Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 9:1-6is about Jesus sent twelve disciples.
Luke 9:1-2
9:1. Then He calledHis twelve disciples together and gave them power and authorityover all demons, and to cure diseases.
9:2. He sentthem to preach the kingdom of Godand to heal the sick.
Jesus called twelve disciples or all of us to give power and authority. Then, He sends us to preach the kingdom of Heaven or New Jerusalem.
So, we are sent as the servants of God or the ambassadorof the kingdom of Heaven or New Jerusalem.
The terms to be the servant or ambassador of the kingdom of Heaven are as follows:
God blesses us.
Luke 9:1-6is about Jesus sent twelve disciples.
Luke 9:1-2
9:1. Then He calledHis twelve disciples together and gave them power and authorityover all demons, and to cure diseases.
9:2. He sentthem to preach the kingdom of Godand to heal the sick.
Jesus called twelve disciples or all of us to give power and authority. Then, He sends us to preach the kingdom of Heaven or New Jerusalem.
So, we are sent as the servants of God or the ambassadorof the kingdom of Heaven or New Jerusalem.
The terms to be the servant or ambassador of the kingdom of Heaven are as follows:
- Serving in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17-18
14:17. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
14:18. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Serving in righteousness means as follows:- Serving God in righteous life.
We cannot be used to minister if we do not live in righteousness although we are great, clever or rich. - Serving God in righteous way, not worldly one.
- Serving in peace.
There is no more hostility or war, but confessing and forgiving one another. - Serving in serenity or relief.
It means there are no more labor, heavy burden, bitterness, fear, wickedness and uncleanness, so we can serve easily and lightly.
- We experience heavenly joy that cannot be influenced by anything in the world. We have heavenly joy in all situations in the world.
- We serve although we suffer in flesh, or experience the cross with Jesus [Matthew 5:3-12].
Matthew 5:3-4, 10
5:3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:4. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5:10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We are happy in suffering although it does not make sense, but it is the service that pleases God.
- We are glorified, exalted and never ashamed. We do not need to seek respect.
Romans 14:18
14:18. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to Godand approved by men. - God guarantees our reward for our life now up to eternal one in the Heaven.
Matthew 5:12
5:12. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- Serving God in righteous life.
- We have to serve as new men.
2 Corinthians 5:17
5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The Heaven is New Jerusalem, so we have to serve as new men.
Ephesians 4:17-19
4:17. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
4:18. having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
4:19. who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
The characteristics of old men are as follows:- Being in the futility of mind.
It means one looks for worldly things by making everything legal and ignoring spiritual thing.
For example is Esau. Actually, he had the characteristics of spiritual man, but he was in the futility of his mind and looked for physical things only, so he wept, his life became vain and he perished. - Having their understanding darkened, fool, and without heavenly wisdom.
It means one is not faithful and does not want to worship but leaves it.
For example is the younger son who left the fathers' field and lived prodigally. At last, he went to swine field. - Having the blindness of the heart. It means one does not obey the Word.
For example is Peter whose heart was blind or disobedient. He tried to catch fish after being lifted up by Jesus to become the fisher of men.
Consequently, he was failed all night and naked. - Being past feeling.
It means one is not sensitive to discern between the true and evil or unclean, so he wallows in sin of wickedness and uncleanness.
The characteristic of new manis not lying but speaking true and good word. It is the good fruit of lips.
Ephesians 4:20-25
4:20. But you have not so learned Christ,
4:21. if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4:22. that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
4:23. and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
4:24. and that you put on the new manwhich was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
4:25. Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
We live in righteousness or do not lie means as follows:- Interesting fruit to be eaten by people.
It means we can be witness, so they are saved.
Proverbs 11:30
11:30. The fruit of the righteousis a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. - Being honest.
Revelation 21:9-11
21:9. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife."21:10. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
21:11. having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
This is the characteristic of the brideor New Jerusalem, namely clear as crystal.
It means we are honest and having trustor sincere faith.
John 11:39-41
11:39. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
11:40. Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
11:41. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Martha confessed her sin honestly(she was honest saying “by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days”) and totally believedGod, so Lazarus was risen from death.
It means God is able to take care of our life physically in the middle of impossibilities.
God gives beautiful and successful future in due time.
God is able to change us continuously until we are perfected and become as glorious as Him.
Luke 23:39-43
23:39. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."
23:40. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
23:41. "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
23:42. Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
23:43. And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
The criminal beside Jesus confessed his sin honestly('we indeed justly') and believedJesus ('Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom'), so he might return to Paradise.
There is a miracle for us. - Being in the futility of mind.
God blesses us.