Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 9:43b-45
9:43b But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,
9:44. "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."
9:45. But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
"the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men" means Jesus becomes the offering of total self-surrendering that produces fragrance before God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
5:1. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
The practice of becoming a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma is Jesus surrenders Himself and becomes obedient to the point of death on the cross.
Philippians 2:8
2:8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
We have to be obedient like Jesus, namely obedience until our flesh does not sound anymore.
In fact, human becomes disobedient since the age of Adam and Eve.
Genesis 6:5-6
6:5. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6:6. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
The human tends to sin up to the peak of sin, namely sin of eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk and drugs abuse) and marrying-giving in marriage (sexual sin with all of its kinds).
The heart that tends to do evil continually makes the heart of God grieved, the one of the shepherd lament, and the one of parents sore, so one must be condemned or destroyed with the floodwaters.
Luke 17:26-27
17:26. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
17:27. "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
In the last days, the hearts of men tend to sin up to the peak of sin so they will be condemned by the fire from the heaven up to perishing forever.
How do we become obedient like Jesus?
God blesses us.
Luke 9:43b-45
9:43b But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,
9:44. "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."
9:45. But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
"the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men" means Jesus becomes the offering of total self-surrendering that produces fragrance before God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
5:1. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
The practice of becoming a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma is Jesus surrenders Himself and becomes obedient to the point of death on the cross.
Philippians 2:8
2:8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
We have to be obedient like Jesus, namely obedience until our flesh does not sound anymore.
In fact, human becomes disobedient since the age of Adam and Eve.
Genesis 6:5-6
6:5. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6:6. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
The human tends to sin up to the peak of sin, namely sin of eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk and drugs abuse) and marrying-giving in marriage (sexual sin with all of its kinds).
The heart that tends to do evil continually makes the heart of God grieved, the one of the shepherd lament, and the one of parents sore, so one must be condemned or destroyed with the floodwaters.
Luke 17:26-27
17:26. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
17:27. "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
In the last days, the hearts of men tend to sin up to the peak of sin so they will be condemned by the fire from the heaven up to perishing forever.
How do we become obedient like Jesus?
- The water baptism.
1 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 answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Romans 6:2, 4
6:2. Certainly not! How shall we who died to sinlive any longer in it?
6:4. Therefore we were buriedwith Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raisedfrom the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The term of true water baptism is being dead to sin or repenting.
The implementation of the true water baptism is one who has died to sin or repented must be buried in the water with Jesus and come out or rise from water with Him to receive new life or heavenly one, namely receiving good conscience, so he obeys God. - The shepherding.
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 entering water baptism, we enter the sheepfold, namely the holy place in the arrangement of Tabernacle.
There are three tools in the holy place as follows:- The golden candlestick: perseverance in fellowship. Now, it means perseverance in committing general service.
- The table of showbread: perseverance in apostles' doctrine and breaking of bread. Now, it means perseverance in committing bible study service and Holy Communion.
- The golden altar of incense: perseverance in prayers. Now, it means perseverance in committing prayer service.
21:15. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
21:16. He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
21:17. He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because 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.
We receive God's love in the sheepfold (perseverance in three kinds of main service).
Peter was asked three times by God as follows:- The Lord asked whether Peter loved Him with the love of God or Agapelove, but her answered with the love of neighbors or Phileo love.
- The Lord asked whether Peter loved Him with the love of God or Agapelove, but he answered with the love of neighbors or Phileolove.
- The Lord asked whether Peter loved Him with the love of neighbors or Phileo love, but he was grieved because he remembered that he had denied God. It was clear that he had no love to God and others or he was empty. He was just selfish, so he became disobedient.
21:3. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
21:7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
Before speaking with Jesus about the shepherding, Peter did not obey God or he was empty. From a fisher of men, Peter returned to become a fisherman for self-interest or he became selfish.
Consequently, he caught nothing or totally failed. He was naked. It means living for sin up to the peak of sin and the curses (the atmosphere of thorn, sorrow, and tears).
After being shepherded well, Peter received the love of God. The love of God encouraged Peter so he became obedient until his flesh did not sound anymore and he produced fragrance before God.
John 14:15
14:15. "If you loveMe, keepMy commandments.
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 you where 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."
The love of God encourages us to stretch out our hands to Him. We obey God until the flesh does not sound anymore. We obey God although it is not appropriate to our will.
We willingly sacrifice everything for God. We become a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
It is the same as stretching out our hands to God and He also stretches out His hands to us.
The results are as follows:- Peter was used by God to preach about Jesus.
Acts 2:14, 22
2:14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
2:22. "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--
Peter was used to testify. We are also used to testify about Jesus as the savior to the sinners, so they are saved (the good news).
We also testify about Jesus as the heavenly bridegroom to purify saved people up to being perfect (the bride tidings).
If we do not want to be used in the building of the perfect body of Christ, we will be used in the building of Babylon, namely perfect wickedness and uncleanness. - God's hands are able to help us and give the way out in due time.
Acts 12:5-7, 9
12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
12:6. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
12:7. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
12:9. So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. - God's merciful hands lead us to the last shepherding or the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 7:17
7:17. "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
We experience the renewal of life from carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus.
Revelation 21:27
21:27. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
We are purified from impurity, abomination or hatred, and lie.
The result is God gives successful, beautiful, and happy future in due time.
When Jesus comes a second time, we are changed to become perfect. We enter the New Jerusalem and there are no more tears.
- The golden candlestick: perseverance in fellowship. Now, it means perseverance in committing general service.
God blesses us.