Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the arrangement of the Tabernacle, Luke chapter 4 and 5 refer to the Altar of Burnt Offerings, that is about faith.
In the Old Testament, the Altar of Burnt Offering is the place to burn animal offering to take away the sins of Israel (God's chosen people).
Now, int the New Testament, the Altar of Burnt Offerings refers to the cross of Christ. The animal refers to the sacrifice of Christ which is without blemish.
Acts 10:43
10:43. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
If we believe Jesus, we receive remission of sins and do not sin anymore. So, we are saved and do not perish.
Luke 4: 1-13is about 'the temptation in the wilderness '. It is about the test of faith.
The tested faith will result in righteousness until perfection. In past time, Abraham and Rahab experienced the test of faith (it has already been discussed in the Youth Service in Malang, April 13, 2013).
Now, Jesus and the congregation experience the test of faith. Devil tests Jesus to thwart the plan of Godwhich is the responsibility of Jesus.
Devil tests Jesus three times as follows:
ad. 1. THE TEMPTATION OF STONE’S BECOMING BREAD.
Luke 4:1-4
4:1. Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
4:2. being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
4:3. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
4:4. But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’"
It refers to temptation about physical things(economy, study, et cetera) to thwart the plan of God.
The plan of Godis stone becomes bread in spiritual meaning. It means, the gentiles who are hard and sinful will be the sons of Abraham.
Matthew 3:6-9,11
3:6. and were baptizedby him in the Jordan, confessingtheir sins.
3:7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8. "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
3:9. "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
3:11. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The process of the Gentiles’ becoming the son of Abraham is as follows:
If Jesus had been egoistic to look for the interest of the flesh, He would have been able to change the stone to physically become bread. Consequently, the plan of God would have totally failed and the Gentiles would not have been able to become the sons of Abraham but perished forever.
We must be watchfulbecause we often get physical temptation that makes us selfish. We only look for the physical interest that we do sin and unrighteousness.
The consequenceis the plan of God will become failed.
In the test of faith, we must live in the faith and the righteousness. The key of victoryis to priority the spiritual thing more than physical one.
2 Corinthians 5:7-10
5:7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
5:8. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
5:9. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
The daily practices of the tested faith are as follows:
God blesses us.
In the arrangement of the Tabernacle, Luke chapter 4 and 5 refer to the Altar of Burnt Offerings, that is about faith.
In the Old Testament, the Altar of Burnt Offering is the place to burn animal offering to take away the sins of Israel (God's chosen people).
Now, int the New Testament, the Altar of Burnt Offerings refers to the cross of Christ. The animal refers to the sacrifice of Christ which is without blemish.
Acts 10:43
10:43. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
If we believe Jesus, we receive remission of sins and do not sin anymore. So, we are saved and do not perish.
Luke 4: 1-13is about 'the temptation in the wilderness '. It is about the test of faith.
The tested faith will result in righteousness until perfection. In past time, Abraham and Rahab experienced the test of faith (it has already been discussed in the Youth Service in Malang, April 13, 2013).
Now, Jesus and the congregation experience the test of faith. Devil tests Jesus to thwart the plan of Godwhich is the responsibility of Jesus.
Devil tests Jesus three times as follows:
- [Luke 4:1-4] The temptation of stone’s becoming bread.
- [Luke 4:5-8] The temptation about worship.
- [Luke 4:9-12] The temptation about the temple of God.
ad. 1. THE TEMPTATION OF STONE’S BECOMING BREAD.
Luke 4:1-4
4:1. Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
4:2. being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
4:3. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
4:4. But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’"
It refers to temptation about physical things(economy, study, et cetera) to thwart the plan of God.
The plan of Godis stone becomes bread in spiritual meaning. It means, the gentiles who are hard and sinful will be the sons of Abraham.
Matthew 3:6-9,11
3:6. and were baptizedby him in the Jordan, confessingtheir sins.
3:7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8. "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
3:9. "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
3:11. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The process of the Gentiles’ becoming the son of Abraham is as follows:
- Believing Jesus and confessing sinsthat we are forgiven by the blood of Jesus.
- Repenting, we stop doing sin and return to God.
- Water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is same as being reborn from water and spirit that we receive new life, that is heavenly life.
The heavenly lifeis life in the righteousness or in the faith.
Galathians 3:7
3:7. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
This is called as the sons of Abrahamwho are rightful to receive the blessing of Abraham until the descendants, become blessing for others, even we deserve to get eternal life.
If Jesus had been egoistic to look for the interest of the flesh, He would have been able to change the stone to physically become bread. Consequently, the plan of God would have totally failed and the Gentiles would not have been able to become the sons of Abraham but perished forever.
We must be watchfulbecause we often get physical temptation that makes us selfish. We only look for the physical interest that we do sin and unrighteousness.
The consequenceis the plan of God will become failed.
In the test of faith, we must live in the faith and the righteousness. The key of victoryis to priority the spiritual thing more than physical one.
2 Corinthians 5:7-10
5:7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
5:8. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
5:9. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
The daily practices of the tested faith are as follows:
- [2 Corinthians 5:8] Being confident, strong and of good couragewhich means as follows:
- To keep believing and calling the name of Jesus whatever we face.
- To keep living in the righteousness whatever we face.
- To keep holding fast God's will that is true teaching Word and being
obedient.
1 Chronicles 19:13
19:13. "Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight." - To keep believing and calling the name of Jesus whatever we face.
- [2 Corinthians 5:9] We always try to be well pelasing to God.
Proverbs 12:2,22
12:2. A good man obtains favor from the LORD, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.
12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
The life who is faithful, honest and goodis a life who obtains favor from the Lord. We have to be a faithful, honest and good in personal life, everyday association, household and ministry.- Being faithful, which means we do not betray.
- Being honest, which means we do not lie.
- Being good, which means we do not harm others, become evil or return evil for evil, but return good for evil.
Proverbs 15:8
15:8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Becoming the house of prayer means all things are blessed and happy. - Being faithful, which means we do not betray.
- [2 Corinthians 5:10] Being ready to appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
The thing to be judged is sin.It starts from sinful thought, deeds, and word.
If we are ready to appear before the judgement seat of Christ, it means we have to finish sins by making peace.
Making peace means as follows:- To confesssin to God and others. If we are forgiven, do not sin anymore.
- To forgiveothers' sin and forget it.
If we have already been peaceful, the judgement seat of Christ will change to the throne of grace of the High Priest. The High Priest will make everything easy and light, everything is finished and helped in His time.
Hebrews 2:17-18
2:17. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
2:18. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 4:16
4:16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Until everything becomes perfect and our name is written in the Book of Life. We deserve to go to the eternal kingdom of heaven when Jesus comes a second time.
Exodus 32:30-33
32:30. Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."
32:31. Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!
32:32. "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin -- but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
32:33. And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. - To confesssin to God and others. If we are forgiven, do not sin anymore.
God blesses us.