Fill The Lamp: Recent Episodes
Neil Parks
"For You cause my Lamp to be Lighted and to shine: The Lord my God illumines my darkness." Psalm 18:28; As image bearers, of "The Creator of All Things", we we have been created for eternity! "But, small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to (everlasting) life, and there are few who find it." Matt 7:14; Therefore, we must Thirst and Hunger for The OIL that fuels our Lamp!
“If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.
My listeners when God Forgives you, Heb 8:12 “I will be merciful when they fail, and I will erase their sins and wicked acts out of My memory as though they had never existed.” My Listeners, He remembers your Sin no more. Your Cleansed! Set Free to serve Him.
We are not dealing here with something marginal or optional. If we are not united to the vine so that Christ’s life is flowing into us, then his words, his love, his joy will be utterly and totally barren. Nothing of any lasting value will come from us
I go to prepare a place for you. And as I go, I become the way that you get there. I am the truth that you hold onto to get there. And I am the life — the eternal life that you will enjoy when you get there. When I say, “I go to prepare a place for you,” I mean, I open the way. And I am the way. I confirm the truth. And I am the truth. I purchase the life. because I am that life.
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
Paul said it. Judas proved it. Do you love money? Do you want to be rich?That’s what the Bible says: if you want to be rich, you’re on a suicidal track.
In the way John presents this story, he means for us to see the resurrection of Lazarus as a picture of our resurrection — the resurrection of all who believe in Jesus.
You see the Blind man was healed in front of curious people as to which his healing was influencing as to who Jesus was and obviously wanted to know more about His purpose and mission.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” The life gives the light. The life Jesus has and the life he shares with those who follow him gives them light. That is, we are dead and blind to the light until the life of Jesus is imparted to us by God’s Spirit, and then we see. The eyes of our hearts are opened, and divine light streams into our living spirits.
here we have what many of us go through in life in regards to our differences with biological “family” members. The apostle John throws this situation right in our face in verses 3–5, especially verse 5. When John intentionally shocks us by telling us that Jesus’s brothers (the younger sons of mother Mary) did not believe in Him (Jesus). And John shocks us even more by telling us what their unbelief looks like.
And now the degree of their apostasy or falling away is proved when they walked no more with him, and they did not return back to him or attend any more to Jesus’ ministry. You see, it is hard for those who have been once enlightened, and have tasted the good word of God, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance. Hebrews 6:4-6
“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for they are opposed to each other to prevent you from doing what you would.”
When we are Born Again there has to be separation of Flesh and Spirit. The flesh must be Crucified, “I’ve been crucified with Christ, it’s no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me”. Gal 2:20. You see, without dying to self-daily we will not understand God’s Word to the fullest.
He Jesus, also makes it clear that those who follow Jesus’ path are put on earth to serve. His followers’ service comes out of love for Him. “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”
The point is this: In the first coming of the Son of God into the world, we receive examples of his healing power. The full healing of all his people and all their diseases and disabilities awaits the second coming of Christ. And the aim of these examples, which we receive now, is to call us to Faith and Holiness.
John’s aim is that we see the complete knowledge, the heartfelt compassion, and the sovereign power of Jesus. This is how you get to know Jesus. This is how you build a relationship with Jesus. You meet Him here in His word. And you speak to Him.
“Worship is man’s full reason for existence. Worship is why we are born and why we are Born Again.
Here we are learning about Jesus, and we are learning about ourselves as well. He is compassionate and aggressive and surgical and relentless in his love. He knows all your past and all your present. Nothing is hidden from him. One person in the universe knows you completely
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
The indicator is that Jesus tells the servants to fill the purification jars with water. These were not used for drinking. They were used for bathing—for purifying. So, it seems that Jesus wants to say that this is what “my hour” will be like: “I will take the purification rituals of Israel and replace them with a decisively new way of purification—namely, with my blood.” And keep in mind that in John 6:55, Jesus said, “My blood is true drink.” “Unless you . . . drink [the] blood [of the Son of Man], you have no life in you” (John 6:53).
Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over, you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.” God image is Spirit! But listen, in Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being”. So here we have it. Mankind has two ways to go. Live in the “Flesh” and die in the “Flesh” or be transformed back into the “Spirit
." When you believe in Jesus, not only do you leave the darkness and enter the light; you actually join the family of the light—you become children of the light. Paul said, "Once you were darkness itself, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).
“These words are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name,” he meant that he was writing to awaken faith in unbelievers and sustain faith in believers — and in that way lead both to eternal life.
These comrades are spread over several churches in Rome. In verse 1, Paul shares his appreciation, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the Church in Cenchrea”. 3 Give my best to Prisca and Aquila; they are not only my colleagues in my profession of tent making, but more importantly they are my fellow servants of Jesus our Lord. 4 They put their lives on the line to keep me safe. Not only do I owe them my thanks, so do all the churches of the non-Jews.
20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21 I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where Isaiah says that those who have never heard the name of Christ before will see and understand
Remember, each of us will stand personally before the Judgment Seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee shall bow to me and every tongue confess to God.” 12 Yes, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
So, why does Paul call for love as a way to fulfill the law instead of directing our focus directly to the law? Well, the short answer has to be, because Paul wants Christ to be glorified as our sin-bearer and our righteousness-provider and our love-enabler through faith alone. Therefore, owe no one anything except to love them. And to that conclusion make Christ your everything.
Be all in with your love for people. But Be all in with your hatred of evil.Nothing phony. Nothing half-hearted. Nothing ho-hum about love or hate. Love people zealously. Hate evil zealously.
We do not live as before, wrapping ourselves in the world and its bankrupt values. We live in constant renewal and transformation of our minds.
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.” We can’t pay him back because he already owns all we have to give him — including all our efforts.
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]
The burden of Paul in Romans 11 is the salvation of Israel. Not only "some of them," as it says in verse 14, but in the end the whole people. "A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. vs 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved"
God's purpose in the trespass of Israel is salvation for the Gentiles. And his purpose for the salvation of the Gentiles is to make Israel jealous, so that she (Israel) awakens to the greatness of Christ and embraces her Messiah. And then Paul adds, the purpose of the salvation of all Israel "their full inclusion" is something even greater. Something glorious follows the full number of the Gentiles and the full number of Israel. For if Israel's rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
"God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew" (Romans 11:2). My friends, God's word has not fallen short. And if you will trust him and bank on his Son Jesus Christ, all the promises of God for living and dying will be yours and will be unquestionable.
And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" He is our righteousness. He is our victory. He has circumcised our hearts. And he is working our sanctification.
You see, God’s purpose for the law reaches its climax when the Messiah arrives; now all who trust in Him can have their lives made right with God. Jesus Christ is the Fulfillment of the Law!
Isa 28:16 “Look what I am going to do in Zion.
I’ll put in place a stone that makes them stumble, a rock that trips them up, but those who trust in it will not be disgraced”
In his absolute, glorious freedom — “I’ll have mercy on whom I have mercy; I’ll be gracious to whom I’ll be gracious” — he makes known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy. That’s verse 23, and that’s the ultimate goal of the universe. Those vessels of mercy are prepared beforehand by God for glory.
But in this very moment, the vessels of mercy are everyone and anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.
The matter gave great pain to Abraham—after all, Ishmael was his son. But God spoke to Abraham, “Don’t feel badly about the boy Ishmael or about Hagar your maid servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you. Your descendants will come through Isaac. Regarding your maid’s son, be assured that I’ll also develop a great nation from him—he’s your son, too.” Genesis 21:12
And when he then says that these “children of God” are “children of promise,” he means that they have their spiritual position not because of their physical connections, but because of God’s effective promise. The promise produced the position.
Listen to the prophet Isaiah 28:16. Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, A precious cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. The one who believes in it will not be disturbed.
As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
God causes “everything” to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them
For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs.
For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But, if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life.
Rom 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you"
Therefore, since the mindset of the Spirit is the fruit and shape of the Spirit's life, the way God designed for us to walk and live is to have a spiritual mindset, not a fleshly one. From hostility to life to a spiritual mindset. And because we have this spiritual mindset, we walk that way – we live that way.We "do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
The "law of sin and death" in verse 2 is the power and authority of sin which CONTROLS and rules in a life where God does not have the upper hand but where flesh is dominant.
my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free.
Sin is making promises to you that it cannot keep, and you are trusting in these promises. So, what is the remedy? Die to the Law and live to God through the crucified and risen Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the remedy
If you are in Christ, justified, and married to your Savior, Jesus, you bear fruit for God. That means that new desires and attitudes and choices and actions grow like fruit from this all-satisfying relationship between you and your living "husband," Jesus Christ.
“Wages of Sin is Death…. It’s like the unbelieving sinner gets paid for his or her disbelief in Christ. It’s called eternal Death. Like one man put it, “As a sense of equivalence is involved here. Sinners get what they have earned. Death is no random sentence, but the inevitable consequence of their sin.
Beloved, we have been born into this Enslavement of Sin, because of Adam’s disobedience, and We MUST Change to flee from its Bondage!! Your creator has made a way and it’s the only WAY of escape. But there is the requirement of falling in LOVE with the One who payed the bail price to set you FREE.
1Corinth 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
Although the Mosaic law is not flawed its presence caused mankind’s sin to increase. Thus, it made men more aware of their own sinfulness an inability to keep God’s perfect standard and it served as a tutor, you might say, to drive them to Christ.
By Adam’s sin many are made sinners: judgment is coming to condemnation upon all those that by Adam’s disobedience were made sinners. There is judgment given and recorded against us in the court of heaven; and, if the judgment be not reversed, we are likely to sink under it to eternity.
God the Father himself has worked in the past decisively and will work in the future unfailingly to rescue us from his wrath.
So, you were guilty sinners, you were weak and helpless, and you were ungodly and deserving of the just and holy wrath of God. And in spite of all that, he loved you and gave his Son to die that you might live.
"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinth 12:9
God wants you to take this very personally. He wants you to read and hear and know that you are being addressed very personally.
Why is faith so essential? He answers, it's because, it harmonizes with grace. And why is that important? Because God's grace is what gives the guarantee.
We Gentiles who believe on Jesus the Messiah are fellow heirs with Abraham and with him will inherit the world. Jews and Gentiles together, who believe in Christ, are heirs of the world.
It's because the gospel is the good news that our sins are laid on Christ and his righteousness is laid on us. The Great Exchange. The great imputation of our sin to Christ and God's righteousness to us – called justification
Faith will begin to overcome our ungodliness. But in the beginning of the Christian life - where justification happens - we are all ungodly.
Gal 5:4 “You, and anyone else who seeks to be on the right side of God through the law, have effectively been cut off from the Anointed, circumcised from grace, and cast off from the favor of God.
Mankind has the understanding that he knows what is best and his progress of science and abilities to provide good things for advancement are because he (man) is determined to be the way-maker.
18 “They have no fear of God at all.” 19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
“The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.”
But beware: faith that produces no hope (Colossians 1:23), faith that produces no love (Galatians 5:6), faith that produces no obedience (Romans 1:5) is no saving faith
Look to Christ. Look to him for the glory that he is in the gospel of his death and resurrection. See him and savor him as the image of the glory of God. And look to him in your suffering. Look to the things that are eternal. Look to Christ. Look to the glory of God. Taste him. Trust him. Be transformed by him.
If there are good deeds that need to be done, you don’t turn from faith to works. You lean all the more on Christ who will work in you what is pleasing in God’s sight
So, the first thing to learn about God and his response to hypocrisy is that God is just, and his just judgment is coming not only on the so-called pagan people who live in sin, but also on the moral and religious people who disdain the pagan people, while doing many things that show they don’t trust and love God.
So God said, in effect, “If that’s what you want, that’s what you get.” It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out.
“The only light in the universe that can bring light to the heart is the glory of God. If we exchange it for other things, we will live in darkness, no matter how brilliant we are or how many fires we may build or candles we may light.
Are there people in the world who have an excuse or a warrant to protest the wrath of God against them? And here is Paul’s answer: No. No one has an excuse. Everyone is guilty and deserves the wrath of God.
When we “understand the enormity” of God’s Wrath. Believe me, this is so crucial because this is the way the gospel saves believers. If you don’t understand the gospel, if you don’t cherish it and look to it and feed on it day after day, it won’t save you..
There are people in the world right now, a couple of billion of them, who have little to no knowledge of the gospel. We don’t just go share the gospel with them among the nations because we want to. God, we do this because we must. We have an obligation to. We owe them the gospel. God, we are obligated to get the gospel to them in the church today
So, what is that face-to-face reward in relationships? It’s a unique spiritual gift that imparts unique spiritual strengthening.
I would submit to you that Christians should seek to be “Fanatics” when it comes to praying.
There is a responsibility attaching to the term “Call”. Those Called belong to Christ! Their lives are His.
,‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” The coming of the Son of God into the world was the coming of the “Son of David,” the promised King.
The gospel was promised in holy writings inspired by God; and the gospel is unfolded and preserved for us in holy writings inspired by God.
Paul is saying that he was set apart from the time before he was born. That’s amazing. You know why that’s amazing? Because the detour between the setting apart and the Damascus road is horrendous, isn’t it? He’s a murderer. He’s a hater of Christians. He’s a persecutor of the church
If you’re a Christian today, you are doubly owned by God. You are owned by virtue of creation and you are owned by virtue of purchase. You are doubly not your own — doubly his. He owns you.
Beloved, we Must Understand the depths of Zeal, Intimacy and Passion that the Lord has for His Temple! This is where He dwells, and with that said He is planting His Bride next to Himself as a support Pillar in that Temple
Greed has corrupted this culture, from the least to the greatest: all are tainted with this lust for what they don’t deserve. The prophets and priests are no better. Their lives reek with deceit. Jeremiah 6:13
True beauty, purpose, and satisfaction in marriage come when we reflect the true nature of the One that satisfies us completely and eternally Jesus Christ. By his life and death, Jesus displays the center of marriage as self-sacrifice.
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]
1Peter 4:8-10
But if you reject the one who speaks from heaven and, like Esau, prefer the fragile, shaky kingdom of this world, then you will meet the consuming fire of God as destruction and not deliverance.
There are many that are on the way to heaven who yet walk but half-heartedly and lamely in it. Such are apt to discourage one another and hinder one another; but it is their duty to take courage, and act by faith, and so help one another forward in the way to heaven.
To be tormented and to go on in sin without a rebuke, is a sad sign of separation from God; The Bible says, such are bastards, not sons. They may call him Father, because they are born in the light of the church, but they are the counterfeit offspring of another father, not of God, Heb. 12:7, 8.
Discipline is the spiritual prescription needed, for the immature Christians life. There were no hardships that Paul come against that could ever keep him from the prize that awaited him in the end.
The Bride that He (Jesus) is coming for is not in bits and pieces, or you might say denominational or religious movements. Leadership Must teach and expose the Sin that condemns. Repentance is the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
This race must be run with patience and perseverance. There will be a need of patience to encounter the difficulties that lie in our way, of perseverance to resist all temptations to desist or turn aside.
There is no stagnant life in the Kingdom. Either you grow and produce a blessing, or you deteriorate and descend into a curse. Be warned my Listeners.
"The faithful were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword, clothed only in sheepskins and goatskins; they were penniless, afflicted, and tormented. The world was not worthy of these saints. They wandered across deserts, crossed mountains, and lived in the caves, cracks, and crevasses of the earth." Hey 11:36-37
And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Rev 13:8
This is great news! Christ is returning to rescue those he’s saved and to claim his church solely for himself. For those who eagerly await Jesus, sweet salvation is coming.
What God is saying is, that if You were the only individual on planet earth, He would have come down from Heaven to redeem you. This is not about Religion. It is a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ.
You see folks what we Must understand as Followers of Christ is, He, Jesus is the High Priest for His Bride and when we, “Fully Surrender,” and die to self, Christ will take up residents’ in us. Read Gal 2:20; We are Vessels that He inhabits to reach the people that will bring Him Glory
According to Stephen, those who reject Jesus are following the same path as the people who rejected Moses and then followed idols. Such a strong message strikes a nerve, and Stephen becomes the first martyr of the church because of it.
Proverbs 19:15 " Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger" Matt 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For, they shall be filled." My friends, Surrender is not Surrender until you’re Surrendered. Then and only then will the fruit of Surrender be evident to bring Glory to God.
Drifting. Neglecting. Letting slip. This is the opposite of perseverance. The opposite of hanging in there over the long haul.
We find Jesus there. His deity, His glory, a Creator, Heir of all things, superior to all things, and Savior. If you knew nothing more about Him than you found in chapters 1-2, you would know abundant.
Prayer is the breath of the spiritual man, and is nothing other than the sound of the Spirit of God in him; and such prayer cannot fail of success. You see when we Pray to God this is communion with Him. God loves His bride to talk with Him.
People store truths in their brains but never put them to use. For James, the only good religion is religion lived out every day. My friends the Lord is returning for His bride that is without Spot or Wrinkle
Therefore, it would be a sin of omission for us not to care for the needy. In fact, this is how Jesus explains it at the end of Matthew 25 whereas people were cast into hell, not because of what they did, but because of what they didn’t do
God describes His relationship with His people like a marriage, and when His people forsake Him in sin, it is a picture of spiritual unfaithfulness or adultery.
The more we are conformed to the pattern of this world, living like this world and loving this world, the more we betray our God and cheat on Him.
You see, you don’t get this wisdom from intellectual effort of practical experience as much as you get it from being with God. A kind of wisdom, a Godly wisdom, see’s things from an eternal perspective that only comes from God. We must go to Him constantly in prayer and in the Word, crying out to Him in order to receive His wisdom.
The question is Not. What is this wisdom? But who is this Wisdom? 1st Corinth 1:24 says that Christ is the wisdom of God. Similarly, 1st Corinth 1:30 says that Christ became wisdom for us. As our substitute on the cross, our foolish words and their consequences were all imputed to Him, and His righteous words, His wisdom, was imputed to us
Words are so important, not only because they can be used in many ways but also **because they can be used in many evil ways
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She risked it all, going against everything in the culture around her. She risked it all so the people of God might take Jericho for the glory of God, and according to James she was considered righteous for what she did.
When Christ gives you spiritual birth, He gives you spiritual life, a life that is Radically different and a life that bears Fruit. John 15:14, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
So, here we are in Chapter 2:15-17. People who. Fail to help Poverty Stricken Fellow Believers are in fact not saved. People who claim to be Christians but fail to help brothers and sisters that are destitute and hungry are in fact not saved.
“So live your life in such a way that acknowledges that one day you will be judged. But the law that judges also gives freedom, although you can’t expect to be shown mercy if you refuse to show mercy. But hear this: mercy always wins against judgment!” James 2:12,13
Having God’s Word inscribed on your heart, the Word comes alive within your soul and spirit to the point where you can’t sit still or shut up. It reminds me of Jeremiah 20:9. “But when I tell myself, I’ll never mention Your name or speak for You again, it’s no use. The Word of God burns in my heart; it is like fire in my bones, I try to hold it all in, but I cannot.”
My friends “The Word is Jesus” and the Word saves us and we need the Word daily. Now don’t miss this next part as the language here is so powerful, emphasizing how we are “NOT” saved by working but by receiving the Word, and how that Word planted in us then moves us into action.# Reformed Podcast # Reformed Teachings
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John 15:5. Jesus sketches a picture of this new life as a flourishing vineyard. “I am the Vine, and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me.”
“Trials and Temptations are both inevitable, and God intends both to “Deepen Our Faith.” Sometimes we face trials on the outside, and sometimes we face temptations on the inside, but how we understand them and respond to them has everything to do with our Faith
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“All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father.These are the rotten fruits of this world”.
1John 2:16
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My friends there is no stagnant life in the Kingdom. Either you grow and produce a blessing, or you languish and descend into a curse. **I would say be advised
Neil Parks**# Reformed Podcast # Reformed Teachings
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“for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
“And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans. For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.”
You see the persecution and suffering for Christians in this world are signified, in a very informative manner, by James, if we concentrate on what is plainly and unavoidably understood, together with what is fully communicated as well. These outward afflictions and troubles are lures or enticements. The enemy’s activities bring sufferings to draw the Christian to sin and to discourage them from their calling and obedience to it.
With that said “Real Men” have appetites that are insatiable or limitless for more God. Matt 5:6 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Now the stage is set! Remember the Plan of God is to have His Bride and Wife to be. Here’s where it (the Plan) is headed and that would be a “Bride without Spot or Wrinkle” Eph 5:27. “He has given Himself (Jesus) so that He can present the church as His radiant bride, unstained, unwrinkled, and unblemished—completely free from all impurity**—holy and innocent before Him”.
Neil Parks**
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If you are a saved follower of Christ, that statement applies to YOU in 2023. You see my friends and family; this isn’t something you get to choose to do! This is a mandate to serve the King that is Coming SOON. No one is insignificant. Our children and grandchildren are to be trained for this event.
The Trap was set in the Garden of Eden and it still remains set in 2023. My friends this Trap is governed by the devil himself. The only alternative or way out is with Jesus Christ. He came to set the captives free with the shedding of His Blood 2000 years ago, for you as an individual, if you will follow Him.Adam and Eve’s disobedience got them kicked out of God’s presence.# Reformed Podcast # Reformed Teachings
Reformed Theology. # Biblical Truth
Fill The Lamp Podcast # RCRVPodcast
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Like other parables, Matt 25 indicates that there is a distinction between believer and unbelievers, between those who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven and those who will be confined to eternal torment, which may not be apparent until the coming of Christ. It is at the second coming of Christ when men/women will stand before our Lord, that their true spiritual status is known.
A good reason for this regard: “Knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.You who are masters of others have a Master yourself and are servants of another Lord. You are not lords of yourselves and are accountable to one above you.
But Paul warns the Colossians, that as called Christians they are to serve as Christ served. V.25anyone who does wrong will be paid his dues because He (God) doesn’t play favorites.” This takes us back to 3:22 we serve “……with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord”
The 5th commandment is the first commandment with promise (Eph. 6:2), this is an explicit promise appropriated to it, namely, “that it shall be well with them, and they shall live long on the earth”. God is saying that loyal children are the most likely to prosper in the world and enjoy long
Christ is the example! To "walk" in love, is not merely to talk of it, but to exercise it; and to do all that is done for God, and Christ. The example to be copied after “is Jesus’ love for the Church”.
What Paul is teaching these Colossians is that Scripture should saturate every aspect of the believer’s life and control every thought, word and deed. Psalm 119:11; David tells the Lord. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
Paul is expounding, upon how the nature of our existence now is to reflect Christ and His love toward others. …..Forgive each other. If you have something against someone, forgive him.” After all, hasn’t Jesus Forgiven us of all of our stupidness.
These Colossians we’re in the very early stages of their Faith walk with Christ. Maybe better put as very immature! They were struggling with exactly, the same mind set as to what Jesus, is explaining to Nicodemus. John 3:4 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old Codger like me go back into his mother’s womb and be born again.”
So kill your earthly impulses: loose sex, impure actions, unbridled sensuality, wicked thoughts, and greed (which is essentially idolatry). It’s because of these sins that God’s wrath is coming [upon the sons and daughters of disobedience],
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Whereas heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, and a supreme regard to both is inconsistent; and the prevalence of our affection to one will proportionably weaken and abate our affection to the other.
I would submit to you, If you’re not dying daily, “from the basic principles of the world” or you could say “the basic principles of Self”. Most likely you’re not growing, therefore, your intimacy, with God is stymied and like the Colossians you are not hearing from the Holy Spirit as to what the Spirit is teaching.
Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. 1Corinth 2:14
Heb 10:17 “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Col 2:14 “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Because of your trespasses you are a dead person and because Jesus Loves you, He paid the trespass fine that you could never pay and that my friend has enabled you and me to have everlasting Life forever
You see my listeners; we must understand and acknowledge that Jesus is more than enough. To become acquainted with God is one thing, but to go on in commitment and to experience God in intensity and richness of acquaintance is something more.
Neil Parks
The more closely we walk with Christ the more we are rooted and established in the faith. If we walk in him, we shall be rooted in him; and the more firmly we are rooted in him the more closely we shall walk in him: Rooted and built up. Note: this point, that we cannot be built up in Christ, unless we be first rooted in Him.
We are to keep up a communion of faith, hope and Holy Love to the parts of the body of Christ that we don’t know about or have personal knowledge of or conversation with. We can think and pray and be concerned for one another around the world that we never see but will meet in Heaven.
Neil Parks
Just think about what Paul is saying. The Creator of the Universe has taken up “residence” in His Servant vessels. That believers, both Jew and Gentile, now possess the surpassing riches of the indwelling Christ which is the “glorious, revealed Mystery” of which Paul writes.
“The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity"
Col 1: 26-27
In reality, all believers are “ministers.” Our model is Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve. We find that in (Mark 10:45). Jesus equated service to God as service to others. Our unselfish service should be rendered through our spiritual gifts, which are given by God to the saints that they might minister to one another.
“21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He (Christ) has reconciled, 22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. That word “enemies”, in the Greek can be translated “hateful”. Unbelievers “hate God” and resent His Holy standard because they love their “**wicked works
Colossians 1: 21, 22**
Paul was pleading with God to also give them Knowledge with Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding. “Spiritual” modifies both wisdom and understanding. It’s like the two are blended together to accumulate and organize the principles of scriptures for application in life. Bottomline, we must have **aggressive Intimacy with God!
Neil Parks**
Christ’s Blood had to be poured out to cover the Bride and the Wife to Be’s sin! The Bride had to be forgiven to be wed to the Groom. Hebrews 9:22 “In fact, under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].”
Neil Parks
He (Paul) is asking God to pour out His Holy Spirit upon us, so that more and more of the Spirit would remove our spiritual blindness and murkiness of vision that enables us to see God for who he really is.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21
There are many churches all across the world that have the “look” but are “Just going through the Motions”. The Church is called to lift up “The King” to a lost and dying world. Yes, we are to edify and lift up one another in prayer and encouragement, but without using the talents, gifts and being the voice, that God has given us, in passionate outreach’s, to help in life-or-death situations, **we are Dead as a church as well.
Neil Parks**
Here we go again following Pergamos and their Compromise and now Thyatira with Corruption. The tactic is Satan’s plants within the church. So here we are 2000 years later, and nothing has changed. The weeds are still in the Garden. Have you noticed? Weeds will become dominant if allowed.
The word of God is a sword; it is a weapon both offensive and defensive, it is, in the hand of God, able to slay both sin and sinners. The lord says, “I have a few things against you”. You see, this **church of Pergamos had not only opened its doors to all comers but got blind sided with false doctrines that had invaded the church and the church allowed it to happen.
Neil Parks**
A call to widespread attention, that all men, in all the world, should hear what passes between Christ and his churches—how he commends them, how he comforts them, how he reproves their failures, how he rewards their fidelity. It alarms all the inhabitants of the world to observe God’s dealings with his own people; all the world may learn instruction and wisdom thus, with a gracious promise to the conquering Christian
How important is this term “Overcome” to be understood? My friends just this word Overcome indicates there is an obstacle, a difficulty, a mountain. Why are so many leaders and teachers avoiding this warfare preparation? We’re talking about reaching people for Christ and mankind’s Salvation. The armor of God is to be worn daily as this world Hates the Followers of Christ. Matthew 10:22 “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved”.
Neil Parks
“Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It’s what you’ve heard from me all along. It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now—but God’s Word isn’t in jail! That’s why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing: If we die with him, we’ll live with him; If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him; If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us; If we give up on him, he does not give up— for there’s no way he can be false to himself.”
2 Timothy 2:12
We need to intentionally help people not only learn the knowledge they need but also help them live out what they learn. We teach and instruct those we disciple so they can, in turn, disciple others. Our goal for sheepherding is spiritual maturity, which means that those we disciple are growing in their ability to Love God and others. They are learning to live out their calling to make other disciples and use the gifts God has given them within the Body of Christ.
Neil Parks
The insecurities of mankind are the most compelling aspect of his lostness. And with that said mankind is moving through this life, on planet earth, in a state of confusion as to what they are to be accomplishing, with their day-to-day existence of living in this life.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
Neil Parks
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve [Hebrew] tribes [scattered abroad among the Gentiles] in the dispersion: Greetings (rejoice)! Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. James 1:1-4
The Brides Focus is all about farming the Garden of Spiritual Hearts, that Jesus has given her, in regard to plowing, cultivating and sewing seed into fertile hearts producing bursting appetites for more of Him.
Later, Jesus appeared to the eleven [disciples] themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He called them to account for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen [from death]. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned. Mark 16:14-16
The Bride remembers her little sister instead of forgetting her as she, the Bride, moves on to deeper things. Immature believers are under the responsibility the Bride. The “little” sister is little in faith and thus, easily loses her courage in difficulties. She quickly gives up in pressure. The daughters of Jerusalem were in this same condition as this little sister
It takes God to Love God. We need the Spirit’s supernatural help to love God with all of our heart. The anointing to love God is the greatest gift that the spirit imparts to a believer. The Holy Spirit is the “All Consuming Fire” and the “Living Flame” that baptize us with His Fiery Love. “He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire.” (Luke 3:16)
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Rom 12:4-8
**What overcomes His heart? The greatness of the stars, oceans and mountains do not. The vast armies of men or demons are nothing before Him. The greatest warrior in history is “conquered” by our love, when we are true to Him in times of testing. Yes, our eyes of Love move Him. You see this steady Gaze of Song 6:5 is even more intense than any other glance in all of these scriptures.
Neil Parks**
"Remember Lot’s wife. Turning back is fatal for those who do so."“When the Day arrives and you’re out working in the yard, don’t run into the house to get anything. And if you’re out in the field, don’t go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you’ll lose it, but if you let that life go, you’ll get life on God’s terms."
Luke 17:32
All believers, come here and listen, let me tell you what God did for me. I called out to him with my mouth, my tongue shaped the sounds of music. If I had been cozy with evil, the Lord would never have listened. But he most surely did listen, he came on the double when he heard my prayer. Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear, he stayed with me, loyal in his love. PS 66:16
Jesus is calling her to open her heart for Him in order to experience new depths in God. He is now taking full possession of her heart for Himself. SS 5:1. Jesus calls her My Perfect one because of her obedience to open her heart to Him as her heart yearns and leaps because she is Lovesick.
Neil Parks Fill The Lamp
So we constantly experience the death of Jesus in our own bodies, but this is so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies. 11 We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death, so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die. 12 So death is working in us, but the result is that **life is working in you.
2Cor 4:10-12**
They have forgotten Me. Instead, My people offer incense to worthless gods, worshiping them as though they are real. They have lost their way, stumbling from the ancient path of blessing. Now they walk in the ruts of rebellion instead of taking the high road of obedience. Jeremiah 18:15
Our Salvation involves much more than receiving a legal position of righteousness before God (2 Cor 5:21). We must understand God’s affections for us. Why? Because we will never have more passion for God than what we understand about His passion for us. We love Him because we understand He first loved us. (1Jn 4:19). God’ heart is filled with delight for His people.
Neil Parks
Jesus does not define our life by our struggles. He sees more than our failures. He defines us by the seeds of virtue that are in our heart and what we set our heart on, not only by what we attain. He sees a willing spirit in us (Matt 26:41). He defines us by our longings to Love and obey Him. The Devil calls us hopeless hypocrites. The enemy wears down many with accusations and condemnation. He wants us to feel like hopeless hypocrites so that we will give up. **He wants us to confuse immaturity with rebellion so that we give up.
Neil Parks**
Listen, my dearest darling, (The Lord Speaking)
you are so beautiful—you are beauty itself to me! Your eyes are
like gentle doves behind your veil.
What devotion (Commitment) I see each time I gaze upon you
You are like a sacrifice ready to be offered.
When I look at you,
I see how you have taken my fruit and tasted my word. (His Body). Your life has become clean and pure,
like a lamb washed and newly shorn.
You now show grace and balance with truth on display.
SS 4;
Distractions are Focus Killers, that easily swallow up the immature. The obstacles of Fear and what's going to happen next are just a couple. So, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you've been Born Again with the understanding that " if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinth 5:17). The impediments that get in our way can only be dealt with if we are in a continual act, of overcoming, and seeking God to expand our capacity of intimacy with Him.Best understood in (Galatians 2 : 20).
Neil Parks. fillthelamp@yahoo.com
We have much to say about this topic although it is difficult to explain, because you have become too dull and sluggish to understand. For you should already be professors instructing others by now; but instead, you need to be taught from the beginning the basics of God’s prophetic oracles! You’re like children still needing milk and not yet ready to digest solid food.
Hebrews 5: 11,12
“Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].” 1Peter 4:10
fillthelamp@yahoo.com
“He brought me, He formed in me the disposition of intimacy to God, He, helped me to get over my discouragements, He took me by the hand, guided and led me, and gave me an access with boldness to God as a Father,” Eph. 2:18“For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father”
The Lord is sweet to Her heart as she rests under the shade of the finished work of the “Cross”. Now think about this for a minute. The finished work of the Cross is the forgiveness of Sin. This is where we can come boldly to the throne of God as His Blood covers us. She experiences the superior pleasures of knowing God as She feeds at His table and live under the Banner of His excellent leadership.
Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God.
Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives
to all who turn to hide themselves in him. PS 34:8
“This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes **God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”
John 3 : 20**
This wine is delectable. Why would you save the most exquisite fruit of the vine? A host would generally serve the good wine first and, when his inebriated guests don’t notice or care, he would serve the inferior wine. You have held back the best for last.
Jesus performed this miracle, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee. They did not know how this happened; but when the disciples and the servants**witnessed this miracle, their faith thrived
John 2 : 10-11**
God continues to test His people by allowing them to ask for anything. The Bride, The Shulamite, The Maiden’s supreme request from the Father is "The Divine Kiss of The Word". She wants more than power, prominence and earthly comforts. God is raising up a people who long for the Kisses of God’s Word as their supreme request. There are many necessary things to ask for. They are secondary. The greatest prayer of faith is to receive Grace to Love God with all our heart and strength.
Neil Parks. fillthelamp@yahoo.com
O kings and rulers of the earth listen while there is time. "Serve the Lord with reverent fear; rejoice with trembling." Fall down before his Son and "Kiss his feet" **before his anger is roused and you perish. I am warning you—his wrath will soon begin. But oh, the joys of those who put their trust in him!
Psalm 2:10-12**
**Then one of them, a religious scholar, posed this question to test him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord you're God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ This is the great and supreme commandment.
Matt 22:35-38**
The poor fellow died and was carried on the arms of the heavenly messengers to the embrace of Abraham. Then the rich fellow died and was buried and found himself in the place of the dead. In his torment, he looked up, and off in the distance he saw Abraham, with Lazarus in his embrace. He shouted out, “Father Abraham! Please show me mercy! Would you send that beggar Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water and cool my tongue? These flames are hot, and I’m in agony!” But Abraham said, “Son, you seem to be forgetting something: your life was full to overflowing with comforts and pleasures, and the life of Lazarus was just as full with suffering and pain. So now is his time of comfort, and now is your time of agony.
Luke 16:22-25
The natural man is not aware that all the answers to life are found in God. The natural man cringes in the earth and seeks and finds that which is vain and temporary while the spiritual man soars on wings of eagles (Is 40:31) and seeks and finds righteousness and God’s incomparable and everlasting blessings and companionship.
Earth is the place where beauty and ugliness dwell together. “Heaven is the place of harmonious numbers. Heaven is the place of loveliness; the place of beauty, because the One who is all Beautiful is there!! He is the Lord of all beauty, and the Earth lies between all that is Ugly in Hell and all that is beautiful in Heaven.
AW Tozer
Without the renewing of "The Mind" and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. Mankind is not capable of understanding or keeping the main thing, the main thing, in that, in the writings of Ecclesiastics if we do not understand the Trap of the World and what it presents to the Church and its potential followers of Christ, we will never understand "The God of Love" portrayed in the Song of Solomon. In which, I feel with all my heart, is the book about "The Bride He is Preparing"!
Neil Parks
For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature: for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
Gal 5:17
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher.
“Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
Ecclesiastes teaches us that no matter how great our accomplishments are in man’s eyes they will not ultimately have any value if they are not pleasing to God. When Ecclesiastes is understood it awakens us to a fervency that begins the journey.
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent[change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]. 20 Behold, I stand at the door[of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Rev 3:19-22
Now the Antidote for your name and mine, as a true believer to be in the Book of Life is “Change”. We repent or Perish. Matt 3:8 “So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]”
When we read scripture in Matt 24 and 25 it can’t get much clearer about the unprepared Church. Jesus is explaining to the disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven and how the people that profess his name MUST be prepared to meet Him. Neil Parks
**Their excuses will not be regarded, their pleas will be of no avail, their pretensions to interest in Christ, and love to him, will be set aside; the sentence will remain irrevocable, and there will be no appeal from it, for there is no higher tribunal to bring the cause before; judgment having passed, the execution of it immediately follows: these goats, or formal professors, shall be obliged, whether they will or not, to depart from the presence of Christ;
John Gill**
You see, everybody will come before Christ’s tribunal; it doesn’t matter what age group of the world, from the beginning to the end of time; every place on planet earth, even from the remotest corners of the world, or the most obscure, and distant from each other; every nation, and all those nations of men that are made of one blood, who dwell on the entire face of the earth. The Bible says, “it’s appointed for man to die once and then judgement”. **Every person will be on time for that appointment
Neil Parks. fillthelamp@yahoo.com**
“For He recognizes and knows false and worthless men, And He sees wickedness, will He not consider it? Job 11:11
"Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] . These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless; ". Jude 8, 12
The pathway to deeper joy and intimacy with God may be a surprising one: learn to fear him. As the prophet Isaiah says, “Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary” (Isaiah 8:13–14). Let him carry you as you wade deeper into the wild, overwhelming waves of what he has revealed to you.
Desiring God.org
**There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].
1John 4:18**
“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness." Matt 25:26,27
God's Gifts and Talents are not merely the gifts of the natural knowledge and riches or, the gifts of nature and of providence; nor the external ministry of the word, Gospel ordinances, and opportunities of enjoying them; but ministerial gifts, that qualify men to be preachers of the Gospel, as appears from their name, "talents": they are His gifts for usefulness and service in the church.
Matt 25
Jesus provides a picture of the coming reality of the kingdom of heaven. As they approach the time of His sacrifice, Jesus makes sure the disciples know that soon it will be too late; the door of opportunity will close, and for many the door will remain shut. He gives them another image of the same reality to bring the picture into focus. Once they were bridesmaids waiting for their bridegroom; now they are slaves waiting for their Master. This time they are given responsibilities that will be rewarded. **The blessings of the Kingdom bring risks along with the benefits
Neil Parks**
The heart is the vessel, which it is our wisdom to get furnished; for, out of a good treasure there, good things must be brought; but if that root be rottenness, the blossom will be dust. 2. Grace is the oil which we must have in this vessel; in the tabernacle there was constant provision made of oil for the light, Exod. 35:14. Our light must shine before men in good works, but this cannot be, or not long, unless there be a fixed active principle in the heart, of faith in Christ. But remember that this oil which keeps the lamps burning, is derived to the candlestick from Jesus Christ, the great and good Olive**,
Matthew Henry**
36 “But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Unexpected Judgement).
Matt 24:36-39
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [b]daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels Luke 9:23-26
“Obedience to the commandments is a trajectory of life — repenting of failures, confessing sins, and getting back on — has got to happen.” In other words, the central requirement — covenant-keeping through faith in Jesus — has got to be real. And **obedience is the evidence that it’s real. It’s the sign that it’s real. It’s the mark that it’s real. It’s the fruit that says the tree is real.
John Piper**
"When we see the day approaching, we must address ourselves to our dying work with all seriousness, renewing our repentance for sin, our consent to the covenant, our farewells to the world; and our souls must be carried out toward God in suitable breathings. [2.] In the foolish virgins, it denotes a vain confidence, and conceit of the goodness of their state, and their readiness for another world. Note, Even counterfeit graces will serve a man to make a show of when he comes to die, as well as they have done all his life long; the hypocrite’s hopes blaze when they are just expiring, like a lightening before death”.
Matthew Henry
But the unspiritual man simply cannot accept the matters which the Spirit deals with—they just don’t make sense to him, for, after all, you must be spiritual to see spiritual things. The spiritual man, on the other hand, has an insight into the meaning of everything, though his insight may baffle the man of the world. This is because the former is sharing in God’s wisdom, and ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ Incredible as it may sound, we who are spiritual have the very thoughts of Christ!
***The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];
But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline!***
When you hear the word “Alert” what is your first response? Danger maybe, a possible threat, but at the very least a problem could be coming on the horizon. I’m convinced, that the age and time frame which we live in is totally misunderstood. The Bible teaches that.
“Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air]”. James 4:14.
The 10 Virgins parable like most of the others, Jesus tells it to His disciples privately. Mat 24:3. This is private instruction, for those who follow Jesus or who think they are followers. Now keep in mind that Judas was among the 12 who heard this parable, and he was not a true believer. This parable instructs us to be READY when HE returns.
Hanging out with people is a risky behavior, especially when we’re following the wrong people. There is a saying “that you become like who you hang out with”. Hang with Jesus, you become like Him. Hang with the World you become like the World! Unfortunately, it isn’t about the right people or the wrong people that you hang with. It’s about Crucifying Self and Worshiping the Most High Lord and Saviour King Jesus!
The Bible tells us that on the day Jesus Christ was Crucified, at Calvary, there were 2 thieves hanging with Him, one on each side. What this picture shows us is that there are two types of people in life. The Foolish and the Wise! They both knew of Jesus and about Him. The Foolish thief mocked Jesus, but the Wise thief humbled himself and surrendered to Jesus as Lord. One Lamp full of Oil and one lamp empty.
Lamps back in the day, with Jesus was an important item to have. Lack of OIL implies negligence on the bearer’s part. It’s up to the bearer to make the decision as to when to fill the lamps. Navigating in the Dark is dangerous and you could loose your Life!
***Most Weddings are very exciting wouldn’t you agree? The anticipation along with all the arrangements and preparations After all, these events mark one of, if not the most important, moment of our lives as we Vow to commit all that is within us to the one we are devoted to as the “Relationship” begins.
There is one wedding that all mankind has been created to take part in . The Critical Must is, that all “LAMPS” are to be filled with OIL !!***
When you’re eye is clear (focused on God) your whole body also is full of light . But when it is bad (spiritually blind) your body is full of darkness (devoid of God’s word). LK 11:34
Neil C Parks
Old Covenant Lamp Oil, was all about hard work as , the "Beating of Olives" was the process that insured Clear and Pure Oil for the Lamps in the Temple to burn continuously. New Covenant Lamp Oil has been provided by the Grace of God. Whereas, Jesus Christ took the Scourging and Beating unto death as He becomes the Pure Oil needed for our Lamps to burn. As we are now the Temple He lives in!
Neil C Parks
...."that He might present her to Himself a glorious church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be Holy and without blemish." Eph 5: 27. ..."let Patience have it's perfect work, that you may be Perfect and complete, lacking nothing
"I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone eating this bread will live forever!" What a statement made by Jesus. It makes no sense, however, to the unbelieving person. Therefore, until the natural man is crucified it never will.
Darkness Hates Light. But unless Sin is exposed and confessed it cannot be forgiven.
1John 1:9-10; "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned , we make him a liar, and His word is not in us."
A Lamp will not burn without "Power" and without Light we live in Darkness. But, we have a "Promise" that will never fail to "Provide" us with the Light we need forever. Jesus Christ is the Oil, the Light and the Life for Eternity.