. does all that is to be done to be a "good" son- obedient hardworking. yet he does not see how BIG his Father is- how his Father is capable of loving them both equally as much. He does not see how everything that God has belongs to him. Everything that he "worked" for is his to own. He is even petty about a fattened calf! To me, he has obeyed without really Knowing the character of his own father. My take on him. ;)
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I can only Trust Jesus, to control me, because, when I obey Him, and sin no more (Ephesians-3-16) He srengthens me with might against sin and disobedience against Holy God, by His Spirit in my inner person!
With today's teaching, God gave His Holy Son, to die on a Cross, they He might understand your continued sin, and disobedience against Holy God, is not of God, but of the very devil!
Men, making themselves, the head over their churches, has lead many souls to Hell, in their justified continued sin against Holy God!
When Jesus is the Head to Rule over us, we HEAR His Words. When sinners came unto Him, and were forgiven their past sins, He also warned them, sin no more less a worse thing come upon you, The Judgment of God!
(Hebrews-10-26) For if we wilfully sin after that we have received the Knowledge of the Truth (Christ) there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a Certain fearful looking for of JUDGMENT and fiery indignation which shall Devour the adversaries!
Religion that teaches God gave His Son, that He might understand, or justify man's continued sin, is not of God.
(29) Of how much more sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, (to cleanse us of sin) an unholy thing (justified continued sin) and has done DESPITE unt the Spirit of Grace! Having total denied the Power of His Spirit to conform sinful man like unto His Image!
Woe to all who have made the Holy Blood of Christ Jesus, and the Power of His Spirit, of no more power then of the blood of bulls and goats, that could no take away sin, because the blood of bulls and goats, could not change the evil conscience of man!
(Hebrews-10-2-6) God had no pleasure in blood that could not take away man's evil conscience then, nor does He now!! (Hebrews-10-7-22) Jesus came to do away with the old covenant, that could not take away sin, that He might Establish the New Covenant, that fallen man might be cleanse from all sin and disobedience against Holy God, from the inside-out, having His Laws written in our hearts and in our minds, giving us His Spirit that we can and we do, keep His Commandments, thereby we follow Christ, not after man doctrine!
God does not dwell in Building made with man's hands, (called church) for we are the Temple of God!
If one does not worship Him, obey Him, seven days a week, they need not waste their time, playing Church on Sunday!

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life application of the growth of mustard seed
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Actually here I disagree with you. The verse speaks to the fact that it is good for the mustard seed to grow. And no where does it make any kind of parallel to the birds being the anti-Christ. On the contrary it speaks to the birds taking shelter under the the shadow of the tree that grows. If anything, the birds would be paralleled to Christians.
UNP Adam

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May I respectfully suggest the following : Every other reference to leaven in scripture has a bad connotation. You have already pointed out "Beware of the leaven of the pharisees" (also of the sadducees; also of Herod). In the Old Testament the first mention of leaven is that Lot (and despite everything, the New Testament refers to him as a righteous man) baked UN-leavened bread for the angels who visited him and warned him prior to the destruction of Sodom. On the day of the passover the lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs and UN-leavened bread, and the subsequent celebration of the passover was to be characterised by "no leaven in all your houses". When Paul says "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" he was clearly warning against an evil influence (and may have been deliberately borrowing terminology from Christ in this parable). Seems to me difficult to set aside this uniform testimony of scripture in the case of this parable.

Second, note that the idea of "hiding" the leaven in the measures of meal suggests a degree of subterfuge and under-handedness. Then, (I know this will meet with some objections) bearing in mind that the woman is forbidden in scripture from teaching or exercising rule in the church, the fact that this leavening was done by "a woman" may stand for irregularity of procedure.

So the idea seems to be this : There will always be a drift towards the exercise of irregular authority and underhand effort (by whom? - by Satan) intended to infiltrate and pollute the true soul-saving gospel of Christ (thereby making it a NON-gospel, and ineffective for the rescue of guilty sinners) "until the whole is leavened" - i.e. polluted, neutralised and rendered useless and unacceptable to God. Of course the sovereign power of God will never permit things to come to this position. But the means by which He will prevent it is by just the sort of warning implicit in this parable, which puts believers on their guard against teachers who will seek as "grievous wolves" to "enter in among you, not sparing the flock..." This is in line with Jude's clarion call to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."

This interpretation of the parable of the leaven seems in line with the preceding three parables of Christ, all of which demonstrate a similarity of thought - that the progress of the gospel will NOT go un-challenged. Parable of the Sower : A harvest only succeeds in 1 out of 4 soil types; Parable of the Wheat and Tares : Satan deliberately sows "the children of the wicked one" among them to create opposition/subversion etc. Parable of the mustard seed (also often disputed) : Growth of the mustard seed into a great tree is unnatural (indeed grotesque) growth, and seems to indicate that the original simplicity which was in the Lord Jesus Christ has suddenly been hi-jacked to become something it was never intended to be - namely a great, outwardly impressive, monolithic structure (you can think of the establishment of Christianity as "official" "proper" and "professional" religion under Constantine, subsequent development of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Episcopalianism, Connectional denominationalism etc. - these bear very little resemblance to the true nature of Christianity characterised by our Lord in the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the poor in spirit..." etc.)) Note that "The birds of the air come and lodge in the branches" - again, as recently as the parable of the sower, the birds of the air have the negative connotation of "the wicked one" who "catches away that which was sown..." so the nesting of "the birds of the air" - Satan and his forces - in the topmost branches of the unnatural overgrowth of ecclesiastical structures, is not just something that we see in the unscriptural practises of some organisations calling themselves churches, it is also something which the Saviour anticipated and warned us about.

So the gospel application is this : Do not be diverted into accepting every modern idea which claims to be Christian. Recognise that much of what masquerades as Christian is actually opposed to the true Christ who is revealed in the Bible. Salvation - rescue from sin (not just the consequences of sin) - and eternal life are to be found in Jesus Christ and His work of atonement on the cross. Salvation cannot be found anywhere else. There are many people and ideas seeking to influence the church today to modify this straightforward gospel message and take on board other things as being equally important. But they are like cuckoo's eggs. There is never room in the nest of the true church for Christ's gospel and something else tagged onto it. If allowed to stay, the "something else" will sooner or later push the gospel out. It has happened many times down through the history of the Christian church. Of course we are not required to live in a state of constant suspicion - that would not be Christlike - but neither are we to be naive. There is a constant need for vigilance, lest our churches and gospel preaching should be neutralised by compromise with the creeping pollution of ideas and philosophies antagonistic to the absolute authority of Christ and the holy scriptures.
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I think his name should be Aragorn.
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I agree with your interpretation that the neighbor is the Samaritan, i.e. Jesus.

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

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


Thanks,

Donna
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Pharisee Sadducees you do not see the phrases in the Old Testament. I am assuming they originated during the inter testamen period. Are they in the lost books
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