Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:20b
28:20 .... and lo, I am with you always, evento the end of the age.” Amen.
God will be with us to the end of the age, meaning God is with us starting from now to His second coming, even until we sit with Him on the throne of Heaven forever.
The accompaniment of God is our main need that cannot be replaced by anything or anyone in the world. All things in this world are useless and will be destroyed without the accompaniment of God. Even the kingdom of Heaven is useless without the accompaniment of God.
Exodus 33 is about Moses who asks for the accompaniment of God. If God does not accompany them, Moses does not want to go although God sends His angel.
The accompaniment of God is in two things as follows.
We still discuss the first one.
Exodus 33:12-16
33:12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’
33:13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation isYour people.”
33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you,and I will give you rest.”
33:15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us,do not bring us up from here.
33:16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who areupon the face of the earth.”
There are three forms of the grace of God as follows.
ad. a. God shows His way.
There is only one way of God, that is the way of the cross. God only shows us one way so we will not go astray and choose the comfortable way for our flesh.
1 Peter 2:19-21
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what credit is itif, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this iscommendable before God.
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
The way of the cross means as follows.
The practices are as follows.
Peter faced the way of the cross with emotion and anger so he cut off the ear of high priest’s servant. Peter also denied Jesus. At that time, Peter was not shepherded and had no love.
John 21:18-19
21:18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry youwhere you do not wish.”
21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
After being shepherded (Peter was asked three times) and experiencing the love of God, Peter could face the way of the cross and stretched out his hands to God. Peter could be obedient and willing to sacrifice everything. Peter also fully surrendered his life to God. Thus, the loving hands of God were stretched out to recover Peter who actually must have been destroyed, and write his name in the New Jerusalem.
Moses was shepherded but he had no love. When facing the sea, Moses cried. When facing difficulties and suffering, Moses talked with the others and grumbled.
Exodus 14:15-16,21-22
14:15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
14:16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry groundthrough the midst of the sea.
14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go backby a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land,and the waters were divided.
14:22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground,and the waters werea wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
But after God rebuked Moses in the shepherding, he received the love of God so he could stretch out his hands and fully surrendered to God. He was willing to sacrifice everything to Him. Thus a strong east wind was blown, meaning the hands of God or Holy Spirit were stretched out to divide the waters. It means as follows.
God blesses us.
Matthew 28:20b
28:20 .... and lo, I am with you always, evento the end of the age.” Amen.
God will be with us to the end of the age, meaning God is with us starting from now to His second coming, even until we sit with Him on the throne of Heaven forever.
The accompaniment of God is our main need that cannot be replaced by anything or anyone in the world. All things in this world are useless and will be destroyed without the accompaniment of God. Even the kingdom of Heaven is useless without the accompaniment of God.
Exodus 33 is about Moses who asks for the accompaniment of God. If God does not accompany them, Moses does not want to go although God sends His angel.
The accompaniment of God is in two things as follows.
- The grace of God. [Exodus 33:12-17].
- The glory of God [Exodus 33:18-23].
We still discuss the first one.
Exodus 33:12-16
33:12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’
33:13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation isYour people.”
33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you,and I will give you rest.”
33:15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us,do not bring us up from here.
33:16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who areupon the face of the earth.”
There are three forms of the grace of God as follows.
- [verse 12-13] God shows His way.
- [verse 14-15] God guides us.
- [verse 16-17] God walks with us.
ad. a. God shows His way.
There is only one way of God, that is the way of the cross. God only shows us one way so we will not go astray and choose the comfortable way for our flesh.
1 Peter 2:19-21
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what credit is itif, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this iscommendable before God.
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
The way of the cross means as follows.
- Flesh suffering because of the will of God.
- Flesh suffering because of doing good deeds without any sins.
- The way of death and resurrection.
The practices are as follows.
- The way of death is dying from sins or repenting. We commit no sin or deceit. We do not repay evil with evil but we repay evil with good.
The way of resurrection is living for righteousness.
1 Peter 2:22-24
2:22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himselfto Him who judges righteously;
2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Thus, the way of the cross is dying from sins and living for righteousness. The way of the cross is started from water baptism. It is the easiest start but argued by many. The true water baptism is in accordance with the Holy Bible. We are baptized as Jesus is baptized.
Romans 6:2,4
6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
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.
1 Peter 2:25
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
After being baptized, the way of the cross must be continued within the shepherding system. We must be shepherded as a branch abides on the true vine. It means we must be shepherded to the true teaching Word and persevere in the sheepfold.
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 baptized, the church in the early rain continued steadfastly in three kinds of perseverance. Now, the church at the latter rain must persevere in three main services within the sheepfold.- Golden Candlestick, that is perseverance in General Service.
- Table of Showbread, that is perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- Golden Altar of Incense, that is perseverance in Prayer Service.
- Physical and spiritual recovery.
We experience the power of the stripes of God, that heals physical illness and makes us healthy. It also heals spiritual illness, that is sins, so we live in righteousness and have no stress or ill will. - The care of our body, spirit, and soul until we lack of nothing. We live in sweetness until we become perfect as He is. We must not stay within the true shepherding but keep living in bitterness as Judas. We must not preserve our sins.
- Golden Candlestick, that is perseverance in General Service.
- Having pure mind, that is having the stamp of the name of Jesus.
Colossians 3:1-3
3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Pure mind is setting our mind on things above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
The practices are as follows.- Always following the pattern of Jesus who is holy and has no compromise with sins.
Hebrews 7:26
7:26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who isholy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; - Looking for the spiritual matter more than the physical one. We prioritize ministry above all. We do not want to be hindered by anything. We are faithful and fervent in spirit up to the end line.
Colossians 3:1
3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
2:9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I knowthe blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but area synagogue of Satan.
2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw someof you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The result is we receive the crown of life, meaning as follows.- We are blessed and live in joy. We are set free from curses condition (the crown of thorns).
- We receive eternal life and become the possession of God forever.
12:16 lest there beany fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Esau has a good spiritual potential and a birthright. Unfortunately, Esau is not well shepherded so he has lewd mind. He exchanges spiritual matter with insignificant physical matter. The consequence is receiving the crown of thorns, meaning living in curses and tears forever. - Always following the pattern of Jesus who is holy and has no compromise with sins.
- Experiencing life renewal from flesh man to spiritual one.
Colossians 3:5-14
3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: (1)fornication, (2)uncleanness, (3)passion, (4)evil desire, and (5)covetousness, which is (6)idolatry.
3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: (1)anger, (2)wrath, (3)malice, (4)blasphemy, (5)filthy language out of your mouth.
3:9 Do not (6)lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
3:10 and have put on the new manwho is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
3:11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave norfree, but Christ isall and in all.
3:12 Therefore, as theelect of God, holy and beloved, put on (1)tender mercies, (2)kindness, (3)humility, (4)meekness, (5)longsuffering;
3:13 bearing with one another, and (6)forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
3:14 But above all these things put on (7)love, which is the bond of perfection.
We are renewed with the power of the true teaching Word, that is the Word sharper than any two-edged sword [Hebrews 4:12-13]. The process is hearing the Word solemnly, understanding, believing and having faith on the Word, until practicing it. Thus, we will experience the first sharpness that sanctifies us from six outer sins and six inner ones that ingrain in our life (number six denotes the flesh). The second sharpness renews us from flesh man to spiritual one.- Tender mercies, that is not judging nor agreeing the sinners, but bringing them to come to God.
- Kindness, that is being generous and having joy in giving.
- Humility, that is the ability to confess our sins. If we are forgiven, we must not do the sins anymore.
- Meekness, that is the ability to receive the Word no matter how hard it is.
- Longsuffering, that is being patient in waiting God’s time.
- Forgiving one another and forgetting their sins.
- Love, that is being obedient to God.
Thus, the love will bond and perfect us until we become perfect as Jesus is. If there is love, we will be able to unite.
- Tender mercies, that is not judging nor agreeing the sinners, but bringing them to come to God.
Peter faced the way of the cross with emotion and anger so he cut off the ear of high priest’s servant. Peter also denied Jesus. At that time, Peter was not shepherded and had no love.
John 21:18-19
21:18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry youwhere you do not wish.”
21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
After being shepherded (Peter was asked three times) and experiencing the love of God, Peter could face the way of the cross and stretched out his hands to God. Peter could be obedient and willing to sacrifice everything. Peter also fully surrendered his life to God. Thus, the loving hands of God were stretched out to recover Peter who actually must have been destroyed, and write his name in the New Jerusalem.
Moses was shepherded but he had no love. When facing the sea, Moses cried. When facing difficulties and suffering, Moses talked with the others and grumbled.
Exodus 14:15-16,21-22
14:15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
14:16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry groundthrough the midst of the sea.
14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go backby a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land,and the waters were divided.
14:22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground,and the waters werea wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
But after God rebuked Moses in the shepherding, he received the love of God so he could stretch out his hands and fully surrendered to God. He was willing to sacrifice everything to Him. Thus a strong east wind was blown, meaning the hands of God or Holy Spirit were stretched out to divide the waters. It means as follows.
- The hands of God or Holy Spirit give us strength so we are unshaken. We keep believing and putting our hope on God.
- The hands of God or Holy Spirit give us way out from all problems even the impossible ones.
- We are employed in the revival of Holy Spirit in the latter rain.
- Until the hands of God renew us to become the same as He is. He will write our name in the New Jerusalem and we sit with Him on His throne.
God blesses us.