(To Coincide with Fasting Prayer Service Session III)
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Exodus 1:1-22 is the beginning of the book of Exodus.
Exodus 1:1-2
1:1 Now thesearethe names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:
1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
Jacob with his household come to Egypt from Canaan.
Canaanrefers to the land that is full of milk and honey or the spiritual revival.
Egyptrefers to the world.
Why does God let them come from Canaan to Egypt? To be in line with Jesus who comes down from Heaven to this world. One of the forms is fasting prayer.
The practice of way of the cross is as follows:
The result is the heaven is open or there is the glory of God.
Genesis 46:1-4
46:1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrificesto the God of his father Isaac.
46:2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”
46:3 So He said, “IamGod, the God of your father; do not fearto go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
46:4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you upagain; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
Jacob is afraid and doubtful when facing the way of cross or death.
We often feel fear and doubt when facing the way of cross. When we feel fear and doubt, do not make any decision because it will be wrong. If it is wrong, we will live outside the way of God, or in the way of Satan that means perdition.
The solution is Jacob comes and offers sacrifice. It means we come and see or respect the sacrifice of Christ.
The practice is we bring the flesh and its lust, fear, and doubt to be slaughtered by the sharpness of the sword of the Word and burned through fasting prayer until the flesh does not sound anymore. And then, we can totally surrender to God as offering the fragrant incense.
The result is as follows:
Jacob comes to Egypt, with his children, each man and his household.
Exodus 1:1-5
1:1 Now thesearethe names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:
1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;
1:4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1:5 All those who were descendantsof Jacob were seventypersons (for Joseph was in Egyptalready).
Why do we take our family together entering the way of cross?
All names that come to Egypt are being mentioned one by one. It means God always remembers His servants that are experiencing the way of death personally.
In the experience of death, we must also remember God only, not others. We remember that in the experience of death, God always helps us.
Isaiah 49:14-16
49:14 But Zion said, “TheLordhas forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.”
49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?Surely they may forget,yet I will not forget you.
49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palmsof My hands;your wallsarecontinually before Me.
The position of the one who is in the way of death is like the baby in embrace of lovingkindness of God. Our name will be inscribed on the palms of God. He will remember, understand, care and struggle for us.
The result is as follows:
God blesses us.
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Exodus 1:1-22 is the beginning of the book of Exodus.
Exodus 1:1-2
1:1 Now thesearethe names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:
1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
Jacob with his household come to Egypt from Canaan.
Canaanrefers to the land that is full of milk and honey or the spiritual revival.
Egyptrefers to the world.
Why does God let them come from Canaan to Egypt? To be in line with Jesus who comes down from Heaven to this world. One of the forms is fasting prayer.
The practice of way of the cross is as follows:
- Flesh suffering to be faithful and trusty. The one is employed in the revival of the last rain.
- Flesh suffering to be obedient.
- Flesh suffering to be honest and sincere like a dove.
The result is the heaven is open or there is the glory of God.
Genesis 46:1-4
46:1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrificesto the God of his father Isaac.
46:2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”
46:3 So He said, “IamGod, the God of your father; do not fearto go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
46:4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you upagain; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
Jacob is afraid and doubtful when facing the way of cross or death.
We often feel fear and doubt when facing the way of cross. When we feel fear and doubt, do not make any decision because it will be wrong. If it is wrong, we will live outside the way of God, or in the way of Satan that means perdition.
The solution is Jacob comes and offers sacrifice. It means we come and see or respect the sacrifice of Christ.
The practice is we bring the flesh and its lust, fear, and doubt to be slaughtered by the sharpness of the sword of the Word and burned through fasting prayer until the flesh does not sound anymore. And then, we can totally surrender to God as offering the fragrant incense.
The result is as follows:
- God gives extra strength thus we do not grumble, become disappointed, or leave God when facing the way of cross but always give thanks and become faithful and fervent in ministering Him until the end line.
- God is with us or Immanuel.
Genesis 46:4
46:4 I will go down with youto Egypt, and I will also surely bring you upagain;and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
We are staying in the will or the way or the plan of God.
Romans 8:28
8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according toHispurpose.
God also works together to make everything good in time.
Jacob comes to Egypt, with his children, each man and his household.
Exodus 1:1-5
1:1 Now thesearethe names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:
1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;
1:4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1:5 All those who were descendantsof Jacob were seventypersons (for Joseph was in Egyptalready).
Why do we take our family together entering the way of cross?
- Being in the same way namely the way of cross. Being not in the same way, the family will be separated forever.
- Being united and not scattered in family
- Being blessed totally. Do not only enjoying the blessing without following but the way of cross, or else the blessing will be misused.
All names that come to Egypt are being mentioned one by one. It means God always remembers His servants that are experiencing the way of death personally.
In the experience of death, we must also remember God only, not others. We remember that in the experience of death, God always helps us.
Isaiah 49:14-16
49:14 But Zion said, “TheLordhas forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.”
49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?Surely they may forget,yet I will not forget you.
49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palmsof My hands;your wallsarecontinually before Me.
The position of the one who is in the way of death is like the baby in embrace of lovingkindness of God. Our name will be inscribed on the palms of God. He will remember, understand, care and struggle for us.
The result is as follows:
- The lovingkindness of God is able to care and protect us in the midst of impossibilities.
- The lovingkindness of God is able to solve all of our problems even the impossible ones.
- The lovingkindness of God is able to cleanse and sanctify us to be perfected like Him. We are lifted up to heaven until we sit together with Him on the throne of heaven.
God blesses us.