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 have been told by a counselor, professional, that i have Cyclothymia, but I am also a christian, and I am wondering, can saten attack one who is saved, just like symptoms of depression, as well, to trick you into thinking you have this when you don't, or, if you do, it is a trial? How should I look at this. I don't want to take meds, I am not suisidal, or bad behaviour, but I wonder if it is a trial, or if it is saten messing with me, to get me to doubt God. Do you understand this? THanks for the help if you can . I am just now seeing this might be the case.
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i am interested with the plant growth cycle including its seed's size and weght, and height of a mature plant.
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TROY, I think you are correct. And it does make you think differently about this parable. Thanks for your posting.
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dera sirm
iam a priest,
i would like get your semon on goodsheped,
thanks lot
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What is the scientific name for a fungus on bread? If possible i really need the answer today..it is for a biology project!
Thanx a bunch!
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Verses 27 -31 is not as it seems.

No good can come from hell.

This man was still selfish enough to protect himself against the ever lasting hatred of his brethran. He was not saving them to heaven, he was trying to avoid them coming to hell to add to his torment forever.

They would inflict more torment on him for him setting them on their path to hell, he was still thinking of self.

I repeat the first comment, "No good can come from hell."

Rob t
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I would really love a copy of this picture. Could you send it to my email address(larzeno@hotmail.com). I am a cathechist at my church and would love to use it for my class. Thanks
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Parable of Pharisee and Publican

1) Whats the religious message of the account for the people of Jesus' time?
2) Whats the religious message of the account for people today?
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Well done... The thought is not necessary how hard or how long one works, but how faithfull one is in carrying out the task which the Lord has delivered into his hands during the time allotted [cf Matt.20:1-16]. Through comparing the parable of the talents with the parable of the pounds, faithfullness among Christians to do do the task at hand is not always the same. It would seem apparent that there could be increases of less than or more than one hundred percent, allowing a two- talent Christian to realise an increase above that of a five- talent Christain, or vise versa. The number of talents is not really the issue. Faithfulness to the task at hand is that which God looks upon.

Blessings, rewards, and crowns are for those exercising faithfulness in the proper use of the talents/ pounds entrusted to them. A commendation of " Well done..." from the Lord awaites Cristains exhibiting faithfulness after this fashion. But, a task "well done is just that -- one well done. By following his commandments and overcoming the World, and the Flesh, and the Devil, thus the tasks at hand.
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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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Dear Sir" I Would like to get a copy of your sermon about the good shepher. In august I requeste one time, so far I did not get it. I am a foreign student in OU.
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The Trinity has always been a permanent part of God's kingdom (God is All) but hidden from view to the Church because of their blindness, and is still hidden from their view in a big degree. The true Trinity is not a human invention. The Church may THINK they know what the Trinity is, but your view of it is a better view than theirs. I doubt if the Church would acknowledge your view. It is interesting to note that just about that time, (300 A.D.) the raising of the dead ceased. Many think that when the Church government got into religion with all their rules, dogma, symbols, rites and rituals that that was the reason that raising of the dead stopped. "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? " Acts 26:8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12. Spirituality was lost to ritualism, consequently healing power lost too. The true Trinity is most certainly part of the Leaven, and the other way around also. Your idea of the Trinity is a better one than that of the Church. Why do we feel that it is incredible that Christians were able to raise the dead 300 years after the crucifixion of Jesus? We need to rethink our methods to be able to "go and do likewise."
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have a good day. can you provide me the picture resembling the following
parables of Jesus,

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

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


Thank you very much and may God bless you always.

Abet
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In Luke 21 Jesus says:

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

I think it’s safe to say that this pertains to the rapture of the church. Because how do the WORTHY get extracted from the world to stand before the son of man and yet the unworthy get left behind?

If that’s the case then I think it relates to the parable of the ten virgins because they too are allowed into a gathering while others are not let in. What was the determining factor? For some reason these women lamps failed.

Being that Jesus likens this parable unto the kingdom of God, wouldn’t we have to take into consideration “kingdom of God” elements found in Mark chapter four? Jesus said, “You don’t understand this parable? Then how will you understand all parables?” (Of the kingdom of God.)

Jesus spoke of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things “ENTERING IN” choking the word of God within us. Doesn’t that sound like the “overcharged” heart in the above-mentioned scripture?

Now, choke what? It chokes faith that is within us by his word abiding in our hearts.

Notice how these ladies lamps dwindled and went out. Jesus taught that our faith is radiated from our hearts. He also that taught that our hearts radiate light as a result of the things that we have spoken (“hidden” in our hearts) in the prayer closet.

It’s very clear to me that these woman (the body of Christ) were living worldly lives, being consumed in the cares of this world, drunkenness and surfeiting (excessive overeating). Subsequently it had a dampening affect on the keenness of their spiritual eyesight. Their eyes (spiritual eyes-the heart) were closing and their ability to be “watchful” was slipping away. All because they didn’t maintain the brilliant glow of this inner lamp. Which is our faith-our inner light.

What’s the solution? Don’t sweat the small stuff. Hebrews four says, “We which have believed do enter into rest”. Be master of your own domain in the prayer closet. But leave it there. Don’t attempt to manifest it in the light because that’s God’ job. He’ll reward us openly. But above all else, BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING, don’t let that stuff into your heart; it will dim your EYES, CANDLE, LAMP, FAITH. Do you get it?

HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR LET HIM HEAR.

Watch the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Many feel that the signing of a peace agreement commences the seven-year tribulation period of time spoken of by Daniel. Could this be the “revealing” (of the man of sin, the Anti-Christ) that the book of Thessalonians hints that the rapture occurs before? God only knows. But be watchful.

Have a good one!



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On behalf of everybody who like me has been martyred by the evil servants in charge of churches through calling the police to remove us from church or arranging hostile psychiatric hospitalization on account of spoiled rotten begging, I thank God for His words which justify us (Matt. 5:42, 6:24ff, 7:7) and promise our deliverance (Matt. 24:45-25:30).

We who have suffered such abominable punishments deserve to know well that we have no rewards waiting in heaven for us for patiently enduring under punishment from evil servants in charge or, especially, for going over the line between right and wrong in our begging... because Matt. 7:6 and I Peter 2:20 were printed in copies of the Holy Bible available to us long before our sufferings. Therefore, such a pastor as may dominate us now to keep our grievances quiet has no crowns in heaven to offer us for accepting his church discipline, and our rewards in heaven will be far greater if we cry out and call the church leaders completely to account for such failings as broken promises to spread the Gospel throughout the whole world by the year 2000.

Jesus Christ will be far more satisfied with us and able to bless us if we become completely frank with Him in prayer and no longer hold back our hearts. Failing to help us in our times of greatest need on earth through needed divine intervention, He has provided for absolutely incredible vengeance against the evil servants in charge (Matt. 24:45-51) in place of more years of freedom to apostatize in which to enjoy being completely healed and established as we might prefer. That the churches have already failed to fulfill their promises to evangelize the world by the year 2000 has changed the proper interpretation of Matthew 24:45-25:30 incredibly adversely for the evil servants in charge from offices to pulpits.

Because so many church leaders and evangelists have made and broken these promises, it is now patently apparent that they are unable to plan to spread the Gospel throughout the world with a testimony to all peoples (Matt. 24:14, Mark 14:9) and follow through on their promises. Well, the clock is ticking! The generation of Jews who saw Israel become a nation when they were twenty years old is aging, and God's holy Name is at stake to return before they all pass away. For this reason, the loss of morale among missionaries from failing to fulfill their promises to evangalize the world by the year 2000 cannot continue to drive churches inward to build the home church building and congregation and ignore world evangelism. In this context, the pastors' pretext that the judgements of Matthew 24:45-25:30 would be carried out in Heaven with the ever forgiving character of Jesus Christ as master must be torn to shreds; for if they should get their way, world evangelism will NEVER happen to make Jesus Christ return when He promised! Let us examine the judgements of Matthew 24:45-51 as possibe on earth with human masters or groups of humans as masters. This is now necessary to bring about world evangelism and the rapture of the saints.

Now seek I to bring about the judgement of the servants in charge as soon as possible on this earth (Matthew 24:45-51) so that without the hindrances of the Church Growth Movement, world evangelism may be attempted under faithful leadership, which unlike the Church Growth Movement will remember the need to memorialize Mary's anonymous anointing of Jesus Christ at Bethany if our spread of the Gospel really be worldwide (Mark 14:9, John 12:1-3). The power to judge is not yet in the right hands, yet our omnipotent Lord, praised be his name!--is surely able to bestow it. Promises from the American government such as our First, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights must fail, however that may happen, in order to judge the evil servants in charge with amputations and floggings as Jesus said would be done (Matt. 24:45-51, Luke 12:42-48); still I say, our awesome God is omnipotent and able to accomplish this, and both to those who pray to keep America safe and secure and to national enemies who would rejoice in an invasion or a coup d'etat I remember my citizenship in heaven and offer the Lord's Prayer just the same. American constitutional rights are defending injustices which Jesus Christ will not tolerate just before His return. Still, unless the United States Congress and the state legislators wake up to the reality of the end times and find some way to permit the imposition of the judgements upon the evil servants in charge prescribed by Jesus Christ, God's will could turn in an extremely adverse direction very fast in order to allow the ousting of bad pastors so that world evangelism may be accomplished.

And now I announce judgements. The demands of all the flock's wealth and amputations made by telephone in 2001 of the Meier family at Twin City Bible Church in Urbana, IL 61801, in place of failure to provide fifty million dollars requestewd in 1997 and 1998 to be obtained by begging to compensate Kevin Douglas Rosenberg for ruinous, utterly needless, admittedly mistaken psychiatric captivity and drugging (sin of witchcraft, Gal. 5:19, Greek), will accrue more demanded amputations before God: a thumb's weight weekly if evil servant in charge Bill Meier dare escape what was demanded before into the afternoon of December 26, 2003 UT. I myself cannot impose this, yet I dare ask Jesus his Lord, and He encourages me to keep on asking (Matt. 7:7). I have had to sin habitually because of Bill's influence on pastors to keep me quiet until I had to junk church after church to escape their domination, and I call down Matt. 18:5-7 to curse Twin City Bible Church like the fig tree in the name of Jesus Christ and send Bill's flock destitute for nearby churches to send out.

I do not possess such power as to bring this all about, yet still I thank God again for the Scriptures to show my current ways right before Him and to deliver me from the power of the evil servants in charge of today's churches through His will for vengeance. May God help our mentally ill brethren and everyone else in Him who needs assistance and has trouble asking for it among English speakers in authority. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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If you're looking for a contemporary take on this parable... and any other biblical passage, for that matter, you might try Eugene Peterson's "The Message". He has done an admirable job of re-writing the Bible in today's context.
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Yes, the symbolic name of the younger son is Ephrahim. The older's name is Judah.

Selah,
Donimus
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Well do you think leaven is a good thing??? I think NOT,leaven is like a tare(corruption).
Read Matt. ch. 13 again,fowls are are satan and his demons and look at the parables of the sowers especially,the fowls swoop down and take the seed which was sown.

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teaching grandchildren faith is as a mustard seed

please send info as described

greatly appreciated

louise

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Hello-
I have taught a women's Bible Study for many years, and my lesson next week is on mustard seeds. I would love a picture of a mustard tree to show the ladies. Thank you. Bea Heid
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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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This short parable contains a significant and salutary warning to us all not to lose sight of God in a world of rampant materialism. For our purposes, the parable can be seen in two contexts: the context in which it was first applied, and the context in which we find ourselves today.

The first context is the Graeco-Roman world in which both the historical Jesus and the Gospel writers existed. It was a world in which the major power of the age (Rome) dominated the region. Palestine was subject to Roman rule, and subject too to the trade and economic practices which had brought great wealth to a very few, and deep poverty and suffering to a great many. Given the Roman control of the economic and fiscal life of the region, it became the goal of some individuals who aspired to wealth, to work within that political and economic system, to achieve this. But, as is so often the case, this form of materialism could so easily become a self-destructive process, in which the rights and dignity of the poor was trampled upon, and the pursuit of gain became the only goal.

These individuals propped up the totalitarian Roman political system by failing to recognise the basic human dignity of their fellow human beings, and recognising instead only the need for more and more individualist material gain. And in doing this, God became forgotten. Love of God became replaced by love of individual gain and materialism.

Now this materialism could take many forms. In the parable, the easiest form to understand is employed - a wealthy man stores up more wealth, hoarding from his successful produce a great store of goods and materials with which he sought to enrich himself. But he loses sight of the point of life in this pursuit of gain. He thinks only of himself. He does not of share his good fortune with the poor and the downtrodden. Above all, he refuses to think of the only individual relationship that matters ultimately. He forgets about God. So when he faces a sudden, unprepared death (which is implied by verse 20), the emptiness of his relationship with God is revealed in all its bleakness.

And the context for today? It is interesting that this parable seems to have attracted the fewest comments so far. Is this because we are uncomfortable to condemn materialism as much as we were prepared (rightly) to condemn the Communism of the previous decades? I think so. I think the Western world especially is guilty of an individualist materialism which sees the pursuit of individual gain and wealth as the only "worthwhile" thing to do, and which deliberately forgets God.

Today's materialism takes many forms - financial, sexual, political, and emotional, to name a few. What this parable teaches us is that we should think about sharing our wealth and striving for a common good, and, above all, to remember God, who is the source of all goodness, and who will call us to account at a time not of our own choosing. Have we lived in a way that puts God first, or have we ignored that relationship, choosing our own individual materialism instead?

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1. Story of the strayed sheep
2. Story of the lost coin
3. Story of the Prodigal son
Could these three parables have the same message from different circumstances.
Strayed sheep or lost sheep, I see a member of the church caught up with the temptation of the world which is good for the eyes and good for the taste But far from the truth, the Pastor or Sheperd then must reach out or seek out to correct his/her way get him/her back on the right path.
Lost coin or misplaced coin, a member of the church family is backsliding because of some miscommunications or hurt by another church member. Again, the leader or some headfigure of the church seek out and make right with this lost member.
Prodigal son, he was in tune with everything about the church, still chose to leave God behind to find the worldly happiness, left home/church, father did not go out to seek him out as he (prodigal son) knew fully well what he was doing yet chose the world thinking he knew better. When there was no place else to go, home came to mind where peaceful rest always found, returned and was welcomed with open joyful arms. Shouldn't we seek out the son/daughter who do so choose to leave in their own free will knowing fully well after being told the consequence they'll meet if leave the truth? Is is biblical? The Holy spirit is always with us trying to guide us back home, the Father is always thinking and waiting with open arms to welcome us back home.
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This statement is wrong, sorry. I retract it.
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Please send me the picture of the Mustard Tree. I would like to use in a presentation when we dedicate our community garden in May 2009.

Thanks so much. May God continue to send us all blessings!
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I am a deeply troubled believer in Christ Jesus harmed and long neglected by today's evil churches. If their leaders are true to the Word of God rather than apostates, usually an evil servant such as a Church Growth Movement pastor runs the show and dominates his needy, for which exceptionally severe judgement is coming (Matt. 24:45-51). If I find a church faithful in doctrine with a good servant, he usually disppoints me with his flock's utter unfaithfulness regarding the unrighteous mammon, that is, worldly wealth. They won't even let me teach Luke 16!-- a critical passage without which they will continue to refuse my requests in the face of Jesus' own words (Matt. 5:42, 6:42, 7:7, and 18:5-7) for fear of being made poorer. I condemn the stinginess of today's American churches in Jesus Christ in His holy Name! Let us examine Luke 16:9, the actual command from our Lord, to be truly obeyed. Prepare for pandemonium among the churches!

Let it be known that many texts of Luke 16 are corrupt in verse 9. Worse yet, Christian authors have prophesied falsely from the corrupt text translated into one of many English translations. Scribes or printers in the seventeenth century shortened the Greek word for "(when) ye fail," eklipe^te, to "(when) it fails," that is, "when the mammon of unrighteousness fails" (eklipe^i / eklipe^). Even secular historians understand the strife which the addition of an iota into the word "homoousios" in the Nicene Creed caused; here we see a change of an important personal ending in sacred Scripture. This mistake, taking "eklipe^i" with perhaps half a T and no E as a finished word in place of "eklipe^te," will lead many readers of Luke 16 to misunderstand Jesus' command as follows:

They will see need to prepare for the depletion of the wealth of unrighteousness rather than the need to prepare for THEIR OWN financial failures! I translate "eklipe^te" as "whenever ye may lose your homes." Many believers even among authors have interpreted from corrupt texts and concluded that the command is for each believer to befriend many mostly poor Christians for welcomes in heaven for the afterlife by means of ill-gotten wealth rather than for each congregation to befriend several specifically wealthy people out in the world in the here and now for future welcomes in everlasting dwellings belonging to unbelievers and still available during persecutions when our homes get confiscated or when God calls us to give our houses away (Matt. 5:42) so that we Christians fail financially. Burn the books of false prophecy, O Lord Almighty! I pray.

Jesus' point in the commanding part (verses 9 through 13) is fourfold:

(1) We are commanded by him to have members of our congregations meet and befriend the wealthy people out in the world and not free to accept the ways of the worldly poor as God's will for His people.

(2) If we fail to obey this command, like most Americans in Christ, Jesus asks who will give us endowments for His work, and for most of us nobody will. Therefore, we see most American churches operating on tight budgets, still stingy if they have tens of thousands of dollars in the bank. All American Christians in my experience have feared financial loss whenever I manifested my neediness or begged, and nobody has ever surmounted these fears in my experience. Still, Jesus Christ wills that we have access to wealth... if we obey Him regarding Luke 16:9.

(3) Jesus refuses to trust anyone who complains, "If only I had..." as an excuse for sin. If you had an enormous fortune, would you willingly give it away to a mental patient who dare impoverish you with his insane request? Only the congregation which is faithful in the least, in the unrighteous mammon, could faithfully go broke out of love for their Lord, and it is just such a congregation which Jesus Christ would entrust with plenty. Are you aware of such a congregation?

(4) Finally, we cannot serve both God and Mammon (Money). The current situation with Church Growth Movement leaders keeping as many people as possible sitting in their pews on Sundays as possible and serving the world through the week rather than sending as many people out into foreign nations to spread the Gospel is just terrible. I can't wait for the Master of Matt. 24:45-51, the state legislatures and the governing boards of churches and hospitals if not Jesus Christ Himself, to wise up and return to amputate each "evil servant," assign each his portion with the hypocrites for teaching to the effect that "you should be terribly heartbroken for asking us for anything" in Jesus' name despite Matt. 7:7, kick them out into the cold outer darkness of homelessness and weeping and gnashing of teeth, and even then beat or flog them, according to Luke's account, according to the extent of their knowledge of their wrongdoing in charge. Worst are the pastors who turn God's needy over to hostile psychiatry to be bound and wracked and ruined and caused to sin habitually with "witchcraft" (Gal. 5:19, Gk.; Matt. 18:5-7). I have suffered in perilous poverty and abominable affliction for far too long to forgive these evil men, and I cry out for faithfulneess in the unrighteous mammon!-- and for judgement of the evil servants!

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. The kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...
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in no way does it say the kingdom of heaven is derived from the works of satan matt 13:31 it is another parable with no connection to matt 13:24
This is the tares by Robert Corbitt on Tuesday, May 13 2003"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.]". NOW Robert Corbitt you shall understand read matt 13:14,15
go claim your healing but tell no one.
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I AM A PRODIGAL SON. I RETURNED TO THE FAITH OF MY YOUTH AND LIKE AN ADDICT WHO RETURNS TO HIS ADDICTION AFTER A LONG TIME AWAY FROM IT FINDS HE IS ADDICTED AT THE LEVEL HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD HE NEVER BEEN FREE OF IT.
I EMBRACED MY FAITH AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN I HAD THIRTY YEARS BEFORE. I AM ECSTATIC AT BEING FORGIVEN AND TAKEN BACK INTO THE FOLD OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE LOVING BODY OF CHRISTS CHURCH.
MY DAUGHTER LEFT THE MY PREVIOUS CHURCH AND EMBRACED ANOTHER WHOLE HEARTEDLY. NOW WHEN I LONG TO COMMUNE WITH ALL MY CHILDREN ABOUT GODS LOVE AND HIS WORD SHE BECOMES HOSTILE TOWARD ME AND MY FAITH AND DEFENSIVE ABOUT HER OWN.
I SEE THE PRODIGAL SON PARABLE IN THAT LIGHT. SHE AS THE ONE WHO STAYED WITH THE FATHER BUT RESENTS ME FOR COMING BACK TO GOD WITH HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE AND WANTING TO SPREAD GODS LOVE TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW IT LIKE I DO. SHE IS NOT REALLY WITH THE FATHER AND DOES NOT KNOW HIS MESSAGE OF LOVE TO ALL SINNERS BUT LIKE THE PHARASEES STICKS STRICTLY TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW AS SHE SEES IT THROUGH HER INSTRUCTION. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE I AM JUDGING HER BUT I AM THE ONE WHO LISTENS TO HER ACID TOUNGUE AND PRAY SILENTLY FOR HER SOUL TO MYSELF, ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OPEN HER MIND TO SEE HER PRIDE TAKING CONTROL OF HER THOUGHTS. WE PARENTS LOVE OUR CHILDREN NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO OR SAY TO US. IT BREAKS MY HEART NOT FOR ANY INJUSTICE THAT SHE OR I HAVE CAUSED EACH OTHER ALTHOUGH I WAS WRONG FOR TOO LONG BUT BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE LIKE HIS SON AND 'FORGIVE THEM THEIR TRESSPASSES.' I DON'T TAKE HER WORDS AS AN AFRONT TO MYSELF BUT TO GOD. THAT MAKES ME SAD , KNOWING ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US AND WE STILL DON'T TRUELY UNDERSTAND HIS MESSAGE 'LOVE ONE ANOTHER'
I THOUGHT I'D SEND HER A LETTER QUOTING THE 15th chapter of Luke and the good son in the prodigal son parable but I see from your responses how many ways she could misinterpret it, so I'll just pray more intensly for all my children and trust in his will.
Thank you for the insight you have given me.

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Fred what did you mean by yet he was saved yet so as by fire. I don't understand what you are saying here?


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I have a copy of the KJV1611 - it must not be inspired because it was revised numerous times. The version this website uses is the KJV 1769.

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

What? Doesn't seem familiar?

Yes, that's the KJV 1611.

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

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

For that matter, should Chinese people use the KJV 1611, or are you suggesting it is only for English speakers?
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Not much is ever mentioned of the elder son and his position in this parable. Is he not a "prodigal" son as well? Can one not stray or turn from what is right and not leave home physically him? Also, I think about the demand of the younger son for what he thought should be rightfully his inheritance. Again, little is ever mentioned about the father giving to both his sons their rightful inheritance.
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Neither would mine! Why? Because God has the control of our hearts, giving us His Love for the lost, that no flesh shall die from lack of knowledge. whereby we don't look for earthy things!
Our only desire is to see a sinner turn to Our Lord, that they might be saved!

If Kevin, or anybody else, is looking for reward, instead of leading the lost to Christ, maybe they should try something besides the Ministry!
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Do you not agree that the whole lump IS affected? Where is the power of the New Testament Church? The world has so filled our churches that we are no longer pure.
"Following this logic the sum of the historical workings of the HS on earth is abject failure as the leaven affects the 'whole lump'."
This statement doesn't even make sense. The leaven does not affect the Holy Spirit. He is pure.
"I dont recognize this puny Holy Spirit nor the weak defeated Christ you present."
Where exactly have I presented this? I never said, nor did I infer this. Do not put words in my mouth to further your agenda. Read again the parable of the wheat and tares. There runs deceit throughout the kingdom. That is the message of all 7 of these parables.
As far as the rest of your comments: who even mentioned Scofield anyway????????? and to what doctrine do you refer??????????????? I haven't discussed anything doctrinal. yet!
We must become unified. Christ is coming back for a purified Church, and the current glutonous, American, Health, Wealth, Confess me a BMW because my Lexus has a flat tire, Church AIN'T IT!!!
Our arrogance is staggering.
Yes, leaven does pollute Christ's church. If the all the puffed up 'worship me' preachers. Paul's letters are full of warnings about these false teachers spouting their false doctrines. We must read the Word for what it says. If we choose to be willfully blind, following the spewed venom of these false prophets, we are beyond hope.
In Christ Jeffrey

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Thank God for Luke 16:1-13, our means for ministry in this fickle world where many among us face uncertain futures amid an unreliable job market. Although many churches count on donations from their hard-working members, Jesus Christ did not seek any organization so founded on worldly principles; he sought, rather, the favor of the rich people of this world as sponsors because the people of this world are more prudent than we of light and truth (Luke 16:8). Thus I knock again for leads to any congregations in Christ already sponsored by the rich people of this world, wherever they may be.

Some missionaries from rich denominations will thrive at their best in this holiday season for tax reasons, while others from poor denominations or "independent" churches must go hungry as the extravagant holiday season crimps donations to church. If you serve the latter, please knock LUKE 16 at your home church and inform your home church members of their duty in Christ to make friends with the rich people of the world for the following reasons: (Luke 16:9, KJV, and vv. 10-12)

(1) For the security of welcomes and lasting dwellings as resorts in times of bankruptcy or persecution or an improvident calling from God to flee.

(2) So that you may prove faithful with what is least, with the unrighteous mammon (wealth), with what belongs to other people out in the world, and may receive grants of true riches, vast wealth with which to conduct Christian ministries as Jesus has taught us to carry them out.

The extreme unwelcomeness of my message in churches nearby is driving me up the wall; I am completely discouraged from going to them (Matt. 7:6). I am fed-up, sick and tired of churches now apostatized, or if true to Jesus Christ in doctrine run by evil servants in charge, yet if run by good servants faithful in Christian doctrine nevertheless apostate in practice because they lack the money for genuine Christian ministry. It is thus (Luke 16:13) that they serve Mammon (wealth) and despise Jesus' commands to give alms freely (Matt. 5:42, Greek), not to continue to worry (Matt. 6:24, Greek), and to keep asking, seeking, and knocking expecting in time to receive, find, and have doors opened (Matt. 7:7) and His warning to tolerate such asking instead of causing Christians to sin habitually in keeping silent and worrying without asking for what is sought (Matt. 18:5-7). I cannot conform to their plans of keeping as many people as possible in their pews on Sunday mornings to give donations out of money well or hard earned through American employment.

What if the job market tanks? American churches are not prepared because Luke 16 is ill taught at best. Many are using the NIV or the Amplified Bible, both of which are corrupt in Luke 16:9 and lead readers to seek welcomes with many poor people for heaven rather than welcomes with some rich friends to turn to in the stormy times of their Christian lives on this earth. God has not guaranteed good times to fund our ministries; even amid good economic news, the situation with fighting abroad could easily harm the economy. And now I say in Jesus' name, protect your ability to minister financially unto the needy through thorough faithfulness with the unrighteous mammon by meeting and making friends with the rich people of this world. Please do not resent their wealth when they outcompete their neighbors in holiday displays; we need them in order to be faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg
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His name is geoffery james
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Thank you!

My five year old daughter just asked me about that and I'm showing her how to use the web and spotted YOU on this topic and clicked on YOUR
reply.

Sure glad I did! Yus hav eit exactly RIGHT!

It was also in wording that my daughter can understand.

THANK YOU!


Very Best Regards and May God continue to Bless YOU!


Nancy
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I agree, the unfaithful servant is simply not saved and therefore incapable of serving the master.

"...his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God has overcome the world." (1 John 5:3b,4a)

Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching...He who does not love me WILL NOT OBEY MY TEACHING." (John 23, 24)

"Those controlled by the sinful nature CANNOT PLEASE GOD. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, HE DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST." (Romans 8:8,9)

Abraham was circumcised as a requirement of the covenant God made with him. This circumcision, or absence of the flesh, was the outward proof or evidence that Abraham was indeed in covenant with God:

"You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the SIGN OF THE COVENANT between me and you." (Genesis 17:11)

In the same way today the absence of the flesh (specifically the sinful deeds of the flesh) is the outward proof or evidence that our hearts have been circumcised by the Spirit and that we are in fact in covenant with God through Christ.

"In him you were also circumcised, in the PUTTING OFF OF THE SINFUL NATURE (or flesh), not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ..." (Col. 2:11)

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. "
(1 John 2:3-6)

Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, BECAUSE IN THIS WORLD WE ARE LIKE HIM."
(1 John 4:17)










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After reading all the comments on the Filling of the spirit I find this one to be right on the money. I was going to post a writing of my own, but after reading this I decided to commend this writing. God bless and an excellent job Robert.
Pastor Rick.
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Like the other parables of Jesus, this one is about fruit-bearing, and the un-fruitful are thrown into hell. Those who hear the TRUE word of God, they are cleansed by it by doing it. Christ abides in the TRUE hearers and doers. Luke 6:47 - Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them..." John 8:47 - He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 Corinthians 4:15 - For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" 3 John 1:11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Who can do good, but the true ones on the vine? Even TRUE faith is not from flesh and blood, but from God. John 3:27 - John answered and said, A man can receive NOTHING, except it be given him from heaven." 1 Corinthians 12:9 - To another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" Not one man can TRULY say that Jesus Christ is the son of God nor can any man truly tell people,(so-called preachers, ministers, or pastors) Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Also, to put an end to false teachers that say if you believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and saviour, you'll be saved, NO MAN can come to Jesus unless God Himself decides that he would. Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." But then, those people heared the TRUE word of God, and the words of JESUS CHRIST, John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 - Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then again, same gospel, 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.(God revealed it to them, and had faith in him, that faith is not from their own heart, but from God) 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve(God approved those 12, not the other disciples, because if He did give it to them to come to Jesus, they would of stayed, like the true disciples), and one of you is a devil?" Now all you people that read this, the false christians will not believe this, but the true christians will. John 15:20 - Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." These sayings are in the bible, those who just ignored them in the bible will ignore my words(no, not truly mine) also. Those who believe these things, or knew them already, please, please contact me, at dallascourchene @ hotmail.com (NOTE: there are no spaces in the address.) Also to the so-called born-again christians, what did God call you to do? Live a normal life? I don't think so. People who are truly called are CALLED to do something for the LORD, not just worship Him and those who are called, know what they have to do by a certain wonder, or phenomemon. Acts 16:10 - And after he had seen the VISION, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had CALLED us for to preach the gospel unto them." Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, CALLED to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 1 Corinthians 7:20 - Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," We MUST be also worthy of this calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 1 Peter 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" 1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 2 Peter 1:3 - According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" And yes, we can be perfect like Jesus. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 1 John 2:13 - I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father." 1 John 3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." We are called to be made into the image of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus said so himself, the called can and will be like him. Matthew 10:25 - It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord..."
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hey I'm 17teen years old, and I am trying to find my talents b ut i don't know how to begain? can you give me some bible verse or some infomation on where to begain looking for those talents God has given me. do all people have talents or just some ? i'm not talking like spiritual gifts i'm talking like drawling , playing a music insterment or something like that to let you know.

thanks your sista in christ

sarah drury
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A case can be made for the elder brother who stayed home. His father says that "all that I have is yours". He doesn't say "all I have less what is your younger brother's". In other words, even though he rejoiced when
the younger brother returned home, he still gave the remainder of his
inheritance to the son who never strayed. The prodigal son got nothing
but the party thrown for him.

It is this way in life. God rejoices when sinners return to the fold, but the greater gifts go to those who never strayed in the first place.
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Hello; When Christ was on earth the first time there were two major religious parities in Judaism--the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees were the fundamental legalists. They believed the letter of the law. They believed in a future resurrection, in angels, and in the spirit realities. The Sadducees though were more liberal in their theology. They rejected any thought of a future resurrection, and they didn't believe in angels or in spirit realities [ Acts 23:8 ]

But the Pharisees and the Sadducees did have one thing in common. Neither would have anything to do with the message surrounding the proffered kingdom [Matt. 16:1-6 ]

The Pharisees followed Christ about the country, seeking to counter the signs being manifested , and seeking to bring about unbelief on the part of the people. They formed, by far, the largest religious sect in Israel. And, because of there numbers, they held undisputed sway over the people and masses. The sadducees were the second largest sect in Israel and sometimes joined themselves with the pharisees who controlled the religious like of the nation. They sat "in Moses seat" [Matt.23:1,2]. I hope this helps , Bye.....
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My take is....
The purpose of the Fig Tree is to produce FRUIT. Just like the product of Christians is their works aka their FRUITs. One day Jesus approach the fig tree, cause He was in need, but when He looked, He saw none and cursed the tree. A closer look, you will see that it was out of season for the tree to produce FRUIT, but Jesus had need! There is no excuse!

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

DP
P.S My Fruit!! I hope u enjoy!!!
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The 10 virgins are bridesmaid. They are NOT brides to the groom. It was devasting because they could not fulfil the role they were were supposed to play. The characters are used to convey the story of the certainty of the wedding. In interpreting the parable, we are not to allegorise the parable (like the lamp means this and the oil means that) - because all parables carry a central message and a main thrust. (The school of allegory belongs tot he times of Oriegen that follows the school of typology. )

The central thrust of the parable is this:

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

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

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

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

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

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


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if the father represents God, the younger son represents us, who does the elder son represent?
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I think what the Hebrew translates more accurately to is "Which of these three...proved neighbor" which in this case, only the Samaritan "proved" to be the neighbor in the biblical law sense of it. Before this the "lawyer" or religious scholar with a lot of spiritiual knowledge of the law recites that "You shall love...your neighbor as yourself." Thus the only one to prove his is a neighbor through loving another person as himself was the Samaritan. Isn't Jesus deep?! God is good...continue seeking, ye shall find.
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life application of the growth of mustard seed
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Surely it's all about God's love being for everyone. The younger son is like those who do not want to know God the Father, who tun their backs on him. But then in the end they do recognise the father and humbly accept forgiveness from him. The elder son is like those who have always been with God the Father within the church. Basically there are no long-service medals in heaven - we will all be equal no matter how long we have acknowledged God as our Father - so long as we do eventually.
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please send me a pictures of mustard tree.
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