Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 8:3-4
8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
The prayers of the saints with the smoke of the incense mean the worship prayer with the ripping of flesh. The worship prayer is the peak of ministry that is pleasant for God.
In Matthew 6:1-18, there are three kinds of service which are accompanied by the ripping of flesh and thought by Jesusas follows:
We learn the third point, namely fasting with the ripping of flesh.
There are hypocrisiesin fastingas follows:
Matthew 6:17
6:17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
The signs of right fastingare as follows:
Thus, the right fasting is giving the opportunity for the word of God in the anointing of Holy Spirit to purify the heart and mind, especially from the character of flesh, namely anxiety.
Matthew 6:31-34
6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The character of anxiety includes the worry about the daily and future life.
Luke 21:25-26
21:25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
21:26 "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
The anxiety is the main killer for physical and spiritual life on the last days. Anxiety makes one not calm, so he lives in unrighteousness. The result is dryness up to spiritual death. It also causes spiritual defect, namely being bent spiritually. It means imperfection, so one will be left and perish forever when Jesus comes a second time.
Proverbs 12:25
12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
The facts found within being bent spirituallyare as follows:
We experience the ripping of flesh from the anxiety character through the fasting or worship prayer, so we can surrender to God.
The proofsare as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 8:3-4
8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
The prayers of the saints with the smoke of the incense mean the worship prayer with the ripping of flesh. The worship prayer is the peak of ministry that is pleasant for God.
In Matthew 6:1-18, there are three kinds of service which are accompanied by the ripping of flesh and thought by Jesusas follows:
- [Matthew 16:1-4]
It is about charitable deedsas the service with the ripping of flesh and all of its wills and characters, namely the stinginess (one cannot give) and greediness (one takes others'). - [Matthew 6:5-15]
It is about prayer as service with the crucifixion of the flesh and all of its wills and lusts, so we can prioritize the spiritual things.
Let us be watchful, do not be like Esau who sacrifices the spiritual things to get the physical ones, so he cries until entering the hell forever. - [Matthew 6:16-18]
Fasting with the ripping of flesh.
Matthew 6:16-18
6:16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6:17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
6:18 "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
We learn the third point, namely fasting with the ripping of flesh.
There are hypocrisiesin fastingas follows:
- Fasting with a sad countenance to look holy.
- Fasting but keeping the sin, quarrel, arguing, and resisting against the word.
Isaiah 58:3-4
58:3 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.
58:4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. - Fasting but lying, gossiping, and slandering.
1 Kings 21:8-10
21:8 And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth.
21:9 She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people;
21:10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, "You have blasphemed God and the king." Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.
Matthew 6:17
6:17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
The signs of right fastingare as follows:
- "anoint your head"= our mind is anointed by Holy Spirit.
- "wash your face"= the purification of heart by the word of God.
Thus, the right fasting is giving the opportunity for the word of God in the anointing of Holy Spirit to purify the heart and mind, especially from the character of flesh, namely anxiety.
Matthew 6:31-34
6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The character of anxiety includes the worry about the daily and future life.
Luke 21:25-26
21:25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
21:26 "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
The anxiety is the main killer for physical and spiritual life on the last days. Anxiety makes one not calm, so he lives in unrighteousness. The result is dryness up to spiritual death. It also causes spiritual defect, namely being bent spiritually. It means imperfection, so one will be left and perish forever when Jesus comes a second time.
Proverbs 12:25
12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
The facts found within being bent spirituallyare as follows:
- The sight that sees the fleshly things or prioritizes the physical things more than the spiritual ones. It makes one unfaithful in ministry, so he lives in unrighteousness.
The result is that he becomes the evil and lazy servant that will be cast in hell. - One cannot glorify God, but he makes the heart of God grieved, the heart of parents sore, and the heart of the shepherd lament.
Luke 13:11,13
13:11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.
13:13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
The result is that he cannot be employed in the building of the perfect body of Christ. He cannot minister in the marriage, shepherding, and inter shepherding. He cannot worship God, so he is dry spiritually and sealed by Antichrist. Being sealed with 666 means that his body, soul, and spirit are flesh only. Such life ignores the spiritual things. He is foolish or cannot be advised. He becomes the same as the Antichrist who will be destroyed.
We experience the ripping of flesh from the anxiety character through the fasting or worship prayer, so we can surrender to God.
The proofsare as follows:
- We can cast all our care upon God and be shepherded well and correctly.
1 Peter 5:7
5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
We live in the sheepfold or have the perseverance in three main services. We obey the voice of the Shepherd or the shepherding Word even though it is against our flesh.
As a result God cares abundantly in physical things in the midst of difficulties and impossibilities. We always give thanks to God and become the blessing for others. God also cares abundantly in spiritual things, namely the peaceful heart. The heart does not feel anything that flesh feels. There are no bitterness, uncleanness, and evil. The peaceful heart is the one of the Bride. Everything becomes easy, light, and perfect. - We surrender ourselves to be employed as the instruments of righteousnessand the servants of God who serve and minister to Him faithfully and righteously.
Romans 6:13-14
6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Having the faithfulness and righteousness is the same as using the belt. As a result the life is tidy, beautiful, and happy.
Isaiah 11:5
11:5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
It continues until the belt becomes the ornament of the Bride.
Jeremiah 2:32
2:32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. - We can surrender all of our life in the hand of God.
Psalm 31:5
31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
John 21:18-9
21:18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
For example, Peter can stretch out his hands to God, obey Him until the flesh does not sound anymore, and sacrifice anything for Him. We only worship, surrender, and cry out to Him. Then, He will stretch out His loving hands towards us.
The results are as follows:- Marry is willing to carry the baby Jesus even though she must sacrifice her life. It means that the door of salvation is opened for us.
Sarah obeys her husband, so the door of her womb is opened. It means that the doors in this world will be opened. - Peter can stretch out his hands. It means that the door of employment of God is opened. We can be employed to glorify Him and He will glorify us.
- Marry is willing to carry the baby Jesus even though she must sacrifice her life. It means that the door of salvation is opened for us.
- God will exalt us in His time. He makes everything successful and beautiful. We are purified until being perfect and worthy to greet His second coming on the glorious clouds.
1 Peter 5: 5-6
5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
God blesses us.