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Finish the Race
(2Ti4:5-8)
God has a will.
His will does not change (He6:17-18) and
What He speaks He does (Nu23:19).
Faith is believing Him and fearing Him, and
The life of this faith is completing the task one has been given.
The characteristic of those who are successful in the world are that
In the face of adversity they are consistent with their words and actions,
While the common traits of those who do not do well in anything are that
They make excuses and complaints, and do not finish what they had set out to do initially
(“Dragon’s head, serpent’s tail”).
Nevertheless, there is no error in the Bible for it contains the infallible word of God.
During the creation, by His word, God created all things (Ge1):
“God said” and “there was” and “God saw that it was good.”
In spite of the fact that God said to Adam, “Do not eat…you will surely die” (Ge2:17),
Deceived by the devil who said, “you will not surely die,” Adam sinned (Ge3:4-6).
Thus, the living being died and the last Adam died fulfilling God’s word (Eph2:1; 1Co15:15).
The dispensation of the offspring of the woman coming and crushing the devil began (Ge3:15).
Noah and his family did everything as God commanded about building the ark (Ge6:13-22).
So they were saved from the judgement by the deluge that wiped out everything that breathes.
But Lot’s wife, though followed the angel’s warning and left Sodom to escape its destruction,
Ultimately disobeyed God’s word and looked back, turning into a pillar of salt (Ge19:1, 13-17, 26).
By doing everything God commanded him of
Giving his “only son” as a “burnt offering” “on a mountain [God] will show” him,
Abraham received the covenant of blessing regarding a seed (Ge22:2, 16-18).
The exodus of Israel the event that was fulfilled for
Moses did everything that God had commanded (Ex3:10, 4:12).
To remind this for generations God instructed them to build the sanctuary and
Moses did it just as God commanded and wrote it down accordingly (Ex25:9, 40:17-35).
Israel’s conquer of Jericho (Jos6:2-20) was
The result of following God’s command of putting the ark ahead of them to the end.
However, they were cursed repeatedly for
They neglected and disobeyed the LORD’s commands, decrees and laws (Neh1:3-7).
Yeshua appeared and 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 (Jn2:19-21)
He would speak and do, not the words delivered through angel in Jehovah’s name (He2:2),
But the Father’s words spoken by the Son in Yeshua’s name (Jn5:43) for
He is the Word who was in the Father’s bosom before the creation who became flesh (Jn1:1, 14),
To do the will of the Father who sent Him (Jn6:38, 12:49, 14:24).
Before He died, He said, “I am thirsty” and “It is finished” (Jn19:28-30), for
Every part of the Scripture to be fulfilled through Him had to be applied (Jn5:39):
1) The will that was in the Father’s bosom in the beginning was fulfilled in His body and He became the righteousness (Ge2:17; Mt26:42; Jn10:18);
2) Condemned the devil who denied the word of God (Ge:3:4; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Redeemed the sins of men who sinned because of the weakness of flesh and shed His
blood giving them a second chance (Mt20:28; Eph1:7).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven as the righteous Judge (2Ti4:8) and
The Holy Spirit who came in the name Yeshua
Reminds believers the words of Christ (Mt28:19; Jn14:26; Ac1:8).
To receive eternal life, the Christian takes up his cross and follows Yeshua and
He has prepared in advance for the cost (Lk14:25-35).
Therefore, he cuts off any lust for the world (1Jn2:5-17),
Does the work of an evangelist, discharges all duties of the ministry edifying the church (1Ti4:5-7).
Beating his body to make it his slave (1Co9:24-27)
To not be abandoned like those who stopped along the way,
He presses on to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith
Until receiving the promised crown of righteousness when the righteous Judge returns.
O Lord,
Because of what we see with our eyes, because of what we feel with our flesh
We have failed and fallen countless times this past year…
Cover our past days with the blood of Yeshua and
Let the Holy Spirit guide us like blind runners so we may finish the race…
Til we can finally see Your face! Amen.
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Born In Bethlehem
(Mi5:2; Mt2:1-12)
God is the great King (Ps47:2; Mal1:14; Mt5:35).
He rules over kings and reigns forever as the King, and
He brings those who welcome Him as their King and worship Him on earth into His kingdom in
Heaven to worship Him there forever (Rev4:10, 21:24).
Faith is knowing and welcoming Him.
The life of this faith is laying down precious gifts and prostrating before Him and worshipping Him.
Though Bethlehem is a small town on the west bank of the Jordan
It is not the smallest of all Judea (Mi5:2) for
According to the plan decided before the creation
Christ the Ruler would be born there (Mt2:1-4; Eph1:4) and
It would become the center of the world, the center of history.
On the night He was born, stars moved, wise men moved, Jerusalem was disturbed,
Herod was furious and killed countless children and thus there was wailing (Mt2:1-12).
As such that night was not silent or peaceful, but rather the start of something great.
In the beginning God created the universe, Hades, and
Contained the angels who sinned (Is14:12-15; 2Pe2:4).
This was to let Satan who opposed God to become the devil
Until the great day of judgment (Jude1:6).
Deceived by the devil, Adam sinned (Ge2:17, 3:4-6) and
The showdown between the devil and Christ who would come as the offspring of the woman and
The victory of Christ was decided (Ge3:15).
Abraham became the father of many nations (Ge17:5-6) for
Many nations and great kings would come from his offspring.
The moment the baby Moses was drawn out of the water (Ex2:10),
God’s providence of drawing Israel out of the sea was set in motion.
The wailing on the land of Egypt because of the death of firstborns on the night of the Passover was
The preview of the appearance of the king promised to come from Abraham (Ge15:13, 22:17).
The sanctuary God instructed them to build in the wilderness (Ex25:8)
Reminded them that Jehovah is the great King who struck down great kings (Ps136:17).
Those who believed this crossed the Jordan and built the Temple in Jerusalem,
In the city of the Great King (Ps48:1-2; Mt5:35), the epicenter of history, the epicenter of the world.
Though He was born in Bethlehem, a nameless small town, in a lowly stable, as a feeble baby,
Yeshua is the Son of God who was decided in eternity to come as Christ following God’s strategy,
The Word from the beginning (Jn1:1), from ancient times (Mi5:2).
He 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 (Jn2:19-21),
He would reveal that He is the King greater than Solomon and
A temple greater than the temple Solomon built (Mt12:42).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Willingly laid down His life and submitted to the Father’s command (Jn10:17-18; Php2:6-9);
2) Through His death destroyed the greatest ruler of death (He2:14; 1Jn3:8; Rev12:7-9); and
3) Freed all men from their slavery to the devil, saving them from sin and death (He2:15).
He broke through the grave and resurrected (1Co15:54-57) and
Sat on the heavenly throne reigning forever as the King of kings (Rev17:14).
The Holy Spirit was sent from there
To those who welcome and receive the name Yeshua, the name of the Great King, and
Spreads the gospel to repentance (Lk24:47; Ac2:38, 5:31).
The Christian sincerely welcomes the birth of Christ and
Willingly bows down before the name Yeshua who came to the nameless, the lowly, the little, and
Lays down his precious treasure before Him.
He knows that through the name Yeshua
He himself has now become the center of the world, the center of history and
Before the coming of the Great King, his own life, his problems are nothing.
Therefore he follows the King’s highway on which He walked (Ps84:5)
To preach the gospel to all nations and tribes and tongues (Mt28:19-20),
As he longs to see His kingdom come (Rev11:15).
O Lord,
How could I with this small mouth speak of such a great thing?
Before the great King who brought the events that tore through the universe
Let our lives be changed and
Let us redraw the map of the kingdom where Yeshua is the Christ, the world map! Amen.
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Persevere Under Trial
(Ps18:24; Jas1:12)
God is just and right (Dt32:4).
He saves the humble people from the wicked (Ps17:13, 18:27) and
To those who persevere under trial and are approved He gives the crown of life (Ps18:20; Jas1:12).
Faith is believing Him and
The life of this faith is not falling into temptation or to the evil one (Mt6:13).
The Bible is the history that reveals God’s justice (Ps50:6).
God established the match between the spiritual beings in flesh and angels.
For angels were made not to be sons or heirs of God (He1:5, 13)
But to minister those who will inherit salvation (He1:14),
God does not forgive their sins, but rather judges and punishes them (Is14:12-15; 2Pe2:4).
Man, on the other hand, though sins because of the flesh (He2:6-7)
God predestined redemption and salvation for him (Ge3:4-6, 21) so that
Those who overcome tests will be made heirs of righteousness.
The devil took away the word from Adam and led him to sin (Ge2:17; Lk8:12)
To accompany him to hell (Ge3:4-6; Mt25:41) for
He is the separator (between God and man, between men, between the flesh and the spirit),
The tempter (Mt4:3), the evil one (1Jn3:12).
Because of the flesh, no man can avoid tests —
Whether economic, physical, of family, social or spiritual.
However, when they endure the test and are approved (Jas1:12),
Angels will be made subject to them in the world to come (He2:5).
Job’s life is an example of the process and the result of test (Job1-42).
Almost all of the two million people of Israel who miraculously left Egypt could
Not step into the promised land for
They could not pass the test of the wilderness (Nu14:22-23; Dt8:16).
Yeshua 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 (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would save not the physically afflicted people but the souls of all men
Through the test persevered by the Son of Man, the incarnate Word (Jn1:1, 14).
Led by the Spirit Yeshua fasted 40 days in the desert after which
In the worst physical conditions He was tempted by the devil
But by the written word defeated him (Mt4:1-11).
He warned the disciples to not fall into temptation or the evil one (Mt6:13; Lk22:46).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), for
The cross is the worst test for the flesh to persevere, but declared that He:
1) Endured the test according to His righteousness, committed His soul to the Father of
salvation (Ps17:3, 18:24; Jn10:18; He5:7, 12:2);
2) Judged the devil the ruler of death (He2:14); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on all men (Eph1:7; He12:24).
He resurrected and ascended to the heavenly throne s the Lamb (Rev5:9),
Bearing the marks of enduring the test and being approved and
Forever angels are subject to Him (He2:8).
The Holy Spirit lets those who are justified by their faith (Rm5:1)
Persevere under trials and be approved (Jas1:12) for
The principle of tests is that:
1)Tests are permitted by God (Job1:12); and
2)God does not give test that is beyond what one can bear (1Co10:13).
The Christian is he who knows this and is able to overcome whatever the test.
He prays to not fall into temptation (Lk22:46) and
He is not deceived by the separator to leave the church and his duty on his own (Jn15:4; Jude1:6).
He turns away from those in whose thoughts there is no room for God (Ps10:4),
Those with no hope of eternal life (Tit3:7),
Those who are earthly, unspiritual, worldly, fleshly and demonic (2Ti3:5; Jas3:15), and
The wicked, bad company (Ps1:1; 1Co15:33; 1Jn5:18).
O Lord,
This fragile life!
Let me overcome temptations and defeat the evil one and
Not let the devil sing a victory song.
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight” (nana korobi, ya oki)!
Let us all reveal the Father’s justice! Amen.
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Remain In Me
(Jn15:4-8)
God is the Lord of covenant.
By covenant He makes relationship and
He makes those who keep His commandments and remain in the covenant His people (He8:9-10).
Faith is establishing a relationship with God through the covenant and
The life of this faith is keeping His commandments and remaining in His covenant for
He promised that in due time He will take us to the Father’s house (Jn14:1-3).
While in religions there is no divine revelation, promise or commandment,
In Christianity there are divine revelation, promise and commandments, and
By keeping commandments one can sustain the relationship with God.
In desperate moments, it is extremely critical where one is, whether inside or outside.
Likewise, the history of the Bible shows the difference between being inside and being outside.
After he sinned and was driven out from the Garden, Adam had to toil to eat food (Ge3:17),
While Cain who sinned was driven out from the land and became a restless wanderer,
Suffering from fear and anxiety (Ge4:14).
After being warned of the deluge, Noah followed God’s covenant and built an ark where he remained
So he and his family and the living creatures were saved (Ge6:18, 22).
Following God’s command, Abraham was circumcised (Ge17:7-10),
Receiving the mark of the covenant: “Jehovah = their God,” “the land of Canaan = their inheritance.”
Being warned of the destruction, Lot and his family ran out of the city and arrived in Zoar, after which
Burning sulfur rained down from the heavens and Sodom was destroyed (Ge19:22-24).
On the night of the Passover, those who dwelled inside the homes with
Blood of lamb on the sides and the tops of the doorframe (Ex12:7-13) were
Spared of the death of firstborns, according to the covenant that
“When I see the blood, I will pass over.”
The Law was the same laws and regulations that applied to
Both the Israelites and the foreigners residing among them (Ex12:48-49; Nu15:15-16).
It was the law that promised that when they obeyed the commandment
They could live in the land God swore to them (Dt30:20), and
The law where anyone who killed accidentally can run inside a city of refuge and live (Nu35:15-28).
Towards the temple where the name Jehovah and the ark where the two stone tablets were (1Ki8:9),
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” and
Also said that He was in the Father and that the Father was in Him (Jn14:10-11), and
That He and the Father are one (Jn10:30), angering the chief priests and the Jews (Mt26:47, 61-65).
However, through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Not in the name Jehovah but in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would fulfill the first covenant and write a new covenant
Not on stone tablets but on the minds and the hearts (He8:9-10), and
Make all nations His people and dwell among them (Zec2:11) and
Let them remain in His love and have His peace (Jn15:9, 16:33).
On the other hand, He warned that
Those not dressed in wedding clothes, the wicked servants and the worthless servants would
Be thrown outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt22:13, 24:51, 25:30).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that:
1) The Word who was in the Father’s bosom in the beginning died according to the commandment (Jn1:1, 14, 18, 10:18);
2) Judged the devil the separator (Ge3:4-6); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on souls so they would remain in God (Jn17:21).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit
So the Son is in the Father, the Holy Spirit is in the souls of believers,
The blood and the flesh of Yeshua is in the souls of believers (Jn6:56, 14:20).
The Holy Spirit lets those who believe
Become solid members of the body of Christ, the Church (Jn15:4; Rm12:5; Eph5:23, 30), and
Lets the words of Yeshua remain alive in them so they obey (Jn15:7; He4:12).
The Christian is he who
Remains in righteousness according to the promise on the day of the Lord
Looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth (2Pe3:8-13), and
Until that day he believes whatever he seeks he will receive (Jn15:7).
O Lord,
On this day, am I a solid member of the church?
Do I have peace, joy and victory?
O Lord, until the day You return and take us,
Let me and my family remain in the Lord. Amen! Amen!
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Called By Grace
(Gal1:11-17)
God exists for Himself.
For Himself He works (Ge22:8) and
He gives grace to whom He gives grace (Ex33:19) and
To those called according to His purpose He gives an eternal inheritance (Eph1:9; He9:15).
Faith is knowing the grace and the hope of God’s calling (Eph1:18; 1Pe1:3), and
The life of this faith is living worthy of His calling (Gal1:15; 2Pe1:10; 2Th1:11) for
Even human’s calling greatly influences one’s life.
The Bible contains stories of men who responded to God’s calling, heavenly calling (He5:4).
After he sinned, Adam hid but responded to God’s calling (Ge3:9-10) and
God clothed him in garment of skin, a sign for grace to be given later (Ge3:21).
After being called Abram obeyed and went to the land promised (He11:8), and
He gave his only son as a burnt offering and received the blessing of descendants (Ge22:1-5);
Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt without fear (Ge46:2-3);
Moses received the calling to lead Israel out of Egypt and carried it out (Ex3:4), by which
Israel was called to become the Lord’s (Is43:1).
The sanctuary reminded them for generations that
Jehovah summoned Israel by name (Is43:5) and
Even the young Samuel responded to Jehovah’s calling and
Became a prophet who spoke on God’s behalf (1Sa3:3-18).
However, though the LORD called them, they did not answer (Hos11:1; Jer35:17), for which
They brought on the declared calamity on themselves.
Yet there was a prophecy of God calling them back (Is54:5-7),
Sending a light for the Gentiles (Is42:6-7).
Yeshua 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 (Jn2:19-21),
He would call, not in the name Jehovah an exclusive people Israel through angel,
But in the Father’s name Yeshua the souls of all nations through the Son of God.
Yeshua called those whom He wanted as disciples so they would be with Him and
Be sent out to preach and drive out demons (Mk3:13-15),
While He rejected those who volunteered to follow without being called (Lk9:57).
He called not the righteous but sinners (Mt9:13) and
Even called the blind man who cried out to Him and gave him sight (Mk10:43-44).
With the parable of the banquet of heaven
He said, “many are called but few are chosen” (Mt22:2-14).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Waited for the Father’s calling for His soul in Hades (Jn10:18; Lk23:46);
2) Judged the devil, the origin of sin (Is14:12-15; Ge3:4-6; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Sent out the invitation of His redeeming blood to all mankind (Eph1:7; He9:15).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven as the Lamb on the throne (Rev5:9).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent comes to those who believe.
He chooses those who would be invited to the imminent wedding banquet of the Lamb (Rev19:7-9),
In the gathering in the name Yeshua, the pure bride of Christ, the Church (Eph5:25-30).
The called are those who were once foreigners to the covenants of the promise,
Without hope and without God in the world (Eph2:12),
Those not wise, influential or noble (1Co1:26)
So that the calling itself is grace (Gal1:15; 2Ti1:9).
His calling to one body is to one hope (Eph4:4; Col3:15) so that
They may live worthy of His calling (2Th1:11),
For just as the One who called is holy, they are to be holy (1Pe1:15; 1Th5:7).
The calling is to belong to Christ, to live on Christ’s behalf (Ps100:3; Jer1:6; 2Co5:15),
To preach the gospel (Ac16:10) and
Not only to believe but also to suffer for Him (Rm8:17; Php1:29) so that
When the Lord returns, they would be called a second time and
Receive the prize for which the Lord called them heavenward (Php3:14).
O Lord,
The One who called me, who is He?
How could the sovereign God have called such a lowly life like me?
That was for the calling itself to be grace!
Before this sovereign grace, let my life just blow away.
As You do not regret calling me (Rm11:29)
Let me never regret being called to the cross. Amen.
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Always Give Thanks
(Ps100:4-5; Col3:15-17)
God is good.
He is good and His mercy endures forever (Ps136:1).
He opens the gates of heaven for those who come before Him with thanksgiving (Ps118:29) and
Lets them serve Him with thanksgiving forever (Ps100:4).
Faith is giving thanks for Yeshua being my God (Ps118:28; Jn20:28) and
The life of this faith is in whatever situation always giving thanks and sacrificing a thank offering
to be accepted (Lev22:29; Ps116:17).
When one receives someone’s giving, help, consolation, rescue, cooperation, a special favor etc
It is customary to express gratitude whether verbally, in writing or with a gift.
Nevertheless, there was one who never knew thanksgiving: Satan.
Made beautifully in the spiritual heaven, adorned with every precious stone (Eze28:12-17)
He became proud and attempted to ascend the throne, thus cast down to Hades (Is14:12-15).
As such, Hades was made as a gathering place of the ungrateful, the dissatisfied (Is38:18).
Tempted by the devil to become like God
Adam took the forbidden fruit and so was driven out of the Garden (Ge2:17, 3:4-6, 24) and
Mankind lost every special benefit, destined to groan in pain (Ge3:17-18).
The slavery of Israel materialized this reality and
God who heard their groaning in pain (Ex2:23-24)
Sent Moses and delivered them from Egypt with lightning speed and
It was for Jehovah to be their God (Lev29:33).
While the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks,
The Feast of Tabernacle etc (Ex12:11, 12:39, 34:22; Lev23:42-44) were
The year-round feasts of the LORD (Lev23:1-44),
The thank offering was always given in the tabernacle (Lev22:29) as a mechanism for
Israel to remember and always give thanks for
The Creator Jehovah is their God (Lev22:33),
He delivered them from their slavery (Ps136:10-15), led them through the wilderness (Ps136:16),
Gave their land as inheritance (Ps136:21-22), gave food for their flesh (Ps136:25) etc.
Likewise, even at the risk of losing his life, Daniel never lost thanksgiving (Da6:7-10).
Yeshua 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 (Jn2:19-20),
In not the name Jehovah but the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
He would save not the flesh but the soul, and
Give food for not the flesh but the soul (Mt26:26-28; Jn6:53-55),
Give not land but heaven as inheritance.
Even in poor situations He always gave thanks for the Father always heard Him (Jn11:41-42).
At the culmination of suffering on the cross, “the belly of Sheol” (Hades) (Jnh2:2-6, 9),
He cried out, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) With shouts of grateful praise gave thanks to the Father who heard Him (Jnh2:9);
2) Judged the devil, the origin of never knowing gratitude (2Pe2:24; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Became a sacrifice on behalf of all mankind (Jn1:29).
He resurrected and entered the gates of heaven with thanksgiving and
Sat on the throne and serves the Father forever as
The Lamb, the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Rev7:10).
The Holy Spirit sent in the name Yeshua
Lets believers be watchful and thankful (Col4:2) by
Not abandoning gratitude, not losing thanksgiving for
The devil steals, among other things, thanksgiving from believers.
He lets the church overflow with thanksgiving (Col2:6-7).
The true Christian is he who
Never loses thanksgiving when faced with poverty, nakedness, trouble, or even death for
He gives thanks for: Yeshua is my God (Jn20:28), Yeshua is alive today and
Yeshua is my Mediator, my Friend, my Father…etc.
He longs to successfully leave the belly of Sheol (Jnh2:2) in that day and
Finally enter the gates of heaven with thanksgiving.
O Lord,
In sin, in pain, in shame, in sickness, in loneliness, in danger…
I called Your name and You heard my cry!
Thank You Yeshua for being my God.
Thank You for always hearing me.
Let my last words spoken with my tongue be, Thank You, Yeshua! Amen.
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The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ Jesus
(Php3:7-11)
God is the God of knowledge (1Sa2:3).
His knowledge is great, wonderful and lofty (Job11:6; Ps139:6) and
To those who rejoice over Him He gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecc2:26).
Faith is knowing and being delighted by the knowledge of the truth (Pr22:12).
The life of this faith is, because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, laying down
one’s knowledge (Php3:7-8), and living by and teaching the knowledge of the truth (Tit1:1).
While the modern world is inundated with knowledge (Da12:4) and
Every family prioritizes education for the children and
Scholars pride themselves as being the best intellectuals,
No one can solve life’s problem with their knowledge for no one knows what is coming (Ecc10:14).
The most intelligent in the Bible is he who hears the words of God (Nu24:16) for
There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge of God (Job21:22).
But the ancestor Adam rejected the fear of God, the beginning of knowledge (Ge3:4-6; Pr1:7),
So God also rejected him and all men became destined to be destroyed (Hos4:6).
The Law was the knowledge of the Holy One (Ps119:66; Pr30:3) and keeping it was knowledge.
As such, Israel was praised as a wise and understanding people (Dt4:6).
The sanctuary that reminded them that “Jehovah = the God of knowledge” was
To make Jehovah be known (Eze39:7) through
The miracle of the exodus (Ex8:22) and of the Red Sea (Ex14:4),
The decrees and laws (Dt4:8-9), 40 years in the wilderness (Dt29:5-6), the Sabbath (Ex31:13),
The covenant (Eze16:62), and people falling slain (Eze6:7).
But eventually Israel rejected the knowledge and so they were destroyed (Hos4:6).
The prophet spoke of one righteous servant coming from the stump of Jesse (Is11:1-3),
The earth to be filled with the knowledge of the LORD (Is11:9) for
With His knowledge He will teach many (Is53:11).
Yeshua said, “Destroy the temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-20),
He would tear down the knowledge of the name Jehovah,
The knowledge of earthly things (Jn3:12), elementary principles (Gal4:3; Col2:8), and
Make known the knowledge of the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43),
The knowledge of heavenly things (Jn3:12), the greatest knowledge.
For He is the Word who was with the Father in the beginning (Jn1:1, 14, 18)
He knew Him and so obeyed Him (Jn8:55).
He spoke in parables to
Keep the teachers of the Law, the intellectuals of the time, from understanding
While allowing those like little children to understand (Mt13:14; Lk11:52).
Accused by the teachers of the Law, He was passed over to death but
As He died, Yeshua said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Feared the Father, the beginning of knowledge, and surrendered His life before Him (Is11:3; Jn10:18; Rm11:33);
2) Judged the devil the false teacher (Ge3:4-6; Jn8:44); and
3) With His blood redeemed all men who sinned because they did not know (Lk23:34).
He resurrected and ascended to heaven.
Now holding the scroll in His hand (Rev5:7), He is the God of knowledge on the throne.
The Spirit of truth comes to those who received the name Yeshua (Jn1:12, 14:17) and
Teaches them “Yeshua = the greatest knowledge” (1Co2:11),
In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col2:2-3).
The Christian experientially knows God who sent Yeshua as the Son (Jn11:7), and
Delights in the fear of the Lord and His word (2Co5:11).
He lays down like rubbish the knowledge gained from the world (Php3:7-11),
He does not argue with false knowledge of the world (1Ti6:20).
He goes out to the world and boldly testifies, not intimidated by intellectuals (Ac4:13, 16:30), and
Makes disciples by preaching and teaching the knowledge of the truth (Mt28:19; Tit1:1) for
He longs for the day when he can fully know Yeshua face to face (1Co13:12).
O Lord,
To ignorant, foolish little children like us
You revealed the greatest knowledge of Yeshua name!
While the knowledge of the world increases grief
The knowledge of Yeshua increases life and joy.
Let us understand and grasp this knowledge deeper and
Boldly preach and teach! Amen.
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Make Every Effort to Enter God’s Rest
(Ge2:1-2; He4:1-11)
God is the Lord of rest.
Rest is in Him and comes from Him.
He lets those who combine the word they heard with faith enter His rest (He4:2).
Faith is believing this and longing for God’s eternal, perfect rest, and
The life of this faith is in order to enter His rest, making every effort to obey His word (He3:18-19, 4:6).
While everyone seeks rest there is no true rest in the universe for it is where God Himself worked.
By the seventh day He finished the work of creating all things in six days entered rest (Ge2:2-3) and
The universe is Sheol, Hades that is:
Fallen from the spiritual heaven, the grave, the depths of the pit (1Sa2:6; Is14:15);
Where the dead are (Pr9:18);
Where agony and pain is (Lk16:22-24); “where the smoke of torment rises for ever and ever (Rev14:11);
Where one cannot leave on his own (Lk16:26); and
The place that will become the eternal lake of fire, hell (2Pe3:7-12; Rev10:14).
Even in the Garden of Eden there was no perfect rest for it is where
The serpent incited Adam and Eve to sin and (Ge2:17, 3:4) and thus
All men became destined to toil (Ge3:16-18) and finally follow the devil to hell (Mt25:41).
The Israelites who had been slaves for 400 years left Egypt overnight
Since the pharaoh who heard the message to let them go increased their toils (Ex3:6-10, 5:3-23).
Yet even greater toil awaited them in the wilderness, which was
The commandments, especially those regarding the Sabbath (Ex20:8-10):
Remember the Sabbath — Jehovah is the Creator who made all things in six days — rested on the seventh;
Keep the Sabbath day holy — set it apart from six days — do no work (Ex20:10),
Do not speak idle words, do not do as you please (Is58:13-14).
Anyone breaking it was to be put to death (Ex31:15).
But the sanctuary was an exterritorial space where
The priests served Jehovah day and night (Lev26:9; 1Ch9:32; 2Ch2:4).
It reminded them that He was their God and they were His people and
They were to keep the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant for rest (Jer31:2).
While they were to observe the Sabbath and have reverence for the sanctuary (Lev19:30), however,
They broke the Sabbath and desecrated the temple (Eze20:21), for which they faced repeated curse.
Yeshua 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 (Jn2:19),
He would end the rest Jehovah commanded Israel and
He Himself would give His rest to the souls of all nations (Mt11:28-30), and
By keeping not the Sabbath day but another day (He4:8),
He would give not physical rest in the land of Canaan but eternal rest in the Father’s house (Jn14:2).
However, He was accused by the Pharisees and passed over to death for doing
What was unlawful on the Sabbath, healing the sick (Mk3:2-4; Lk13:12-16; Jn5:5-17, 9:14-16).
But He is greater than the temple, the Lord of the Sabbath (Mt12:1-6; Mk2:28).
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Ended the toils of His flesh, the incarnate Word from the beginning (Jn1:1, 14), and
committed His soul to the Father the Lord of rest (Ps49:15, 116:3-4; Lk23:46);
2) Judged the devil who disrupted the resting environment (Ge2:17, 3:4-6; Is14:12-15); and
3) In place of all men carried the burden of their sins and shed His blood to give them rest (Ps68:19; Is53:4-5; 1Pe2:24).
Yeshua resurrected on the day after the Sabbath day, the eighth day,
Another day, the Lord’s Day (Ac20:7, 1Co16:2; He4:8; Rev1:10), and ascended to heaven:
The seventh day — the Creator finished His work — entered His rest;
The eight day/another day — the Redeemer finished His work — entered His rest.
The Holy Spirit comes to those who received the promise of entering God’s eternal rest and
On the Lord’s day gathers them in the name Yeshua as
Members of His body the church (Eph1:22; Col1:18) and lets them worship.
The Christian is he who knows that
All his burdens have been carried by Yeshua and has been set free in His name (Rm8:1-2).
Therefore he obeys the word he heard (He4:11) by
Praying (Col4:2), gathering (He10:25), preaching the word (2Ti4:2), serving (1Th4:10),
Carrying each other’s burdens (2Co4:10; Gal5:2) and doing the Lord’s work (2Co11:23-28).
He makes every effort lest he fails to enter that rest.
O Lord,
Being yoked with Yeshua we love is not hard or heavy. Rather it is easy and light!
Let us make greater effort to do Your work and
On the day we leave this world let us all enter eternal rest!
Oh I wanna go, oh I wanna go home~
Amen.
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The Blessing of Yeshua
(Mt5:3; 1Pe3:9)
God is the fount of blessing (1Ti6:15).
Blessings come from Him and
He gives blessing as inheritance (1Pe3:9) to those who make Him as their blessing (Ps144:15).
Faith is loving the blessing of Yeshua and
The life of this faith is emptying oneself and becoming an evangelist of blessing in order to
receive blessing as inheritance.
Blessing and happiness refer to the same idea of
Being in a state of contentment.
While such experience is subjective and relative and thus cannot be quantified.
In general people envy the happiness of those with wealth, health, beauty, fame, family etc.
Nevertheless the Bible testifies the perfect blessedness of God for
He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords who alone is
Immortal and lives in unapproachable light (1Ti6:15-16).
Solomon lamented the vanity of humans who endlessly search for happiness (Ecc1:1-2, 2:1, 11) and
That is because of their ancestor Adam was deceived by the devil and sinned (Ge3:4-6), and
All men became destined to toil all their lives,
Only to follow the devil to hell in afterlife (Ge3:16-19; Mt25:41).
God made Abraham a blessing for he followed the instructions and left his country (Ge12:1-2).
His offsprings, Isaac and Jacob became wealthy (Ge26:12, 32:10) and
As such, Israel became a people who yearn for blessing (Ge32:22-28).
Leaving their slavery of having no possession for 400 years
They took possession of the treasures of Egypt (Ex12:35-36).
God had them live 40 years in the wilderness where treasures were useless so that
They may receive the ability to produce wealth (Dt8:12-18).
The Law was given to them to obey to receive blessings
But because they disobeyed and served other gods, they became cursed (Dt28).
However, the temple where the name of blessing, Jehovah was
Remained as their hope to become God’s blessed people again
So they longed to draw near the temple (Ps73:28, 84:4).
But Yeshua 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 (Jn2:19-21),
He would end material blessing in the name Jehovah only for Israel and
Give spiritual blessing to the souls of all nations in the Father’s name Yeshua (Jn5:43; Eph1:3).
Even though His appearance might have caused men to stumble (Is53:2; Mt11:6),
He is the Word who blessed since the beginning (Ge1:22, 28; Jn1:1-3),
He is before Abraham was born, Melchizedek who blessed him (Ge14:18-20; Jn8:56-58; He7:1-3).
He came to give the kingdom of heaven to the poor in spirit (Mt5:3),
Those who have no righteousness, nothing of their own.
Blessing those who cursed Him as He died (Lk23:34), He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Became nothing and emptied His last breath to eternally possess the Father’s blessing (Jn10:18; Php2:6-11);
2) Condemned the devil who never knew satisfaction (Is14:12-15; Eze28:12-17); and
3) Sprinkled His blood on all men and commanded blessing for them (Ps133:3, 134:3).
He resurrected, received all authorities (Mt28:18).
He sat on the throne in the kingdom of happiness in heaven, the blessed and only Ruler (1Ti6:15).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Lets believers know that they are blessed and thus be content with the blessing of Yeshua.
The blessed in the spirit is he who
Has no righteousness of his own, thus only the blood of Yeshua his righteousness (Rm4:6-8), and
Emptied his dreams, desires, possessions etc, thus only the name Yeshua is his power to possess.
Therefore he longs for worship, the peak of his happiness (Ac2:42-47),
Perseveres under trial (Jas1:12),
Rejoices when persecuted because of Yeshua (Mt5:10-12) and
Keeps the words of the prophecy (Rev22:7) and
Scatters to preach the good news of happiness (Mt10:12-13; 1Pe3:9) for
He longs for the happiest day when he is called up
To the wedding banquet of the Lamb (Rev19:9; 20:6).
O Lord,
There is a part in all of us that cannot be satisfied by worldly, material things…
The true me, the spirit!
Only Yeshua can satisfy us and we are more than blessed!
Until our last breath we will be evangelists of happiness.
We love You, Lord Yeshua! Amen.
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The Lord’s Patience Means Salvation
(2Pe3:7-15)
God is faithful (Ex34:6).
The faithfulness of His word and His works is forever (Ps33:4, 117:2) and
Through His long suffering He testifies the faithfulness of His love (2Co8:8).
Faith is knowing that the Lord’s patience means salvation (2Pe3:15) and
The life of this faith is repenting in haste and being patient towards all.
Love is patient and to be patient there has to be sincerity.
Though being patient does not refer to eternity, it requires a great deal of endurance and
The most patient are parents for they are loving.
The Bible is written about the patience of God for
He does not want anyone to perish but be saved (2Pe3:9), that is
From Hades, the universe that will burn up (2Pe3:7) after
The Son comes to it, dies, resurrects and inherits the kingdom of heaven (He1:2).
Though God had decided to end the world during the time of Methuselah,
He waited for a thousand years (Ge5:25-26).
While Noah prepared the ark, God held back the judgment by deluge for 70 years (1Pe3:20).
Until Lot and his family arrived in refuge
The destruction of Sodom by brimstone fire was delayed (Ge19:15-22).
Though the Israelites grumbled against God during the 40 years in the wilderness and
They betrayed Him even after settling in Canaan for 1500 years, He did not destroy them (Jer15:15):
A testament to God’s long suffering for them.
The temple where the stone tablets which were inside the Testimony was
Reminded them of God’s patience and love for Israel.
In spite of it they questioned His love for them (Mal1:2-3).
Yeshua came and 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 (Jn2:19-21),
He would show His love for all mankind through His long suffering (Is42:14) and save their souls.
For such, God who is Spirit came in the flesh (Jn1:1, 14) in the last days (He1:2, 1Pe1:20).
He lived in the world that hated Him (Ps120:6),
Rebuked the disciples who were impatient (Lk9:53-55) and
Even to the last moment of His arrest He endured (Mt26:54).
Hung on a cross for six hours, He died a slow death,
Like a woman in childbirth He cried out, gasped and panted (Is42:14) and
He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Revealed the Father’s faithful love for the Son whose suffering He watched in silence,
fulfilling the Father’s will (Mk15:34; Eph1:3);
2) Condemned the devil the divider (Ge3:4-6; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on all men through His long suffering showing His love (Jn3:16; Eph1:7; 1Jn4:9-10).
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne and
Though that marked the completion of the dispensation of God for the Son,
The heavens and the earth are preserved to this day (2Pe3:5-9).
The Holy Spirit was sent to those who repented and turned back to the Lord Yeshua (Ac2:38) and
He lets them believe the promise of His return.
The Christian is he who
Knows that the Lord’s patience is salvation (2Pe3:15) and
Moved by His love, repents in haste.
Therefore, he strives to mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph4:13)
By enduring persecution or suffering (1Co4:11-12; 2Co1:6; 1Ti1:16) and
Praying until answered waiting patiently (Lk11:7-8).
With great patience he admonishes brothers who are idle (1Th5:14; 2Ti4:2),
Comforts those who are weak-hearted and
Upholds the powerless (Eph4:2).
Being patient until the Lord’s coming (Jas5:7-9)
He becomes a companion in the suffering, the kingdom and the endurance of Christ (Rev1:9).
O Lord,
This life that would have been thrown into hellfire!
For Your patience became salvation for me
Let me also be patient towards all people.
Let not even one of those given to me
Remain in the burning universe! Amen.