Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 7:18-35 is about "Jesus and John the Baptist". It refers to water baptism.
In Luke 7:18-23, water baptism is separationbetween old life and new one. It is like Jesus is separated from John the Baptist.
Now, we discuss about Luke 7:24-26.
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.
Romans 6:4
6:4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
True water baptismis one who has died to sin or repented must be buried in the water with Jesus and come out or rise from water with Him to receive new life, namely spiritual or heavenly life and we live like Jesus.
What must be renewed?
ad. 2. Renewal of Clothes.
Luke 7:25
7:25. "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareledand live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
Mark 1:6
1:6. Now John was clothed with camel’s hairand with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Gorgeous apparel must be renewed to be camel's hair (spiritual cloth).
Being clothed with camel's hair is useful to restrain sun heat at noon and cold at night or become stabilizer.
It refers to the anointing of Holy Spirit. The clothes of anointing of Holy Spirit protect us from destruction of the world such as economic, moral, marriage and children.
Cleverness, wealth and anything from the world are not able to restrain destruction of the world, but only anointing of Holy Spirit.
The anointing of Holy Spirit brings us to better renewal until the perfection.
Without it, we will live blindly, not be in order and regularity.
The usefulness of the clothes of camel’s hair is as follows:
God blesses us.
Luke 7:18-35 is about "Jesus and John the Baptist". It refers to water baptism.
In Luke 7:18-23, water baptism is separationbetween old life and new one. It is like Jesus is separated from John the Baptist.
Now, we discuss about Luke 7:24-26.
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.
Romans 6:4
6:4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
True water baptismis one who has died to sin or repented must be buried in the water with Jesus and come out or rise from water with Him to receive new life, namely spiritual or heavenly life and we live like Jesus.
What must be renewed?
- [Luke 7:24] Unsteady stance. It is like a reed shaken by the wind.
It is renewed to become steadfast (it has been explained in Youth Service in Surabaya, August 30, 2014).
Being steadfast can be described as follows:- one who builds a house on the rock,
- those who are planted and rooted in the temple of God,
- one who is like John the Baptist that is willingly beheaded because of Jesus,
- one who is like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego who willingly enter burning fiery furnace for God.
- [Luke 7:25] Clothes.
ad. 2. Renewal of Clothes.
Luke 7:25
7:25. "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareledand live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
Mark 1:6
1:6. Now John was clothed with camel’s hairand with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Gorgeous apparel must be renewed to be camel's hair (spiritual cloth).
Being clothed with camel's hair is useful to restrain sun heat at noon and cold at night or become stabilizer.
It refers to the anointing of Holy Spirit. The clothes of anointing of Holy Spirit protect us from destruction of the world such as economic, moral, marriage and children.
Cleverness, wealth and anything from the world are not able to restrain destruction of the world, but only anointing of Holy Spirit.
The anointing of Holy Spirit brings us to better renewal until the perfection.
Without it, we will live blindly, not be in order and regularity.
The usefulness of the clothes of camel’s hair is as follows:
- Protecting us from danger in the world.
The camel is sensitive to the danger in the wilderness.
By the clothes of camel's hair or if we are anointed by Holy Spirit, we are sensitive to the danger in the world.
The dangers in the world that destroy our spirituality are as follows:- Evil company or association of the world.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
15:33. Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
15:34. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
The evil company makes sons of God unwilling and unable to worship anymore.
Once we do not serve God, it will continue until we are unwilling and unable to serve Him anymore.
Evil company is also about sin of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage. It makes spiritual dryness up to spiritual death. - False teaching.
1 John 2:26-27
2:26. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceiveyou.
2:27. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches youconcerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
Matthew 24:3-4
24:3. Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
24:4. And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceivesyou.
The sign of God's coming which is told by Jesus is a deception.
The word of "deceives" is told four times (Matthew 24:4, 5, 11, 24).
It means that false teaching will spread to all over the world.
If we have the anointing of Holy Spirit, we can hold fast to one true vine.
- Evil company or association of the world.
- We can endure the suffering.
The world is like the wilderness without water, we cannot sow and reap and have no result.
This world is difficult, miserable and accursed.
How great a flesh man is, he is very weak and cannot endure in the wilderness.
That is why, we need the anointing of Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:3-5
5:3. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
5:4. and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5:5. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Holy Spirit pours love of God to us that we can endure the suffering in the wilderness of the world, so we are not disappointed and desperate, but we always thanks to God. We keep faithful and fervent in spiritin the ministry whatever happens in our life.
Hebrews 10:35-37
10:35. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
10:36. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
10:37. "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
When Jesus’ second coming is drawing near, our needs increase more. But, all of them have been covered in the ministryand God will provide everything we need in the wilderness.
The most important thing is our ministry. - To make us humble, submissive, and obedient.
The youth is hard to submit if he does not have Holy Spirit.
In the shepherding, we are formed to become submissive and obedient person.
1 Peter 5:5
5:5. Likewise you younger people, submityourselves 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."
God looks the submission of the youth.
Matthew 19:16-17, 21-26
19:16. Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
19:17. So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
19:21. Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
19:22. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
19:23. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
19:24. "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
19:25. When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
19:26. But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
One who is not submissive or obedient means one who fails in the middle of the peak of his success. Not being submissive means closing a chance to be more successful even closing the opportunity to enter the Heaven.
1 Peter 5:6
5:6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
Jacob was not born as the firstborn, so he did not have birthright and it was impossible to be the firstborn.
But, he was in tent as shepherded life, so he received the birthright although he was not great.
God will help our life even wipe all impossibilities as long as we submit to Him.
God blesses us.