Matthew26:6-13talks aboutpreparation for the Passover.
Matthew26:6-7, 12
26:6. And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,
26:7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured iton His head as He sat at the table.
26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did itfor My burial.
Preparation for the Passover = preparation for the death/ slaughtering of Jesus on the cross as the Lamb of God (Lamb of Passover).
The purpose of Jesus' death on the cross as the Lamb of Passover:
The life of human flesh (clay pot) tends to be active, busy, and prioritize the activities in the world.
If clay pot is filled with carnal things (richness, knowledge, position, etc.), it will be valued more expensive, but it still will be broken and perished.
It does not mean that we should not go to school and work in this world, even we must become more fervent in work and study.
But more than that, let us ask the strength from the Holy Spirit such that we can become more active and prioritize the service in the building of perfect body of Christ.
The daily practice of servicing the building body of Christ is FELLOWSHIP.
In John15,the fellowship of the body of Christ is illustrated as the fellowship between branches, and keeps noticing the true vine.
The true vine = the personal of Jesus, the true teaching Word.
John1:1, 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.
A fellowship without the true vine will be in vain. It is like dry branches and useless.
A true teaching Wordwill encourage us to enter the true worship(the peak of fellowship).
THE LEVEL OF THE BODY OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP:
Matthew26:6-7, 12
26:6. And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,
26:7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured iton His head as He sat at the table.
26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did itfor My burial.
Preparation for the Passover = preparation for the death/ slaughtering of Jesus on the cross as the Lamb of God (Lamb of Passover).
The purpose of Jesus' death on the cross as the Lamb of Passover:
- To save humans who have died and been rotten in sins = to recover the broken clay pot.
- To pour the Holy Spirit, such that the clay pot is not broken again, but that life becomes lovely (Jesus was poured at Bethany. Bethany = house of date palm, which denotes sweetness).
John16:7
16:7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
- Pouring denotes a service.
- Jesus' head or body denotes the body of Christ.
- Burial denotes the last time.
The life of human flesh (clay pot) tends to be active, busy, and prioritize the activities in the world.
If clay pot is filled with carnal things (richness, knowledge, position, etc.), it will be valued more expensive, but it still will be broken and perished.
It does not mean that we should not go to school and work in this world, even we must become more fervent in work and study.
But more than that, let us ask the strength from the Holy Spirit such that we can become more active and prioritize the service in the building of perfect body of Christ.
The daily practice of servicing the building body of Christ is FELLOWSHIP.
In John15,the fellowship of the body of Christ is illustrated as the fellowship between branches, and keeps noticing the true vine.
The true vine = the personal of Jesus, the true teaching Word.
John1:1, 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.
A fellowship without the true vine will be in vain. It is like dry branches and useless.
A true teaching Wordwill encourage us to enter the true worship(the peak of fellowship).
THE LEVEL OF THE BODY OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP:
- Fellowship within marriage.
Matthew18:19
18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Two people (husband and wife) must coincide and have one heart.
How can it be?- Husband and wife must have one true baptism.
Romans6:4
6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Husband and wife must be buried in baptism with Jesus to rise in new life, that is life with new conscience, an obedient conscience. - Husband and wife must be filled with one true teaching Word.
Human's heart is equal to table. It must be filled with bread as on the Table of Showbread.
Two rows of showbread (six in a row) denote 66 books in the Bible.
Human's heart and mind must be filled with the true teaching Word.
The first six row means husband must be filled with the true teaching Word, such that he has the Word's character (Jesus' character).
The second six row means wife must be filled with the true teaching Word, such that she has the Word's character (Jesus' character).
If husband and wife are together filled with the true teaching Word such that both have the Word's character, they will have one heart.
We must pay attention to the perseverance in the Bible Study Service with Holy Communion!
There is no loss if our marriage perseveres in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion, even our marriage will be united more and more.
Pure incense was put upon each row.
It means that worship from husband and wife (with one heart) will go to God's presence, such that their marriage is blessed and having joy in God.
- Husband and wife must have one true baptism.
- Fellowship within shepherding and between shepherding.
Where should we be shepherded?
We must be shepherded in the true teaching Word, as branches abide on the true vine.
If we abide on the true vine (branches can get the food from the vine), THERE MUST BE SWEET FRUITS.
Do not be in a hurry! Sooner or later there will be sweet fruits.
Every tree which bears fruits will start from small fruits which are sour and bitter. In perseverance, the fruits will become sweet.
Moreover, fellowship between shepherding must also be based on the true teaching Word (the true vine).
The example is fellowship of Moses and Aaron.
Exodus4:27-31
4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron,"Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him.
4:28 So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.
4:29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the eldersof the children of Israel.
4:30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people.
4:31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
If two people are both receiving the true teaching Word, although they are separated by long distance, they will come for a fellowship (without any need to be called or threatened).
A fellowship based on the true teaching Word isan ETERNAL FELLOWSHIP.
A true fellowship based on the true teaching Word (as Moses and Aaron) happens in the wilderness, not in Egypt.
It means that a true fellowship cannot be affected by carnal matters (church organization, money, artist, etc).
If we are shepherded and we come to a fellowship because of the true teaching Word, we will not be easily attracted by any matters in this world.
If a God's servant fellowship is based on the true teaching Word, it will be followed by the elders and congregations.
This fellowship will lead to true worshipand there will be God's miracles, starting from renewal of life miracle.
Ephesians4:2
4:2.with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
The form of renewal of life are as follows:- Lowliness= ability to confess the sin, and not to repeat it after being forgiven. We will be renewed.
Besides the work of the Word in the shepherding, we will also be purified and renewed through the work of the Word and fellowship between shepherding. - Gentleness= ability to forgive the others' sin which has been really confessed, and forget it.
- Longsuffering= patience in waiting God's time, do not look for a way out by ourselves.
A way out outside the Word looks faster to solve the problems, but actually it is a deadlock and perdition. We must be sure about this!
Let us always wait for God's way through the revelation of the Word.
Longsuffering= patience in suffering in God, always giving thanks to God, and not grumbling.
If there are lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering, we will experience GOD'S LOVE.
The results are as follows:- There is peace.
- We can help each other such that everything becomes easy and light.
- We can unite each other = taking part in the others' happiness or grief.
If spiritual miracle happens (renewal of life), physical miracle will also happen. - Lowliness= ability to confess the sin, and not to repeat it after being forgiven. We will be renewed.
- International fellowship of the body of Christ (Israelites and Gentiles unite in one perfect body of Christ).
Revelation19:6-7, 9
19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
19:9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed arethose who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
If our fellowship is true (starting from within marriage, within shepherding, and between shepherding), from all around the world we will be renewed as perfect as Jesus on His second coming.
We will be lifted up on the glorious clouds in one voice of true worship "Alleluia",to enter the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Paradise, until the eternal New Jerusalem.
True worship is a reflection of worship in Heaven.
Worship in Heaven is also in "Alleluia".
Revelation19:1, 3-4
19:1. After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven,saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belongto the Lord our God!
19:3 Again they said, "Alleluia!Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"
19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"
In the past, Moses received God's command and instruction for building the Tabernacle, such that the Israelites' ministry is the same as in Heaven.
For us now, through the Tabernacle teaching Word, our ministry will be led to be the same as in Heaven.
Tabernacle is learned/ received by faith, not by logic (not prioritizing human's mind and knowledge).
People tried to reach Heaven by logic, that is by building the Babel tower.
The consequence is their life did not reach the Heaven, even they were separated to many languages.
But, through the Tabernacle teaching Word, we are still led to come back to one language, "Alleluia".
Worship in the glorious clouds later is an accumulation of our worship now in the world. Starting from now, we must worship God a lot.
In a true worship, we will be encouraged to worship Jesus, the King.
If we worship God a lot, we will keep in silence more (not defending ourselves, not becoming emotional, etc.).
The results are as follows:- Isaiah43:15-17
43:15 I amthe LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King."
43:16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,
43:17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
We will experience the POWER OF CREATIONfrom the King.
When the Israelites were pursued by Pharaoh and when they were facing the sea, the situation of the Israelites was like a quenched wick and a bruised reed (having no hope).
But, there is the power of creation through worshiping the King, that is:- There is a way out of every problem, even the impossible one.
A miraculous way out to encounter impossibility. - There is beautiful future. The Israelites can cross over the sea and reach Canaan.
God gives beautiful future right on His time.
Because of worshiping the King, Israelites came back as a light wick and stand-up reed. - There is a way out of every problem, even the impossible one.
- Isaiah6:5-8
6:5.So I said: " Woe isme, for I am undone! Because I ama man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King,The LORD of hosts."
6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal whichhe had taken with the tongs from the altar.
6:7 And he touched my mouth with it,and said: " Behold, this has touched your lips;Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."
6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: " Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here amI! Send me."
We will receive the POWER OF PURIFICATIONfrom the King.
Isaiah is the image of a quenched wick (spiritually), his lips is unclean and he lived in the middle of unclean people.
But, through the true fellowship up to the true worship, there is a power of purification, that is: Lips is purified and become true, honest, and pure lips.
Life with true, honest, and pure lips will be used by God. - Luke23:40-43
23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
A criminal who was crucified beside Jesus denotes life who has no hope physically (only waiting for the death) and spiritually (a criminal, being unclean, and being cursed).
If our condition this morning has been slumped physically and spiritually, we still can be helped by worshiping the King.
We must receive the POWER OF RESTORATIONfrom the King.
God has redeemed us, He will not leave us alone.
A smoking wick will not be quenched, and a bruised reed will not be broken.
- Isaiah43:15-17