Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:9
2:9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty(but you are rich); and I knowthe blasphemyof those who say they are Jews and are not, but area synagogue of Satan.
The condition of congregation in Smyrna is in tribulation, poverty, blasphemy. They experience the flesh suffering together with Jesus (cross experience).
1 Peter 2:19
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
God lets us experience the cross so we can receive the mercy from Him.
The functions of the grace are as follows:
The signs of life renewal by God’s mercy are as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 2:9
2:9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty(but you are rich); and I knowthe blasphemyof those who say they are Jews and are not, but area synagogue of Satan.
The condition of congregation in Smyrna is in tribulation, poverty, blasphemy. They experience the flesh suffering together with Jesus (cross experience).
1 Peter 2:19
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
God lets us experience the cross so we can receive the mercy from Him.
The functions of the grace are as follows:
- Giving extra strength so we can endure to follow and serve to God until the end line (until we die or the time of Jesus’ second coming).
- Changing us from carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus.
For example, Saul becomes Paul.
1 Timothy 1:12-15
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting meinto the ministry,
1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did itignorantly in unbelief.
1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
1:15 This isa faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
The signs of life renewal by God’s mercy are as follows:
- Confessing the sin boldly means not judging others.
We can confess the sin to God and others. If we are forgiven, do not sin anymore.
This is repenting or living in righteousness and holding fast to the true teaching Word. - One is faithful and can be trusted in ministry to God according to one that is given by God until the end line.
Ephesians 4:8-12
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 beapostles, 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,
The mercy of God is Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth to release us from death captivity (sin) and He ascended on high to give ministry for us. It is lifting up us as the priests and kings that are employed in the building of the body of Christ.
1 Timothy 1:13
1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did itignorantly in unbelief.
Acts 9:1-5
9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
9:2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
9:3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
9:4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
9:5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.It ishard for you to kick against the goads.”
Before Saul received the mercy of God he had ministered fervently. Nevertheless, it had not been for building the body of Christ but persecuting it because it is signified by sin.
The right attitudes in the ministry of the building of the perfect body of Christ are faithful, right, and one can be trusted until the end line. The results are as follows:- We become the living stone.
1 Peter 2:5
2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We live from the mercy of God. Thus, we can live anywhere, anytime, and in any condition, until we have eternal life. - We become pattern for others, so they can believe and be saved in Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:16
1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
- We become the living stone.
- We can worship Jesus as the King, the Bridegroom of Heaven.
1 Timothy 1:17
1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, behonor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
We worship with saying Alleluia.
Revelation 19:6-7
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.”
The results are as follows:- We are protected from God’s punishment for the world. It starts from the age of Antichrist until the punishment of hell.
Zechariah 14:17-18
14:17 And it shall be thatwhichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lordof hosts, on them there will be no rain.
14:18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall haveno rain;they shall receive the plague with which the Lordstrikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. - We experience the rain from Heaven.
Isaiah 44:3
44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,and floods on the dry ground;I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,and My blessing on your offspring;
The blessing rain in physical life to our descendants and in our household so it becomes the house of prayer.
The blessing rain in spiritual life is Holy Spirit is poured for us as the Gentiles.
How great the Gentiles are, without Holy Spirit, they are like the Samaritan woman who feels thirsty, dry, and unsatisfied in life. They live in blindness like the dog and sow. Their mouth withers like a dog that returns to its vomit means useless saying. Their deed is like a sow, sinning up to the peak of sin that is eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
Holy Spirit will satisfy our life in the midst of withered world so we can testify.
Titus 3:5
3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Holy Spirit renews us so we become obedient. Then, the physical miracle also happens to create something that does not exist yet.
When Jesus comes a second time, we are changed to become as glorious as He is as the His Bride that is ready to greet Him. We are exalted together with Jesus forever.
- We are protected from God’s punishment for the world. It starts from the age of Antichrist until the punishment of hell.
God blesses us.