Apostolic Greetings! Start the New Year with a determination to do more for Jesus. He is worthy of our best. They were so set against Jesus that they wanted no one to think they were part of this new group. They said he was of Satan. This gave them a legal reason for not becoming part of the group. They would criticize Him in the background and disturb his teaching to those who wanted to hear. But when Jesus spoke in parables the unbelievers had nothing to criticize. In doing this Jesus closed the mouths of his critics and the background noise stopped. He could then teach the people in parables the truth he wanted them to hear. The parable of the sower and the seed is just too simple to argue. To argue this would cause the background agitators to look stupid. Stephen, when he was stoned, said the Jews were stiffnecked, hard hearted and do always resist the Holy Ghost. Under no circumstances did the Jews want to be associated with Jesus and his name. They closed their eyes and held their hands over their ears so they could not see or hear what Jesus was saying. On a Mountain in Galilee. In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus met His followers on a mountain in Galilee after His resurrection. They were not in Jerusalem. Jesus spoke Mathew 28:19 on a mountain in Galilee. He spoke this parable because there were unbelievers in the group. Matt 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. A doubter refuses to believe. They do not want to believe. The Parable of the Name in Matthew 28:19 was spoken on a mountain in Galilee with unbelievers present. Check that out. His disciples understood parables and they understood this one. The unbelievers did not understand parables and this one went right over their heads. The disciples did not use the words in the Parable of the Name to perform baptism. They used the Name, in the parable of the name, to perform water baptism. Christmas Season of 2006. This is the Christmas Season of 2006. There is a popular song being sung by many artists on the radio. The title is--Mary did you know?--written by Mark Lowry. The Lyrics are prefaced by the question, Mary did you know? Then it makes a statement of fact. One statement is: Mary did you know--when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God. Another one is: Mary did you know--The sleeping child you are holding, is the great I AM? Even some songs are the answer to this parable. The parable of the Name is simple. The Parable of the Name reveals Jesus. Knowing who Jesus is helps you understand the parable. Sincerely,
Albert Friend
Friday, December 29, 2006
22 - Why Jesus spoke in parables.
Friday, December 22, 2006
21 - Greetings! Have the blessings from God today. Hear Him again.
An Apostolic is set apart because there is a cutting edge of life. With every new moment, God comes into the world with fresh mercies. It is God's way of keeping His Truth alive. We stand guard on this cutting edge. Christianity is divided. It is of their own choosing. They put a space between themselves and the main stream when they took the parable that was intended to prove the true identity of Jesus and used it for a baptismal formula. They clouded their own vision and did not realize it. When you use a scripture for something that was not intended, you make that scripture void and of none effect. Matthew 28:19 is a parable of the Name. It was not intended to be used, and thus in the Bible never used, as a formula for baptism. Jesus commanded them to baptize in the Name of, not in the descriptive titles of a position. A title describes a position. A title describes the authority of the named person. The name spoken carries with it the authority of the title. Matthew 28:19 is a scripture showing who Jesus is. All three titles fit His one Name , the same as all five titles in Isaiah 9:6 fit His one name. These five titles are Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Think about that. Jesus made it clear in Luke 24:45-47 that it was written, and needful, for Him to suffer and die, and be raised from the dead the third day. The performance of this would make valid His doctrine of repentance and remission of sins to be preached in His Name among all nations starting at Jerusalem. This was properly called the apostles doctrine in Acts 2:42. This doctrine could not stop with the apostles. They were not the mastermind of these words. Thank you for reading this. Take the books of Luke and Acts and become a doer of the work in 2007. Look at my book: LUKE. THE DEVILS WORST ENEMY. Luke is still doing damage to Satan today. Click on the web site publication page at the bottom. Sincerely, 
Albert Friend
Friday, December 15, 2006
20 - Hope is a dwelling place, designed by God, where all is well.
Hope is a dwelling place, designed by God, where all is well. Purpose.The key to having rest in life is knowing your purpose. Your rest is not always taking off a 24 hour day and letting God run the world alone. Your rest is being in the will of God and confidently releasing it ALL to Him knowing the judge of all the earth will do right. Purpose generates rest in God. When I quit giving out I regress and forsake. I can handle my stress according to my purpose. I do not need less stress, I need more purpose. Knowing my purpose is a powerful attitude. It is a power surge of hope. My purpose in life is to generate hope in myself and others. My discipline in life is the Word of God. The scripture, I can do all things through Christ, gives me strength to go on when I truly believe it. Hey! Listen to this one. When John the Baptist was in prison needing hope Jesus sent words of encouragement. These are the words Jesus encouraged John with, THE DEAD ARE RAISED! Stand up straight on that one John. You are going to die but the dead are raised. Grasp the full meaning of your calling. Rest in that one. Most ministers start out preaching and having a full time job. I have been there and done that. I was driving home from work one day totally exhausted. I said to God, I’m going home to teach a Bible Study to help these people and I need help myself. God put a scripture in my heart about the Good Shepherd. John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. God spoke to my heart and said: “Son I am already at your home taking care of things. Just drive on home I will be there when you get there to inspire you.” It is amazing the rest I felt from that moment on. The key to handling stress is purpose. The word from God is--Pursue. We live on the Apostolic Cutting Edge, which is, this moment. We react to the moment as God presents it to us. It is this moment King David referred to when said: “I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.” David was aware that God is always there in the present moment. I am safe in this moment. I live in that safety. How many moments of SAFETY have I WASTED worrying about something that never did happen? There are many things in life I have yet to learn. I will always be a student of the word. God wants an opportunity to give us something. Only by faith can we give God His opportunity. I will give God what He wants. I will have faith in Him to do as He sees fit. Sincerely, 
Albert Friend
Friday, December 8, 2006
19 - Hello! Look again at The Basis of all Faith.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. -- You must believe in the one Who rewards faith. If you do not you make it impossible. Give God what He wants. He will do the rest. Identify what is bothering you. Take a close look at it. List the details. For instance: Are you irritated. Why? What is causing it. Is it because you are not having your own way. Ha, Ha, join the group. Your problem is you. Get control of yourself. There is a reason God chose a seven day plan in Genesis. We are the reason. The seventh day of rest was made for man. Man needs rest and worship to prepare to do more for God. God made that choice. Learn to take off and rest. Let God run the world alone for a day. We think directional, either toward fear, or, toward the word of God. Prepare a discipline for your mind. Make it the word of God. It cannot fail. Stare at the word of God and you will stare down your problem. This cannot fail. Read your Bible and know God personally. God is a God of Grace. By Grace He rewards His Promises. By Grace God gives you your request. You cannot work for it. The only work that pleases God is the work of faith. Give God what He wants. That work of faith opens a door for God to do as He sees fit. My work of Faith, or, my dead work of fear rule my emotions. Saying it a simple way: My works rule my emotions! I am inspired by works of faith. I am discouraged by dead works of fear. Either way it’s true. My works rule my emotions. Worrying while you trust in God is not faith. Faith is having peace in God while you wait. Plan for the future, live in the present, have faith in the moment, work to believe God. The only work that pleases God is the work of faith. Jesus said in John 6:29, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Faith is work. Peace is the product of a work of faith. Sincerely,
Albert Friend
Friday, December 1, 2006
18 - Hello, My desire is to make it as clear as Jesus did.
*** LUKE: THE DEVIL'S WORST ENEMY, by albert friend.*** **A book designed for young Christians and Bible students** **Title Chapter 10: Our Benchmark.** A Benchmark is a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point. It can be a nail in a telephone pole. It is the point that keeps the building level as you build. A surveyor uses a telescope, called a transit, to establish his points. But first he must have a benchmark as a beginning point. Without a benchmark there is confusion. This is the problem with Christianity. There are too many traditions which have become man made benchmarks. Each group says ours is the mark you should use. If you listen to them and blindly agree then you will both fall in the ditch. A benchmark is also a standard to establish the validity of your perceived meaning of a scripture. It is a basis for comparison against which other things can be evaluated. A Benchmark in its simplest form is Truth. These words of Jesus become the benchmark Luke set as the reference point, the measure, the standard for all your subsequent reading and study of the entire Bible. Jesus opened their understanding of the Bible. He wanted them to understand. He wanted them to understand that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Him. Luke let us see what Jesus said after His resurrection and His scriptural reason as to why He had to die. Jesus had to die because it was written and it was necessary. Luke also revealed what Jesus said we must do as works of faith now that He has done His part. (there is a work of faith, 1 Thessalonians 1:3) Luke told how Jesus set the exact point with which we can level our spiritual telescope. It is a nail, driven into a tree that sticks out about the thickness of the hand of a man. Jesus put the focus on this nail when he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Jesus set forth His works of faith that the Apostles must do after they were filled with the Holy Ghost. The word of God has an appeal to help draw us near it. The appeal of His word is created by our need for it. The appeal of the word can only be satisfied by the word that created it. We need Jesus. When we feel a need it is Jesus creating a need that only He can satisfy. We are witnesses of these things. We need to witness it in a way that will make people want to be obedient to the words of Jesus. Repentance, baptism in Jesus Name for the remission of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is the sum of the whole matter. This is why He died. Sincerely, 
Albert Friend
