In Jesus’ time Israel was under the control of the Roman Empire. Hellenic culture was taking over traditional Jewish culture, and the Roman Empire had governors to rule over their provinces. There were many different groups that separated the people of Israel. People went to Jesus to ask if there was any hope for the Jews and their way of life.

The situation is similar in Australia today, with different cultures and religions mixing together and the nation's culture and identity changing as a result.

Jesus’ teachings, while initially based on the Jews’ dilemma, are still relevant today, at least for Australians.

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I encountered different opinions about the parable of the mustard seed...
but during the times of Jesus mustard is considered as the tiniest seed and concluded as the tallest of all the herbs before.with so much discoveries as of now,different interpretations come out.as for me Jesus compares heaven in to a mustard seed that started to a person,to a group then to a much bigger one...the world...now known as christians.the kingdom of God started into a scraped work but as years have passed,it grew and influenced each and everyone.if you'll observe a growth of a mustard,it is small before you'll plant it.but as it grows,its roots deepens down to the ground sucking up all the nutrients to live to grow tall.if you'll interpret it in the life of Jesus,he started as one, a carpenter and a poor man.as he grew old,he met some people.he called them and became his followers.he preached and preached until his words reached everyone,even alarmed the church before for he was considered as the awaited messaih,the savior.the small packed of Jesus grew and his teachings influenced each and everyone.as the faith of the people were united they stand tall to all obstacles against the people who are in contrast with the faith like Nero's occupation in roman history.if you'll see it the seed that was the tiniest one during Jesus time was him and the kingdom of God,the growth of the mustard is the apostles of Jesus,its roots is Jesus teachings influencing every jew,the nutrients is people's belief or faith and the height is the strength of christianity and its success doing its very best to reach the highest peak of the sky.
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I am looking for a large picture of a tree grown from a mustard seed to
use as an object lesson with children - young and old!
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1. The fig tree may have been recalcitrant.
2. OR, although the environment (temperature and moisture content of
the soil, and sunlight), may have been supportive of the early show of
leaves, perhaps the roots of the fig tree were not yet deep enough to
glean the rich nutrients needed for the fruit to develope.
3. Either way the fig tree was out of line with its own nature.
4. Much more to this. But it is really quite simple when you consider
God's universe.
5. Jesus did the right thing in stopping that tree in its tracks.
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After much study and deliberation I have come to the conclusion that there is a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. 1st Thes 4;14-17 is quite clear about the way in which Christ will return "WITH" the saints. Then those of us still alive will be caught up in the air to meet him. Rev19:8 refers to the bride of Christ being arrayed in white linen described as the righteousness of the saints. Then in verse 14 it speaks of the army that followed Jesus from Hevan as being clothed in the same linen fine white and clean and ride white horses. So we must have been taken up before we could have descended to the Mt. of Olives.
Now then God always made a way to save his loyal remnant from earthly disaster. Noah and his family were saved by an ark. Lot and his family were told to flee Sodom&Gomorrah. So it stands to reason that his church should be removed from the face of the earth before God pours out his judgement upon the wicked. Besides "He" the Holy spirit must remove his restraining prescence so that the man of lawlessness can be revealed. God made a covenant to the church with his Holy Spirit that He would never leave us nor forsake us. So that means that we too must be removed befor the antichrist can be revealed.
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The good samaritan is a very good parable that is really known throught-out both the christian society and the jewish because of the relationship in that parable if the Gentile and the Jew.
When the priest and the levite passed by both should have helped but did not then the samaritan passed by although he was not expected to help he did the unthinkable he helped the jew who looked down on the samaritans because of their mixed breed.
Despite this the samaritan cared after the man took him to an inn and left enough money there for him to stay a little while longer until he was better.
This shows one of the greatest forms of love for your neighbor in the bible
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You have made this homework so much easier! THANK YOU!!!
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Also do not forget what Jesus says later in both Matthew and Mark... several chapters after the cursing of the fig tree and the parable of the fig tree Jesus says this:

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my workds will never pass away." - Matthew 24:32-35 and Mark 13:28-31.

Jesus is speaking here just after relating a series of warnings about the end times and in fact the since the fig tree represents the NATION (tree) of ISRAEL (fig) it is feasible to suggest that this is a direct prophesy about the coming of the Tribulation.

I'm not the kind of person who goes around prognosticating and ranting about the end of the world and the Bible clearly says that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief" (2 Peter 3:10) so I'm not trying to predict the end but I do think that it is fascinating to see how this correllates with the withering of the nation of Israel about AD 70 and its subsequent rebirth in AD 1948.

I've read that the Bible maintians that a generation lasts 40 years and begins in the 20th year and ends in the 60th, putting the coming of Christ some time in 2008 if you do the math that way. But generation could also mean RACE in which case there is no math to be done. If this is the prophesised generation of the fig tree then we may see these things fulfilled very soon. Perhaps not though.

The point is to be prepared and always have your heart in the right state and never waver in doing the work God has put you here to do.
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The second message is more complete, it has more to it at the bottom!
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The mustard seed is seen growing after an abnormal fashion, showing Satan's success in stopping Christian from bearing fruit through causing and unnatural growth in their ranks. And not only so, but the mustard seed is seen devoloping so abnormally that it eventually becomes a tree; and this tree is seen to be of such a nature that " the birds of the air ," individuals doing the work of Satan, found a lodging place in the braches .

There are multiplied warnings numerous places in Scripture concerning false teachers who would arise and teach " perverce things," Particularly related to the faith," THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM". And these false teachers would arise, not from the world, but from Christendom itself. These false teachers would arise from the ranks of Christians, in the Churches( Acts 20:29-32; cf. 1 Tim.4:1-3; 2 Tim.2:8,18; 3:7,8; 4:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1ff; Jude 3ff ).
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The parable of the mustard seed continues with the same central thoughts set forth in the previous parable, the parable of the wheat and tares. Fruit-bearing remains at the forefront [v.31], as well as Satan's contining activity as he seeks to stop Christains from bearing fruit
And the method which Satan uses as he seeks to stop Christians from bearing fruit, revealed in the previous parable, is through sowing tares among the wheat. Then the parable of the mustard seed reveals that which would happen because of this activity of Satan.
In this respect, the parable of the mustard seed is simply a commentary on the previous parable, providing additional explanatory help. The mustard seed is seen growing after an adnormal fashion, showing Satans success in stopping Christains from bearing through causing an unnatural devoloping so abdormally that it eventually became a tree; and this tree is seen to be of such a nature that" the birds of the air", indivduals doing the work of Saten, found a lodging place in its branches[v.32;cf.vv.4, 19.] Thus the third parable, continuing the thought from the second parable, presents the tares being quite effective. They are seen deciving Christians to the degree that they bring about an unnatural growth in Christendom, resulting in unfruitfulness, barrenness; and the matter is carried to the point that, in the end, the tares even found acceptance among those whom they had decieved. Through producing an unnatural growth in Christendom-- one in which they themselves could find acceptance-- the tares stopped Christians from bearing fruit. The destruction has to do solely with [ The Word Of The Kingdom], the subject matter at hand. Then the tares were able to simply settle down in that which they had produced.
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Here the parable in the beginning says that Kingdom of heaven is as this. We know that Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom (Matt 16:19), and Peter did opened the door of the kingdom in the day of Pentacost (Act 2). So here definitely he is referring to the disciples (or christian) in church. Some commentaries refers the last servant as those of old days who were afraid to be corrupted by the world that moved out of cities to live by themselves rather than being the salt and light of the world. I believe the talents can be all that we have recieved from God including the salvation and opportunities of sharing the salvation. And yes, we will be judged by our Master for our own deeds as Jesus talked about fruits and its tree to be relatable.

And I don't care what people or pastor says about "once saved always saved" theology which is taught nowadays. Bible clearly says sin will kill us. as it is written in Heb 10:26~27

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."

Though we are not perfect and often sin time to time (or everyday even!!)
if we insist to have sinful "life-style" meaning justifying ourselves to sin as in Gal 5:19, we will be lost though we could be saved previously.

I believe this parable should be also studied with Parable of Ten Virgins, which starts with same heading.
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I posted too early. I am not sure of the last part of the parable. If all of the servants were believers, then was salvation taken from the one talent servant. I believe that believers are sealed until the day of redemption...one saved, always saved. My pastor and I discussed the ending. At this point, we agree that the talents are gifts and abilities. That everyone, saved and unsaved alike, have free will to use these gifts and abilities for God or for themselves. Those that choose to live for Christ will be given great rewards in heaven and God will provide for them on earth. Those that choose to serve themselves with their talents, may receive rewards on heaven, but will lose everything upon death. They will be cast into darkness (hell) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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I heard that the mustard trees bark is petrified and has a dew that keeps insects away from sheep. That when a goat gets under the mustard tree that same dew will drive them mad and they will ram the tree until they die. That there are only 2 things that grow under it, one the Rose of Sharon, and two a weeping willow (humility). Has any one else ever heard of this?
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This is my parable. All my life I have coasted on the opportunities God gave me, rather than striving to use them to increase his kingdom. I called it humility or being satisfied with small things, when deep down it was fear and laziness.

This parable reached deep in me and challenged me. It spoke the words my father always asked me: Why didn't you do your best? What are you afraid of?

Now I am in law school. For the first time in my life I am laying it all on the line and doing my best, not caring whether I'm first in the class or last. Doing my best for God with with talent he gave me. It is scary to do your best, because then you have no excuses if you don't succeed, no ifs or buts to comfort your pride.

What would the servant had felt if he had gambled and lost the talent, seeing the other two with their riches?

I don't know, but this is what he would have heard:
"Well done, my good and faithful servant."
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The father in the story of the prodigal son required no proof of repentance. God's love is stronger than his vengeance, as seen in Hosea 11:9.It also teaches us that the Father's love does not depend on our actions, and He loves us unconditionally.
To Davobrian, perhaps we could think of some of the offenses we have particular difficulty forgiving. Do we give others a second chance? Take, for instance, the ex-convicts, do we give them a chance to reintegrate themselves back to society without discrimination?
The younger son travels a journey similar to all Christians. We sin and fall from grace but the Holy Spirit within us constantly reminds us to return to the father, and when we are spiritually dry, we will return. Yet, when that happens we also yearn for our brothers and sisters to welcome us, not only the Father.
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Sinning through work on the Sabbath for the sake of my other message, I must reply here first. You have confounded the general riches and plain gifts of rich lost folk with their offerings and sacrifices. Only their offerings and sacrifices are an abomination to the Lord.

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is unwilling to accept their terms. Why, in the fifteenth century, rich folk bought false salvations without their repentance or faith when a monk named Johann Tetzel sold them indulgences! Our Lord, however, is unwilling to grant salvation in exchange for the willful offerings and sacrifices of rich lost folk: just read the story of the rich young man! (Matt. 19:16-26 ) The seeker of salvation who trusts in his or her wealth to purchase salvation even today still is to be told to sell everything he or she may own before returning to follow Christ.

I conclude that although Jesus plans for us Christians to use wealth from the rich folk of this world, never will He acquiesce in becoming thoroughly beholden to them. And so it is that our command from Him in Luke 16:9 is to make friends with the rich folk of this world without mention of keeping them. If we as congregations should deplete the favor of rich folk in our midsts, He will call us to flee the resulting persecution (Matt. 10:23) -- not necessarily for reasons explicitly of our faith. Jesus Christ can call groups of at least two Christians to flee, together or whither the first has taken refuge, just because psychiatry is coming after two of them, or just because psychiatry pursues one while another finds no welcome for his witness of Christ, or just because nobody among the lost people nearby will listen to the Word, or just because the rich folk never give freely but instead seek what Jesus in truth always denies them, or even because the rich folk of this world there see fit to give only what they most please, such as earrings, rather than what can be made useful for Christian ministry! I tell you, it is easy for groups of genuine Christians to get called by Christ to flee together!

In the name of Jesus Christ I warn you strongly not to use the Lord's Name in vain. By lumping the wealth of the wicked which they keep and their plainest gifts to the poor with offerings and sacrifices and calling it all "an abomination to the ****", Patsy, you have profaned the Name of the Lord. Please repent now! As for me, I am miserable, and we serve the Lord mostly in order to be happy. I need hearkenings to my requests for a congregation already faithful even in (with) the unrighteous mammon of Luke 16 as soon as possible to have any chance whatsoever to be happy and keep His commandments. Please read my newest posting.

+++Kevin Douglas Rosenberg
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ANYWAY MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIAD IT THAT IT IS GOOD TO BE PERPARD OF THE COMING OF THE LORD, COS YOU CAN THAT THOSE TEN VIRGIL ARE NOT PERPARD VERY WELL FOR THE WEDDING THAT IS WHY THEIR LAMP WANT OFF WHEN IT IS TIME TO WELCOME THE BRIDE AND GROOM,

MY BROTHERS THIS IS NOT JUST A JOKE IT IS THE SINGS OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DRUING THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, PERPARE YOURSELF VERY WELL READY YR BIBLE DAILY, AND RESPECT GOD IN YOUR LIFE. BE WASHFUL FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE MAN OF GOD IS COMING.

DONT BE AMONG THE TEN VIRGIN GOD LOVES YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

NONYEBABY FROM NIGEIA
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Hi'! I believe the parable of the ten virgins is about the pre-trib rapture of the Saints right after the antichrist comes on the scene.The wise Virgins get to go in the rapture,and the un wise stay here.They are still virgins so they are christians,but they were not ready.They are still saved but they cannot go in the rapture.If they were ready they could go,so this is a message to us all to be ready.Does the Bible tell us that the world will know who the antichrist is?Who will know when the antichrist is on the scene? I feel that the Bible is telling christians that they may be able to know when he first begins his leadership,and who he is.The world will think he is great and that he is good,but only christians could know the truth about him when he first appears on the scene.I believe the rapture is coming very soon.Let us all pray for each other day and night so that we will all be ready,o.k?I love you all though I do not see you! I love you because Jesus loves you and because we share the same Lord Jesus,and we share the same family through him.Please be blessed,and May God bless you all greatly,in his name,amen.Loving Jesus,Diane
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Jesus gives the example of the Good Samaritan for us to pattern ourselves after when it comes to loving our neighbor and other points of living.Anyone can be a Good Samaritan if Jesus is in your Heart and you are operating from the Love that he gives you.Help others . Not just the ones that you know , but be ready to share his love and Charity with all.
God Bless You,
chris
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i really enjoyed reading yours the most. it left me feeling satisfied, and closer to having a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. =)

thank you for blessing me.

how has your seed sowing been?

love in Christ,
edna
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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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I heard a preacher preach on the mustard tree.
Sheep can lie under it and be healed of fleas and ticks from the sap that runs free.
The tree has white blooms with a gold center.
The goats hate this tree.
The only flower that will bloom under the tree is the sweet rose of Sharon. when it blooms the white flowers on the tree turns crimson red.
Also the tree is battered and beaten in the winter time, the leaves fall off and in three days it will bloom agasin.
This was the pretiest story i've ever heard and want to know if there is some way I an get a copy os the tree. and the story, or legend of the mustard tree.
It is over twenty feet tall and huge around.
Thanks for your time, and may God bless you.
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Consider the usage of the word "Earth" elsewhere in Jesus' parables. The word earth is always used in reference to a man's heart. We sew seeds (the Word) in the earth (men's hearts).

Likewise, earth is used in this parable. He who was only given one talent (given one gift) hid it in his heart, afraid to use it for God's gain, and he lost it.

He who was given many gifts used them all, and was given more, because he has shown faith in what he all ready had, and would surely do the same if he had more. God is using his servants wisely.
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can i request a picture of the mustard tree
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Quote:Leaven is always represented as a bad thing in the Bible and in the context the women also.

Mat 13:33 KJV Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto a bad thing, which a bad women took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was a bad thing.

Are you sure you wish to say this? Kingdom of Heaven = Leaven? Kingdom of Heaven = A bad thing?

Maybe I'm confused or missing something? When I read the above it doesn't sound right. I don't think Jesus would call or refer to the Kingdom of Heaven as a bad thing?



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Dear brothers

Can you send to me a good large commentary about the parables of Jesus. Especially the parable of the ten virgings.


Thanks a lot.


Sami
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Dear Julie,
Yes satan will try to decieve you into thinking you are wrong about things,satan does not have to attack non believers but he works overtime to get to people whom have put their faith in Jesus to doubt themselves as he does not want Jesus to win another soul, Jesus called satan the great deciever he plays mind games with us. I remember when I first found my savior Jesus Christ I had a hard time every sunday getting ready for church my dress shoes would not be where I remember putting them or nothing would be going right that morning and once I realized that it satan trying to get me to stay home and I prayed about it, it stopped but i still pray every sunday morning just so i can get ready for church without satan playing mind games with me. Now about your illness this could be for real so listen to your Dr. but do not forget to pray for a cure ther is great power in prayer believe in the lord and pray, I will pray for you that your depression will be lifted
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In Mark 11:23-24 Jesus said:

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

I have already submitted that the very thing that we are cultivating in Mark Chapter four is faith or belief. If the same word or idea found in Mark 11:24 is “believe”, then couldn’t we overlay the teaching template or matrix-so to speak-of Mark chapter four’s teaching, over this scripture, to gain some enlightenment into what’s being said?

If you do a translation comparison amongst many translations you will find that in some translations they use the expression “believe you receive it” (present tense). Others use the expression “believe you HAVE received it” (past tense). So which one is it? And might it be explained by the idea of farming or sowing and reaping? (Parable of the sower, Mustard seed etc.)

This has bothered me for a long time because I couldn’t rectify there being any similarities between the two. And something so important as the scripture by Jesus instructing us as to how to get our prayers answered; must be clearly understood. Doesn’t it?

Consider if you will that this might be what’s going on here. Notice in verse 24 the expression “when you pray”.

Might a farmer when planting his field (at that very point in time in which the seeds hit the soil) be doing the natural equivalent of the spiritual idea of “believing”-present tense? Could Jesus be saying that we are planting something when we “believe” it- present tense? Might we be doing the actual planting of the seed of Gods word, when we say in prayer “I believe it”, “ I receive it by believing it”, “now”?

Now, back to the “when you pray”. Might this expression be a TIME STAMP? Which endorses our petition, locking it in at a certain time and place? And if this scripture has within it this “time stamp”, and the flow of time is heading into the future, can you see how that the time stamp now falls in the PAST after we’ve prayed? (It now becomes past tense.) With every second after we’ve prayed-BELIEVING, for us to keep the time stamp valid and the continuity of this scripture valid, then we would have to change our confession to past tense. Or the time stamp is nullified and our seed ruined or kept from growing. (The scripture ceases to be applied).

Isn’t this what farmer’s do?

What if you noticed every three days a farmer out in his field RE-planting his crop? Would he ever come to a harvest? I submit NO. A farmer has to get the planting of his crop behind him for the year and then he can expect the seed to grow. And yet our NOT CHANGING our confession from I “believe” present tense, to “I have believed” past tense, is the very thing that our hearts hear as a mixed message (The word is being sown in our hearts). Not to mention violating of the conditions of the scripture.

We have to “believe” (confess out loud before God, in the secret place of our prayer closet-NOT before men. “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed you might SAY… Verse 23, whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain…) that God grants us what we pray for “when we pray”, then change our mind set allowing the time stamp to lock that prayer in time thus drifting into the past tense. To pray again in the present tense resets the time stamp and we start the growing cycle over, forfeiting the time that we spent waiting for the growing cycle to be completed. We could do that forever never receiving a thing. Does that sound like anybody that you know? Me too! (We won’t say whom.)

When farmers come in from the field HAVING planted their seed for the year, they probably say, “I’m glad that’s done”. They crack open a cold one knowing that the reaction between the ground and Gods unique creation, the seed, will shortly go to work causing a crop to begin to grow. How does he know? It’s been written in nature from the beginning of time. Seeds just grow. They’re miraculous. The thing that causes them to grow is the fact that he’s a descendant of his forefather seed, the one that God spoke to in Genesis commanding them to GROW. If you understand this alone, you will see how farmers are cultivating Gods word without even knowing it (their literal miracles-LITERAL).

The apostle Paul said in Corinthians that the seed has to die first before it will grow. And there is no life in it at the time it’s planted. Where does the life come from? Apart from Gods word-I don’t know. But they grow.

If you remember anything that I have written remember this: We receive from God in the present tense, NOW. We received Gods word by believing it (learn to use that word in prayer, your head my not understand it but your heart does) present tense-NOW.

But for this scripture to remain applied, and to not violate the time stamp that we applied at the time of prayer, we then must allow it to slip into the past tense and KEEP it there. Any pulling it out of the past tense (“I HAVE receivED it”, “when I believED it”, “when I prayed”) cancels out the scripture. Your violating the “when you pray” time stamp that we endorse our prayers with.

According to scriptures all of Gods promises are written in the past tense, indicating that he’s already provided whatsoever things we ask-BELEIVEING. We engage our faith for them when we “believe” them (accept, plant, hide, bury, keep secret).

If done properly, with the course of time (the growing cycle needs to be completed, patience is required) our heavenly father will reward us openly for the things we planted in prayer when we believed.

Believe, plant, and reap, may your joy be full!


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I am doing Children's Message on faith and the mustard seed.
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In looking at the various comments found below I notice that a lot of people inject their own ideas into the scripture when there is ample scripture to reveal what is meant. The King James Version of the bible is good because it keeps the integrity of individual words throughout the bible. This is especially important in the parables, because you can’t improve upon perfection. So a choice word, which is found in one parable, should be used in the others where the same (Greek) word is used. Jesus had the power of perfect wording and this is why he seems redundant in saying for instance “beware ye of the leaven of the scribes and the Pharisee’s, which is hypocrisy for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither is there anything hid which shall not be known. The latter part of this expression is found about four times throughout the gospels and maybe more. So the words hid, covered, revealed and of course leaven, are words that can be looked up in a concordance and traced back until a picture forms.

Leaven… Ah, the leaven and the dough parable! Leaven was hid in dough and it ended up being leavened. Might another expression for leavened be revealed? “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed. There is nothing hid that shall not be manifested”? Couldn’t the word manifested be synonymous with revealed or leavened?

But then you may remember that the idea there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed came out of Mark chapter four. Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested. Neither was anything kept secret……….

I think if you do a word study on the exact Greek words found in the parables you will find these unchangeable truths. The spirit or heart of a man-the candle, is also likened unto an eye. The light of the body is the eye…This is the ground that the word (seed) is sown in. The word obviously is the word of God, which is an aspect of the life of Christ. In the beginning was the word the word was with God and the word was God…. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. The treasure is the ability to manifest to the outer world the spiritual realities of the Kingdom of God or to tap into the human spirit and get in working on our behalf. Notice that in the parable of the treasure in the field and the merchant man seeking goodly pearls that there is great gain depicted. These are the secrets kept hidden from the foundation of the world.

These things were put in parables and metaphors because God foresaw that there would be a time when the Holy Spirit manifestation-the teacher, would dwindle. And people like you and me would have to learn the system through meditation vs. direct illumination from the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit is received through the use of these principles. I realize that people will say with indignation “that’s not so”! But getting 500 hundred different interpretations per 500 people asked shows the Holy Spirit is not as manifest as should be. He’s a wee bit scarce ya know.

Just make sure that the Word interprets itself, for it says that it is not of any private interpretation.

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My take is first thing I have read the tree by the rivers take and I must say I disagree. Jesus never has need for anything. He is the almighty, omnipowerful God. He wants something he has it.
Anyway, My take is that Jesus had come to the barren fig tree and used it to symbolize the man. The man as a christian had not beared fruit for three years and I think God is trying to tell us that if our christian tree doesn't bear fruit then it is more useful to be cut down. As christians we have a spiritual fig tree and It is our job to make it bear fruit. And that comes through studying the Bible,praying, and believing and working for the Lord. If we do not do these things and our tree's do not bear fruit than we are useless as christians. That's my take. Love ya Jim
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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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what exactly is gnashing of teeth?
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yes we can be good samaritains in this era! If you kinda a person that has been left to die you would help them weather thye were a stranger or your enemy, it's still a person who diserves to live!
so yes we can be good samaritians!
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life application of the growth of mustard seed
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There are a few major representations of the "oil". One, in the Old Testaments, it was instructed of Moses, by God, the use of the oil to anoint Aaron, the priest, for service for God. This was a great representation of separation and consecrating unto God to the priesthood. The anointing of God being represented on and in the presents of Aaron, which was also the same as the Holy Spirit in dwelling. Psalms 133:2 describes it as following: "It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body].

It also was the representation the Priests, Kings and Prophets that were anointed. Oil was poured on the head of the person being anointed. Kings were set apart through the ritual of anointing, which was performed by a prophet who acted in God's power and authority.

In the New Testament, anointing was represented with healing. The Holy Spirit's activities in a believer's life are picture in terms associated with anointing. The disciples anointed the sick in Mark 6:13 and James even instructed the elders to anoint the sick with oil (James 5:14).

Also in the New Testament, it represents the HOLY SPIRIT, which brings understanding to the believer (1 John 2:20, 27). The Holy Spirit anoints a person's heart and mind with the love and truth of God's word.
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We do not know that the father of the prodigal did not search for his son. He may have kept track of him by having the servants report his whereabouts and progress. He, however did not go out and drag him back by his ear but allowed him to come back on his own. The Father won't interfere with our free will but wait and rejoice when we come back.
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need for school
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What will it take for the elder boy to come to his senses? I say it will take pain -- real pain, and a reflection on pain that seeks understanding, not only of its external cause but also for that part of caused by one's own action. For example, it hurt the elder to be taken for granted as a obedient son, to be "dissed," but it hurt him more to hold on to the memory of, or to impute malicious intent to the ignorant one. Christ avoided this by forgiving the ignorant, those who, due to lower consciousness, "do not know what they do." The fact that Jesuse even talks to the leaders shows he has hope in their transformation; this address anticipates repentance, as it is not condemning, just like the father does not condemn the, now, disobedient son.
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The wise were those who build their lives on Christ, not on any worldly form so many are doing. So many seem to build their supposedly Christian life on anything but the real Truth of Christ. The power of reason is so strong in many that they become as god's to themselves. They decide what the rules are based upon their own way of believing. It is a form. a shell of godliness, but is shallow and without power. They do not have the approval of God upon their heart. They know nothing of the assurances the true believer experiences when they follow the Lord. These have been decieved by the great deceiver of mankind, the Devil. To these, the Bible has been largely ignored. Or they have not divided the Scriptures so it all fits together without contradictions. Their supposedly educated reasoning is so wonderful, that in fact they make their own laws, and worship themselves. These have not built their house upon the eternal rock of Christ, but upon the sand of their own ideas. Or they have picked out some of the Bible truth, according to their own liking, and left some other vital facts of the Bible out. This is building on sand. Their house will not hold up in the time of testing, of the trials of life.
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what is the significance of the two silver coins when the good samaritan gives them to the man in the inn?
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I'll just quote a sentence from this mail then put my oppinion....

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

My oppinion...............God looks apon the heart............people miss the point of this story, because they look at it through their eyes, and through their justification, so ofcourse those that are poor and suffer are more worthy than those who dont, God said their is none righteous no not one, rich people will go to hell exactly the same as poor people, we can sympathize with the poor but it is only aggreeing that envy has a place in Gods kingdom it doesnt............Jesus could have told the same story in reverse because gauranteed he knows one poor man that is going to Hell and one rich man that is not, but that would have not had the same appeal to our views on justification, we have to be led to the truth, line upon line precept on precept............. tell me when they shouted crucify him to pilate, were there more rich than poor? When Jesus said you seek me because your bellies were filled, ie they followed him fore the bread, and said Abraham was their father, and he said if Abraham was your father you would Love me................are these poor going to heaven?...............God looks upon the heart, it doesnt matter if youve lived the best life ie rich, or the worst life ie begger............circumstances wont change your heart, rich or poor if you have no love for God you have no love for God............10 lepers got healed only 1 came back to thank God........... I believe this story is not about rich vs poor it is about the heart of Lazurus and he had a heart for God ..................and it is a story of the Beauty of God because he is no respecter of persons.
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Hitch (and others): Bighouse has pegged the kingdom parables of Matt. ch. 13.
Consider that Jesus explained two of them (vs 18-23, 37-43). If the focus would have changed wouldn't our Lord have said so. Especially since the disciples understood the other parables without explaination (v 51).
Leavened bread was prescibed for peace offerings in Lev. 7:13. All other instances of peace offerings is represented by animal sacrifice and/or the fat thereof. As for Lev 7:13; "Leaven, commonly used at social feasts, was permitted in the thank offering because this was the spontaneous expression of devotion from lives that were not entirely rid of sin and evil in every case(v 13). It taught that everything eaten is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. (1Tim. 4:4-5; 1Cor. 10:23, 30) and that food which enters the stomach does not defile a man (Mt. 15:11)." --Dake commentary on Lev. 7:13
As for the 'foul fowls', certainly the dove denotes the Holy Spirit, but here again if we keep the train of thought being taught by the Lord in Matt. 13, these particular birds must be evil.
As for Strongs ref. 3772; it could mean --- the sky, right?
Consider this. The kingdom parables are taught as a warning to the Church. Dovetail this with the letters to the churches in Rev. and the endtime teaching on false teachers and doctrine. The church will be and has been infultrated by false doctine. Now reread the kingdom parables and consider what the Lord is warning. "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." v.9.

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My personal view on the parable is that our Lord Jesus would like to warn us of guarding ourselves against all kinds of greediness. This, i think is a one simple truth God wants us to consider. In addition, God calls for an immediate response of anybody that's warned as said in verse 20 which tells for the urgency of time.
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Please send me a picture of a of a full grown mustard seed tree. Please send it as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Rosalind
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Pastor Mike,

Thank you for your response.

There is one thing that stands out to me about the article that you wrote and it’s this: It’s “academic”. I don’t mean that offensively. A lady once used that word around me talking about a well known ministry and the things that they were saying. That threw me for a loop. I literally had to look up the meaning of that word and then figure out what she said. What she was saying is that “those things go without saying”. There is no “magic” in that.

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept SECRET from the foundation of the world.

I think your failing to give credence to that fact that there is a hidden mystery revolving around the teachings of the kingdom. Jesus was saying something so mind blowing that only IT (the secret, the mystery) could qualify as something so magnificent, that God almighty felt the need to hide it-and then reveal it at the opportune moment as the "secret" of the kingdom.

Look at the scriptures listed below.

Matthew 6:4
That thine alms may be in SECRET: and thy Father which seeth in SECRET himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in SECRET; and thy Father which seeth in SECRET shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in SECRET: and thy Father, which seeth in SECRET, shall reward thee openly.

Notice the word SECRET. Isn’t it safe to say that there is something about this idea that is a lot more far reaching then what we’ve given credit for being?

Did you know that there is a scripture in the Old Testament where a man demands to know Gods name from the angle standing before him representing God, and do you know what the angel said? (Paraphrased) “Why do you ask me my name being that it’s “SECRET” (might Gods name literally be “SECRET”? As in “hi my name is Denny, I’d like you to meet my friend Secret).

Is it just me or is there something a lot more to this; that God would keep centering on the idea of “secret”?

Well in my articles I seize upon this idea and I expound on what I believe this secret is. In what you just wrote, you can’t glean anything out of it that could be construed as a “secret hidden from the foundation of the earth”. Can you see that? It’s all academic.

JESUS WAS SAYING SOMETHING INCREDIBLE! I mean in terms of helping the human race.

I would submit that the pearl of great price or the treasure hid in the field is this ability that a human being has to resplend the contents of his heart onto the picture screen of his life. I.E, get it to MANIFEST.

Now seriously, isn’t that more of a fulfillment of the scripture:

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world”.

Who cares about things that don’t help you get God manifest in your life? Haven’t you ever been afraid of something? Haven’t you ever been in a jam in which you need God NOW! Haven’t you ever been anxious, careful, strung-out (stressed out-whatever)? Haven’t you ever asked “isn’t there something for my being (body) in terms of the presence of God? Why would a person have to lie in bed feeling spiritually cold, dark, as though God is totally absent? Shouldn’t we have a “manifestation” of the presence of God to where we always know that he’s there? Some will say “but you must take it by faith”. But the whole reason why you take it by faith is because Hebrews says “faith is the substance, or giving substance to the things that we hope for. We use our faith to get something to manifest.

God wants to be manifestly present in our lives. Many people have had an experience with God in which they say it was as though a being of fire came upon them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could get this experience and impart it unto others? Instead of kids blowing the brains out on dope, impart this being that the bible calls the Comforter unto people and just see if that wouldn’t far out do what crack can offer.

Isn’t this better than all of that theory business?

I don’t want theory; theory doesn’t pay the bills and give me something to look forward to. FUSHTANE? (I think that’s German for do you get it? I’m probably wrong. Forgive me thou German people.)

I would submit that THIS, IS THE “CONTEXT” THAT JESUS WAS ADDRESSING.

Just remember though, Jesus said many things. Some of which may be an overall view from above concerning the predicament of man. But by far his most awesome teaching was that of manifesting the Word of God to the world around us via Kingdom principles.

Mark 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The parables of Mark chapter four are the ones that open the door to all the others. And it speaks of manifesting things hidden, to the world around us.

God bless.

Tell no man.

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Dear James,

You write as if the world is a zero-sum-game, that for one to have more, another must have less. Not true.

One does not have to exploit others to gain. Every invention increasing productivity shows the possibility of win/win. Even in planting and harvesting crops, more may be produced than is invested. And money is merely "stored value". Wealth can be created.

If there were Boy Scouts in that day, it might have been phrased as "Do Your Best."
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I was wondering if you could get me a picture of the mustard seed to see that it looks like?
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teaching vacation bible school. the kids would love to see what a mustard tree loos like.

thank you
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