Parables Of The Kingdom – The Third - The Mustard Seed - Part 4 Of 4 Series

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE THIRD - THE MUSTARD SEED - PART 4 of 4

We continue from last time and begin with practical matters to help prevent the evil of the mustard seed for gaining control. These will help in being overcomers.

COMING DOWN TO PRACTICAL ISSUES

The mustard seed started growing from the time of sowing which was in the Apostolic period, and slowly kept developing, but it was with Constantine that growth took steroids and grew into a monstrosity from then, and over the coming centuries, it took into its branches more and more foul birds of the air. The church became an utter disgrace with only a few who could be termed overcomers. Many of those foul doctrines and practices remained and are with us today.

Christians, especially young ones, must be nurtured and given the correct manna so that the young and the older members of Christ’s body are able to combat these birds of the air; that is, combat error. I have a few pointers that could assist.

[1]. KNOW YOUR BIBLE. A person who does not eat will starve. How many starving Christians are there on starvation rations because they deny themselves the true manna of the scriptures? We must know our bibles and not to do so is disgraceful. Ministers will be accountable for how they handle the word of God and the instruction in their churches. Going to church for a small ration on a Sunday, then for the rest of the week, the intake is nothing, is failure. You physically don’t eat that way, so don’t do it spiritually.

[2]. READ GOOD BIBLE COMMENTARIES. Don’t be waiting around to be spoon-fed like a helpless baby. The imperative is this – {{Romans 15:4 “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES we might have hope.”}} It is our responsibility to know the scriptures.

In my early Christian life starting as a teenager I was led to good commentaries by a godly man – I am speaking of the 1960s when books of that calibre were around. Today I am disappointed with a lot of the superficial stuff that is found in bookshops. Try to get older commentaries by reputable men.

When I was putting together material for my large series on Revelation that would extend for several years, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found on the site operated by The Singapore Bible College. They have a lot of resources. I could commend them. Of course you have SermonCentral obviously, but pick and choose there.

[3]. ATTEND REPUTABLE BIBLE STUDIES. This is a difficult one to say. I know the difficulty in finding one. Ask around trusted Christian friends. I hope you belong to a good bible believing and teaching church. We all come from different nations so there is nothing really I can recommend for your area.

[4]. KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED OF EVENTS. For any who might follow my writing and messages you know I have as one of my interests, current affairs. I like to keep abreast of what is happening, especially in the Midddle East and write on this sometimes. I also follow good sites on YouTube that keep you up to date. Again I mention Justin Peters and also TBN for what happens with Israel. I recommend Charles Stanley but not his son. Current events shed light on bible prophecy. I would issue a caution about some sites on YouTube. Be wise.

[5]. TRAIN YOUR OWN CHILDREN. In my nation (Australia) the whole of the education curricula is now a socialist and WOKE exercise. It is disgraceful. Decency has gone and all these social abnormalities are being pushed in the classroom and by governments. It most certainly is anti-Christian and anti-Israel. It is run by humanism. I can not speak for your own particular nation. This is the reason why some Christian parents send their kids to “Christian schools”, even the Catholic ones in the hope a more moral and biblical standard is maintained.

However parents must supervise their children and examine what the school agenda is. Keep an eye on things. Guide your kids.

[6]. STUDY DOCTRINE AND HISTORY. What??? Some people think this just too boring, but let me tell you, what goes around comes around. There is nothing new under the sun. You really need to study doctrine, but from only top sources. You want men of standing. When you study doctrine ALONG WITH YOUR BIBLE you will understand the foundations of your faith, and error will not creep up on you to overcome you. Be will informed.

I can’t quite recall the words but they go something like this – “Doctrine is the skeleton on which your faith is built up to become a whole man.” Without the correct biblical doctrinal stance you collapse in a heap. That is one of the problems with many of these mega churches – plenty of hype but little foundation. Skeletons with VERY impoverished bones that keep collapsing.