To coincide with fasting prayer session III
-- About Brazen Laver --
Exodus 30:17-21refers to thecommand to make brazen laver.
Exodus38:8 refers tothe implementation.
Tabernacle teaching is practical, can immediately be put into practice in our daily lives.
Exodus 30:17-21
30:17. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
30:18. "You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it,
30:19. "for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.
30:20. "When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die.
30:21. "So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them -- to him and his descendants throughout their generations."
Laver made of bronze.
Bronze= God's punishment.
In the book of Deuteronomy was mentioned that one who was obedient, will be blessed, but to one who wasn't obedient, the sky would become bronze.
The brazen laver refers to the renewal.
Thus, for receiving new spiritual life, we first have to experience punishment of flesh life(old life).
Like wearing new cloth, the old one must be discarded first.
Exodus 38:8
38:8. He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
The laver of bronze was made from bronze mirrors of the serving women.
In positive meaning, woman refers to Church of God.
But, in negative meaning, woman is the image of flesh.
Mirror is a tool to beautify ourselves/flesh. In spiritual meaning it is to fertilize the desire/lust of flesh.
At the time of Israel, mirror was made of bronze which was polished until it became shiny.
Mirrors must be destroyed to be created as laver of bronze.
It means: for receiving new life, we must destroy our old life (lust of flesh, act, flesh/sin characteristics).
Conclusion:
The laver of bronze is process of destruction/tearing of flesh to be built into useful tool.
To become useful servant of God(especially for the building of the body of Christ), flesh with all its lust must be destroyed.
There should be no longer term: "Just Serve"!
Examples of flesh that must be destroyedare as follows:
Why?
Because both of them speak about the tearing of flesh.
Worship is also the process of the tearing of flesh.
Thus, in spiritual meaning, water baptism (brazen laver) is also a part of worship.
I Peter 3:20-21
3:20. who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answerof a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
In water baptism, we request good conscience to God.
Why did sons of God live in wickedness, lazyness and uncleanness at Noah's time?
Because their conscience tends to be evil. They lived in mixed marriage, marrying after divorce, etc.
Actually, human's conscience tends to be wicked and unclean.
But, through water baptism, we request good conscience= conscience which is OBEDIENT AND LOVESGOD.
If we disobey the Word= against God= do not love God, even sing "i love God", it is just a hypocrisy.
Example: Peter (John 21).
The practices of obedient good conscienceare as follows:
Peter represents hard and spontaneous life, but is still able to be helped by the repeated Word.
By the water baptism and the repeated shepherding Word, there is a chance to get good conscience.
God blesses us.
-- About Brazen Laver --
Exodus 30:17-21refers to thecommand to make brazen laver.
Exodus38:8 refers tothe implementation.
Tabernacle teaching is practical, can immediately be put into practice in our daily lives.
Exodus 30:17-21
30:17. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
30:18. "You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it,
30:19. "for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.
30:20. "When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die.
30:21. "So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them -- to him and his descendants throughout their generations."
Laver made of bronze.
Bronze= God's punishment.
In the book of Deuteronomy was mentioned that one who was obedient, will be blessed, but to one who wasn't obedient, the sky would become bronze.
The brazen laver refers to the renewal.
Thus, for receiving new spiritual life, we first have to experience punishment of flesh life(old life).
Like wearing new cloth, the old one must be discarded first.
Exodus 38:8
38:8. He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
The laver of bronze was made from bronze mirrors of the serving women.
In positive meaning, woman refers to Church of God.
But, in negative meaning, woman is the image of flesh.
Mirror is a tool to beautify ourselves/flesh. In spiritual meaning it is to fertilize the desire/lust of flesh.
At the time of Israel, mirror was made of bronze which was polished until it became shiny.
Mirrors must be destroyed to be created as laver of bronze.
It means: for receiving new life, we must destroy our old life (lust of flesh, act, flesh/sin characteristics).
Conclusion:
The laver of bronze is process of destruction/tearing of flesh to be built into useful tool.
To become useful servant of God(especially for the building of the body of Christ), flesh with all its lust must be destroyed.
There should be no longer term: "Just Serve"!
Examples of flesh that must be destroyedare as follows:
- Lazy and wicked flesh.
Matthew 25:26, 30
25:26. "But 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 servantinto the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Being lazy and wicked in ministering, he/she will only enter dark future until outer darkness.
Lazy and wicked life is useless, just damages the body of Christ.
Consequently, his/her own life becomes damaged and perished (dark future until outer darkness/perdition).- Lazy = unfaithful.
It is more useful a faithful worker (although his/her ministry is not seen by other people, example: mopping church, etc) than unfaithful shepherd who is lazy in feeding congregation.
Do not be fooled!
If we follow unfaithful/lazy shepherd (useless at all), we'll become useless too.
It doesn't matter with big or small church, the most important is faithfulness.
Faithfulness covers all our weakness.
Perhaps, we have weakness in ministry (preacher, choir, ministry of music, etc), but faithfulness can cover all our weakness.
Otherwise, one will be useless if s/he is unfaithful although the ministry seems great, even it will damage the body of Christ. - Wicked = quarrelsome.
II Timothy 2:23-25
2:23. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
2:24. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
2:25. in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
Being lazy, one will be wicked surely, and like looking issue/argument.
Why is one quarrelsome?- Because of having self-truth. It means one is already guilty but s/he does not want to confess even claims to be true and blames others.
If we are guilty, we must confess. Afterward, we are forgiven and do not sin anymore. - Because of unwillingnessto obey theleader.
The highest leader is God (Word of God).
If we do not obey the Word, we surely is quarrelsome always/criticizes the Word.
If we obey the Word, there will be no quarrel whatever the Word is.
In this world, we also have a leader.
If the leader is already true, just obey! Otherwise we will be quarrelsome.
If we find something not true, let us advise one another.
There is a leader in household.
Children must obey the parents.
If the parents are true, just obey!
They may be false, but it can be discussed well according to the truth of the Word.
- Because of having self-truth. It means one is already guilty but s/he does not want to confess even claims to be true and blames others.
If we punish/tear our lazy and wicked flesh, we become FAITHFUL and GOOD servant of God= useful servant of God glorifying Him.
The result is we experience heavenly bliss until enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There is beautiful future and happiness until we truly enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew25:21
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.' - Lazy = unfaithful.
- Unclean flesh.
II Timothy 2:22
2:22. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Beware of the lust of flesh which is unclean (especially youth)!
Unclean flesh is fornication, sexual sin with different manifold, sexual deviations, including the frequently changing boyfriend/girlfriend, until marrying after divorce, etc.
Unclean flesh must be torn that we can become useful servant of God.
Example: Hophni and Phinehas (youth).
Their ministry was important, but with unclean flesh, they made House of God become "Ichabod" (the Ark of Covenant had been captured by Philistines/flesh).
Ichabod = losing the glory of God, that there's only God's punishment.
All of us must be responsible (shepherd, elders, full-timer servants of God, all ministers)!
Beware in the House of God and our household!
In household, there should be no lazy, wicked and unclean flesh!
Remember Eli's household which was punished!
Why?
Because both of them speak about the tearing of flesh.
Worship is also the process of the tearing of flesh.
Thus, in spiritual meaning, water baptism (brazen laver) is also a part of worship.
I Peter 3:20-21
3:20. who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answerof a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
In water baptism, we request good conscience to God.
Why did sons of God live in wickedness, lazyness and uncleanness at Noah's time?
Because their conscience tends to be evil. They lived in mixed marriage, marrying after divorce, etc.
Actually, human's conscience tends to be wicked and unclean.
But, through water baptism, we request good conscience= conscience which is OBEDIENT AND LOVESGOD.
If we disobey the Word= against God= do not love God, even sing "i love God", it is just a hypocrisy.
Example: Peter (John 21).
The practices of obedient good conscienceare as follows:
- Being shepherded to 'one' true teaching Word(Jesus, true Vine) and persevering in 3 main services.
Jesus asked Peter three times= perseverance in 3 main services as follows:- General service.
- Bible study service and holy communion.
- Prayer service.
Lazy, wicked, unclean person is not possible to persevere in 3 main services.
But, if we have devout conscience, and love God, we surely can sacrifice anything that we can persevere in 3 main services.
We must be shepherded to 'one' true teaching Word!
The term 'one' does not refer to 'one church' or 'one' person (pastor), but one true teaching Wordcan be anywhere.
In the science of this world, slight difference is still wrong. If it is maintained, one will never pass any exam in his/her life.
Especially about heavenly things, the Word of God is surer than exact science! Slight difference indicates us that the righteous will never meet the false. It is like we walk on rail which deviates slightly that we will never meet the right way if we continue walking on the rail.
Confessing the slight difference, do not blame others!
Good conscience is proven by perseverance in shepherding, firmly not listening to strange voices! - General service.
- Being grievedwhen accepting the Word.
John 21:17
21:17. He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grievedbecause He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
This is the importance of the shepherding Word that is faithfully repeated.
For example: when economy is good, maybe we are sad when the Word shows our sins.
On the contrary, if the shepherding Word is repeated, when economy is getting worse, our heart can be sad when the Word shows our sin.
The highest point is the preaching of the Word in the ministry of death.
Although human's heart is hard, all men become gentle in facing death.
When Peter listened Jesus' question for the third time, he was grieved and remembered that he had denied Jesus.
Being grieved is sign of good conscience, obeying and loving God (servant's heart).
Being grieved= intropection/self-check.
Do not check others, even check supervisor!
Children, check yourselves! Do not check your parents!
Check ourselvesuntilwerealize that there is "unfinished thing" in our lives.
Among us, there must be unfinished thing. If everything has been finished, God surely has lifted us.
This is the usefulness of the repeated Word, until we can realize that there is unfinished thing.
If you find sin, confess to God and others. If we are forgiven, do not sin anymore!
Finish everything!
Be shepherded well and do not hear "strange voice"!
Heart of parent/teacher/shepherd becomes sick when there is right thing but the son/daughter does not obey, but listens and follows others/strange voice (bad conscience).
Listening strange voice= hurting God's heart, like Peter who denied Jesus.
Life who listens 'strange voice' shows that his/her conscience is bad, and surely there are lots of unfinished thing in his/her life.
If the conscience is good, one must be shepherded to one true teaching Word (will not hear strange voice), but persevering in shepherding, being grieved to have self-check. - Stretching out hand to Jesus.
John 21:18
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 you where you do not wish."
At beginning, Peter hadbad conscienceas follows:- Peter stretched out his hand to pull Jesus asidewhen He would go to Jerusalem and be crucified.
Peter felt great, but actually he was selfish= rejected cross. - Peter stretched out his hand with swordto Malchus and cut off his ear.
Fortunately, God helped Peter to get good conscience until he was able to strecth out his hand to Jesus.
At first, Peter was afraid to die, but later, Peter could stretch out his hand to Jesus because he was willing to die.
Stretching out hand to Jesus meansas follows:- Being willing to sacrifice anything to God.
Do not calculate with God, while God has already blessed us a lot!
We often are able to sacrifice for our own interest, but we calculate too much for ministry. - Being obedient with all the risk.
- Fully surrenderingto God, worshipingGod.
We stretch out our hand to God and God also stretches out His hand to us= we live in the Hand of God, The Chief Shepherd.
God always pays attention, cares and struggles with us to finish unfinished things.
The proof is Jesus had said "It is finished" before He surrendered His life on the cross,.
The results:- Mark 1:19
1:19. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.
Net refers to profession (work, school) and ministry (for servant of God).
Mending the nets= theHand of God fixes everything in our job, school, future, and ministry.
Although we have already tried everything, all unfinished things will not be finished yet if we have not stretched our hand to God.
- Peter stretched out his hand to pull Jesus asidewhen He would go to Jerusalem and be crucified.
- Acts 9:34
9:34. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately.
Make the bed= theHand of God is able to fix all problemsabout marriage and children.
Fixing all unfinished things (problems) in marriage and children!
Aeneas means being praiseworthy or esteemed.
There are many praiseworthy, esteemed, and richest people, but their marriage and children are not good.
If we just try with our own effort, especially with the way outside the Word, everything will never be finished until the end of the world.
Only in the Word we can stretch out our hand to God and God is able to finish everything.
Spiritually, theHand of God also fixesall our sins= God purifies and changes us until we are perfect like Himto become God's bride who has already been ready, being lifted up to glorious clouds for joining with Him forever.
Peter represents hard and spontaneous life, but is still able to be helped by the repeated Word.
By the water baptism and the repeated shepherding Word, there is a chance to get good conscience.
God blesses us.