Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God and Jewish Messiah having come from Heaven, taught the Jews about the kingdom of God through parables. A 'parable' is a simple story about something that is known to reveal or explain something unknown. On one such teaching occasion Jesus used the following parable found in Luke 13:18-19 to explain how the kingdom of God is planted and grows:
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Jesus explains the kingdom of God as being like a small seed, in this case a mustard seed. He goes on to tell how a man planted this small seed in his garden. Over time, the small mustard seed grew into a great tree, so big that the birds of the air were able to build nests and live in the tree; the tree that was once only a small seed!
In what way does the kingdom of God resemble the planting of a small seed you might ask? Because it begins by the planting of simple words into the hearts of people like you and me.
Our hearts are like gardens, able to sustain life and growth of whatever is planted in them. Through words, ideas are sown into our hearts. When we hear these words we are compelled to believe or disbelieve them.
Jesus explained to the people that when they hear his words, and believe them, the kingdom of God begins to grow in their hearts like a small mustard seed grows in a garden. And over a period of time, his words will produce a great dwelling place of life in their hearts! Jesus said "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
One of the first things Jesus preached was, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17. The word 'repent' means to turn from one thing to another. What Jesus wants us to turn from are our sins. What he wants us to turn to is Him, for the forgiveness of sins. For He is our Salvation!
If you will repent of your sins and turn to Jesus now, you will be forgiven by God the Father and the kingdom of God will begin to grow in your heart today!
The way to repent: Simply tell Jesus you are sorry for your sins. Ask him to forgive you and make you a new person. He will! Then read your Bible, pray daily and live for him! E-mail me, I will be glad to assist you in growing in the kingdom of God as it grows in you!
Jesus: The Strait Gate! Matthew 7:13-14
You've probably heard it said that there are many ways to God. Well that is the opinion of men. But is that really true? Let's see what Jesus has to say about it. In Matthew 7:13-14 he said,
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
According to Jesus the way to God is a strait gate or opening. The word strait is not used the same way today. But in this context it means narrow. So Jesus is saying that the way to God is narrow and not broad or wide. If there were many ways to God, the way would be wide like a multi-lane freeway.
But Jesus is saying that the way to God is not like a multi-lane freeway, but like a crooked narrow trail up through the mountains not often traveled. The broad way, is like a public thoroughfare that many travel daily. It leads to destruction and not to God!
The broad way is the way of many religions. It is easy to find, easy to travel, but leads to destruction in the end! (Hell and Lake of Fire!)
Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few there are who find it!
The narrow way is Jesus! John 14:6 reads,
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Don't be deceived by the broad ways of religion! Many travel these ways. But Jesus is the only way that leads to Life!
Call upon Him repenting of your sins! He will open unto you the path of life into the kingdom of God! He has done it for many others. He will do it for you. He is no respecter of persons. If you will call upon him for forgiveness of your sins he will not turn you away! But do it now the time is short. No one is promised tomorrow!
Don't take a chance on the broad ways, they only lead to destruction!
But Jesus is the only way to Life!
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
According to Jesus the way to God is a strait gate or opening. The word strait is not used the same way today. But in this context it means narrow. So Jesus is saying that the way to God is narrow and not broad or wide. If there were many ways to God, the way would be wide like a multi-lane freeway.
But Jesus is saying that the way to God is not like a multi-lane freeway, but like a crooked narrow trail up through the mountains not often traveled. The broad way, is like a public thoroughfare that many travel daily. It leads to destruction and not to God!
The broad way is the way of many religions. It is easy to find, easy to travel, but leads to destruction in the end! (Hell and Lake of Fire!)
Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few there are who find it!
The narrow way is Jesus! John 14:6 reads,
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Don't be deceived by the broad ways of religion! Many travel these ways. But Jesus is the only way that leads to Life!
Call upon Him repenting of your sins! He will open unto you the path of life into the kingdom of God! He has done it for many others. He will do it for you. He is no respecter of persons. If you will call upon him for forgiveness of your sins he will not turn you away! But do it now the time is short. No one is promised tomorrow!
Don't take a chance on the broad ways, they only lead to destruction!
But Jesus is the only way to Life!
Signs of Jesus' Return Matthew 24
Jesus Christ shall return to the earth to rule as King. What we are witnessing are the signs of the heavens and earth foretelling his soon return. In Matthew 24: 3 Jesus' disciples of that day asked him when would he return to the earth and what would be the sign of his coming again to the earth:
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privatelly, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
If you will read Matthew 24 in its entirity you will see that all of the various types of disasters and corruption which we are presently experiencing are the signs Jesus spoke of that would pre-empt his return to earth. These signs are wide and varied in nature to include the recent beginning of world economic colapse, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, civil unrest, epidemics, moral decay, idolatry (the worship of other things instead of God) food shortages, violence and wars.
Jesus also foretold the rise of false christs and false prophets. These include government leaders, religious leaders, scientists, actors, singers and musicians, athletes, and positive thinking gurus who lead millions away from Christ to destruction, while they themselves sell the souls of men in exchange for a moment of power, riches and fame!
Multitudes are killing themselves out of fear and hoplessness because of the things that are coming upon the world. Suicide however is not he answer. Jesus Christ is!
No one can give you the hope that Jesus gives. Through the forgiveness of sins, which he paid for on The Cross with his life, Jesus offers new life for the here and now and a promise of Heaven beyond death! He says, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25
Only the Son of God who came down from Heaven especially to die for the sins of mankind can offer life from the dead to all those who repent of their sins and call on Him for eternal life!
Call upon Him today. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and to come into your heart and you too will lose the fear of living.... and dying!
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privatelly, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
If you will read Matthew 24 in its entirity you will see that all of the various types of disasters and corruption which we are presently experiencing are the signs Jesus spoke of that would pre-empt his return to earth. These signs are wide and varied in nature to include the recent beginning of world economic colapse, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, civil unrest, epidemics, moral decay, idolatry (the worship of other things instead of God) food shortages, violence and wars.
Jesus also foretold the rise of false christs and false prophets. These include government leaders, religious leaders, scientists, actors, singers and musicians, athletes, and positive thinking gurus who lead millions away from Christ to destruction, while they themselves sell the souls of men in exchange for a moment of power, riches and fame!
Multitudes are killing themselves out of fear and hoplessness because of the things that are coming upon the world. Suicide however is not he answer. Jesus Christ is!
No one can give you the hope that Jesus gives. Through the forgiveness of sins, which he paid for on The Cross with his life, Jesus offers new life for the here and now and a promise of Heaven beyond death! He says, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25
Only the Son of God who came down from Heaven especially to die for the sins of mankind can offer life from the dead to all those who repent of their sins and call on Him for eternal life!
Call upon Him today. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and to come into your heart and you too will lose the fear of living.... and dying!
Jesus Is Calling! Do You Hear the Call? Matthew 9:9-13
On a certain occasion, Jesus healed a paralyzed man by forgiving him of sin, and telling him to pick up the pallet upon which he laid and to go home. The crowd who witnessed this miracle that day was ecstatic with excitement, shouting praises to God for giving this kind of power to mankind! (And we still have it today through Jesus, The Healer.)
After leaving that incident, Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at a tax collection table. He looked at him and simply said, "Follow me!" (My punctuation). And Matthew immediately got up from where he was sitting and followed Jesus!
Later after Jesus arrived home, he sat down to eat dinner with people who had bad reputations; people who were considered sinners by the church-goers of that day in Israel. Some of these religious folk asked Jesus' followers why he was eating with such bad people.
The word finally got back to Jesus what was being said. Here is his response (Matthew 9:12-13):
12 ...They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
In other words, people who are well do not need a doctor. But people who are sick do!
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Or we would say, "You need to learn what I meant in the Bible when I said, I will have mercy on mankind (and shed my own blood) to forgive man's sin, rather than continue receiving the blood of animals which can never forgive sin. Because I have come here, not to call those to repent who are already right with God, but to call those to repent who are not!"
Jesus sees and knows that we are all spiritually sick with sin. He has come from Heaven to die for us, and to give his blood (like a sacrificial lamb in Israel) to heal us spiritually. But we must believe, repent of sin and ask for the salvation he has provided with his death on the Cross.
If you are already right with God, and you know it without a shadow of doubt, then this message is not for you. But if you know in your heart you are not right with God, Jesus is calling you right now to repent of your sins and to follow him, just as surely as he walked up to Matthew and told him.
He's in your face right now and he's saying to you, "Follow Me!" Do you hear the call?
If you do, ask him to forgive your sins, and to change your heart and make you a new person! He will, because you're the reason he came; and you're the reason he died and rose again!
After leaving that incident, Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at a tax collection table. He looked at him and simply said, "Follow me!" (My punctuation). And Matthew immediately got up from where he was sitting and followed Jesus!
Later after Jesus arrived home, he sat down to eat dinner with people who had bad reputations; people who were considered sinners by the church-goers of that day in Israel. Some of these religious folk asked Jesus' followers why he was eating with such bad people.
The word finally got back to Jesus what was being said. Here is his response (Matthew 9:12-13):
12 ...They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
In other words, people who are well do not need a doctor. But people who are sick do!
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Or we would say, "You need to learn what I meant in the Bible when I said, I will have mercy on mankind (and shed my own blood) to forgive man's sin, rather than continue receiving the blood of animals which can never forgive sin. Because I have come here, not to call those to repent who are already right with God, but to call those to repent who are not!"
Jesus sees and knows that we are all spiritually sick with sin. He has come from Heaven to die for us, and to give his blood (like a sacrificial lamb in Israel) to heal us spiritually. But we must believe, repent of sin and ask for the salvation he has provided with his death on the Cross.
If you are already right with God, and you know it without a shadow of doubt, then this message is not for you. But if you know in your heart you are not right with God, Jesus is calling you right now to repent of your sins and to follow him, just as surely as he walked up to Matthew and told him.
He's in your face right now and he's saying to you, "Follow Me!" Do you hear the call?
If you do, ask him to forgive your sins, and to change your heart and make you a new person! He will, because you're the reason he came; and you're the reason he died and rose again!
Jesus: The Good Shepherd! Luke 15:4-7
On a certain occasion, Jesus was accused by some of the religious leaders in Israel of accepting sinners into his company and even eating with them. Here is how Jesus replied (Luke 15:4-7):
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentence.
The men of Israel understood sheep herding, because it had been a fundamental occupation in Israel from the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, hundreds of years earlier. Jesus knew that they understood the strong love of a shepherd for each of his sheep. And based on that kind of love, they all knew that it was not uncommon for a shepherd to leave 99 sheep in the wilderness under the care of another and go after the one that was lost, until it was found. And when it was found, the shepherd would carry it home on his shoulders and celebrate its return with friends and neighbors!
By this example, Jesus expressed why he kept company with sinful people. Because he sees us as precious lost sheep that only He can save!
In John 10:11 Jesus says of himself, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth this life for the sheep." And in vs. 27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Are you a lost sheep belonging to Jesus? If you are, then you will hear his voice calling you through this message. And if you hear his voice, repent and turn from your sins and follow him! He is ready to receive you now! Just tell him you are sorry for your sin, and ask him to forgive you and to come into your heart and to change your life. He will, just as he has done for me and many others! Only don't put it off. You need to do it now. Go ahead and pray. Then let me know by e-mail!
And Heaven will rejoice!
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentence.
The men of Israel understood sheep herding, because it had been a fundamental occupation in Israel from the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, hundreds of years earlier. Jesus knew that they understood the strong love of a shepherd for each of his sheep. And based on that kind of love, they all knew that it was not uncommon for a shepherd to leave 99 sheep in the wilderness under the care of another and go after the one that was lost, until it was found. And when it was found, the shepherd would carry it home on his shoulders and celebrate its return with friends and neighbors!
By this example, Jesus expressed why he kept company with sinful people. Because he sees us as precious lost sheep that only He can save!
In John 10:11 Jesus says of himself, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth this life for the sheep." And in vs. 27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Are you a lost sheep belonging to Jesus? If you are, then you will hear his voice calling you through this message. And if you hear his voice, repent and turn from your sins and follow him! He is ready to receive you now! Just tell him you are sorry for your sin, and ask him to forgive you and to come into your heart and to change your life. He will, just as he has done for me and many others! Only don't put it off. You need to do it now. Go ahead and pray. Then let me know by e-mail!
And Heaven will rejoice!
A Prayer for Businesses 2Chronicles 7:14
2Chronicles 7:14 says,
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Father,
we worship you who are the Lord of Heaven and Earth. The creator of all things. The One who has given all work to mankind for our livelihood and for your glory. You are the founder and sustainer of every good work and endeavor among men. And it is you who have given all men work as it has pleased you.
We as employees come to you on behalf of our company, its stockholders, its managers, administrators and officers. And we humble ourselves before you Lord of Heaven and Earth.
We ask you to forgive us for any wrong doings on the part of our stockholders, our managers, administrators and officers. We repent of all wrong that we have done to one another, and any others in the course of our business and our personal lives. We ask that you would forgive us and change our hearts toward our neighbor.
Father, forgive us for our greed and the love of money and those things that are against you and our neighbor in business that we are guilty of thinking and doing in the name of money. Create in us a right relationship with You, our fellow co-workers and our customers.
We ask that you would comfort those who have been laid off from work. That you would protect them from every destructive force. Heal their hurts and pains. Send support on every hand. Let them not be dismayed. Open new doors of employment for them. Let them know that you Father are with them as you reveal your love and provision.
Now Father, give us new direction in the days ahead as you bless the works our hands and increase the fruit of our labor, in Jesus Name. Amen.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Father,
we worship you who are the Lord of Heaven and Earth. The creator of all things. The One who has given all work to mankind for our livelihood and for your glory. You are the founder and sustainer of every good work and endeavor among men. And it is you who have given all men work as it has pleased you.
We as employees come to you on behalf of our company, its stockholders, its managers, administrators and officers. And we humble ourselves before you Lord of Heaven and Earth.
We ask you to forgive us for any wrong doings on the part of our stockholders, our managers, administrators and officers. We repent of all wrong that we have done to one another, and any others in the course of our business and our personal lives. We ask that you would forgive us and change our hearts toward our neighbor.
Father, forgive us for our greed and the love of money and those things that are against you and our neighbor in business that we are guilty of thinking and doing in the name of money. Create in us a right relationship with You, our fellow co-workers and our customers.
We ask that you would comfort those who have been laid off from work. That you would protect them from every destructive force. Heal their hurts and pains. Send support on every hand. Let them not be dismayed. Open new doors of employment for them. Let them know that you Father are with them as you reveal your love and provision.
Now Father, give us new direction in the days ahead as you bless the works our hands and increase the fruit of our labor, in Jesus Name. Amen.
Jesus, The Born Witness of Truth! John 18:37
Jesus is the revealed truth of God. His existence in the world is for this purpose, that truth through him might be manifested, or exposed. Truth up to this point was not revealed in full but only in part through the prophets of the Old Testament. But through his person (Jesus), truth was fully known. Listen to what Jesus said to Pilate, just before he was crucified about why he had come to earth (John 18:37):
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Pilate asked him was he a king, referring to the King of the Jews. Jesus said in so many words 'that's true I am a king, but the real reason I was born is to reveal truth'. No one knows what "truth" really is but Jesus! He is the only one who was in Heaven with God and came down from Heaven as both man and God.
Jesus was born to reveal truth! He is the only person ever born for this purpose. He was sent from Heaven to reveal the heart and desires of God to the people of Earth. Because he came down from Heaven only he can reveal the will or desires of God for us, to us!
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he (Jesus) hath declared him. (The Father) John 1:18
No man from the earth has ever seen God the Father; only Jesus who was with the Father in Heaven before he came to the Earth.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him (The Father) that sent me. John 6:38
Here, Jesus explains the reason he came to earth, not to do what he himself wanted to do (his own will), but to do what God the Father sent him to do (God the Father's will).
40 And this is the will of him (The Father) that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40 (All parenthesis are mine)
In this scripture, Jesus explains what the will of God is for us. And that is that everyone who sees or understands who Jesus is, and accepts and believes in what he has done for them on the cross, will recieve everlasting or eternal life. Eternal life is the life of God. Jesus also adds that he will raise such people up or resurrect them at the last day!
The above is "truth"! This is what Jesus came to reveal and to fulfill! In John 3:16-17, Jesus tells what the truth of God is in his own words:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish (in Hell), but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but the world through him might be saved.
Jesus came to the Earth from Heaven to reveal this "truth" to you! If you will repent of your sins and believe the "truth" you will be given the everlasting life of God and receive a place in Heaven to live when you die, or when Jesus returns (which ever comes first)!
Do it now!
There is no time to waste!
Receive Jesus into your heart today and live for his return!
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Pilate asked him was he a king, referring to the King of the Jews. Jesus said in so many words 'that's true I am a king, but the real reason I was born is to reveal truth'. No one knows what "truth" really is but Jesus! He is the only one who was in Heaven with God and came down from Heaven as both man and God.
Jesus was born to reveal truth! He is the only person ever born for this purpose. He was sent from Heaven to reveal the heart and desires of God to the people of Earth. Because he came down from Heaven only he can reveal the will or desires of God for us, to us!
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he (Jesus) hath declared him. (The Father) John 1:18
No man from the earth has ever seen God the Father; only Jesus who was with the Father in Heaven before he came to the Earth.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him (The Father) that sent me. John 6:38
Here, Jesus explains the reason he came to earth, not to do what he himself wanted to do (his own will), but to do what God the Father sent him to do (God the Father's will).
40 And this is the will of him (The Father) that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40 (All parenthesis are mine)
In this scripture, Jesus explains what the will of God is for us. And that is that everyone who sees or understands who Jesus is, and accepts and believes in what he has done for them on the cross, will recieve everlasting or eternal life. Eternal life is the life of God. Jesus also adds that he will raise such people up or resurrect them at the last day!
The above is "truth"! This is what Jesus came to reveal and to fulfill! In John 3:16-17, Jesus tells what the truth of God is in his own words:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish (in Hell), but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but the world through him might be saved.
Jesus came to the Earth from Heaven to reveal this "truth" to you! If you will repent of your sins and believe the "truth" you will be given the everlasting life of God and receive a place in Heaven to live when you die, or when Jesus returns (which ever comes first)!
Do it now!
There is no time to waste!
Receive Jesus into your heart today and live for his return!
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