Fight the Good Fight
(2Ti4:1-8)
God is good.
His nature is good, and
His purpose and method are all good.
Faith is acknowledging and longing for Him, and
The life of faith is fighting the good fight until going before Him and receiving the crown.
"Goodness refers not to being nice and not fighting but rather
A fight is necessary before there is victory, the crown and going before the throne.
A good fight is what is required from those who compete, as
Their attitude must be for following the rules, doing their best until the end and
Surrendering to the decision.
While preparing to win is to do it faster, higher, more accurately and more beautifully,
The absolutely necessary aspect is to follow the rules at all times.
The Bible indicates the king of rule breakers: Satan (Rev9:11) who
Illegitimately challenged the throne in heaven and fell down to Hades (Is14:12-15).
Though as the living being, the supreme good that Adam could do was to live (Ge2:7),
He was deceived by the devil and broke the word of God (Ge2:17, 3:4-6), becoming
Defeated by the devil and become his slave (2Pe2:19).
The Bible further demonstrates those who failed because
While their purpose was good but their method was not:
Cain who resented the fact that just his brother's sacrifice was received and
Thus killed him (Ge4:3-12); and
Korah and his sons who complained about Aaron's priesthood and
Thus were all killed by an earthquake (Nu16).
Aaron's rod that budded was kept inside the Testimony of the sanctuary
As a sign to the rebellious (Nu17:10).
Jesus appeared and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fight the good fight and reveal that He is good for
He came as the life-giving spirit to give life to the souls of all men (1Co15:45), as
The greatest good on the Sabbath was giving life (Mt12:1-8), and
The greatest good a man can do was to follow the Son of Man (Mt19:16-22; Lk18:18-23).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
Gave glory to the Father who let the Son fight the good fight and inherit heaven (Jn10:17-18; He1:2; Php2:6-11);
Condemned the devil the rule breaker (1Jn3:8); and
Redeemed all men with His blood and gave an opportunity for them to fight the good fight (1Pe1:18).
The Father raised Him from the dead and
He received the Victor's crown and ascended to the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit came to
Those who believe in the name Yeshua and
Calls and gathers them into the church.
The church is where believers run the good race (1Co9:24-27):
The race to humble oneself more, the race concede to others more,
The race to be more patient, the race to cover others more etc.
It has an usual race compared to the world because of
The good purpose of wanting to live for oneself and
The good method of raising others to life.
O Lord,
If our Church of Jesus knows
The purpose of being resurrected when the Lord returns,
Let us not only do our best but also
Be sure to not break any rules and become disqualified.
Let us all fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith until the end!
Amen.
He Who Sends Me Out
(Jn9:1-12)
God is the God of honor.
He cherishes His name, and
He honors His will.
Faith is knowing Him and honoring Him, and
The life of this faith is being send off by His name and doing His work until being called back by Him.
The purpose of being sent is
To carry out the will of the one who sent and
His guarantee is continuous support and return.
While the one who is sent off is for the honor of the one who sends him off,
Such as ambassadors, spies, athletes, troops etc,
The most glorious sending among them is that of the troops who go out to risk their life for
They will certainly return ” dead or alive.
Deceived by the devil,
The archangel who sinned in heaven and was banished from there (Is14:12-15),
Adam sinned and was banished from the Garden (Ge2:17, 3:6, 24).
God sent Moses into Egypt and
Brought out the Israelites (Ex3:4, 10) as
It was the beginning of His work to return all men to Him.
The Testimony of the sanctuary reminded them that
God sent an angel (Ex25:19-21; Nu20:16) and
Summoned them by their name out of Egypt and they became God's servants (Is43:1).
Furthermore, the explorer who wholeheartedly followed the One who sent him was
Given the land he went to (Nu14:24).
The prophecy spoke of a trustworthy messenger will be sent and
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
He would refresh the spirit of his Master (Pr25:13).
Once the Spirit of the Lord was with Him,
Jesus began His public life (Is61:1-12; Mt3:16) by
Calling disciples and sending them out to preach (Mk3:13),
Healing the sick (Jn9:7) which was
Doing the will of the Father who sent Him, doing His work (Jn6:38).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Refreshed the heart of the Father who sent Him (Jn10:17);
2) Condemned the devil who challenged the name of God (1Jn3:8); and
3) Through the Spirit of the Son, His blood, made all men His sons to send them out again (Gal4:5).
After He ascended
The Holy Spirit came (Jn14:16) to:
1) Call by the grace of the blood of Yeshua (Gal1:15);
2) Gather them into the church in the name Yeshua; and
3) Send them out to the world in the name Yeshua.
The man of the Spirit is he who
Knows that he now has a public status of being sent out.
Therefore, he pledges his life to
Only speak the words that are already determined and
Do the work already determined (Jn14:24) so that
When the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the air
He would finally return to heaven.
O Lord,
In every moment of my life
Let me only speak the words that refresh the heart of the One who sent me and
Only do the work that pleases Him! Amen.
He Who Called Me By His Grace
(Gal1:11-17)
God is the Lord of grace.
Grace comes from Him, and
He calls by grace.
Faith is knowing His calling as grace, and
The life of this faith is revealing Him until approaching the throne of grace (He4:16).
The kingdom of heaven can be entered by
Those who are like little children welcoming the calling of their mothers (Mt18:3) for
God summons us by our names (Is43:1).
When He created all things,
He brought out the starry host one by one and called forth each of them by name (Is40:26; Rm4:17).
When Adam sinned and hid
God called him (Ge3:9) and
Took off his covering of fig leaves and clothed him in the garment of skin (Ge3:21).
Abram left his county and his father's household (Ge12:1) and
Even gave his only son, becoming an heir of faith (Ge22:11) for
He considered God's calling as grace (Ge18:3, 22:1-2; He11:8).
When he was called by God (Ex3:4)
Moses was living a secluded life in the desert, but
He obeyed God and was sent to Egypt.
When God called the people by their name, Israel (Is43:1),
They became God's people, a holy nation (Ex19:6).
The sanctuary where the name of Jehovah dwelled was
The place of God's calling (1Sa3:4) and where
They were summoned for feasts (La2:22).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would call souls of men by His grace and
As such His public life began by calling disciples (Mt4:18-22; Mk3:13), and
It was for them to participate in His grace.
Furthermore, His name Yeshua is the name that He received since He was with the Father (Jn17:11),
The name by which the Father would call the Son to the throne of grace (He1:1-4, 4:16).
As He died, He said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed that the Father alone is the Lord of grace who, though for a brief moment abandoned Him, would bring Him back and call Him to the throne (Is54:7-8; He5:7);
2) Condemned the devil who sinned, having nothing to do with grace (He2:15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Sprinkled His blood and called sinners by grace (Mk2:17).
The Father raised Him and finally called Him to the throne of grace where
He is the Lord of grace (He1:1-4, 4:12).
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua and
Lets believers know the hope of His calling (Eph4:4; 2Th2:14).
The man of the Spirit is he who was
Called in the midst of despair (Ac9:1; 2Th2:14) and
Knows that all his failures and despairs of the past were
To reveal His grace now and considers them all as grace (1Co15:10).
Thus by his testimony of the Lord's grace calls other men for
He hopes to be called up to the air when the Lord returns and
Appear before the throne of grace (1Th4:16-18).
O Lord,
Since I was conceived in my mother's womb
You watched me and when it was the right time You called me ”
Thank You!
Let Your grace be soaked in my testimony and
Let it be brought out in my preaching! Amen.
Fear and Be Encouraged
(Ac9:31)
God is awesome and compassionate (Ps47:2; Ex34:6).
He punishes according to His word (Ex32:34), and
He encourages those who fear Him (Ac9:31).
Faith is fearing Him, and
The life of this faith is being encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
While to "fear refers to being reverent, which is what one feels towards his king or his father,
Today's humanistic education has obliterated discipline in the schools and the homes,
Producing fearless, irreverent people.
Regardless of the times, however, the Bible demands men to fear God for
Those who fear Him will go to heaven while those do not will go to hell.
Because the ancestor of mankind, Adam, became
Fearless by the devil's word and ate the forbidden fruit (Ge3:4),
His spirit consequently died (Ge2:17, 3:6; 1Co15:22).
Noah, on the other hand, when warned about things not yet seen,
In holy fear built an ark and saved his family (He11:7); and
Abraham showed his fear for God by
Giving his only son whom he received at 100 as a burnt offering and was
Encouraged with an offspring (Ge22:12, 18).
All signs and wonders of the Old Testament and
All the commandments were for Israel to fear God (Ex20:20).
Even the sanctuary where the name of Jehovah was
Reminded them this.
But the prophet warned that
Though they feared Him on the surface they had lost their hearts (Is29:13; Mt15:8-9), and that
There was One coming on whom
The Spirit of the fear of the Lord will rest and that
He will delight in the fear of the Lord (Is11:1-2; Mt3:16).
As such, Yeshua came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn2:19),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would show His fear for not the name of Jehovah delivered by angels (Ex3:2-4) but
The name of Yeshua, the name of the Father delivered by the Son (Jn17:11), and
Fulfill the Law and the Prophet (Mt5:17).
As He died, He said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) In His reverent submission to the Father's command, glorified Him who
alone is awesome to be feared for (Jn10:17-18; Php2:6-9; He5:7);
2) Condemned the father of lies, the irreverent devil (Ge3:4; Jn8:44); and
3) With His blood redeemed all men so that they would fear the name of God.
Therefore, the Father raised Him back to life and
Seated Him on the throne in heaven.
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua and
Lets those who believed His name to
Fear the name Yeshua and fear His Word (Jn14:26).
Therefore, in the name Yeshua
The believer is baptized, gathers, praises, prays and works.
He reveres the body of Christ the church, its leaders and one another.
Therefore, God adds on to the number of the saved and
Encourages with answers to his prayers.
O Lord,
Though we were irreverent and rebellious people in the past,
As time passes, the more we know the Word,
The more answers we receive to our prayers (Lk5:8),
We fear You all the more.
Let us tremble and fall before You and
Be encouraged by the Holy Spirit! Amen.
An Heir of God
(Gal4:1-7)
God is the Father of glory (Eph1:7).
He gives birth to children gloriously and
He inherits to His children gloriously.
Faith is believing Him and longing for Him, and
The life of this faith is seizing the inheritance of the Father (Mt11:12).
Regardless of the times,
Whether a family business, a corporation or a nation,
The greater the sacrifice to accomplish it
The greater the desire of the parent to inherit to his children ” this is human nature.
However, when the descendant receives without any sacrifice
Since he knows no value he can easily lose it.
Different from angels
God made man as a living being with flesh (Ge2:7; He2:7) so that
After suffering he can take possession and
Become an heir of God (He1:2, 2:11).
Deceived by the devil, Adam sinned and was banished from the Garden (Ge3:5, 24) and
All men were demoted to become slaves of the servant who was
Made to serve those who will inherit salvation (He1:14; 2Pe2:19).
Nevertheless, God began His work regarding men planned from the beginning (Ge3:5, 24):
He called on Abram when he was childless and
Promised him an inheritance: an offspring and the land of Canaan (Ge15:2-5, 7).
Not only was Isaac the son of Sarah, the mother of nations (Ge17:15-16)
But he also complied with his father Abraham and
Gave himself as a burnt offering, becoming his heir.
Although it was already predestined that he would become the heir
Jacob had to fight to seize it (Ge25:23, 32-33):
By wrestling with the angel, he received the name Israel (Ge32:28) and
His descendants became a great people after their slavery of 430 years and
Finally entered the Promised Land (Ge15:16).
While the Israelites lived in fear under the Law delivered by angels (Ac7:35, 53; Rm8:15),
The sanctuary where the covenant of God was gave them hope.
When the set time had fully come
The Son of God came, born of a woman, born under the Law and
He said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would redeem men from the spirit of servant and give them the adoption of sonship (Gal4:4-5).
As He died, Jesus said, "It finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Gave glory to the Father who let Him fight gloriously against the prince of the world and become His glorious heir (Php2:11);
2) Condemned the devil who without any sacrifice attempted to ascend the throne (Is14:12-15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Tore His flesh and tore the written code, and released those who were slaves of the angel, making a way for them to become heirs of God (Col2:14).
He rose and
Sat on the heavenly throne as the Heir of all things (He1:2).
The Holy Spirit comes in the name Yeshua
To those who have became children of God (Jn1:12) and
Lets them know that the name Yeshua is their inheritance (He1:4-5).
An heir of God is he who while alive
Prays to the Abba Father in His name (Rm8:14-17),
Testifies His name gloriously (Ac5:41; 1Pe4:12-16) and
Produces heir (Rm6:21; 2Ti2:2, 3:10-11), and
Finally receives the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven after death.
O Lord, our Father in heaven!
Let us gloriously fight with the name Yeshua and
Inherit great faith to our heirs of faith! Amen.
Eternity Set In the Human Heart
(Ecc3:1-15)
God is eternal.
His existence is eternal, and
His Word is eternal (1Pe1:25).
Faith is longing for eternity, and
The life of this faith is living for eternity during this brief life.
There is a season for every activity under the heavens:
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to be born and a time to die.
One human life is connecting these two points,
Like the morning fog, like grass.
So what do workers gain from their toil?
Though God set eternity in the human heart
Man neither knows eternity nor
Fathoms what God has done from beginning to end for
The universe is bound by the Spirit of God (Ge1:2).
Since the beginning of the creation,
God showed the beginning and end of all things (Ge1:5), and
After the living being Adam sinned
He banished him from the Garden (Ge3:24).
According to His warning to Noah (Ge6:13)
The waters flooded the earth and
While all living creatures with the breath of life in their nostrils died
Noah and his family lived (Ge7:23-24).
The covenant that God made with Abraham regarding his descendants (Ge15:13) was
Fulfilled on the day 430 years of their stay in Egypt ended (Ex12:42).
The sanctuary that God instructed them to build in the desert (Ex25:8) was
The sanctuary made by hands, an earthly sanctuary,
A copy, a shadow, a model (He9:1, 11, 24),
Until the time of the new order (He9:10, 10:9).
When it was time God sent His Son Jesus,
To be born of a woman, under the Law (Gal4:5),
The time when the condition of death and the law of death had reached their height.
He said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would put an end to all things that have a beginning and an end.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Gave glory to the Father who alone is eternal;
2) Condemned the devil, a creature who wanted to be like God (Eze28:15; 1Jn3:8);
3) With His flesh ended the life that dies once, and with His blood sprinkled eternal life on souls (Jn6:54; He9:27-28).
He resurrected and revealed His eternity (Lk24:39; Jn11:25).
The Holy Spirit comes to those who received His blood, and
Sets eternity in their hearts (1Co2:12) and
Changes the fleshly man to a spiritual one (Col3:1-2).
Therefore, the man of the Spirit is he who
Trades with eternity his brief life ”
His flesh, time, talent, treasure, joy, rest and glory ” and
Gathers into church for
Worship, prayer, service, and dedication in his joy (Ps84:10, 90:1-6, 15; Mt13:44).
O Lord,
Though we are only vapor, living a moment
You have set eternity in our hearts so
Let us not waste even an hour, even an moment of this brief life and
Let us trade it with eternity! Amen.
Do Not Belong to the World
(Jn17:11-21)
God is holy.
He is holy in His nature, and
He dwells eternally in the holy place only with those who are holy.
Faith is believing that one has been made holy by Him, and
The life of this faith is escaping the corruption of the world in order to enter the Holy City (2Pe2:20).
"Holy is an attribute of God that refers to cleanliness,
While things unclean to God are sin, the devil, demons, death, Hades (Is14:12-15),
The world and everything in it (1Jn2:15-17; Rev20:13-14).
In the end, they will all be thrown into hell and be burned up in the fire (2Pe3:7-10).
Yet the world is irresistibly appealing that
Though people resent it they still love it, and
Though they lament it they still regret leaving it.
Furthermore, with the improvement of information and technology
The world is increasingly becoming a better place to live.
However, this is due to the fact that
The ancestor of mankind ate the forbidden fruit that was
"Good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom (Ge3:6), and
All men became slaves to the prince of the world, the devil (2Pe2:19).
Even after God wiped out the world with a flood and
Even confused their language (Ge6:5-7, 11:6-8),
Men continued to develop culture.
God sent Moses and led the people of Israel out of Egypt and
Into the desert for 40 years for them
To wash away the culture they lived under the pharaoh for 430 years because
Only after then they would be brought into Canaan where a holy city would be (Dt8:11-16).
God commanded them to build the sanctuary and
They gave sacrifices there and remembered that
Without the blood they could not enter the holy place (He10:19-22).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple end I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal His holiness for He was sent by the Father as the kingdom of heaven (Mt4:17)
To save the world and judge the prince of the world (Jn12:31, 47).
He was finally put to death by
Those in power who feared that He would become a king (Jn18:33-36) and
Those who wanted to make Him their king became disappointed.
But as He died Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed the holiness of the Father;
2) Condemned the unclean prince of the world (Jn16:11; 1Jn3:8); and
3) By the word of the truth, His blood, made souls holy (Jn1:14, 17:17; Jas1:18).
He rose and entered the Holy City where
He dwells with the holy Father forever.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, who came to
Those cleansed by His blood and
Lets them discern the spirit of the world (1Co2:12) and
Warns them not to love the world.
The man of the Spirit, then, is he who
Washes with water through the word of truth (Eph5:26)
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1Jn2:15-16) so that
He can enter the Holy City when the Lord comes back (Rev21:10-27).
O Lord,
Let none of us after escaping the corruption of the world
Turn our backs on the sacred command,
Like the dog that returns to its vomit or
The sow that is washed returning to her wallowing in the mud!
Let us all leave the world without turning back! Amen.
The Secret of Being Content
(Php4:10-20)
God is almighty.
There is nothing impossible for Him, and
There is no situation where He cannot be.
Faith is believing Him and longing for Him, and
The life of this faith is learning the secret of being content and being content whatever the circumstances.
A "secret refers to the "know-how of solving problems with
Skills, finance, society, family etc ” usually taught by teachers and parents.
If one learns it then he can have a happy, successful life.
Some parents teach their children to focus solely on school for
A better life, because of which
When the children encounter "storms in their life,
They become despaired and are often unable to overcome.
The Bible demonstrates how all puzzles are solved:
How was the world made? (Ge1; Jn1:3)
How was an old man at the age of 100 able to give birth? (Ge18:10, 14; Rm4:17; He11:19)
How did the Israelites walk through the sea? (Ex14:15-16)
How were they able to survive 40 years in the desert? (Ex16:4, 35)
Where did Samson get his great strength from? (Jdg16:17) etc.
They were all made possible by the almighty God who
Gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not (Rm4:17), of which
The sanctuary where the Testimony was
Reminded the Israelites.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal His power to do all for
He is the Son of God Jesus who came as the offspring of the woman (Lk1:31-32).
For He had the flesh,
When He was famished from fasting the devil tempted Him (Mt4:2), and
When He was exhausted He even slept through a storm (Mk4:38).
However, He calmed the storm (Mk4:39),
Fed 5,000 in the desert with two fish and five loaves of bread (Mt14:17-21),
Cast out demons and healed (Mt8:16), and
Called the dead as though he was living and gave him life (Jn11:43-44).
Yet because He refused to becoming their king,
The Jews were disappointed and put Him to death.
Though Jesus was sold like servant and finally died like the unable (Php2:7-8),
As He died, He said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed the almighty God who can be in glory or in need (Php2:6-11);
2) Condemned the devil through the secret of the Son of Man lowering Himself (Is14:12-15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) With His precious blood gave birth to the children of God (1Pe1:19, 23).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit came to those who
Believe in the name of Yeshua (Jn1:12), and
Lets them know that they possess the secret of being content in any and every situation.
The man of the Spirit is he who is
Not proud even if he is in plenty and
Not lowly even if he is in need,
Not proud even if he is in glory and
Not lowly even if he is in shame.
Therefore, he humbly serves God as a royal priest (1Pe2:9).
O Lord,
Like those who know the secret of being content,
Let us be bolder before the strong in the world and
Be weaker before the weak in the world.
Let us all the more humble ourselves before one another! Amen.
The Shrewd Manager
(Lk16:1-13; Eph1:22-23)
God is the Owner.
By His word He made all things and is their Owner (Ps100:3), and
By His blood He redeems souls and is their Owner (1Pe1:18).
Faith is knowing that one belongs to Him, and
The life of this faith is managing His like one's own.
Though communism appeared to be the most ideal form of society,
Insisting on no private property or class,
It collapsed in the end, however, because
Without the sense of ownership there is no desire for labor or management.
While capitalism, on the other hand, acknowledges
Private property and individual interest,
The individual possession in reality is national interest.
God has interest and longing for all those that belong to Him, even the smallest of them,
Such as one sparrow, one sheep, one drachma, or little ones (Mt18:10-14; Lk15:8).
Since God permitted,
Adam enjoyed everything in the Garden of Eden (Ge2:15-17).
Deceived by the devil, however,
He ate the forbidden fruit (Ge3:4-6) and thus
Lost all things and became a slave of the devil (Ge3:24; 2Pe2:19).
God materialized the fact that slaves have no ownership through
The Israelites' slavery in Egypt for 430 years (Ge15:13) and
Life in the desert for 40 years (Dt8:13-16).
The sanctuary where the name of the Lord God and
The golden vase with manna was inside the Testimony
Reminded them that though they owned nothing they lived (Ex16:34-35; He9:4).
But Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
The vase of the perishable manna will be broken (Jn6:27, 31-35; He10:9) and
He would tear His flesh to give the eternal food for the soul for
He came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mt20:28), which was
For Him to gain back His life (Jn10:17).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Returned His soul to the Father the Owner (Lk23:46);
2) Condemned the devil who stole from God (Jn10:8-9; 1Jn3:8); and
3) With His blood purchased men to return them to the Father's house (Rev5:9).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne, where
All things are placed under His feet (Eph1:22).
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua to
Those who believed His name and received the right to possess with Him, and
Gathered them into the church which
He also purchased with His own blood (Ac20:28).
The man of the Spirit knows that
Jesus belongs to the Father (Jn6:27), and
What belongs to the Father is what belongs to Jesus (Jn14:26, 17:6, 10).
He also knows that his own soul purchased by His blood (1Pe1:18),
As well as his flesh, his talent and everything
Belongs to Jesus, belongs to church (Eph1:22-23).
Therefore, with a sense of ownership
He manages shrewdly the souls and all materials for
Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much (Lk16:10-13).
O Lord,
Since You sprinkled Your blood and
Made us also owners
Let us now abandon the spirit of slave and
Become shrewd managers! Amen.
The Mystery of Christ
(Eph5:25-32; Col2:2-3)
God is the God of revelation.
He reveals Himself in His time and in His way, and
He reveals Himself all the more to those who know Him (Mt13:10-17).
"Revelation is that which was hidden before but
Shown later ” that is, the mystery of God.
Faith is knowing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (Mt13:11) and
The life of this faith is selling one's treasure to purchase the hidden treasure (Mt13:44).
Though since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities ”
His eternal power and divine nature ” have been
Clearly seen through all things,
To those who call them "nature they have remained hidden (Rm1:19-20)
The commandment given to Adam regarding the forbidden fruit (Ge2:17) was
God's secret strategy to destroy the devil (1Jn3:8) ”
Through the offspring of the woman (Ge3:15).
God's eternal power and divine nature
Began to be revealed with the exodus (Dt6:20-24), which
The Israelites experienced everyday for 40 years (Ex16:32-35).
To remind this, God commanded them to build the sanctuary where
The ark of the testimony was placed (Ex25:21-22) for
When the ark went,
The Jordan parted, Jericho fell (Jos3:14-17, 6:12-21) and
The household it dwelled in was blessed (2Sa6:11), while
Those who looked inside it were put to death (1Sa5:1-6:19).
Yet it was deep inside the Most Holy Place (Ex26:33-34) for
The mystery of God was still hidden behind the veil.
But Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fully reveal the Father for
He is the incarnate Word from the beginning,
The Son who came from the Father (Jn1:1, 14, 18).
Though all thing were made by Him (Jn1:10), however,
His own did not recognize Him.
Furthermore, He spoke in parables and confused the people (Mt13:10-17).
However, as His flesh tore and He died, Jesus said, "It is finished
(Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Tore the veil and the hidden mystery of the Father was now fully revealed (Mt27:51; He10:20);
2) With His secret weapon destroyed the devil, the archangel who sinned (Is14:12-15; He2:14; 1Jn3:8); and
3) With His blood redeemed all men and fully revealed Himself (Jn15:15; 1Pe1:18).
His resurrection revealed His eternal power and divine nature.
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Lets the deep things of God be known in believers (1Co2:10-11): that
Christ is the mystery of God (Col2:2) and
The church is the mystery of Christ (Eph5:32).
The man of the Spirit is knows that:
1) God's eternal power and divine nature, all treasures of wisdom and
knowledge dwell in His body (Col1:19, 2:3); and
2) The keys of the kingdom of heaven is the authority of the church (Mt16:19).
Knowing this profound mystery of Christ and the church (Eph5:32), therefore,
He can never leave church.
Rather, he shares joy and tears with church,
Gathering together to pray and is faithful to death (Mt18:18-20).
O Lord,
We are so moved that
You reveal to us such a profound mystery, the mystery of the church!
For we can never leave church
Let us laugh and cry with church.
Let us work and live with church.
And finally let us be lifted up to the Groom Christ with church! Amen.
We Are Members of His Body
(Jn15:5-7, Eph5:29-32)
God is Lord.
All things come from Him, and
He gives life abundantly to those who obey Him.
Faith is making a relationship with Him, and
The life of this faith is living attached to the Lord.
"Lord refers to the head, the ruler ”
What a slave calls his master, a people their king.
As such, God wants to be the Lord of all people for
The head and the body have the absolute life relationship.
In the beginning the Creator was vaguely known as "God (Ge1:1; 1Pe4:19), but
When He began to reveal Himself more specifically as a person
He became known as "the Lord God and
He gave the living being Adam the commandment regarding the forbidden fruit (Ge2:4-7, 17).
However, when Adam sinned (Ge3:5-6, 24)
Deceived by the devil, the fallen angel (Is14:12-15),
The Garden became shielded with the flaming sword and angel for
The name Jehovah (the Lord) was the name shielded by angel.
Moses heard the voice of the angel calling him from the burning bush (Ex3:2-5) and
He was kept from coming any closer.
The sanctuary where the name Jehovah was placed (2Ch6:5) was also
Not to be approached carelessly for
The Lord Almighty was enthrone between the cherubim (1Sa4:4; Is1:24; Eze9:3; Jerr2:19).
Thus, the Jews feared the Lord God who is one Lord (Dt6:4).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2;19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would give life to souls and become their Lord for
He is the incarnate Word from the beginning (Jn1:1, 14) who
Came to give life abundantly (Jn6:53-56).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed that the Father alone is the Lord of life who commanded the Son to lay down His life and will raise Him back to life (Jn10:17-8; Php2:6-8);
2) Tore His flesh, the wall of sin, the gates (authority) of the angel (Mt27:51; He10:19-20); and
3) With His blood paid the price of din and purchased all souls (1Pe1:18-19; Rev5:9).
He rose and sat at the righthand of the Majesty as the Lord of Life (Ac3:15) and
By that He is pleasing the Father forever (Jn10:17) while
He is to be glorified surrounded by those wearing the crown of life.
The Holy Spirit comes in the name Yeshua
To the gathering of those who believe that He is the Lord of life ” the church (Mt18:20).
Yeshua is the Head of the church and
The church is His body (Eph1:22), and
Believers are the members of His body, the community of life.
The man of the Spirit is he who
Values himself for being a member of His body and
Thus puts effort to remain attached to His body to live (Jn15:5-7), and
Also cherishes other members (Rm12:3-13; 1Co12:12-27).
O Lord,
Because we did not realize how precious each one of us is
At times we neglected ourselves and
Looked down at others.
From now on, let us cherish one another and cling on to each other!
Lord, do not let go of us! Amen.
The Mystery of Life
(Col3:1-4)
God is the God of wisdom.
Wisdom comes from Him, and
To those who know Him He gives the hidden life (Rev2:17).
Faith is knowing Him and longing for Him, and
The life of this faith is possessing and using His wisdom.
For men desire to unveil the mystery of life
They have been advancing science and
Finally identified and mapped out all of the genes of the human genome
In order to ultimately improve and extend the human life.
All human life, however, ends in death for
God said, "for dust you are and to dust you will return (Ge3:19).
Furthermore, deceived by the serpent
Adam, the ancestor of mankind, ate the forbidden fruit (Ge2:17, 3:5-6)
Attempting to invade God's domain of wisdom.
Consequently, he was banished from the Garden which then
Became hidden by the flaming sword (Ge3:24) ” the limit to the human wisdom.
There were times when God intentionally destroyed the human culture and civilization:
With water He wiped out the entire world (Ge6:12);
He confused the language of men and interrupted them from
Building a city and a tower that reaches to the heavens (Ge11:3-9); and
The end of the world will be as such (2Pe3:7-10; Rev17-19).
Though the people of Israel were tempted to doubt
About having food to eat in the desert for 40 years (Ps78:29),
God surely fed them manna that was hidden in heaven (Ex16:4; Jn6:31-32).
To remind them this, God commanded them to build the sanctuary and
Place the golden vase with manna inside
The Testimony of the Most Holy Place, the deepest place of the sanctuary (Ex25:22; He9:4).
Jesus came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal the mystery of life and give it to all souls for
He is the incarnate Word (Jn1:1, 14), the bread of life (Jn6:32-35), and also
The resurrection and the life (Jn11:25).
Yet as His flesh tore like the veil in the temple and died,
Jesus said, "It is finished (Mt27:51; Jn19:30; He10:20), declaring that He:
1) Submitted according to the Father's wisdom (Jn10:17-18; 1Co1:18-25);
2) With His wisdom led the devil to destroy himself (Jn10:18; He2:14); and
3) Tore His flesh and poured out the mystery of life, His blood (Jn1:4, 14; 1Pe1:18-19).
His resurrection is the perfect revelation of the mystery of life, for which
Men have searched since the creation of the world.
God had hidden it from the wise and learned but has now
Revealed this secret knowledge to little children (Mt11:25).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life (Ac8:2) who
Lets those who received His blood understand the deep things of God, that
The Lord of life Christ is in God and the life of the Christian is deep inside his soul (Col3:1-4).
Therefore, the man of the Spirit
Prays and lays his hand on the sick to extend the life to the flesh, and
Preaches the blood of Christ and supplies the mystery of life to souls, for
He longs for the hidden life inside of his soul to be revealed in glory
When the Lord of life appears a second time.
O Lord,
Though the world may see Your death on the cross as foolishness
It was the wisdom of God to unveil to fools and little children like us to
Know and possess the mystery of life.
How awesome, how great is Your wisdom!
Even if we have to lose our breath
We will never let go of this precious life inside our souls! Amen.
Doing the Will of the Father
(Mt7:21-27)
God has a will.
His will does not change (He6:17) and
He surely fulfills His will (Da4:35).
Faith is knowing His will and honoring it, and
The life of this faith is doing His will.
The man without a will is pitiful
While the man who always changes his will is difficult.
When two men with the same will are allies
While those with different wills are enemies.
For the will of God was decided in eternity it cannot be changed (Is25:1) and
Because things were made according to it He "saw that it was good (Ge1).
Deceived by the devil who challenged God (Is14:12-15) because
He misunderstood God's will of inheriting the throne in heaven (Co1:13; He1:2),
Adam sinned (Ge3:6).
The flood during Noah's time showed that
What God decided once does not change even after decades (Ge6:13, 7:21).
The destruction of Sodom of which Abraham was warned (Ge18:20-21) demonstrated that
Though God showed him a way out His plan was not changed.
Furthermore, Israel's exodus, return to Canaan and establishment of their kingdom (Ge15:13-14)
All indicate how what God revealed to Abraham as His plan was all fulfilled (Ge18:19).
To remind them of this God commanded them to build the sanctuary and
It was to be done according to His specific instructions (Ex25-30) and
The regulations for worship there were to be strictly followed for
It was for God to see if they honored His will.
Nevertheless, the prophet cried out
For them to correct their misunderstanding of God's plan for
His plan was to prosper them and not to harm them and
Give them hope and a future (Jer29:11).
Then Jesus came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fulfill the Father's will for He was sent to do His will (Jn4:34, 6:38), and that
The Father's will was for the Son to give the best for His children ” eternal life (Jn3:16, 6:39-40).
Thus, He said to call God "Father (Mt6:26-27, 23:9).
His final prayer before His arrest was
For not His will but the Father's will be done (Lk22:42).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Willingly laid down His life and revealed that above the death of the Son was the Father's will (Jn10:17-18);
2) Condemned the devil who did not know His will (1Jn3:8); and
3) Through His death redeemed all men and with His blood gave new life in them giving them a chance to live according to the Father's will.
The Father raised Him and
Jesus ascended to the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit came to
Testify that the Father's will has been fulfilled by the Son and
Reveals the deep things of His will to those who believe (1Co2:11).
The Christian is he who
Honors the Father's will (Mt7:21)
Therefore, he surrenders his own will to do the Father's will, expecting risks and suffering, and
Puts every effort to lose not even one of those given to him (Jn6:39-40) so that
On the last day he will enter the kingdom of heaven and receive eternal life.
O Lord,
Let me, my family and all our church members
Choose to do Your will even if it means losing it all and
Let all of us enter eternal life in that day! Amen.
Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness
(Mt6:31-33)
God is the God of glory.
Glory comes from Him, and
With His authority He reigns forever.
Faith is knowing this, and
Since the purpose of prayer and the ultimate purpose of man's life is
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory to be the Father's forever,
Faith life is living only for His kingdom and His righteousness.
A sovereign state has a permanent population, a defined territory,
A government and a capacity to have relations with other sovereign states.
It is an organization with the greatest authority for
Based on a monarch or a constitution
It can draft its people or even send someone to death.
As such, those who die for their nation receive the greatest honor.
Since we now live in what is called, "the global age, however,
Nations trade together and move toward economic unity, because of which
The concepts of nation, ideology and regime are fading.
After Adam sinned, God gave a warning regarding
The enmity between mankind and the devil, and the final battle between them (Ge3:15).
While the people of Israel were a small tribe when they went to Egypt (Ge46:27),
They became a great people when they left after 430 years (Nu2:32) for
God raised them to be a kingdom to fight (Ex19:8; Nu1:3).
After they settled in Canaan,
They were instructed by the judges and the prophets but
They asked for a king to lead them to victory in battle against their neighboring nations (1Sa8:5-9).
The kingdom then split into
The Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah ” also called,
The Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom ” and
Eventually they both collapsed for
Their kings did evil before God (2Ch36:5, 10, 12),
Breaking the law of their kingdom, the Law of God.
Nevertheless, the Temple where
The stone tablets inside the Testimony were
Reminded them they were a kingdom and a people of God.
Furthermore, they waited for the fulfillment of
The prophecy of the King of glory who is mighty in battle (Ps28:7-10).
Jesus came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would make an eternal kingdom of souls and become their King, for
He came as the kingdom of heaven (Mt3:1-2, 4:17)
To judge the prince of the world but save the world (Jn12:31, 47).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Purchased the kingdom of this world and offered it to the Father (Rev5:9);
2) Judged with His death the devil, the prince of the world, the ruler of death (He2:14); and
3) With His blood purchased the souls of all men and made them His eternal kingdom.
His death was for the Son to offer the kingdom to the Father and
His resurrection was for the Father to inherit the kingdom to the Son.
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua ”
The kingdom of God coming with power (Mk9:1) ”
To the souls and the church purchased with His blood (Ac20:28)
To build a kingdom ruled by His Word, the Truth.
The Christian has the pride of
Being the people of a nation that cannot be shaken (He12:28) so
He trusts that this kingdom will give him security and take care of him.
Therefore, for His kingdom and His righteousness
He is honored to sacrifice his possessions and even his life.
O Lord,
When ideologies, constitutions and even "the enemy of the state are all shifting,
Who will reward those who perished
Protecting their nations and their ideologies?
Lord, thank You for
Letting us live for Your eternal kingdom!
We pledge our lives to Your kingdom so
When Your kingdom comes remember us! Amen.
One Drachma
(Lk15:8-11)
God is the Owner.
By His word He made all things and became their Owner, and
With His blood He purchased souls and became their Owner (1Pe1:18; Rev5:9-10).
Faith is knowing one's Owner and thus knowing his self-worth, and
The life of this faith is, in order to participate in the Owner's joy, finding the lost and returning to the
Owner.
While the owner knows the value of his possessions for which he paid a price, and cherishes them,
The thief does not know the value of the things he stole and thus does not cherish them.
The Bible is the story of God
Longingly seeking the lost souls imprinted with His image (Ge1:26),
Like the owner who searches carefully for the lost silver coin.
The misery of mankind is, however, that
They have degraded themselves to images of beasts,
Resulting in demeaning oneself and falling into despair, a sense of inferiority or even suicide.
This is because, deceived by the devil to be an owner like God (Ge3:5-6),
Adam, the ancestor of mankind, ate the forbidden fruit and thus was banished from the Garden,
Now belonging to the devil (2Pe2:19), and
His descendants became lost, wanderers without their owner (Ge4:14).
God sent Moses to Egypt and
Gave a sense of pride as God's people
To the Israelites who belonged to the pharaoh and brought them out (Ex3:7-12).
The sanctuary where
The stone tablets were inside the Testimony and
The Passover which they observed there every year (Ex12:2-10)
Reminded them that they were
God's possessions, kingdom of priests and holy people (Ex19:5).
Nevertheless, since they often forgot their Owner and went astray (Is1:3),
The prophets cried out to them to return to Him.
Jesus came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days" (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would pay the highest price of His own blood and purchase the souls of men.
Thus, His gospel was preached
To the lost sheep of Israel, such as the tax collectors and the prostitutes (Mt10:5-6).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that:
1) The Father paid the highest price of the blood of the One and Only Son and became the eternal Owner (He10:10; Rev5:10);
2) Condemned the thief, the devil (Jn10:10; 1Jn3:8); and
3) No longer paying the price of the blood of animals to make His people, paid the price of His own blood for souls and made them His eternal possession (1Pe1:18-19).
He rose and ascended to the heavenly throne as
The Lord, the Owner of all (He1:2).
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua -
The pride and the confidence of Yeshua - and
Lets believers know He is their Owner.
The man of the Spirit knows his new self-worth, and
Therefore, he is not ashamed in the world.
He loves to be in the church where his worth is even more magnified, and
Eagerly goes out to seek the lost souls to return them to the Owner so that
in the last day he would be found
Belonging to Christ, with His image formed in him (1Co15:23; Gal4:19) and
Finally share His happiness (Mt25:23).
O Lord,
How is it that
You treated me to be worth the blood of the One and Only Son
When I am so lowly and worthless?
I am so happy that I have
The church that considers me worthy!
I am happy, I am confident!
I love You, Lord! Amen.
He is Going Ahead of You
(Mt28:1-10)
God is from everlasting to everlasting (Neh9:5).
He is before time and
He goes ahead before all events.
Faith is acknowledging Him, and
The life of this faith is trusting and following Him.
Men respect those who are before them, such as
Ancestors, predecessors, teachers, and elder siblings,
Since they honor their experiences and learn from them.
Furthermore, they follow those who went ahead of them, such as
Pioneers and groundbreakers for
They want to follow their footsteps of success.
After the ancestor of mankind, Adam,
Ignored God's warning and sinned (Ge2:17, 3:6),
He inherited sin and death to his descendants.
Nevertheless, to let His attribute and plan be known
God called Abraham, the father of faith (Ge12:1).
According to the prophecy that
His descendants will be strangers in a foreign land and return in four generations (Ge15:13-16),
All Israel left Canaan because of famine and went to Egypt (Ge37:28) for
God had sent before them a man ” Joseph ” and prepared food for them (Ps105:16-23).
God sent Moses and
At the end of the 430 years to the very day, they left Egypt (Ex12:40-41) and
They were led into the desert where
God spread for them a table (Ps78:19).
He commanded them to build the sanctuary where
The golden vase of manna was placed inside the Testimony (He9:4) and
It reminded them of God who prepared ahead for their ancestors.
There was also the prophecy that
God would first send the prophet to prepare the way
For the Messiah to come (Mal4:5; Mk9:11-13).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would go ahead before all souls and prepare for them (Jn14:2-3) for
He is the incarnate Word from the beginning (Jn1:1, 14),
Before Abraham was born (Jn8:58),
The firstborn over all creation (Col1:15).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Appeared before the One who is before all things and lifted up the Father who alone is from everlasting to everlasting (He9:24);
2) Condemned the devil who attempted to be the first to ascend the heavenly throne prepared for the Son (Is14:12-15; He1:2); and
3) With the sins of men died first and made them holy becoming brother to them (He2:11).
His resurrection is the first fruit of resurrection (1Co15:20), and
His ascension is the first escape from Hades, the universe (Col1:15; 2Pe3:7).
The Holy Spirit who came in the name Yeshua
Shows those who follow Him
The place where He first went and prepares for them (Jn14:2; Php3:11-13; Rev20:5).
The man of the Spirit no longer
Worries about the food that spoils for
Yeshua went ahead and prepares for them (Jn21:9).
Therefore, he revolves to follow the path He went ahead
Until he finally arrives in the Father's house.
While there is no answer from the tombs of our human ancestors,
Yeshua who died and rose teaches us:
"Death? It is only a moment so do not be afraid!
Resurrection? It is wonderful so endure and follow Me!
O Lord,
This path You went ahead of us
Let us follow until the end! Amen.
Peace Be With You!
(Jn20:19-23)
God is the God of peace (Php4:9).
In Him is peace and peace comes from Him, and
He rules with peace.
Faith is longing for His peace, and
The life of this faith is overcoming the world with the peace of God.
Men put effort to find peace in their hearts by
Seeking religion, psychological therapy or even alcohol, drugs, smoke etc.
This is because life itself is filled with anxieties, worries, and fear.
The peace that the Christian has, however, flows out from his soul and
It is his great power to surpass his circumstances and conditions.
While the Garden where Adam lived was a peaceful environment,
Everything changed in one moment, however,
When he was deceived by the devil and sinned (Ge3:4-5).
The human life thereafter became a continuation of wars:
Wars against poverty, sickness, societies, nations, and even family members.
God brought the Israelites out of their slavery and into the desert,
With the promise of a land of peace (Dt12:10-11).
He gave them commandments and
They were to pray for peace
At the Temple of Jerusalem (Ge22:2, 8, 14; 2Ch3:1).
There were also prophecies about a child born with the name Prince of Peace (Is9:6), and
God's plan to prosper them and not harm them, to give them hope and a future (Jer29:11),
As well as His promise of life and peace (Mal2:5), for all of which they longed.
Yet Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would give the perfect and eternal peace to all souls for
He is the incarnate Word, the king of Salem, king of peace (He7:2).
But since He was under no physical circumstance to wish peace on any,
He was despised and rejected by men (Is53:2-4).
However, as He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Confessed that peace comes from the Father alone and gave glory to Him (Php2:11);
2) Condemned the devil, the destroyer (1Jn3:8); and
3) Paid the price of sickness, sadness and sin in place of men, and gave them peace (Is53:5).
He endured the cross
For the joy set before Him, His resurrection (He12:2).
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua and
Gives to the believer peace like flowing rivers of living water (Jn7:38-39).
The man of the Spirit is
He who possesses the peace of Yeshua (Jn20:19-22), and thus
Endures fear, anxiety and sorrow for the joy set before him (He12:1-3).
He prays for peace for whomever he meets
By preaching the good news of the forgiveness of sin (Jn20:23).
O Lord,
We do not fear death
For we possess this perfect and eternal peace inside our souls!
Let us go out as messengers of Your peace and
Bring this good news of the forgiveness of sin to others! Amen.
The Name That Is Above Every Name
(Mt1:21; Php2:6-11)
God is holy.
His nature is holy, and
All that come from Him ” His Word, His Son, His name and the Holy Spirit ” are holy.
Faith is acknowledging this, and
The life of this faith is lifting Him up like no other.
Everyone who has a name wishes to
Have his name be above others, and
For that he puts every effort.
The Bible is a record of the holiness of the name of God:
"Holiness refers to being "set apart or "different for
His name is like no other, above every name.
Deceived to be like God
Adam sinned and was banished from the Garden (Ge3:6, 24).
This was due to the serpent, the devil,
The angel who attempted to lift himself above all other angels, because of which
He was cast down to Hades (Is14:12-15).
Nevertheless, God's work of revealing His name began
When He called Moses (Ex3:2-4).
"Jehovah was the name of God manifested by the angel,
The name Israel was to call from generation to generation (Ex3:15).
God commanded them to not misuse His name for
He will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name (Ex20:7) ”
Thus a name to be feared.
God commanded them to build the sanctuary for His name to be there (1Ki8:16), and
He forbid them from approaching it for
It was a place that set His name apart.
The Son of God came and His name is Yeshua (Mt1:21) ”
The Father's name that the Son came in (Jn17:11) and
The name to be called upon to be saved (Ac4:12; Rm10:10).
Yeshua said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal and lift up the name Yeshua, and
As such, in His name He drove out demons which were something never done before (Mt9:32-34).
As He died, He said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Lifted up the Father's name by lowering Himself to death (Php2:6-8);
2) Condemned the devil who attempted to raise himself up (1Jn3:8); and
3) Tore His flesh, the temple of His body, and gave the name of God to all men (He10:19-20).
Then the Father raised Him up and exalted Him to the highest place and
Gave Him the name that is above every name (Php2:9-11).
The Holy Spirit came and
The name Yeshua began to be spread across the world (Ac1:8),
Making His name more known than when He was alive in the world.
The man of the Spirit stands out
In the way he lifts up the name Yeshua in
Worship, praise, preaching, prayer, driving out demons and healing, and
Considers it an honor to be persecuted for His name (Ac5:41) for
The name Yeshua is above every name, and
Therefore he longs to be found with
The name written on his forehead when the Lord returns (Rev22:4).
O Lord,
Let my life be dedicated in
Bringing one more soul on his knees to confess Yeshua is Lord, and
Let me be found with the name Yeshua on my forehead for the world to see! Amen.
The Lord Jesus Will Come Back
(Ac1:9-11)
God is the Lord of glory (Ps8:1).
For He cherishes His honor, He surely keeps His word, and
To those who know His glory He finally reveals Himself in glory (2Th1:10).
Faith is knowing Him and waiting for Him, and
The life of this faith is preparing one's own glory to meet Him in that day.
To display their glory,
The kings in this world are escorted by many who are also honorable.
How could, then, the lowly meet the King of kings
When He comes in all glories?
The Israelites were made for the glory of God (Ps43:7) and
Moses saw the glory of God from the burning bush and
Brought them out of Egypt (Ex3:2, 12).
Thereafter, they saw the glory of God
When they ate manna everyday in the desert (Ex16:7), and
From the tabernacle in their midst which was filled with His glory (Ex40:34).
Yet all they saw was His back and not His face (Ex33:23) for
It was not time yet for man to see His glory directly and live.
Nevertheless there was the prophecy about
The coming of the king of glory (Ps24:7), and thus,
They waited for the appearance of the Messiah (Jn4:25).
Jesus came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal the glory of the Father for
He is the incarnate Word who was with the Father in the beginning,
The glory of the One and Only Son (Jn1:1, 14, 18), and
He came with and for the glory of the Father (Jn17:4-5, 24).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Laid down His life for the glory of the Father (Jn10:18; Php2:6-11);
2) Condemned the devil who tried to steal God's glory in heaven (Is14:12-15; 1Jn3:8); and
3) With His blood redeemed all men's sins and made a way for them to become His glorious children (Mt20:24; Rm8:21).
He rose from the dead and confirmed that:
1) His first coming was by the Father's glory (Jn1:14, 17:5);
2) His ascension was His taking His own glory and entering the Father's house (Jn7:39; Lk24:26); and
3) His return will be in glory to be welcomed by those who prepared their own glory (2Th1:10).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent came and
Testifies in those who believe His name that
Jesus is now King, seated at the right hand of God (Ac2:33-36), and that
He will come back just as He said He would (Jn14:16; Ac1:11).
The Christian believes in His death and resurrection (1Th4:14), and
Also in His return to take him back.
To welcome the Lord Jesus in the air
When He returns with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel,
With the trumpet call of God (Mt25:31; 1Th4:14-18),
He prepares his own glory now
As a bride awaiting her groom with a lamp burning (Mt25:1-13),
Preparing her wedding clothes (Mt22:1-14), and
Putting effort to make profit (Mt25:14-30).
Therefore, he truly, wholeheartedly
Worships, prays, preaches and works
For the name Yeshua to receive glory (Php2:10-11; 2Th1:12)
O Lord,
In that day,
Let not even one of my beloved family and the brothers and sisters in Christ
Be left behind on earth.
Let us wake up and diligently prepare for that day! Amen.
Resurrection is Truth
(Lk24:36-43; 1Co15:12-19)
God is the God of truth (Ps31:5).
Truth comes from Him, and
He rules with truth.
Faith is knowing Him, and
The life of this faith is putting every effort to adapt and apply the truth to one's life.
Truth refers to the unchanging principle.
All forms of science, academics and religions have ceaselessly investigated it.
While men cannot make even one principle,
They have discovered, proved, adapted and applied it,
Thus improving culture and civilization.
Yet before the truth, "all men die
They can only comply.
The Bible clearly records about this, its cause and solution.
This is because what came to be will certainly disappear (Ge1; 2Pe3:7) as
This is God's principle of the creation.
God made man from the dust of the ground and
Breathed into him the breath of life, making him a living being, Adam (Ge2:7).
Subsequently it became a principle that,
His flesh returns to dust while his spirit returns to God (Ge3:19).
However, deceived by the serpent Adam sinned (Ge3:6), and
Sin entered all men (Rm5:12; 1Co15:22) and
After death to face judgment (He9:27).
God gave the Law to Israel and
It came to be known as "the law of sin and death (Rm8:2) for
No one could escape such (He9:27).
And the sanctuary where
There were the stone tablets insides the Testimony
Reminded them about this law.
Jesus came and said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would tear down the law of sin and death and establish a new law, for
He is the resurrection and the life, the truth (Jn11:25, 14:6)
Calling out the dead from the tomb.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed that the Father's law is truth, by fulfilling the principle of creation, the flesh, dying once (Ps119:142; Jn17:17);
2) Condemned the devil, the father of lies (Ge3:4; Jn8:44; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Redeemed the sins of men and sprinkled His blood, the seed of life, on them (Eph1:7; 1Pe1:19, 23; Jn1:4).
He rose on the third day after His death and it is the truth.
He is not a created man but
The incarnate Word who was in the beginning ” that is
The God of truth (Jn1:1-4, 14; He1:2; 1Jn1:1).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (Jn14:16, 16:13) who
Leads those who believe that Jesus is the life, the resurrection and the truth (Jn11:25, 14:6)
Not to hell through the resurrection to condemnation
But to eternal life through the resurrection to life (Jn5:29; Rev20:13-14).
Therefore the man of the Spirit makes
The first resurrection at the return of the Lord Jesus as his goal (1Co15:22-23) and
Presses on to become like Christ in His death (Php3:10).
O Lord,
What if there was no principle of resurrection?
What if our Lord Jesus did not resurrect?
What would we have become? In total despair!
But that is not true ” You resurrected!
Resurrection is the truth! Amen.