JESUS SPOKE IN PARABLES

Jesus Christ spoke in parables as prophesied. "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples (Mark 4:34 )."

MATTHEW 13:34 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

The wonder of wonders! While people use illustrations and other expressions to make the listeners understand, Jesus spoke in parables in order to make His message incomprehensible. He did it so that "those on the outside" will be thrown out from the range of comprehension.

MARK 4:11 -12 "...unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."

This alone is already beyond the grasp of many people. They may quote Bible verses to refute the sad fact. "Is not God, love?"

1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Why does He disqualify many people if that is so? Is not His wish, "that no man should perish?"

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Yes, this is written but it should not be made into a human doctrine. To take the lighter side of human understanding of the verses, this will run counter to what our Lord Himself said:

Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Does not God speak in parables? Let Him explain His words. Human doctrines, though supported by Bible verses, contradict other truths. In this case, man's understanding would challenge the omniscience of God.

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

Can man accept the omniscience of God that He knows those who will believe Him even before the creation of the world?

REVELATION 13:8 "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

REVELATION 17:8 "...and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast..."

Man might be led into thinking that there is predestination. No! God gave man, His greatest creation, a free will to decide. But God is a discerner of thoughts.

Hebrews 4:13 "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

On this basis does God exercise His prerogative of choice.

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…"

God’s prerogative of choice is not based on caprice but on His foreknowledge of what man would decide on. Man, therefore, plots his own destiny. It is on this knowledge that God says, "those on the outside, these things shall be hidden from them." How many can accept this bitter truth? It is only by genuine belief and total surrender to God's wisdom, might and mercy that one can truly accept this truth! Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6).

THE HOLY BIBLE AND THE WORD OF GOD

Since God is a Spirit He gave His words, through the Holy Bible, to represent Him (John 1:1). His presence therefore is manifested through His words. "God never change (Malachi 3:6)." Just as God never change, so are His words be viewed in that perspective.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."

If people are tempted to read the Holy Bible chapter by chapter, or verse by verse, and taking the context of the story thereof to get the message, God has this to say:

Isaiah 28:10 "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"

The Holy Bible therefore consisting of 66 books is taken as a whole composing the words of God. In truth, God’s "presence" is manifested through His words for "God is the Word" (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13 ).

God speaks in parables: Ezekiel 20:49 "Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?" Who can explain the words of God? His prophets? The apostles? What is the role of God and His prophets and apostles in the simple illustration of the MICROPHONE and the SPEAKER SYSTEM? Who speaks over the microphone? From where is the sound heard from? It is from this view that God should be perceived in relation to His chosen servants.

CHRIST’S INSTRUCTION FOR DIRECTION

Once the disciples asked our Lord for the signs of His coming and the end of the world.

Matthew 24:3 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. …9 Then… ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake…. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many"

Is Christ’s coming not stated in parable? Take notice of His promised in "Matthew 28:20 "… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Was Christ with His disciples before His death? After His death and resurrection? After His resurrection but before His ascension to heaven? At Pentecost? After Pentecost? Today? Till the end of the world? In a parable, Jesus Christ gave the direction for His people to follow:

MATTHEW 24:16 "...let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."

To escape annihilation in the hands of the enemy, man understands this to simply leave Judea , a place in southern Palestine , and flee to the mountains. Or he may try to allegorize the words by saying, "man must leave his place of residence and find a suitable abode for his safety."

If that is all to the word of God, then how could it be a "living bread?" If this is simply taken literally, waiting for our Lord’s physical coming, where is His promise in the following?

Matthew 28:20 "… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

If our Lord is yet to come, where is His promise of "being always, even unto the end of the world" with His disciples. Does not our Lord always fulfill His promise? Who can explain the parable without the divine revelation through the Word of God? True to what Jesus did to His disciples however, He explains everything.

Mark 4:34 "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

LITERAL JUDEA

Judea is a place named after Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel , a favored clan in the eyes of God:

PSALM 78:67-68 "Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: but chose the tribe of JUDAH ..."

JUDGES 1:2 "And the Lord said, JUDAH shall go up : behold, I have delivered the land into his hand."

Jesus Christ is of the tribe of Judah :

HEBREW 7:14 "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah ; of which tribe Moses spake..."

REVELATION 5:4-5 "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah … hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

Judah, or JUDEA , therefore, indicates closeness to God. Example, the Jews whose title was derived from Judah were God's favored people. That is why He entrusted His words to them, the Holy Scriptures. But this needs to be underscored.

"FLEE FROM JUDEA"

"Fleeing Judea " was physically demonstrated early in the life of our Lord, as model showing the way. "When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king," of all people, it was a "Judean" who wanted to kill the Messiah! Was not Herod a Jew or "Judean (Matthew 2:13 )?" Later, as Jesus grew up, He was again hated and rejected by the "Judeans" who were supposed to be God's people (John 11:7-8).

John 11:7 "Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?"

Who killed Jesus? Were they not "Judeans?" All of this is history. But the Word of God stretches far beyond history; neither is it just a simple story. The word of God has great spiritual message that serves as spiritual food. It is the "living bread."

SPIRITUAL JUDEA

God entrusted His words to the Jews. Spiritual Judea is supposed to be a spring of righteousness. However, it turned out to be a seed of hatred to real Godliness. Judaism, using the word of God as basis, degenerated into a prototype for human standard of Godliness!

"God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16 KJV) in the person of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6), was to show the way (John 14:6), for no man is worthy to serve as model (Romans 3:10 -12, 23). In the eyes of the people, He was a religious rebel. When He expounded on genuine Godliness, through real spirituality instead of religiosity, He was condemned as a heretic.

He preached the very law that was in the hands of the religious leaders at that time. But in the eyes of the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, and the Elders of Israel, and the Jews in general, He was nullifying the law. He insisted, however, that "He did not come to destroy the law, but to give fulfillment to them (Matthew 5:17 )." He was misunderstood, and was called "A Samaritan and having a devil (John 8:48 )." He was mocked and convicted as a mad man.

John 10:20 "And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?"

He was perceived as an enemy of God. That is why He was condemned and crucified. This is spiritual Judea , supposed to represent spiritual Godliness, but it degenerated into soulish religious righteousness. This is spiritual Judea , supposed to promote the heavenly, the spiritual; but in place espoused the earthly, the temporal literal-physical. This is spiritual Judea , supposed to preach pure Bible doctrines, but instead taught human doctrines in the words of God.

Everything about the Word must come to pass. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's words will never pass away." If Jesus Christ left the spiritual Judea to show the way, where or what is spiritual Judea today to escape from? To whom was the Word of God, the Holy Bible, entrusted for teaching and preaching? Is it not to Christianity? What is modern Christianity? Is it not made up sects and denominations, each trying to outdo the rest in claiming the truth? Is this the kind shown by Jesus Christ and continued by the apostles?

Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

Do people representing Christianity Today truly accept the powerful Word of God?

Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Can the religious sects withstand the piercing power of the Word, screening the truth from falsehood, and thus, separating God's doctrines from human doctrines? Both human doctrines and God's doctrine are supported by Bible verses. Satan started it all in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve using the very word of God. The Devil tried to repeat the feat on Jesus Christ in the desert. Satan quoted verses from the book of Psalms regarding Jesus' foot not to hit a stone. Our Lord rebuked Satan for his wrong "doctrine." This would have made our Lord a liar, for a literal stone had indeed physically struck His feet. If Satan had listened to our Lord, He would have expounded on the true doctrine of "a stone not striking the foot of Jesus." Stone refers to man.

1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood…"

During the physical life of our Lord, as prophesied, a "stone" never hit him in His spiritual walk. Never was our Lord distressed or affected by any man! Can many people distinguish the difference between GOD'S DOCTRINE and HUMAN DOCTRINE? Human doctrines contradict fundamental spiritual truths. Pure Bible doctrines put together the entire Bible into a perfectly harmonious Word of God.

Now it is getting clearer why Jesus told His disciples, " flee Judea !" Jesus showed the way Himself in fleeing from Judea , not only in His physical escape from Herod, but in His spiritual flight from the established religious teachings of the Jews.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13 ). He is the Truth (John 14:6). As Jesus was mocked and hated, so is the truth in the word of God discredited and hated by spiritual Judea . Jesus was crucified; so is the word of Truth condemned as strange and heretical.

Constantine the Great had a hand in shaping Christianity Today. Modern Christianity is an adulteration of true and pure Christianity in the first century. Two thousand years ago, a voice from heaven echoed a similar warning:

REVELATION 18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of HER, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins..."

Revelation 17:5 "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

The "woman" referred to here is a CHURCH considered the mother of spiritual harlotry. But this Church is not alone in "spiritual adultery." She has many daughters of the same trait: that is why God called her, "the mother of harlots." God directed His people to come out from "her." Spiritual adultery is the acceptance of "strange seeds" apart from the "seeds" of the spiritual Husband that is God. The "seeds" of God are His words (Luke 8:11 ).

Isaiah 54:5 "For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name…"

"Abominations of the earth" is everything contrary to the truth. It is truth vs. falsehood and deceptions.

Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

A warning for God's people was given. All the warnings have one message: "FLEE JUDEA, and go to the mountains."

2 Corinthians 6:17 " Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

THE SPIRITUAL MOUNTAIN

As stated earlier, when Jesus said, "Let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains," man is thinking of a literal escape to the physical mountains. But this is a part of the word of God, and the Word of God constitutes "things of the Spirit." How could human wisdom explain this parable? What is the spiritual message?

God explained spiritual Judea . Now, what is the spiritual mountain? God first spoke of a "mountain" when His people were still in Egypt under slavery. The sign, which indicated to Moses "that he was really sent by God," was:

Exodus 3:12 "And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt , ye shall serve God upon this mountain."

God called Moses after Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt, saying:

Exodus 12:31 "… Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel ; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said."

God also referred to a "mountain" to indicate close relationship with His people:

ISAIAH 25:6-8 "And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things...and he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces..."

Literally, people reading the Bible see the meeting of God and His people in a physical mountain:

EZEKIEL 20:40-41 "For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savor, when I bring you out from the people..."

Very clearly, God referred to JERUSALEM and His HOLY MOUNTAIN as the seat of unity with His people:

ZECHARIAH 8:3 "Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion , and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem , and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, The holy mountain."

The word of God is now leading us to the spiritual meaning of MOUNTAIN as indicating some relationship with God in prayer and worship.

MAN'S CONCEPT OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER

Man's concept of prayer and worship is supplication for material, physical, and spiritual things, praise, and thanksgiving to God. People of the world are one in this respect. They are one in praying with their lips to establish a relationship with God. Many pray with their eyes by looking at some objects of worship. All pray with their heart to feel what they say. They pray with their mind to think and ponder on what they see and say. They pray with their ears, moved by what they hear from fellow worshippers or from sound associated with worship. This, in a nutshell, is man's notion of prayer and worship - to establish a relationship with God.

We also find God's people in the Old Testament following that concept. In other words, man's way of prayer and worship is physical, sensual (of the senses), mental, and emotional. It is a form of worship with the body and with the soul. This was demonstrated in:

PSALM 5:1-2 "Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray."

PSALM 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."

There are many more verses demonstrating sensual (of the senses), mental, and emotional worship and prayer. This is what is written.

Man's perception of worship and prayer is literal-physical, sensual, intellectual, and emotional. All these were clear to the understanding of the Israelites and to Christianity Today, who practiced them before and at the present time. In the future, they are also looking to the Millenium period to follow the pattern:

ISAIAH 27:13 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come...and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem."

One reason why "God was manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16 KJV) was, aside from fulfilling His testament and demonstrating the spiritual way, is to explain His word to His people. Thus, we have seen how Jesus expounded on the real meaning of spiritual Sabbath (Hebrew 4, Matthew 11:28 -31), and clean and unclean food (Matthew 15:10 -11, Acts 10:9-35) among others.

Jesus Christ explained real worship to the Samaritan woman whom He met by the well of Jacob:

JOHN 4:7-26 "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink...Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this MOUNTAIN; and ye say, that in JERUSALEM IS THE PLACE WHERE MEN OUGHT TO WORSHIP. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this MOUNTAIN, NOR YET AT JERUSALEM, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH."

The following points arise from the verses cited:

1. Jesus, a Jew, was not supposed to talk to Samaritans because they were considered Gentiles. The Samaritans were the descendants of some tribes of Israel in their intermarriage with the neighboring countries. They were, thus, considered "unclean" (Ezra 4:1-5). But Jesus nullified this belief when He showed the spiritual way.

Colossians 3:11 "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."

2. Jesus revealed the meaning of real worship to the Samaritan woman and not to the Jews because He was rejected by them. The Samaritan woman symbolized the Gentiles. This is a good illustration of "Flee from Judea ."

3. Jesus demonstrated His spiritual language (John 6:63) when He told the woman, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

But look how the natural man sees spiritual things: "The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?" The woman was thinking of physical water. Jesus was referring to spiritual water.

4. Man must be looking at the Samaritan woman as a notorious adulteress when she was exposed as having five husbands.

The woman was thinking only of physical things. Can we see ourselves like the woman who could only understand literal-physical things? While we may be "clean physically," can we deny that we are as guilty as the Samaritan woman of the sin of adultery? Do we still remember spiritual adultery? Still remember the acceptance of "seeds" other than the "seeds of our husband?" Are we not the Church, representing the spiritual woman, married to our spiritual husband that is God (Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14 )? Are we not accepting strange "seeds" other than the "seeds of God (Luke 8:11 )?" Are we not accepting words other than the Word of God? Are we not following human doctrines instead of pure God's doctrines? Then we are as spiritually guilty as the adulterous Samaritan woman!

5. How can we understand spiritual things? Can we perceive things of God with our mind and feeling and with the senses? "Spiritual things" can only be spiritually discerned!

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Did the Samaritan woman understand what Jesus said about true worship before she had access to the "living water?"

6. What is the "living water" that Jesus was talking about? What is this "well of water springing up unto everlasting life?"

JOHN 7:37-39 "...Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified."

The "living water" refers to the HOLY SPIRIT. The Father promised Himself as the inheritance in NUMBERS 18:20, PSALM 16:5, and EZEKIEL 44:28: "And it shall be unto them for an inheritance; I AM THEIR INHERITANCE." The one promising to be the inheritance was the Father God, the Testator (Genesis 17:7). Jesus Christ with His death on the cross fulfilled the Testament. This is what He was referring to in JOHN 7:37-39. The disciples received the Holy Spirit after Jesus died. These facts point to the identity of the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The "living water," therefore, very clearly points to God Himself as the "water springing up into life everlasting" (John 4:14 ). "And the Word was God" (John 1:1). In effect, the "inheritance" is the Word of God Who is Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:13 ). The Word with the revelation of the Holy Spirit is the Truth. Jesus told the woman:

John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

The conditions for worship are: (1) it must be "spiritual" and (2) it must be based on "truth."

"SPRING OF LIVING WATER"

Our Lord spoke of "a spring of living water." A similar reference was made in the Old Testament:

ISAIAH 58:11 "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy SOUL in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a SPRING OF WATER, whose waters fail not."

The word of God is symbolized by water (Ephesians 5:26 ) coming from a "spring" that can never be depleted. In another instance, our Lord referred to it as the "river of the water of life:"

REVELATION 22:1 "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

If this were taken literally, the word of God contained in the Holy Bible is limited to the number of pages that make up the sacred book. But God revealed that the SPIRITUAL MESSAGE, the literal word plus the Holy Spirit's revelation, has no end. The Word that gives life, the Spirit in the Word (2 Corinthians 3:6), truly is an inexhaustible "spring of water." It is John the apostle who received this great revelation earlier, when he wrote:

JOHN 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

To take this literally is simply like the "doctrine" of Satan: "the foot of Jesus not being hit by a stone." The Devil wants to picture God as a great liar! How deceptive indeed is the Old Serpent! We are blessed to be given a glimpse of this great "spiritual thing." Indeed, the SPIRITUAL WORD knows no end for it represents God Himself!

SPIRITUAL WORSHIP

What is spiritual worship? Is it the same as sensual worship which involves the senses? Is it mental or emotional such that it is only felt in the heart? What is worship according to the truth? What is the truth about prayer and worship? Here is one truth about prayer:

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

Can man follow this truth with his concept of prayer and worship? Can man pray unceasingly with his senses? With his intellect? With his feeling?

Look how the Word leads us to the meaning of spiritual worship! Prayer and worship is "direct" communication to God. Prayer without ceasing, therefore, is the continuous relationship with God. This is the truth. Therefore, spiritual worship leads us to the following truth:

GALATIANS 5:16 "This I say, walk in the Spirit..."

GALATIANS 5:25 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

To "walk in the Spirit" is to "live" according to the Word of God. To "live according to the Word, is to live by the Truth, as our Lord the "chief corner stone" and the apostles the "foundation" lived. Living by the Word sustains a continuous relationship with God, for "the Word is God (John 1:1)." Is this not "praying without ceasing?" That is how the truth in spiritual worship is fulfilled! This is what our Lord told the woman:

John 4:19 "The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem , worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship… 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."

Can anybody do this? Can anybody worship God in Spirit and in truth? Again the two classes of people, in the eyes of God, are segregated.

THE NATURAL MAN

1 CORINTHIANS 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

THE SPIRITUAL MAN

1 CORINTHIANS 2:16 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

1 CORINTHIANS 2:13 "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

Who can " worship God in Spirit and in truth?" Who can " pray without ceasing?" As Jesus Christ told the Samaritan woman, she must thirst for the "living water." "The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Physical expression of relationship with God should only be the consequence, and not the antecedent, of real spiritual worship. Perhaps many people think that by not looking at statues and images, they have already satisfied the requirement for "spiritual" worship. How many people can see the distinction between "intellectual/emotional" from "spiritual" worship?

Is the natural man expected to understand this? Can he distinguish the difference between sensual-mental-emotional from real spiritual worship? Jesus Christ put it this way:

Matthew 6:5-7 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

1. "Be not ye therefore like unto THEM." Our Lord was referring to the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:2-l28). They were the religious leaders who were noted for their articulate prayers and conspicuous worship. Their form of worship was patterned after man’s concept of prayer.

2. "Nor pray as the heathen do." The heathen were known for their repetitious prayers. Many people think that repetitious prayers refer only to the repetition of memorized invocation. Spontaneous prayers may also be repetitious.

Jesus Christ de-emphasized physical expression of worship. At this point, He was already advocating "spiritual worship." As the "letter of the law" is set aside in favor of the "spirit of the law," so is sensual-mental-emotional articulation of affiliation with God relegated to the background in favor of the spiritual expression of relationship. Spiritual worship is where prayer is said "in secret and where the door is shut."

2 Corinthians 3:6 "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

Man's notion of prayer is supplication for physical and material needs, or a petition to be bailed out of some corporeal troubles. Can man accept the following truth?

MATTHEW 6:8 "Be not ye therefore like unto THEM: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him."

1. What is Jesus Christ advocating here? To ask the Father for the "things needed?" He said, "Your Father knoweth before ye ask him." He was clearly trying to downplay supplication for material-physical needs. Do many people see this as an introduction to "spiritual worship" which is actually the continuous spiritual relationship with God more than anything else?

2. Where is the popular concept of prayer where God is virtually regarded as a genie who can be commanded to do many things for the physical benefit of the worshipper?

Who can truly "worship God in spirit and in truth?" Many? Or only the few chosen who have truly received the Holy Spirit and deserve to be called real CHRISTIANS?

THE APOSTLES' PRAYER

Jesus Christ taught His apostles the following prayer:

Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

1. "Our Father" - Who can call God "our Father?" Everybody? Or only the "few chosen" members of His "household? (Ephesians 2:19)"

John 12:36 "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them."

The "children of light" recognize their "Father" (Hebrew 8:11 , Romans 8:15 ) that He may not declare "Get out of My sight for I never knew (Matthew 7:22 -23)!"

2. "Hallowed be thy name" - Who can lift up the name of the Father? What is the name of the Father. Who is the Father and Who is God (1 Corinthians 8:6a)? What is the name of God (Isaiah 52:6, 45:23, Philippians 2:10 -11)? For a detailed discussion, read the article GOD VS. MAN'S EXPLANATION OF THE LORDS PRAYER

http://www.purechristianity.org/god_vs_man.htm

3. "Which art in heaven, thy kingdom come." - Where is heaven? Can it be seen with the eyes? Who are blessed "to be in God's kingdom?" Heaven is spiritually and not sensually (of the senses) discerned. The following are the shadows of the reality of heaven:

Luke 17:20 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom ofGod is within you ."

Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

4. "Thy will be done." - What is the will of God? Where and how can we find the will of God? Do we not find the will of God in the word of truth? Who can accept the will of God? Who can bow down to the truth? The will of God is "to keep our Lord Jesus Christ's words." Only a few, according to Him!

John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

5. "Give us this day our daily bread." - Is this physical bread (Jeremiah 15:16 , Matthew 4:4)? If so, then it will run counter to:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:"

God values the fruits of labor. Jesus Christ worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3) to provide for his material needs. Paul followed the example of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1). He worked as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) and telling the believers that he worked with his hands earning his living (Acts 20:33 -34). Paul did not ask God for physical miracles for the provision of his material needs.

Satan in tempting the Lord in the desert thought of physical bread. But the "word of God is spirit." Christ answered him, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." "Daily bread," therefore, refers to spiritual nourishment that makes the REAL CHRISTIAN grow in stature as the "eldest Son of God."

Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"

Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

6. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." This can never be literal-physical. Otherwise, we have to forgive all our financial debtors. What is our debt to God?

Who are our debtors? What is their debt to us? Our debts to God are our sins. Sins are the transgressions of the law (1 John 3:4). We are forgiven for our debts and made "clean," but not in the natural man's concept of forgiveness. Many think that forgiveness is obtained by feeling sorry for the sins committed, to the point of crying and performing self-sacrifice. Real forgiveness and spiritual cleansing is stated by Jesus Christ in:

John 15:3 "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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."

The love of God, which is the forgiveness of our sins, should be mutual by loving His word. Love for His word cannot be achieved through self-discipline or mind conditioning. It is consummated by the power of God bestowed on the chosen through the Holy Spirit's teaching, guidance, and assistance. In this sense, forgiveness of sins is still through the kindness and mercy of God.

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

In like manner, we forgive the sins of our "debtors" with the same kind of forgiveness we obtained from God. That is, it is the word of God, the cleansing "water," in the real believer that forgives the "debtor" of his sins against the "creditor:"

John 20:23 "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

7. "And lead us not into temptation." - Look how God appears if the word is taken literally! It is the Devil that leads people to temptation, not God!

8. "But deliver us from evil." - It is the power of the Word that delivers us from evil:

Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"

9. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." - How easy to say of God that all power and glory belong to Him forever. However, does not man unwittingly grab the power that belongs to God? One simple case which man is not even aware of, is his acting as the Teacher (1 John 2:27 ). Does not man also appropriate the power of appointing Christ's apostles? (Read the articles: THE SHEPHERD, ORIGIN OF THE PASTORAL SYSTEM, APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION DOCTRINE.)

How easy to recite the "Lord's Prayer" or the "Apostles' Prayer" as it is popularly known. But is that the kind of spiritual worship God requires His people to do? Who can pray the Apostles' Prayer "in spirit and in truth?"

THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL WORSHIP

One aspect of prayer is supplication. What need to be asked from God: material-physical things? But Jesus said, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:8)." Man uses the word of God for his material and physical benefit. But Jesus said, " The flesh profiteth nothing, the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit (John 6:63)."

What is to be entreated of God? Simple! Foremost, it is the humility to accept everything as Jesus showed by way of example (John 5:30 , 6:38 ). For it is on this basis that He gave this promise:

MATTHEW 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

It is the innocence of the human spirit, the soul of man, the simplicity of thought and the trustfulness of the heart, that transforms man into a real spiritual little child in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believeth every word…"

Matthew 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

The essence of worship is praise. Exaltation is the foundation of praise. God cannot truly be exalted unless the worshipper looks down on himself. This is what Jesus showed in praising the Father. How many can imitate Him?

The sincerest basis of praise is thanksgiving. What other blessings surpass the great spiritual miracles in the life of a real Christian but the clear recognition of God! Can anything be better than the clear understanding the Word of God -- the "food" that sustains the real Christian to eternal life? Can the worshipper think of anything greater than the guidance and strength coming from God making him a victor over his spiritual enemies? Can not the real Christian prostrate himself before God in gratitude for the physical-material blessings which are given "in addition" after having sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)? No wonder we find the chosen in this state of relationship with God:

Revelation 7:12 "Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."

Revelation 15:3 "…Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy…"

"THOSE IN JUDEA, FLEE TO THE MOUNTAIN"

In response to God's command, the real Christian will simply say:

"YES, LORD, RIGHT NOW I WILL BE LEAVING JUDEA AS YOU DID; AND AT THIS MOMENT, I AM FLEEING TO THE MOUNTAIN. AMEN."

THE FINAL SIGN

His apostles asked our Lord about the sign He would give "for His coming and the end of the world (Matthew 24:3)." He said, among other things, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14)."

We are witnessing today how "the gospel of the kingdom" is being preached in many nations. It is a gospel of variances and controversies among the religious sects that compose Christianity Today. Attempts, through the efforts of men, have been made to have a common doctrine for all religious sects under the gospel of "love." However, each denomination claims the truth. While there is some physical success, it is a total spiritual failure! We are all witnesses to this religious episode. The truth has been revealed! Which of the gospels spread by the "1001" religious sects is the true gospel? Through the wonder of modern age communication, everything according to the plan of God, the prophecy for the final sign can be discerned.

Through the Word of God spoken in parables, Jesus explains the answer to the query:

MATTHEW 10:20-23 "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel , till the Son of Man be come."

1. Is this event in the life of our Lord and His apostles just a simple story that happened literally during that time? If so, where is the promise, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away?" Is not the word of God alive through the message it gives at any given time? God is perceived to be alive through the "life" in His Word. After all, is not God the Word (John 1:1)?

2 . "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death." Did this happen during the time of Christ and the apostles? No account has ever been recorded as to whether this happened physically. Spiritually, it did happen. After all, "the word is spirit (John 6:63)." Our Lord spoke of division in the family because of Him (Luke 12:51 -53). Will this not happen today after the truth is revealed to any member of the family? Do not members of the family cause the spiritual death of the other members because of spiritual blindness and ignorance?

3. "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." Is it with the literal name JESUS CHRIST that the apostles were hated? Or is it with the SPIRITUAL NAME? Today, are people hated because of the literal name? Are not all religious sects using the literal name (Matthew 24:4)? So, it cannot be with the literal name that Christ's disciples will be hated. It is with the SPIRITUAL NAME (Revelation 19:13 )! The Word, the TRUTH, is the spiritual name of our Lord! It is with the TRUTH that real Christians will be hated by all men, as Jesus and His disciples were hated by the Jews. This is happening today. In fact, the moment people hear the truth, and cannot accept it, they will find ways to put it down, discredit it, and "kill" it!

4. "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another." This can happen literally. But more than the literal, the Disciples did it spiritually by sharing the word to individual persons.

Matthew 10:12 "And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

5 . "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel , till the Son of man be come." Did Jesus refer only to "His coming after He left them?" When did Jesus leave His apostles? If this were taken literally, it did not even happen physically. Our Lord left them when He was crucified, and then returned after His resurrection. In that short period of time, consisting only of a few days, the apostles did not preach the gospel. They were hiding from the Roman soldiers and the Jews who killed Jesus. Do people understand the great message expressed by this line?

If the final sign for Christ's coming and the end of the world is the spread of the "gospel of the kingdom" to all nations, then He could not have referred to the spread of the gospel preached by His apostles. The real gospel will not be heard "in all cities of Israel ." The real gospel will not be heard in all nations of the world. It is the "gospel of the kingdom" being preached by the different religious sects that compose Christianity Today that our Lord was referring to as the last sign! Who can accept this very bitter truth? How many will accept it: many or only a few?

Matthew 20:16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

How can we show our love for the Lord? He said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words" (John 14:23 ). The greetings of Paul to the Christians of Corinth may be appropriate to end this great revelation of God of His words:

1 Corinthians 16:22 "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha."

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