(Prayer Service is diverted on Thursday, April 19, 2012)
Matthew 26:69-75is about Peter denied Jesus.
Peter denied Jesus three times as follows.
Matthew 26:71-72
26:71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
26:72 But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"
Luke 1:26-27,31
1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
Nazareth is the place where Jesus began to become flesh in the womb of Mary.
Luke 2:51-52
2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Nazareth is also the place where Jesus grew physically.
In shorts, Nazareth is the place where Jesus became flesh in the womb until he was mature.
John 1:1,14
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the teaching Word (Logos) which is born as flesh.
Thus, Nazareth means the teaching Word which becomes flesh to grow our spirituality and to perfect us.
Peter denied Jesus of Nazareth = denial to the true teaching Word.
It happened suddenly. Peter, who formerly always support and followed Jesus, suddenly could deny Jesus only because of his flesh which was fearful.
One form of denying the Word is adding and eliminating the Word (please check the summary of General Service, April 15, 2012).
The other form of denial to the true teaching Word is as follows.
Revelation 1:3
1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
The true attitude is we have to hear the true teaching Word seriously, we understand and believe in it until we can practice it and our flesh does not sound anymore, whatever risk we have to face.
1 Corinthians 14:3
14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
The result will be real as follows.
Matthew 26:69-75is about Peter denied Jesus.
Peter denied Jesus three times as follows.
- Verse 69-70: Peter denied Jesus of Galilee = denial to the call and election of God.
- Verse 71-72: Peter denied Jesus of Nazareth.
- Verse 73-75: Peter denied Jesus with swearing and cursing.
Matthew 26:71-72
26:71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
26:72 But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"
Luke 1:26-27,31
1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
Nazareth is the place where Jesus began to become flesh in the womb of Mary.
Luke 2:51-52
2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Nazareth is also the place where Jesus grew physically.
In shorts, Nazareth is the place where Jesus became flesh in the womb until he was mature.
John 1:1,14
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the teaching Word (Logos) which is born as flesh.
Thus, Nazareth means the teaching Word which becomes flesh to grow our spirituality and to perfect us.
Peter denied Jesus of Nazareth = denial to the true teaching Word.
It happened suddenly. Peter, who formerly always support and followed Jesus, suddenly could deny Jesus only because of his flesh which was fearful.
One form of denying the Word is adding and eliminating the Word (please check the summary of General Service, April 15, 2012).
The other form of denial to the true teaching Word is as follows.
- Mixing the true teaching Word with other teachings.
Matthew 13:33
13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
The three measures point to the teaching Word about the trinity of God, namely Father God, the Son of God, and Holy Spirit God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Heavenly Bridegroom. It equals to the Bride Tiding or the true teaching Word.
The woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened, meaning mixing the true teaching Word with other teachings until it is all leavened and destroyed, there is no purity anymore.
Galatians 5:9
5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
There are at least two women destroying the true teaching Word as follows.- The woman of Babylon.
Revelation 17:4-5
17:4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
17:5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
The woman of Babylon refers to false teaching about physical prosperity and entertainment, without holiness and faithfulness. If a priest preaches the Word without holiness and faithfulness, it means that he has mixed with other teachings. Likewise, the servant of God who ministers without any holiness and faithfulness is mixing with other teachings. - The woman of Jezebel.
Revelation 2:18, 20
2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
The woman of Jezebel refers to false teaching that allows woman to teach and rule over man. If a woman teaches and rules over man, she does not place man as the head, so Jesus will never become the Head. Consequently, Satan becomes the head in the marriage or in the service to God. It is signified by lies. We have to be alert.
Romans 16:17
16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Our attitude facing other doctrine is "avoid them!"It means do not give any opportunity to have fellowship with them. Eve only heard once and she fell. - The woman of Babylon.
- Murmuring to the true teaching Word, feeling that it is so hard and too long because of using self-truth.
John 6:60-62
6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
6:61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
6:62 "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
The shaking of faith in the Church of God happens not only because of temptations but also because of not enduring to receive the true teaching Word due to keeping sins or faults.
John 6:66
6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Consequently, one goes back and walks with Jesus or the true teaching Word no more.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Such person will follow false prophet with false teaching that only satisfies ears, even he will become same as the false prophet. - Rejecting the true teaching Word, especially about the true marriage and true ministry.
Matthew 14:3-4,9-10
14:3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
14:4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
14:9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.
14:10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
The false marriage is a serious matter because Satan knows that we will go toward the marriage supper of the Lamb of God. Satan will always try to hinder and make us not receive the Word about the true marriage. For example, Herod got angry when the false marriage was pointed. There will be many people who will get angry also when the false marriage is pointed by the Word of God.
Consequently, Herod beheaded John the Baptist, meaning he never experienced life renewal but keeping the carnal man and being marked with 666.
'To behead' can happen in the form of hating, slandering, et cetera.
Revelation 1:3
1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
The true attitude is we have to hear the true teaching Word seriously, we understand and believe in it until we can practice it and our flesh does not sound anymore, whatever risk we have to face.
1 Corinthians 14:3
14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
The result will be real as follows.
- The true teaching Word is able to comfort us, especially when we experience the suffering together with Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1:3-6
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
1:4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
1:6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
The more we suffer together with Jesus, the more we are comforted by Jesus through the true teaching Word we have practiced.
The proof of having the comfort or consolation in the suffering is we can endureit as follows.- We are patient in suffering, we do not grumble or murmur, there is no bitterness and disappointment in heart but we always give thanks and have faithfulness and fervency in spirit.
- We are patient to wait for the time of God. Do not determine the time by ourselves. Do not seek the solution by ourselves that is not in line with the true teaching Word, or else it becomes dead-end and perdition.
God is still busy to repair our characteristics when He has not helped us yet, so we can be changed to believe and surrender to Him fully.
- We are patient in suffering, we do not grumble or murmur, there is no bitterness and disappointment in heart but we always give thanks and have faithfulness and fervency in spirit.
- The true teaching Word has power to exhort.
1 Corinthians 14:3
14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
2 Timothy 4:2
4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
The content of the true teaching Word is as follows.- Convincing, showing the false matters in our life even the hidden ones.
When false little things are shown, we have to give thanks to God. It is the work of the true teaching Word.
The presence of God will be hidden when there is hidden sin.
We have to confess our sin when the Word shows it. After being forgiven, do not repeat it. - Rebuking.
There are many times that we repeat the sin after we confess it. The hard rebuke is to make us repent, meaning we stop sinning to return to God. - Exhorting.
Psalm 73:24
73:24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
The exhortation of the true teaching Word is as follows.- The guidance of the hand of God that we can live in righteousness and holiness until someday we can be perfect.
- The guidance of the hand of God to give us solution of all problems and to give us beautiful future life.
- The guidance of the hand of God that we can live in righteousness and holiness until someday we can be perfect.
- Convincing, showing the false matters in our life even the hidden ones.
- The true teaching Word edifies our spirituality.
1 Corinthians 14:3
14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
To edify our spirituality means as follows.- The true teaching Word brings us to enter the ambience of spiritual revival, so we do not sleep in our spirituality.
If one sleeps in spirituality, he will be left when Jesus comes a second time, whose time is as the coming of a thief.
Ephesians 5:14-20
5:14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Fatherin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The ambience of the spiritual revival is as follows.- Understanding the will of God.
It refers to the Table of Showbread in Tabernacle, meaning the perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. We can understand the will of God through the deep study to the bible. - Being filled with Holy Spirit fully.
It refers to the Golden Candlestick in Tabernacle, meaning perseverance in doing General Service. Holy Spirit will anoint and give us the gifts to minister God. - Giving thanks and worshiping God.
It refers to the Golden Altar of Incense in Tabernacle, meaning perseverance in doing Prayer service. We can have the love of God that is as the sun making our face bright.
The true teaching Word cannot be defeated by money or the power of antichrist. - Understanding the will of God.
- The true teaching Word stirs us to enter the building of Christ’s body.
There are two kinds of spiritual revival as follows.- The revival of Holy Spirit at the early rain or the revival in the Gospel to sow and grow.
The revival in the Gospel is to increase the quantity to fulfill the quota of the members of Christ’s body. - The revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain or the revival in the teaching Word to ripen the fruits and reap them to enter the barn of heavenly kingdom.
The revival in the teaching Word is to increase the quality to reach the perfection.
The revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain is described as Jesus’ sitting on a donkey to go to Jerusalem. The tied donkey will be ridden by Jesus for sure. The donkey refers to the Gentiles. The tied donkey refers to one who is shepherded and Jesus will ride on it in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain.
Matthew 6:26
6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
If we want to be active in the revival of sowing and reaping, God will surely preserve our life until we enter the barn of heavenly kingdom. On the contrary, if we have been preserved and blessed but we do not want to be active in the revival of sowing and reaping, our destiny will become as the birds that perish forever. - The revival of Holy Spirit at the early rain or the revival in the Gospel to sow and grow.
5:21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
The daily practice of being in the spiritual revival is humbleness and the fear of the Lord.
The humbleness is ability to confess sin. After being forgiven, we do not repeat the sin,
The fear of the Lord is to hate sin, not having any compromise with it but we become obedient.
Isaiah 11:1-3a
11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
11:3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD,
Satan has no spirit of the Lord, so there is no fear of the Lord in Him.
The fear of the Lord equals to the anointing of Holy Spirit. Not having the fear of the Lord means there is no anointing of Holy Spirit.
The stem refers to something that has no function and value or hope but it is already dead and only to be burnt.
Tonight, maybe our condition is as the stem. If we want to receive the true teaching Word and enter the revival of the building of Christ’s body, meaning we are shepherded and follow the activities of sowing and reaping, with humbleness and the fear of the Lord, the stem will be anointed to grow the root.
The root refers to the power of resurrection of Holy Spirit nothing may hinder. It also refers to one who is preserved by God wonderfully and one who has beautiful future life. Spiritually, the root refers to righteous and holy person.
After having the root, there are flowers, referring to the gifts of Holy Spirit. We are employed in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain. Afterward, there is fruit of life renewal up to the perfection, namely we do not stumble in word and we can welcome Jesus’ second coming. - The true teaching Word brings us to enter the ambience of spiritual revival, so we do not sleep in our spirituality.