Seed of Freedom
Jesus said, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Every forth of July people in America celebrate a moment in time when the seed of freedom was planted in the fertile ground of what is now known as the United States of America. The seed that was planted on that fateful day in July of 1776 is captured in the visionary document known as the Declaration of Independence which boldly proclaims, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This single sentence holds the power of freedom – the power ordained by God for every human being – equality, life, liberty, and the pursuite of happiness.
This seed of freedom grew into one of the most powerful nations on Earth, but it pales in comparison to the seed of eternal freedom that Jesus continues to sow in every heart that opens to his infinite Grace. Seeds are a potent metaphor that Jesus uses to reveal the most profound spiritual Truth. He uses the smallest seed to describe the infinite nature of God and fields to describe the eternal nature of your own heart. Jesus illuminates, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32) Why do you suppose Jesus used seeds to describe the sublime nature of God? What message does a seed hold for you in this moment?
Jesus said, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21) In the context of what we have been discussing in the past several articles it is not good enough to understand what Jesus is teaching, you must apply it in your everyday life if his words are going to bear any fruit in your life. What I find interesting in reading the many comments posted here is that many of you have lost sight of the simplicity of his message and fall far short of applying the love and compassion that are the heart of what he teaches.
Seeds. Yes, it is through seeds that Jesus explains to your infinite nature – the eternal light of God. What can you learn from a seed? Seeds contain the light of life. They can remain dormant for thousands of years, but one touch from the waters of life and they will grow into a flower, a plant, or a tree. A seed grows slowly in the light of the sun. One drink of water and the light of God springs forth transforming a small seed into the branches of a tree that house the birds of the air. Every moment of every day the seed opens in the warm rays of the sun, while a seed that remains in the dark remains cold as a stone. Seeds. Yes seeds. They contain the eternal essence of life.
Jesus said, “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:5-8). To understand this parable you must understand one very important thing – you are much more than you realize – more than a body, mind, or heart. Beyond anything that this world is aware of – at the core of your being lives the infinite eternal light of God.
In this parable you are both the seed as well as the infinite field of your own heart. The seed is also the word of God. Jesus is the sower of the seed. You are the seed and your heart is the field in which Jesus plants his eternal light. At the core of the seed is the light of life – the eternal Light of God. It is a holy trinity. He sows the seed in your heart, but at the core of your being you are also the seed itself. One drink of the water of life – Jesus – and the spring of light flows outward from you own heart. As Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.”(John 7:37-38)
Jesus explains, “The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.”(Luke 8:5-9)
Jesus came to Earth to sow the seed of eternal freedom – the word of God. It is through his grace that these seeds planted so long ago have flourished in the hearts of those who have had the courage to stopped everything for a moment and opened their heart tho his eternal light. As Jesus illuminates, “And as for the seeds planted in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15) This is the purpose of this blog; To remind you of what Jesus asks of you – to hold the eternal Light of Jesus Christ fast in your honest and good heart, apply his teaching, and be patient so that the seeds of his light can bear fruit in your life. It is by applying his teachings that rivers of living water will flow out of your heart.
A seed trusts in the eternal waters that give it life. There is no rush. A seed slowly transforms as the rays of light shine upon it. Like a seed you will slowly open the more you simply receive the infinite grace and love of Jesus Christ. Without any effort he will open your heart to the living Truth that is alive within you. He is the light of God – the giver of eternal life. Like a seed that springs to life in the eternal rays of the sun, so it is with Jesus. If you have the courage to open to his Grace your heart will transform into a river of eternal life.
You are a seed of light and Jesus is the water of eternal life. Are you going to let the cares and pleasures of life choke the seed of light that Jesus has already planted in your heart? Are you going to allow the things of this world damn the rivers of light that are ready to flow from your own heart? Remember who Jesus is and what he wants of you. You must apply what Jesus teaches in order for your life to bear any fruit.
This is independence day – remember to apply what Jesus taught. It is far more important than anything in this world.
What are you doing to demonstrate the Love of Jesus Christ today?
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running water says:
i believe Jesus would be disapointed in how we handle our freedoms for so many take them for granted especially those freedoms to worship–have you thanked God for yourself your wife your job i mean did u tell him/her if not be glad you have the freedom to do so
July 5th, 2006 at 4:32 am
Nativedade says:
Dear Jill,
I believe that as Jesus planted the seed so we are to do the same as christian and the rest God will do will nourish and make it grow and produce fruits. This life we live not of our own but for him who purchased it with a price.
Thank you
Nativedade
July 5th, 2006 at 4:37 am
prakashrv says:
Dear Jill,
I believe that as Jesus planted the seed so we are to do the same. with reference to “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” once if you sow the God grain in our heart you will find God in all forms. “God is omnipresent in all forms” and Cares you in all aspects. God is Great.
With best wishes.
Thank you
Prakashrv
July 5th, 2006 at 5:09 am
liza mathew says:
I fully agree with Prakasrv.
Praise the Lord
July 5th, 2006 at 5:57 am
Rupert Vaz, Abu Dhabi says:
The Freedom given to us by Lord Almighty indeed needs to be cherished and celebrated every day. Let us PRAY for those who are still under bondage so that they too may experience the Freedom in Truth on the right Way and enjoy Life.
Praise the Lord
Rupert
July 5th, 2006 at 6:28 am
raquel says:
Dear Jill,
I LIKE THE WHOLE SEGMENT AND SPECIALLY THE LAST SENTENCE: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DEMOSTRATE THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TODAY?
I think that TODAY THERE IS AN INESCAPABLE DUTY TO MAKE OURSELVES THE NEIGHBOR OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL, WHITHOUT EXCEPTION, AND TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TO HELP A NEIGHBOR WHOM WE ENCOUTER, WHETHER THAT NEIGHBOR BE AN ELDERLY PERSON, ABANDONED BY EVERYONE, A FOREING WORKER WHO SUFFERS THE INJUSTICE OF BEING DESPISED, A REFUGEE, AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD WRONGLY SUFFERING FOR A SIN OF WHICH THE CHILD IS INNOCENT, OR A STARVING HUMAN BEING WHO AWAKENS OUR CONSCIENCE BY CALLING TO MIND THE WORDS OF CHRIST.
I believe if we do all of these above we really are applying what Jesus teaches in order for our life to bear any fruit.`
G O D B L E S S Y O U.
rs
July 5th, 2006 at 7:50 am
peter maina says:
Dear Jill;
I think Jesus needed to show us how simple truths can grow and envelope the surroundings through persistent faith.
July 5th, 2006 at 8:19 am
tootsie says:
hi jill!
thank you for reminding me about the Words of Life taught to us by our Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Bible. I believe indeed that by reading Jesus’s living words in the bible daily and practice what we read to our life is like watering the seed in our hearts and help it grow in the grace, love and fear of our God.
tootsie
July 5th, 2006 at 8:32 am
Nancy says:
I’m trying to be good seed, pls pray for me, thanks and god bless u all…..
July 5th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Hardy Thomas says:
Hello Jill…
By far the best message of yours i have ever read…
Thankyou
July 5th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
SUJA says:
THIS IS A GREAT TEACHING BY JESUS..A TOUCH OF LIVING WATER GIVES LIFE TO SEED..IF U ABSORVE THE SEED ALSO HAVE LIFE..BUT IT WILL NOT LIVE,ONLY WHEN IT GET CONTACT WITH WATER IT GETS LIFE AND LIVE..SO AS WE LIVE BUT GET LIFE ONLY WHEN WE GET CONTACT WITH GOD..HENCE WITH OUT GOD WE ARE NOTHING..THIS IS THE TRUTH OF LIFE..THANKS FOR REMINDING US ONCE AGAIN.
July 5th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
johnnnmensah says:
God bless you jill. In fact God want everybody to get a good reward.Daniel ch. 12:3b says God bless you jill. Ifact God want everybody to get a good reward .Daniel ch. 12:3b says” those who turn many to Christ will bright like a star” that is why we need to sow a good seed..john
July 5th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Wg Cdr Amar Singh Sandhu (retd) says:
O Friend ! behind all our friends, O Father ! behind our fathers, O Mother ! behind our mothers. Please Be the Polestar of our shipwrecked minds, hearts and souls — We love Thee. There is a Constant Reminder within — “It is to Do or Die, than to Reason Why.” Glory to Thee. Your little sandy / biblioteke / amar jeet singh sandhu / solomon / arjun and Friends. Amen !
July 5th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
wessam33 says:
freedom is what i live at this moment
jesus starts a new life for me from just moments
July 5th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Carol says:
Dear Jill: I like how you commented about a seed lying dormant for 1000’s of years and with water & light it will grow. I needed to hear that so that I could understand to be patient while God is at work in me and to have hope in the great things He is accomplishing in me. Your words about His nurturing water and light made me really feel and understand the powerful beauty & comfort in God’s love. Thank you for taking the time to offer this encouragement and for illuminating my life with the great light of God’s Spirit shining out through you! Carol.
July 5th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Marg Albert says:
It is amazing how strong the Holy Spirit is!I know I needed this beautiful reminder of how one little seed planted in our heart can produce such awesome love. I believe that the seed is God’s Word(the Holy Bible) and when we ask God to help us listen in our hearts to His Word, we have complete freedom. We are saved by our belief in a loving Savior. As an American, I feel so blessed that we have freedom to express ourselves…that also includes freedom to talk about Jesus and to reach out to others with His great guidance of love. Let’s pray for each other so we may reach out to those who need to know His love ! In His Love, Marg
July 5th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
peter says:
As usual another great article Jill.Keep up the good work and may God bless you richly.
Peter
July 5th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
lyana says:
What a pity that the people
do not choose from the outset
the Eternal Light of OUR GOD!
The Christianity is a great
philosophy of life.
The kindness is a rare flower
in the our world.JESUS CHRIST
IS forever with us,but we must
choose the pathway.It is the
pathway of love and understanding or not? Our
Great Saviour and Splendid
Lord and God -JESUS CHRIST-
IS WAITING! GOD LOVES YOU ALL!
July 5th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Mercy Mateura says:
dear jill
thank u soooooooo much for making me a part of this. i really appreciate it so much. i bless you in the name of jesus christ and in him may all your wishes come true. i love jesus very much, he does wonders in my life and through his love and grace i get whatever i ask for, including direction. i believe he has send you to me, so thank you for being my direction. i love you so much, you are my mother in spirit therefor i ask God once more to bless you.
mercy
age 15
July 5th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
star makar says:
Dear Jill, praying that your father is stabilising in his health, may the light of the Lord pour down on your whole family at this worrying time. Christ came down to earth as the man Jesus, to give us example of what God wants from us, to live with love and compassion for each and everyone in the world. It is not an easy path but what a good example the Lord Jesus Christ is for us. I love reading the comments from your other readers, and my heart went out to the 15 year old girl, Mercy, above. The world needs so much of love, forgiveness and compassion and this planet of ours needs so much healing from the destruction and devastation we are causing in the name of democracy! This seems to me one of the false prophets the Lord has warned us about. We must pray very hard for the leaders of our world to turn to God and Christ and put down their weapons their inflated egos and thirst for power. They are talking about the equality and liberty for all but they are the ones who are causing the inequality and bonds that are strangling our freedom and equality. My humble prayers go out to all and Hope for Peace remains in my heart always. God bless you Jill for another soulsearching blog. Starina, 5 July 21.26
July 5th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Stephanie says:
God bless you Jill for your article. My life will change for the better with these words. With God’s help of course I pray.
July 6th, 2006 at 1:13 am
Stephanie says:
Plz pray for me Jill. I have depression and anxiety. Thanx.
July 6th, 2006 at 1:15 am
leonardmanila says:
i am just a small voice in this whole thing and i am not an authority about this at all but in my perception if and only if we follow the example of jesus christ that of loving unconditionaly and selfless love then the chaotic world we live in will be peopled by these lot and then true peace joy and happiness will be experienced no bigotry no racial prejudisim no religious turmoil no division and all
thank you
July 6th, 2006 at 1:35 am
ranjit dominic says:
dear jill,
please pray that the ’seed’ Jesus has placed in my heart germinate and grow with the ‘Water of Life’ poured forth by Jesus for the glory of GOD the FATHER
RANJIT
July 6th, 2006 at 3:38 am
Charity says:
May the Good Lord help us all who hunger for His Truth to be good seeds.
July 6th, 2006 at 8:00 am
John S. Morris says:
Dear Jill,
The Bible uses seed to illustrate God’s words because everything thats is grown generates from a seed. Seeds bring up new ideas. We can grown in the things of God just as seeds can grow up with freshness. May God Almighty blesses us all.
John S. Morris
July 6th, 2006 at 8:47 am
Arpheel John Edgar says:
hi
hello
great message
first of all happy independent day to all my USA freinds i just want to thanks to Jill for such a great work keep up yes God will bless his mercy and glory on all of u see i belive that Church is school JESUS is our teacher and our subject is to serve humanity
all our result will be made on that how well we would perform his teaching
July 6th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
mihaifromRomania says:
Dear Jill,
First of all I want to wish you and to ALL American People
my best wishes with the occas-
sion of 4 July 2006 !GOD bless UNITED STATES of AMERICA and ROMANIA !!!
In the second, I say you dear Jill that my mother and I are praying for the health of your father and we wish your father all the best.
In the third time, “Da Vinci Code” is ABJECT BLASPHEMY at the address of our LORD-JESUS CHRIST !!!
In the fourth time, dear Jill, all the future history will be ACCORDING to THE HOLY BIBLE !
Yours Respectfully,
mihai from Romania
July 6th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
soniya.s says:
PRAISE THE LORD
Hi All!
I have read many a times the same parable..but today i realised and enjoyed the seed of eternal freedom -the word of God..
Let the Light Of God pours the Eternal Life on all of us..
Thanks Jill!
July 6th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
mkp says:
hi jill,
I once again thank you for this beautiful article
thank you…..
with love
mkp
July 7th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Jay says:
Dear Jill,
Good to hear your Dad is getting better. We pray to God that, your schedules become less hectic and more easily manageable, with the blessings of our Lord. Wish a Very Happy 4th July to all friends of the US. Also pray for peace in the rest of the Globe through the sprouting of the Holy Seed. Fifteen-year old Mercy has written the “most delightful and genuine” comment. With so many powerful laws operating in the vast Universe, I feel, that each of us, living organisms, are helpless, slippery, vulnerable and complicated jelly, UNTIL we attain to Holy Communion with our Lord and his Seed of Holy Freedom. Once the Holy Communion is established, we are as strong as the Universe itself ! We no longer feel helpless, but feel empowered to help advance the creations of the Lord.
Ever yours in His Service,
Jay.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
jikson says:
dear jill.
It is one of the best articles i read so far. really god had plnated the seed of life in ue. now it is our responsibility to water it and make it grow as he wants. once again congratulations!!!!!
July 8th, 2006 at 8:27 am
shoshana says:
Dear Jill,
Let us not confuse love and compassion with permissiveness. I love each of my children and grandkids and it is precisely because I do love them that I have set rules and have not allowed them to do as they pleased lest they hurt themselves and others in the process. As you rightly put it “it is not good enough to understand what Jesus is teaching, you must apply it in your everyday life if his words are going to bear any fruit in your life.” “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21).He was just severing his “apron strings “with mom and brothers who came to fetch him from Capernaum back to Nazareth where the rest of the descendants of David clan lived (his extended earthly family) as they heard he could not even eat because of the great crows surrounding him. Now let’s look at the Messiah’s words again: “those who hear the word of God AND DO IT”. The last three words are the key ones. What are God’s words? For the most part the present Christian church has missed it as it has suffered from a heavy- duty Roman white wash. This “I love you thus wink my eye and let you do whatever comes natural” is a lot a baloney and absolutely against God’s word. According to God there are rules in his household, you either choose to do them or don’t. Grace he has shown to humanity from the garden of Eden, the first testament is full of God’s grace for man but it also tells us what His laws are. The Almighty’s laws include HIS Sabbath which he made for man (no he wasn’t tired the 7th day of creation, he just made Adam and Eve the previous day and was showing them what to do on His Sabbath; rest with Him). He finds His Sabbath important enough that he wrote it on stone but oh no, man finds a way to circumvent it with all kinds of ideas and winds up not keeping it after all (some keep the Roman Sabbath but not God’s). Yet man says” I am doing God’s will”,” I hear God’s word and do It”, “I love God with all my heart”. Yeah, sure, man can’t even keep God’s Sabbath and that is not even hard to do but man claims to love God, ha! The seed is the word of God which means we must give it water and let it grow so that it will produce fruit; that is, actions. This goes back to Luke 8:21: Those who hear the word of God AND DO IT. Just DO IT.DO as Yeshua did and keep the father’s words from the first testament that Yeshua quoted from.
The 2ndr great commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If I love myself enough not to kill, steal, or do other things that I know DISPLEASE our heavenly father then I should love my neighbor the same way and expect no less from my neighbor. Pray for him, be kind to him, yes of course, but that does not mean I have to approve actions that God has ALREADY declared wrong regardless of who does them, myself included.
July 9th, 2006 at 2:19 am
Venky says:
Dear Jill,
It’s this seed that proves to be elusive to the human mind. In the times to come, we may or may not have a watchman of the calibre of Winston S Churchill who saved the world from the earlier tribulation. That was because the seed of God was sown in his mind. So even if there are a handful of powerful minds in which the seed of God’s love and fear is sown the world will be a different place. The world will be transformed. It’s just like imagining the entire of the earth’s populating keeping the 10 commandments - The whole of the earth will be like the garden of Eden in it’s uncorrupted form.
July 10th, 2006 at 9:06 am
Angel says:
Dear Shoshana,
According to you or the better still according to the Holy book you are reading, which day is the God’s Sabbat.
What ever gave you the idea that Roman Catholic Church allows each one to do what he or she feels. My firend you are wrong here, mention each tradition that the RC church follows and I will show you that it appears in the bible (God’s word)
You mentioned “If I love myself enough not to kill, steal, or do other things that I know DISPLEASE our heavenly father then I should love my neighbor the same way and expect no less from my neighbor.” God gave HIS life on that Cross to bring salvation to you, me and all in this world HE did not or does no expect the same from us. HE still loves for all our weakness.
Like you have set rules for your children and grandkids lest they hurt themsleves or others, in the same way the RC church has set rules by which every Roman catholic abides by, the RCs are not white washed by doing this, they do not interpretate the word of GOD according to their wims and vancies. They do not choose just few passages and memories them.
So you see my dear sister, please do not point a finger at the RC Church or its people, for the rest 3 fingers are pointing at you and your thumb reminding you that there is somebody above watching.
By doing this you are not only distrubing your self thinking of what reply to give next (Pin Point) but also being an instrument to take way some borthers and sisters away from their faith.
GOD BLESS
July 10th, 2006 at 10:26 am
shoshana says:
Dear Angel,
First of all I did not mentioned any particular church but Christianity in general as it has been influenced in its early development by pagan doctrines such as Gnosticism and Mithraism (you may want to check these two in Googles or Ask Jeeves search engines). These are the pernicious doctrines Paul warned about. Please dear one, understand that Yeshua, his disciples, and thousands of early followers were all Jews. He as well as the apostles were never Christians; they remained Jews all their lives. Yeshua did not come to start a new religion; they were in effect a sect of Judaism.
When I say Rome, I mean Rome the imperial government that took over most of the world at the time. The Romans threw most of the Jews out of Rome (some Hellenized ones remained), renamed Judea Palestinia and burned the temple. They also persecuted Jews, regardless of whether they believed in Yeshua as the promised Messiah or not, and tried to do away with all things they perceived as Jewish. Why? Because Jews kept on revolting and not subjecting themselves to Rome which they rightly perceived it to be a pagan nation.
Around 120 Current Era, some so called “church fathers” made some changes. Then later the Roman emperor Constantine declared himself a Christian (though afterwards he killed his wife and son). In 325 Constantine influenced the Council of Nicea so that the Sabbath was changed from the scriptural Saturday to Sunday (which Rome did not have a day of rest up to this point), and Rome’s yearly sun solstice celebration known as the Saturnalia, was declared Messiah’s birth date. This was a politically savvy move on Constantine’s part as with one stroke he positioned himself to deal a blow to Jews who had for years given Rome a hard time at the same time that he unified his empire under one religion. Pagans were told in effect they could continue with their celebrations (with new meanings and names) and they could continue prostrating themselves to images as these images were given the names of virgins and saints, something the bible forbids, and something that Yahweh punished Israel for doing in the past (invariably the good kings of Israel would destroy all the statues but the people again would do as their pagan neighbors and do the same thing again). This is the reason why Israel was eventually sent into Diaspora.
Yahweh established his Sabbath by example in the 2nd chapter of Genesis when he sat on the seventh day to rest. Please notice he began his work week on Sunday, a normal workday. Surely the Almighty never tires as man does so why did he sit to rest then? Notice the previous day he made Adam and Eve and back then they walked with Yahweh, so, was he in actuality setting an example, which is the best teaching tool parents can use with children? Was he not saying this is what I want you to do, sit and expend time with me? What did he tell Moses to keep as one of the commandments? The Sabbath. What does he mention over and over again through his prophets? The Sabbath. In what day of the week do we see Yeshua and his apostles going to the temple and synagogues? The Sabbath. God never changed His Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday man did, and then eventually renamed it the Lord’s day. Yahweh remains the same today yesterday and forever, and as it says in Isaiah 66, we will still observe Yahweh’s Sabbath in the millennium. The Sabbath has always been and will continue to be Saturday despite man’s best efforts to change it.
Yahweh bless you
July 10th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Abraham Jibowo says:
HI, Jill,
I pray by the authority in the most powerful name under the heavens, Jesus, your Daddy is healed, and you receive peace, Amen.
What is significant about the seed is that it grows into multiples and remains forever. But our role is to care for the seed by watering it, planting on fertile soil, providing additional fertilizer, weeding around it, harvesting , cleaning, and storing before planting again. Whether we regard the seed as the word of God, which it is as our Daddy, Jesus, called it, or regard the seed as ourselves as some writers indicated in their articles, what is important is that the seed is a living organism. It needs care to grow. Thanks to God that he inspires us to nurture the seed. Our father gives us bountiful harvests of blessings when we reap what we sow and nurture. The challenge is for us to inspire our friends, children and others to continue to sow, nurture, harvest and sow the seed again in perpetuity. Then we can confidently say, “I have been a good steward (sower)” I am indeed a son of the father ( John 1:12 )
Abraham Jibowo.
July 10th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
dorairajan silvanus says:
Dear All,
what I have understod from this discsiion is that I should keep my heart as a good soil to sow the SEED so that it can grow and yield fruit. The seed from the fruit can be sown in another heart.
God bless us all
July 11th, 2006 at 9:19 am
dorairajan silvanus says:
Sorry, in the first please read `discission’ as `discussion, .
July 11th, 2006 at 9:23 am
Salvador Fernandes says:
To All My dear Catholic Brothers & Sisters.
The topic on this blog, being centralised to American Independence day did not really interest me. Also the parable of the Sower & the Seeds does not need further explanation, as this is one of the Parables Christ himself explained.
However, Shoashana in all her learned ways (Wisdom) has her point to prove. All I ask you my brothers & sisters is to remain firm to the Apostolic Teachings and the Church no matter what Learned people have to tell you. God’s wisdom is what we are to look at. In her wisdom, Shoashana is probably forgetting that God is not limited in time and space, and for him One day could be a million years and a million years One day - Christ, clearly stated that the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for Sabbath. The first conversion was on the day of Pentecost which was a Sunday, and we clearly understand that this was the begining of the Church. Scripture tells us that in Antioch, the followers were called Christians, so unlike what Shoashana says, it was not only Jews, who followed Christ but Gentiles, and they were called Christians.
3ABN, and some others will try to convince you that the Catholic Church is wrong, forgetting that Christ has promised to remain with his Church to the end of times,
Praise God, and be firm, in whatever you have been taught. Remember God chose you, you did not choose God.
God Bless
July 11th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Shoshana says:
You are right Salvador, no I am not forgetting (nor do I see the connection with this); God is not limited in time and space, and as you said, for him one day could be a million years and a million years one day. He does not live in time and space as we do. You are also right; Messiah stated that the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for Sabbath. That is exactly what God did in the garden of Even; He made Sabbath for man to rest and expend time with the Almighty.
However, there was no conversion at Pentecost, known as Shavuot, one of God’s 7 appointment times or moedims, since God gave Shavuot (Pentecost) and the other feasts to Israel and the foreigners with her long ago. During that particular Shavuot or Pentecost, the Jews followers of Yeshua gathered in an upper room of the Temple in prayer when the breath of the Almighty came appearing as flames as He did during the first Pentecost with Israel and the foreigners with her. Shavuot of course is one of the 3 pilgrimage feasts of the Almighty when devout Jews are told to visit Jerusalem which explains the crowds from all over with Jews from the Diaspora who spoke the various languages from the places they lived. There was not a conversion at that time since all the ones present ALREADY believed that Yeshua was their promised Messiah. They did not become Christians or any particular church group, Catholic included. The word church ecclesia, in Greek, was also meant for a political body. The word they also translate as church in many bibles is the word for assembly or congregation, which is why some churches correctly refer to themselves as assembly or congregation to this day. This word (congregation) is also the word kehilat in Hebrew, and there was a kehilat formed at the foot of the mount when Yahweh spoke to Moses and the people there heard him.
No, I never said it was only Jews that believed but the EARLY believers in Yeshua as the promised Messiah were all Jews. Even to this day Messiah himself is a Jew, not a Christian of any denomination whatsoever. When Yeshua returns he will not do so as a Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Muslim, Buddhist or whatever else is there but as a Jew which is how he left. Yahweh chose Israel and the line of David to bring the Messiah to the world, which was His choice. You can take that up with him if you want (although I strongly don’t recommend it). Israel was and remains the apple of the Almighty’s eye, that may not be written in any man- made book of any church DOGMA but it is written in the only book the Almighty has given man, the bible. Do not let the blinders and traditions of man rob you from what the Almighty has in store for you.
Shalom
July 12th, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Salvador Fernandes says:
Dear Shoshana
In your own words
“There was not a conversion at that time since all the ones present ALREADY believed that Yeshua was their promised Messiah.”
And Scripture says:
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
If this is not CONVERSION, what is?
Shoshana my dear, Angel in her message has clearly stated what I and some others have, that you have a Point of view, which you are happy with, my dear sister, do not use this to draw people away from the Church. For if you suceed in taking away even one of the little ones that Christ has chosen for himself, you will have to pay a price. Instead endeavour to bring atleast one person to Christ.
And like Angel says, we can give you a lot of scriptural facts, to show you that the Catholic Church is based on Apostolic tradition and teaching, and that it is the Church that Christ established.
God Bless you
July 12th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Shoshana says:
Dear Salvador,
Read carefully Acts 2:1-14, 1 The festival of Shavu’ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. 5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim religious Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Jews by birth and proselytes; Jews from Crete and from Arabia. . . ! How is it that we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done?” 12 Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?” 13 But others made fun of them and said, “They’ve just had too much wine!” 14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!
Clearly the ones gathered in that place (the Temple) were the emissaries, the Jewish believers. If you read Chapter 1 these were Yeshua’s emissaries, not unbelieving Jews and proselytes to Judaism. When the other Jews and the proselytes who had not accepted Yeshua heard and saw what happened there and heard the testimony of the believers who had received the Holy Spirit then they also believed and joined the believers. There is nothing in those verses that speak of the church having been born at that time. That is a man-made tradition not found in the bible, at least not in the original scriptures. The ones that were there were Jews and proselytes (converts) to Judaism from all over the world, not Christians. They were not being converted to Christianity any more than Yeshua and his apostles were converted from Judaism into Christianity. They remained as Jews who finally had their long awaited Messiah. There were no Christians at that time, and despite the church tradition to the contrary, the church was not born then. These were Jews who kept Torah and as it says in verse 42, they continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries. The emissaries taught using the Torah, the prophets, and the testimony of what they learned from Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah. In Acts 2:44-46, they sold their things and shared all things in common meeting in the Temple daily. Dear Salvador, I know I can’t convict you but I pray to Yahweh for fresh revelation and conviction for you and all those called out by the father. Please do not allow the dogma of any church, group or organization put blinders over your eyes and color your views. When it comes to the word of the Almighty one of Israel we must be sincere setting aside all prejudices and previous notions.
I have no intentions of drawing people away from the church; the church is the body of Messiah, his bride. The church, kehilat or congregation is made of saved Jews and the saved gentiles that have grafted themselves to the tree of life by the blood of Messiah. It was that way since back when Israel and the foreigners with her said I do to the Almighty. Where Messiah goes his bride will go, thus if he kept the Father’s Sabbaths and feasts such as Pentecost, then so will the faithful bride of Messiah. There is no way that I am trying to take away the saved ones, on the contrary, I am trying to bring them into THE WAY and away from man-made dogmas and ideas, a lot of them based in ignorance and old prejudices. Many that think are following Yeshua and pleasing him are really deceived. I realize you are very faithful to the Catholic church and I respect that, but equally there are Muslims that are very faithful to their faith and likewise claim it is from God. If the Catholic church was following the Jewish apostles traditions as you claim then there would not be a single statue in any Catholic church, nor would the Catholic church forsake God’s Sabbaths and feasts for man’s. That dear, is not what the apostles or Yeshua himself taught us to do by either words or deeds.
July 13th, 2006 at 12:50 am
Salvador Fernandes says:
Dear Shoshana,
Like usual we can go on and on, and I am writing to you, inspite of a feeling that someone out there will one day tell us to ‘SHUT UP’
Now as per my faith, I do not compare it to someone elses faith. Nor do I say that I am saved, (I hope I am, and that I am in grace on my dying bed) and that others are not.
I only stick to the teachings from where I got my faith, and if it means wearing blinders, I will gladly do that, because Human wisdom, is foolishness in front of God.
Of the many things that you believe in, you have now spoken about statues in the Church. If you know your scripture well, you will realise that God did not, say do not make statures per se, he said do not worship statutes. You will find the temple, and the ark was full of images, and most importantly when the serpents were killing the people, God it was that commanded Moses to make an image of a serpent, and all who LOOKED unto it, when bitten were saved? Was the bronze serpent an image of God, or were the people worshipping the idol (although later on, One of the kings had to destroy the snake image, because people had started worshipping it).
So you see my dear sister, I sincerely believe In the promise of Christ, where he told the apostles, that when he goes, the Spirit would come and guide, and Christ definitely keeps his promise. Like his other promise of being with us till the end of times.
God bless
July 13th, 2006 at 5:34 am
Shoshana says:
Dear Salvador,
It is true that Yahweh said to make some molten images like the snake which as soon as the people worshipped off it went. He also asked to have the cherubims made for the arc, etc. but these where the only ones and he was specific on their use and in one place only, not to worship them or have them everywhere. Yahweh never said to make images after humans (virgins and saints). These are like the gods and goddesses images that Yahweh detests.
Consider this please, in the Catholic Church, and especially among the Latin American population, there is a great number of people who do prostate themselves, pray and worship images (or the saints and virgins they represent). I have seen them both in person and TV doing this. They light candles to their image (saint, virgin) and so forth. You must admit to have seen this done as well. This as stated in some of the scriptures is even an abomination to the Almighty. Perhaps you personally do not participate in these activities as may be the case with American Catholics in general but this is obviously not the case with all Catholics.
.
Le 26:30 I will destroy your high places, and cut down your sun-images, and cast your dead bodies on the bodies of your idols; and my soul shall abhor you.
Nu 33:52 - then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured [stones], and destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places:
De 7:5 - thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their engraved images with fire.
De 7:25 - The engraved images of their gods shall you burn with fire: you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it to you, lest you be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.
De 12:3 - and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods; and you shall destroy their name out of that place.
2Ki 17:16 -They forsook all the mitzvot of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the host of the sky, and served Ba`al.
2Ki 17:41 - So these nations feared the LORD, and served their engraved images; their children likewise, and their children’s children, as did their fathers, so do they to this day.
2Ch 14:5 - Also he took away out of all the cities of Yehudah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
2Ch 34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Yehudah and Yerushalayim from the high places, and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images.
2Ch 34:7 He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the engraved images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all Eretz-Yisra’el, and returned to Yerushalayim
Ps 78:58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
Isa 17:8 They shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.
Isa 21:9 and, behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. He answered, Fallen, fallen is Bavel; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.
Isa 27:9 Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Ya`akov be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in sunder, [so that] the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.
Isa 30:22 You shall defile the overlaying of your engraved images of silver, and the plating of your molten images of gold: you shall cast them away as an unclean thing; you shall tell it, Get you hence.
Isa 41:29 Behold, all of them, their works are vanity [and] nothing; their molten images are wind and confusion.
Isa 42:8 I am the LORD, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to engraved images.
Jer 8:19 - Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land that is very far off: isn’t the LORD in Tziyon? Isn’t her King in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their engraved images, and with foreign vanities?
Jer 51:47 Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will execute judgment on the engraved images of Bavel; and her whole land shall be confounded; and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
Eze 6:4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your sun-images shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
Eze 16:17 You did also take your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and mad for you images of men, and did play the prostitute with them;
Am 5:26 Yes, you have borne the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
Mic 5:13 I will cut off your engraved images and your pillars out of your midst; And you shall no more worship the work of your hands.
Yah bless you
July 13th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
Shoshana says:
Asherah
Asherah, and its plural form, Asherim, from the Hebrew word pronounced ash-ay-raw, refers to a pagan goddess, also known as Astarte to the Canaanites and Ishtar to the Assyrians and Babylonians (where we get the name Easter). The common symbols of the cult were tree trunks with all of their branches removed and images carved into them. These standing tree trunks were the reason that some versions of the Holy Bible translate the actual original word of the Holy Scriptures, Asherah or Asherim, as grove or groves e.g. for 2 Chronicles 15:16, from the RSV and KJV:
“Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.” (Revised Standard Version)
“And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.” (King James Version)
The Asherah Cult
As the Scriptures above make clear, the Israelites, from ordinary people to royalty, were greatly CORRUPTED by the cult of Asherah. The Lord commanded them not violate The Second Commandment, but they stubbornly and foolishly often did it anyway (just as millions of people still do today), despite the efforts of righteous people and God’s true prophets to rid the people, who claimed to be God’s people.
(from http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20030422.htm)
July 13th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Salvador Fernandes says:
Dear Shoashana,
With your various views and comments it is obvious that you are living under Law, (OT), whereas, we Christians are living in Grace, for the law has been fulfilled by Christ (man being incapable God had to send his only Son, to become a pleasing sacrifice). We Catholics, understand that the teachings have come to us from the Apostles, (you have to read the early Church fathers, and not the early Reformers to understand the Catholic faith).
I sincerely hope and pray, that all your rantings against the Catholic Church does not sway a true Christian to fossake Christ and his Church, and become prey to your teachings.
GOd Bless
July 14th, 2006 at 7:53 am
Shoshana says:
Dear Salvador,
Nothing could be farther from the truth. If I am living under the curse of the law then so was Yeshua and so were the apostles, who kept it to a greater degree than I do. I am simply following him; as he said if you love me keep my commandments. By his grace we are saved, but the Christian church in general has been mislead into thinking grace is something that came after Yeshua. No dear one, grace has been given to man since the Garden of Eden, my ancestors lived under grace and by grace they were taken from Egypt and in spite of themselves brought into the Promised Land. There has always been grace.
Yeshua having kept the law does not dismiss the law. He fulfilled the promises of the law but as he declared, not an iota (yud) will depart from it till the new heaven and earth comes. Man is very capable of following Yahweh’s commandments; His Sabbath, His feasts, His food regulation; we can all do it just as the apostles and early Jewish and gentile believers did. They did it and so can we! The church under the influence of the Roman government changed all that, but Yahweh never changed it. The church will have to go through a period of cleansing and learning before it can fully join the bride of Messiah, this too will happen to those who sincerely meant it when they said “I do” to Messiah Yeshua.
I realize the Catholic church teaches that they are the early ones that form and unbroken chain from the apostles, but did you know that there is a group of Baptists, and an Apostolic Nazarene church making the same claims? How could there be so many? The fact is all are wrong as none really do as Yeshua did. They follow the teachings of man, not of God. They follow man-made doctrines and creeds, and often trample God’s commands saying ”they are done away with”. They choose man’s way over Yah’s way. Oh wait, but that is just what many of my ancestors often did. Only by His grace we are all still here!!!
The time will come when things will get very ugly here on earth and those who remain faithful till the end will see the truth. I do not have any teachings of my own, none; all I have pointed to is in the bible to be verified by those who leave their doctrines behind and study the book with an open mind and heart. As I stated earlier, far be it for me to draw someone away from my beloved Jewish Messiah Yeshua, he is the way, the truth, and the life. However, most of today’s church is no more his true church than most of the present day rabbinical Judaism. At the present time, one has a picture of a lawless Messiah and bride, and the other has no true Messiah at all. Praise Yah that this too will change in due time as the truth is revealed. I do pray that the Ruach will open some spiritual ears so that by Yah’s grace I may, perhaps plant a seed or two.
Yah bless you in Yeshua’s name.
July 14th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
venu says:
dear jill,
thanx for the wonderful articles you are mailing, i am able to grow in the Lord more day by day.The parable about the seed is very good,the Lord says whoever has ears het him hear in Luke that means God is speaking clearly to ecah and everyone one of us to believe in his words.Jesus already said that blessed r those who believes without seeing.
love n prayer
venu
July 19th, 2006 at 6:30 am
shoshana says:
This parable of the seed also fits in with Acts 15, as the seed grows in good soil so does the word of Yah.
Acts 15
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
This chapter clearly starts out discussing a salvation issue in a specific community, Antioch. There was a group of Judeans essentially saying you first had to become a Jew in order to be saved. This may have been because they taught that since salvation was of the Jews, and gentiles were considered dogs, and since even Yeshua himself basically healed only a couple of gentiles that pressed on him this was the case as well. One can see where this thinking would come about, especially seeing how Yeshua and the apostles and other believers kept Torah. Regardless of their motivation this whole chapter deals with the issue of first having to be converted to Judaism in order to be saved by the blood of the lamb.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses.”
Here we see a sect of Pharisees who had accepted Yeshua’s sacrifice and in proper Pharisaical way insisted that they must be circumcised and follow Torah. OK, so no surprises there. This was their background and training; Torah study and oral traditions as well. The good thing was, these men being Pharisees are saved, they saw Yeshua as the promised Messiah, praise Yah! They correctly see that one is to follow the commands, as Yeshua did and told us to do. The only problem is that in this case they wanted the gentiles to run before they could even stand up (much less walk). They may have not considered that new gentile believers needed to be weaned from milk to meat. Maybe they had come in contact with gentiles that already where very familiar with Torah so it was not much of a step for them but this was obviously not the case with these gentile believers as they had to be admonished to keep four very simple rules. Rules that apparently they were infringing upon which indicates the level of paganism these gentiles were living prior to accepting the sacrifice of Yeshua. Notice the response given to the believing Pharisees, which echoes Yeshua’s own mention of a yoke: 10 “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?” The statement is made, reiterating the point of this chapter, salvation for gentiles is the same as salvation for us (Jews), by faith in Yeshua’s sacrifice: 11 “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Then they go on to ascertain: 20 “Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.” Clearly there was a problem among this particular community of gentile believers with these issues. There were obviously no God fearers to begin with, for God fearers would in all likelihood not need these admonitions. Had they been God fearers they would have probably gladly follow Torah as the next step in understanding of scriptures and as a natural desire to follow the Master’s steps. After all, that is what discipleship is all about, to follow the steps of the rabbi under which one is discipled.
Yeshua gave the apostles the task of making disciples of all nations. Why would they disobey the words of Yeshua and shorten themselves by just telling a specific group of new gentile believers that all they have to do is the four things delineated in verse 20? Really that makes no sense at all. The answer is reflected in the following verse: 21 “For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” How did the God fearers became so? They heard Moses being preached! The apostles knew this, all these NEW BABIES in Messiah had to do to get on the right track was abstain from the very pagan practices they were accustomed to and then as they would go to the synagogues and temple the Ruach would convict them of the rest just at it happened with the other God fearers.
If these believers were to fellowship with the rest of the body of Messiah they would have to go to synagogue and the Temple on Shabbat for at this point Sunday meetings was not an option, the Jewish apostles and believers to whom these new gentiles were joined met on the Sabbath, kept the feasts and kept Torah so it was a matter of time before they too would do likewise. However, they felt it was imperative that they at least forsake their idolatry, fornicating, etc. They reached a compromise of sorts to get them on board, but this in no way meant it was the end of the line.
July 19th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Biayna says:
Dear Jill
First of all, I am so happy for you and your father, thanks god,and thanks for letting me be part of this.
While I was reading your wonderfull article, I heard our neighbour’s wailing.I heard them crying and asking god to help them, but they lost their loved one and I heard all that…
I agree with all u say, but sometimes it seems to me that
it is because I am a happy girl with a wonderfull family and without any serious problem, but what if I was instead of my neighbours? what if I was in trouble? would I be able to keep my faith and belief as strong asit is right now? please pray for me and for our neighbours and thank u so much again.
GOD bless u all
July 22nd, 2006 at 9:39 pm
PhaM Van Thuan says:
Why, you give me words of Jesus?, although, I feel boring. I think, if the Word’S I can do everything which I happy. thank’s alot, but inwhile I boring. I think I want to join this Websit to accept happy!!!!!!. Do you want what my boring?
September 11th, 2006 at 5:58 am
MATHEW says:
HI DEAR JILL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VALUABLE MESSAGE. HOW ARE YOU? HOW IS YOUR DAD? IS HIS CONDITION IMPROVING OR REMAINING THE SAME? CAN HE DO HIS BASIC NEEDS INDEPENDENTLY. WE PRAY FOR HIS IMPROVEMENT. BYE, MATHEW & FAMILY
September 13th, 2006 at 4:11 pm