Has God changed?

[highway54]

Originally Posted by Am I a Prophet

He does demand that you work with Him. The parable of the sower invites us to be the good soil. But I don't think He comes with penalties. Experiencing randomness, whatever that doles out, seems penalty enough. It is not penalty enough to stop the charlatans who turn the church into a den of robbers, but it does seem to make those who have a conscience respond. I think the Holy Spirit would rather work from behind the scenes to help those who just won't listen, getting them to a place where they can. He may speak to their hearts, or work with those around them. Everybody has a different story. God does seem to deal with people now with an attitude of relationship rather than expecting rote devotion.

Consider the parable of the talents Prophet: Mat 25:14 “For it is just like a man about to travel abroad who summoned his slaves and entrusted his belongings to them. 15 He gave five talents to one, two to another, and one to still another, to each according to his own ability, and he went abroad. 16 Immediately the one who received the five talents went and did business with them and gained five more. 17 Likewise, the one who received the two gained two more. 18 But the slave who received just one went off and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 So the one who had received the five talents came forward and brought five additional talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I gained five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 Next the one who had received the two talents came forward and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me; see, I gained two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “Finally the slave who had received the one talent came forward and said: ‘Master, I knew you to be a demanding man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not winnow. 25 So I grew afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 In reply his master said to him: ‘Wicked and sluggish slave, you knew, did you, that I reaped where I did not sow and gathered where I did not winnow? 27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my coming I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘Therefore, take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.


Jesus gave an assignment to his followers right before he returned to heaven Mat 28:19,20. It is not negotiable, we are expected to obey it.