Newsletter 195 - May 29, 2010
Bob Mills
In Dallas this parable would possibly have been the Parable of the Branches. As we drove across the city recently, many piles of branches littered the curbs. Home owners were tidying up misshaped or damaged trees from the recent high winds.
Jesus chose to use vines, which have to be pruned every year to keep them bearing good fruit.
John 15:1-11 (King James Version)
GOD IS THE HUSBANDMAN AND CHRIST IS THE VINE.
This is the basic unit. I remember seeing vines that, I was told, husbandman, and they still bore fruit. God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are the totally reliable, unchangeable constants in the parable.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (Psalm 80:91, Isaiah 5:1, Ezekiel 19:10, Matthew 21:33, Matthew 15:13, Romans 11:17, 1 Corinthians 3:9)
CHRISTIANS ARE THE BRANCHES
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The caretaker knows just where and how to cut the branches back years ago, we were involved in restoring a badly neglected church building. It’s front steps were flanked by two rose bushes that had not been pruned for years. At the time, I was reprimanded when I cut away masses of tangled growth, but later the same person came to thank me for the results were unbelievable that it could be the same plants.
For the Christian, represented by the branches of the parable there are several parallels. The branch draws all its strength and life from the vine. Without that vital source, we are dead. We have no life apart from Christ, and no power apart from the Spirit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 13:10, John 17:17, Ephesians 15:26)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 6:56, John 15:4-7, 1 John 2:6)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:16)
THE BARREN BRANCHES ARE DESTINED TO DESTRUCTION
Like those barren branches the Christian who neglects his source of Spiritual strength, must expect to be reprimanded and cut back. The final destiny of a fruitless person is the judgment and destruction. He knows what the fruit is, but has chosen the fruit of the world and in so, the destiny as well. That fruit is shown in Galatians 5:22-25.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:2)
THE FAITHFUL HAVE THE POWER OF THE FATHER BACKING THEM UP
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (Matthew 7:7, John 15:16)
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; (Galatians 5:22-25) so shall ye be my disciples. (Matthew 5:16, John 8:31)
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (John 3:35, John 17:23-23)
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 14:15, John 8:29)
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 17:13, John 3:29)
THE JUDGMENT TIME WILL BE A TIME OF REJOICING FOR THE FRUITFUL
God has prepared the time of rejoicing for the wedding feast of Christ and His bride, the church.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
30th. Sunday – 1 Samuel 28, 29, John 20, Psalm 68:20-27
31st. Monday – 1 Samuel 30, 31, John 21, Psalm 68:28-35
JUNE
1st. Tuesday – 2 Samuel 1, 2, Acts 1, Proverbs 14:1-9
2nd. Wednesday - 2 Samuel 3, Acts 2, Psalm 69:1-12
3rd. Thursday – 2 Samuel 4, 5, Acts 3, Psalm 69:13-28
4th. Friday - 2 Samuel 6, 7, Acts 4, Psalm 69:29-36
5th. Saturday – 2 Samuel 8, 9, Acts 5:1-16, Proverbs 14:10-18
__________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 686 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. Using it, you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to email addresses all over earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 4 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
God’s gifts cannot be bought for any money.
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
__________
SEARCH: “Turning Point, by PJ Mills” Available from Amazon.com, Barnesand noble.com, Xlibris.com or by phone 1-888-795-4274, ext. 7876
_______
Bottle of Red, Bottle of White...
she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when would like a ride. With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.
Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally.
'What in bag?' asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.'
The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said, 'Good trade.'
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
I AM THE DOOR
Newsletter 194 - May 22, 2010
Bob Mills
Last week we considered one of the metaphors used by Jesus of himself. He called himself, the Bread of Life. We began with Moses who questioned how he could identify the authority behind him. In reference to the fact that God is Spirit and has always been; the source of all that we see and handle, he was told to say that “I Am” has sent me. God was, and is, and always will be. This is a concept that the Children of Israel, and all men, will never In this life really be able to completely understand.
Today, we have another “I Am.” This time, he says, “I am the door;” specifically, the door of a sheepfold, bringing into play a third I AM thought. “I am the good shepherd.”
John 10:1-10 (King James Version)
A THIEF AND ROBBER OFTEN IGNORES THE DOOR
Instead, he looks for someplace else, perhaps an open window or a back door that is hidden from the view of watchful neighbors. The normal entrance is often well defined, and very visible, perhaps even well lighted. I always considered the back door of our home to be very weak in that it contained small glass panes only inches from both the lock and the bolt. The only thing that really saved it was that it faced the entrance and overlooking windows of the neighboring house very near by. Their porch light also lighted it very well.
JESUS USED THE ENTRAN CE OF THE SHEEPFOLD TO SAY:
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. (John 10:8)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD USES THE DOOR
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (Jojn 10:11)
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (John 10:4, John 10:16, John 10:27, John 10:9)
The porter, in the parable is the night watchman who has been stationed at the only entrance. He knows all the shepherds who have brought their small flocks there for the night, just as the sheep within know the voice of their trusted shepherd. In the morning the shepherd, standing aside will call his sheep out of the fold, and they with come to him.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:5, John 10:16, John 10:27)
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:4, John 10:16, John 10:27)
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. (John 16:25, John 16:29, 2 Peter 2:22)
Added to this intriduction, Jesus carries the parable one more step.:
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:1, John 10:9)
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (Jeremiah 23:1, Ezekiel 34:2, John 10:1)
THE ONLY DOOR LEADING TO SALVATION
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:1, John 10:9)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 5:40)
NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
23rd. Sunday – 1 Samuel 17, John 14, Psalm 66:11-20
24th. Monday – 1 Samuel 18, 19, John 15, Proverbs 13:1-12
25th. Tuesday – 1 Samuel 20, John 16, Psalm 67
26th. Wednesday -- 1 Samuel 21, 22, John 17, Psalm 68:1-6
27th. Thursday – 1 Samuel 23, 24, John 18, Psalm 68:7-13
28th. Friday - 1 Samuel 25, John 19:1-22, Proverbs 13:13-25
29th. Saturday – 1 Samuel 26, 27, John 23-42, Psalm 68:14-19
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 684 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. Using it, you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to email addresses all over earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com/
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 4 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
God’s gifts cannot be bought for any money.
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“And, other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 10:16
____________
SEARCH: “Turning Point, by PJ Mills”
Free Kisses...
A gas station owner in Mississippi was trying to increase his sales, so he put up a sign that read, "Free Kisses with Fill-Up."
Soon a local redneck pulled in, filled his tank and asked for his free kisses. The owner told him to pick a number from 1 to 10. If he guessed correctly he would get his free kisses. The redneck guessed 8, and the proprietor said, "You were close. The number was 7.... sorry, no kisses this time."
A week later, the same redneck, along with a buddy, Bubba, pulled in for another fill-up. Again he asked for his free kisses. The proprietor again asked him to guess the correct number. The redneck guessed 2 this time. The proprietor said, "Sorry, it was 3. You were close, but no free kisses this time."
As they were driving away, the redneck said to his buddy, "I think that game is rigged and he doesn't really give away free kisses." Bubba replied, " No it ain't, Billy Ray. It ain't rigged. My wife won twice last week.
Bob Mills
Last week we considered one of the metaphors used by Jesus of himself. He called himself, the Bread of Life. We began with Moses who questioned how he could identify the authority behind him. In reference to the fact that God is Spirit and has always been; the source of all that we see and handle, he was told to say that “I Am” has sent me. God was, and is, and always will be. This is a concept that the Children of Israel, and all men, will never In this life really be able to completely understand.
Today, we have another “I Am.” This time, he says, “I am the door;” specifically, the door of a sheepfold, bringing into play a third I AM thought. “I am the good shepherd.”
John 10:1-10 (King James Version)
A THIEF AND ROBBER OFTEN IGNORES THE DOOR
Instead, he looks for someplace else, perhaps an open window or a back door that is hidden from the view of watchful neighbors. The normal entrance is often well defined, and very visible, perhaps even well lighted. I always considered the back door of our home to be very weak in that it contained small glass panes only inches from both the lock and the bolt. The only thing that really saved it was that it faced the entrance and overlooking windows of the neighboring house very near by. Their porch light also lighted it very well.
JESUS USED THE ENTRAN CE OF THE SHEEPFOLD TO SAY:
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. (John 10:8)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD USES THE DOOR
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (Jojn 10:11)
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (John 10:4, John 10:16, John 10:27, John 10:9)
The porter, in the parable is the night watchman who has been stationed at the only entrance. He knows all the shepherds who have brought their small flocks there for the night, just as the sheep within know the voice of their trusted shepherd. In the morning the shepherd, standing aside will call his sheep out of the fold, and they with come to him.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:5, John 10:16, John 10:27)
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:4, John 10:16, John 10:27)
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. (John 16:25, John 16:29, 2 Peter 2:22)
Added to this intriduction, Jesus carries the parable one more step.:
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:1, John 10:9)
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (Jeremiah 23:1, Ezekiel 34:2, John 10:1)
THE ONLY DOOR LEADING TO SALVATION
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:1, John 10:9)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 5:40)
NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
23rd. Sunday – 1 Samuel 17, John 14, Psalm 66:11-20
24th. Monday – 1 Samuel 18, 19, John 15, Proverbs 13:1-12
25th. Tuesday – 1 Samuel 20, John 16, Psalm 67
26th. Wednesday -- 1 Samuel 21, 22, John 17, Psalm 68:1-6
27th. Thursday – 1 Samuel 23, 24, John 18, Psalm 68:7-13
28th. Friday - 1 Samuel 25, John 19:1-22, Proverbs 13:13-25
29th. Saturday – 1 Samuel 26, 27, John 23-42, Psalm 68:14-19
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 684 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. Using it, you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to email addresses all over earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com/
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 4 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
God’s gifts cannot be bought for any money.
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“And, other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 10:16
____________
SEARCH: “Turning Point, by PJ Mills”
Free Kisses...
A gas station owner in Mississippi was trying to increase his sales, so he put up a sign that read, "Free Kisses with Fill-Up."
Soon a local redneck pulled in, filled his tank and asked for his free kisses. The owner told him to pick a number from 1 to 10. If he guessed correctly he would get his free kisses. The redneck guessed 8, and the proprietor said, "You were close. The number was 7.... sorry, no kisses this time."
A week later, the same redneck, along with a buddy, Bubba, pulled in for another fill-up. Again he asked for his free kisses. The proprietor again asked him to guess the correct number. The redneck guessed 2 this time. The proprietor said, "Sorry, it was 3. You were close, but no free kisses this time."
As they were driving away, the redneck said to his buddy, "I think that game is rigged and he doesn't really give away free kisses." Bubba replied, " No it ain't, Billy Ray. It ain't rigged. My wife won twice last week.
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