Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Tabernacle arrangement, Luke 8 refers to the Golden Candlestick.
Exodus 25:39
25:39. "It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils.
The Golden Candlestick is made of a talent of pure gold. A talent is equal to thirty four kilograms.
Now, it refers to the riches of the Heaven.
The Golden Candlestick is hammered. It means having test and sacrifice.
Exodus 25:31
25:31. " You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.
One who passes the test will be shining candlestick like Job.
If we grumble, we will not shine.
One who sacrifices will be shining candlestick too as follows:
The result is they become shining candlestick.
There are seven stories in Luke 8. They refer to seven shining lamps on the golden candlestick and they are as follows:
Tonight, we learn the first story.
ad. 1. Many Women Minister to Jesus.
Luke 8:1-3
8:1. Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,
8:2. and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities––Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
8:3. and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
Jesus goes through every city and village, preaching the Word in two forms as follows:
We can get two important lessons from Jesus' ministry in the world as follows:
The signs of pleasant ministry are as follows:
If we want to experience purification, serve God, and put Him as the Head who is responsible, He will fulfill all our needs. It is like the body that receives all things from the head whatever it needs.
The results are as follows:
God blesses us.
In the Tabernacle arrangement, Luke 8 refers to the Golden Candlestick.
Exodus 25:39
25:39. "It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils.
The Golden Candlestick is made of a talent of pure gold. A talent is equal to thirty four kilograms.
Now, it refers to the riches of the Heaven.
The Golden Candlestick is hammered. It means having test and sacrifice.
Exodus 25:31
25:31. " You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.
One who passes the test will be shining candlestick like Job.
If we grumble, we will not shine.
One who sacrifices will be shining candlestick too as follows:
- Abraham willingly sacrificed Isaac,
- Daniel did not want to worship the king,
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego did not want to worship gold image,
- Mary was willing to have child of the Holy Spirit before she married.
The result is they become shining candlestick.
There are seven stories in Luke 8. They refer to seven shining lamps on the golden candlestick and they are as follows:
- Many Women Minister to Jesus (Luke 8:1-3).
- The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15).
- The Parable of the Revealed Light (Luke 8:16-18).
- Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Come to Him (Luke 8:19-21).
- Wind and Wave Obey Jesus (Luke 8:22-25).
- A Demon-Possessed Man Healed (Luke 8:26-39).
- A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed (Luke 8:40-56).
Tonight, we learn the first story.
ad. 1. Many Women Minister to Jesus.
Luke 8:1-3
8:1. Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,
8:2. and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities––Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
8:3. and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
Jesus goes through every city and village, preaching the Word in two forms as follows:
- the gospel of the kingdom of Heaven, namely the gospel of salvation or 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,
The gospel of salvation or good news is the gospel that preaches Jesus' first coming to the world for saving the sinners. All men are sinful, so Jesus is the only innocent man who is able to save the sinners.
Jesus has to come from the Heaven to the world to save the sinners by calling them to believe in God and be saved. - the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, namely teaching Word.
Luke 13:22
13:22. And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
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.
The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ or teaching Word chooses saved people to be purified as glorious and perfect as Jesus and become the bride of Heaven.
We can get two important lessons from Jesus' ministry in the world as follows:
- The service to God must aim to the building of the perfect body of Christ or the bride of Heaven to enter the New Jerusalem.
- God always gives greater opportunity to everybody to be used in the revival of the building of body of Christ. We become shining candlestick in the darkness of the world.
For example: The life of Mary called Magdalene, who had seven wicked and unclean demons, is like the candlestick that goes out. She may minister if she fulfills the term.
The term to enter the building of the body of Christis we have to experience heart purification from seven wicked and unclean demons like Mary called Magdalene.
Matthew 15:19
15:19. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts(1), murders(2), adulteries(3), fornications(4), thefts(5), false witness(6), blasphemies(7).
Seven wicked and unclean demons push the sons and servants of God to enter the perfection of uncleanness and wickedness, so they become the bride of Babylon and perish forever.
If our heart is purifiedfrom seven wicked and unclean demons, we can enter the building of the perfect body of Christ.
The signs of pleasant ministry are as follows:
- Being in accordance to our own ministry.
The gift of Holy Spirit gives us different ministry like the parts of body.
The parts of the body are different, but they can work together up to perfection. - Being in accordance to our own position.
In Luke 8:1-3, there are three positions, namely Jesus, twelve apostles and the women.
Jesus is the Head of twelve apostles (men) and the man is the head of woman.
If the position is correct, it is like the lamp on the lampstand that shines.
1 Corinthians 11:3
11:3. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
The practice is a woman should put the man as the head, so Jesus becomes the head in the congregation.
In the family, a wife should put her husband as the head, so Jesus becomes the head in the household.
1 Timothy 2:11-12
2:11. Let a woman learn in silencewith all submission.
2:12. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
The practice is a woman may not teach or have authority over a man in the service.
If a woman becomes the head of a man, the snake will be the head, so everything will be naked.
The wolf and bird become the head and there are wicked and unclean demons. - Serving with substance= one can give.
The practice is as follows:- Giving to God, namely one gives tithes and special offerings, time, power, mind, feel, expertise, et cetera.
- Giving to others in need, namely alms.
- Giving our whole life through prayer to God. We totally surrender to God, and put Him as the head.
If we want to experience purification, serve God, and put Him as the Head who is responsible, He will fulfill all our needs. It is like the body that receives all things from the head whatever it needs.
The results are as follows:
- Jesus as the Head takes care of us.
Ephesians 5:22-23, 29
5:22. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
5:23. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
5:29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
It means that God’s merciful hand is able to take care of us, who are powerless, and protect carefully in the warmth of His love. - God’s merciful hand is able to save us.
Ephesians 5:23
5:23. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
God is able to release us from sins, so we can live in righteousness and holiness and He gives successful and beautiful future in His time. - God’s merciful hand is able to wash us.
Ephesians 5:25-27
5:25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
:26. that He might sanctify and cleanse herwith the washingof water by the word,
5:27. that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
God purifies our life until perfect. We experience the biggest miracle.
If we want to be sanctified, the life renewal and the physical miracle will happen and the impossible things become possible.
When Jesus comes a second time, we are changed to become as glorious as God; the Bridegroom and the bride of heaven become one in the New Jerusalem forever.
God blesses us.