Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The theme is the number thirty.
Genesis 41:46
41:46 Joseph was thirty years oldwhen he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Amos 8:11-14
8:11 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famineon the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
8:12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.
8:13 "In that day the fair virgins And strong young men Shall faint from thirst.
8:14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, 'As your god lives, O Dan!' And, 'As the way of Beersheba lives!' They shall fall and never rise again."
The famine which had happened in the age of Joseph was prophesied by Amos the prophet, to happen again on the last days. There will be the famine of the Wordon the last days. The signs are as follows.
Revelation 1:3
1:3 Blessed is he who readsand those who hearthe words of this prophecy, and keepthose things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 22:7
22:7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keepsthe words of the prophecy of this book."
Therefore, let us use the short time we have to do these things.
The sinful cannot repent when there is no preaching of the Word. He will perish forever.
On the contrary, as long as we can read, hear, and obey the true teaching Word, we may get the help in any circumstance.
Why does the spiritual famine of the true teaching Word happen?
Amos 8:5
8:5 Saying: "When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit,
It happens because of the false balance, namely making the shekel large and the ephah small. Making the shekel large means that the balance for the physical things is heavy.
Making the ephah small means that the balance for the grain or God's Word is light.
The facts found in it are as follows.
Thus, we must have the true balance. There must be a balance between the physical and spiritual things. Moreover, the spiritual things must be heavier on the last days. We must make the ephah large and the shekel small. We must prioritize the spiritual things more than the physical ones, so we will not enter the spiritual famine.
Acts 20:7-12
20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
20:8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.
20:9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
20:10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him."
20:11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.
20:12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
Eutychus refers to the youth or ones who are strong in position, riches, and spirituality. Be careful! Do not be arrogant because the youth may fall.
Eutychus heard the Word spoken by Paul. Paul taught the two kinds of the preaching of the Word as follows.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
The preaching of the Word can be by word or epistle. It may be through cassette, VCD, DVD, and internet.
Eutychus had the wrong way in hearing the true teaching Word spoken by Paul. He sat in a window. It means belittling the preaching of the true teaching Word and making the physical things great. The proof is that he fell down outside because the physical things are heavier.
If the youth are not firm in the shepherding like Euthychus sitting in a window, they will throw away their beautiful young life. If a servant of God is not firm in the shepherding, he will throw away the time of the beautiful ministry.
The signs of sitting in a window or not being firm are as follows.
Eutychus heard the Word spoken by Paul directly, but he fell down from the third story because of his arrogant heart.
Acts 5:12-15
5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.
5:13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 5:15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
If we cannot hear the Word spoken by the pastor directly, we will have the same power of God's Word we hear and read via internet or writing. The shepherding is all about the heart. Nothing may force it.
Acts 20:10
20:10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him."
The servant of God must preach the whole weight of the Word in the anointing of Holy Spirit as well as try to obey the Word until it is ingrained in his life. As a result, the whole Word will be the embrace of the hands of the Great Shepherd for the congregation.
After being firm, we must also lie down. It means that we enjoy the shepherding Word. We stretch out our hands to God and He will also stretch out His hands to embrace us. The dead can be made alive. The failure can be changed into success. The impossible can be made possible. The things which do not exist yet can be created. We are changed to be as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time. We are united with Him forever in the New Jerusalem.
God blesses you.
The theme is the number thirty.
Genesis 41:46
41:46 Joseph was thirty years oldwhen he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Amos 8:11-14
8:11 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famineon the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
8:12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.
8:13 "In that day the fair virgins And strong young men Shall faint from thirst.
8:14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, 'As your god lives, O Dan!' And, 'As the way of Beersheba lives!' They shall fall and never rise again."
The famine which had happened in the age of Joseph was prophesied by Amos the prophet, to happen again on the last days. There will be the famine of the Wordon the last days. The signs are as follows.
- Dissatisfaction. One always murmurs.
- Falling in sins up to the peak, namely the sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
- Not rising again. It means the everlasting perdition. It happens because there is no preaching of the Word anymore.
Revelation 1:3
1:3 Blessed is he who readsand those who hearthe words of this prophecy, and keepthose things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 22:7
22:7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keepsthe words of the prophecy of this book."
Therefore, let us use the short time we have to do these things.
- Reading the Bible, because someday there will be no opportunity to read it.
- Hearing the Word, because someday there will be no opportunity to hear it.
- Obeying the true teaching Word.
The sinful cannot repent when there is no preaching of the Word. He will perish forever.
On the contrary, as long as we can read, hear, and obey the true teaching Word, we may get the help in any circumstance.
Why does the spiritual famine of the true teaching Word happen?
Amos 8:5
8:5 Saying: "When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit,
It happens because of the false balance, namely making the shekel large and the ephah small. Making the shekel large means that the balance for the physical things is heavy.
Making the ephah small means that the balance for the grain or God's Word is light.
The facts found in it are as follows.
- The wrong ways of life, namely prioritizing or relying on physical things until one belittles or sacrifices the spiritual things or the true teaching Word. He may get the physical things, but be hungry spiritually. Moreover he will lose all things.
In the Old Testament, Esau exchanged his firstborn right with a plate of lentils. Consequently, he lost all things.
In the New Testament, Judas sold Jesus for thirty coins of silver. Consequently, he perished forever. - The wrong way in serving to God, namely only prioritizing or magnifying physical things and entertainment. In such condition, the true teaching Word is not prioritized anymore; even it is ignored.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves(1), lovers of money(2), boasters(3), proud(4), blasphemers(5), disobedient to parents(6), unthankful(7), unholy(8),
3:3 unloving(9), unforgiving(10), slanderers(11), without self-control(12), brutal(13), despisers of good(14),
3:4 traitors(15), headstrong(16), haughty(17), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God(18),
3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Consequently, there is no renewal of life. One is not satisfied, but hungry spiritually. He keeps the fleshly man with the eighteen fleshly characteristics. Finally, he is stamped with 666 by the antichrist.
Thus, we must have the true balance. There must be a balance between the physical and spiritual things. Moreover, the spiritual things must be heavier on the last days. We must make the ephah large and the shekel small. We must prioritize the spiritual things more than the physical ones, so we will not enter the spiritual famine.
Acts 20:7-12
20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
20:8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.
20:9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
20:10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him."
20:11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.
20:12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
Eutychus refers to the youth or ones who are strong in position, riches, and spirituality. Be careful! Do not be arrogant because the youth may fall.
Eutychus heard the Word spoken by Paul. Paul taught the two kinds of the preaching of the Word as follows.
- The gospel of salvation, gospel Word, the Good News, or the milk, namely the gospel which preaches Jesus' first coming to the world to save the sinners.
Ephesians 1:13
1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, - The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, the teaching Word which is sharper than any two-edged sword, the Bride Tidings, or the solid food.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
It refers to the gospel that preaches Jesus' second coming in the glory as the King of all kings or the heavenly Bridegroom on the glorious clouds. The functions are as follows.- Sanctifying the saved people to be as perfect and glorious as Jesus is. We become the bride of heaven.
- Reviving the spirituality of the congregation, so they can keep on being revived spiritually and watchful so that they can welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds. We are not left behind or destroyed.
- Sanctifying the saved people to be as perfect and glorious as Jesus is. We become the bride of heaven.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
The preaching of the Word can be by word or epistle. It may be through cassette, VCD, DVD, and internet.
Eutychus had the wrong way in hearing the true teaching Word spoken by Paul. He sat in a window. It means belittling the preaching of the true teaching Word and making the physical things great. The proof is that he fell down outside because the physical things are heavier.
If the youth are not firm in the shepherding like Euthychus sitting in a window, they will throw away their beautiful young life. If a servant of God is not firm in the shepherding, he will throw away the time of the beautiful ministry.
The signs of sitting in a window or not being firm are as follows.
- Being sleepy or weak in faith. One gets bored in hearing the Word or has no fervency in the spiritual things.
Acts 20:9
20:9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. - Sleeping. It means that one is not active or unfaithful in serving and ministering to God; even he does not want to serve and minister to God until he cannot serve and minister to Him.
- Falling from the third story. It means falling in sins up to the peak.
- Being dead. It means the total failure or gloomy future life. Spiritually, it means enjoying sin. One never regrets in sinning.
Eutychus heard the Word spoken by Paul directly, but he fell down from the third story because of his arrogant heart.
Acts 5:12-15
5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.
5:13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 5:15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
If we cannot hear the Word spoken by the pastor directly, we will have the same power of God's Word we hear and read via internet or writing. The shepherding is all about the heart. Nothing may force it.
Acts 20:10
20:10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him."
The servant of God must preach the whole weight of the Word in the anointing of Holy Spirit as well as try to obey the Word until it is ingrained in his life. As a result, the whole Word will be the embrace of the hands of the Great Shepherd for the congregation.
After being firm, we must also lie down. It means that we enjoy the shepherding Word. We stretch out our hands to God and He will also stretch out His hands to embrace us. The dead can be made alive. The failure can be changed into success. The impossible can be made possible. The things which do not exist yet can be created. We are changed to be as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time. We are united with Him forever in the New Jerusalem.
God blesses you.