Fear the Lord
(He 5:7-11)
God is seated on the throne above (Rev 4:10-11).
He created all things and is above them.
He created all spirits and is above them (Eze 28:13; He 12:9).
Faith is fearing Him, and
The life of faith is fearing God until salvation is finally achieved.
To fear or to revere refers to
Falling before the victorious king in adoration.
Sin, according to the Bible, refers to
Being fearless before God (Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6):
Adam fearlessly ate the forbidden fruit and was
Banished from the Garden in the end, because
He was deceived by the serpent, that is Satan, who
Dared to challenge the throne of God in heaven and
He was cast down (Is 14:12-15; Rev 12:7-9).
For Noah feared God
When he was warned of the flood, he built the ark and
He was saved from it while the entire world was destroyed (He 11:7).
For Abraham feared God
As God instructed he did not withhold his only son
But instead gave him as an offering to God (Ge 22:12).
As result, he received the promise of many descendants and the only Son of God (Ge 22:18).
Furthermore, God gave the Law to Israel to test them (Ex 20:20).
While they feared Him, they eventually tested God, angering Him (Mal 1:14).
The sanctuary where the name of the Lord God was
The reminder for them to fear Him.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fear and honor the Father for
He is the very nature God who was with the Father in the beginning but
Took the very nature of a servant coming in the flesh (Jn 1:1; Php 2:6-8)
To set a model of fearing and honoring the Father (Mt 20:28; Rm 8:29).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and honored the Father (Jn 10:18; PHp 2:6-8);
2. Destroyed the angel who fearlessly challenged God (Is 14:12-15; Jude 1:6); and
3. Redeemed and set free those held in slavery by their fear of death (Mt 20:28; He 2:14-15).
For Jesus revered the One who could save Him from death,
While He was in the flesh He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears (He 5:7-11).
Finally He was heard and saved from death, and
He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who honor Him (Jn 5:23).
The Holy Spirit comes in the name Yeshua To those who believed and received His name (Jn 1:12), and
Lets them know Him (1Co 2:11) and fear:
1. His judgment (Jn 5:21-23; 2Ti 4:1);
2. Being cut off from the fellowship with the Holy Spirit (Ps 51:11; 2Co 13:14); and
3. Not being heard (Pr 1:28-29).
Therefore, the man of the Spirit
Reveres Yeshua and His word,
Reveres His body the church and the given duties, and
Reveres the appointed overseers (2Sa 6:16; 2Ki 2:24; Ac 8:11),
For he longs for the day when he can go before Him who sits on the throne and
Fall down before Him and worship Him forever (Rev 4:10-11).
O Lord,
I repent for having been fearless before You!
I want to honor You starting this New Year so
Do not let the Holy Spirit cease working in me!
Hear me whenever I cry out to You!
Amen.
The Length of Our Days
(Ps 90:1-12)
God is everlasting.
His existence is everlasting and
His joy and happiness are all everlasting.
Faith is believing Him and loving Him, and
The life of this faith is numbering one's days and, thus, not toiling in vain.
For the length of a man's days is 70, if healthy 80, a life goes by in a moment (Ps 90:10).
No matter how long a life, thus, it is meaningless with only sadness remaining.
This is because the ancestor of all mankind, Adam, was
Deceived by the serpent and sinned (Ge 3:4-19).
As a result, even though they give birth and raise their children,
Even though they toil and live by the sweat of their brows,
They became destined to return to dust, with all their toils in vain.
God clearly showed that the toils of sinners are meaningless (Ge 6:5, Ge 6:17)
When He covered the entire world with water - except for Noah's ark.
For whether a teacher, an ordinary man or even an animal,
Every life ends in death,
All the things that are done under the sun are meaningless,
A chasing after the wind (Ecc 1:2-14, Ecc 3:11)
Yet in the sanctuary where the name of the Lord God was,
Israel could work to serve God (Dt 12:7).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal that,
Though He came through the body of a woman in the last days (He 1:2; Php 2:7),
He is the everlasting God who is before Abraham (Jn 8:58),
For He is the incarnate Word in the beginning (Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14),
The resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25).
Even as His breath was being cut off
Jesus remained satisfied and said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life to reveal that the Father alone is everlasting (Ge 3:19; Ps 90:3; Jn 10:18);
2. Judged the devil who attempted to be like God (Is 14:12-15); and
3. Bore the iniquities of men through His toils,
so that they no longer have to toil meaninglessly under the devil (Is 53:11; He 2:14-15).
Finally through His resurrection,
Jesus received what He toiled for - the throne in heaven (Ps 128:2; Php 2:9-11; He 1:2).
The Holy Spirit came to those who
Ate the flesh and drank the blood of Jesus (Jn 6:54), and
He lets them live a new life through the new breath (1Co 12:13).
The Christian is he who has
The wisdom to number his days (Ps 90:12).
Therefore, he cherishes each day he is given, and
Commends himself in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger (2Co 6:4-5),
Declaring the gospel of forgiveness (Lk 24:47; Jn 20:23), and
Edifying as members the one body the church (1Co 12:25).
He longs for the day when he will rest from his labor (Rev 14:13), and
Finally eat the fruit of his toil in the place where there is eternal joy and happiness (Rev 22:1-5).
O Lord,
As the year 2013 comes to an end,
I am terribly sadden and sorry for myself for losing so many days already!
Let me not lose even an hour in the new year and
Use every moment as precious as gold.
Amen.
The King who Humbly Came
(Zec 9:9; Mt 2:1-12;)
God is high above (Mt 6:6; Job 11:8).
He is in the heaven high above and His name is also high (Ps 93:4, Ps 148:13), and
He lifts up those who lift Him up (Job 5:11).
Faith is acknowledging Him, and
The life of this faith is to lower oneself in order to lift Him up.
Humility or being humble refers to bending down to lower oneself,
While a king is on the throne high above worthy to be lifted up.
These two opposite attributes are within the Son of God, Jesus.
Adam sinned since he listened to his wife who was deceived by the serpent, to be like God (Ge 3:4).
The devil is he who attempted to lift himself above the throne in heaven, and
As a result he was cast down to Hades, waiting for the Day of Judgment (Is 14:12-15).
Though the people of Israel received
The promise given to Abraham, the "father of many nations (Ge 17:5),
God let them begin with their slavery (Ge 15:13-14) for
All men became slaves of the devil since Adam (2Pe 2:19).
For God lowers the tall and grows the low (Eze 17:24),
King Saul, because of his pride, fell from the throne (1Sa 15:30)
While David, because he remained humble until the end, rose to the throne.
On the one hand, the sanctuary where the name of the Lord God was
Reminded Israel of the prophecy of the coming of the king of glory (Ps 24:7-10; Is 9:6-7),
On the other hand, there were prophecies of the One who will descend to Hades (Is 57:9),
The King who will come lowly, riding on a donkey (Zec 9:9).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal that He is the King who came according to the prophecies (Mt 1:1, Mt 2:1-12),
Born a baby in a barn in Bethlehem of Judea
Taking the very nature of a servant, in human likeness (Php 2:6-11),
Gentle and riding on a donkey (Mt 21:1-6).
Finally, like a sinner He died on a cross, the lowest point of the very nature God.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and exalted the Father as the only Most High (Jn 10:18; Php 2:6-11);
2. Brought down Satan who tried to lift himself up (1Jn 3:8); and
3. Lifted up men who were enslaved under the devil and opened a way for them to go to the heaven above (He 2:15).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne,
Becoming the Prince and the Savior (Ac 5:31).
The Holy Spirit comes to those who welcomed and received the name Yeshua (Jn 1:12), and
Testifies that Jesus was exalted above the heavens (He 7:26).
The Christian welcomes the coming of Yeshua as the King, and
Humbly kneels before His name, for
The kingdom of heaven is only for those
Who lower themselves like little children (Mt 18:4, Mt 23:12), and
The church is the place of race to lower oneself (1Co 9:24).
Therefore, until the Lord lifts him up (Jas 4:10),
He puts every effort to be found as the humble one (Job 40:12; Php 3:9) by:
1. Bowing his head - for he is ashamed of his sin;
2. Bending his back - treating others better than himself; and
3. Bending his knees - praying to God.
O Lord,
Break off the horns of my pride (Ps 75:10) and
Let me not cause any soul to stumble (Mt 18:6) but
Rather let me humble myself and be gentle so that I may gain partners.
Amen.
The Righteous Soul
(2Pe 2:4-10)
God is righteous (Ps 7:9; Jn 17:25).
His word is righteous and by His righteousness He judges (Ps 119:60, Ps172), and
He dwells with the righteous (Mt 25:46; 2Pe 3:13).
Faith is acknowledging Him and believing that one has been justified by Him, and
The life of this faith is coming out of unrighteousness and willingly becoming separated from it (2Co 6:14-18).
Righteousness refers to the law, the measuring-stick for what is right.
It judges righteousness and unrighteousness, and
It is absolute, thus, uncompromising.
Since the ancestor of mankind, Adam, took for granted God's law that
Forbade him from eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Ge 2:17),
He listened to his wife who was deceived by the serpent and
Eventually he was banished from the Garden of Eden (Ge 3:6, Ge 3:24).
After receiving the warning regarding God's judgment by flood,
For Noah feared God he consistently built the ark for about 70 years, and
As a result, he and his family were saved, becoming heir of righteousness (He 11:7).
When Lot was warned of the judgment by brimstone fire against Sodom (2Pe 2:6-8),
He had been tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard there.
Thus, he was able to leave overnight without looking back and was saved.
Because he received the righteousness of God, the Law,
Moses had to veil his face and became isolated.
For about 40 years he led them (Ex 34:34), and
Finally died alone on Mount Nebo, overlooking Canaan (Dt 34:1-3).
The sanctuary where the stone tablets were inside the Testimony
Reminded the Israelites to fear God the righteous judge.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would reveal that He is the righteousness of God, as
He was testified by the Father in heaven after being baptized by John, which was
To fulfill all righteousness (Mt 3:13-17).
Though He is the Son of God, the righteousness itself (Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18),
When He came in the flesh, He came to do the work of the righteous Father (Jn 6:38, Jn 17:25), and
He warned of the coming judgment against the world and
The destruction by fire (Mt 24:37-39; Mk 9:42-48).
Eventually, the disciples all left Him and Jesus died alone,
But He said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. By dying judged as a sinner exalted the Father as the only righteous judge (Rm 3:25-26; Jn 10:18; Php 2:6-11);
2. Judged the unrighteous one, the devil (1Jn 3:8); and
3. By becoming sin -though He knows no sin- opened the way for sinners to leave unrighteousness and become righteous (Jn 14:6; 2Co 5:21).
He rose and ascended the heavenly throne and
Became the righteous king.
The Holy Spirit comes to testify about Yeshua
In him who believed and was baptized in the name Yeshua and
Has become justified (Jn 1:12; Mk 16:16; Rm 3:21-22), and
Gives him the righteous soul.
The Christian is he who is
Distressed and pained by unrighteousness, lawlessness (2Pe 2:6-8),
Not accepting or keeping silence about it.
Therefore, as a preacher of righteousness (2Pe 2:5),
He preaches the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to unbelievers and the truth to believers.
Even if he is persecuted he rejoices,
Even if he is misunderstood he does not cease (Mt 5:11), and
Even if he is not recognized he finishes the lonely path (2Co 6:3-10), for
He longs to enter the new heaven and the new earth where righteousness dwells
When the Lord returns (Mt 25:46; 2Pe 3:7-16).
O Lord,
I can never go to hell!
I also can never see any of the souls You have given me go to hell!
Even if I have to walk the loneliest path
I will never turn back to the world! Amen.
The Toils of My Soul
(Is 53:1-12)
God is the God of comfort (Rm 5:5; 2Co 1:3).
All comfort comes from Him and
He comforts eternally those who toil for their souls (2Th 2:16).
While the world comforts those who sacrifice themselves for
Their nations, politics, ideologies etc.
With medals, rewards or even monuments,
When the nations, politics and ideologies change
Their toils become meaningless.
But more importantly, who would comfort their souls?
Faith is, thus, being satisfied by God's comfort alone and
The life of this faith is all the more laboring to be comforted on the day of Christ (Php 2:16).
Because Adam, the ancestor of all men, sinned against God (Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6),
Though they are briefly comforted when they give birth after the pains of childbirth (Ge 3:16),
They must return to dust and (Ge 3:19)
All their toils become meaningless like chasing after the wind (Ecc 1:3, Ecc 1:14).
God comforted Noah who toiled according to God's promise (Ge 5:29).
Likewise, God did not send away empty-handed
Jacob who had worked as a servant for 20 years and
The Israelites who were enslaved for 430 years.
The comforter of Israel was the Lord God alone (Is 51:12).
The Law banned idolatry, which is man's effort to comfort himself (Ex 20:4).
God blessed those who gave sacrifices in the sanctuary where
God placed His name and let them rejoice (Dt 12:7).
However, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19-20),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would fulfill the prophecy regarding God's comfort in Jerusalem (Is 66:13; Lk 2:25).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Sought the Father's comfort even in the midst of pains (Lk 23:46; Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the devil who tried to comfort himself (Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Gave birth to souls through the toils of His soul (Is 53:11).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne of eternal comfort, and
The Counselor whom He sent is the Comforter of Jesus (Jn 15:26).
The Christian is he whose soul has
Received the comfort of Jesus, and
Thus comforts the toils of Jesus through worship and praise, and
Even through trials and tests
He is comforted by the word (Ps 23:4; Rm 15:14; 1Co 1:3-7).
Furthermore, he labors for the church and edifies it
By teaching the truth, preaching the gospel,
Doing good deeds, prayer etc. (Ac 9:31).
Though he toils much he considers them all as grace (1Co 15:10) for
He longs to see the face of the Lord and be comforted
On the day of Christ (Php 2:16).
O Lord,
The toils of men are all meaningless,
But thank You for letting me toil for my soul!
Until Christ is formed in the souls You have given me
Let me go through the pains of childbirth (Gal 4:19) and
On the last day, comfort me so that I may see Your face!
Amen.
The Peace in My Soul
(Jn 14:25-31, Jn 16:32-33)
God is the God of peace (Rm 15:33).
Peace comes from Him, and
He keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast (Is 26:3).
Faith is my soul longing for peace, and
The life of this faith is knowing that one is destined for any trial and, thus, having peace without being shaken (1Th 3:3).
As time passes the world becomes filled with more anxiety, nervousness, fear etc.
Because of wars, terrorism, diseases, competition, unemployment, corruption etc.
Thus, people seek ways to console themselves
Through vacations, retreat, hospitalization, drugs, alcohol etc.
Yet the number of suicide is increasing for
What man needs the most is peace.
The Bible points Adam's breaking of God's word (Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6) as
The cause of sin and punishment (Ge 4:13).
Through Moses God brought Israel out of their suffering (Ex 4:12) and
Delivered them from Egypt and led them into the wilderness (Dt 32:10) so that
He would lead them to their resting place of peace (Ps 132:8).
The ark in the sanctuary where God promised to dwell among them (Ex 25:8)
Reminded them that He was with them.
However, unlike its meaning of "promised peace (Ps 122:6),
The Temple of Jerusalem which was built by
The man of peace, Solomon (1Ch 22:7-9)
Saw endless battles and destruction (Jer 15:5).
Yet God's plan for man was not disaster but peace (Jer 29:11).
Furthermore, the prophet spoke of the appearance of the Prince of peace (Is 9:6).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19-20), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would give to souls His peace that the world cannot give (Jn 14:27).
As such, even the boat that carried Him was peaceful even in the storm (Mk 4:36-41).
As He was mocked, Jesus died and said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Commended His soul to the Father who added on the suffering to give Him peace (Is 38:17);
2. Judged the devil who broke peace (Ge 3:4-6; Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Was punished on all men's behalf and gave their souls peace (Is 53:5; 1Pe 2:24).
He rose and gave peace to the disciples (Jn 20:21), and
Ascended to heaven and became the Prince of peace who has eternal peace.
The Holy Spirit comes to the souls who are
Forgiven by the blood of Jesus and
Lets them stay in Him so that they may have peace:
1. When they sin confess to Jesus, their Defender (1Jn 1:8-10, 1Jn 2:1);
2. Surrender their will, their plans, and do according to His will (Mt 26:39); and
3. Kneel before the name Jesus in worship, praise and prayer.
The Christian has the river of peace flowing out of his soul.
Therefore, even in the moment of his death
He is unshaken and keeps his peace.
O Lord,
One things my soul desires is Your peace!
If I can only have this until I die
I can overcome poverty, solitude, disease, terrorism, wars and even death!
Please give my family this peace.
Amen.
Suffering and Thanksgiving
(2Co 8:1-15)
God is the Lord of grace.
From Him comes grace and
He infinitely pours out to those who know His grace.
Faith is knowing this and giving thanks, and
The life of this faith is giving even more thanks in the midst of trials.
Grace refers to the freely given gift.
While everyone loves gifts,
It is those who do not have any that welcome gifts and
Not those who already have them.
Starving allows one to be grateful for food, sickness for health,
Bondage for freedom, disaster for rescue and sentence to death for life.
As such, when people have things, they are not grateful but
Only when they lose they realize what they had was not theirs, thus,
They have gratitude.
Since the ancestor of mankind, Adam, lived in the Garden
He did not lack any and, thus, did not give thanks (Ge 2:15-16).
Deceived by the devil, he sinned (Ge 3:5-6) and
He was banished out of the Garden, losing everything -
The beginning of all men's suffering (Ge 3:23-24).
The Israelites were a people chosen by God since Abraham (Ge 17:7-8) and
God began to be concerned about them
When they cried out of their pains in slavery in Egypt (Ex 2:23-25).
When they finally escaped Egypt and were saved from the Sea,
They greatly rejoiced (Ex 14:31-15:18).
Their joy and gratitude, however, was for a moment
Since the only thing they could see before them was the endless wilderness (Ex 16:22-23).
All those who complained and resented
Fell in the desert and died (Nu 14:26-30),
While the few who gave thanks even in the midst of the suffering
Entered the Promised Land.
Even so, however, because of the Law, which was impossible for them to keep, (Rm 8:20)
Their misery and fear became worse by the day (Rm 8:15).
They gave thanks to the Lord (Ps100).
In the sanctuary where the Testimony was.
When the time had fully come,
The Son of God came in the flesh (Jn 1:14; Gal 4:5) and
He said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would give the perfect thanksgiving and
Become the reason for all men's thanksgiving for
He came to bear their sins, as well as their sickness, worries, sorrow, poverty etc. (Is 53:4-6).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Gave His body as a thanksgiving offering to the Father, in the midst of the greatest suffering (Ps100; Jnh 2:7-9);
2. Condemned the ungrateful archangel (Eze 28:13-17); and
3. With His blood redeemed the sins of all men and revealed the riches of God's grace (Eph 1:7; 1Pe 2:24).
He rose and entered the gates of heaven with thanksgiving and
Sat on the throne in heaven (Ps 100:4-5).
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace, lets
God's children know what He has freely given them (1Co 2:12) and
Lets them give all the more thanks in the midst of trials (2Co 8:1-2) for:
1. He gives trials they can bear (1Co 10:13);
2. He also provides a way out so that they can endure it.
The Christian, therefore,
When he is in the midst of a trial
Remembers the thanks in the past and truly gives thanks, and
Gives even greater thanks for providing a way out, that is, prayer (Rev 6:3-4), as
He longs to enter the gates of heaven with thanksgiving.
O Lord,
Let us never resent You with our lips.
Rather, let us well up with thanksgiving in our hearts, especially in hard times and
Break down the walls that surround us, and
Finally enter through the gates of heaven in the last day!
Amen.
Now is the Time of His Favor!
(2Co 6:1-2)
God is everlasting.
He has no beginning or end, and
Everything that He does endures forever (Ecc 3:14).
Faith is loving Him and
The life of this faith is wisely using one's limited time and exchanging it with eternity.
If land or a seed misses timing, it cannot produce crop (He 6:7).
Likewise, if a man misses his productive years,
He becomes a useless person.
Thus, the matter of success and failure depends on seizing the opportunity (Ecc 3:1-8).
Deceived by the devil,
Adam sinned (Ge 3:4-6) and
All men were demoted as slaves of the devil (2Pe 2:19) and
Lost the earthly paradise (Ge 3:24).
The Bible illustrates stories of those who
Seized the given opportunity and changed their fate:
Abraham received a son at the age of 100;
Jacob stole his brother's birthright and blessing (Ge 25:31-34, Ge 27:1-46); and
David cut off the head of the enemy and
Became the son-in-law to the king, and eventually a king himself (2Sa 6:8-11).
It also tells stories of those who missed their chances
Though they sought with tears later, such as Esau (He 12:16-17).
The sanctuary reminded them this for generations.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn 2:19-20), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would use His time as the Son of Man - which was
When the Law reigned (Gal 4:4-5),
The Greek language was spread across the land and
The Roman Empire had built the roads.
As Jesus died, he said, "It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and exchanged it with eternal life (Jn 10:17);
2. Condemned the devil who misused his given opportunity (Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-17); and
3. With His blood redeemed men and gave them another chance.
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne and
He is the Lamb.
The Holy Spirit came to the world and
The Era of Grace began thereafter:
The time of God's favor, the day of salvation (2Co 6:2).
A man who received His favor is he who,
For the rest of His days in the flesh (Ge 5:13)
No longer lives for a moment but for eternity.
Therefore, he does not miss the opportunity to
Worship, belong to the church and serve for
It is his chance to encounter Jesus.
Rather than becoming like
The fig tree (Mt 21:18-19) or the five virgins who lost their chances (Mt 25:1-13),
He seizes his opportunity like Mary (Lk 1:34-38), the thief crucified next to Jesus (Lk 23:42-43),
The blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52), and the woman who broke the perfume (Mt 14:6-9),
For he longs to exchange his life with eternity
When the Lord comes back.
O Lord,
Let us all realize that
A chance is given only once, and
If it is a spiritual one,
Let us not yield the opportunity.
Let us seize this time of Your favor, this day of salvation!
Amen.
When the Spirit of Truth Comes
(Jn 16:13)
God is the God of truth(Ps 31:5; Is 65:16).
He reveals Himself through the truth(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18), and
He guides into all the truth(Jn 16:13).
Faith is believing Him, and
The life of this faith is being guided into the truth.
Worldly studies observe constant principles and
Religions attempt to arrive at truth through asceticism, self-mastery and self-cultivation.
Truth, however, cannot be known through any human effort or method, for
It is in God alone, and
It can only be known by God alone.
After Adam sinned,
All men became cut off from God(Ge 3:24).
But God called Abraham and instructed him,
Through which God's guidance continued once again(Ge 12:1).
God gave the Law to the Israelites through Moses(Jn 1:17), as
A tutor which held them in custody and guided them until the truth came(Ga 3:22-23), which was
Reminded by the sanctuary where God instructed them from.
Furthermore, God prophesied through the prophets and
Introduced to them the One who was coming after(Mt 3:11; Jn 3:29).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would revealed that He is the Truth who had now come
To guide all souls to eternal life(Jn 17:3), for
He is the God the One and Only, full of grace and truth(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18)
Testified by Moses and the Prophets(Lk 16:16; Ac 26:22).
But because He said that He was the truth, the way and the life(Jn 14:6),
That whoever believes in Him will live even though he dies and
Whoever lives by believing in him will never die(Jn 11:25), and that
Those who believe in Him will later go to where He was going(Jn 11:15, Jn 13:37),
The Jews conspired to put Him to death(Jn 11:47-53).
As He died, however, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the revelation of the Law and the prophecies of the Prophets, and fulfilled the Father's will(Mt 11:29; Jn 10:18);
2. Condemned the father of lies, the devil(Jn 8:44); and
3. With His blood redeemed those under the law of condemnation and set them free so that they may have eternal life(Rm 8:1-2).
According to His own prophecy, He rose and ascended to heaven(Mt 16:21), and
According to His own promise, He sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth(Ac 1:4-5, Ac 2:33).
The Holy Spirit lets truth be known(1Co 2:11), and
Lets believers walk in the truth.
The truth is:
1. Jesus Himself -- the glory of the One and Only(Jn 1:14, Jn 14:6);
2. The word of Jesus -- the word of the Father(Jn 12:49, Jn 17:17); and
3. The life of Jesus -- the true way of life(Jn 14:6).
The Christian believes Jesus and has
Made eternal life the goal of his life.
The Spirit of truth guides him to
Believe the word of Jesus and
Emulate His life by reliving it -- that is, the path of self-inflicted suffering, sadness and lowliness.
O Lord,
Help us all and guide us into all the truth.
Let us know the truth and be filled with it!
Amen.
The Task the Lord Jesus Has Given Me
(Ac 20:22-24)
God does His own work.
He works for the sake of His name(Ge 22:8; Ps 23:3), and
He commands those whom He wants to do His work(Mk 3:13).
Faith is receiving the task to do the Lord's work, and
The life of this faith is considering one's life worth nothing in order to carry out that task.
Those who are given the tasks are entrusted with the work of the higher, and
Once they are called to do so they are forbid
From speaking other words or doing other work.
To carry out the mission, they must be responsible and
When they carry out little, they are entrusted with more.
Though Adam was entrusted with the work of guarding the Garden(Ge 2:15),
He could not guard his wife who was deceived by the serpent and sinned, and
Finally he himself sinned and was banished from the Garden(Ge 3:6, Ge 3:24).
When Moses was given the great task of
Leading the people of Israel out of Egypt(Ex 4:13-15),
He initially refused to go saying he could not speak.
But God reassured him that He will give him the words to speak, and
As such, Moses spoke according to what God said and
Successfully led Israel out of Egypt, and also
Delivered the Law he received from God to the people.
The sanctuary was where
The name of the Lord God Jehovah was, and it was also where
He spoke to the people of Israel.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fulfill the task given to Him by the Father
For the sake of the name of the Father, Yeshua, because
He is the Son of God who was sent from heaven to do the Father's will(Jn 6:38-40).
As such, His deeds and words were all according to what the Father had said, and
The Father gave Him the name of the Father,
The name of Yeshua, and the word of the Father by which
He kept safe all those given to Him
Except the one doomed to destruction to fulfill the scriptures(Jn 17:11-14).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and fulfilled the will of the Father(Jn 12:50, Jn 19:30);
2. Condemned the devil who left his position as an archangel(Is 14:12-15; Jude 1:6); and
3. With His blood redeemed all souls of men so that they may do His work(Mt 20:28).
Thus, the Father raised Him and
Gave Him the name above all names, Yeshua, and
He ascended to the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit came to those who believe in His name(Jn 1:12), and
Lets them understand His words and do His work(Jn 14:26).
With the coming of the Spirit,
The disciples of Jesus became the salt of the earth(Mt 5:13), and
Like the salt, even after decades passed after He had ascended,
They remembered what He had said and what He had done and wrote them down, and
They all gave their lives to protect the souls given to them in the world.
The Christian is compelled by the Spirit
To complete the task of testifying the gospel of His grace(Ac 20:22-24)
For the sake of His name(3Jn 1:7), and
Puts every effort to keep, defend and teach the truth in his lifetime(Php 1:7-8) and
Lose none of the souls given to him in the world(Jn 17:11-14).
In so doing, he considers his life nothing for
He longs to be called up to the air when the Lord returns.
O Lord,
The 11 disciples You left behind!
Paul who was compelled by the Spirit!
Let us all never change the gospel, the truth
Even if we have to lose our life.
Let us be faithful to the work given to us no matter how small and
Lose none of those You have given us!
Amen.
Serving the Lord by Grace
(He 4:14-16; Rev 22:1-5)
God is the God of glory.
He is served by those of the greatest honor and
He lets those who consider it grace to be used by Him serve Him near,
For He is not served by humans' hands as if He needed anything(Ac 17:25).
While the glory of a man is determined by the one who uses him,
Faith is longing to serve Jesus Christ near, and
The life of this faith is seeking to be used by Him
With one's knowledge, appearance, talents, materials and all that he has.
Since Adam was deceived and sinned(Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6),
All men were demoted to serving the angel, who was made to serve God but
Attempted to ascend the throne and was, then cast down to Hades and
Contained until judgment(Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-17; 2Pe 2:19).
God delivered the Israelites who were enslaved by the pharaoh and
Made them a kingdom of priests(Ex 19:6).
He commanded them to build the sanctuary where the mercyseat was(Ex 25:22), and
Appointed Aaron and his sons as priests(Lev 28:1, Lev 28:41) so that
Only those who were circumcised and set apart as flawless could serve God(Lev 21:1-23).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-20), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would tear down the priests of flesh and blood(He 7:16, He 10:9) and
Let souls who know His grace serve God.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Gave flawlessly Himself to the Father and served Him,
Becoming the eternal High Priest(He 7:27-28, He 8:3; He 9:14);
2. Judged the devil who left his position of serving(1Jn 3:8; Jude 1:6); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men, who are slaves of the devil, and
Raised up their status to serving Christ(Eph 1:7; He 9:14).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne as the Lamb(Rev 22:3).
He is the eternal High Priest, who serves the Father by grace,
The King of kings who eternally receives the serving of His servants.
The Holy Spirit comes to
Those who through the blood of Jesus know His grace and
Lets them know what kind of grace it is that they can serve Him.
The men of the Spirit consider it the greatest honor
To become priests of Christ(1Co 2:12; 1Pe 2:5; Rev 20:6).
They serve the body of Christ the church and its members(2Co 8:4), considering it grace, for
They long to become royal priests for a thousand years on earth(Rev 20:6) and
Eternally serve the Lord near from the thrones in heaven(Rev 22:5).
O Lord,
Though they compete to recruit and use those with outstanding talents,
You have called to use
The uneducated. the ex-convict, the lame, the failed etc. - this is grace!
Both the right and the wrong I have done, even the pains and the tears I have
I want them all to be spent for You in this life!
Amen
The Joy of Jesus
(1Th 2:13-20)
God is the source of joy.
Joy comes from Him and
He lets those, whom He rejoices over, come and share in His joy(Mt 25:21).
Those who seek joy or happiness in their environment
Find how temporary it is and become sorry about it.
Faith, however, is being happy with the happiness of God, and
The life of this faith is becoming His joy.
God banished from the Garden
The living being, Adam, whom He created in His image(Ge 1:26, Ge 3:24)
Since he was deceived by the enemy the devil and sinned,
Becoming his slave(2Pe 2:19).
During the time of Noah
God wiped away all men with a flood because
They were filled with sin and God regretted making them and
His heart was deeply troubled(Ge 6:6).
Enoch, on the other hand, was taken from this life so that
He did not experience death(Ge 5:19) because
He was commended as one who pleased God(He 11:5).
The Israelites became the people of God(Ex 19:6) for
Their ancestors delighted God(Dt 7:7; He 11:6), and
For them to also delight God like their ancestors did
He gave them the Law and had them obey the commands and the decrees(Dt 30:9-10).
Though they were to please God with sacrifices in the sanctuary
God was not pleased with their useless sacrifice and sin offerings(Mal 1:10; He 10:6-7).
When it was time, God sent His Son, in whom He delights, who was
In the bosom of the Father(Mt 12:18; Jn 1:18), and
He said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would delight the Father(Mt 3:17).
Though there was nothing for Him to be happy about while he was in the world(Jn 1:19)
Jesus was always full of joy through the Spirit(Lk 10:21).
Thus, He promised the Holy Spirit of truth who would give joy
To the disciples and make their joy complete(Jn 14:26-17, Jn 15:11, Jn 16:20-22).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Gave His life according to the plan made before the creation and pleased the Father(Jn 10:17-18; He 10:6-7);
2. Condemned the devil, the rebel(Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed souls and gave them to the Father(Rev 5:9).
He rose and ascended to the heavenly throne and
He became the eternal joy for the Father.
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Enters the souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus and
Becomes their joy.
The Christian is the pride, the crown, and the joy of Jesus(1Th 2:20).
He works with those who do not know the true joy for their joy(2Co 1:24).
He always rejoices over the precious blood he received by grace(Eph 1:7) and
Imitates the Lord by rejoicing even in the midst of severe suffering(1Th 1:6).
He submits to his spiritual leader and becomes his joy(He 13:13), and
Through his faithful testimony refreshes the spirit of his master(Pr 25:13; Gal 1:10).
And finally, by finding the lost sheep
He wants to become the joy of his master(Lk 15:3-10).
O Lord,
Let us never become Your concern.
But instead, let us be commended for being Your joy and
When You return we would be taken from this life.
Let us share in Your happiness!
Amen.
Let the River of Living Water Flow From Within Me!
(Jn 7:37-44)
God is the fountain of living water(Jer 2:13, 17:13).
Life comes from Him(Jn 5:26), and
He lets those who long for Him drink abundantly(Ps 78:15; Jn 4:10).
Faith is longing and panting for Him(Ps 42:1), and
The life of this faith is supplying the living water that flows from within my soul to others.
All living things survive on water.
Likewise, the development of the human civilization began from
Small fountains to great rivers.
God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden from which
A river flowed into four headwaters(Ge 2:10).
He was banished from there, however(Ge 3:24), for
He forgot the word of the God, the fountain of living water, and sinned(Ge 3:4-6).
All mankind thereafter dwelled in deserted land.
God led Abram to leave the fertile land near the Euphrates(Ge 11:31), and
Delivered his descendants, Israel, out of Egypt to the desert(Dt 8:15).
To those who complained and resented Him because of water(Ex 15:24)
God split the rocks and gave them water as abundant as the seas(Ps 78:15-16).
The sanctuary reminded the Israelites of the streams of God(Ps 65:9) for
It made Aaron's staff, which had been dried up and dead, to sprout and bud(Nu 17:8).
Though they knew that according to the prophet's word
The leper was cleansed when he washed himself in the Jordan for
The word of God is the river of living water(2Ki 5:10-14),
They forsook God, the spring of living water, and
Dug their own cisterns(Jer 2:13, Jer 17:13).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body, He would split the spiritual rock, His body(1Co 10:4) and
Pour out the spiritual drink for eternal life(Jn 4:10-14).
As such, when the woman subjected to bleeding for years
Touched His cloak, she was healed from her disease(Lk 8:44) and
According to His word the invalid man of 38 years walked(Jn 5:2-9).
As He poured out all water and blood from His body,
Jesus said, "I am thirsty, and
As He died, He said, "It is finished(Jn 19:28-30, Jn 19:34), declaring that He:
1. Poured His blood out to the Father(2Sa 23:15-17);
2. Judged the rebel the devil(Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Shed the true drink, His blood, to souls(Jn 4:10-14), and fulfilled the prophecy of living water flowing out of Jerusalem(Zec 14:8).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne, and
He is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, from whose pierced body
The river of the water of life flows to this day(Rev 22:1-2).
To this day, those who have received
The Holy Spirit, who goes out from the Father, (Jn 7:38, 15:26)
Pour out the river of living water from their souls, the temple(Eze 47:2-12).
With the water of life that flows out
The men full of the Spirit
Raise to life all those who come in contact with them -
Their flesh, their family and their neighbors -
For they long to bring a drink to the Lord who said, "I am thirsty(2Sa 23:15-17).
O Lord,
Like the three mighty warriors who risked their lives and
Broke through their enemy's lines and drew water for King David
At his words of "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water(2Sa 23:15-17),
Let us all, pastors, group leaders, teachers etc.
Risk our lives to draw water for the souls You have given us
With the water of life that overflows out of our souls!
Let us quench Your thirst!
Amen.
Lord, Just Say the Word
(Mt 8:5-13)
God is self-existent(Ex 3:14).
He exists for Himself and
He reveals Himself.
God's revelation is in two stages:
1. General revelation - through all things He reveals that He is the Creator(Rm 1:19-20);
2. Special revelation - through the Only Begotten Son He reveals that He is the Redeemer(Jn 1:18).
Faith is receiving this as-is, and
The life of this faith is listening to His word until the end.
The Word, logos, refers to
God's self-manifestation, self-revelation for
It is His method of revealing Himself(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14).
In the beginning, in the eternal space(Jn 1:1),
He called Himself as "the Word, for
He would reveal Himself as the Word to those who want to know Him.
As such, aside from the Word
No one can know God, think of God or make relationship with God.
Furthermore, no one can ever receive
The life, the blessing, the peace, the glory, the power etc. that are in Him.
The self-existent God let the Israelites, whom
He delivered from Egypt(Ex 3:14),
Pass through the desert to test whether
They would live on their own without listening to God's word(Dt 8:14-16).
The sanctuary where the tablets of the Law were
Reminded them that God spoke to them.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fulfill the Father's word for He is the incarnate Word who was
With the Father in the beginning(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18).
Thus, His words and actions were all according to the Father's command for
He knew that His command leads to eternal life(Jn 12:48-50).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life to fulfill the Father's command, testifying that the Father alone is the self-existent One(Jn 10:18);
2. Condemned the devil who caused man to not listen to God's word(Ge 3:4; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men and opened their ears to listen to God's word again(Mt 20:28).
The Father raised Him and
Proved that the Son is the self-existent One.
The Holy Spirit lets Christians live by the word(2Ti 3:15), and
The contents of the word are:
1. Instructions, commands(Mal 3:7; Jas 4:8); and
2. Promises.
The man of the Spirit hears
Sermon not as human words(phone) and disregards them(1Th 2:13),
But as the Word(logos), which is
Immediately carried out into action,
Becoming the word(rhema)(He 4:12).
The greatest Christian faith is
Not seeing visions or prophesying
But knowing God as He who speaks the word.
O Lord,
We lived our lives listening to human words
But now we have decided to listen to Your word - the word of eternal life!
Lord,
Open the ears of our souls and
Command us!
Ephphatha! Be opened!
Amen.
The Lord's Patience, Our Salvation
(2Pe 3:8-15)
God is love(1Jn 4:7).
For He loves, He sent His Son in the last days(He 1:2), and
For those whom He loves, He patiently waits for them to repent and return to Him.
Faith is knowing Him and turning back to Him, and
The life of this faith is repenting in order to appear spotless and blameless before Him(2Pe 3:14).
Those with the greatest patience in the world are parents as
They wait for their children to mature, for
Patience is an important attribute of love(1Co 13:4).
Though God decided to end the world during the time of Methuselah,
He waited for a thousand years(Ge 5:25-26).
While Noah prepared the ark,
God waited for decades to punish with water(1Pe 3:20).
Furthermore, though He was determined to burn the heavens and the earth,
God has kept them to this day because
It is His patience, not wanting anyone to perish but be saved(2Pe 3:7-9).
For about fifteen hundred years, from Moses to the coming of Jesus
God waited patiently and taught men that
They are sinners who need to repent through the Law and turn back(Rm 3:20).
The prophets warned them that if they did not turn back from evil
They would perish(Pr 1:23; Jer 44:5-6).
The temple where the name of God was
Showed the way for those who sinned and were
Taken as captives to the land of their enemies
To turn their way back from evil(1Ki 8:46-49).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would become an eternal temple for sinners to return to,
For He is the Son of God who came to the world in the last days(He 1:2),
With the Father's name Yeshua(Jn 17:11).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and revealed the Father's love(1Jn 4:9-10);
2. Condemned the origin of sin(Ge 3:4; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men and through His torn flesh and released them from the bondage of the devil(He 2:14-15).
He rose and
Entered the kingdom of the Son whom the Father loves(Col 1:13).
The Holy Spirit comes
To those who repent and turn back to Jesus(Ac 2:38) and
Lets them believe in the promise of His return.
The promise, however, has not been materialized to this day(2Pe 3:4, 2Pe 3:9)
Because the Lord is patiently waiting for:
1. One more unbeliever to repent and be saved; and
2. Believers to repent and turn from their ways of being fleshly, lazy, greedy, proud, disobedient and still being deceived by the devil and having their flesh belong to him.
The man of the Spirit knows that
The Lord's patience is his salvation and
He is moved by that love.
Therefore, he puts effort to repent in haste for
When the Lord appears a second time,
Not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him(He 9:28),
He longs to be found spotless, blameless and in peace.
O Lord,
Thank You for waiting patiently
For such immature and rebellious children as us
In spite of all our mistakes.
O Lord, please wait a little longer for us!
Let us all repent and repent so
We can become worthy of being Your children! Amen.
The Anchor of My Soul
(He 6:13-20)
God is the God of covenant(Ps 105:8).
He does not break His covenant(Ps 89:34), and
He pays back to those who believe in His covenant with eternal life(1Jn 2:25).
Despite the fact that people disappoint each other,
They continue to believe and trust in social contracts.
Faith, however, is having the anchor of my soul in the covenant of God, and
The life of this faith is living by the faith that rises to hope in entering the new heaven and the new earth.
The ancestor of mankind was deceived by the serpent and
Broke the command regarding the forbidden fruit, and
He was banished from the Garden.
Thus, men's relationship with God became broken and
They became lost(Ge 3:4-6, Ge 3:24).
The Bible is the record of the men of faith who had
The confidence in what they hoped for by God's covenant(He 11:1):
From Noah who built an ark and was saved from the flood(Ge 6:18)
To Abraham who left his country and received Canaan as inheritance(Ge 12:1-2, Ge 15:7), and
Gave his only son and received the promise of numerous descendants(Ge 22:12, Ge 22:16).
His descendants, the Israelites, were delivered from
Their slavery of 400 years in Egypt because
God remembered His covenant with Abraham(Ex 2:24).
The sanctuary was where
The book of the covenant and the stone tablets of the covenant were(Ex 24:7; He 9:4).
It reminded them of God's covenant of giving Canaan as their inheritance(Ge 15:7; Ps 105:11).
However, all but the men of faith, Joshua and Caleb,
Fell in the desert and died for
They did not believe in the covenant of God(Nu 14:16-38).
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land,
They put the ark of covenant before them and the Jordan parted(Jos 3:11-13) for
God does not change the covenant He commanded for a thousand generations(Ps 105:8-10).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-20). because
Through the death and resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would lead not those of flesh and blood but those who believe(Jn 1:12, Jn 3:16),
To not the land of Canaan but to the new heaven and the new earth(Jn 21:1).
The promise He made was about His death and His resurrection(Mt 16:21), and
His return and taking back those who believe Him(Mt 16:27; Jn 14:2-3).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Believed in the Father who promised Him resurrection, and laid down His life(Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the devil who caused men to doubt the Father's word(Ge 3:4-6; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Redeemed the sins of men and sprinkled the blood of the covenant(Mt 26:28).
His resurrection testified the fulfillment of His promise and
His ascension to the throne the mediator of better promises(He 8:6).
The promised Spirit who came
To the soul that has the blood of Jesus(Lk 24:49)
Lets him anchor his soul in the promise of Jesus and in His body the church.
And He lets him believe in the return of Christ to
Take him to the Father's house.
Therefore, the man of faith does not shrink back
From hardship, chains, poverty, isolation, danger, sword or even torture(He 11:35-38) and
Patiently waits with the hope of things unseen(Rm 8:23-25) -
To receive a better resurrection and enter the promised eternal rest(He 4:1).
O Lord,
Please give us all
This hope that never wavers even in the most terrible storms!
Let us drop our anchor on the faith that rises to the hope of
Being taken up to the Father's house when You return and
Finally enter through the veil where You are! Amen.
Longing for Freedom
(Rm 8:18-25)
God is the God of truth(Is 65:16).
He delivers the spirit by the truth(Ps 31:5), and
He sets free those who know the truth(Jn 8:32).
Faith is longing for freedom and
The life of this faith is being liberated from the bondage to decay in order to be brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God(Rm 8:21).
For men cannot be happy without freedom,
Throughout history men have
Sought and fought for freedom:
The freedom of religion, ideology, speech, assembly, petition, possession etc.
Those who most yearn for freedom are
The slaves, the oppressed, the detainees, the sick and the to-be-executed.
Though by nature as a creation,
Adam could not be free,
He had the free will to choose and receive God's command(Ge 2:7, Ge 2:17).
Deceived by the devil, however,
He misused his free will and sinned,
Becoming a slave to the devil, sin and death(Jn 8:34; He 2:15; 2Pe 2:17).
The slavery of Israel of 400 years materialized this, and
God sent Moses to Egypt and delivered them for
He remembered His covenant with Abraham(Ge 15:13 ; Ex 6:5).
The written code given to them, the Law(Ex 20:2; Col 2:14), and
The feasts such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Passover etc.(Ex 12:17, Ex 13:3, Ex 13:14), and
The sanctuary where the Testimony was
All reminded them that God delivered them from their past slavery(Lev 26:13) and that
They had now become servants of the Lord God(Is 49:5).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would set free not the flesh but the soul for
Though He is the very nature God
He took the very nature of a servant(Php 2:6-7) to
Become Father's chosen servant(Mt 12:18).
He was sold for 30 silver coins and
Finally received the death penalty(Mt 26:14-15).
As He hung on a tree and He was torn,
Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Committed the deliverance of His soul to the Father of truth(Ps 31:4; Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the devil who misused his free will as a creation; and
3. Tore the written code with His flesh and delivered all men from their slavery to sin, death and the devil(Rm 8:1-3; Col 2:14-15).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne and
He became the eternally free One.
The Holy Spirit comes to
The souls who have been set free by the blood of Jesus and
Leads them to be liberated from their bondage to decay
In order to arrive in the freedom and glory of the children of God.
The Christians is he who knows the truth and whom
No one can take away his freedom from.
Therefore, he is set free from the law of nature,
From the temptations and the desires of the decaying body, and
From trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, and even death.
Finally, when his body is redeemed
He enters the kingdom of eternal freedom.
O Lord,
Born to be free!
My soul, finally set free by Jesus.
Let me not lose this freedom because of this decaying body.
Rather, let me enjoy it even in suffering, tests, temptations, fear and even death.
On the day You return
Let us all be eternally free!
Amen.
Lord, Do Not Pass Me By
(Ge 18:3; Lk 18:37-43)
God is the Lord of grace.
Grace comes from Him(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:16), and
He gives abundantly to those who know grace.
Faith is knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from God and welcoming it(Jas 1:17), and
The life of this faith is experiencing this and becoming a witness of the gospel of His grace(Ac 20:24).
If in the world, those who bring good things
Receive a great welcome as guests,
Then, how much for God who gives the best?
Though Adam received the gift of governing the abundant Garden(Ge 2:15-17, Ge 2:24),
He ate the forbidden fruit and,
Thus, he was banished from the Garden, losing everything.
At the age 75, Abram followed the word of God who promised him that
He would be made a beginning of blessing; therefore he
Left his father and land not knowing where he was going(Ge 12:1-4).
Later, when he saw the Lord appearing near his tent,
He considered it grace and ran out, asking the Lord to not pass him by.
He invited in the Lord and received the blessing of a son at the age of 100(Ge 18:1-15).
His nephew Lot also invited the angels who came to him and
Later he was led out by them out of the destruction of Sodom(Ge 19:1-16).
The sanctuary, where the name of the Lord God was placed, was
A reminder of God's favor for them.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would give the best gift to all those who receive(Jn 1:12) for
He is the Son of God, the incarnate Word(Jn 1:14) who Came according to the prophecy to pass through the world(Am 5:17).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life according to the Father's word(Jn 10:17);
2. Condemned the origin of sin(1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men(Mt 20:28).
He rose and ascended
To the throne of grace in heaven(He 4:16).
The Spirit of grace comes to those who were
Preached to and believed(Rm 10:13-14) and
Lets them know that they have received every good and perfect gift.
Christians are those who
Welcomed the coming of Christ in the flesh and His suffering as grace(Eph 1:7), and
Gave thanks for that moment when the Lord approached them through preachers(Ac 8:29-31).
Therefore, they go out to seek others to preach this gospel of His grace, and
Cry out the name Yeshua for they do not want the Lord to pass them by(Mk 6:48-56; Lk 18:37-43).
O Lord,
Do not pass me by.
Do not pass me by when I worship, pray, repent, give dedication, and cry out to You.
Do not pass by my family and all those You have given me!
Amen.
The Principle of Reward
(Mk 10:23-31)
God is faithful(Is 61:8).
For He is faithful, He surely keeps His promises, and
Because He is faithful, He pays back for what has been entrusted to Him.
Faith is trusting Him, and
The life of this faith is waiting for the reward until the end,
Even in spite of persecution, opposition, and suffering because of Him.
"Credit refers to trust or honor.
While advanced societies emphasize trade credit,
Credit is valued by those who greatly prize their honor.
Then, how much more for God?
The Bible is the history of God's credit and
Its characters are witnesses to such(He 12:1).
It is the testimony of those who dealt with God and were not let down.
For Abraham followed the word of God and left his land, his relatives and his father(Ge 12:4),
Wherever he went, he took with him silver, gold and treasures as his reward.
Furthermore, the covenant that God made with him 4, 000 years ago is
Still being fulfilled to this day:
1. Offspring - in spite of many dangers they have survived(Ge 15:6-7);
2. The land of Canaan - restored sovereignty 2500 years after losing it.
The name Israel was the statute which
God gave after testing three generations of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and
Establishing a relationship based on credit with their offspring(Ge 32:28; Ps 105:8).
The Temple was the reminder of this covenant and
It was where the name of the Lord God was.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would establish a new covenant and give a new reward, eternal life.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Trusted the Father and laid down His life to receive it back as His reward(Jn 10:17);
2. Condemned the father of lies(Ge 3:4-5; Jn 8:44); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men and made a way to eternal life(Mt 20:28; Jn 3:16).
Because He gave up to become a king in this world,
He became the eternal Christ seated on the heavenly throne(Ac 2:36).
The Holy Spirit came in the name Yeshua according to the promise and
Lets those who became children of God in His name(Jn 1:12)
Believe in the promise of Jesus(Jn 14:26).
While the people of Israel became wealthy because
They received land as inheritance and
A hundred fold of what was produced(Ge 26:12, Ge 31:1),
The men of the Spirit receive
A new land and sow everything in it(Mt 13:24; Rev 21:1), and
A hundred fold of what they left in this life, and
They long for the moment when they will receive eternal life(Mk 10:29-30).
O Lord,
Let us lay down our family, our treasures, our time
Without any calculation.
Let us sow for You, for Your church and for the gospel!
Lord, we believe in You! Amen.
Serve the Living God!
(He 9:11-14)
God is served(Ac 26:7).
He is in the high position and
He is worthy to be served for what He has done.
Faith is knowing whom to serve and why, and
The life of this faith is serving the living God with the best.
Serving is what the lowly does to the high, and
Depending on who is served, that service can either be humiliating or glorious.
Then, how glorious would it be to serve the living God, in divine service!
Satan was the archangel who was
Cast down from heaven into Hades(Is 14:12-15) for
He left his position of service and attempted to be like God(Eze 28:12-17; Jude 1:6).
Men have the instinct to serve idols or even their dead since
They are not only living beings with the function to serve the divine(Ge 2:7),
But also slaves of the devil because their ancestor Adam was deceived by him(Ge 3:4-6; 2Pe 2:19).
The people of Israel were called the holy people(Ex 19:6; Dt 7:6) because
God chose them when they were serving the king of the world
To serve Him as the kingdom of priests.
The Law is the commandment prohibiting the making and the serving of idols(Ex 20:4), for
God hates men serving gods other than Himself.
Furthermore, it is the ordinance for service(He 9:1),
The detailed regulations regarding
The sanctuary, the priesthood and the offerings.
The priests were chosen from Aaron's descendants of the Levites,
Consecrated and robed in sacred garments(Ex 28:1-43),
Continually serving God inside the Tabernacle.
As such, they became objects of jealousy by others(Nu 16:1-10).
However, the altar that was overlaid with bronze was a sign to all Israel(Nu 16:38-40).
Nevertheless, the kingdom of Israel collapsed in the end(Mal 1:6-10), for
The people had served other gods such as Baal in high places(Nu 33:52; Jdg 3:7-8), and
The priests showed contempt for sacrifices(Mal 1:6-14, Mal 2:1-3).
Through the death and the resurrection of His body,
Jesus would become a greater temple than
The one made by hands(Mt 12:6; He 9:11), and
Reform the service done in it and
Establish a new spirit, a new heart and the new name of God to serve(Eze 36:25-27).
Though the jealousy of the chief priests eventually led Jesus to death(Mk 15:1, Mk 15:10),
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. With His flesh(the Tabernacle) and His blood(the sacrifice), gave the eternal sacrifice as the high priest(He 9:11-14);
2. Judged the devil who left his proper position(Jude 1:6; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Gave His life as a ransom and served souls(Mt 20:28)
He rose and sat at the right hand of the Majesty in the true heaven(H 9:24-25) as
The eternal High Priest who serves the Father(He 7:26, He 8:1).
The Holy Spirit comes to the souls cleansed by the blood of Jesus and
Lets them serve the name Yeshua as all priests.
The man of the Spirit
Serves the living God as a priest(1Pe 2:5),
Not cowardly or forced but willingly loves
Yeshua, His body the church, and its members(Rm 12:10-11; Eph 2:21; Gal 6:6; He 13:16) and
Serves with whatever gift he received(1Pe 4:10), for
His many sins have been forgiven and he loves much(Lk 7:36-50).
O Lord,
Rather than the service of the highly selected priests,
You prefer to be served by the sinner of all like me!
I want to pour out the best at Your footstool, the church(Mt 5:35), and
Kiss Your feet and pour out my tears!
O Lord, I really love You! Amen.