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Parable of the Talents
skydreamers:
Joe said:
--- Quote ---Remember the admonishment that faith without works is dead? The reverse is also true, works (which the Pharisees were quite good at) without faith (in Christ) is just as dead.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? can faith save him?
--- End quote ---
Arcturus said:
--- Quote ---The problem is we all profess to know what is the fruit of the Spirit and we all try to put it on without the Cross of Christ! First the Cross then the reward that is the Spirit the fruit of His Victory! Oh we want the victory and we want the glory but it is not for sale but it sure is being counterfeited EVERYWHERE in BABYLON!
--- End quote ---
This reminds me of the story of Jacob. He falls in love with Rachel, and he labors seven years so that he could have her as his wife. But who did he end up with? Leah. He was deceived. All this time he thought he was working for Rachel, but he gets Leah.
And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
Genesis 29:25
This is like those who labor under a church system and their doctrines. You first come into the church because you fall in love with Jesus. Then somehow, someway you get caught in works....that insidious pervasive underlying concept that somehow we still must work in some way for our salvation.
You think, all this time that you are working for Jesus (Rachel)! But you are deceived. It is another Jesus who you end up with (Leah).
It really is a shock to wake up one morning realizing you have not been worshiping your first love.
Yet after all that, Laban still gives Rachel to Jacob, and he works another seven years for her. But here, the works come after finally receiving your first love.
There is a difference between the works that are done for Leah, and the works that are done for Rachel. One is working thinking that you are going to acquire that elusive Love, the other is working for the Love you already have! The works of the flesh contrasted with the works of the spirit.
So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.
Genesis 29:30
I often feel like I am still in the period between the two:
Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years."
Genesis 29:27
I've come to the realization that I was previously deceived, and the works for "another Jesus" have ended. I no longer feel I have to do this, that, or the other thing, in the flesh. Or I should say more clearly, I know that there are no works I can do in the flesh that will "get" Jesus onto the throne of my heart. He comes and takes over in His time.
But I also can't say that I fully and truly "have" Jesus and am performing His works, because I just don't see much of the fruits of the spirit in myself that Kat so beautifully laid out in her post. Too much of the beast still rearing its ugly head...
But the joy is, that when the "week" has ended, I too will receive my Jesus in full and certainly will joyfully perform His true works, by His power and strength.
Peace,
Diana
Kat:
Hi Diana,
That was a really good parallel, about what you have to go through to actually gain your first love.
Joseph was Rachel's son and there the parallel continues in How Leah's sons hated Joseph, because he was his father's favorite.
mercy, peace, love
Kat
YellowStone:
Hi Joe,
I too have been giving the "Much given, much expected" parable a lot of thought. I know without question that God has graciously given me way more than I deserve.
It is so easy bracing ones demons and saying "God is looking after me, I wouldn't be here feeling this way otherwise"
I'm sure that is the same line of thought taken by the guy who buried his talent.
But it is a cop-out, for while doing so, one is no better than the ones who will cry in anguish: "Lord, Lord, didn't we do this and that....."
I am also not sure that in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ, that one is not being given the will (choice) to do or not do what is right. If this is not true, then why does my heart just ache when I know the steps I sometimes take are well and truly on the expressway of carnality. Yet, I am powerless to do anything but.
This must be what Paul was experiencing when he penned the following:
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
I understand that I am consenting to the sin that is me and even while I attempt to walk the road of righteousness, with God as my road and staff, evil is constantly with me.
This has been a very timely discussion and I thank you for bringing it up. :)
Your brother in Christ,
Darren
rk12201960:
It is good to go back to the basics and remember from where I have come.
This thread has put me back on the right train of thought.
This is true love from brothers and sisters to this and God I yield.
Thank you all for the loving push.
Randy.
Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Diana
That parallel is a very good study tool to look at ourSELVES!
I was so glad when I read what you said : But I also can't say that I fully and truly "have" Jesus
As Christ is Sovereign no one will ever "have" him as you say!
Many wrong ideas and wordy worship songs profess that we have Jesus!..or I have Jesus.... What a wrong idea! I cringe when I hear those words or recall them as being the songs I sang along to in the Mystery Babyolian days of my blindness. Just another trip to sensual land of deception not seeing or knowing the greatness of Christ and the unsurpassed authority over heaven and earth He has been given. What unthinking mere mortal has the audacity to sing and get all goose bumpy by saying, believing or even suggesting that they have Jesus! it is the other way around! He has the control not us and only the blind can get happy thinking that it is them who have got Jesus where they want Him. I am glad you are not one of them! :D
Joe what you say about being patient when a brother is not seeing or not getting it, is well and good if the brother is a brother or the sister is a sister. If a brother or a sister wanders off into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk 1 Tim 1 : 6 we are to warn and admonish and charge them not to teach any different doctrines 1 Tim 1 : 3 because there are certain individuals who have missed the mark and have wandered away. So I agree with you that we should be alert to error and wrong doctrine and be ready to correct, edify and admonish if correction and edification is rejected.
This is what I see Ray doing. He is correcting edifying and warning those who reject sound doctrine.
If we can not do amongst one another what Ray is doing in the world outside the protection of the Forum, then....what are we doing? If we see a brother or sister post an error...what are we doing but burying our knowledge of the truth and holding it back, we keep in error those who we might have been useful in saving from deception.
I am not saying that our goal should be to teach or save. That is Christs job and at His discretion He brings knowledge wisdom and understanding but it is for us to do the exercising! Don't you think?
Peace be to you
Arcturus :)
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