Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:23
1:23. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Christmas means that God is born as an innocent man with two names as follows:
That is why we celebrate the Christmas whose theme is God is born with two names, namely Jesus and Immanuel, so we, the sinners can become one with God.
For our life now, Immanuel means that all sins have been finished by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, so we are saved.
The facts found in salvation are as follows:
It continues until we are perfected. We become one with Jesus on the glorious clouds. Further, we enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb of God and the heavenly kingdom forever. This is the experience of Immanuel forever. We are not separated with God forever.
In the journey of experiencing Immanuel from now on up to eternal life, we will face Satan with his activities.
Revelation 12: 3-18 is about the clear and complete appearance of Satan or dragon with his activities as follows:
ad. 2. Devouring.
Revelation 12:4b-6
12:4b. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
12:5. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
The dragon wants to devour the woman's Child as soon as it was born.
A male Child refers to the deliverer and shepherd (Moses, Jesus, and a male Child).
Satan wants to kill a male Child means that he wants to hinder the freedom and shepherding, so men keep being bound to sins up to the peak.
Consequently, they are devoured by the dragon up to perdition.
That is why the church of God on the last days must be shepherded well and correctly, so we experience the freedom from sins, and we can be evacuated to the wilderness.
So, the church of God must experience the evacuation from the dragon or Satan in the spiritual journey from now on up to the eternal Immanuel.
The example is Jesus.
Matthew 2:13-15 is about the evacuation to Egypt.
Matthew 2:13-15
2:13. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
2:14. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
2:15. and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
Christmas has relation with the evacuation. Jesus had to depart from Herod since He was a baby.
The facts found in the evacuation of baby Jesus are as follows:
God blesses us.
Matthew 1:23
1:23. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Christmas means that God is born as an innocent man with two names as follows:
- Jesus. It means that God saves the sinners. It is the same as the Savior.
Matthew 1:21
1:21. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
All things in the world cannot finish the sin, including the religious men because they have sinned too.
That is why Jesus must die on the cross to save the sinners. - Immanuel, which is translated, "God with us."
Why? All men in the world have been separated from God since Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden to enter into the world.
Isaiah 59:1-3
59:1. Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
59:2. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
59:3. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.
The sin and lie make us far away from God, so the Paradise becomes the curse atmosphere. Our prayer is not answered by God. We experience the spiritual dryness, so we are never satisfied.
Consequently, we become the place of the spirits of Satan.
If it continues, we will be increasingly separated until God is in heaven and we are in the hell.
That is why we celebrate the Christmas whose theme is God is born with two names, namely Jesus and Immanuel, so we, the sinners can become one with God.
For our life now, Immanuel means that all sins have been finished by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, so we are saved.
The facts found in salvation are as follows:
- Believing in Jesus as the Savior.
Acts 2:36-40
2:36. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
2:37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
2:38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39. "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
2:40. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." - Repenting, namely stopping sinning and returning to God or being dead to sin especially lie and hatred.
- Water baptism.
The true water baptism is that one who has died to sin or repented must be buried in water with Jesus and come out or rise from water with Him to receive new life or heavenly one, namely life in righteousness. We are saved. We experience peace, so all things start becoming easy and light.
It continues until we are perfected. We become one with Jesus on the glorious clouds. Further, we enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb of God and the heavenly kingdom forever. This is the experience of Immanuel forever. We are not separated with God forever.
In the journey of experiencing Immanuel from now on up to eternal life, we will face Satan with his activities.
Revelation 12: 3-18 is about the clear and complete appearance of Satan or dragon with his activities as follows:
- [Revelation 12:4a] His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven.
- [Revelation 12:4b] Devouring.
- [Revelation 12:7] Fighting.
- [Revelation 12:13] Persecuting or catching up fast.
- [Revelation 12:15] Causing the woman or the church of God to be carried away by the flood.
- [Revelation 12:17] Making war or persecuting.
ad. 2. Devouring.
Revelation 12:4b-6
12:4b. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
12:5. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
The dragon wants to devour the woman's Child as soon as it was born.
A male Child refers to the deliverer and shepherd (Moses, Jesus, and a male Child).
Satan wants to kill a male Child means that he wants to hinder the freedom and shepherding, so men keep being bound to sins up to the peak.
Consequently, they are devoured by the dragon up to perdition.
That is why the church of God on the last days must be shepherded well and correctly, so we experience the freedom from sins, and we can be evacuated to the wilderness.
So, the church of God must experience the evacuation from the dragon or Satan in the spiritual journey from now on up to the eternal Immanuel.
The example is Jesus.
Matthew 2:13-15 is about the evacuation to Egypt.
Matthew 2:13-15
2:13. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
2:14. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
2:15. and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
Christmas has relation with the evacuation. Jesus had to depart from Herod since He was a baby.
The facts found in the evacuation of baby Jesus are as follows:
- From Canaan to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus.
It is like Jacob departs from Canaan to Egypt because of the famine in Canaan.
It is called the way of the death or cross where God is opening the revelation of the Word abundantly. It is the same as giving the true food abundantly.
Genesis 42:1-2
42:1. When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
42:2. And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die."
Canaan refers to the atmosphere of the revival, but it experiences famine. It is the image of the church of God on the last days. There are many revivals, but without the revelation of the true teaching word.
Consequently, one experiences famine or dissatisfaction. There are many people looking for satisfaction in the world, so they fall into sins up to the peak. They look at one another. It means blaming and hating one another up to hatred without a cause.
By the way of the death or cross, we receive the revelation of the word abundantly to face the upcoming famine, so we are taken care of up to abundance. We always give thanks to God.
As a result, we are set free from Satan or Herod.
1 Peter 4:1
4:1. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
We must willingly suffer in flesh to stop sinning up to the peak. We hate sin although there are threats, advantage, chance, et cetera. It is one who fears God.
Matthew 2:16-18
2:16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
2:17. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
2:18. "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."
Be watchful! The word was preached abundantly in Bethlehem, but all the male children were put to death there. Why? It is because of not being willing to depart. It means that one rejects the cross. He does not want to suffer because of Jesus, so he rejects the true and hard teaching word or the teaching word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. He keeps on being bound to Herod. He keeps sinning up to the peak, namely sins of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage.
Consequently, he receives the sword of condemnation up to perdition forever. - The baby Jesus returned from Egypt to Nazareth because Herod had died, so He grew up to spiritual maturity. It is the way of the resurrection.
Matthew 2:19-23
2:19. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
2:20. saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."
2:21. Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
2:22. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.
2:23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
The sin does not have the power over our life, so we enter into the way of resurrection.
1 Peter 4:2-4
4:2. that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
4:3. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4:4. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
We use the rest of our time for the will of God, namely life in righteousness and holiness. We become the witness of God.
Our spirituality can grow up to maturity.
The signs of the spiritual maturity are as follows:- One can receive the solid food or the true teaching word.
Hebrews 5:14
5:14. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
In the Tabernacle, it refers to the Table of Showbread which means the perseverance in committing the Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
By the Holy Communion, the word is ingrained to purify our senses.
Genesis 3:1b,2,6,9-10,12,24
3:1. Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
3:2. And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
3:9. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
3:10. So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
3:12. Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
3:24. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
The senses are broken by Satan, so one just blames at one another. He never does the introspection in his life. He does not finish the sin but adds it, so he is cast out from the Garden of Eden. He is separated from God.
Thankfully, Jesus receives the sword of condemnation to open the gate of Paradise.
Hebrews 4:9-12
4:9. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
4:10. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
4:10. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
4:12. For the word of God is living 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.
We must willingly receive the sword of the word to be purified, so the gate of Paradise is opened for us, and we experience Immanuel. - Receiving the gift from Holy Spirit and the ministry from God, so we are appointed as the priests and kings who are used in the ministry of the building of the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:7-13
4:7. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
4:8. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
4:9. (Now this, "He ascended" --what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10. He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
4:11. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
4:13. till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
In the Tabernacle, it refers to the Golden Candlestick which means the perseverance in committing the General Service.
The ministry and Holy Spirit's gift refer to the tunic of many colors.
The base of the ministry and Holy Spirit's gift is Christ's sacrifice on the cross, so we will not be shaken and broken until the finish line.
2 Timothy 1:6
1:6. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
We are faithful and fervent until the finish line, and we always do the good things.
Matthew 25:21,26,30
25:21. "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
25:30. 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
We experience the heavenly bliss or Immanuel.
If we are wicked and lazy, we will be separated forever. We do not experience Immanuel. - One can testify until worshipping God because of experiencing His love.
John 9:20-21,37-38
9:20. His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
9:21. "but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself."
9:37. And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."
9:38. Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.
In the Tabernacle, it refers to the Golden Altar of Incense which means the perseverance in committing the Prayer Service.
It is like the wise men who came to worship God. It is the same as becoming the house of prayer.
Matthew 2:11
2:11. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The worship is the same as offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The gold refers to the tested faith (James).
The frankincense refers to the holiness or hope (Peter).
The myrrh refers to the blood of Jesus, redemption of sins, or suffering in flesh with Jesus (John).
If we have faith (the gold), hope (the frankincense), and love (the myrrh), we will be brought to the mount of prayer like Peter, James, and John.
Matthew 17:1-2
17:1. Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
17:2. and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
We experience the tearing of the flesh, so we are renewed, namely the renewal of heart.
1 Kings 19:2-4
19:2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
19:3. And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
19:4. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
Elijah was desperate when he faced Jezebel (the false teaching).
Exodus 6:8-11
6:8. So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.
6:9. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
6:10. "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land."
6:11. And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, "The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?"
Moses was desperate because the children of Israel had not heeded him.
God wants to see our character when we face the test, whether we have love or deny Him.
The heart is changed to become sincere like baby. We just worship God.
As a result, God's miracle happens.
Matthew 2:12
2:12. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
The new way is used to face the epilepsy, the recurrent disease. It refers to the destruction in marriage and children.
The new way is also used to face the daughter of Jairus who died.
Mark 5:38-42
5:38. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.
5:39. When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."
5:40. And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.
5:41. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
5:42. Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
The dead things may become alive. The impossible thing becomes possible.
It continues until the last renewal that we are changed to become as perfect as Jesus. We are with Him forever. It is the same as experiencing Immanuel forever.
- One can receive the solid food or the true teaching word.
God blesses us.