PRIEST AND PRIEST-TO-BE UPGRADING I
Matthew 26:57-68is about WITNESS and TESTIMONY.
There are two kinds of witness and testimony as follows:
Matthew 26:59-62
26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
26:60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
26:61 and said, “This fellowsaid, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
26:62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is itthese men testify against You?”
John 2:18-21
2:18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
2:20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
2:21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
False witnessis life who is in the temple of God with Jesus, but opposing Him.
It means life who ministers God (priest and king), but does not experience renewal of life.
Not experiencing renewal of life means not being willing to be demolished, and keep defending the physical life (old life).
Why can it happen?
II 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!
In the last days (perilous times), there will be many false witnesses, those are priests and kings who do not experience renewal of life and preserve eighteen flesh characters, since they deny or reject the power of ministry (the true teaching Word which is sharper that any two-edged sword).
The practices are as follows:
Revelation 13:5
13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
The characters of antichrist are as follows:
26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
26:64 Jesus said to him, “It is asyou said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
26:66 What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
Jesus is the example of a true witness.
Jesus kept testifying that He is the Son of God, although He had to face tortures and death. It equals to Jesus testified about righteousness.
The resultis Jesus was glorified as King of kings and Heavenly Bridegroom.
True testimony is accompanied with sufferings, but there is glory behind. 2012 is the year of testimony and the year of God’s glory.
I Peter 2:9
2:9 But you area chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Himwho called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
For us now,the task of priests and kings is to testify,not to gossip neither quarrel, etc.
Priests and kings must testify about righteousness, although we have to face tortures, flesh sufferings with Jesus, or anything else.
Thus, we will be glorified with Him.
If priests and kings do not become the true witnesses, SURELY they will become false witnesses, they will insult and humiliate Jesus.
For example, if I do not do corruption, I will not live and will die. It equals to insulting Jesus or insulting the Word.
If I refused this mate who has different faith, I will not get the other mate. It equals to insulting Jesus or insulting the Word.
Moreover, one can become as Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, and the consequence is perdition forever.
Mark 5:19
5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends,and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
The direction of testimony is as follows:
What must be testified?
Matthew 26:57-68is about WITNESS and TESTIMONY.
There are two kinds of witness and testimony as follows:
- False/ lying witness in verse 59-62.
- True witness in verse 63-66.
Matthew 26:59-62
26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
26:60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
26:61 and said, “This fellowsaid, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
26:62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is itthese men testify against You?”
John 2:18-21
2:18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
2:20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
2:21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
False witnessis life who is in the temple of God with Jesus, but opposing Him.
It means life who ministers God (priest and king), but does not experience renewal of life.
Not experiencing renewal of life means not being willing to be demolished, and keep defending the physical life (old life).
Why can it happen?
II 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!
In the last days (perilous times), there will be many false witnesses, those are priests and kings who do not experience renewal of life and preserve eighteen flesh characters, since they deny or reject the power of ministry (the true teaching Word which is sharper that any two-edged sword).
The practices are as follows:
- In ministry, the pastor does not prioritize the revelation of the Word(spiritual matter), but only makes great physical matters.
- In ministry, priests and the congregation do not hear the true teaching Word solemnly, that is being sleepy, playing, talking, etc.
Or, they do hear to the Word, even enthusiastically, but do not practice itin daily life.
Do not listen to false teaching (the voice of Satan)! Remember all the risk if we do not obey the Word. We will be perished!
Revelation 13:5
13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
The characters of antichrist are as follows:
- His mouth is full of blasphemies; blasphemy to the true teaching Word, disfiguring even slandering the others.
Be careful with our words!
Do not disfigure the others, moreover our own parents! - Torturing or persecuting God’s children who are left in the days of antichrist for three years and a half.
For us now, it can be in the form of mental torture. For example torturing our parents’ heart because of our disobedience.
26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
26:64 Jesus said to him, “It is asyou said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
26:66 What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
Jesus is the example of a true witness.
Jesus kept testifying that He is the Son of God, although He had to face tortures and death. It equals to Jesus testified about righteousness.
The resultis Jesus was glorified as King of kings and Heavenly Bridegroom.
True testimony is accompanied with sufferings, but there is glory behind. 2012 is the year of testimony and the year of God’s glory.
I Peter 2:9
2:9 But you area chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Himwho called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
For us now,the task of priests and kings is to testify,not to gossip neither quarrel, etc.
Priests and kings must testify about righteousness, although we have to face tortures, flesh sufferings with Jesus, or anything else.
Thus, we will be glorified with Him.
If priests and kings do not become the true witnesses, SURELY they will become false witnesses, they will insult and humiliate Jesus.
For example, if I do not do corruption, I will not live and will die. It equals to insulting Jesus or insulting the Word.
If I refused this mate who has different faith, I will not get the other mate. It equals to insulting Jesus or insulting the Word.
Moreover, one can become as Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, and the consequence is perdition forever.
Mark 5:19
5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends,and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
The direction of testimony is as follows:
- From inside the household.
- In front of all people at church, at office, at school, on the street, etc.
- Until we become the light of the world, as Jesus.
What must be testified?
- Mark 5:19
5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
Testifying about what great things the Lord has done for our life through the work of true teaching Word and His mercy, physically and moreover spiritually.
Physical help must also be testified. But it is still very limited, since life outside Jesus can also experience help and it can be imitated by Satan.
The foremost is spiritual testimony, that is about how we, who were sinful and naked, can be made right by God, such that we can live in righteousness and become the instruments of righteousness (priests and kings).
The process is as follows:- Believing Jesus through listening the Word.
- Repenting = stop sinning and to come back to God.
- Water baptism = being newly born.
We receive new life (life in righteousness) and become the instruments of righteousness.
Priests stand between God and the congregation. We are responsible in front of God.
If we are not right, the congregation will not be right since we shoot with the bullet of sins.
On the contrary, if we become right priest, the congregation will be right.
- Believing Jesus through listening the Word.
- Exodus 3:1-3
3:1. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
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 wasnot consumed.
3:3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
Testifying about shepherding.
Remember! Many Christian lives are not shepherded. They are as the fig trees on the street, which produce no fruit and are cursed.
Moses looked at the bush which was burnt with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
There is great sight in the shepherding.
There are two things which are testified in the shepherding as follows:- Perseverance in three main services (shepherding pen).
In the middle of our bustle in this world, if we are still able to persevere in three main services, that is a great sight.- Perseverance in General Service (Golden Candlestick). We are burned by the fire of Holy Spirit.
- Perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion (Table of Showbread). We are burned by the fire of the Word of God.
- Perseverance in Prayer Service (Golden Altar of Incense). We are burned by the fire of God’s love.
21:12 nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God isupon him: I amthe Lord.
If we persevere in shepherding pen, we will always live in the anointing of Holy Spirit, which will make us proper in front of God and the others. - Perseverance in General Service (Golden Candlestick). We are burned by the fire of Holy Spirit.
- Bush which was burnt with fire, but it was not consumed = priests are purified by the fire of the Word, Holy Spirit, and God’s love in the shepherding, such that we become spiritual men as Jesus.
Revelation 12:1
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.
Sometime, fulfillment from great sight seen by Moses (fulfillment from the purification work) is the heavenly bride with the moon (the fore of the Word), the stars (the fire of Holy Spitit), and the sun (the fire of God’s love). It equals to the light of the world, becoming the same as Jesus.
The condition of the congregation (the bride) is in suffering and is persecuted by the dragon. But God gives two wings of a great eagle.
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.
The more we are purified, the greater our wings, such that it can fly us into the wilderness, far from the presence of the serpent/ antichrist.
The power of money, diploma, smartness, etc., cannot fly us from antichrist. We need the wings of a great eagle.
- Perseverance in three main services (shepherding pen).
- Testifying about being courageous in facing the sprinkling of the blood (suffering without any sins),in the form of temptations/ impossibilities, sins up to the peak of sins, false teaching, false worship.
The example is Daniel.
Daniel 6:7, 10
6:7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Daniel kept being courageous in facing everything.- Keep testifying about righteousness, whatever the risk.
- Keep holding on the true teaching Word.
- Not being desperate or disappointed in facing anything. Keep being faithful and fervent in spirit in doing the ministry.
- Not doing the sins, whatever the risk.
- Keep believing and fully surrendering to God.
But Daniel kept believing God and fully surrendering his life to God.
Daniel 6:21-22
6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
The resultis God sent His angels. It equals to God pours the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of glory to shut the lions’ mouths.- The Spirit of glory is able to care and protect us in the middle of difficulties.
- The Spirit of glory equals to two hands of God which are stretched out to us, and are able to solve all our problems.
- The Spirit of glory is able to glorify us physically and spiritually.
Physically, there is beautiful, successful, and joyful future.
Spiritually, we are used as the true witness. We are used in the building body of Christ. We are renewed from clay pots to become the golden pots, until we become as perfect as Jesus and we are lifted up with Him on the glorious clouds.
- Keep testifying about righteousness, whatever the risk.