Taken from delayed broadcast of fellowship in Germany
Theme: "40"
In Holy Bible, number 40 has important meaning.
Forty means the completion of the flesh with all its want, emotion, and desire.
The examples are as follows:
If we want to crucify the flesh, we will meet God (as Moses) and will never be touched or beaten by Satan.
Deuteronomy34:6-7
34:6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.
34:7 Moses wasone hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died.
No one knows his grave to this day. It means that Moses was raised by God and his body was lifted to the Heaven.
120 years= 3 x 40 years.
There are three stages of Moses' life as follows:
Let us all also experience the completion/ crucifixion of flesh, until sometime we will be appeared in glorious body with God in His second coming.
How is life who experiences the crucifixion of flesh?
We will learn from Moses' life.
THE DAILY PRACTICES OF EXPERIENCING CRUCIFIXION OF FLESH ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Theme: "40"
In Holy Bible, number 40 has important meaning.
Forty means the completion of the flesh with all its want, emotion, and desire.
The examples are as follows:
- In Old Testament, Musa fasted for forty days and forty nights, and then he could meet God and receive two tablets of stone and the Tabernacle.
- In New Testament, Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights, and then Jesus won over Satan and all temptations.
If we want to crucify the flesh, we will meet God (as Moses) and will never be touched or beaten by Satan.
Deuteronomy34:6-7
34:6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.
34:7 Moses wasone hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died.
No one knows his grave to this day. It means that Moses was raised by God and his body was lifted to the Heaven.
120 years= 3 x 40 years.
There are three stages of Moses' life as follows:
- 40 years at Egypt.
- 40 years at Midian.
- 40 years at the dessert.
Let us all also experience the completion/ crucifixion of flesh, until sometime we will be appeared in glorious body with God in His second coming.
How is life who experiences the crucifixion of flesh?
We will learn from Moses' life.
THE DAILY PRACTICES OF EXPERIENCING CRUCIFIXION OF FLESH ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- Moses was40 years at Egypt = the growth period.
Acts7:20-23
7:20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months.
7:21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.
7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
7:23 "Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
Moses had physical and spiritual growth.
All of us also have physical and spiritual growth.
Verse 22: In his physical growth, Moses learnt the wisdom of the world in Egypt.
We also experience physical growth, as going to school, working, getting married, and so forth.
But, we must also have spiritual growth. How is spiritual growth?
Hebrews11:24-26
11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
11:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Spiritual growthisbeing released from the effect of the flesh with all its desire(Pharaoh's daughter), the effect of the world(Egypt), andthe effect of sins.
Spiritual growth is not seen from how long we have become a Christian, but from the freedom of the effect of the flesh, world, and sins.
Flesh, world, and sins make us live as dog and sow.- A dog returns to his own vomit points to sinful words.
- A sow, having washed, returns to her wallowing in the mire points to repeated sinful deeds.
The flesh, world, and sins make our life as dog and sow in repeated sinful words and deeds.
Spiritual growth (spiritual matureness) is we must be set free from all those things, such that we can live in righteousness, there is nothing wrong/ sins,whether individually, in household, school, or at work, etc.
All our life aspects must be right.
That is a spiritually matured life and experiencing the completion of flesh.
Psalm37:25-26
37:25 I have been young, and nowam old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
37:26 He isever merciful, and lends; And his descendants areblessed.
If we live in righteousness, God will bless us to our descendants, and even we will be used by God to become blessings to the others.
The main inheritance to our descendants is inheritance of righteousness, which contains God's guarantee to our life and descendants, even to eternal life. - A dog returns to his own vomit points to sinful words.
- Moses was40 yearsatMidian = the shepherding period.
Acts7:30-34
7:30. "And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.
7:31 When Moses saw it,he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him,
7:32 saying,'Iamthe God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'And Moses trembled and dared not look.
7:33 'Then the LORD said to him, "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
7:34 I have surelyseen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I willsend you to Egypt."'
Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father in law, until he saw a flame of fire in a bush.
A bush is made of wood, but it was not burnt. It was a marvelous sight.
Formerly we were as dog and sow who live in sins, but we have been redeemed and become sheep who live in righteousness.
People who live in righteousness are equal to sheep.
People who live in sins equals to dog and sow.
What is needed by sheep? Maybe you will answer that they need grass.
But in dry season, sheep will not be able to live because they cannot get grass in dry season.
The most need of sheep is a shepherd.
Even though a sheep is facing drought, a shepherd is able to provide all sheep's needs.
Therefore, all of us must be shepherded.
Starting from a pastor must be shepherded, also sheep must be shepherded.
If we are not shepherded, we are going to be wild as dog and sow (living in sins).
Where must we be shepherded?
A branch must abide in the true vine.
The true vine is Jesus, the true teaching Word.
We must be shepherded in the true teaching Word.
There are two types of preaching the Word as follows:- Gospel Word,which preaches Jesus' first coming to the world to redeem human from sins. (Gospel Word is also called as "milk" or "cold water".)
Gospel Word is preached to bring sinful man to Jesus and be saved. - Teaching Word(a flame of fire in a bush).
Jeremiah23:29
23:29 " Isnot My word like a fire?" says the LORD, " And like a hammer thatbreaks the rock in pieces?
Teaching Word is as sharp sword which is sharper than any two-edged sword.
Hebrews4:12
4:12 For the word of God isliving and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Why do we need the true teaching Word?
The true teaching Word (a flame of fire, a sharp sword) is to purify us, starting from our heart and mind.
People's heart and mind are the store of sins, the store of all evil and unclean desire.
If people's heart and mind are filled with evil and unclean desire, their words and deeds are sins.
Mark 7:21-23
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
7:22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
7:23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
All the things inside the heart and mind are divided into two as follows:- Evil desire, which equals to the desire of money, loving money.
The appearances are as follows:- Getting money in illegal way (by corruption, etc.).
- Looking for money until cannot serve and minister God (until leaving ministry to God).
- Being stingy= cannot give.
- Being greedy = robbing the others' rights, including God's rights (tithe and special offering).
All these matters must be purified by the Word of God! - Getting money in illegal way (by corruption, etc.).
- Unclean desire = eating drinking sin and marrying-being given sin.
The appearances are as follows:- Eating drinking sin: smoking, getting drunk, gambling, consuming drugs, etc.
- Marrying-being given sin: sexuality sin with all its variety, homosexual, lesbian, including wrong marriage, up to marrying divorcing and marrying-being given.
All of these also must be purified! - Eating drinking sin: smoking, getting drunk, gambling, consuming drugs, etc.
A bush in a flame of fire is not burnt means flesh man who is purified by the true teaching Word (a flame of fire, a two-edged sharp sword) will not be destroyed but becoming holy and holier, until sometime becoming perfect and blameless as Jesus.
In shepherding, we find a flame of teaching Word fire which purifies us. - Gospel Word,which preaches Jesus' first coming to the world to redeem human from sins. (Gospel Word is also called as "milk" or "cold water".)
- Moses was 40 years in the wilderness= the sending period.
Acts7:35-36
7:35 "This Moses whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'is the one God sent to bea ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.
7:36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Moses was sent by God to bring Israelites went out from the land of Egypt.
At that time, Israelites was in a great out movement from the land of Egypt to Canaan.
For us now, the Israelites' movement denotes the movement of Holy Spirit in the last rain.
The movement of Holy Spirit in the last rain equals to the movement of building perfect body of Christ, preparing us to be able to welcome Jesus second coming in perfection.
Jesus as the Head will come for the second time to unite His body.
Now, we must be in the revival of building perfect body of Christ. It equals to we have to serve the building of perfect body of Christ.
The body of Christ is started from our marriage, church/ shepherding, between shepherding, until the international body of Christ (Israelites and Gentiles become one perfect body) and Jesus will come soon for the second time.
Thus, we have to serve in the revival of building body of Christ.
Ephesians4:11-12
4:11 And He Himself gave some to beapostles, 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,
The requirements for serving the building body of Christ are as follows:- Holiness, not richness/ smartness/ position, etc (verse 12).
Thus, if we want to enter the body of Christ, starting from marriage must be holy, serving in the church must be holy, serving in fellowship between shepherding must be holy, until the perfect body of Christ is formed. - Must have ministry(verse 11).
As hands and feet each have place in the body.
In the body of Christ there is ministry for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, also musicians, singers, prayer team, etc.
Ministry must be done faithfully, as we are faithful in position in this world.
Ministry is our place in the body of Christ.
Why do we have to serve th e building body of Christ?
If we do not serve the building body of Christ, we will enter the building body of Babel.
The building body of Christ is holiness until perfection, and we can welcome Jesus' second coming.
The building of Babel is uncleanness, evil, and will lead to the hell.
Let us all use our life to serve the building body of Christ.
To enter the building body of Christ, sacrifice will be needed.
Everything must be sacrificed for the building body of Christ (money, time, energy, thought, etc).
John2:19-21
2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
2:20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"
2:21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
Jesus himself sacrificed His soul for the building body of Christ.
(Three days denote Jesus' death and rising.)
Everything must be sacrificed for the building body of Christ,and everything will not be comparable to the sacrifice of Christ.
Except one, the true teaching Word must not be sacrificed!
The true teaching Word is Jesus himself, and it must not be sacrificed.
In the building body of Christ we also experience obstacles as being experienced by Moses. One of them is the Red Sea.
The Red Sea with Pharaoh who was chasing means as follows: - Holiness, not richness/ smartness/ position, etc (verse 12).
- Something which makes us scared and worry.
Forty years old for woman who has not get married yet is a scary thing.
Forty years old for married woman is also a scary thing since she will face menopause period.
For man, there is also scary thing as job problem, etc. - Something which makes us hopeless and disappointed.
- Something which makes us sad and cry.
- Something which makes us fall, that is the sins.
- Something which is impossible (the sea ahead and Pharaoh behind).
- Grumbling, mumbling.
- Being noisy and panic.
- Putting hope on the others and not on God.
- Physical miracles are as follows:
- God's merciful hands are able to make possible the impossible things.
- God's merciful hands give beautiful future. Israelites were not dead but able to reach the land of Canaan.
- God's merciful hands are able to make possible the impossible things.
- Spiritual miracles must also happen in our lives,that is the renewal of life from flesh man to spiritual man as Jesus.
Physical miracles can be imitated/ falsified by Satan, but spiritual miracles cannot be imitated, that is the renewal of life.
In the extension of our life, we must experience renewal of life continually from flesh men to become spiritual men as Jesus.
Ephesians4:23-25
4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Leteach oneof youspeak truth with his neighbor,"for we are members of one another.
The proof of a new man is there is no lying.
As long as a pastor is lying, a son of God is lying, in whatever, it means that they have not experienced renewal of life.
Not lying = renewal of life, the greatest miracle.
Exodus14:15-16
14:15. And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
14:16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry groundthrough the midst of the sea.
The condition of Israelites at that time was crying to God. It means as follows:
These are the flesh which has to be crucified!
The flesh must be crucified such that we can stretch out our hands to God.
The way out which is outside man's mind is facing the Kolsom Sea just by stretching out the hands to God.
Although this is outside human's logic, this is God's command (God's Word) and must be practiced!
If God let us experience obstacles, God wants us to be able to stretch out our hands, that is only putting our hope on God, believing and fully surrendering ourselves to God.
God's merciful hands will also be stretched out to us, and miracles will happen.
A strong east wind blew (=God's merciful hands are stretched out to us) such that Kolsom Sea was divided and Israelites could walk on dry ground.
Let the extension of our life is marked with miraculous steps, a renewal of life spiritually and God's help physically.
Miracles happen by God's merciful and gracious hands.
Until the last miracles, on Jesus' second coming we will be renewed to become as perfect as or as glorious as Jesus himself, and we will be lifted on the glorious clouds.
Philippians3:20-21
3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
3:21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
A ceremony is not just entering and leaving the church, but we must experience a renewal of life (the greatest miracle), starting from there is no lying, until sometime we will be renewed as perfect as God.
Let us be inside God's gracious hands and experience God's miracles.
- Moses was 40 years at Egypt = spiritual growth.
We live in righteousness. God guarantees the righteous life to their descendants. - Moses was 40 year at Midian = being shepherded.
After we are lifted by God from being as dog and sow to being the sheep, we must be shepherded.
In a shepherding, we are purified until we are blameless (there is no sin). - Moses was 40 years in the wilderness = the sending period.
After being purified, we will be used in the ministry of building body of Christ.
We are facing many obstacles, but if we stretch out our hands to God, God will also stretch out His gracious hands to us.
The results are physical and spiritual miracles, up to the last miracle, that is on Jesus' second coming, we are renewed as glorious as God and will be lifted up together with Him.