Pointed Ponder: National Security Guidance

While it is an awesome privilege to receive national security guidance from the Lord, how many rulers and their heeded advisors have that inside track?

Judges 1:1-2

1 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” 2 The Lord said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.

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Pointed Ponder: Pride’s Paths

Use your freedom wisely, acknowledging God granted people latitude to foolishly exhibit guilt dripping pride, which follows its’ own ways stubbornly, refusing to listen, learn, and live properly, even after God has shown his superior righteous paths.

Jeremiah 13:9-11

9 “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing. 11 For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

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Pointed Ponder: Superpowers and The Supreme Power

The Supreme Power can leverage a small nation to defeat Superpowers, yet which Superpowers are wise enough to align and seek their guidance and direction from The Supreme Power?

Joshua 23:9-10

9 For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.

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Pointed Ponder: Accountable for Absent Actions

God will hold everyone accountable on judgement day for all deeds they were expected to do for those in need, but instead left undone.

Matthew 25:45-46

45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

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Pointed Ponder: Perish False gods

We already see today numerous ancient civilizations’ false gods as footnotes in history while God’s kingdom continues to grow through Jesus’ witness, wonders, and words.

Jeremiah 10:11

11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

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Pointed Ponder: Circumcised in Heart

Seek God’s righteousness so you will be circumcised in your heart, rather than rely on superficial customs for assurance.

Jeremiah 9:25-26

25 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”

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Pointed Ponder: Wedding Invitations

God commissions us to invite as many as will come, to come to the wedding feast, and come dressed in wedding garments, clothed in garments of righteousness as Jesus’ disciples.

Matthew 22:8

8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

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Pointed Ponder: Destination Rest

While every year people seek rest for their souls materially with vacations, entertainment, and pampering, the only lasting rest comes from the Lord, so pamper, entertain, and relax in the Lord, the premiere destination for your soul.

Jeremiah 6:16

16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

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Pointed Ponder: Worldly and Heavenly Inheritance

While there are many advisors to help you pass along wealth, lands, and businesses as an inheritance, but how many seek out knowledge on how to leave the Lord God as an inheritance?

Joshua 13:32-33

32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.

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Pointed Ponder: Youth Knowing God

People often wonder whether Christians can know the Lord God from their youth. The answer is yes, and Jesus welcomed youthful inquiry and approach, revealing children’s thinking and being is receptive to the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:13-15

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

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Pointed Ponder: Seeds on Open Heart

God instructs us to have an open heart towards him, removing the stubbornness and obstacles within our control, so when we hear his word, it will be fruitful like the seed sown on good ground in the Parable of the Sower.

Jeremiah 4:3-4

3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.”

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Pointed Ponder: Free to Choose Poorly or Wisely

Free will includes the ability to choose so incredibly poorly, God himself shares how faithless and treacherous people decide to be, against their own self-interest, so it is clear where the fault and responsibility lay.

Jeremiah 3:6-7

6 The Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? 7 And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

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Pointed Ponder: Pre-born Watching

Parents today have their pre-born imaged in the woman’s womb room, yet God has been observing pre-born’s since long ago.

Psalm 139:15-16

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

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Pointed Ponder: God’s Power Planning

God’s plans for us are greater than our own. The Almighty has been known to start planning even before we are born. His analysis is very deep, just like outer space is vast. While our analysis is still bound to the processing power of a fraction of Earth, his power of analysis surpasses stars, galaxies, and lightyears, which display yet a portion of his might.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

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Pointed Ponder: Must You Rebel?

If you must rebel, rebel against your sin, hypocrisy, ignorance, improper motives, and false knowledge, but never against the King of Kings, because the consequence is high stakes, your soul for all eternity.

Isaiah 66:24

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

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Pointed Ponder: God’s Army Side

People often look at wars and conflicts to assert God is on their side, and against their enemies, yet God’s army commander asserts no when Joshua asked, despite upcoming victories promised. Why is this? Is this because God wishes all to know the way of righteousness, even several of our enemies, and for us to bless our adversaries?

Joshua 5:13

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

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Pointed Ponder: When God Calls

When God calls, answer affirmatively, wisely using your freedom to seek righteousness and follow Jesus. Making choices to disobey, resist, and reject the Lord and do evil is unwise, like using your freedom to place yourself into a trap deadly to your soul.

Isaiah 65:12

12 I will destine you to the sword,
and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.”

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Pointed Ponder: Observing Powers

Do you look at the powers behind the powers? Israel stood in awe of Moses and Joshua, but how many knew their power exhibits were God’s acting?

Joshua 4:14

14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

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Life’s Paths, Life’s Choices: The Reapers Roadmap and The Parable of the Sower

Now available for download, the document “Parable of the Sower Reapers Roadmap Deep Dive 2011-07-16” in a PDF formatted version.

https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/parable-of-the-sower-reapers-roadmap-deep-dive-2011-07-16.pdf

Continue your studies on the Parable of the Sower in the web version:

Invitation to Delve Deeply into the Parable of the Sower

https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2011/01/01/invitation-to-delve-deeply-into-the-parable-of-the-sower

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Parable of the Sower Explained

Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV): 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Depth and Growth Chart

The Parable of the Sower Depth and Growth Chart shows key dimensions of each soil type. One dimension is depth and the other is growth achieved. The Parable explains too little depth is insufficient. To increase our own depth requires learning & following & giving ourselves to Jesus Christ more fully, and eventually completely. (Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV): You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.) Despite depth enough to grow, those who receive the message who fail to eliminate weeds present in their own life as scriptures require, later find the world’s demands detrimentally competing with their spiritual growth and impeding their fruitfulness. (Matthew 6:24 (ESV): “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”)

Exercise: Parable of the Sower Self-Assessment

Reflecting on your own journey, identify where you see yourself and those you know in The Parable of the Sower Meaning visual

This Parable of the Sower visual is based upon Mind Map’s (TM) techniques developed by Tony Buzan http://www.imindmap.com

The Parable of the Sower Self-Assessment Exercise has numbers on the mind map above, which maps to a position in the visual described in the following table.

Position	Definition	Here Now? Were Here?
1. Pre-Sower	Going to learn God’s Word
2. Sown	Just Recently Heard God’s Word
3. Not Understand in Heart	Ignore lessons from God’s Word to continue as were
4. Evil One Snatches Away	Focus quickly shifted from God’s Word to other things
5. Recipient Hears	Recently Heard God’s Word
6. Receives Joyfully	Initial inner excitement hearing God’s Word is basis of confidence
7. Falls Away Quickly	Inclined to discontinue to follow God’s Word when face opposition / trouble / persecution
8. Worries of Life	Concerns in life cause focus to shift from God’s Word to worldly things like food, clothing, friends, etc.
9. Deceitfulness of Wealth	Obsessive desire to be wealthy shifts focus from God’s Word to career and business for money
10. Understands	Understanding that what learned is really God’s Word brings you closer to God
11. Yields Crop	Reaping Spiritual Fruits due to following God’s Word

Next Steps

View the Parable of the Sower Slideshare Presentation.

You can also directly view the Parable of the Sower presentation at the Slideshare link http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/parable-of-the-sower-and-reapers-roadmap-slide-share

Continue your studies on the Parable of the Sower:

Invitation to Delve Deeply into the Parable of the Sower

https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2011/01/01/invitation-to-delve-deeply-into-the-parable-of-the-sower

See related “Parable of the Sower” post at https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/parable-of-the-sower-2

Parable of the Sower: Further Study

Numerous websites, books, and blogs on the Parable of the Sower each offer insights and perspectives on how to understand and apply it. The Reformer Martin Luther offers many insights, several of which apply for those who religious at http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/mlsower.htm . Insights from the well-respected preacher and teacher Charles H. Spurgeon are available at http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/sower.htm .

Hand Drawn Parable of the Sower Meaning / Explanation

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Pointed Ponder: Freedom’s True Source

Whatever your Government structure, ranging from dictatorships to democracy to civil unrest, remember Jesus the Messiah is the only one to provide true freedom from the inside out.

John 4:18-19 & Isaiah 61:1+

18″The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

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Pointed Ponder: So It Will Go Well

What do you do so that it will go well with you, your wife, and your children?

Psalms 128:1-3

128:1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

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Pointed Ponder: Secret Laden Gospel

Jesus instructs us to share the Gospel and its’ secret laden parables. What resources help you gain insight to know and apply these secrets more fully?

Consider These:

1. “The Prodigal God” by Tim Keller
2. “God’s Will, Our Initiative” by Dale S. Schultz

Matthew 10:27

27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

Matthew 13:35

35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

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Pointed Ponder: God’s Purposes Witnessed

Whether God sends the mighty like Moses, his purposes are advanced and achieved, and his power witnessed, each time human hearts become deeply rooted in Jesus.

Deuteronomy 34:10-12

10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

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Pointed Ponder: Be Wise. F.A.L.L in with God

Be wise. Keep the eternal time horizon in sight, following what the Lord requires in Faith, Action, Law, and Love, so you will not fall into destruction, but instead will F.A.L.L. in with God.

Deuteronomy 32:29

29 If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

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Pointed Ponder: God’s Fasting Requirements

God’s fasting requirements are all about helping others to have the food, shelter, clothes, and support they need, rather than about depriving yourself.

Isaiah 58:6-7

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh

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Pointed Ponder: Obey the Lord, Love the Lord

When you purpose to obey the Lord completely, the Lord will circumcise your heart to love him fully. So choosing to obey the Lord is “in essence” a choice to love the Lord.

Deuteronomy 30:1,2,6

1 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, …

6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

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Pointed Ponder: Banishing Satan

Jesus told Satan to be gone after the third major temptation. When do we tell Satan to be gone?

Matthew 4:10-11

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

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Pointed Ponder: Pursuit of Happiness

People spend time treasure hunting and pursuing happiness with jobs, businesses, and other means, yet to have blessings rather than curses hunt you down and overtake you, remember what really matters is who you know and follow, the Lord God.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2

1 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

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Podcast Pointer: Marriage Advice

Marriage Advice like in marriage you have to learn to fight fair …

http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/denton-bible-church-love-song/id148822180

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Book Quote: Soft Answers

Psychology has accepted as scientific the old Biblical injunction, ‘A soft answer turns away wrath.’ by Les Giblin, “How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People”

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Pointed Ponder: All About Being

Yes, God’s law is all about obedience with blessings and cursing as consequences, yet on a higher level God’s law is all about being, about who we are and who we will become. Jesus showed us obeying and being like God, forgiving our sins to free us to focus our journey, so we are seeking, being, loving, and doing like him.

Deuteronomy 27:26

26 “‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

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Pointed Ponder: Virgin Pregnancy

As Mary was still a virgin when she birthed Jesus, the manner of her pregnancy by the Holy Spirit is better compared to In Vitro Fertilization techniques than the natural way of pregnancy.

See Related Post at https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/pointed-ponder-virgin-birth-and-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf/

Matthew 1:18, 23-24

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

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