Christ said to those Jews who believed in Him in John the eigth chapter
if you continue in my word then are you truly disciples of mine. In the new testament it says that we have the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Revelation to the Apostle John Chapter 4 says that the
LAMP IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. If the lamp is the Holy Spirit then the oil must be the WORD OF GOD. When you believe in Chirst you recieve the
Holy Spirit you are a believer. But Christ said you are a DISCIPLE IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS WORD.
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Something Preachers in this Country has forgotten!
They care more for their wallet then they do the sheep in the fold!


Which off you,

having a hundred sheep,
if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,
and go after that which is lost,
until he find it?

And when he hath found it,
he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing.

And when he cometh home,
he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them,
Rejoice with me;
for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you,
that likewise joy shall be in heaven
over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons,
which need no repentance.
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Kevin, you are walking on very dangerous grounds! The scripture you use, does not say what you are trying to make it say!
(Luke-16-9) And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness: that, when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations! Meaning, we know, the unrighteous go to Hell, therefore they may receive you in everlasting habitation of Hell!
(13) No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, you cannot serve God and mammon. (unrighteousness)
You cannot serve both good and evil, you cannot serve satan and God!
(Matthew-6-25) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more then meat, and the body than raiment?
also note verses- 26-34

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I am discussing the passage on the Mustard seed this Wednesday and would appreciate a picture of the Mustard tree by the 5.1.2005. Tq. God Bless.
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Amanda I will be presenting a program of the Mustard Seed in January 2004. I went to the Bible Book Store and purchased Mustard Seed pocket card to hand out to the ladies. But I need help on ways to present the Mustard Seed program. Got any ideas.
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I simply believe it is a tool to prophecy his ressurrection. Note the punchline - If they don't believe Moses they won't believe if someone rises from the dead.
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i think it is roung
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The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed,
which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Which indeed is the least of all seeds:
but when it is grown,
it is the greatest among herbs,
and becometh a tree,
so that the birds of the air come
and lodge in the branches thereof.

heaven = mustard seed.
mustard seed = a tiny tiny seed.
mustard seed = a herb.
least of all seeds = a tiny tiny seed.
But when a mustard seeds grows it becomes the greatest among herbs.

The Kingdom of heaven started with a few Jews getting in to the
marriage, then the rest rejected him and killed the prophets, so he
sent his son and they killed him also, So he sent his servants
which are us Christians to go into the streets & invite everybody
who would come into his Kingdom for the wedding.

The growth of the tree doesn't represent a monstrosity!

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I'm wondering about this connection - the "prodigal" son has a life issue - ADHD. Anyone who has lived in a family where one child has this life issue and another doesn't understands perfectly well the distress of the elder son on the return and celebration for the younger. The non-affected child, in many ADHD living situations, takes back seat to the behavior and emotions of the affected child as the parents spend most/all of their parental energy working with the affected child to maintain some sort of stability in the home and between the family members. The non-affected child does not KNOW that he is welcome to all the parents/father have as most of the family resources go to maintain the issued child.
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Jesus does show in this parable that it is the content and character of a man's heart that is important to God. But to say that there will be those who will go to heaven without Christ as their Savior is a misunderstanding of this parable. Jesus is showing that no matter what amount of religion a person seems to have, as in the case of the priest who passed the beggers by, that a person will not be saved by religious acts but will be judged by our heart and the actions that ultimately come forth from it. Jesus is very clear (if one really does believe in the authenticity of scripture) in John 14:6 - "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, noone comes to the Father except through Me" Either believe Christ or don't, but do not twist His words to make any unacceptable religion ok in your own eyes.
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Does anyone know the meaning of "Abrahams Bosom"?
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The elder son represents those who stand to inheriet the kingdom of God,yet are unwilling to follow God's standards on forgiving those who have trespassed against us. God has such a loving heart, He freely shows love to those who have strayed from Him, but come back with a repentant heart seeking His forgiveness. The elder son should take a few lessons that his father practices and learn how to be more forgiving.
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i love the prodigal son parable. to me, the brother is all of us...jealous, miserable, our own obstacle to enjoying the things before us. he was so resentful of his brother's forgivenss that he could not enjoy the party. he, like us, was given all god things by his father. but he lost the appreciation for those things because all he could see is that his brother got the recognition and celebration. he forgot about his time wiht the father, being fed and cared for and clothed.
aren't we like that when someone repents? we say " good" but maybe we feel that they don;t really deserve God's mercy. that makes us like hte brother.
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Vs 17 states "When he came to himself". It's important to stay with God.

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

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

your senses (NIV). "Stay with God"
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I believe that the rich fool is meaning that anyone who is blessed with goods that he/she needs to thank God and his workings that he made before we just think we can sit back and be lazy. I also believe that this passage means that sometimes we take things that we have for granted and we always expect these things but we never kno when we will lose these things and/or waste these things.
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I believe your third explanation about Matthew 13:22 and what type of person this is, is not entirely correct. I believe they have indeed recieved the spirit and do have understanding. But the choking of the word or known as quenching of the Spirit, is done because of their cares for the world. They would rather indulge than follow the spirit in their heart therefore they choke him off from flourshing.
Like Paul says Don't take your liberty as an occasion to sin. That is this person. Thankyou for your comments on this though. I am sorry to see of the painstaking process you have had to endure. This is the patience and endurance of the Elect (Saints). God has blessed you with redemption friend what more do we need from this world.

Brother in Christ

James
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If you want to know the true meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed, you must take it in the context of the Parabolic Teaching itself, and then compare it with the rest of the symbolism it touches upon in the Word of God.

The first principle of interpreting the Parables is given in the first one he spoke in Mark where, if they did not understand the Parable of the Sower, they would not understand any of the Parables.

The second principle that one must remember is that Y'shua did not start speaking in Parables until it was obvious that he had been rejected by the Leaders of the Nation (per the commentaries) and, therefore, the parables are refering to the Postponement of the Kingdom and then its subsequent restoration at the end of the Age.

A Third principle is simply that neither Y'shua, or the Holy Spirit, are needlessly repetative and, therefore, the parable of the Mustard Seed is not simply a rehash of the Parable of the Sower.

So, with these principles in mind we can compare the Word.

The Sower is Y'shua (i.e. "the Son of man") and the field is "the World" however, some accounts say it was sown in "the garden" which, then, can only be Israel (as God's Vineyard etc per the prophets).

The Seed is "taken" which is the same word as the Rapture and is something to keep in mind.

A specific person who has the faith of a Mustard Seed will say to a Mountain (symbolic of a ruling Kingdom) and a Sycamore Tree (an inferior Fig Tree and thus can only be the endtimes Den of Vipers - which itself originated in Babylon via the Kabbalah etc., returned for judgment day and is synonomous with the "fig tree" of the other parable that the son of man visited "these three years" or the first three years of the tribulation), "Be thou removed and cast into the sea" and it will be done.

When we search the Scriptures we see that this is exactly what is prophecised of Zerrubbabel in Zechariah who symbolizes someone in the future during the tribulation.

Further, being the Least of all seeds, brings this concept into play as well and if you do a search of "least" in the Scriptures, you will see this as well.

"The Least of the Flock will draw them out" refering to the destruction of Babylon in the end days, which is echoed by the "first born of the poor" (i.e. the poorest of the poor of, thus, the least of the least) who will also destroy "the rest" of the Chaldeans.

Thus, here we see, when we compare these (and other Scriptures), that the Mustard Seed, through faith in Y'shua ben Y'hova will be responcible for overturning the endtimes Mountain of Babylon at the return of the Captives of Israel, when they will receive "the headstone thereof" as their Messiah and Elohim - Y'shua.

Thus, what you obviously have with this parable is the restoration of the Theocracy in the end days which is one of the reason the Mustard Seed was used to illustrate all this for it is a fast growing herb and sprouts leaves in 48 hours to show the speed of the restoration of the Theocracy during the tribulation.

Much more about this individual on my WebSites, on of which is :

http://thetenlosttribes.lbgo.com/index.html

Shalom,

David
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The web linke to Ched Meyer's article does not work. Error 404... web page not found!

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I was also wondering what became of Barabas after his release. I had always thought of him as a murderer, but "sedition" appears to indicate that he was a revolutionary..... and I wonder about his crimes also.
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I believe that the oil represents Spiritual maturity and stability. You have to realize that all of the virgins had oil. The 5 wise virgins carried EXTRA oil while the 5 foolish virgins felt they could get along with just the oil in their lamps. They were the ones (I believe) who are the "religious" ones. Those who go to church to get the "feel goodies" and return to the world for the rest of the week only to go thru the "ritual" again. No intimacy with the Father. No seeking the Kingdom of God, just seeking the approval of man. The foolish virgins then asked the wise ones for some of their oil. These are those who ask others to pray for them only because they feel that the "higher level" Christians' prayers will more likely be heard by God. They merely "imitate" the true believers. Jesus (the Bridegroom) will say, "I don't know you." This is the door shutting on the 5 foolish virgins as they returned from the world with their conterfeit religious oil. They never bore fruit of the Holy Spirit.
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hello fellow my Christian neighbors!! i was wondering what yall thought of what the religious significance was of this parable, the Good Samaritan, and how it pertains to our lives today. What is God trying to say in this parable? what message is HE trying to convey? PLEASE get back to me!! thankyou ever so much
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'Hitch (and others): Bighouse has pegged the kingdom parables of Matt. ch. 13. '
Following this logic the sum of the historical workings of the HS on earth is abject failure as the leaven affects the 'whole lump'. Of course this means that Christ's efforts at building the Temple of 'living stones' is also a failure, since all are of the 'leaven 'as well.
I dont recognize this puny Holy Spirit nor the weak defeated Christ you present. I do reconize the foul stench of a dead lawyer in the person of CI Scofield who was an originator of this doctrine that is 180 degrees opposed to Christ's teachings.
BTW gents, even Pentecost of DTS fame has reversed the failed official (read Scofield Bible) position on the parables specifically the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. I'll provide the quotes,before and after , if you like.
Take care
Hitch

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the parable has so many lessons and each of us will take a different lesson away from it.

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

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

notice: both sons asked for the same thing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

so often we read this parable and we wonder which son we're like. instead, we are free to look to the storyteller for the best example.
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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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Big Island,

Look at the word axiomatic. It means: A self-evident principle or one that is accepted as true without proof as the basis for argument; a postulate.

Notice the expression “self-evident”.

I once read that if a certain muscle contains a lot of a certain nutrient, then it’s axiomatic that that nutrient is necessary for the function of that muscle.

What is the “secret”?

If I drive through a farming community and observe a farmer out planting seeds, we call that farming. He’s planting seeds for the sake of reaping a harvest.

Jesus took this idea and by the wisdom of God extracted the things out of it that makes it work, and then applied it to himself. He also taught others how to do it. In essence, HE PUT IT ON. HE PUT IT IN THE FIRST PERSON. He put on the principle of sowing and reaping.

When we look at a farmer, HE IS FARMING. When we attempt to use same the principle upon ourselves it’s called…..Drum roll please!

“KEEPING A SECRET”.

This entire hullabaloo about seeds and candles under bushels is merely Jesus’ teaching on faith and how it works. The subject matter is FAITH.

He’s saying that when we pray to God for something we have to declare it a “SECRET”. We literally say it out loud “heavenly father I declare it a divine “secret”; that I have received such and such (-whatever you have asked for in prayer), by faith, and I will not attempt in any way to exalt myself though attempts to bring this to light. It will remain a secret forever”.

The term SECRET is axiomatic to the principle itself. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE TO DECLARE IT A SECRET, AND THEN KEEP IT A SECRET FROM THE WORLD AROUND YOU. Anything less is going the opposite direction-the direction of mans reward-PEW! (lordy thaz nassy.)

YOU DON’T WANT THAT. Mans reward is not always good. If you want Gods reward then you have to declare it a “secret” and then keep it a secret from the world around you.

Apparently the human heart or spirit is a revealer of “secrets”. But you have to establish a secret in prayer and then maintain the secrecy.

Why would that be?

Job 28:21
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

When we seal Gods word within our hearts/spirits, we are “hiding” it from the fowls of the air that Jesus taught were the satanic forces in this world that want to devour that seed.

“Hiding” is synonymous with “secret” or “keeping a secret” (it’s merely a metaphor for planting). We are in essence hiding the Word of God within our hearts behind a pane of proverbial glass that all hell wants to come into for the sake of devouring the seed. As long as we keep it secret, we are keeping it in a place where Satan can’t get in and devour it. If we attempt to take it to the world through helping ourselves to mans reward I.E. self exaltation, we open the door to the devil and HE TAKES IT TO US.

When we take it to the world through “acting our faith”-WRONG, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL, TAKES IT TO US (BAD).This would be accounted for by the expression “the cares of this world ENTERING IN, chokes the word and it becometh unfruitful”. Found in the parable of the sower. The cares of this world-worrying about how to “act your faith”-has to “enter in”. It can’t’ enter in when we have no connection or ties to the world by virtue of sealing off attempts to bring it to pass ourselves.

When we stack the various overtones of hiddeness over our lives we lock ourselves in the “secret place of the most high” as David said. It then is just a matter of time before God exalts us into the open. But it’s a lifestyle not a temporary fad.

Mark 7:24
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

In the Old Testament a man demanded to know the name of the angel that was standing before him representing God. What did the angel say his name was? “Why do you ask me my name seeing it is SECRET” was the angels/Gods response.

This is axiomatic as to how God works in this earth. He wants to be hidden within our hearts and kept a secret. Again why? Because the human spirit is a culminator of sorts, it’s a revealer of secrets much like ground grows seeds that are planted. If God is held within our hearts in this hidden mode, there will come a time when he can show up in our lives I.E. MANIFEST. But until then, he beckons to be regarded as a secret-a planted seed.

I hope this helps.

Tell know man.

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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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Allow me if you will to have some fun at Jesus’ expense (don’t worry I know him). As I’ve spent many hours meditating in the parables of the Kingdom. Many analogies have come to me that I feel Jesus might use, if he were in the earth today. Don’t worry I don’t think I’m Jesus and I’m trying to be half cute, so just humor me. Just consider what I’m saying in the analogies below and just decide if this might be what Jesus was saying.

It’s not the Word of God and you have the right to disagree. But didn’t Jesus use analogies taken from his surroundings to illustrate a point? So then it’s an excellent way to teach.

HEARKEN, BEHOLD! (Ooh, that’s good already)

The Kingdom God is likened unto an overhead projector upon which a teacher laid a transparency, she flipped a switch and mysteriously an image appeared on the wall. And all the children said yea!

Again the Kingdom of God is likened unto a very slow computer, upon which a man had typed an Internet web address, he hit enter and waited many days even months. One day he noticed that the site had come up!

Again the Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a caterpillar, which spun a cocoon. After many days he was transformed and emerged a beautiful butterfly.

WHOSEVER DESIRES TO UNDERSTAND LET HIM NOW UNDERSTAND!

Now the parables are this: The overhead projector is the heart of a man. The transparency represents the past tense realities of Gods word-his promises that are offered to us. Flipping the switch represents the time in which we “believe” his promise “present tense”-“now” (Mark ll: 24 “when ye pray”).

Notice that the transparency is lying upon the overhead projector. That’s the way the Word of God is with some people. They have a lot of head knowledge but have never confessed in prayer that they “believe”-it is now theirs-in the prayer closet. This is what plants the seed in our hearts, or in the case above turns the power on thus emitting into the world around us the light (image) of that transparency. The wall of course is the canvas or picture screen of our lives. The Children are the people who marvel at the person who knows the mysteries of the Kingdom well enough to produce fruit, both for themselves and for you.

In parable #2 the SLOW computer represents the heart of a man. The website address represents our spiritual destination that is determined by the Word of God. Hitting enter is the time in which we “believe” present tense. This tells the computer (our heart) what function to complete. But notice that the computer operator only hit enter once. The rest of the time he rested in the fact that his entering it once had been recorded. Every subsequent time that he would have pressed enter he would have reset the computer and forfeited the time that he spent waiting. Did you notice that once he hit enter, it went into the past tense? If someone would have seen him sitting at his pc and said, “what are you waiting for? Just hit enter.” He would have responded, “I ALREADY HAVE”. Once we plant the seed of Gods word we need to LEAVE IT BURREID. PAST TENSE. “I RECEIVED IT, WHEN I BELIEVED-PRAYED.”

The computer screen is our life. Whatever is “hidden”-in the bowels of the computer-shall be “manifested” upon the screen. The screen is our lives.

The parable of the caterpillar is this: This caterpillar’ favorite scripture is no doubt Hebrews chapter four vs. 1-3. The caterpillar represents man (“a worm of the dust”) in his sinful state. But upon believing and entering into the rest of Christ, his inner self goes through a metamorphic change, and with time he emerges A NEW CREATURE. The butterfly emerging represents the harvest time. A time when that which was hidden, is now revealed out in the open. A supernatural change that only faith can accomplish (in the life of a believer.)

Hebrews 4
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which HAVE BELIEVED do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

The caterpillar LABOURED to enter into the rest of Christ, which comes through the believing process.

Have you ever spun a cocoon? Well I haven’t either but it’s got to be hard. A non-stop wrapping yourself with one strand of silk has got to be difficult. But apparently he had taken the admonition of the Lord very seriously (he didn’t want to fall after the same example of unbelief). For after he labored to establish his “shield of faith” he went into a period of rest in his inner man. The process of metamorphosis was now set in motion. The cocoon shielded him from the elements-from the dry winds of doubt and unbelief that blow against all believers. Even Christ encountered this. The cocoon represented an attitude of obliviousness to the sounds and distractions of Satan. It was an insulator that protected him during cycle, long enough for it to be completed.

In the above verse we are told that the word of God did not profit some, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. In the above parables flipping the switch and hitting enter served as the act of “mixing”. Believing is what imbeds the word in our hearts, hearing ourselves declare the promises of God in secret.


Luke 12:3
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.

Don’t be a sideline Christian thinking your defending the faith by sitting on the couch eating cake, hurling railing accusations against those who just want more of God. Get into the hunt, BELIEVE some things, and stand firm. Yea, you’ll get some whacks by Satan, but things could be worse. You may not get any attention from him, meaning that you’re worthless as a believer in his sight. But if we’ll learn the process, I have a sneaking suspicion that wonderful things lie in store for the body of Christ!




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Could you please state succinctly and in your own words what this “SECRET’ is?

I understand that Jesus was telling a great secret. One that apparently, nobody much cares about. But I accept that he was revealing something incredible. So then WHAT IS IT?

What is the jest of all of these parables? Can you articulate it in your own words? I am convinced that Gods idea of a secret is incredibly greater then our idea of a secret. What secret could qualify as something so wonderful?

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who is the fig tree, isit the nation of Israel as a whole which was born in May14th. 1948 or is it of Jursalem recaptured in 1967 durning the 1967 war
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The Spirit indwelling an individual occurs at the time of the birth from above ( Cor. 3:16; 6:19 ). The individual is immersed in the Spirit, which places him in" in Christ", making him part of the one new man and Abraham's seed, because Christ is Abraham's seed (cf. Matt 3:11; 1 Cor.12:13; Gal.3:26-29 ).

But the filling of the Spirit is another matter entirely. The filling of the Spirit occures subsequent to the indwelling of the Spirit and may or may not occur in a Christian's life.

The filling of the Spirit is connected with receiving the Word of God, and, at the same time, allowing the indwelling Spirit to lead the individual into all truth. The filling of the Spirit is conected with Christian maturity. The two go hand - in - hand in this respect. From a Biblical standpoint, the more a person matures in the faith the more he can be said to be filled with the Spirit.

Note parallel verses in two companion epistles, Ephesians and Colossians, relative to the filling of the Spirit:

"And be drunk not with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord ( Eph. 5:18,19).

" Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" ( Col. 3:16 ).

In Ephesians , Christians are commanded to be filled with the Spirit; and in the parallel section in Colossians, Christians are commanded to let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdom. The latter relates how the former is accomplished.

Thus , the importance of spiritual growth unto maturity in this manner cannot be overemphasized. Spiritual growth unto maturity is inseparably related to the filling of the Spirit, a necessity for Christians if they would be properly prepared for meeting Christ at his judgement seat and attending the marrige festivity.

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i think your right. to much racism goes around everywhere leading people to death or the hurt of feelings inside. we should all love no matter what religion or what color cause in the inside, we all look the same and are all children of gods. atleast, this is what i think.
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Just like all these other folks, I would love to see a picture if you could possible email it to me. Thanks.
Karen
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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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After reading all the comments on the Filling of the spirit I find this one to be right on the money. I was going to post a writing of my own, but after reading this I decided to commend this writing. God bless and an excellent job Robert.
Pastor Rick.
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Please send me a picture of the mustard tree. All my life I have thought they were talking about mustard greens for some reason, but could not understand how they thought it grew into a tree. A friend told me about the mustard tree and I am searching the internet for a picture of one.
Thank you
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"Why were the first paid last, and the last first?

The pay God's servants receive is enternal life, and is characterized by the penny. Therefore, those who are granted the assurance of a never ending life first, are those who were hired last, and according to the parable, it was the company called at the eleventh hour. They are those who are marked or sealed by the man with the writer's inkhorn of Ezekiel 9, or as John calls him, the angle with the seal of God: and he sealed, or marked, 144,000. Rev. 7:1-8. This glorious company are the first who are granted the assurance of never tasting death. Thus they are paid first, but those who were called early in the morning (Ancient Israel) are to receive their reward, enternal life when they are resurrected. "So the last shall be first, and the first, last."

Why was he calling those questioning him evil? Was he calling them evil?

They that murmured represent that part of the Jewish nation who were unworthy, and the phrase, "Friend, I do thee no wrong... Take that thine is, and go thy way," denotes the rejection of the nation.

Note that those who were hired last were paid first, and the first, last. As all were equally regarded, the ones hired first murmured, though they were paid in full. Their disdainful act denotes that the Jewish nation was unworthy of their hire, and the Goodman said to them, "Take that thine is, and go ty way." As Ancient Israel is represented by the first called, so shall they be the last paid.
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When the Prodigal Son got a job on the pig farm, it would have been total humiliation, since the Jews believe that pigs are unclean. To make things worse, he had to eat the husks thrown to the pigs because no-one would give him anything. What do the pigs signify? Is it because he had to look after a living being other than himself? It seems that in the famine, the pigs were the only ones willing to share their food with him. ... A bit like the Good Samaritan maybe? I would appreciate some feed-back.

Thanks ever so much.

God Bless

Love Wendy
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parable of the Ten virigins, is just that get the MESSAGE.Sometimes, we as christians try to follow the letter of the law and not the holy spirit.I believe is about the anti-christ,the raputure, israel, belivers.This parable can be use for all, depending on where he or she is at the time....It is message to me and others Get right!!Get Ready!!To Go Home!! No man knows the day or hour the son of man coming....When is the end of time when is the rapture. My question is when is my personal end of time. my death we, me may die before the rapture, before end of time come...

Many times we behave pharisee and sadicucess. we do enough to get by, to pass not get thrown out, just little oil in my cup, just pay my tithes and church require offering or minium or matching 10%......

We say or works, and deed speak for us,i dont need to do more have extra oil, annoited life, we like the parable rich young rulers, ive keept all the commandemts since my Youth....I ve been doing good practical all my life we so proudly and pitously boost running down our list of things accomplishment we have done... Are we , me and you ready when Jesus comes with this unexpected request Sell everything and follow me...Jesus u asking for to much, ive done all require, like 5 foolish virgins we say we half lamp of oil, there is more i am to do, 5 wise were ready they were physical and spirtual faithful virgins, not only were the virgins physcially in there body where some one could see, but they were spirtual and had the annoting to prove it, power through testiomony expreience, trial test tribuliation pass the test, the 5 foolish were keeping themselves

pure....in church, in temple, praying long prayers, quoting,studying history that was good, but they miss Jesus the one they were preparing for the groom their future, the mansion their paradise because they had no extra oil, couldnt borrow it, it must be earn oil is made through press,they had to go through hard pressure exprenice to recive this annoiting oil......
.Oh my brothers, sisters and lil children, boys and girls , teenager , my Soul cries out To God our lord, our husbandman, prepare us the bride of Christ to be right, to be without wrinkle or spot, and
Study to show ourself approve and with all our Wisdom get an Understand so we can Stand with You at our Personal Appoint Judgment day and Hear You say Well done my Good and Faithful Servant .............


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Jesus was a Jew, therefore he was showing how Christianity was going to be for all, not just Jews. The focal point is on how the man's neighbor is everyone, whether Jew or not. Yes, people have to believe in Jesus to be saved...that's not judgemental- it's the Truth. I pray this explains a bit, but keep questioning and looking through your Bible to see what it says. God bless.


Always,
Amy
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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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Tare's love liberal idea's, and organizations of destruction....they "tare" things apart. Also, are found in the 4 agencies, Polictic, Econmics, Education, Religion.....that reglious teaching that is destructive and compromising....."falls short"....they twist the scripture to meet their agendas.....They appear very sweet....yet their teeth are sharp.
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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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My take is....
The purpose of the Fig Tree is to produce FRUIT. Just like the product of Christians is their works aka their FRUITs. One day Jesus approach the fig tree, cause He was in need, but when He looked, He saw none and cursed the tree. A closer look, you will see that it was out of season for the tree to produce FRUIT, but Jesus had need! There is no excuse!

Lesson: One day Jesus will comes down the road in need, and sees you, a Christian standing there. Will you be FRUIT-less? If so be prepared to be cursed and withered away! Remeber no excuses!

DP
P.S My Fruit!! I hope u enjoy!!!
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I think this is eluding to the fact that God gave us the world and it is up to everyone of us to build up his kingdom by bringing more people to Christ and not just worrying about ourselves but lending a hand to our neighbor.
Also it says that since God has been merciful to us by giving us talents we should show mercy to others and preach the word and make disciples of all nations. Because God has blessed us all with different capabilities in order to Glorify God and he expects us to use all he has given us to build his kingdom. If Christ lives through us we are supposed to be the light of the world. On judgement day our Father will ask what we have done to glorify his name, what we have done with the talents and the time God has given us. And what will our answers be ?????????????????

God bless
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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 wanted to add a little twist to this story. Jesus asks, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" Consider this closely. Jesus does not give us the correct answer. He just asks the question. I believe the correct answer is all three. The Samaritan might have been the "nicest" neighbor, but God didn't tell us to love only the nicest neighbors, he said to love ALL neighbors. So in my opinion all three were his neighbor to the man who was fallen. This story takes on a whole new light when you think of it in this way.
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KB: it wasn't the coin's fault in getting lost, thus God would drop everything to find it. Sheep didn't know any better when they were getting lost.. thus God, our Shepherd, came to save us from the wolves.
But in this parable, God, our Father, doesn't follow after us because he wants us to be "highly effective people" (Steven Covey).
If the father was to follow the son, it would have been rebuking his son's decision & it would have been like saying "You aren't smart/wise enough to make decisions for yourself". This would have hindered the son's pride and self-esteem. (Better to learn the lesson to fully get it out of the system.)
This is also a thankful reason for God not representing himself too much in today's world!
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The section of the wise and foolish builders is basically the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore, in order to understand this final section we must have in perspective the complete Sermon on the Mount that covers chapters 5-7 in the gospel of Matthew. The Sermon of the Mount is a brief summary of the whole message of the gospel preached by Jesus. We can say that it is the gospel in a "nutshell." The wise-foolish builders is an analogy about obedience and disobedience. Jesus uses this analogy to explain who are those that are OBEDIENT and who are those DISOBEDIENT to his teachings. The wise people HEAR the words of Jesus and puts them into practice. The foolish people only LISTEN but not hear the words of Jesus and disobeys them. So, the analogy of the Wise and Foolish builders is about obedience and disobedience. The Wise people obey Jesus and build their house on the rock and the Foolish people disobey Jesus and build their house on the sand. Where is your house build? Are you obedient?
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This statement is wrong, sorry. I retract it.
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