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    The Simple Things
    The Simple Things
    The Simple Things
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    The Simple Things

    By Toni Brooks

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    About this ebook

    The Simple Things is a compilation of the teaching of God in parables. Jesus taught his disciples in parables and continues to do so unto this day. He will take a blade of grass and instruct us in spiritual matters. It is our hope that this book will uncover the mysteries of God to others, and that they will seek a deeper understanding of God through his Word.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCovenant Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 23, 2020
    ISBN9781644680117
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      Book preview

      The Simple Things - Toni Brooks

      Special Thanks

      A very special thanks to Mrs. Vanessa Ellis, who spent countless hours in reading and editing for grammatical correctness. We love you and deeply appreciate the work you did in making The Simple Things a reality in print.

      Introduction

      From the beginning of time, man has used various methods and means in attempts to grasp the mysteries of God. Neither scientific studies, theological debates, nor vain imaginations give an in-depth look into the revealed mysteries of God. The Holy Ghost is the Revealer. The Word of God tells us, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Only the spirit of God can reveal God, for God is a spirit; his words are spirit (John 6:63), and one must have the spirit of God indwelling them in order to obtain the deep spiritual treasures of God’s Word. Jesus told his disciples, Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come (John 16:13).

      To read the Word of God is one thing, but to understand is another. Many read and boldly speak, yet they don’t understand what they have read. Philip the Evangelist asked the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood what he read, and his reply was, How can I, except some man should guide me? (Acts 8:29–30). The Holy Spirit is the one who guides us through God’s servants, the prophets, by what he reveals unto us. These spiritual truths are taught using the simple things. Jesus always taught his disciples and others by parables, and he is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

      The Lord, by his spirit, has taught and continues to teach his servants and those who desire a deeper knowledge of him and his word through the use of parables. Only God can take a blade of grass and teach a spiritual lesson. Only God can take a tree and teach one the meaning of his word. Only God can use a car to reveal how his body, the church, functions.

      The Simple Things is a compilation of parables the Lord has used over the years to teach me and others great spiritual truths. Even in times of despair and severe trials, God, by his spirit, has taken something very simple and taught the meaning of the situation. Some of the parables included in this book have been used to teach some studies in the Word of God, and some were revealed to give understanding of situations and circumstances in life that had no meaning at the time. It is my prayer that The Simple Things will be a blessing to the people of God and perhaps answer some puzzling questions during the times of hard trials and tribulations. Many of the parables included are especially for pastors who, at times, find themselves in difficult situations as they try to lead the sheep of God. However, I pray this book will bless those who read it and will give them a deeper understanding of the many mysteries of God.

      The Spiritual Birth

      The spiritual birth is like the natural birth in every aspect only in reverse order—first the natural and then the spiritual. As Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, he told him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, how can a man be born when He is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:3–5).

      The concern for Nicodemus was not unusual, for men do not understand the spiritual birth. In order to fully understand, we must consider the natural process of conception and birth before understanding the spiritual. A child is conceived naturally through the fertilization of the egg in the female by the sperm (seed) of the male through sexual intercourse. Throughout a period of nine months, a child is formed and developed in the womb and comes forth to life. This natural process is only possible through the female. However, in the spiritual birth, a man can become pregnant.

      There is only a certain time of month during ovulation when a woman can become pregnant. Even then, all of the seed does not fertilize the eggs—usually just one tiny seed. It is typically much easier for a woman to conceive earlier in life. Her chances during midlife is reduced, and once she enters menopause, it is virtually impossible (in the natural). However, spiritually it is easier for one to conceive when he or she is young because the heart is not so hard. Some conceive in midlife and are known as spiritually changed babies. While man says it is impossible for a person to conceive in old age, there are many spiritual Sarah’s. Jesus said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

      The heart of man is the egg that must be fertilized by the seed of the Word. If you will, the womb is the heart (used synonymously with the mind), and the eggs (thoughts) have to be fertilized with the seed, which is the Word of God. The apostle Peter wrote, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever (1 Peter 1:23). The seed which is produced by man that does not fertilize the egg in the woman dies, but the Word of God lives forever.

      Jesus told his disciples the parable of the sower, and they questioned Rini as to what the parable meant.

      And He said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables: that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear, then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among the thorns are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:9–15, emphasis mine)

      The heart of man is the sowing ground. Some people’s hearts are spiritually fertile; they receive the word with all readiness of mind.

      For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

      These are more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)

      Then they that gladly received His word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)

      Thus, the heart of man must be ready and willingly receive the Word of God in order for spiritual conception to take place.

      The Word can be preached and taught for many years to many people, and yet they do not conceive and become born again spiritually because they have turned a deaf ear to the Word of God. They have become spiritually sterile. If one does not receive the Word in his heart but rejects it, there is no possibility of his being born again. Jesus said, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not by words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day (John 12:48). When one rejects the Word of God, he has rejected Jesus.

      In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1–3, 14)

      If there is no word going forth, it is impossible for people to conceive spiritually and be born again. Except spiritual conception takes place, the mind produces nothing but filth. Those eggs which have not been fertilized in a woman are discharged every month through menstruation, but when conception takes place, the menstruation ceases until the child is born. Spiritually, the filth ceases to come forth from the heart when conception takes place. The filth is emptied and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be born again spiritually, except by the Word of God being planted (sown) in the heart, for the Word of God is life. The apostle James wrote, Of His own will begat us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures (James 1:18). The angel of the Lord told Peter, Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life (Acts 5:20). Jesus said, It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are life (John 6:63). In order to have new life in Christ, one must first receive the Word of God, which is Jesus Christ, into his heart. Just as Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost, even so must we be conceived by the Holy Ghost, who plants the Word of God in our heats.

      Once conception takes place, a new creature begins to be formed. At first, it is not noticeable that one is pregnant by the Word, but soon, he or she begins to show. A change begins to take place inside the body and is reflected on the outside. Paul wrote to the churches in the province of Galatia, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (Galatians 4:19, emphasis mine). As Christ is formed in one, he becomes a new creature. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). One must be careful because the enemy, Satan, is always trying to detach a new spiritual fetus before it’s new birth, thereby bringing about the death of the child. Pastors and teachers have to be careful to nourish those who have just been conceived by the Word of God so that they can come to full term and be born again.

      The spiritual birth process is just as painful as the natural. For some spiritual newborns, the labor and delivery is quick. But for others, it is a long and painful process. Pastors must be willing to bear the pain of bringing forth one to the birth because it takes time and labor to bring forth one to new life in Christ.

      In the natural, a baby is born headfirst, and so it is in the spiritual. The head, where all the thought processes are conceived, must come first. When a person’s mind is changed through spiritual conception, his entire life will change in accordance. For the delivery process to be easier and the baby protected in the womb, the baby is surrounded by water. The Word of God is likened to water. The water must break first to prepare the birth canal. Spiritually the Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, makes the delivery process much easier. Dry births are difficult and dangerous, not only for the baby but also for the mother. It’s like trying to get someone saved in a church where the Holy Spirit is not present, and the Word is not going forth—a dry birth. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this

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