Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus and John the Baptist (Luke 7:18-35).
Luke 7 refers to water baptism. In Luke 7:18-23, water baptism is separationbetween old life and new one.
Luke 7:24-26
7:24. When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
7:25. "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
7:26. "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Water baptism is life renewalfrom carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus.
What must be renewed?
Unsteady stance. It is like a reed shaken by the wind. Unsteady stance must be renewed to become steady one.
The wind refers to false teaching (Ephesians 4:14) and temptations in all things.
In the jail, John the Baptist doubts about Jesus. But, through the testimony of his disciples about Jesus and prophecy of Isaiah the prophet, he can be steadfast, so he is not doubtful, disappointed and does not reject Jesus whatever he faces until he is willingly beheaded.
Being steadfast means we are not shaken by false teaching and temptation.
The everyday life practice that we have stable stance is as follows:
The results are as follows:
God blesses us.
Jesus and John the Baptist (Luke 7:18-35).
Luke 7 refers to water baptism. In Luke 7:18-23, water baptism is separationbetween old life and new one.
Luke 7:24-26
7:24. When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
7:25. "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
7:26. "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Water baptism is life renewalfrom carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus.
What must be renewed?
Unsteady stance. It is like a reed shaken by the wind. Unsteady stance must be renewed to become steady one.
The wind refers to false teaching (Ephesians 4:14) and temptations in all things.
In the jail, John the Baptist doubts about Jesus. But, through the testimony of his disciples about Jesus and prophecy of Isaiah the prophet, he can be steadfast, so he is not doubtful, disappointed and does not reject Jesus whatever he faces until he is willingly beheaded.
Being steadfast means we are not shaken by false teaching and temptation.
The everyday life practice that we have stable stance is as follows:
- One builds his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25
7:24. "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
7:25. "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
It means one has strong spiritual base.
There are four kinds of base as follows:- faith: believing Jesus as the only Savior by hearing the Word of God or the Word that is anointed by Holy Spirit (Romans 10:17). Holy Spirit makes us hear the Word delightfully, understand it until we believe Jesus.
If we do not like to hear the Word, it means that we do not have any strong base.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, the faith refers to the Gate. - To repent. It means that we stop doing sin and return to God.
In the past, animal was sacrificed to take away our sins.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, it refers to the Altar of Burnt Offerings. - Water baptism.
Matthew 3:13-15
3:13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
3:14. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
3:15. But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
Water baptism must not be ordered or hindered, but it just fulfills God's will.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, water baptism refers to Brazen Laver. - Holy Spirit baptism.
Matthew 3:16
3:16. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
Holy Spirit baptism is the fullness of Holy Spirit that results in the heart like dove. It means honest and obedient heart.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, Holy Spirit baptism refers to the Door of Tabernacle.
- faith: believing Jesus as the only Savior by hearing the Word of God or the Word that is anointed by Holy Spirit (Romans 10:17). Holy Spirit makes us hear the Word delightfully, understand it until we believe Jesus.
- Those who are planted in the house of the Lord.
Psalms 92:13-15
92:13. Those who are planted in the house of the LORDShall flourish in the courts of our God.
92:14. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,
92:15. To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
It means one is rooted in the temple of God. The temple of God is the Holy Place which refers to sheepfoldor perseverance in three kinds of main service as follows:- Golden Candlestick is perseverance in committing General Service= fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
In this service, we are given a drink. - The Table of Showbread is perseverance in committing Bible Study and Holy Communion Service= fellowship with Son of God in teaching Word and Christ's sacrifice.
In this service, we are fed. - The Golden Altar of Incense is perseverance in committing Prayer Service= fellowship with God the Father in His love.
In this service, we breathe.
The results are as follows:- Budding: one lives in a hope and holiness. His life has a hope to yield fruit and he can be expected.
- Sprouting: one has ministry and the gift of Holy Spirit, so we are used in the revival for building the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12
4:11. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12. for the equipping of the saintsfor the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Our life becomes beautiful.
How great a man in the world is, his life has no beauty yet if he has not served God yet.
Entering the building of the body of Christ is the same as putting Jesus as the Head, so He is responsible for our life.
Jesus is responsible until He willingly dies on the cross. - Yielding fruits: one results fruits.
Psalms92:14-15
92:14. They shall still bear fruitin old age; They shall be freshand flourishing,
92:15. To declarethat the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
After we yield fruit, do not forget to testify that God never lies to us in the shepherding.
God makes everything sweet and beautiful.
Until the last fruit, we become the bride of Heaven.
- Golden Candlestick is perseverance in committing General Service= fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- One who is like John the Baptist that is willingly beheaded.
John is steadfast even he has to be beheaded. It is the same as he experiences sprinkling of bloodlike Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego experience the sprinkling of blood in the form of the burning fiery furnace that is heated seven times because of true teaching.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, the sprinkling of blood refers to the Most Holy Place.
1 Peter 4:12-14
4:12. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
4:13. but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
4:14. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
As the young men, we must willingly experience fiery trial or suffering in the flesh without any sin because of Jesus.
Shekinah Glory will change us that we can be strong and of good courage, so we are happy in the suffering.
There are four pillarsin the Most Holy Place as follows:- We hold fast and obey the true teaching whatever risk may come.
- We keep living in righteousness and do not sin whatever risk may come.
- We are not disappointed, desperate and do not leave God, but minister to Him faithfully and fervently.
- We keep believing and committing ourselves to God. We keep worshipping Him.
The results are as follows:
- We are happy in the suffering and our faith is like pure gold.
- God makes everything good, we have successful and beautiful future.
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." - God will finish everything up to the impossible problems in His time.
1 Chronicles 28:20
28:20. And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God––my God––will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
God purifies and changes our life until we are perfect like Him when He comes a second time.
God blesses us.