God is the source of happiness.
In Him is happiness and
He fills with greater happiness in those who are happy with Him(Ps 107:9).
Faith is being satisfied with Jesus.
The life of this faith is emptying one's righteousness, knowledge, arguments and dreams, and filling with Jesus.
"Happiness or "blessedness refers to
The state of being not in want, being completely satisfied.
Though every man seeks it,
each man has different standard for it:
Some seek happiness by filling themselves with money, family, success and knowledge,
While others seek momentary escape through drinking, smoking or using drugs.
All such efforts are in vain for
Man cannot be satisfied with worldly things as
In him is a spiritual space, the soul, which is happy only with Jesus.
Not satisfied by all the things that he had in the Garden(Ge 2:16-17),
Adam was deceived by the devil and sinned by wanting to be like God(Ge 3:4-6).
Thereafter, no man would know satisfaction
Like a broken cistern that cannot hold water(Ecc 5:10; Jer 2:13).
God made Israel become the blessed one(Dt 33:29) since
No other peoples were led and saved by God(Ps23, Ps 105:40).
Furthermore, God gave them the commands and decrees, i.e., the Law, and
Commanded them to keep them,
In order for them and their children to be happy(Dt 10:13).
Referring to the temple that reminded them this(Dt 2:7),
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 reveal true happiness and fill souls with it for
He is the blessed one who was in the Father's bosom in the beginning(Jn 1:1-2, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18).
Albeit He lived with empty pockets(Mt 17:24, Mt 17:27),
He satisfied those who followed Him(Mt 14:19-20; Lk 22:35) for
He was always filled with the blessedness of the Father(Lk 18:9; Jn 6:38-39).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
Completely emptied Himself, even of breath, and was filled with the Father's happiness(Ps 107:9);
Condemned the devil who did not know satisfaction and rebelled(Eze 28:16-17; 1Jn 3:8); and
Poured His blood and redeemed the sins of all men, preparing a new cistern to be filled with His blessedness(Mt 20:28).
He rose and entered the blessed kingdom(Rev 21:23-26).
The Holy Spirit came to the souls who
Emptied themselves and received the blood of Jesus(Rm 8:9), and
Lets them know the happiness of Jesus.
The man of the Spirit is
The absolute poor who is satisfied only by Jesus.
Therefore, he confesses to be:
An absolute sinner - his faith is credited as righteousness, and he is forgiven of his unrighteousness and his sins are covered(Rm 4:3-6);
Absolutely unable - without God's help he can do nothing so he lives by prayer(Php 4:13); and
Absolutely unworthy - he knows well that, as the lowly he closely serves the King of kings, and as the useless he is used for the glorious work(Lk 17:40).
Finally, he will inherit the kingdom of heaven.
O Lord,
I am an absolute sinner for there is not even a day when I do not sin.
I am absolutely unable for I have no confidence to even live a day on my own.
I am absolutely unworthy for I am useless, yet You use me - what an honor!
Lord, You fill me up with Your blessedness and
I shall not be in want!
Let us all empty ourselves to be filled with this happiness.
Let our church be filled with this happiness!
Amen.
God has zeal.
He speaks with zeal(Eze 5:13) and
His zeal accomplishes what He speaks(Is 37:32).
The zeal of God is revealed
In His creation and
In the process of fulfilling His will.
Faith is kneeling before His zeal and
The life of this faith is being zealous with the zeal of God(2Co 11:2).
In all fields, whether politics, science, culture or sports,
It is those few with passion that make the world history.
As such, geniuses are made, not born.
All men were demoted to being slaves of the devil because
Adam sinned, deceived by the devil who
Prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour(1Pe 5:8).
God sought zealous men and revealed His plan to them:
Noah built the ark for more than 70 years and
He and his family were saved from the flood(He 11:7);
Abraham gave his only son whom he received at the age of 100 as a burnt offering and
His offspring received the promise of blessing(Ge 22:16-28); and
Jacob wrestled to the point of breaking the socket of his hip and
Received the blessed name, Israel(Ge 32:24-28).
The exodus of Israel after 430 years of slavery was
The site where God's zeal accomplished what
He spoke with zeal.
This was reminded through
The sanctuary they were commanded to build.
The Israelites had special zeal for:
The One God(1Ki 18:19);
The Law - keeping it and punishing those who broke it;
The holy name - the name of God, Jehovah(Eze 39:25);
The Temple - loving it(Ps 84:2-10; Da 6:10; Jnh 2:4); and
The traditions of their fathers - preserving them(Gal 1:14).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days, because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body(Jn 2:19-22),
He would be zealous with the zeal of the Father.
Thus, never resting during His ministry years,
He drove out demons, healed the sick, taught and
Prayed to the point of having His sweat drop like blood(Lk 22:44).
Being put to death by the Jews who had zeal for the temple(Mt 27:40),
Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
Accomplished what the Father said with zeal(Jn 10:18);
Condemned the father of lies the devil(Ge 3:4-6; 1Jn 3:8); and
With His redeeming blood released the captives and returned them(Eze 37:25), making them a people eager to do what is good(Tit 2:14).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit lets
Believers have zeal with the zeal of God for:
Jesus the incarnate God(Jn 1:18, Jn 14:1);
Preaching the gospel - saving souls(Ac 20:23-24);
Y'shua name - the name of God - baptism, prayer, healing, driving out demons;
The church - workers of the church; and
Keeping, defending and teaching the Truth.
The man of the Spirit is he who is
Moved by the zeal of God.
Therefore, he is zealous until the end, never giving up to any danger(2Co 11:24-29).
So he would not be spat out in the last day(Rev 3:16), for
One man's extreme zeal stirs many into action(2Co 9:2; Gal 1:13-14) and
Keeps his family, his home group and church hot.
O Lord,
Let us all be extremely zealous.
Let the flame of the Holy Spirit burn higher! Amen.
God has a will.
According to His will He made all things(Rev 4:11) and
His will never changes(Job 23:13; He 6:17).
Faith is understanding the Lord's will and
The life of this will is doing according to His will.
The human culture and civilization are the result of man's will.
Whether a politician, a scientist, an artist, a businessman, a soldier or a laborer
Every man has his own will.
If understanding the will of a man of high position is important,
How much more important would it be to understand the will of God?
It determines whether one will have eternal life or eternal condemnation(Mt 25:46).
The living being, Adam, misunderstood the will of God and
He ate the forbidden fruit(Ge 3:4-6), because of which
All men became hell-bound with the devil(Mt 25:41).
The Bible is written of the Lord's will.
The Passover ceremony(Ex 12:26-27) that
God commanded the descendants of Israel, and
The decrees and laws that they received(Dt 6:20-24) had to be kept
In order to live(Dt 18:5, Dt 30:19-20) for
God is life and longevity.
Accordingly, the cities of refuge built for those who killed unintentionally(Nu 35:6-34),
The sin offering that sinners gave,
The sanctuary where the blood of sacrifice was always present were
All mechanisms by which they extended their breath.
Yet misunderstanding this,
Job insisted on his righteousness and suffered greatly as a result(Job 10:6-8).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days, because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body(Jn 2:19-22),
He would give not longevity but eternal life to all men for
He is the incarnate Word who was with the Father in the beginning,
The Only Begotten Son(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18) and
He only did according to the will of the Father who sent Him.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
Died according to the will of the Father who made all things for the Son(Jn 10:17-8; He 1:2);
Judged the thief devil(Jn 10:8); and
Through the redeeming blood gave life to all men(Mt 20:28).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Reminds the Lord's will - that is,
Eternal life to those who look to the Son and believe and
To lose not even one of those given.
Therefore, the man of the Spirit sows
Not for the flesh to reap destruction
But for the Spirit to reap eternal life(Gal 6:8).
On the day that is called, "this day,
He puts every effort to raise all those given to him
Only according to the Lord's will for
He has the lasting power of life.
O Lord,
There is nothing more important than doing the Lord's will!
There is nothing more precious to me than eternal life!
Let us daily run towards eternal life and
Put every effort to raise to life all those given us. Amen.
God is the God of truth(Ps 31:5).
In Him is the truth(Jn 1:14) and
To those who know the truth, He gives freedom(Jn 8:32).
Faith is longing for freedom and
The life of faith is seeking eternal freedom and pressing on to enter it, in spite of awaiting hardship.
For every man wants to be free,
He fights for it to the point of losing his life.
But for slaves or those on death row,
They rather die since they would be free then.
Though Adam was to dwell in the word of God and be free(Ge 2:16-17),
Because he broke the commandment regarding the fruit
He was driven out of the Garden(Ge 3:6, Ge 3:22-24) and
Not only lost freedom but became a fugitive(Ge 4:14),
In bondage to the devil(2Pe 2:19) and
In bondage to decay(Rm 8:21).
The exodus of Israel and their desert life is
The model for seeking freedom.
After escaping the hardship under the Pharaoh,
The Israelites entered the desert(Ex 3:9-10), where
They had to live under the guidance of the pillars of clouds and of fire(Ex 13:21-22), and
The Law for they sought to enter the Promised Land, the land of Canaan.
While the tablets inside the ark of the sanctuary
Reminded them that as long as they remained in the Law they would be free,
The Law was also a spirit of slave to fear(Rm 8:15).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-21), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would set souls free from the devil, from decay, for
He is the Word who was with the Father in the beginning(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18),
The Truth revealed in the last days(Jn 14:6).
While He promised freedom to others(Jn 8:31-32),
He was bound and killed(Mt 27:42).
However, as He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
Willingly chose death according to the Father's command, for a servant must die to be free(Jn 10:17-18; Php 2:6-7);
Condemned the ruler of death(He 2:14); and
With His blood redeemed all men and put an end to the slavery to sin, the devil and death(Mt 20:28; He 2:15);
Jesus rose and ascended to the heavenly throne, becoming the eternally free.
Because He is the truth, in the truth is freedom.
The Holy Spirit comes to
Those who received the name Jesus and by being baptized in His name
United with Christ, burying the old self and being born as a new man - the free(Rm 6:6-9).
He lets them seek eternal freedom and return to the Father's house(Jn 14:2-3).
The man of the Spirit is he who,
Compelled by the Spirit,
Puts effort to finish the task that the Lord gave,
The task of testifying to the gospel of grace(Ac 20:22-24).
Therefore, he willingly goes to places where
Hardships and bondage await him, for
He seeks eternal freedom.
O Lord,
Though we are children of God, born to be eternally free,
Like those wild animals chained by food and whips,
We are losing our freedom.
Let us break free from the chains of this world and
Finally enter eternal freedom! Amen.
God is the Heard of authority(Rm 13:1).
All authorities comes from Him and
All authorities return to Him(1Pe 5:11; Jude 1:25).
Faith is believing Him and receiving the right to become His children, and
The life of this faith is exercising that right and giving Him glory.
"Authority or "right is the power to
Influence or command thought or behavior by word,
For the tongue has the power of life and death(Pr 18:21).
God showed such during the creation:
He commanded and all things obeyed(Ge 1:11, Ge 1:15, Ge 1:24, Ge 1:30).
While in heaven, Satan, i.e., Lucifer, wanted to
Ascend the throne and become the ruler(Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:14-17).
He was, however, cast down to Hades instead to face judgment(2Pe 2:4).
Deceived by Satan, i.e., the devil, Adam sinned,
Consequently losing his right to govern and enjoy the Garden(Ge 2:3), and he was held:
1. Bondage to the devil(2Pe 2:19); and
2. Bondage to decay(flesh)(Rm 8:21).
With full power from God, Moses was sent and
With his staff, Moses performed miracles and delivered Israel from Egypt(Ex 4:17).
Yet it was not his staff but Aaron's staff that was placed
Inside the testimony of the sanctuary(Nu 17:10) for
It was a reminder that authorities come from the name of God(1Ki 8:16).
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 tear down the name Jehovah and raise the name Y'shua for
It is the name of God that He came in(Mt 1:21; Jn 17:11).
And He also came with two types of authorities:
The authority to judge sin and the authority to forgive(Mt 9:6; Jn 5:27).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Used His authority to lay down His life giving glory to the Father(Jn 10:18; Php 2:6-11);
2. Judged the origin of sin(1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed the sins of those held in bondage to the devil(Mt 20:28; He 2:15).
The Father raised Him up and seated Him on the heavenly throne(Rev 3:21) and
Jesus eternally became the Head of authorities(Php 2:11).
The Holy Spirit comes to those who received the name Y'shua and
Have receive the right to become children of God(Jn 1:12) and
Lets them honor and use the right.
The right of children of God is
The power to command thoughts or behavior by their word:
1. Confess with mouth --> inherit the kingdom of heaven, eternal life(Mt 19:29; Rm 8:17, Rm 10:10);
2. Declare forgiveness of sin --> sins of others are forgiven(Jn 20:23);
3. Command demons --> they are driven out(Mk 16:17); and
4. Seek whatever --> done accordingly(Jn 14:13; 1Jn 5:13-15).
The men of the Spirit are those who
Defend and exercise the right of children of God and give glory Him for
They hope to one day receive the right to enter the Holy City(Rev 22:14).
O Lord,
Our Father in heaven,
The name Y'shua is my authority, my right!
The name Y'shua is all I need!
Open our eyes to see what kind of authority we have received as Your children and
Let us experience this authority and give You glory. Amen
God is the Father of spirits(He 12:9).
Through the spirit, He gives birth to children(Jn 3:8; Jas 1:18) and
He inherits the spiritual heaven to His children(Jn 14:2; He 1:2; Rev 21:1).
Faith is believing Him and becoming His children(Jn 1:12) and
The life of this faith is living this day doing His will until arriving in heaven where the Father is.
So, does heaven really exist?
If it does exist, where would it be? Who dwells there and how does one go there?
These are questions that most have asked at some point of their lives.
The Bible indicates three different heavens:
1. The first heaven - the sky - men govern(Ge 1:28);
2. The second heaven - the universe(the expanse, the space, Hades, darkness) - the devil governs(Rev 12:7-9); and
3. The third heaven - outside the universe(paradise, the Father's house) - God governs(Lk 23:43; Jn 14:2; 2Co 12:2).
Modern theology, liberal theology and populist theology
Posit that heaven does not physically exist but rather
It is "the state of being the best and turn it into just a concept.
The Bible says, however, that heaven is real in its existence:
1. The corrupted angel fell to the earth from there(Is 14:15);
2. The Son of God resurrected and was lifted up there(Lk 24:51); and
3. The children born on earth will be resurrected and lifted up there(Jn 14:3).
No one from the Old Testament went the Father's house(Jn 3:12-13);
But by faith men went to Abraham's side(Lk 16:22).
Deceived by the devil,
Adam sinned and all men became
Children of the devil bound for hell with him(Mt 25:41; Jn 8:44).
God gave Israel the Law,
The law of sin and death(Rm 3:19-20),
The spirit of slave to fear(Rm 8:15).
Hence, the tablets inside the testimony of the sanctuary was
A reminder of the fear they had.
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 birth to souls.
Jesus called the One in heaven, "my father(Mt 10:32; Lk 2:49),
Causing the Jews to hate Him and eventually put Him to death(Jn 5:18, Jn 6:42).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the command and fulfilled the Father's will(Jn 10:17-18);
2. Judged the false father(Ge 3:4-6; Jn 8:44); and
3. Tore His flesh and shed His blood, making a way for souls to go to the Father(Jn 14:6).
After His death:
1. His soul went to paradise(Lk 23:43);
2. He resurrected and went to the Father's house(Jn 20:17; Ac 1:9); and
3. When He returns from there He will come to the air(1Th 4:23).
The Holy Spirit comes to those born of
The blood of Jesus, i.e., the word of truth, the living and enduring word(1Pe 1:23; Jas 1:18),
The Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of sonship(Rm 8:5, Rm 8:15), and
Lets them know that the One in heaven is the Father of their souls.
Not abandoning like orphans, He nurtures them(Jn 14:16-17).
The men of the Spirit are those who
Have the hope to resurrect and go to heaven where the Father is.
Therefore, they cry out, "Abba, Father and overcome
In their struggle against their own sins and other's sins(Mt 6:9-13), and
Temptations, trouble, hardship or persecution(Rm 8:53; Eph 6:16).
They resolve to live only "this day doing the will of the Father(Mt 6:31-34; Jn 6:38-40),
Until they arrive in heaven and see the One seated on the throne(Rev 4:2).
O Lord,
Open our eyes to see our Father in heaven!
Let us not worry about what to eat or what to wear, but instead
Let us live this day doing You will until we arrive in heaven. Amen.
God is the everlasting life.
There is no beginning or end of life(He 7:3) and
The essence of life never changes.
"Life refers to
Never perishing, spoiling or fading away(1Pe 1:3-4).
Thus, faith is having the living hope to eternally posses that life and
The life of this faith is making resurrection as one's goal and pressing on towards it until
He calls from above(Php 3:10-14).
"All things that God made in the beginning
Refer to the visible and the invisible,
The living and the non-living.
The living lives for a limited time and dies, perishes and fades away.
God breathed the breath of life into the man, and
He became a living being(Ge 2:7) and
All men were made to be resurrected after the flesh dies(Jn 5:29).
Deceived by the devil,
Adam sinned and death entered all men(Rm 5:12).
Furthermore, all toils and wearisome of men became meaningless,
A chasing after the wind(Ecc 1:1-7, Ecc 2:11; Is 40:6; 1Pe 1:24).
To Israel, God gave the Law, the law of condemnation and
It made them conscious of their sins - thus, death(Rm 3:19-23).
Nevertheless, the tablets inside the testimony of the sanctuary
Reminded the Israelites that if they obeyed the Law,
God blessed them with life in their flesh.
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 everlasting life to the spirit, for
He is the life that was with the everlasting Father in the beginning(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:4, Jn 1:14),
The resurrection and the life(Jn 11:25) and
A kernel of wheat that falls to the ground and dies to produce many seeds(Jn 12:24).
Thus, as He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. With His authority laid down His life according to the Father's command(Jn 10:18); and
2. Condemned the ruler of death(He 2:14); and
3. With His blood redeemed the sins of all men and sowed the seed of life in them(1Pe 1:23).
Jesus resurrected and
Became the firsfruits of those who have fallen asleep(1Co 15:20).
Hence, His toils are never meaningless.
Jesus came out of the grave and
Even went inside of a locked room(Jn 20:19) for
He is the Truth that surpasses the law of death and the law of nature(Jn 14:6).
Moreover, He showed His resurrected body to the disciples(Lk 24:37) and
Confirmed that His body is the spiritual body that can never perish, change or die.
The Holy Spirit comes to those who
Received the name of Jesus, His blood, the living and enduring word,
The life of Jesus(Jn 1:12, Jn 20:31; 1Pe 1:18-19, 1Pe 1:23).
He lets them believe in the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection to life(Jn 11:25-26), and
Reminds them of the words of Jesus so that they run towards the prize.
The resurrection of Jesus is important because
It is the fulfillment of the prophecy(Mt 16:21), thus highlights His return, and
It is a new principle that revealed the resurrection of saints(1Co 15:13).
The order of resurrection(1Co 15:23-24) is:
1. Jesus Christ - the fristfruits;
2. Saints - those who belong to Him - the first resurrection(Rev 20:4-6); and
3. The rest - believers("the living) and unbelievers("the dead) - the second resurrection(Rev 20:12-15).
The men of the Spirit are
Shocked by the fact that Jesus is risen and
Testify it until their last breath.
Their hope and goal in life is the first resurrection.
Therefore, they put every effort to obtain it,
Risking everything for it(Rm 8:19-23; Php 3:7-11, Php 3:20-21).
O Lord,
Let us not live for the things that will perish but instead
Let us live for everlasting life! Amen.
God is the beginning of knowledge(Col 1:18).
He is the beginning of creation(Rev 3:14), and
The beginning of wisdom(Ps 111:10).
Faith is receiving God's teaching and becoming His disciple, and
The life of this faith is making disciples.
In the universe was the devil,
The beginning of sin(Mi 1:13), the origin of sin(1Jn 3:8), who
Sinned against God in the spiritual heaven and was cast out(Is 14:12-15).
He is also the false teacher who taught man to sin on earth(Ge 3:5).
Thus, all men after Adam became his followers to hell(Mt 25:41).
Before the truth came,
The Law, comprised of decrees and laws, was
Given to Israel through Moses(Ex 18:20) and
It was taught by parents to their children and made them their disciples(Gal 3:24)
The tablets inside the sanctuary reminded them that
When they followed such teaching,
They were blessed with longevity on earth and everything went well(Dt 30:16).
It, nevertheless, did not teach them about the future, i.e., the life after death(Ecc 8:7).
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 tear down the earthly teachings and teach the Truth to all men for
He is the Word who was with the Father in the beginning(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14) who
Said and did according to what the Father taught Him(Jn 7:16-17, Jn 8:28).
Thus, He began His ministry by calling disciples and teaching them(Mt 4:19)
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the Father's teaching and entered into the heavenly sanctuary(Jn 10:11, Jn 10:17-18; He 9:11-12);
2. Destroyed the teacher of sin, the devil(Ge 3:5; Jn 8:44; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Tore His flesh and shed His blood, redeeming all men(Mt 20:28).
He rose from the dead and revealed that
He is the true disciple and the true teacher(Jn 14:6) and
He went ahead before men to heaven(He 6:20).
The Holy Spirit comes to souls who know Jesus as the Truth and
Teaches in them the life and the words of Jesus(Jn 14:26).
Therefore, the disciples of Jesus are those who
Make disciples of all nations whom He calls(Mt 28:18-20; Mk 3:13; Ac 2:38) and
Make them to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven(Rm 8:17-18), and
Go to the ends of the earth to find their own disciples.
O Lord,
Give me souls or I'll die(Ge 30:1)!
Give me disciples or I'll die!
Let me go out and find my disciples. Amen.
God is the beginning of knowledge(Pr 1:7).
All knowledge comes from Him and
All knowledge is to let Him be known.
Since the beginning, God revealed His invisible deity and power
Through all things(Rm 1:19-20).
Faith is having the knowledge of knowing God and
The life of this faith is considering all other knowledge as rubbish and pressing on toward the goal of the knowledge He gave, i.e., resurrection(Php 3:8).
Knowledge is recognizing all things,
Such as natural principles, humans, history, society, ideology, law, politics, economics, science etc.
Hence, all books in the world are written of such and
All academics in the world are about studying and learning them.
Yet they are all elementary learnings.
While theology is learning the knowledge about god,
The Bible contains the godly knowledge(Jn 10:35) and
Such is the surpassing great knowledge.
The knowledge that the Bible gives is that:
All things were made by the word of God(He 11:3);
All men are to return to dust as God said(Ge 3:19); and
The misery of man is due to sin and its origin is the devil(Ge 3:14-17).
The Law is referred to as "basic principles(Col 2:8) for All men are sinners(Rm 3:20), and
It lets the price of sin be known as death(Rm 6:23).
The tablets inside the Testimony of the sanctuary
Reminded the Israelites this and
Such knowledge was their pride.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-21), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would tear down basic principles(Gal 4:3; Col 2:8), and
Give the surpassing great knowledge of knowing the Father.
While the Scribes practiced their authority to kill men
By the words of their knowledge that came out of their mouths(Mt 10:18),
Jesus, through the words that came out of His mouth(Mt 8:16; Mk 1:25),
Drove out demons and healed the sick, for
He is the Truth(Mt 11:27, Mt 11:29; Jn 14:9) - the knowledge of knowing God.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and honored the Father, the beginning of knowledge(Jn 10:18; Rm 11:33);
2. Condemned the false teacher(Ge 3:4-6; Jn 8:44); and
3. With His blood redeemed men who sinned because of their ignorance(Mt 20:28; Lk 23:34).
The Father raised Him and
Through His resurrection,
Jesus showed the knowledge that surpasses death.
The Holy Spirit lets the deepest things and the mystery of God be known(1Co 2:10; Col 2:2-3), and
Let believers possess the surpassing great, new knowledge of all things:
The principle of the universe --> the spiritual heaven;
The principle of nation --> the kingdom of heaven;
The principle of life --> eternal life;
The principle of family --> heavenly Father;
Righteousness --> faith;
Sin --> redemption;
Death --> resurrection etc.
The men of the Spirit are those who are
Mesmerized by the surpassing great knowledge and they live by it.
Therefore, in order to participate with Christ in the power of resurrection,
They gratefully accept suffering and mocking, and
Go out and teach this knowledge,
Pressing on toward the goal of resurrection(Php 3:5-14; Tit 1:1).
O Lord,
What are we that
You teach us such a surpassing great knowledge?
Let us not become discouraged because we lack basic principles.
Rather, let us yearn to know You more! Amen.
God is everlasting(Ps 90:2)
There is no beginning or end to His life(He 7:3) and
He infinitely enjoys the joy, the happiness and the glory that His life offers.
Faith is loving eternal life and
The life of this faith is following after eternal life and eliminating anything that
interferes.
While people in the world neither believe nor desire eternal life,
They put every effort to extend the life of their flesh.
The Bible defines life:
The "life in the Old Testament is nephesh, which in Hebrews means "life breath(Job 7:7);
The "life in the New Testament is psuche, which in Greek is "the breath of life(Mt 6:25).
As such, the life of all flesh depends on breath -
Thus, extremely fragile and meaningless.
This was actualized during the great flood(Ge 6:17):
Every creature that had the breath of life was washed away by water.
Because the living being Adam sinned,
The spirits of all men became cut off from God and were bound to die(Ge 2:17).
The Law, also referred to as
"The law of sin and death and "external regulations(Rm 8:2; He 9:10),
Let sin be known and its price sin be materialized for
It is impossible for the blood of animals to give life to the spirit that was already dead(He 10:4).
The tablets inside the testimony of
The sanctuary guaranteed that the life of their flesh would be prolonged
As long as they obeyed the Law.
However, 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 life to all spirits for
He is the incarnate Word,
The resurrection and the life(zoe)(Jn 1:1-4, Jn 1:14, Jn 11:25, Jn 14:6).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:20), declaring that He:
1. Like a seed fell and died with the function to die and obeyed the Father's command and received eternal life(Jn 10:18, Jn 12:24-25, Jn 12:50; 1Pe 1:23);
2. Condemned the ruler of death(He 2:14); and
3. Shed His blood and redeemed all men(Mt 20:28).
And He rose with the life in the word(Rm 1:3-4).
While anyone who believes Him receives life through His blood,
Only those who follow Him can become His disciple and
Receive eternal life(Lk 14:27; Mk 10:29-30).
The disciples of Jesus are
Those who hate their spouse, father, brother, children, land and
Even their own life(Lk 14:25-35) and
Follow Him until the end.
The Holy Spirit lets them know that
However great the cost they pay,
They will surely be rewarded with eternal life(Rm 8:18; 1Co 2:12).
O Lord,
Open our eyes so we can know the worth of eternal life.
Let not even one of us be lost to the fire of hell! Amen.
God is Spirit(Jn 4:24).
All spirits comes from Him(He 12:9) and
By His word, He gives life to spirits(Jn 6:63).
Though the world also uses the word, "soul,
Without the Spirit of God, no one can know the deep things of the soul(1C 02:10-11).
Faith is loving I the soul and cherishing it(Pr 15:32, Pr 19:8). The life of this faith is living for the soul.
God breathed into the man made of dust and
Made him a living being(Ge 2:7).
By comparison, angels are spiritual begins made in heaven.
Despite the fact that Adam is
A spiritual being made to live by the word of God(Ge 2:17),
He was deceived by the devil and ate the forbidden fruit, as a result of which
All men became unconscious of the fact that they are souls - thus, they lost their identity(1Co 15:21).
During the time of Noah,
While God punished with water all those who lived irrelevant to the soul,
He saved Noah and his family who lived according to the word of God.
God promised Abraham seed, offspring and
The sanctuary reminded them that God blessed their lineage to exist.
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 life not to the flesh but to the spirit(Jn 1:13) for
He is the Word who was in the beginning,
The incarnate Spirit, the Son of God(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14),
The last Adam who came to give life to the first Adam(1Co 15:45-48).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. By dying according to the command, commended His soul to the Father who will raise Him by His word(Jn 10:18);
2. Condemned the devil who caused Adam to become unconscious of his true identity(Ge 3:4-5; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. By spilling out water and blood, i.e., the life-giving spirit, raised the first Adam(Jn 19:34).
Therefore, the Father raised Him from the dead for
He did not abandon His soul or let the Holy One decay(Ac 2:27).
The Holy Spirit comes to
Those souls raised by His blood, which is according to
God's plan in the beginning to make a spiritual space inside of man(He 9:7-8).
The man of the Spirit clearly sees the soul.
Therefore, he puts every effort to save every soul bought by the precious blood(1Pe 1:18-19),
Forgives by the perfect love of the Father(Mt 5:46-48, Mt 6:14-15), and
Pours out his sweat, tears and heart to serve souls
For he longs to be judged
Not as a man of flesh or a man of the person
But as a man of the spirit and
Finally receive life and peace(Rm 8:5-7).
O Lord,
It has taken me this long to figure out that I am a soul.
It has taken me this long to know that
There is a spiritual space that can bear life inside my body!
Let me live the rest of my earthly life for my soul, and
Let all those You have given me also know this truth! Amen.
God is merciful. His mercy knows no end(Eph 2:4) and He has mercy on whom He has mercy(Ex 33:19). Faith is receiving His mercy and The life according to this faith is to approach Him seeking His mercy in times of need and also having mercy on one another. Mercy is given to the poor, the suffering, the grieving, the sick etc. A parent has mercy on his child and He who suffered has mercy on those who suffer. Adam had the weakness of the flesh that was made of dust. Hence he sinned, after which:
1. The serpent was given the right to eat dust - i.e., sickness(Ge 3:14);
2. The woman would worry about her husband and children - i.e., family(Ge 3:16); and
3. Adam would eat by the sweat of his brow - i.e., financial hardship was added(Ge 3:17).
Though God cannot forgive sin, He nevertheless made the conditions for Him to have mercy on sinners. God gave the Law to Israel which stated that, If they sinned, by two or three witnesses they died without mercy(He 10:28). Yet it simultaneously commanded them The cities of refuge(Nu 35:11) and Sin offering and guilt offering(Lev 4:3, Lev 5:18). Thus, God's mercy was revealed even in the Law, albeit vaguely(He 10:1), and It was reminded through the sanctuary. Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-21), Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body, He would show mercy on all men for The Word became flesh, the Son of God came in the weakness of flesh(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14). As such, He showed mercy by Healing the sick and raising the dead(Mk 10:46-52; Jn 4:47, Jn 4:52). Refusing to accept myrrh(Mk 15:23), Jesus died and said, "It is finished(Jn 19:20), declaring that He:
1. Willingly laid down His life, only desiring the Father's mercy(Is 54:7-8; Mt 9:13; Lk 23:28);
2. Condemned the origin of sin(1Jn 3:18); and
3. Bore onto His body the sorrow and the infirmities that sinners deserve(Is 53:4) and gave mercy to all men.
The Father then raised Him up and Crowned Him with mercy(Ps 103:4). The Holy Spirit comes to those who Through the blood of the Son received the Father's mercy, and Lets them know how pitiful they are(Rev 3:17). The men of the Spirit therefore Have mercy on their brothers and forgive them(Mt 18:32-33), and Approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and Find grace to help them in their time of need(He 4:15-16), for He has torn them to pieces but He will heal them, and He has injured them but He will bind up their wounds(Hos 6:1). Prayer is the door that the Father opened to have mercy on His children(Mt 6:9). It is the cry of those who are always tempted because of the weakness of their flesh. And it reaches the throne(He 4:16) - The place from which the Lord's mercy flows. O Lord, Have mercy on me for I am faint(Ps 6:2)! Heave mercy on me for I am tempted! Let us all return to You through prayer. Amen.
God is beautiful(Ps 27:4).
Beauty comes from Him and His name is beautiful(Ps 8:1), and
He brings beauty to perfection(Eze 27:11).
Faith is knowing him and loving Him.
The life of this faith is willingly taking on lowly image while on earth, in order to bear the image of perfect beauty(He 11:35-37).
While the world is moved by the beauty of women, flowers, sceneries, lands, jewels etc,
All things, all lives are changing and dying(1Pe 1:24), for
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting(Pr 31:30)
But the word of God is beautiful forever(1Pe 1:25).
In heaven was the archangel Luciel(Eze 28:17; Is 14:14) who was
Intoxicated with his own beauty and attempted to challenge God out of pride.
God, thus, considered him vile and threw him down into Hades.
Adam, made in the image of God(Ge 1:27), was
Deceived by the devil and tempted by the beauty of the forbidden fruit and ate it(Ge 3:6).
As a result, the living being died and bore the most vile image.
God led the Israelites into the desert after Egypt, for them to
Long for the beautiful land where milk and honey flowed(Nu 14:7; Dt 3:25; Eze 20:15).
The land of Canaan, however, was beautiful not because of its soil but
Because it was where the beautiful temple of God was built, where
His beautiful name Jehovah was(Ps 8:1).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-22), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would tear down the name Jehovah delivered through angels(Ex 3:2, Ex 3:4, Ex 3:15) and
Raise the Father's name that the Son brought(Jn 5:43, Jn 17:11) - Yeshua -
The name superior, more beautiful than the angels'(He 1:4).
Yet when He came in flesh,
There was no beauty or majesty to attract men to Him(Is 53:2-3).
He was eventually abandoned by them and
Died on the cross, becoming the most vile image(Ps 22:6-7).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Willingly bore the most vile image and died, testifying that the Father alone is beautiful and that He was bringing beauty to perfection(Ps 50:2; Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the origin of sin(Eze 28:17; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men's sins that are more vile than anything(Job 15:16; Jer 17:9).
The Father raised Him up and
Gave Him the most beautiful name Yeshua as inheritance(Php 2:9-11).
Jesus is seated on the throne as the beautiful one(Rev 4:2-3).
Christians are those who received the beautiful name, Jesus(Jas 2:7; He 1:4) and
Through His blood, their souls have gained life and were made beautiful.
The Holy Spirit dwells in them and
Let's them guard that beauty(2Ti 1:14).
Therefore, the men of the Spirit
Endure suffering(1Pe 2:20),
Carry out their duties(1Ti 3:13), and
Bring good news(Is 52:7; Rm 10:15),
Until they stand as the bride beautifully prepared
For the groom Jesus when He comes back(Rev 21:2, Rev 21:9).
The men of faith did not adorn their flesh.
But rather, they accepted the most brutal punishment and
Took on the most beautiful image with their flesh.
O Lord,
We spent so much time, materials and interests to
Adorn this dying flesh.
Let us now beautifully dress our souls! Amen.
God is good.
For He is good, what He does is good(Ps 119:68) and
In all things He works for the good of those love Him(Ge 50:20; Rm 8:28).
Good things come out of the good stored up in the good man, while
Evil things come out of the evil stored up in the evil man(Mt 12:35).
All things that come out of God is good.
Faith is receiving Him and
The life of this faith is waiting and overcoming until He who began a good work in you carries it to completion.
After God made all things, He said, "It was good(Ge 1:31) for
He began His good work.
Though Adam ate the forbidden fruit and sinned,
God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil(Ge 3:22),
As Adam would now participate in the work of the death and the resurrection of the Son, and
God changed evil to good.
The Law is good(Rm 7:12-13).
Though sin was in the world, it was not taken into account before the Law came(Rm 5:12).
Hence, after the Law came, sin sprang up and
Led sinners like a tutor to the Savior(Gal 3:24).
While the tablets inside the ark of the sanctuary
Reminded Israel about sin,
The teachers of the Law, the Pharisees,
Misunderstood it and misled Israel(Lk 6:39-40).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-21),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal that He alone is good(Lk 18:18-23) for
He is the Word that became flesh, in which was life(Jn 1:1, 14, 14), and
The good shepherd who came to do good, i.e., giving life(Jn 10:11, Mk 3:1-4).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life for He knew that He would gain it again(Jn 5:29, Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the evil one(Jn 10:10; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Shed His blood and sowed the seed of life in souls(Jn 1:1-4, 14; 1Pe 1:23).
The Father raise Him up and
Jesus ascended to the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit comes to those who received
The blood of Jesus, the seed of life, and
He lets them finish the good of Jesus Christ(Php 1:6).
The men of the Spirit know that,
When they go through
Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword(Rm 8:35-37),
God's good work has begun in them
So they do not despair.
Therefore, they pray until answer comes(1Ki 28:41-44),
Wait patiently until healing comes(Mk 8:22-25), and
Do good by giving life to souls(Mk 3:4) for
They long to rise to live and enter eternal life(Jn 5:29; Rm 2:7).
O Lord,
Open our eyes and
Let us see beyond these obstacles!
Let us wait patiently and overcome to see something good taking place!
Amen.
God is abundant(Ps 86:15).
There is nothing that He lacks and
He gives infinitely.
Faith is receiving His abundance and
The life of this faith is giving away what one has.
It is important to have the right first-impression of God since
Men, while they like to receive,
Do not like to lose what they have.
When God made all things,
He filled the spiritual heaven with angels and
The material heaven with every species of living things(Ge 1:1)
To reveal His abundance.
Though Adam was made
A living being to be filled with the life of God(Ge 2:7),
He was deceived by the devil and ate the forbidden fruit,
Because of which he lost the right to eat freely and
He was banished from the Garden(Ge 3:24).
Subsequently, all men's life became meaningless regardless of their toil(Ge 3:17-19).
Inside the sanctuary was the ark of covenant that had
The golden vase containing manna(He 9:4).
It reminded the Israelites that,
For 40 years God fed their fathers in the desert(Ex 16:35; Ps 78:24).
There were also the stone tablets which reminded them that,
To receive blessing and life from God They had to live by the commandment(Dt 30:19).
While this was a source of a pride for them,
It also brought on fear for punishment(Ex 19:5-6).
Nevertheless, God revealed His plans through the prophets:
1. To not harm but prosper them, and give them hope and a future(Jer 29:11); and
2. For that, God was going to give His Son(Is 9:6).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again(Jn 2:19-21), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would give life to the full to men(Jn 10:10) for
He is the Only Begotten Son whom God gave up for men
To reveal His rich mercy for them(Jn 3:16; Eph 2:4).
Hence, by one word He
Filled the empty boat with fish(Lk 5:4-6) and
Fed 5, 000 with five loaves of bread and two fish in the empty field(Mt 14:19-22).
It was for them to believe that:
1. God gave all things to the Son(Jn 3:35); and that
2. God gives life abundantly through the Son(Jn 10:10).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. down His life and emptied Himself before the Father's will(Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the thief(Ge 3:4); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men and gave life to the full(Mt 20:28; Jn 10:10).
The Father raised Him up and Jesus ascended to the heavenly throne.
He is God whose life has no end(Jn 20:28; He 7:3; Rev 1:18).
The Holy Spirit comes with the name Yeshua,
The keys of the kingdom of heaven(Mt 16:19) and
In His name He gives
1. (Jn 20:31);
2. right to become children of God(Jn 1:12);
3. every good and perfect gift(Jas 1:17); and
4. Wisdom, joy, peace, power etc(Jas 1:5; Jn 16:24, Jn 20:21; Ac 1:8).
And He lets them experiences His abundance daily.
The man of the Spirit knows that
In the name Yeshua he has received every good and perfect thing, and
Therefore, he goes out and gives away the name Yeshua(Ac 3:6).
O Lord,
Though we have no wealth, honor or knowledge to give away,
We have the name that fills all things, the name Yeshua, to give away.
We are grateful! We are proud! We are bold! Amen.
God is He who sits on the throne(Rev 4:10).
He is worthy to receive praise and worship, and
He rules over life and death, blessing and curse.
Faith is kneeling before Him, and
The life of this faith is putting effort to kneel until the end.
Though kneeling or bowing down is shameful
One chooses to do it in order to live:
1. The lowly - to highness - to worship;
2. The sinner - to the righteous judge - before the judgment seat;
3. The defeated - to the victor - confessing his loss; and
4. The destitute - to the abundant - to plead.
God is great above all gods(Ps 95:3-6).
All things were made by Him and belong to Him, and
The matter of life and death is in His hands.
Thus, it is only natural for man to kneel before God.
Despite the fact that Satan was
A creation made to kneel forever,
He said in his heart to ascend the throne(Is 14:12-15).
He was consequently thrown into Hades until the judgment(Jude 1:6).
After Adam lost to Satan, i.e., the devil, and sinned(Rev 12:9),
All men inherited the slave tendency to kneel to other gods(2Pe 2:19).
Though the Law commanded the Israelites that
They were to kneel to no idols or other gods but the Lord God(Ex 20:5, Ex 34:14),
They endlessly sinned and faced punishment(Nu 25:1-3).
The prophet Elijah, on the other hand, had a great zeal for God.
Thus, he risked life to kneel to the Lord God alone(1Ki 18:8-46).
The sanctuary where the Tablets were inside the Ark
Reminded the Israelites that
They were to kneel and worship the Lord God alone.
Jesus said, "Destroy the 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 kneel to God alone and set a precedent for all creation to follow, for
He is the very nature God who came as the Son of Man to
Reveal the true form of man, of creation that God had originally intended.
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life in total submission to the Father's will and gave Him glory(Jn 10:17-18; Php 2:6-10);
2. Defeated the ruler of death who surrendered(He 2:14); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men and set them free(Rm 5:18).
Therefore, the Father raised Him up and seated Him on the throne, and
He is worthy to receive praise and worship(Rev 3:21, Rev 4:10).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent lets
Every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord and
Every knee bow down before His name Yeshua(Php 2:6-10).
The men of the Spirit are
Those who surrender to the name Yeshua.
Therefore, they fall on their knees and worship(Lk 5:8),
Welcome His reign(Rev 3:20), and
Pray until their knees are worn(Lk 22:41; He 5:7) for
It is their hope to fall down before Him who sits on the throne and
Worship Him forever(Rev 4:10).
O Lord,
Like Stephen(Ac 7:59-60),
Let us all kneel before You until the moment of our death,
From the beginning of the year to its end! Amen.
Your Grace is Sufficient for Me
(Ps 23:1-6; 2Co 12:7-10)
God is good(Ps 136:1).
He does good work, providing plenty of food and filling hearts with joy(Ac 14:17), and
He satisfies and fills the hungry soul(Ps 107:9).
Faith is being satisfied with His grace(Jer 31:14; 2Co 3:5), and
The life of this faith is knowing all things as grace even in hopeless situations.
For hell and destruction are never satisfied, and
Neither are the eyes of man(Pr 27:20),
The devil aroused the dormant greed in man and
Deceived Adam to eat the forbidden fruit and sin(Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6).
While as a result Adam was banished from the Garden(Ge 3:24),
He was not in need for God provided him with plenty of things.
The land that the Israelites arrived in
After their exodus from their slavery of 400 years was
The vast and dreadful desert(Dt 8:15).
Though they witnessed God's miraculous signs(Nu 14:11),
They tested God 10 times because of their greed(Nu 11:4, Nu 14:22).
Hence, without entering the land where milk and honey flowed(Ex 3:8),
They all fell in the desert and died(Nu 14:29).
Job, on the other hand, though all ten of his sons died within the same day,
Did not complain to God(Job 1:21-22) and
Consequently received greater blessing than before(Job 42:10).
The vase with manna inside the sanctuary reminded them that
They were satisfied with God as their Lord(Ps 23:1-6), and
Aaron's staff, a sign to the rebellious, warned them for generations(Nu 17:5).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days, because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body(Jn 2:19-22),
He would let streams of living water flow from within believers(Jn 7:38), and
Fill souls with all good things through His divine power and godliness(2Pe 1:3, 2Pe 1:8).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Satisfied the Father through the suffering of His soul(Is 53:11);
2. Judged the devil, the source of greed(Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Through His blood that sprang out of His struck body, the spiritual rock,
let souls drink the spiritual drink(Nu 20:10; Ps 23:4; 1Co 10:3-4).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne(Rev 22:1),
The throne of the Lamb from where the river of the water of life flows.
The Holy Spirit who came from there
Lets us know what God has freely given us(1Co 2:12), and
Satisfies the souls who long for Him(Ps 107:9).
Therefore, the man of the Spirit is
Not in want for Jesus is his King, his Lord, his God and his Father,
Overcomes trouble hardship, persecution, famine nakedness, danger or sword(Rm 8:32-39), and
Rejoices over his weaknesses and pains that he has in
His body, family or livelihood - for the sake of Christ(2Co 12:7-10).
O Lord,
The grace you poured onto me this year is sufficient for me.
Though I still have weaknesses, problems and pains,
I decided to love them instead of losing them for
When I am weak, then I am strong! Lord, I shall not be in want for
You are my King, my Lord, my God and my Father! Amen.
God is the source of joy.
Joy is in Him and
To those who rejoice in Him, He gives even greater joy.
The more a man seeks physical pleasure,
The greater its meaningless becomes(Ecc 2:1-11).
However, faith is rejoicing in God(Ps 9:2; Job 22:16), and
The life of this faith is putting effort to become His joy, by being full of joy through the Spirit.
Deceived the devil,
Adam, the father of all men, sinned(Ge 3:4-6).
Consequently, they became destined to fall into hell(Ge 3:16-19; Mt 25:41).
Abraham, on the other hand, rejoiced at the thought of seeing God and
Finally saw Him and rejoiced(Ge 18:1-4) and
Subsequently received a son, Isaac, at the age of 100 and laughed(Ge 18:10, Ge 21:1-6).
His descendants became a people over whom
God rejoiced on a account of their fathers(Dt 10:15), because of which
They were delivered from a slavery of 430 years in Egypt.
They rejoiced when God turned the sea into dry land and
They passed through the waters on foot(Ps 66:6).
Soon after, however, they grumbled against God for
Their joy came from their physical circumstances and conditions.
In order for the source of their joy to be in the name of God(Ps 89:6)
God commanded them to build the sanctuary.
And yet, they rather rejoiced over idols(Is 44:9).
Thus, God no longer rejoiced over them(Hos 9:1) and
No longer found pleasure in their sacrifice(Is 1:11).
Nevertheless, the good news of great joy proclaimed
The coming of the man in whom God delights(Is 42:1) -
The coming of the Son of God in flesh.
According to the prophecy(Zec 9:9),
Jesus was conceived in the virgin and born in Bethlehem(Is 7:14).
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 fill with His joy in the souls over whom He rejoices(Jn 15:11), for
Whether He was in the bosom of the Father(Pr 8:29-3) or came as man,
He delighted the Father(Mt 12:18).
Though there was absolutely nothing in His condition
To be joyful about while He was in flesh,
He was full of joy through the Spirit(Lk 10:21; Jn 8:29).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the Father's command and pleased Him(Jn 10:17-18);
2. Judged the devil who attempted to find joy in himself(Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-17); and
3. Bore the sorrow and the suffering of men onto His body and gave joy to all men,
i.e., His blood(Is 53:3-4).
He rose and ascended the heavenly throne and
He became the eternal joy of God.
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Lets those on whom His favor rests(Lk 2:14) rejoice
For the sole reason that they have the blood of Jesus in them.
The man of the Spirit
Rejoices for knowing Jesus, for having His blood and His name Y'shua.
Therefore, even if he is not healed,
Even if his problems are not solved,
He rejoices, and
Proclaims this good news of great joy for
He longs to go to heaven where the greatest joy awaits -
Seeing Jesus(Rev 19:7).
O Lord,
I am fine whether there is a vine that comforts me or not(Jnh 4:8-9) for
The source of my joy is not my senses or even my deeds.
Rather, my joy comes from the blood of Jesus in my soul!
The name Y'shua is my joy!
I rejoice and rejoice over Your coming in flesh! Amen.
God is the Leader(Pr 3:6).
He created those whom He would lead: man.
He made the place from which He would lead: the universe.
He sent the Leader: the Only Begotten Son.
He prepared the place to which He would lead:
The true haven, the Father's house.
Faith is acknowledging that He is your Leader.
The life of this faith is acknowledging Him in all your ways to be led by Him.
A "leader is someone who directs through commands.
While on earth it is your father, teacher and king,
There is only one leader who leads you to heaven:
the Father in heaven, i.e., Christ.
Though he was created to be led by God(Ge 2:17),
Adam was deceived and sinned.
Consequently, he was banished from the Garden(Ge 3:23-24)
To never leave the universe, i.e., Hades,
The first heaven and the first earth, reserved for fire(Is 14:12-15; 2Pe 3:7; Rev 21:1),
Prepared for the devil and his angels(Mt 25:41; 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6).
To lead man out, however, God sent Moses to:
1. Bring out the offspring of Israel(Ex 3:10);
2. From their slavery in Egypt(Ex 13:3);
3. Lead them into the land where milk and honey flowed(Nu 16:14);
4. Through the desert(Dt 8:15); and
5. Lead them their path with the pillars of fire and clouds(Ps 136:16).
All but Joshua and Caleb who left Egypt
Fell and died in the desert because
They grumbled against the way that God lead them(Ex 15:22-24, Ex 16:3; Nu 21:4).
There was still no rest for them even after they entered Canaan(He 4:8-9) for
That land was not their final destination and
They were then led by the Law(Ex 19:4-5).
The tablets inside the ark of the sanctuary
Reminded them that God was their Leader and
As long as they followed His commands, He would lead them to rest.
The Law was, however, yet another temporary leader
Since it was just a tutor that lead men to Christ(Gal 3:24).
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 lead souls to the Father's house(Jn 14:6) for
He is the Word that was with the Father in the beginning(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18) who
Came as the Christ, the true leader(Mt 1:16).
Jesus rebuked the rabbis, the Pharisees(Mt 23:2) for
They were blinds blind leading other blinds(Mt 15:14, Mt 23:16) as
They could never go beyond the boundary of the Law.
As He died, the veil in the Temple tore and
Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:20), declaring that He:
1. With His own precious blood entered the Most Holy Place, the Father's house
(He 9:12; 1Pe 1:19);
2. Condemned the origin of sin(1Jn 3:8); and
3. With His blood redeemed souls, and tore His flesh, bursting open the boundary of the law of sin and making a way for souls to be led to the Father's house
(Jn 14:6; He 10:19-20).
The Father raised Him and Jesus entered heaven first as the High Priest(He 6:20).
The Holy Spirit comes in the name Y'shua and
Leads His children to the Father's house by
Commanding and teaching them.
Faith is:
1. Acknowledging that Jesus is Christ, the heavenly Father(1Ki 8:33);
2. Being led out of the slavery under the devil, of sin(Rm 6:17-18); and
3. Being led to the Father's house in heaven(Jn 14:6).
The men of the Spirit acknowledge that
They are children of God(Rm 8:14-15) and
Know that He leads them into path that they do not know for they are blinds(Is 42:16).
Therefore, even though that path is difficult and narrow(Mt 7:13-14),
For they are watched over by the Father in all their ways
They follow Him wherever He goes(Rev 14:4), and
Finally, they are led by the Lamb to the springs of living water(Rev 7:17).
O Father,
It was You who led me to this point.
Let me and all those You have given me
Not walk off or be eliminated from this path.
Lead us until we arrive at Your house!
Amen.
God has His own will.
He does according to His will and
He chooses as He wills.
Faith is acknowledging and honoring Him and
The life of this faith is choosing God's path each day.
The "perfection that God instilled in creatures(Eze 28:21) is free will.
Thus, every man chooses and decides each day, and
The success and the failure of his life depends on
The result of his everyday choice.
As such, the most important thing to be done "this day is
The work of "choosing.
Though the archangel Luciel had the free will to want to be like God(Is 14:13),
When he left his proper domain, his proper position,
He was thrown into Hades(Jude 1:6).
Instead of following the word of God,
Adam chose to listen to Eve who was deceived by the serpent(Ge 3:6), and
Consequently chose death(Rm 5:12).
God gave another chance for men
To freely choose God: the exodus of Israel.
However, since it was not a path that they willingly chose
As they followed Moses out of fear of plagues,
They resented and grumbled in the desert(Ex 16:2-3).
The message that continued from
Moses through Joshua was(Ex 30:15-20; Jos 23:14-16)
For them to choose life this day.
The Tablets inside the sanctuary reminded them of
Their choosing of their Lord God and
God's promise of life and blessing.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-21), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fulfill the will of the Father.
Though He is the Word with the Father in the beginning, i.e., God(Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14),
When He came in flesh, He chose to do the Father's will(Jn 4:34, Jn 6:38; Lk 22:42).
As He chose His path to death,
Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Willingly chose to die according to the Father's will(Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the angel who misused his free will(Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:15-17); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men(Mt 20:28).
His death was the best decision of His free will, His masterpiece;
His resurrection was the confirmation of His successful choice(Php 2:9).
The Holy Spirit is the Person of God who
Comes only to those who receive Him(Jn 1:12, Jn 10:1-2; Rev 3:20) and
Lets the mystery of the kingdom of heaven be known.
The man of the Spirit, therefore
Uses his free will to choose to believe and receives abundant life(Jn 10:10), and
Hears the word and puts efforts to understand it.
Thus, the Holy Spirit helps him when he chooses to obey.
However, He takes away from those who do not want to believe(Mt 24:24), and
He chooses temptations for those who choose abominable path(Is 66:3-4)'
Its result is greater entice, curse and finally destruction.
O Lord,
Since this day's small choice can determine our eternal path,
Let us immediately rid ourselves of things that are evil in your sight and
Let us walk the path that delights you.
Amen.