if the father represents God, the younger son represents us, who does the elder son represent?
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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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'Hitch (and others): Bighouse has pegged the kingdom parables of Matt. ch. 13. '
Following this logic the sum of the historical workings of the HS on earth is abject failure as the leaven affects the 'whole lump'. Of course this means that Christ's efforts at building the Temple of 'living stones' is also a failure, since all are of the 'leaven 'as well.
I dont recognize this puny Holy Spirit nor the weak defeated Christ you present. I do reconize the foul stench of a dead lawyer in the person of CI Scofield who was an originator of this doctrine that is 180 degrees opposed to Christ's teachings.
BTW gents, even Pentecost of DTS fame has reversed the failed official (read Scofield Bible) position on the parables specifically the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. I'll provide the quotes,before and after , if you like.
Take care
Hitch

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Something as simple as finding a picture of a mustard tree, as turned
into a sales product to make others money, I just want to see a picture of
a Mustard tree.
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As a pastor of a church for college age people and older people that think more in the postmodern context , we find ourselves hearing a lot about the church being relevant. Some think that relevance is not necessary, but I think that is because most people associate relevance with being hip to the culture. While is it true that culture is important and that understanding the culture of the people you are talking to is important, I think this parable shown what true relevance is. True relevance is love, the type of love that Jesus showed, it did not matter to Jesus or the Samaritan for that matter, who the person was that they showed love to. This is not a call for tolerance this is a show of love for and from the unlovable. We as the body of Christ will be relevant when we love, and I mean truly love people, weather they are mature folk, kids, punkers, goths, or just people that we don’t like. Love is the transcendent. Love in spite of will open a persons heart and allow the Holy Spirit to heal them both physically , emotionally and spiritually.
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First of note in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders is the word "these" (Matt. 7 : 24 ). "These sayings," in Greek "tous logous toutous," accusative plural of "ho logos houtos," are the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5 : 3 - 7 : 27 ) and the parallel accounts in the other Gospels, exclusive of everything that Jesus later taught. Therefore, if we would be like the wise builder, we would obey everything He commanded in His Sermon on the Mount -- and would be found wise even if we never understood His later teachings such as the camel passing through the eye of the needle in Matthew 19.

Conversely, dare we ignore the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, by asserting that it is intended for heaven but no earthly way to live life, Jesus has warned that then He will liken us unto the foolish builder regardless of otherwise good works, scriptural training, and understanding of the rest of the Bible. In light of this, it is a good sign for me that my comments on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (which I take together with those of the good and evil servants and of the talents) refer to the Sermon on the Mount, particularly when I make a moral claim. Now, let us examine the details of the wise and foolish builders: how we use the Sermon on the Mount. Do we obey Jesus' words therein, or dare we shove it aside for our convenience?

Far shorter than any compilation of everything that Jesus taught on earth, the Sermon on the Mount is still not easy to follow in practice. Teaching those Gentile Christians who know some of the Jewish Law to obey it as God's will because their consciences are aware of it among Gentile believers presumed ignorant and able to tell the Jews "I didn't know better" is not easy, for "all" was not "fulfilled" at the time of the Resurrection in Matt. 5 : 17 - 20 , for example, prophecies from Yichzeqi'el (Ezekiel 38) concerning modern Israel. Therefore, for a Gentile believer in Christ who knows the Jewish dietary laws to let his light shine before men (people) in Matt. 5 : 15 - 16 must include keeping those laws in his own home (also Matt. 23 : 1 - 3 ). Jesus knows our awareness or ignorance about keeping kosher kitchens; whoever knows God's clear commands yet disobeys sins. Settling out of court (Matt. 5 : 25 ), refraining from leering (v. 28 ), and amputating the part of the body that brings scandal (vv. 29, 30 ) are not all easy. The wise builder's communication will be full of clear Yes or No answers in place of the usual hedging or sworn answers from unbelievers. The difficult verses in Matt. 5 : 39 - 41 require interpretation in the context of the Roman Empire, and verse 42 requires absolute generosity from Jesus' followers!

It is the stinginess of most American churches and pastors toward the needy which has me most convinced that the Church Growth Movement along with the rest of the Great Apostasy (II Tim. 4 : 3 - 4 ) is like the foolish builder who built his house on the shifting sands. Many churches nowadays are sinning in trying to serve both God and Mammon (wealth) as masters and expecting prudence from their followers and from the needy (Matt. 6 : 19ff ; also Luke 16 : 1 - 13 , the Parable of the Unjust Steward). Without the generosity of Jesus Christ in our hearts, we look an awful lot like the foolish builder. Punishment is coming soon after it becomes certain that the hypocritical churches never will spread the Gospel throughout the whole inhabitable earth in time to fulfill Jesus' prophecies at the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24 : 14 , 34) without uprooting the evil servants in charge on this earth (Matt. 24 : 45 - 51 ).

I look to LUKE 16: 1 - 13, the Parable of the Unjust Steward, for the means to live the bountifully generous way our Lord commanded. That Luke 16 is neglected and not tolerated at many churches shows that entire congregations are foolishly building their Christian lives on sand. Still, we have a choice to learn and follow the Sermon on the Mount to the letter by beginning with LUKE 16 to make it practical.

Yours in Christ,

+++ Kevin D. Rosenberg
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In the postings found below I’ve extracted many different ideas out of the teachings of the Kingdom that are true and hold water all throughout scripture. But as of late I’ve been getting something that I feel is even more profound then anything I’ve laid down as yet. I think if you get this it will answer a lot of questions as to why we aren’t getting anything from God and why we are so barren spiritually.

Christianity was to be a message of power, resurrection life and of totally victory over death. And yet we don’t even have the bark of a chewawa when it comes to having any kind of influence in this world. Pardon the expression but man have we been impotent. Consider what I’m about to say and just see if you can see why our prayers are misdirected or that the connection with heaven is never made.

Quite often in writing about the teachings of the kingdom I try to ride the words of Christ as much as is possible. And yet I think there is one area that it would do me well to sever off from them and to put them in my own words.

I’m talking about the usage of the word “heart” vs. “spirit”. Why would this be important? Consider these two scriptures and just see if contradicting ideas don’t surface.

There is a scripture in the Bible that says that God will “write his laws in the fleshy tablets of the heart”. Now look at something that Jesus said:

John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Can you see how that even though the terms spirit and heart are quite often used interchangeably, in some instances they shouldn’t be?

What I’m getting at is this. If our perceptions concerning the word heart are that it is somehow tied to the flesh then we are bound to have missed the spirit which Jesus said doesn’t have “flesh and blood”. It’s like an email that ends up in cyberspace instead of getting to the person that we are sending it to.

“OH, THAT’S REDICULOUS” YOU SAY. “THAT’S THE DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE”.

Is it really? When was the last time you had a prayer answered? “Forty years ago” you say. I REST MY CASE. Isn’t it clear that God is holding us to a higher degree of accuracy in spiritual matters these days? Remember, we are the ones who can use computers, text messages, download music to I pods. Some of us can get pretty snooty about techy things if we’re asked the wrong questions. Jesus said “with what measure you mete it will be measured unto you”. That means what you put in is what you get out. And it’s quite clear that God is saying to us “if you would put one iota of interest into spiritual things like you do that tech stuff, then maybe you’d get somewhere in your spiritual life”. FUSHTANE? (Do you get it?)

Let’s continue.

Could it be that all of this talk about “hidden” things, “secret” things, things “spoken in darkness”, “mysteries”, could all of these sayings be fingers so-to-speak that are pointing to the human spirit? Isn’t the human spirit a mystery of sorts? You can’t locate it. It’s subconscious. You can’t feel it. Don’t we have some ninety percent of the human brain that we don’t use? Could that be a reserve for when we revive the human spirit? Maybe it will come back on-line. The book of James says that God is the father of “spirits”. Are you a spirit? If you can read this I would submit that you are. The problem is that our perceptions about spiritual matters are all over the board. We never do isolate the part of us that runs the show. Kind of like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. “DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO HIM”. Yea it’s YOU ya turkey!

The reason why it’s important to isolate the human spirit is because that’s where faith comes from. It’s the place where we either believe or fear.

GOD IS A SPIRIT. To contact God we have to use our spirits. I’ve totally replaced the use of the word heart in prayer with the word spirit. It’s making a difference.

In Luke 17:21 Jesus said.
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Matt 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Have you ever looked at this scripture and thought WELL WHICH IS IT? DO YOU BIND ON EARTH OR DO YOU BIND IN HEAVEN?
Why does it matter? Because one will work and the other won’t. It’s these kinds of things that are defeating us, and we only have ourselves to blame. We’re just not a very diligent people. We’re content in living lives that make the word of God a lie (there is no power, no answer, no Holy Spirit-nothing). But things are changing. If you’re reading this there is a good chance that you too might be looking for answers.

When Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you, might he have been referring to the human spirit and that how it’s already separate from the realm of the natural? In other words, to affect the world around you, you must approach the Kingdom of God that abides within. IT’S YOUR SPIRT. Your spirit will abide after your body is lying in a coffin holding its breath. But when we use the word heart, the whole matter gets washed out and we never do isolate the spirit.

So then, we bind satanic forces IN OUR SPIRITS. We loose the things that we desire to enter our lives IN OUR SPIRITS. Our spirits subsequently shine these bindings and loosings out onto the picture screen of our lives. I will admit, I never thought that this scripture worked (binding and loosing). But then, I thought that you were to look out at the world and bind it in the world. NO, IT’S ALL DONE IN THE SECRET PLACE. The secret place is a metaphor for going into the realm of the spirit and establishing things there. THEN they show up in our lives. To attempt to affect the flesh or the world around us by the perception that we are dealing directly with it, is as foolish as using the word “manifestation” in prayer. DON’T DO IT. IF YOU DO YOU’VE BEEN DUPED BY THE DARK SIDE. That word doesn’t belong in your prayer life. It’s attempting to change things illegally. You’ll open the door to the adversary.

Our spirits are a place that Satan wants direct access to. But we are the only ones who have the “KEY” (as in “keys of the kingdom”). We set things there (establish). Then it’s just a waiting game. When you deal with your spirit your dealing with power, and there are checks placed on the system whereby the only things that get in there are due to either determination, or unreasonable hardheadedness-as in the person who reaped tragedy as a result of stubborn rebellion.

Proverbs 4: 20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the ISSUES OF LIFE.

When we use the word spirit in our prayer time as in “I bind the powers of darkness in my spirit, and I loose all of heaven in my spirit”, we are entering a realm that God has given us legal access to. The realm of the spirit is subject to different rules. In essence, what God says goes. It’s the sole truth. Nothing in the world can call it into question. But that’s the place where the Kingdom of God abides. Solomon said “the spirit of man is the candle of the lord searching all the inward parts of the belly”.

USE THE WORD SPIRIT NOT HEART IN PRAYER. You’ll be putting your finger right on the pulse of the issue. The power button.

The treasure that Jesus spoke of is the spirit of man. It’s the thing that at the time was a tremendous mystery. But when we hide things there, or bind or loose things there, truly it is the incubator or the loading dock that eventually ejects things into our lives.

If nothing else I think that this generates “kingdom thinking”. God bless you in your endeavors.

Tell no man.

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Dear Pastor

Who is mammon?

What does it mean 'to make for yourselves friends with mammon of unrighteousness' so they may receive ye in everlastings habitations?'.
Which friends? which habitations?
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If we study the parable of the Mustard Tree we see that it relates to common OT themes.

Daniel 4,Ezekiel 31&17 show us that Christ is speaking of a type of Christian nation gone bad.Since the birds spoken of in Ezekiel 31 Matthew 13 Revelation 18 seem to relate to demonic principalities that have strongholds in the places of worship in Egypt,Babylon(NT & OT) & Assyria.We see the current state of our churches in the U.S.

In the Torah Mustard is not kosher in vedgetable gardens because as a seed bearing plant it is only permitted to be grown as a field plant yet Christ(a strict Jew)plants it in his garden.

This speaks of the fact that the people who made up the initial Mustard Seed were a very small group of Gentile believers who were made righteous(kosher) by faith.They were grafted on to Abraham (made his sons by faith).

This small group of faithful people were none other than the seperatists(Pilgrims) who landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620.They were the ones who Christ brought to himself then planted in his garden.
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Tnx!!! i have an assignment and it is about parables of Jesus... Because of this forum, i can understand it and it is easy to explain in the class!!!Im not a Catholic so i cant understand in the book... TNX Very Much!!! ^_^





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I am currently doing a paper, for school, on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I do not have much background in Christianity. I am to write a Modernized version of this parable and would greatly appriciate any advice or suggestion that you have.
Thank-You
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Every hurting person is your neighbor. Many times our concentration is on the good samaritan but what made him a good samaritan was the victim! What was his character, a hurting person and stripped of everything. Would you help or avoid him? They are every where, you do not need to travel to a third world country.

Christopher Lobo
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I wanted to add a little twist to this story. Jesus asks, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" Consider this closely. Jesus does not give us the correct answer. He just asks the question. I believe the correct answer is all three. The Samaritan might have been the "nicest" neighbor, but God didn't tell us to love only the nicest neighbors, he said to love ALL neighbors. So in my opinion all three were his neighbor to the man who was fallen. This story takes on a whole new light when you think of it in this way.
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I was recently asked if this parable referred to lost people or backslidden christians. I think both. This, to me, is a story of God's unconditional love. I will not get into as to whether or not we lose our salvation. I believe that the point is we are allowed to make our own decisions and that if we are willing to repent, God will accept our return with great love and understanding. We will never be perfect in this life and will always be guilty of sin.
Thank for letting share my opinion.

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I'm giving a speech to a group of over achievers and using this parable as my core idea....but i'm relating it to the mantra found in Spiderman which says that with "great power comes great responsibility"....
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I have already explained that the Greek for "everlasting habitations" did not clearly mean those in heaven. Let me explain most thoroughly.

The Greek word for "eternal" or "everlasting" is "aio^nios", accusative plural "aio^nious" in the text. It actually means "of or pertaining to an aio^n", an age. I hold that the age intended is this age because Jesus was not teaching about heaven near this passage. I conclude that the "everlasting dwellings" or "everlasting habitations", tents in Greek, must be dwellings owned by rich folk or companies of this world. What is everlasting about them is that they were built long before our resort to them and that they will be secure for us in times of persecution or financial failure. No bank could ever foreclose on them, no persecutor could find us there, and no persecutor could burn or bomb them down on account of our presence. They are to provide "everlasting" refuge for us in this life. They are not to be in Hell!

+++Kevin D. Rosenberg
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I sympathize with the brother who seems jealous. I think that the prodigal was rewarded for his misbehavior/sins. Are we to assume that the prodigal lived a good, productive, bourgeois life, til he died?
I assume that it is true that President Bush made several mistakes in his days of "riotous living" and another by invading Iraq. I think that he, too, has been rewarded for his mistakes.
I think that wealthy families, not ones who are just rich, have ways to train their young, to trust in and manage money. Certainly more than the poor, who "plan for Saturday night" instead of for "four generations," as Gloria Steinem says the wealthy do. I assume also that these wealthy trainees have a margin for error much greater than the poor do and that once they are trained, they have great desire and ability to "save for a rainy day" (like old age). On the other hand, the poor are likely to blow any surplus money on instant gratification and lottery tickets. The poor know from experience that this might be the only chance for them and their children to have a blast and that if they try to save the money, a child's sickness or some other emergency will suck it up.
Consider this in relation to the plan, to privatize SS,whether that plan was originated by the Bushoviks,the Big Boys, or the Big Boys' Little Boy, the Smiley Face of Corporate America, a.k.a. "W."

Jim Bridges, 252-338-8177
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Where is the moral? I need a moral for tomorrow. Please show it.
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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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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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I like to get a copy of your sermon about the "Juses is good shepher. Thank very much Robert lee
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B.D. Means wrote;
>>>>This passage therefore does NOT show where a New Testament believer in Christ will go, but rather where Old Testament believers would temporarily exist. I say temporarily because both the rich man and Lazarus will one day stand before the Great White Throne where the book of life will be opened and THEN their FINAL destination will be decided; either eternity future with Christ on a "new heaven and a new earth", or in torment forever in the lake of fire.
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Christ did not give us a way to salvation and then be able to take it back. If this were true, then Christ going to the cross would have been for nothing. The prodigal son did not receive salvation until he had come to his senses, returned home and was received with open arms. That's what Christ does for us when we come to him, repenting of our sins.
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Please give the answer about the elder brother t the prodigal son
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(14 ) For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own "Pastors", and delivered unto them His goods.
(15 ) And unto one "the kingdom of heaven" gave five souls, to another two souls, and to another one soul; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
(16 ) Then he that had received the five souls went and traded with the same, and made them other five souls.
(17 ) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
(18 ) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's soul.
(19 ) After a long time the Lord of those "Pastors" cometh, and reckoneth with them.
(20 ) And so he that had received five souls came and brought other five souls, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five souls: behold, I have gained beside them five souls more.
(21 ) His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
(22 ) He also that had received two souls came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two souls: behold, I have gained two other souls beside them.
(23 ) His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
(24 ) Then he which had received the one soul came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
(25 ) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy soul in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
(26 ) His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful "Pastor", thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
(27 ) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my souls to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
(28 ) Take therefore the soul from him, and give it unto him which hath ten souls.
(29 ) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
(30 ) And cast ye the unprofitable "Pastor" into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The talents are Souls!
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If by agape love you mean Gods unconditional Love towards all, then you are right on.
God Bless You,
chris
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Robert, don't forget to read the first part of Luke 10:27. Loving your neighbor isn't sufficient to "inherit eternal life."
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Thank you for constantly updated, always a pleasure to read.
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I see the Father's blessing the Obedient son even though he had a less than perfect, loving attitude. The father said, "All that I have is yours."

I would like to see more emphasis on the Obedient, Respectful son.

Otherwise, the parable is an excellent lesson on the differance between Relationship and Fellowship with the Father.
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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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His name is geoffery james
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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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Hi,

I understand, that the Good Samaritan was a real person who lived long before Jesus, and the same thing happened to him, he was perscuted for doing good deeds to other. That's the reason why Jesus was able to tell this story. I forgot the name of this person.

Could you help me? What is the Good Samaritan's name?

Thanks
Willy
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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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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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cornell
I dont have the scriptures.. but the way i understand it is ...
There is repentance and blasphemy of the holy spirit.. i am not to clear on it either.. but here is what i do know

When we sin, if we confess our sins and turn God will forgive us.
Sin could be murder, murders,stealing, hate lust, lying, gossiping

Blasphemy as i understand it, not quite sure is when a person totally reject God , they have been given over to reprobate mind, they have
completly sold out and have no desire to come back home to God the Father

God knows the diffenence and he is not confuse when someone has completely rejected and refuse his Love, Him, His Son, His Spirit, His ways...

a story, testimony i love in the bible, is saul that perscuted, killed christians, one day on the road to Damascus was stop in his tracks
turn around repent of his evil ways was forgiven and greatly use by the same God, the same Jesus he tried to kill, and destroy his name and his people.....What a great testimony....God loves it when we turn, he is not a tricky God is not trying to trick us, sometimes the enemy tries to trick us into thinking i have gone to far God will never accept me now, look how i reject him,look at all those time he spoke to me, warn me and i walked away, rejected him and would not listen, will he listen to me now.... this is want the prodigal son parable son 's essence of the message is he will accept you, love you, bless you, if you come back home, return, repent confess, Lord, Father God i have sin against you
i have rejected you,i have(you fill in the blanks)
i want to come back home
i believe in You Father God, I believe in Your Son Jesus that he died for my sins, and that he arose on third day, and now i am made free by
The Blood of Jesus, and i ask for you The Holy Spirit to come into my heart and live inside of me,
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Amen.
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I have heard leaven compared to rot because it was left out to ferment and was wild as apposed to the neatness and cleanliness of the Jewish Kitchen. Any comments?
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It does ones heart good, to see there are still Christians who are not afraid to take a stand against sin and disobedience against Holy God! People have gotten so far from the Truths of God's Word, they are now justifing continued sin and disobedience against Holy God!
The Truth, disobedience against Holy God is sin, and the wages of sin is death! (Hebrews-10-26-27)
Many teach justified continued sin, while they call themselves a Friend, but a friend would not take it upon themselves, to justify sin against Holy God! (Genesis-3-4-5)
When the woman was taken to Jesus, caught in the act of adultery, Jesus did forgive her, but He also Warned her, sin no more!
This message is no longer spoken to the sinner, instead, we hear them say, God understands you when you sin! (Romans-6-16) But, we are the servants unto whom we yeild ourselves servants to obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness! We cannot obey God, and satan, the sinner from the beginning!
You tell someone who has fallen in sin, sin no more, The Quick Answer from Holy God, Religious people will turn and make an attack against you, for repeating the Words of Christ!
What happens when you justify sin against Holy God, the heart grows cold toward sin, and in time, there is no more conviction of sin! Without the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, there will be no Salvation!
More servants like you are needed, who will speak repentance and remission of sin, that we might serve The Lord, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our live, (Luke-1-74-77) the message of John the Baptist, to prepare the Path to Christ, because the path is Narrow, and Few will find it! God Bless You!
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Dear sir,
Reply to the above message, I am really getting convinced but How for the interpertation is in line with the God 's Word. I still don't know.

The last part of this message what I could recomendwas , as it is written that he will baptize you with fire. So the lord will use the people with Anointing rather than called but not filled with the holy spirit.


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all these responses helped me a million. im suppose to give a lesson tomorrow for my honors eng. class about the prodigal son and all these points of views gave me a variety on which to present to the class. :)
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Please could anyone send me a photo or picture of the mustard tree mentioned in scripture, which is reputed to grow around 15 feet tall(4 metres)
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I am sorry. I thought this was about the prodigal son. This is indeed the complete text for this parable.
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Time and again, the Parables of Our Christ Jesus has taught us so many things. Loving unconditionally is one of the golden rule. As I have read the passage once again after several years, (maybe a year or two), it still somehow touched my life and made me realized that we should not be selfish with our time in helping other people especially those outside of our homes. Accidents happen unexpectedly, anytime, anywhere. But if we are willing to help without asking anything in return, (rewards or financial compensation, that is), we could make peoples burden easier to carry. In what way, you may ask? This, by giving comfort, moral support, and aid to the victim, err, by calling 911 or any similar emergency departments. That we must help people in need regardlesss of race, nationality and religion... that we must show compassion even when forced during emergency cases. Christian love is what the Lord wants us to learn and feel towards our neighbor...must be difficult, but, very rewarding, isnt it?
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Dear Phil,
I have read ur commentary on the topic of 'the fig tree' i only now came across this page and found it ...
could u explain what u mean?

I dont knwo if u remember that what u wrote there but i cant copy and paste...:(

it sounds interesting but i would like to hear a bit more if possible

thank you very much
with God's Blessing

Goshia
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FYI, I think Pamela is referring to Mark eleven in which Jesus spoke to a fig tree and withered it “from the roots”. Though the above topic is a different scripture, I think it’s interesting how Jesus reacts to a tree (the same way) that does not produce fruit. IT’S CURSED.

I know that many people believe in once saved always saved. However it’s simply NOT taught in scripture. If you don’t produce fruit “the axe is laid to the root” and the tree is burned in the fire. Jesus played this out in the fig tree scenario. He was deceived by leafiness. People coming across as spiritual Joes and in reality these are the ones that Jesus said would “weep and wail and gnash their teeth” as their kicked out of Gods kingdom and appointed their place with the disobedient. And why? Because of no fruit production.

Have you ever asked who these people are who act this way? They aren’t people who curse God and say, “even if there is a God I’m not serving him. He can go take a hike”! Huh uh, these are people who thought that they were fine and dandy doing all the worldly things that they wanted to, and when somebody said hey the bible calls that behavior sin, they would retort “GOD IS LOVE DON’T JUDGE”!

I have news for you. The doctrine of once saved always saved was concocted in hell by some of Satan’ greatest minds. It’s a deception (the spirit of Anti-Christ). And if you believe this lie it could cost you your mother, brother, sister, spouse or any loved one.

Now does anybody want to continue in this nonsense? One consideration of Judas Iscariot in light of what the book of Psalms says about him will prove to you that here you have a saved man, who is now cursed throughout eternity.

Now do you really want to believe silly things? Or do you want to be wise and error on side of caution?

How long is eternity? Do you really know that there is this assurance of once accepting Jesus, you could become a serial killer, a Hitler, a child abuser, and yet a possessor of the promise of a throne in heaven?

GET REAL! It doesn’t happen. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO WEEP, WAIL AND GNASH THEIR TEETH.

Don’t let it be your loved ones.

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Hi

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


Thank You,

For listening

Brooke Wren

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Yes, they came up for pay at the same time, but they didn't all work the same number of hours. Some worked the full 12 hours, some came at the eleventh hour and only worked one. The complaint was that the ones who came in late were first in line to get paid and they got a penny, so the ones behind them that had worked longer hours figured they would get more and they didn't, they got the same amount.
"Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" Seems it would mean that he was saying that they were upset because he was generous with those who only worked an hour and gave them the same pay, so they were lookin' at him like that was a bad thing.
I'd relate it to us by saying that those who have been Christians a long time might get upset that new Christians get blessings and are received as brothers and sisters as much as those who've been in the family for years and years.
The point would be that all of our work is for Christ, and we are as precious and equal in his site and of value whether we've been working for him all of our lives or for just one day. :)
Chrys
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can i have a free story of parables.
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Being a son that stayed home I am cursed by the brother who came home.
The relationship between my father and I has been cursed by the returning son with the promise of 3 things.
1) To take all of the possessions of our parents for only himself
2) To ruin the relationship between our father and I.
3) To do everything possible to ruin the business that our father sold to me and my other brother.
By reading some of the comments of others, I see that the father wants a whole relationship with all his sons. This relationship is not whole with the two sons that stayed home.
However the boistrous demands, the negative statements and the guilt that he has placed on all of us is a tremendous burden to carry for the rest of our lives.
I am seeking words of wisdom to find peace in our lives.
Please respond with insights.
peter

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