Matthew 26:57-68 is about WITNESS and TESTIMONY.
Matthew 26:57-58
26:57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane and led away to Caiaphas the high priest. It equals to Jesus suffered in the flesh without any sin.
Now, it refers to cross experience or suffering in the flesh without any sin.
In the last days, the Church of God or the followers of Jesus must also suffer in the flesh together with Jesus. It is called the cross experience.
1 Peter 2:19
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
If we suffer together with Jesus because of the will of God, it is the grace of God to us.
Acts 5:40-41
5:40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
The term 'were counted worthy' means not all servants of God or His followers are counted worthy to suffer together with Jesus. Only the servants of God or His followers who get God’s grace who are counted worthy to suffer together with Jesus.
Behind the cross experience together with Jesus, we will experience the joy of heaven nothing may influence.
If the cross becomes our experience, the joy of heaven will also become our life experience. God never fools us.
Acts 14:22
14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
In shorts, the cross is the door of heavenly kingdom.
If the cross is able to open the door of heavenly kingdom, it will be able also to open other doors in the world. Do not doubt to suffer because of Jesus!
2 Timothy 3:12
3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Someday we will face persecution because of serving to God.
Genesis 28:16-17
28:16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."
28:17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"
The house of God refers to the place to serve God. It equals to the gate of heaven.
The longing to serve God determines the longing to enter heavenly kingdom.
If now one is easily hindered to serve God in the Church, he will be easily hindered to enter heavenly kingdom.
Therefore, we have to fight for persevering in doing our service to God until we can enter heavenly kingdom. Big reason must be made little and the little one must be made nothing. Do not exaggerate little reason, even do not seek any reason!
Jesus has preceded us in fighting for enabling us to serve God until He must die on the cross, so the Gentiles can serve God. Therefore, we also have to fight for our service to Him.
Hebrews 9:14
9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Acts 2:41-42
2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
After being saved through believing in Jesus, repenting, and being renewed, the First Rain Church persevered in fellowship, apostles’ doctrines and the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Now, after the Last Rain Church is saved, we must also have to persevere in doing three main services as follows:
Acts 2:46
2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
Perseverance in doing the three main service is the minimum; it must be increased to become “continuing daily with one accord in the temple”. It must continue until someday we serve day and night in the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 22:3-4
22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
Matthew 26:58
26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Philippians 3:18
3:18 For manywalk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
There are many sons of God who become the enemies of the cross of Christ. For example, Peter was the great servant of God [Matthew 26:58].
Peter followed Jesus at a distance because he rejected the cross. The practice is as follows:
Let us now be burnt by the fire of God as follows:
The meaning of priests and kings are as follows:
2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We must serve, beginning from our marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding, up to the perfect body of Christ.
The ministry is as the tunic of many colors. The more we serve God, the more we have beautiful life.
It begins from our marriage that we must be employed by God solemnly. The husband, the wife, and the children have their own duties. The children must lighten the burden of their parents.
1 Peter 4:12-14
4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which 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.
The tunic of many colors must be dipped in blood; it is a must. Being dipped in the blood equals to suffering together with Jesus or cross experience. It is to make the Spirit of glory dwell in us. The greater suffering we experience, the greater Spirit of glory are in us.
The function of the spirit of glory is as follows:
Daniel 3:16-18,24-25,30
3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
3:17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
3:18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
3:25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego in the province of Babylon.
They faced the fiery trial but there is Spirit of glory, referring to the fourth person.
It means physically as follows:
Daniel 3:28
3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
We have life renewal continually from flesh men to spiritual ones until we are perfect as Jesus is.
Exodus 3:2,4
3:2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
3:4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
If we are touched by the fire of the Word, Holy Spirit, and the love, and also the fiery trial, the flesh man will not be burnt but be more glorious.
The glory of Moses was in his obedience [Exodus 3:4].
2 Kings 2:11
2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elijah was with the fire but he was not burnt. He became more faithful and fervent in spirit.
Acts 2:3
2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
The apostles were with the tongues, as of fire, on the upper room of Jerusalem, but they were not burnt.
Revelation 12:1-2
12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
12:2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
The Last Rain Church will be in the fire of the sun, moon, and stars.
The Church of God will face the dragon. We only can worship God with crying out, being strong and of good courage.
Revelation 12:14
12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
He wil give us the two wings of a great eagle to flee us to the wilderness, far away from the eye of antichrist. Until we are lifted up on glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time and we are with Him forever.
Isaiah 40:29-31
40:29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Maybe tonight there are some people among us who are weak, but let us cry out to God. He will give us new strength so we can be strong and of good courage without any doubt and He will settle all matters.
God blesses you.
Matthew 26:57-58
26:57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane and led away to Caiaphas the high priest. It equals to Jesus suffered in the flesh without any sin.
Now, it refers to cross experience or suffering in the flesh without any sin.
In the last days, the Church of God or the followers of Jesus must also suffer in the flesh together with Jesus. It is called the cross experience.
1 Peter 2:19
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
If we suffer together with Jesus because of the will of God, it is the grace of God to us.
Acts 5:40-41
5:40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
The term 'were counted worthy' means not all servants of God or His followers are counted worthy to suffer together with Jesus. Only the servants of God or His followers who get God’s grace who are counted worthy to suffer together with Jesus.
Behind the cross experience together with Jesus, we will experience the joy of heaven nothing may influence.
If the cross becomes our experience, the joy of heaven will also become our life experience. God never fools us.
Acts 14:22
14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
In shorts, the cross is the door of heavenly kingdom.
If the cross is able to open the door of heavenly kingdom, it will be able also to open other doors in the world. Do not doubt to suffer because of Jesus!
2 Timothy 3:12
3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Someday we will face persecution because of serving to God.
Genesis 28:16-17
28:16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."
28:17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"
The house of God refers to the place to serve God. It equals to the gate of heaven.
The longing to serve God determines the longing to enter heavenly kingdom.
If now one is easily hindered to serve God in the Church, he will be easily hindered to enter heavenly kingdom.
Therefore, we have to fight for persevering in doing our service to God until we can enter heavenly kingdom. Big reason must be made little and the little one must be made nothing. Do not exaggerate little reason, even do not seek any reason!
Jesus has preceded us in fighting for enabling us to serve God until He must die on the cross, so the Gentiles can serve God. Therefore, we also have to fight for our service to Him.
Hebrews 9:14
9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Acts 2:41-42
2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
After being saved through believing in Jesus, repenting, and being renewed, the First Rain Church persevered in fellowship, apostles’ doctrines and the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Now, after the Last Rain Church is saved, we must also have to persevere in doing three main services as follows:
- Golden Candlestick -->perseverance in doing fellowship -->perseverance in doing General Service.
Perseverance means not opening any chance to be hindered and not obstructing other people to go to Jesus. - Table of Showbread -->perseverance in apostles’ doctrines and the breaking of the bread -->perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- Golden Altar of Incense -->perseverance in prayers -->perseverance in doing Prayer Service.
Acts 2:46
2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
Perseverance in doing the three main service is the minimum; it must be increased to become “continuing daily with one accord in the temple”. It must continue until someday we serve day and night in the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 22:3-4
22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
Matthew 26:58
26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Philippians 3:18
3:18 For manywalk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
There are many sons of God who become the enemies of the cross of Christ. For example, Peter was the great servant of God [Matthew 26:58].
Peter followed Jesus at a distance because he rejected the cross. The practice is as follows:
- Beginning to doubt about Jesus and the true teaching Word.
- Unfaithfulness doing the true service to God, seeing that Peter followed Jesus at a distance.
- Sitting near strange fire, meaning doing the service but with strange fire.
Mark 14:67
14:67 And when she saw Peter warminghimself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."
The true teaching and service indeed hurt our flesh.Rejecting the true teaching or service, one will seek something that is comfortable for the flesh, as Peter warmed himself near strange fire.
The strange fire refers to these things:- The fire of the world.
Meaning serving and ministering the Lord with worldly manners, worldly entertainment, and only offering worldly things.
The baby of Moses in an ark was put on the river. The river is the description of the world and the ark refers to the Church of God. If worldly things are filled in the Church, one fills the water of the river to the ark and sooner or later the ark will sink. - The fire of the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8:7-8
8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The flesh lust will never obey the will of God. Nadab and Abihu served with strange fire, consequently they died. - The fire of sin.
Meaning serving and ministering God with keeping sin or wrong things. It begins from keeping sin.
The wrong service will result in hard-hearted life like Peter. He does not become God’s witness but one who denies the Lord like antichrist who will be destroyed.
1 John 2:22
2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
In addition, the bricks were also used to build cities, namely Pithom and Raamses.
Exodus 1:11,14
1:11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.
1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage -- in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
When the house of Israel was going out of Egypt, they were forced build Pithom and Raamses.
Now, when Jesus is coming a second time, the Church is forced build the Babylon or the bride of Satan who will be destroyed. - The fire of the world.
Let us now be burnt by the fire of God as follows:
- The fire of the true teaching Word -->Table of Showbread.
- The fire of Holy Spirit -->Golden Candlestick.
- The fire of God’s love -->Golden Altar of Incense.
The meaning of priests and kings are as follows:
- The holy people.
- The ones who bear the ministry.
2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We must serve, beginning from our marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding, up to the perfect body of Christ.
The ministry is as the tunic of many colors. The more we serve God, the more we have beautiful life.
It begins from our marriage that we must be employed by God solemnly. The husband, the wife, and the children have their own duties. The children must lighten the burden of their parents.
1 Peter 4:12-14
4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which 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.
The tunic of many colors must be dipped in blood; it is a must. Being dipped in the blood equals to suffering together with Jesus or cross experience. It is to make the Spirit of glory dwell in us. The greater suffering we experience, the greater Spirit of glory are in us.
The function of the spirit of glory is as follows:
- To change our life from carnal men to spiritual ones, from clay pot to gold one.
It begins from being strong and of good courageas follows:- Holding fast to one true teaching Word whatever risk we have to face.
Do not become as Solomon, who was overcome by his wives. - Not sinning, whatever risk we have to face.
For example, Joseph did not compromise the sins when he faced his brothers or the wife of Potiphar. - Not being disappointed or desperate facing all things but being faithful and fervent in spirit always in ministering God.
- Worshiping God only, believing and entrusting ourselves fully to God.
- Holding fast to one true teaching Word whatever risk we have to face.
- To make us bear witness.
Acts 1:8
1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
We have to become the witness about the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of the glory of God or the true teaching Word.
Daniel 3:16-18,24-25,30
3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
3:17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
3:18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
3:25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego in the province of Babylon.
They faced the fiery trial but there is Spirit of glory, referring to the fourth person.
It means physically as follows:
- The Spirit of glory is able to preserve our life in the difficult world.
- The Spirit of glory is able to settle all our problems even the impossible one.
- The Spirit of glory is able to give us beautiful future life.
Daniel 3:28
3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
We have life renewal continually from flesh men to spiritual ones until we are perfect as Jesus is.
Exodus 3:2,4
3:2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
3:4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
If we are touched by the fire of the Word, Holy Spirit, and the love, and also the fiery trial, the flesh man will not be burnt but be more glorious.
The glory of Moses was in his obedience [Exodus 3:4].
2 Kings 2:11
2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elijah was with the fire but he was not burnt. He became more faithful and fervent in spirit.
Acts 2:3
2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
The apostles were with the tongues, as of fire, on the upper room of Jerusalem, but they were not burnt.
Revelation 12:1-2
12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
12:2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
The Last Rain Church will be in the fire of the sun, moon, and stars.
The Church of God will face the dragon. We only can worship God with crying out, being strong and of good courage.
Revelation 12:14
12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
He wil give us the two wings of a great eagle to flee us to the wilderness, far away from the eye of antichrist. Until we are lifted up on glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time and we are with Him forever.
Isaiah 40:29-31
40:29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Maybe tonight there are some people among us who are weak, but let us cry out to God. He will give us new strength so we can be strong and of good courage without any doubt and He will settle all matters.
God blesses you.