The Sword of the LORD

The Oxford Dictionary defines a parable as “ a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.”  Jesus made extensive use of parables in explaining the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven in down-to-earth terms to those who were unfamiliar with them.  He used analogies of familiar activities that the farmers, shepherds, vinedressers and fishermen that heard Him could easily understand and relate to.  Late in Jesus’ ministry, before He was betrayed, He told His disciples that the time was coming when He would no longer speak to them in parables, but would plainly reveal the Father and His ways to them (see John 16:25).  He was referring to the time after His resurrection when the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon His disciples on the day of Pentecost.  Of that day Jesus said, “…when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth .” (John 16:13).   Chapter 13 of St. Matthew holds a wealth of parables.   The first...

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God ." (Romans 12:1, 2).   St. Paul issues a solemn exhortation to the church in Rome in this twelfth chapter of his letter to the Romans.   He warns them not to conform themselves to this world, but, instead, to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.   The Greek word that Bible scholars translated "conformed" in this passage means to conform oneself – one’s mind and character – to someone else’s pattern.   I have always thought that these verses warn us not to copy the evil practices of the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are clearly "of the world" and we must avoid them.   Th...

The story of Noah and his ark reveals some important principles about God's Kingdom and its relationship to the world.     We cannot overstate the corrupting influence that the world has on mankind, or the insidious way in which it infiltrates every area of our lives.   The world often comes to us innocently, dressed in its finest clothes, full of lofty promises and with its best intentions; and we are often duped by such a masquerade.   We should not be surprised, "...for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14).     In Noah’s day, the whole world had become so corrupted that God determined to destroy everything.   Man's condition was so vile that God was grieved, and He regretted making man.   "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually .   And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the eart...

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).   " Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18).   “And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, LET MY PEOPLE GO, THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME IN THE WILDERNESS. ” (Exodus 7:16).    In His Word, God has provided us with types and shadows: historical accounts that also reveal deeper spiritual truths concerning the Kingdom of God.  These accounts illustrate and reinforce the basic principles of the Kingdom of God and point us toward our King and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Wh...

The message of the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, is one that is central to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   The Kingdom of Heaven is a place we hope to inhabit after we die, but we are often unclear about just what it is and how it has any relevance to us in this present world.   Without a proper understanding of the heavenly Kingdom, we fall short of living a truly Spirit-filled life, and we become entangled in a temporal system which God has condemned and intends to ultimately destroy.     When John the Baptist began his preaching in the wilderness of Judea, his message was simple and direct.   He said, “Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. ” (Matthew 3:2).   His purpose was to announce the imminent appearance of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the ushering in of a new dispensation of grace.   He was also announcing a shift from the importance of an earthly, visible kingdom (the Jewish nation) to an invisible...