Truth in Other Parables (CW55)

      Coming World War 3

Parable of Hidden Treasures

Mat 13:44  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

   These Christians gave up all when they can get His hidden treasures.

What are these treasures?

1. Spirit of Truth teaches all truth, understanding of His words, end time signs, etc.

2. Free from worldliness, bondages, etc.

3. Fruit of the Holy Spirit

4. Empowering of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation, persecution, etc.

5. Joy and Peace of His presence

6. Counted worthy to be His bride.

2 Cor 4:6-7  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Parable of the Pricey Pearl

Mat 13:45-46  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

    When Christians can find the entrance (each pearl is a gate) into New Jerusalem (Kingdom of heaven), they will give up everything to be able to enter in.

Rev 21:21a  The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.

Mat 7:6  "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

    If a non-believer (swine) was able to interpret these verses, then he would certainly give away everything he owned, in order to be saved, thereby entering the kingdom of heaven (pearl).

    In reality, the concept of salvation illustrated above is preposterous to non-believers. The truth would be quickly be dismissed as demonic teachings. In a nutshell, those who are not born again are without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they will not be able to understand the parables of Jesus and His words which have hidden spiritual meanings and teachings, concerning the kingdom of God.

Parable of the Sower (CW54)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

Mat 13:34-35  All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

    Within the parables are the secrets of God concerning the kingdom of heaven.

By the Wayside

Mat 13:18-19  "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside."

    All those by the wayside are those involved in worldly affairs and are busy pursuing their dreams of successes, riches or recognition. They don't have time for the gospel.

Stony Places

Mat 13:20-21  "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles."

    These are the ones with lots of problems - financial, health, business or family. With the proper presentation of the gospel, they will grab at His love and grace for they have just found the real Almighty Father. Please do not expose these new converts to be persecuted by family members and friends.

Strangled by Thorn

Mat 13:22   "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful."

    Unfortunately, many Christians after their salvation still love the world.

Perfect Ground

Mat 13:23   "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

    These are His disciples who follow Him. They want to please Him at all cost - by keeping His commandments and words.

2 Cor 5:9   Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Interesting Truths in the Parables (CW53)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

Wicked Vinedresser

Mat 21:33,35,38-39   "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country... And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another... But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

    The Israelites were chosen (leased of vineyard) as God's people to receive His protections and blessings. They were expected to be fruitful (faith in God) but unfortunately they tend to be stiff-necked and rebellious. God constantly sent prophets (servants) to guide them back to repentance but they killed all His prophets. Finally, God sent His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus, who displayed His divinity by His birth, OT prophecies, signs and wonders, His truth and grace. Yet they killed Him knowing full well that He was their Messiah, the Son of God because they feared the Romans more than God.

John 11:47-48  Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."

End of Salvation of the Jews

Mat 21:40-43  "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it."

    God is just and righteous and He is faithful to His words. So He made the Old Covenant obsolete (kingdom of God taken away from the Jews), thus condemning all Jews to damnation.

    However, His love and mercies endure forever, and immediately with the blood of Jesus, He made the New Covenant of grace with all mankind. Thousands of devout Jews were saved as Christians before the gospel of Jesus reached the Gentiles.

Only the devout Jews were Saved

John 5:46-47   "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

    It is clear that only devout or godly Jews will believe in Jesus and be saved. So John the Baptist was sent to preach repentance for the kingdom of heaven is near. After the death of John, our Lord Jesus sent His disciples out to preach repentance and the kingdom message too so that repented Jews would also believe Jesus and be saved.

Luke 16:29-31  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

Brethren, to know truth and be able to rightly divide His words, we need to understand the whole counsel of God in the whole Bible. Don't try the 'hit and run' as practiced by heretics, televangelists, false prophets and covetous pastors.

My Words are in the Parables (CW52)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

Mark 4:33-34  And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

    It looks like that our Lord Jesus can only enlightening us to a better understanding of the kingdom of heaven by using parables.

Mat 21:45  Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.  (Read Mat 21:33-46)

   Our Lord Jesus ensured that all hearers understand their mistakes and sins, though they may not understand the hidden mysteries. Similarly, whenever we read the bible, and if His words, teachings or parables convict us, thank God that He is leading us into His truth once we repent.

John 6:66-67  From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"

   Thousands followed Jesus for they saw His many miracles (thousands fed, blind could see, dead resurrected, walking on water, etc.). But when His teachings were difficult to accept, many of His disciples left Him except for the few faithful disciples.

John 6:68-69  But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and Know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

John 16:25-27  "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language (teachings, parables, words, etc.); but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."

    This is the prophecy that when we keep His commandments, He will give us the Helper, who will teach us all things.

John 14:15-16, 26  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—... But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

John 16:29  His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God. "

   Finally, our Lord found that His disciples who loved Him, understood some of the mysteries hidden in His parables. It was music to His ears.

   His subsequent sufferings and crucifixion were pure joy for He had accomplished His most difficult task of transforming His disciples.

    Brethren, what great joy it will bring to God, when we too can understanding the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven in His parables.

My Words are Life (CW51)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

John 6:63  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

    The words of our Lord Jesus Christ are Spirit for they give life. Anyone who does not believe and keep His words will not have life.

John 5:24  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

John 12:25  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

    When we love the Lord, we will become living sacrifices.

John 16:1-2  "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

James 1:12  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

    Our Lord Jesus told us that the world will hate us and may even kill us and that after we have faithfully endured persecutions and tribulations, we may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.

2Thess 1:3-6  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,

1Pet 4:1-4  Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

    Our suffering in the flesh will help us cease from sin so that we may be glorified with Him as we suffer with Him.

Rom 8:16-18  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

John 6:68-69  But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

    Brethren, when we obey His word, which is life then we will find life. A life that is holy and worthy to be called His children.

1 John 3:13-14  Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Your Word is Truth (CW50)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

John 17:17  "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

     The word of our Lord Jesus is truth. His blood on the cross ended the old covenant.

Mat 26:28  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mat 11:13  "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John."

    The feasts and religious, ceremonial and moral laws were all set up during Moses' time in the book of Leviticus. God often sent His prophets to warn the Israelites of their sins and abominations. John the Baptist was the last OT prophet.

{The crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus fulfilled the religious and ceremonial Laws. The complete destruction of the temple of God later, confirmed the end of Judaism (no more place for priesthood, animal sacrifices and the observations of feasts, religious and ceremonial laws.}

Since John, the kingdom of God was preached by our Lord Jesus, giving us His grace and His words (including His teachings, commandments, etc.), which are truth.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."

   Whoever breaks just one law will be under the curse. So please brethren do not keep any law esp. all the feasts, religious and ceremonial laws.

Jam 2:8  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;

Rom 7:23-25  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

    Until a Christian has truth, he is just like the Jews under the bondage of law. Though he worships God with his mind, his flesh will still serve sin. But once he accepts God's grace by abiding in His words, he will know the truth which will free him by crucifying his flesh (sanctification)

John 8:31-32  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

1John 5:6  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

    All those who rejects the words of Jesus as Spirit, rejects truth, freedom from bondages, heresies, worldliness, deceptions, sins, abominations, etc.

2Cor 3:17  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Rim 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

    Brethren, repent for not believing, accepting and abiding in the words of Jesus, which is truth, Spirit and life.

Rom 2:8  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

My Words are Spirit (CW49)

   Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

John 6:63  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

    The words of our Lord Jesus Christ are Spirit for they give life. Only those who has the Spirit of God knows the manifold grace of God (the things freely given to us by God). These will include the grace of salvation, gifts of the Holy Spirit, truth, baptism of the Holy Spirit, Fruit of the Spirit, knowledge of God, understanding His words, will, parables, etc. When anyone dwells on the salvation grace alone that by faith we are saved and not by works, then he has no idea of the manifold grace of God for he has not received the Spirit of God.

1Cor 2:11-12  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Rom 8:9-10  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

    When the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, our bodies will be dead to sin for we will no longer live according to the flesh but to righteousness. The greatest grace of God is that when we keep His words, the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ will dwell in us.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

Gal 5:16-21  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

    Brethren, all those not keeping or reject the words of Jesus are living in the flesh. It is only when we keep His words that we will know truth and the Spirit of God dwells in us.

Rom 8:5-8  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

     

Ministers of the New Covenant

2 Cor 3:5-6  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

     Brethren, let's be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and ensure that our sheep keep the New Covenant and are His disciples and not Moses' disciples.