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Parables, more Parables, everywhere Parables
9440geoff:
Hi Joe,
This is a tremendous thread that goes on and on. I have enjoyed every post, and I thank God that He gave you the wisdom to start it. Also, I have wanted to contribute to it but until today felt that I had nothing to offer. However, this 'offering' is more of a question as I have never been good at parables, and rely on Ray's teaching most of the time, as well as posts on this forum.
Practically every day I remind myself of the verse "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev 18:4. because the social side of 'church' is a tug at the heartstrings.
I know that Ray has said every verse in the bible has a witness, and so during some study I read in the gospel of John:
Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
My question is , is this a witness verse, or have I got the wrong end of the stick?
Geoff
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: aktikt on August 06, 2009, 07:11:55 AM ---
I know you all know this, but we are in a war, everyday of our lives all day.
--- End quote ---
Hi Aktikt,
You know we may lose many battles in this spiritual warfare but through the One who never lost, who never came up short we all will ultimately win this war.
Peace,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: 9440geoff on August 06, 2009, 10:50:48 AM ---Hi Joe,
This is a tremendous thread that goes on and on. I have enjoyed every post, and I thank God that He gave you the wisdom to start it. Also, I have wanted to contribute to it but until today felt that I had nothing to offer. However, this 'offering' is more of a question as I have never been good at parables, and rely on Ray's teaching most of the time, as well as posts on this forum.
Practically every day I remind myself of the verse "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev 18:4. because the social side of 'church' is a tug at the heartstrings.
I know that Ray has said every verse in the bible has a witness, and so during some study I read in the gospel of John:
Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
My question is , is this a witness verse, or have I got the wrong end of the stick?
Geoff
--- End quote ---
Hi Geoff,
I believe you have hit the nail squarely on the head.
If one looks at what you quoted from the Gospel of John not only is it a witness to Rev 18:4 but actually gives it added depth. It is a beautiful and wondrous thing when we see for ourselves (through His Spirit) how intertwined all scripture really is and how it all eventually crystallizes into One thing;
Christ is the Savior of all!
Read Psalm 95 which is a witness to John 10 (and by extension Rev 18:4). ;)
Even so there is a time and season for each person to come to this realization, it is only by spiritual discernment which is a gift from God that opens up the giant parable that is His Word. We can see what the ultimate conclusion of our Lord's work results in but for the vast majority they can only see the first portion of God's plan and purpose, the complete work is yet hidden to them. This is why we should have compassion and mercy toward those who vehemently oppose the knowledge given us, anger with the spiritually blinded makes as much sense as anger toward a physically blind person who cannot differentiate red from blue.
Peace,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
Hi All,
I just noticed this as I was researching something else (happens often). This fits right into what Geoff presented earlier in the thread. Perhaps some of you are already familiar with this but it is new to me;
Luke 6
13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
I must admit total ignorance here as I have always assumed/believed/thought that the apostles were chosen first and the disciples were those who sort of were hangers on maybe like groupies or hero worshipers who were rather fickle and would follow whatever was the "flavor of the day" or newest thing happening.
From what I am perceiving from Luke is that they all started as disciples (temporarily intrigued and excited) and were chosen to be apostles at a later time. Of course we know that any and all truly chosen were created to be of the elect from the beginning but what I am seeing here is that the process of called then chosen is the pattern Jesus established during His earthly ministry.
Like I said before this is the first time I noticed it, this could very well be old news to many of you.
Peace,
Joe
cjwood:
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver on August 06, 2009, 02:48:51 PM ---
the vast majority they can only see the first portion of God's plan and purpose, the complete work is yet hidden to them. This is why we should have compassion and mercy toward those who vehemently oppose the knowledge given us, anger with the spiritually blinded makes as much sense as anger toward a physically blind person who cannot differentiate red from blue.
--- End quote ---
joe,
as geoff brought forth the spiritual witness for rev. 18:4 in john 10:3, my eyes were opened to the spiritual witness of these 2 scriptures also for the first time. reading the witnesses in the scriptures as they connect to each other and intertwine with each other, i sit here amazed at how intricately our Father set for His Words.
and the statement you made that i have noted above in green, was just so simple yet so profound. i have never, ever thought of this in this way. thank you my dear brothers in Christ for your hearts for His Word and His Truths, and thank You Heavenly Father for opening my eyes yet again. i pray that You will continue to feed us from Your bounty. in Jesus Christ's Name. amen.
claudia
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