#530 – God’s Absolutes And The Parables
The Eternal Facts VS Doctrines
Our Opinions VS Truth
Christian Philosophy VS The Kingdom Of God.
October 13, 2012
It has been assumed that the Parables are just cute stories to make certain inane points but are not relevant enough to establish doctrine. In the last study we pointed out the two philosophies concerning “authority, dominion and the character differential” between the way the Gentiles rule and what is acceptable in the Kingdom of God. “IT SHALL NOT BE THIS WAY AMONG YOU” establishes a Kingdom Absolute. This is non-negotiable, exact and permeant and is established as something ETERNAL. Irregardless of any “scriptural / Christian doctrine” we might be inclined to develop, this Kingdom fact “trumps any doctrine” that is contrary to this Eternal Reality that Jesus was presenting.
Doctrinal opinions, which varies from group to group and denomination to denomination, have become the doctrinal “absolutes” that define that particular ministry but are totally irrelevant if they are contrary to the Kingdom Absolutes that Jesus established.
Separating the traditions of men, strange doctrines, cultural systems and religious standards from the reality of the Kingdom Absolutes has become my passion. This focus, which we have upon the Kingdom Absolutes, has caused much controversy and problems for us over the years. For example; Lying, cheating, immorality, stealing and cover ups have been quietly accepted in the church because “we are all sinners, saved by grace, so God understands.” “Judge not or you will be judged.” “You who are without sin, cast the first stone” and several other excuses are given to justify strange and even immoral things in the ministry and in the church. Many of the things that God has condemned are now accepted as normal.
Why has this happened in groups that “Believe every word in the Bible is literally true?” Many, who have developed a “doctrine of truth” from the Bible verses, simply do not realize that “the Word of Truth” (by which they were born again or lack being born again) is not in agreement with the “doctrines of truth” that they have established as their “absolutes.” In other words; God has made available to us a “security system” that is built in which is called the “conscience” and the “inner anointing.” It is from the New Inner Man that conviction, guidance and Truth originates. The Divine Source is the Living and Abiding Word of God and the Holy Spirit revealing the Word of Truth.
This “Inner Anointing that leads into ALL TRUTH” must become the stabilizing factor in checking ALL our doctrines. It is this “inner anointing,” that is integral to the New Covenant and the Kingdom. This has been added to the Christian Experience to purify, universalize and stabilize our doctrines. When the “inner anointing” is fully functional in everybody, [the believers] there should NOT be this wide and conflicting differences in our doctrines. This “inner anointing” will direct each of us into the Kingdom Dimension of Life and Truth.
1John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
1John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
When we no longer trust (or some even deny) this “inner anointing” then we must create “doctrines” to establish “local standards” so we all believe and speak the same thing. For that reason there has developed a massive bunch of doctrines that are irrelevant in the Kingdom and many that are contrary to the Kingdom Absolutes that Jesus established. For example; “When you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, you are eternally saved and no one can snatch you out of His hand. Say these words and you have entered into an eternally secure salvation. Then nothing you do will affect your salvation because you are saved by faith and NOT by what you do.” This has become a “standard doctrine” in many fundamental groups. Another strange doctrine that is accepted by a wide group of assemblies is this; Baptism does NOTHING for you because it is just the outward sign of an inward change or a kind of public testimony. Of course this “doctrine” flies in the face of a lot of other scriptures but since the “Kingdom Absolutes” are ignored they are accepted as “present truth.”
Many other examples could be given like the lack of balance in the doctrines of grace. One or two scriptures are taken as the standard to establish an all encompassing “doctrine of grace.” However, this results in a “super grace” that is accepted as factual but outside the demands of the Kingdom. It is then that this perceived “doctrine of grace” takes on a life of its own. Example; “Grace covers all your sins, defects and short comings.” How can this doctrine be accepted dogmatically since everyone uses the same Bible that does not support this concept?
Heb 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.
The doctrines, excuses and Bible verses are given to establish a conflicting doctrine about “eternal security!” This is extremely ignorant and ignores the severity of God’s Eternal requirements. Their doctrines are conceived to refute revealed truth. Why is this so common? Simply because the Kingdom dimension of salvation has been ignored. This is NOT limited to evangelical, fundamental or liberal groups but even to Pentecostal and Charismatic groups that are supposed to “have the spirit.” But, can we refute this “doctrine of super grace?”
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Here we see that the grace of God has “appeared” to totally redeem us from every lawless deed and to purify a people “for His own possession.” “For His own possession” is a requirement to qualify as a Kingdom of Priests. “To redeem us from every lawless deed” is a Kingdom requirement to be accepted in His body. Those who continue “ working in lawlessness” are rejected from His Presence. Here we see that “grace” is given to rectify everything that is not compatible with God, His Kingdom or His purpose. The “Grace of God” is given to instruct us how we should live so we can confidently look for His appearing!
None of this is complicated or beyond our understanding. Then why is this wide difference in doctrine accepted and practiced? Not all Christians accept or trust the inner anointing that confirms or condemns our doctrines and human concepts and refutes our “opinions.” Many have NOT been careful to keep a good, clear and working conscience.
This absence of the SAFETY PROVISION of living within these New Covenant requirements and experiences has been the root cause of many splits and divisions in various groups. This has resulted in the creation of hundreds of denominations with conflicting doctrines. It is foolish to talk about unity across denominational lines because it is impossible to reconcile these doctrinal differences by human logic or by finding proof scriptures.
2Cor 1:12 For our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
2Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
1Tim 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Turning aside to fruitless discussion and the inflexibility of opinions has resulted in inflexible doctrines! One of the main reasons for divisions, controversies and diversity of doctrine has been the failure of leaders to maintain a good and clear conscience before God and before men. The “CONSCIENCE” IS another “safety measure” that is supposed to come alive in Baptism. This is essential in maintaining the Christian Way of Life in harmony with the demands (absolutes) of the Kingdom of God! Therefore, this New Covenant expectation of keeping a good conscience is NOT optional. Maintaining these three Christian attributes of (1) love from a pure heart and (2) a good conscience and (3) a sincere faith is essential to life within the “Kingdom Absolutes.”
However, straying from these three will end up in controversy, division and strange doctrines. This is true within EVERY group whether it is Pentecostal, Charismatic, Fundamental, Conservative or Liberal. Each of these “groups” have created their own doctrines and standards that many times conflict with or just Ignore the Kingdom Requirements.
We could sum up this portion of the study by saying that there are MANY reasons for all these various doctrines, divisions, controversies, traditions and religious diversity but the scriptures remove most of the mystery concerning the reasons why this happens. Many of us just did not recognize, experience, accept or receive the New Covenant provision that enables us to “press into the High Calling!” Consequently we have neglected or rejected the Kingdom demands because they are beyond our natural ability to keep.
Another reason the Kingdom Absolutes were ignored is because of this spurious doctrine of “super grace.” The “leaders” failed to maintain a good conscience and rejected or didn’t trust the inner anointing and went astray in their doctrines. When the leaders left the safety of the New Covenant provisions and the Kingdom Government as an inner Life, we no longer had a moral or spiritual compass to guide our life and ministry and our doctrines suffered.
For these “ministers” to then fully trust the doctrine of super grace and eternal security without balancing it against the Kingdom absolutes was and still is really ignorant! Will their “super grace” cover their spurious doctrines and their stupidity? I doubt it! It is much safer to use all the scriptures to set our doctrines within the standards of the Kingdom.
From this shallow introduction it should be apparent that these New Covenant / Kingdom provisions are essential for us to understand the Spiritual Dimensions of the scriptures. It is a given that “education and intellect” helps us understand the words and phrases and to set up concepts/ opinions, or to acknowledge the Kingdom principles. However, when revelation is lacking, strange things are accepted as “truth.” Our need for revelation is certainly true of understanding the Parables and absolutely true of adjusting our Life to “embody” God’s Kingdom Absolutes.
There is this incredible difference between those who are “in the Kingdom” and those who are “on the outside.” Those “on the outside” just hear inane stories that seem to have little personal significance! The common comment is ths; If He wants to tell us something why doesn’t He just say it and make it clear to us instead of these confusing “stories?” If this is Kingdom seed, how can this “Kingdom seed” produce anything in us if we don’t understand it? These parables make no sense to me at all. Therefore, why should I bother with them or waste my time reading them. When you preach on the Kingdom, we can’t understand anything you say!
Mark 4:11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 in order that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE; AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND LEST THEY RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” 13 And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables?
It seems clear that not everyone can or will understand because we all are bound by this terrible and fallen condition called “being outside the Kingdom of God.” But what if these people that are “under this curse of ignorance” would begin by “Seeking FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness?” Getting people to abide “on the INSIDE of the Kingdom” is essential for them to understand ANYTHING about the Kingdom or they will always be limited to just hearing inane stories that don’t make much sense nor do the “stories” change anything. If we cannot understand the simple parables, how will we understand the more advanced parables? Therefore, the very FIRST PRIORITY of EVERY ministry is getting the people on “the inside of the Kingdom.” Otherwise we are just wasting our time in irrelevant activity and ministering to people that will NEVER understand anything about the Kingdom. Neither will they conform to its standards simply because it is too complicated.
Mat 13:18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Jesus was sharing this parable about the Sower who went out to sow seed. If we don’t understand that the SEED is the WORD OF THE KINGDOM we might interpret this as “The Evangelist went out to preach the good news.” Or we might understand this parable to mean
“The pastor stood in the pulpit and sowed a message.” Some evangelical groups assume the “seed,” which is set as the goal of our group, is to win souls with the gospel of fleeing the threat of hell and accepting the joys of heaven.
EVERYONE uses this same scripture to support their doctrine and outreach but ignore the very heart of the parable which centers upon HEARING the WORD OF THE KINGDOM! Then, if they don’t “hear the word of the Kingdom,” even though the “message” was good preaching, what they did hear will produce very little! Therefore, the whole effort and “ministry” becomes worthless. Why? NO DIVINE SEED, capable of germination, WAS SOWN and NO ETERNAL HARVEST can be realized! Some just can’t understand when I say I preached for 30 years but produced very little! This is why I say that! Preaching irrelevant or “wrong seed messages” results in an irrelevant “ministry.”
Lev 19:19 ‘You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.
One of the concepts we see in type from the Old Testament is that our “ministry” should NOT be presenting a mixture. That means we should not sow our field with two kinds of seed. If we are going to SOW KINGDOM SEED we should not mix that with Christian Philosophy, doctrines that are outside the Kingdom process, opinions, tradition or with irrelevant messages. Why? We are limited to the Kingdom seed and these “other seeds” are a mixture that we are NOT authorized to sow in our field. “Our MINISTRY Field” is ONLY designed to produce an acceptable crop from the ONE Kingdom Seed. The “visible church” is certainly a mixture.
It is commonly thought that to ONLY preach the Word of the Kingdom would be too narrow and so restrictive that we could not produce a well trained church. Why, because the believers need a much more diverse teaching. This might include emphasis upon the Sunday School, Husband and Wife relationship, Children, Evangelism, G 12, Tithing, Finance, Non-Violence etc. Why is this such a common precept? Simply because we don’t know enough about the Kingdom to even preach one full message on the subject, let alone EVERY message.
But didn’t Jesus preach about MANY things except the Kingdom? No! Everything He preached contained the Kingdom Life and Truth. How do we know that? Because, He said “I must preach the Kingdom of God in all the other cities also!”
Luke 4:43 But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”
Paul also preached the Kingdom of God. Act 20:25 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see my face no more. 26 “Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
Here Paul links the whole purpose of God to preaching the Kingdom. When we finally
recognize that THE “GOSPEL” we are commissioned to preach IS the Gospel of the Kingdom and NOT a bunch of irrelevant messages, we might see the believers get an Eternal Vision. What do you mean “irrelevant Messages?” This is what we hear in numerous places; Everything I preach is from the word of God so how could that be irrelevant? What I am saying is this; Whatever we preach from the scriptures must fit into and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
But what about husband and wife relationship? Is this not relevant? It could be if the counsel was fitting marriage into the framework of the Kingdom of God. Then what about tithing? Separating 10 % from our income can be done within the Kingdom Government or just because that is a doctrine of our group. It can be a divine principle within His Government or just a mechanical way of giving 10 % to support a ministry. The amount of money may be the same but the results are totally different! The Christian Way is the Kingdom Way and too much of what we do has NOTHING to do with the Kingdom way but is just the traditions of men that are based upon the doctrines of our group. Then is giving 10 % wrong? We are not speaking about right or wrong or good and evil. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was placed right in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It was within the Government of God and placed there by God! Still, God prohibited man from eating from that source. This is still a Kingdom Principle today.
We give but NOT because it is good to give and evil not to give but because we live within the Kingdom Government of God and live by HIS divine principles. This then is NOT a mechanical or mathematical issue but one of the heart as Jesus pointed out about the woman that gave one cent. It also applies to the woman that poured the costly perfumed oil on Jesus. Did that have ANYTHING to do with good or evil or 10 %? No! However, one of the disciples (Judas) thought so.
Mark 14:8 “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 9 “And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.”
Creating another gospel about pouring costly oil and anointing for burial and making
several messages on this subject and this woman’s background misses the whole issue. Comparing this to Tithing is foolish! Why? It leaves out the Kingdom Dimension of what really took place so it just become another irrelevant message! “An irrelevant message” means it wasted EVERYONE’S time who actually came to hear something eternal.
In a “standard” meeting; NO KINGDOM SEED IS SOWN BECAUSE NO WORD OF THE KINGDOM IS PREACHED! The response is generally; But we used the Bible and selected a verse! We might question; Or did you MIS-USE the Bible by ignoring its real PURPOSE AND TRUTH?
When we leave the Kingdom Dimension out of our life or our ministry there is a good possibility that we fail in producing anything that is Eternally Relevant! I am sure this places a terrible burden upon the irrelevant ministers that are wasting their life in a pulpit and our time listening by preaching “messages.” Why? They have no idea how to adjust and become relevant ministers of the New Covenant! What does that mean? NOT OF THE LETTER BUT OF THE SPIRIT!
Surely, no believer is so desperate that they need to hear one more mechanical message of facts and information from the Bible that is without Life or Spirit and without any Kingdom Direction. From what I am hearing, people are bored with that “method of having church.” Multitudes are leaving these dry as bone assemblies and if they can’t find anything better they are staying home.
We heard about the Pentecostal Movement, the Charismatic Movement, the Prophetic Movement, the Apostolic Movement and now we are hearing about the newest movement. The “Stay at Home Movement!”
We could start “THE IRRELEVANT CHURCH MOVEMENT” and just preach all the empty promises of impartation and “HYPE” about the power or about how God is moving all over the world! But, of course, NOT HERE! Then those who came could NOT be disappointed because they didn’t come expecting to receive any thing that is relevant anyway! This popular “movement” already has some successful groups that produce a lot of leaves but NO KINGDOM fruit. It might be very popular to begin a “Network of Irrelevant Churches” to get our message out which is; GRACE trumps EVERYTHING and God loves us just like we are!
We have a new group starting in our town now! It is called “THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH.” Maybe that will soon become a “new movement.” (Or Maybe just another “WIND MOVEMENT.”). At the present I feel like the group Isaiah was speaking about.
Isa 26:18 We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, We gave birth, as it were, only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth Nor were inhabitants of the world born.
Some say this refers to “Only Gas” (wind) but the scriptures do not support that. We are waiting for the “KINGDOM MOVEMENT” that actually MOVES the Church into an Eternal Dimension where the inner Government of God actually has Dominion within our lives!
The question I am setting before us today and in the coming weeks is this; Is it at all possible to go on to perfection or maturity without the Kingdom Government actively and decisively working in our lives? Can we grow up in ALL things into Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God, without the Kingdom of God adjusting and rectifying every thing in our lives to conform to its ultimate standards?
Of course, I don’t think it is possible so I will be sharing from that viewpoint. As always, I am open to and hoping for some balancing opinion or proof that has determined that the Kingdom is good but NOT necessary for our growth and maturity.
If we conclude that Jesus did NOT present the Kingdom as another option but as an Absolute, then where does that place the existing church system? We will attempt to prove that He presented the Kingdom as the only solution to solving the problems of the first Adam and the ONLY workable order for the Christian Life! We will speculate that this is essential to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose for mankind. If we are successful, we can ONLY conclude that the next restoration will require this transformation of the “CHURCH” into the Life Dimension of the Kingdom. (Lampstand)
If the New Covenant Priesthood is after the Order of Melchizedek, which is a King / Priest function, then is this “MINISTRY” possible outside the Kingdom Government of God? If God’s Purpose is to sum this age up with a Kingdom of Priests functioning within a Government suitable to the fulness of time, when will the visible Church make this transition?
We can no longer conclude that this could NEVER happen with the current system of “having church” but we could be wrong! Why? Because, God may shake all these man made “systems” into dust so that ONLY the Kingdom and its Absolutes will remain. Will this happen BEFORE the Tribulation or during the Tribulation? I believe it will happen before because I expect the Man Child company (bride) to be caught up to the Throne of God before the Great Tribulation is fully upon us. Then the visible church (woman) will go into the wilderness where she will have a place prepared for 42 months, for a time of temporary safety.
The Five Fold Ministries are commissioned to prepare the saints to be a part of the Man-Child company, equipping them to go on to full maturity (perfection).
Eph 4:10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.
When we separate these “ministries” from this responsibility toward the saints and these scriptures from the Kingdom of God, we lose sight of God’s Purpose for the ministries AND for the church. This is NOT about preparing the “woman” to flee into the wilderness to that place prepared by God but to prepare the saints to be caught up to the Throne of God.