Interesting Truth in Parables (CW62)

    World War 3 is at Hand

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

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 (CW61)

    World War 3 is at Hand

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

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.

Your word is Life (CW60)

   World War 3 is at Hand

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

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.

My words are Spirit (CW59)

     World War 3 is at Hand

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

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.

Led by the Spirit of God (CW58)

     World War 3 is at Hand

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

   Who are these led by Spirit of God?

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."

    Brethren as Christians we are the disciples of Jesus and must obey and keep His words. Only then will we know the truth which will set us free from worldliness and the snares of Satan

John 14:21  "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

    This is the grace of God that when we keep His commandments, our Lord Jesus Himself will manifest in us to help, comfort and empower us in all His works and at the same time give us the Helper, the Spirit of truth.

John 14:15-17a  "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— the Spirit of truth"

John 16:13-15  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

    When we have the Spirit of truth, He will guide us into all truth so that we can abide or keep His words. The Holy Spirit will only glorify our Lord Jesus, for He will guide and lead us only in the words of Jesus. He cannot go against the teachings, words, commands, etc. of Jesus.

Beware:- When pastors, leaders and Christians claim that 'they are led by the Holy Spirit to do this', which contradicts His words, they are liars or are led by different or demonic spirits.

Eph 4:13-14  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

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."

     Brethren, to me this is the greatest grace of God given to man, that when we keep His words the Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell within us to establish His Kingdom of God. This is the greatest encouragement and comfort that the Almighty God hears, sees and understands us for He is within us. No wonder His disciples were bold and fearless. What an honour given to the weak and miserable man, who only need to expressed his faith by keeping His words. His grace is sufficient for me for His grace of truth has set me free (from the flesh) to holiness and perfection.

Mat 4:1  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

    Our Lord Jesus who was able to overcome the devil, was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. Similarly only Christ-like (godly, faithful, etc.) disciples are led by the Spirit of God to overcome the deceptions and snares of the devil so that we can glorify Him.

"Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"   (Rev 5:13b)

Your word is Truth (CW57)

     World War 3 is at Hand

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

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;

Doing God's Work (cCW56)

   World War 3 is at Hand

 

While we wait for the fall and destruction of Iran to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.

With World War 3 around the corner and a quarter of all mankind facing death caused by weapons of mass destruction, famines, starvation, pestilences and deadly diseases, only God can protect and nourish us. Jesus had done everything for us and we only need to believe Him so that He can help and deliver us.

Just Believe, That's All

John 6:27-29  "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

    Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples to labor for food leading to everlasting life. They are to labor to believe in Jesus Christ whom God had sent.

Brethren, we have to labour to believe Him until we go back to Him in heaven:-

1. He is our Savior - we do not need to seek salvation by good works. Our sins are cleansed by His death on the cross and we only need to repent: So confess your sins

2. He is the Almighty God - we do not need to trust and worship idols or men. Nothing is impossible to Him in nourishing, helping, comforting and protecting you.

3. He is our Father God - as children of God, Satan and his demons cannot harm us. He chastises us because of His great love for us.

4. He is a God of Justice - He blesses the obedient and judges the sinful and rebellious.

5. He is our Healer - Do we still need health food and medication for the healing of wounds, sicknesses and pains?

6. He is our Provider - He will nourish us for the duration and beyond the whole period of World War 3 (lasting possibly a year) when everyone will be starving.

7. He is faithful to His word - we only need to keep our part of the covenant and He will fulfill His promises.

8. He is Merciful - He will always forgive those with humble and repentant hearts.

9. He keeps His Covenant - we will know where we stand in His sight for He honours His promises.

10. He is our Peace

John 14:22  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

    When we face WW3 and the horrific destructions, we can trust Him enough to allow His words to minister to us so that we can find His peace within us.

He loves us above All

Rom 8:35,38-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?.. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Faith with Works

Jam 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

    Brethren, do we really believe our Lord Jesus enough (just a few examples above), that we can walk out our faith in Him. All those who love Him will believe Him and they will walk out their faith in Him.

Just Trust and Obey for there is no other way.