Peace and grace in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:9
2:9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
The church in Smyrna is in tribulation, poverty, and slander. It means the death or cross experience with Jesus.
Why does God let us experience the cross?
1 Peter 2:19
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
It gives us the grace of God that costs the sacrifice of Christ. It is more than anything.
Genesis 6:7-8
6:7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
6:8 But Noah found gracein the eyes of the LORD.
The Bible is opened with the grace of God to protect Noah and his family from His condemnation.
Revelation 22:20-21
22:20He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
22:21 The graceof our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The Bible is closed with the grace of God to make the church ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming on the glorious clouds.
The Gentiles who get the grace of God will be saved from the condemnation, even able to become the bride of God who is ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
Hebrews 12:15
12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
We must not be far away from the grace of God. Do not reject it, or else there are negative roots as follows.
Acts 1:18
1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
If the roots of rottenness, bitterness, and evil are not sanctified by the true teaching Word, they will be accumulated in the heart, even root in it. Someday, the heart will gush out like Judas Iscariot who fell headlong and the entrails gushed out. It means rottenness and being ashamed without the forgiveness, but forever perdition.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed––
We must be filled with the true teaching Word because how great the Gentiles are, we are only as the brittle clay that will be destroyed. If the clay vessel is only filled with worldly things such as intelligence, riches, position, and so on, it will keep brittle and destroyed. Therefore, it must be filled with the spiritual treasure, namely the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. As a result, we will get the abundant power from God that is useful as follows.
The preaching of the true teaching Word is the same as the distribution of heavenly treasure. We must use the opportunity as well as possible to gather the eternal heavenly treasure.
The process of filling the clay vessel with the true teaching Word is as follows.
God blesses you.
Revelation 2:9
2:9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
The church in Smyrna is in tribulation, poverty, and slander. It means the death or cross experience with Jesus.
Why does God let us experience the cross?
1 Peter 2:19
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
It gives us the grace of God that costs the sacrifice of Christ. It is more than anything.
Genesis 6:7-8
6:7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
6:8 But Noah found gracein the eyes of the LORD.
The Bible is opened with the grace of God to protect Noah and his family from His condemnation.
Revelation 22:20-21
22:20He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
22:21 The graceof our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The Bible is closed with the grace of God to make the church ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming on the glorious clouds.
The Gentiles who get the grace of God will be saved from the condemnation, even able to become the bride of God who is ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
Hebrews 12:15
12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
We must not be far away from the grace of God. Do not reject it, or else there are negative roots as follows.
- The root of rottenness.
Isaiah 5:24
5:24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
It happens because of rejecting the grace of God in the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword.
There are two kinds of the preaching of God’s Word as follows.- Gospel of Salvation/ Gospel Word/ milk/ Good News.
Ephesians 1:13
1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
It preaches Jesus’ first coming to the world to die on the cross and save the sinful men. The signs are believing or having faith in Jesus as the Only One Savior, repenting or stopping sinning to return to God, and being baptized of water and Holy Spirit or living in righteousness. - The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ/ the true teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword/ solid food/ Bride Tidings.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
It preaches Jesus’ second coming as the King of all kings on the glorious clouds to sanctify the saved people to be perfect as the Bride of God who is ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
The consequence of rejecting the sword of the true teaching Word is sinning up to the peak, namely sin concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage. It means entering the building of Babylon that will be destroyed.
- Gospel of Salvation/ Gospel Word/ milk/ Good News.
- The root of bitterness.
Hebrews 12:15
12:15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitternessspringing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.
It means envy and revenge.
The envy means not appreciating the blessings, employment, and grace of God. - The root of evil.
1 Timothy 6:10
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It means the love of money. It causes there is no God Himself in our heart. The facts found in it are as follows.- Serving and ministering to God only to get physical things.
- Leaving the service and ministry only to look for physical things.
- Looking for money in illegal ways.
- Being stingy or one cannot give.
- Being greedy or robbing the possession of God, namely the tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:8-9
3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbedMe! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
3:9 You are cursedwith a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
Consequently, one lives in the curse, even perishes forever.
Acts 1:18
1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
If the roots of rottenness, bitterness, and evil are not sanctified by the true teaching Word, they will be accumulated in the heart, even root in it. Someday, the heart will gush out like Judas Iscariot who fell headlong and the entrails gushed out. It means rottenness and being ashamed without the forgiveness, but forever perdition.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed––
We must be filled with the true teaching Word because how great the Gentiles are, we are only as the brittle clay that will be destroyed. If the clay vessel is only filled with worldly things such as intelligence, riches, position, and so on, it will keep brittle and destroyed. Therefore, it must be filled with the spiritual treasure, namely the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. As a result, we will get the abundant power from God that is useful as follows.
- For facing all things so that we are neither disappointed nor hopeless. We do not leave God, but always give thanks to Him.
- For facing the death.
The preaching of the true teaching Word is the same as the distribution of heavenly treasure. We must use the opportunity as well as possible to gather the eternal heavenly treasure.
The process of filling the clay vessel with the true teaching Word is as follows.
- Hearing the true teaching Word.
- Believing in the true teaching Word. It roots in the heart to be the faith.
- Obeying the true teaching Word, regardless of any risk we have to take. It means that we stretch out our hands to God. He also stretches out His hand to us and we live in the grace of God.
The results are as follows.- The Lord stretches out His hand to heal the epileptic boy.
Mark 9:22-25
9:22 "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
The father was let face the epileptic child by God. The epilepsy means morality destruction in sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage, marriage destruction, and impossibilities.
It happens to make us realize our weaknesses, namely unbelieving, relying on our own power, and doubt to the true teaching Word.
If we believe and obey God, He will stretch out His hand to perform the miracle to heal the destroyed marriage and children. The impossibilities can be made possible. - 1 Kings 17:11-13, 15
17:11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
17:12 So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
17:13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
17:15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.
The widow of Zarephath is the representative of mothers who are often egoistic in the time of crisis. There is self-interest until they do not pay attention to the interest of the body of Christ. Consequently, there are spiritual death and perdition.
The finishing of the building of Christ’s body happens in the time of crisis so that we do not rely on anything in the world, but fully depend on the grace of God.
We must prioritize God and the building of Christ’s body. - Luke 1:37-38
1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."
1:38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mary, the representative of the youths, must face gloomy future and suffering because of Jesus.
Luke 1:34
1:34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
Young people often doubt and make many questions. Finally, she could believe and entrust herself fully to God. She could be obedient, regardless of any risk she had to take. As a result, the door of womb is opened; there is solution of all problems. Moreover, the door of heaven is opened for us.
- The Lord stretches out His hand to heal the epileptic boy.
God blesses you.