It's been pretty busy here for this time of the year...I have so many tiny things to take care of that keep popping up. If it's not for the business, then it's for the family....You know how it goes. You have weeks that go by that all's quiet then you'll go through a deluge. I need an umbrella!
When Jesus said of his disciples: “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding” (Mark 4:11-12 NIV) -- that word translated secret, is the same word translated mystery, and makes reference to an esoteric knowledge that is beyond man's organic comprehension. Yet, in a state of spiritual denial, the the modern Church attempts to ignore the implications of what these words convey. In explanation of the above words of Jesus, the Wycliffe Commentary writes that: “…the initiate was instructed in the esoteric teaching of the cult, which was not revealed to outsiders… The mystery of the kingdom in its ultimate development is the full-orbed message of the Gospel (Rom 16:25-26). The purpose of parables was to instruct the initiates without revealing the items of instruction to the ones who were without. This is in keeping with the Biblical principle that spiritual understanding is restricted to those who have become spiritual...”
If, as openly stated above, it is true that Jesus taught initiates differently than the multitude of people who he portrayed as being "...outside", then a true seeker must conclude that every article of faith promoted by the Church today, would have to be totally re-evaluated. Thus the question: What was Jesus stating with respect to why he spoke in parables? To ignore this question, is to reject the whole foundational objective and revelation of the Bible. Jesus was stating that only those who become separate from the thinking and ways of this world, and became true disciples of Messiah/Christ, are able to perceive and understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God -- and in the Greek language, this sacred Knowledge is called Gnosis. And by the very meaning of the word that is being presented that cannot be revealed "...to ordinary mortals. A hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding" -- it is of the utmost importance to recognize that what is being conveyed is the fact that "...spiritual understanding is restricted to those who have become spiritual...”. Why? Because man in his organic or "natural" condition of mind, has yet to develop the facilities of mind necessary to receive and comprehend this higher spiritual knowledge that the biblical authors are making reference to.
When it is recognized that this very warning was stated by Paul to the baptized and totally committed believers at Corinth -- i.e., “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way -- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge -- because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed” (1 Cor 1:4-7 NIV) -- the modern reader who does not pause and reflect on what this means -- personally -- to them, remains a blind man who is beyond the reach of the Gospel message. What is Paul stating to the believers at Corinth? That even though Paul himself had instructed them in the "testimony" of Christ -- and that they had received the entire revelation of the Good News of the Gospel -- to the degree that they were not "...lacking any spiritual gift" -- they had yet to evolve and mature those facilities of mind that would enable them to perceive, discern and comprehend the higher reality of the soul and what Paul portrayed as the Mystery of the Gospel. And this is especially demonstrated in the second chapter of the very same Epistle where Paul warns these believers who have been given all primary historical knowledge and testimony of Christ: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14 NKJ). And just as important is thee fact that Paul stated that when they complete the process of transformation and achieve this higher level of spiritual maturity, that the Christ will come to them and teach them -- i.e., "...as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”. And thus, this is the meaning of the allegorical End Times when the Kingdom (within) comes upon the earth (the body) of the disciple/seeker. This Spiritual Knowledge that can only be revealed by the Lord, is called Gnosis -- i.e., spiritually experienced and acquired knowledge that can only be imparted to those who have so prepared themselves that they are as virgins who have filled their lamps with the oil of purification necessary to receive the Lord.
The early Christian Valentinius quoted Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians when he made reference to Gnosis Kardias -- or, the enlightened eyes of the heart. "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" (Eph 1:18). And that Paul wanted very much to speak about the Mystery of the Gospel to the Ephesians, but could not, is the reason he portrayed himself as an ambassador in bonds: "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (see Eph 6:19-20). And how did a seeker/disciple obtain these enlightened eyes of the heart? Very briefly, by fulfilling the role of a virgin who awaits the Lord with the oil of purification -- and by becoming the "good ground" that permits the necessary expansion of the facilities of mind to be brought about, which enables the seeker/disciple to be taught by the Indwelling Logos/Son of God/True Prophet. And in the same way that in the parable of the ten virgins it was said to those who had failed to prepair themselves with the oil of purification that "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you" -- even though they believed and had called upon the Lord and was awaiting his coming, this reality of the believer who has failed to prepare himself is futher explored in the early Christian scripture known as the Shepherd of Hermas.
In the introduction of the early Christian writing known as the Shepard of Hermas, it is written: “The Pastor of Hermas was one of the most popular books, if not the most popular book, in the Christian Church during the second, third, and fourth centuries... In ancient times two opinions prevailed in regard to the authorship. The most widely spread was, that the Pastor of Hermas was the production of the Hermas mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans. Origen states this opinion distinctly, and it is repeated by Eusebius and Jerome”. If, then, it is true that the Pastor of Hermas was one of the most important scriptural authorities over the first four centuries, then we can use it in our endeavor to better understand the essence of early Christian thought. What the Shepherd of Hermas has to say is very important to us today, because it represents the scriptural tradition that was taught directly to the faithful flock by the Apostles of Christ. Thus, on the nature of scripture, in the Shepherd we find: “I am senseless, sir, say I, and do not understand these parables. For how she can crush out, and on the other hand save, I do not perceive. Listen, says he. Those who have never searched for the truth, nor investigated the nature of the Divinity, but have simply believed, when they devote themselves to and become mixed up with business, and wealth, and heathen friendships, and many other actions of this world, do not perceive the parables of Divinity; for their minds are darkened by these actions, and they are corrupted and become dried up. Even as beautiful vines, when they are neglected, are withered up by thorns and divers plants, so men who have believed, and have afterwards fallen away into many of those actions above mentioned, go astray in their minds, and lose all understanding in regard to righteousness; for if they hear of righteousness, their minds are occupied with their business, and they give no heed at all. Those, on the other hand, who have the fear of God, and search after Godhead and truth, and have their hearts turned to the Lord, quickly perceive and understand what is said to them, because they have the fear of the Lord in them. For where the Lord dwells, there is much understanding. Cleave, then, to the Lord, and you will understand and perceive all things”.
The message that is very clear from this early Christian writing is that it is impossible to mature spiritually, while attempting to divide oneself between the two worlds. In our present day culture we are living proof as to the validity of the wisdom that is portrayed in this writing -- i.e., one cannot perceive the true meaning of the parables and the inner significance of the historical narrative of the scriptures, while one devotes their lives to their “business, and wealth, and heathen friendships, and many other actions of this world” -- which would include the whole array of addictions provided by all the many leisure’s and entertainments that captivate and control our every-day lives. Further, do we truly do unto others as we would want others to do unto us -- i.e., do we send our children (the souls who were placed in our care) off to government secularized schools to become imbued with the thinking, mindset and lifestyle of the heathen culture in which we presently live?
In the Shepherd of Hermas a reference is made to a tower, of which it is written: “And the tower, I asked, what does it mean? This tower, he replied, is the Church. And these virgins, who are they? They are Holy Spirits, and men cannot otherwise be found in the kingdom of God unless these have put their clothing upon them: for if you receive the name only, and do not receive from them the clothing, they are of no advantage to you. For these virgins are the powers of the Son of God. If you bear His name but possess not His power, it will be in vain that you bear His name”. In understanding what is written, it is most important for us to be aware of the continual message found in the words: “If you bear His name but possess not His power, it will be in vain that you bear His name”. Thus, if you call yourselves Christian, but fail to purify and develop your mind and body from the defilements of this world -- and do not possess the true Knowledge of the Spiritual Christ -- and have not yourselves inherited the same higher powers of mind that the Son of God promised all his followers would possess -- then “it will be in vain that you bear His name”. And again, this is demonstrated in the words spoken to those who believed upon the coming of the Lord, and even called upon his name, but had failed to bring with them the oil of purification, where it was stated: "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you"
An excerpt from http://TheThreeLies.com#mystery
Brother Of Yeshua
Doesn't a double wicker chair (that makes it a bench!) appeal to you? A nice place to sit in the sun. With a sturdy spade you can even get access, and a little bit of snow on the seat can be dusted away.
You have a place on the quay all to yourself, and if you are interested in boating, there is a whole marina to choose from.
But don't go for a walk on the ice without a swimsuit...
Captured on my travels in the swamps of South Carolina.Captured on my travels in the swamps of South Carolina.
