The Ultimate Gift: A Different Way of Looking at Things...

ISBN-13: 9781453664926 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 322 str.

Stephen William McClure

Opis

There are two parables that people have trouble in understanding. This being the case they are often ignored or treated as of no effect. It is a great pity for these parables both start with the words 'The kingdom of heaven is like this...' and if God the Father is speaking these words to us through His servant Jesus and we choose to ignore them then one day it is quite possible we might regret our inaction.

For Moses Himself spoke to us regarding the coming of Jesus. He said that God would raise up a prophet from amongst His people. He would speak through this prophet and He would require it of those who would not listen. Deuteronomy 18:18-19].

So that would infer that the words spoken by Jesus would be of the highest import.

Jesus spoke to us using parables. He had very good reason for doing so. It was to ensure that only the right people would understand for specific people were being predestined for particular purposes. This book discusses this point with regard to which people are chosen and for what purpose.

The first parable people choose to ignore is the ten virgins (five wise and five foolish). The five foolish have no oil and because of this they are identified by God as 'fools'. In the Bible we learn that 'oil' is a word that represents the Holy Spirit. But we are told by some that if we become a Christian then we already have this 'oil' (Holy Spirit). We have no need to ask.

There is only one problem I have with that understanding.

If we already have the Holy Spirit then why does our Lord tell us specifically to ask for it. He does not tell us to ask one single time but to ask on a continual basis. I am of course referring to the following passage:

'How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask (and continue to ask)' Luke 11:13]

So we have to ask for the Holy Spirit and if we don't ask we don't get. For God requires our permission Have you figured out why?]. God is waiting for us to ask. The five foolish virgins did not have any oil. Their lamps had run dry. Remember the instruction they received. 'Behold the Bridegroom. Go out to meet him.' You can trust me when I say that if you do not have any oil in your lamp then you will find it extremely difficult to go to meet the Bridegroom. Hence you are to ask and to keep on asking so that your lamp (your body) will remain full of oil (Holy Spirit).

But these virgins are the young handmaidens to the Bride. For at this moment in time, the Bride has already gone. And if you do not get into heaven at the right time you just might find yourself as being one of the foolish virgins, crying outside, trying to get in.

Then there is the second parable. The parable of the wedding feast and the predestined guests who would not come.

At this feast we see the following:

1.The King who is the master of the feast
2.The Son who is getting married
3.The Bride
4.The Menservants
5.The Maidservants (Bridesmaids, the five wise virgins)
6.A room full of Wedding Guests

So from this we should note that there are different groups of people. There is the Bride, there are menservants, maidservants and a room filled with wedding guests. So you should be asking yourself this question. What differentiates one group from the other? And to which group might you belong?

But God's people have forgotten to ask questions.

When you see some scripture that does not fit with your current understanding then you are to ask questions. You are to ask and to keep on asking.

Do not sweep the question under the rug of ignorance.

This book 'The Ultimate Gift' provides some of the answers. It is a different way of looking at scripture, a way that you just might not have previously considered. Ver 7-12, July 2017]

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