I have recently womdered more about the 2nd and 3rd 'plants'. Many times I see people who have a sincere faith but have allowed the cares and wories to push them down. It is the same with those who face persecution. How wonderful that we have a Father of Mercy who sees the heart of the weariest and most discouraged of His children, and will call them home.

But at the same time, I wonder at the 4th 'plant'. Many feel secure that this about them...but where is their 30 and 60 and 100-fold harvest. Those who do not actively share their faith and live the life of Christ before ALL must take note.

God Bless.
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One of the greatest things I’ve learned about Mark chapter four is how Jesus in his analogies talks about the same thing but from different angles. Many people have thought that after the parable of the sower Jesus might have become disoriented or lost train of thought so as to start talking about candles, candlesticks and hiding things under beds. But in reality he used a slick analogy for saying the same thing that he said in parable of the sower. There is a lot of misconception about the subject matter. Some say it’s the Word some say it’s the world and some say it’s evangelism. But consider if you will that he was talking about a reaction between a catalyst and an agent. The agent being the heart of a man, and the catalyst being the Word of God. Seizing upon this idea will help understand the “mysteries” that lie in the parables of the kingdom.
After saying that some bring forth fruit in measures, Jesus immediately says, “is a candle brought to be put under a bushel or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?” When the catalyst of Gods word is fed into our hearts, we are not putting it in a place where the light will be covered up or extinguished, like under a bushel or bed. To the contrary, we are placing it in a place where the light can be emitted the most, like on a candlestick. Have you ever seen the type of candlestick that has a shiny plate behind it? I believe that’s what he’s talking about. It is something that is designed to utilize the light to the utmost. Jesus is saying that this is what your heart is like. It is a refractor of the light of Gods word-put in. “Let your light so shine…….”.
He continues “for there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested and neither was anything kept secret but that it should come abroad. Hidden where? Kept secret where? How about in the ground of the human heart? Aren’t seeds covered? Aren’t seeds hidden in soil? So then the secret of manifesting things is to learn how to hide them.
Consider this parable. “The kingdom of God is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened”. Might this be an example of the idea of “there is nothing hid that shall not be manifested”? The woman sowed, hid, covered up yeast in a ball of dough. And before long its was manifested to those who could se it; the fact that yeast had been secretely added.
If you keep this idea of the two working together, the Word and the heart of man, I think this will help you in other parables of the kingdom.

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Webmaster,
Yesssss! Love it! Like we're all trying to get into that BAD heaven. I used to call that hell!

The operative word is LOGICAL.

If the kingdom of heaven is BAD as Bighouse5 is implying by his statements (if we LOGICALLY state them for him), then what about the BAD heaven that was a BAD man seeking BAD pearls? Matt 13:45 The BAD man that sowed BAD seed so that the really BAD tares could make it worse? Matt 13:24 The BAD Word coming from the BAD kingdom? I don't think that God's Word is BAD! Matt 13:19 The BAD mustard seed of the BAD woman whose BAD branches hide all those BAD birds? Matt 13:31, How about the good seeds of the BAD kingdom? Matt 13:38, The BAD treasure in a field? Who wants to search for a BAD treasure? Matt 13:44 The BAD net gathering all those good and BAD fishes so that the good can be separated forever from the BAD? Matt 13:47

This negativity lacks inspiration. Inspiration is uplifting and GOOD.

No, you're not confused or missing something, Webmaster. Bighouse5 has missed the point and hasn't logically thought this through. You're a scholar and a gentle man. YOU understand.


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


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Big Island, the seed is planted with the words of our mouth-spoken out loud. Apparently there is a mechanism set up within the human being that forever monitors our words and accepts them as programs. It doesn’t differentiate between good and bad, it just receives them much like the ground accepts seeds when planted, or the way yeast responds with dough.

IT’S THE NATURE OF THE WORDS DUDE! Second Corinthians chapter four says:

13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Paul quotes David and says in essence: (paraphrased) “do you recall when David said, “I believed therefore have I spoken”? Well we also have that same spirit of faith. Our faith also climaxes with a confession of the mouth.”

Jesus said a lot about our words and the affect that they have on our inner man. He talked about the faith that would speak to a mountain, sycamine tree, or uttered out loud (in the ear) in the privacy of the prayer closet.

Jesus said “if you had faith as a grain of Mustard seed you might say…” It’s very clear that he’s saying, “If you had faith as a seed, you would PLANT.

Make sense?

I hope that helps.

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Dear Christine, Peace and joy. I too am a CGS catechist, email me and I will be happy to share what I have found. *U* Kathleen
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Many people take this at face value and interpret it to mean that God gives everyone literal talents, e.g., music, art, administration, etc., and that they should be applied to Godly pursuits. In my opinion, this is an entirely too literal reading of the text.

Moreover, the talent was a form of currency. So if there should be a literal interpretation of this text, it should more correctly be that we should re-invest the money God gives us in Christian enterprises.

But we all know that parables are "earthly stories with heavenly meanings." My understanding of this is that what we are to continually re-invest is what God gives to every believer, the whole of our spiritual life.
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To condense it all into a nutshell, if you're doing it for show, if you're doing it to impress people, it doesn't count in God's sight. What you do in secret, for God, in accord with God's Word, is what pleases God. And I believe this is what true humility is all about.

The Pharisees did what they did with the primary motive of impressing those around them, but their hearts were far from God. They substituted their own traditions for the Word of God, laying heavy burdens on others but not offering any help themselves. They prayed long prayers on street corners to impress others of how pious they were, but foreclosed on widow's houses. They had people to blow trumpets before them when they put their money into the treasury so everyone could see how generous they were. But they only gave of their surplus. Jesus' most scathing rebukes were reserved for these hypocrites, accordingly. And this also is why he told them harlots and tax collectors would go into the kingdom ahead of them, because they would see their sorry condition and repent, while the hypocritical pharisees would only justify themselves and look down on others.

The parable of the Pharisee and the publican I think most graphically illustrates this differencel
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When you trust in God, He will give you a love, for whatever He calls you to do. He can give you the talent of music, being a mom, being a christian friend to someone in need. Ask The Lord to show you, His plan for your life, He will lead you in the right path, and when you find the path, you will know it's your calling, because the love in your heart for what you are doing, will tells you so!
God Bless You!
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The leder brother represents us as well. The prodigal was the wasteful son the elder brother was the stingy son.
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To confirm my belief that God's destroyer angel was released on July 29, 2003 And is now surveying the United States, I was given a dream on July 30/31, 2003 that is similar to the parable of 10 virgins.

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

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Emilee, I have just come across this site as I gave a children sermon on having the faith of a mustard seed. If you still have this picture that you mentioned above, would you email it to me? It is amazing that these trees grew so large in the days Jesus was here on earth and we never hear of a mustard tree. I would find this very amazing to see one. Thank you so much for your time. God bless!
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I am looking for a similar image. Did you get one? If you did would you mind sharing/sending a copy to me. I have been looking all over the net of a good pic.
Thank you,
APage
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All these comments are fascinating but my thoughts have been trending another way lately. The Prodigal received forgiveness and grace - his initial thought was that if he confessed his sin he would get something to eat.

But the Father forgives and blesses him before he can get the words out - the robe covers his guilt, dirt and shame, the shoes show he is no longer a slave (slaves were not allowed shoes to keep them from running off), and the ring was the authority of the family name given to him.

The older son sought to gain grace and approval (and a goat to cook) through hard work. I think many of us as Christians begin to question why our (material) prayers aren't answered and two of the answers we come up with are that we aren't doing enough "good stuff" (older son) or that we are sinners (prodigal son).

The Father's reply fascinates me [paraphrase] "Son (child) you are always with me and all mine is thine." In other words, as a child of the Father everything the father had was available to the older son in the same fashion as forgiveness was available to the prodigal -- without doing anything, without "deserving" it. "Here it is; it's yours. Partake of all that I have," says the Father.

I'm beginning to work on an article that I'm tentatively calling "the Spirituality of Abundance". While I fully realize that, in this life, we are not to be controlled by money, is it wrong to participate in the Father's abundance? Not according to the Father's own words.

Neither the Prodigal's sin nor the older son's hard work and obedience seemed to matter to the Father when it came to participating in the Father's abundance.

Think this through in steps: 1) in John's letters it says "see how God has lavished his love on us that we should be called Children of God. Beloved, NOW we are Children of God." 2) In Psalms it says "the earth is the Lord's and ALL it contains" and 3) the Father said to BOTH his sons (one in actions and the other in words) "All that is mine is thine". The conclusion is that the riches of the earth are my Father's and therefore MINE.

So why did the older son seem unable to participate in this abundance? Look at his complaints -- "you never once GAVE me an animal so I could have a party with my friends" -- but how did the Father give abundance to the Prodigal?

He commanded his servants "Quick! Bring . . ." -- Hebrews says that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit the kingdom. I believe the older son did not participate because he kept waiting for someone to give him something. I think all he had to do was reach out and take what he wanted; the Father seemed to assume that was how things worked!

How much are we missing in life because we do not take hold of the abundance of God our Father -- not because we get a prize for being a repentant sinner nor because we have worked hard and feel we've earned something -- but simply as Children of a kind, gracious and loving (and wealthy!) Father?
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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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First of all, please note my postings on Matt. 24:45 - 25:30 covered under the Parable of the Ten Virgins. If God, to whom vengeance belongs, in order to get world evangelism, falsely promised by many by the year 2000, indeed accomplished for His Holy Name's sake for His return before the generation He mentioned passes away (Matt. 24 : 14, 34 ) resorts to delegating the judgement upon the evil servant(s) in charge of churches to their human boards, committees, and so on, to return as the evil servants' masters just as He already delegated such power to foreign, ungodly armies in the book of Habakkuk long before, then the atrocious judgements of the evil servant(s) in Matthew 24 : 45 - 51, the fulfillment of the Parable of the Virgins, and the fulfillment of the Parables of the Pounds and Talents will happen on this earth rather than in heaven as most pastors would prefer to teach. As time past New Year's Day 2001 progresses, the wrath of God against those who made the false promises and now try to live them down and against the evil servants in charge of His people who tie us down to American livings continues to grow. Unless the Gospel be spread throughout the whole world this very winter by Passover 2004, it will start to seem that world evangelism will never happen with the evil servants still in charge of their churches.

If the evil servants in charge must be ousted in the here and now on earth (in order to accomplish world evangelism in truth) rather than after the Rapture in heaven, the following parables will also be fulfilled immediately on earth thereafter. Then the Parable of the Virgins, instead of referring to the Rapture with many so-called Christians left behind, will be fulfilled litterally when all living churchgoers find themselves locked out of their church buildings forever, and only those who are willing to desist from all obvious habitual sin will be welcome in house churches. Christians who are unwilling to obey the rabbis' teachings on holy, Jewish life such as keeping kosher kitchens (Matt. 23 : 1 - 3 ) will be rebuked as sinners and locked out of those house churches. The social churchgoers unwilling to worship at a house church or unwelcome in the house church due to persistent habitual sins will become unreachable; I say, now is the time, while you still have your church buildings, to win the lost folk of your flocks to Christ indeed.

And if the previous judgements in the parables should happen, as I stated, on earth rather than in heaven, so will the judgements in the parables of the Talents and the Pounds. The talents in Scripture, in Greek "talanta," are not abilities or skills, but each "talanton" as much pure silver money as a man might endure patiently (in Greek tal-, tle^-: etle^n, tetle^ka "I dare, I endure patiently") to carry, 100 lb. Troy or 76 lb. 1 oz. av. or 34.5 kg. Yes, the talents are real, hard, heavy money, and the steward in charge of but one probably represents the one who knew nothing about the care of pack animals and thus was expected to carry one talent personally to market as he could indeed have done. Are you personally ready for this upcoming judgement?

Many may say such a sob story as this: "I've worked hard for everything I get. Nobody ever gave me much money that I didn't earn." Well, I've got news for such Christians: When the faithful stewards answer how well their investments have performed to their rich friends, all of these poor Christians will answer to me or a reader of mine who knows and teaches that LUKE 16 : 1 - 13, the Parable of the Unjust Steward, was indeed in your Bibles to be obeyed. Jesus never expected His people to earn most of the wealth for Christian ends; rather, He requires each of His congregations to make friends with the rich people of the world so that we may be welcome with them in time of wrack and ruin and so that our churches may receive large grants for Christian ministry. Too many churches by far consist of members content not to know the rich people of the world and to remain in such impoverished churches.

Who never had a chance to read LUKE 16 from a lack of this book or was incarcerated or hospitalized so as to be utterly unable to use LUKE 16? Most Christians are financially limited yet cannot claim such an excuse. When and if I get my chance, I will deprive them of whatever wealth they may possess and throw them out into the cold outer darkness of homelessness or Russian evangelism even in the prisons according to Jesus' own words in Matthew 25 : 28 - 30, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Gospel has got to get spread to all the peoples of the earth!

Each of us Christians with a complete (perhaps New) King James Bible or Tyndale's Bible with LUKE 16 still in it can read Jesus' plan to enrich His congregations. God blesses the rich people of the world with the fruits of the earth and expects us Christians to pay proper attention to the rich mission field for our provisions; as stewards or servants of Christ, we are to "trade" the endowment of the passage of LUKE 16 by obeying His words in it and making friends with the rich people of the world, however they may have earned their wealth. We are not all called to provide, but to make use of their provisions. If we so do, when the judgement of the stewards occurs, we shall answer to our rich friends in the world. If we shall have fared well with their investment advice, they will commend us; if we happen to have lost wealth, they will understand. Those who remain in congregations content not to know the rich people of the world, however, are liable to stupid investments of whatever wealth they earn or may have the good fortune to receive, and if Jesus leaves it to me I will condemn them to deprivation and homelessness on account of their disuse of their truest endowment, LUKE 16 : 1 - 13, the Parable of the Unjust Steward.

Why does the lazy steward disobey his master? He is able indeed to take his talent to market and to trade with it, as his master knew rather than guessing. He may be like the soldier who drops his cumbersome rucksack of some seventy or eighty pounds; according to Eric Foss, "such soldiers are the most likely to get killed in battle, because somebody else has to carry their rucksack for them." Among Christians it is LUKE 16 which is dropped. This steward may, on the other hand, feel incompetent to trade, as when we might think or say about the rich, You've gotta kiss up to these people... and do nothing to meet them and thus drop the pack of LUKE 16. The lazy steward may feel ill will toward the master or his potential heirs and may stow away his endowment in a secret place (the closed Bible) to escape with upon news of the master's death when if the endowment is to grow, it must remain evident to everyone.

I have suffered so horribly and abominably under the church leaders of poverty for so long already that I seize fast upon LUKE 16. I will not drop this ungainly pack, the message "We have got to make friends with the rich people of the world for our security in bad times and for our financial endowments for ministry" which makes me unwelcome at local churches here in Columbus, Indiana. Please reply here with news about any congregations of which you may be aware which will do their utmost to put LUKE 16 into practice by meeting and befriending the rich people of the world for security against homelessness and to receive lasting benefit for ministry. The lazy servant churches cannot attract me; if I need not fear lack of provision in the stingy, inhospitable Modern English speaking cultures, I shall flee to find a fruitful servants' assembly in Christ. Help me here, for it would be ruinously foolish of me to set out on my own in flight without a sure destination of faith. And now I wish you the best of luck in implementing the Parable of the Unjust Steward as it properly reads in the pure King James Version.

Yours in Jesus Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg


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I agree, it's not designed to make us beg, it's designed to show us how eaiser it is for us to count on God than anyone else
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i think it is roung
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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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dera sirm
iam a priest,
i would like get your semon on goodsheped,
thanks lot
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At the end of this parable Jesus states that "to those who have, more will be given and to those who have not what little they have will be taken away."

As I understand this is that when a person has a state of ming of gratitude to the Creator and feels abundant God provides more of the same. When we feel wronged by God and ungrateful for the little He has given we naturally repel any good that can come our way.

This parable is Jesus explaining the natural laws of the Universe, The Laws of God.

To those who have more shall be given, to those ungrateful people who bemoan there lot will have what little they think they have taken away.

Try it. It works.

Read Mind Power by John KEHOE - he explains this parable very well.

Thankyou have a good day.

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barren people should most definatly not die, that is just ridiculous! the parable of the withered fig tree, means not the people who are barren, must die, for all humans must die eventually. but rather that those who do not produce christian fruits must die. not even necessairly die, but they will be cut off from the kingdom of Heaven. we must bare the fuits of our christian nature in our everyday life. if we truly love god he should be an important part of our life, and should shine through us.

Tricia Wieske
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I found Morris's commentary on Matthew very helpful here. The background on the Jewish wedding ceremony at the time was helpful to me in understanding.

The virgins are bridemaids, waiting for the groom to come so that they can have a torch-light procession back to the groom's house where there is a fantastic wedding celebration. Reading too much into the parable can be dangerous- we could start to read all kinds of things into it which aren't there, and pretty soon we have a whole new wonderful theology based on the wild assumptions we have just made (eg: the Oil is good works, the lamp is the 10 commandments being taught, etc.)

As far as I understand it, the parable fits in with the other parables about the delay and the return of Christ catching some people out, but not the wise stewards, wise virgins etc. They are ready for the return- whether the return is late or early.

This parable focuses on the delay- so late that everyone falls asleep (notice, as Morris says- no-one gets any blame for this, it was not an offense)- but when it is finally time for the wedding (obvious OT parallels with God as Israel/(true Israel)'s bridegroom or husband), what was previously an invisible difference between the bridesmaids comes to the fore: some of them were ready not just for the delay, but more importantly are ready now that the groom has arrived. The others are not ready. The upshot: they don't get into the party- and that is a disaster.

Hope this helps!
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Hello,
I am also just starting a CGS Program here in the Sacramento area. Could you please forward the photo of the mustard tree. I am having a difficult time locating one for the class. Thank you so much! God bless, Christine
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In the parable of the barren fig tree, something that stands out to me is the all-importance of producing fruit in our Christian lives. In other portions of scripture Jesus said that the axe is laid to the root, hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Have you ever asked yourself “do I produce fruit”? And for that matter how is fruit produced?

Look at the consequences of not producing fruit. “Cast into the fire”? It sounds like hell to me. This is serious business and I think it requires something over and above human opinion.

Oh, and get this, Jesus said that not only are we rewarded for our fruit, but that “every tree that my heavenly father has not planted will be uprooted in that day” Matt 15:13 (paraphrased). Capture that! All of the things that we apply ourselves to in the course of everyday life that does not come about from the sowing of the seed of Gods word will be uprooted and counted for nothing. That’s scary. There are going to be a lot of empty gardens in heaven if everything unfounded in the word is not permitted there.

I know a lot of Christians who think their Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, (I had to ask to find out the name) as they conduct the affairs of life. Stars in their own picture shows they are! All the while not realizing that when they stand before God he’s going to say “ah, I don’t reward for that up here”. “But I have a crazy smile like Mel’s” you say. I can just hear God saying, “Yea we’ll have to talk about that”.

So you have a person with no “Word” abiding in them and the few things that they do have abiding in their hearts-TRASH is not allowed in his kingdom. LOO-SER!

I encourage everyone to study the precepts of the “Kingdom of God” as found in Mark chapter four.

Jesus said, “with what measure you mete, it will be measured unto you, and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that has to him shall be given and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”. Have what you may ask? How about the Word of God abiding in your heart? One scripture said that the man would have abundance. It sounds like the rich getting richer to me. But then what do I know.

All of us should be doctors of faith and of Mark chapter four, making sure that our hearts are filled to overflowing with the word of God.

I firmly believe that when we stand before God, the light that he emits will strike the word of God abiding in our hearts and it will look like a laser light show. Kind of like a chandelier, reflecting light in all directions. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father”. Of course Jesus said, “Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”. Some people will be like black holes-the total absorption of that light.

If for no other reason then my asking you to, don’t be found in that state of disrepair on judgment day. When you look into the eyes of some people you’ll be overwhelmed by the desire to look away because of such an inglorious state. And yet others will carry this glorious light around throughout eternity. Can you imagine that? People will know that you’re coming from a distance because of the brilliance of light that you carry around. All because you took the time to sow to your inward garden the word of God.

What a glorious thought. Just think of it, you dear reader can have the white light of the sun shinning out of you’re inner man once we get into the presence God. And it’s your reward throughout eternity. But conversely, “he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”. “Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”.


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There is a Buddist sect that carries brooms with them and sweep the ground where they step so as not to step on a bug out of their respect for life. THis is taking things way to far! KJV1611 all the way!
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The parable of the marrige festivities in[ Matt.22:2-14] covers the whole panorama of that seen in the New Testament, from Matthew chapter one through the first half of Revelation chapter nineteen. This parable covers God's complete dealing, throughout the New Testament,with both Israel and the Church in relation to the Kingdom of the heavens; and it extends up to and includes the marriage festivities in [Rev.19:7-9], preceding the Messianic Era. The kingdom of the heavens{ with a view to the wedding festivities, seen in the parable} was extended to Israel through the gospel accounts, Israel rejected the offer, and the kingdom was taken from Israel[Matt.21:33-43]. Then, another entity[ the Church] was called into existance to be the recipient of that which Israel had rejected[Acts.2:1ff;cfMatt.16:16-19]. But, as in the parable, there was a reoffer of the kingdom to Israel, something seen throughout the book of Acts. The one now in possession of the kingdom[the infant Church] reoffered it to Israel beginning in Acts chapter two. However, as in the parable, rejection again occurred; and the servants extended the offer were mistreated, and even killed [Acts4:17-21; 5:40,41;7;54-60]. and , because of this, the same thing again occurred as seen in the parable. Between 66 and 70 A.D.,Titus and his Roman legions were allowed by the Lord to come against the Israelities in Jerusalem after a manner which resulted in both the destruction of the people and the buring of there city. The call was then extended only to those seen in the parable as other than the jewish people, those out in "the highways" {The epistles-all of them- center around the offer of the kingdom of the heavens to Christains during the present time}. And, as in the parable, the end of the matter will witness some Christians prepared to attend these festivities and others unprepared to attend. Proper or improper preparation is given in both Matt.22:10-12; Rev.19:7,8. It has to do with possession or nonpossession of a wedding garment. Those propertly dressed will be allowed to participate in the festivities, looking forward to that which lies ahead-- the Son's coming reign over the earth, with his consort queen. But those improperly dressed will be denied entrance into these festivities and left in the darkness outside,with nothing to look forward to during the Son,s coming reign, for they will occupy no place in his kingdom. They will occupy no place among those forming the Son's wife, His consort queen.
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Hi

My name is Brooke Wren and I was wondering if you
Could send me out some information about Tropical or
Exotic Fruits plus some information about that particular
Fruit. If you could that would be Fantastic but if you can not
Please e-mail me and tell me.


Thank You,

For listening

Brooke Wren

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Actually the son that stayed at home was also wayward...not in location...but in relationship to his Father! His relationship was built on duty and perfection and not on love!!!
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The only perfect response in each of the three parables in Luke 15 is God's response. He seeks to save the ignorant and helpless. He seeks to find an carelessly lost inheritance. He affirms the right of man to choose. He rejoices in the results of shepherd, the woman and the return of his son.

Neither the younger or older son respond perfectly to the situations they are confronted by. Only when the youngest son's life style drops below that of the father's servants does he decide to return home.

His repentance was perfect, though.

The older son is obedient and hard working. In fact he is working at earning and preserving his inheritance. Nothing in his life would have taught him to respond as the father did. Only a father can understand the joy of a child returned to him. The oldest son should have joined in the celebration but could not. His obediance was without fault.

Today our churches don't have the excuse of not knowing the true nature of God. Today we have the presence of the Holy Spirt, and still many believers cannot rejoice at the salvation of repentant sinners. They too have led lives of hard work and obedience.

We seek a simple straight-forward understanding of things; even in God. We seek to hold a complete understanding of God in three short stories; It isn't meant to be. Use these stories to understand God's love and his desire for a relationship with each one of us.

Thesis topic: The evolution of the meaning of the prodigal son; How context can change the classic understanding of this story. Or how different cultures relate to this story;
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I never see mustard tree (and seed) in my life. As a christian woman, its important for me to see this tree. Thankyou!
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The second message is more complete, it has more to it at the bottom!
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Hey man, hope by now you had returned, THE LORD will bless you and keep you in his sight. God loves you.
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Some of you "greatly err, not knowing the scriptures". It is not unlawful for a Jew to lend money for usury in all circumstances, it is only unlawful to lend money for usury to fellow Jews. Reference Exodus 22:25 and Deuteronomy 23:20. These clearly spell out the Mosaic laws for usury. "Giving the money to the changers" would be a reference to the money changers in the Temple who would exchange foreign currency so that foreign worshippers could contribute to the Temple treasury. This was perfectly legal under Mosaic law. It started out as a legitimate enterprise but quickly became a get-rich-quick scam due to people's greed. These are the 'den or thieves' that Jesus chased out of the Temple, not because of their occupation, but because they used this occupation to rip off others.

How can some of you think this is a 'reverse parable' when it clearly starts out with the words "For the kingdom of heaven is as..." ? This describes the parable clearly as a comparison to the kingdom of heaven. Which part of that is backwards?

If you want the true meaning of the parable refer to James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ASK OF GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. " Prayer and meditation will be answered and you will find what the parable means TO YOU. True interpretation of Scripture will not be found in the commentaries of others. Each of us has a personal, individual, and unique spiritual walk. What this passage of Scripture means to you may be entirely different from the interpretation for me. Pray and meditate and get your personal interpretation directly from the one who will give you wisdom LIBERALLY.

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Title of Message: The authority of the kingdom now and its full power later
Central Point or Truth: The power and authority of the Kingdom of God is in operation now. “The kingdom of God involves two great moments: fulfillment within history, and consummation at the end of history” (Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, 91). The kingdom of God is not only a future realm but the present dynamic power and dominion of Jesus in this present history as it is known. The parable conveys the point that “the ‘kingdom’ in question was not a realm or a people but the right to reign as king. According to this passage, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God in terms of the exercise of divine royal power” (Ladd, Jesus and the Kingdom, 132). The kingdom of God now is not only God’s rein, which is similar to the concept that rabbinic Judaism held, “it is rather a dynamic power at work among men” (Ladd, 235). The power as demonstrated in the person and mission of Jesus the Christ. Those who did not recognize the present power and rule of the kingdom would be condemned at the future consummation of God’s kingdom.

Context:
Jesus was possibly speaking to the crowd, the disciples, and the scribes, his opponents. The scribes had been entrusted with the spiritual leadership of the nation. These leaders did not accept Jesus’ authority. A recent political incident was a part of their memory. “This parable closely parallels the details of the trip of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, to Rome in 4 B.C. to receive imperial ratification of his hereditary claim to rule Judea, along with the Jewish embassy which opposed him and Archelaus’s subsequent revenge of the Judeans” (Blomberg, 218). There was an expectation by some that the kingdom of God would appear immediately (Luke 19:11). Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and it was there that some possible believed he might set up the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the talents, particularly in Luke’s account, relates to his triumphant entry into Jerusalem as king. “The progression towards Jerusalem takes place ‘after he had said this’. These words establish a link with the preceding periscope. That periscope has indicated that the kingdom will not appear immediately in Jerusalem. However, the subsequent story has an almost immediate declaration of Jesus’ kingship in Jerusalem. The apparent futurity of the kingdom in v. 11 must be read in the context of the presence of the kingdom in v.38 (Guy, 128). Not only is the event after the parable significant. The event prior to the parable is also important to understand the parable. “Luke’s introductory clause, ‘as they were listening to this’ v. 11, counsels against making any significant structural separation after v 10 and deans that we grapple with the relation of the parabolic teaching in vv 12-27 to the preceding account of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus (vv 1-10)” (Green, 674). Luke makes reference to the presence of salvation, today.

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I am a catholic teacher and would love a copy of the mustard tree as we are looking at how our faith grows from a little seed. I want to use the parrable in our class prayer service.
Thanks and God bless Liz
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HI
i am doing this parable for a school essay

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It seems by the way Jesus told the story, that one need not be a christian to inherit eternal life. Jesus was asked this question and after the parable answered " Go and do likewise". Now the good samaritan was not a christian, but a product of mixed interbreeding between jews from the Northern Kingdom and other people after Israel's exile. They were considered heretics. Yet, it was what was in the samaritans heart that was the focal point of the parable. To say that only christians ( only people who accept Jesus as their Lord and savior and accept that he died on the cross for their sins) are going to be saved, is in a way like, judging other people. And as you well know, Jesus clearly states "judge not, least you yourself be judged.
Amen and God bless everyone.
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I have a challenge for anyone reading this. In my studies of the “kingdom of God” there is this mystical thing breathing in the background that if you understand and accept, it will make you more productive in the kingdom of God. I’m convinced that it is the actual spirit of the matter, and if not understood, a lot of people will sit there and scratch their heads pondering why their spiritual lives are not more productive. What is this mystical spirit that permeates the teachings of the kingdom of God? It’s the spirit of true humility.

Humility is something that can be misconstrued. One person may think their being humble by saying “there’s none righteous no not one” and this is after he’s made Jesus the lord of his life. In their false sense of humility they reject scripture that support that in Christ we have become the righteousness of God. Humbleness never says “oh, no God. You’re sadly mistaken. I’m a putrid thing, if you only knew how pathetic I really am”. Notice the arrogance in this. Telling God that he’s so stupid he doesn’t know how retched you are. When he’s the guy who told you to repent for being a sinner. There comes a time when we must humble ourselves as children and just accept what he says without challenging him. What do we care if he says you’re the richest person in the universe? ACCEPT IT! What do we care? What if he says you’re the most beautiful person in the universe? Don’t run and look in the mirror and say I’m hideous, and through doing so cast Gods word out as a lie. Just accept it like a child does. “You’re a good boy aren’t you Johnny”? “Oh no mom I’m a retch”! Children don’t act like that and we need to learn to do the same thing. Otherwise his word will never penetrate our hearts and will not sink roots. Doesn’t the ground have to receive the seed before the seed will grow and produce fruit? Well what does it matter what God says-if it’s a good thing?

Now notice these expressions used in scripture and see if you don’t notice an underlying spirit. “HIDDEN”, “SECRET” ”CONCEALED”, “WHISPERED IN THE EAR IN CLOSETS”, (your own prayer closet) “DO NOT DISIGURE YOUR FACE WHEN FASTING LIKE THE HYPOCRITS DO”, “LET NOT THE LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAD DOETH”, “DO THY ALMS IN SECRET” ‘SOUND NOT THE TRUMPET AS THE HYPORITS DO”. Do you see anything in all these expressions? The idea is that if we will humble ourselves and be content to be hidden, to do things in private, not attempting to show things to the outer world, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY.

There is a story that frequently comes up in faith circles that goes like this. A woman was suffering from a terrible goiter that had grown to about the size of a basketball hanging from her neck- if that’s not an exaggeration. Well this woman wood come to the meetings of a very blessed man of God by the name of Wigglesworth (last name). For three years in a row she would come to these meetings and testify to the crowd that she had been healed by God and was demonstrating her faith by doing so. Well, in the presence of the crowd as she was testifying, the goiter disappeared and she was healed. Truly a wonderful miracle. But faith people have seized upon this to say, “Look at the faith of this person who would testify of things that are not yet manifested as though they already were” and they encourage to do likewise But did you know that Jesus taught just the opposite? “Yes, but she was healed” you may say. Isn’t God wonderful! I’ve been blessed too when my thinking was absolutely backwards. The secret of faith is to do just the opposite. It’s called humility or humbling yourself before God. We are to accept Gods word into our hearts through prayer and then to conceal it as though it was a map to a treasure. Harboring it in our hearts and literally fighting its’ coming to the surface. “Let not your left hand know what the right hand doeth” If it’s you, then you have your reward. But if it’s God who’s doing the exalting, you’ll be exalted indeed, in the presence of people. I liken it to a train jumping its tracks at just the right time. Your own heart will assume a mind of it’s own.

Maybe the act of planting a seed is literally humbling that seed. It’s dead you know. The life has gone out of it. Maybe it’s an example of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But one thing is certain to me anyway. There is a spirit of meekness that just beckons God to exalt us. Maybe in this day and age of know-it-alls, we’ve become a little too all knowing ourselves. Maybe we need to hide ourselves in Christ trusting that the father will promote us into the light. Just a thought.



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I would like a copy of the sermon.
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I wonder what is the meaning of clothe he wear,the ring,and the sandals..Please anyone can explain.Thanks ..
In Christ,
Edgar
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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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The ring signified his acceptance and authority back into the family

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At our home group tonight wed 16th July there was a suggested tie between the 2 fig tree accounts the one where Jesus looks for fruit and the husbandman says that he would till about it for another year that it might bring forth fruit. and the other account where Jesus finds the fig tree without fruit. This was suggested that prehaps it showed that the farmer was not merciful to the poor in not leaving figs on his tree for the poor. or prehaps like a picture of Israel were fruitless as a nation in leading others to the living God whom they had a mandate to share the truth of the merciful and just God whom men will have to do with at the end time. they obviously did not think the way Paul the apostle thought after his conversion shown to us in his letter to the Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek".
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the older son has been misunderstand for a long time. He is a good kid. What more can a father ask from his son? But he is blinded by his bitterness. And in v. 31 the father tells the older son that all the father has is the older son's. If this is the case, the older son can choose to ask the father to give him and his friends a BBQ party. But the son doesn't ask. He gets mad at the father and turns bitter.

Very often we are more like the older sons. Not many of us live an exciting life like the younger son. We make complaints to our Father for not having what we want. But we don't spend time to ask.
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Leaven is always represented as a bad thing in the Bible and in the context the women also. I think this is sin and false teachers being in the church and the church growing into something it shouldn't be.

To GOD be the glory

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IF YOU HAVE A PICTURE I WOULD SURE LIKE TO VIEW IT. THANKS GOD BLESS JOAN
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I have not overlooked the last verse of the Parable of the Unjust Steward, that is, Luke 16 : 13. On the contrary, I have explained on the Unjust Steward site that most churches today are trying to serve both God and mammon. They have overlooked this verse by ignoring its context.

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in Christ,

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg

a martyr for asking, seeking, and knocking (
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THis could mean many different things because i had to tak a test on parables and i got this one wrong. We had to match the parable with a real life situation!~!~
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This is simple. The seed is Jesus which is planted in the world. The birds are the people of the world whom are given the chance to eat of the tree which is planted for them.
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