Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We still discuss about Luke 8. In Luke 8, there are seven stories that refer to seven lamps on the Golden Candlestick and they are as follows:
We are still discussing the second story, namely The Parable of the Sower.
Luke 8:15
8:15. "But the ones that fell on the good groundare those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
If we have good ground of heart, we can hear the Word well, so we bear fruit with patience.
There are three kinds of fruit of patience as follows:
God blesses us.
We still discuss about Luke 8. In Luke 8, there are seven stories that refer to seven lamps on the Golden Candlestick and they are as follows:
- Many Women Minister to Jesus (Luke 8:1-3).
- The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15).
- The Parable of the Revealed Light (Luke 8:16-18).
- Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Come to Him (Luke 8:19-21).
- Wind and Wave Obey Jesus (Luke 8:22-25).
- A Demon-Possessed Man Healed (Luke 8:26-39).
- A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed (Luke 8:40-56).
We are still discussing the second story, namely The Parable of the Sower.
Luke 8:15
8:15. "But the ones that fell on the good groundare those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
If we have good ground of heart, we can hear the Word well, so we bear fruit with patience.
There are three kinds of fruit of patience as follows:
- Continuing in the faith.
Colossians 1:23
1:23. if indeed you continue in the faith, groundedand steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Continuing in the faith is the same as being strong and of good courage. It means as follows:- Keeping on holding fast true teaching Word and not being doubtful or shaken by other teachings.
One of the signs of the last day is a deception.
Do not be driven and tossed by the deception!
Matthew 24:3-4
24:3. Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
24:4. And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceivesyou. - Keeping on living in righteousness(faith is the righteousness).
We have to live in righteousness whatever risk may come in working, studying and household. - Keeping on believing and hoping in Godagainst anything.
We do not doubt, but believe that God will help us.
1 Chronicles 19:13, 16
19:13. "Be of good courage, and let us be strongfor our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight."
19:16. Now when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.
God finishes all of our problems and makes everything good in His time.
When Lazarus was sick, God did not come immediately until Lazarus died and was buried for four days.
For human, God was late for helping, but for God, everything is just in time and Lazarus was helped. - Keeping on holding fast true teaching Word and not being doubtful or shaken by other teachings.
- Continuing in the suffering with God.
James 5:10-11
5:10. My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
5:11. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Joband seen the end intended by the Lord––that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
The kinds of flesh suffering are as follows: to suffer in the flesh because of worship to God or getting problems like Job.
Continuing in the flesh suffering means we are not disappointed and desperate, so we do not retreat and leave God when we suffer in the flesh, but we keep giving thanks, faithful, fervent in spirit and we do not retreat from ministry to God.
2 Corinthians 6:4-8
6:4. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
6:5. in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6:6. by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
6:7. by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
6:8. by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
If we continue in the flesh suffering, we will experience renewal of life from carnal men to spiritual ones like God.
Job 32:1-2
32:1. So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
32:2. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
The flesh characteristic of Job is he feels righteous in his own eyes. It means one covers his sin by blaming others even God or true teaching Word.
One who has self-truth cannot be advised, reproved and shown his sin by the Word, exhortation of parents and shepherd, but he has lots of mistakes in his word.
Consequently, he is advised through suffering.
Through flesh suffering, Job is changed.
Job 42:5-6
42:5. "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
42:6. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."
If we do not keep self-truth anymore, we are changed from hard stone to clay. We feel unworthy and unable with a lot of failures.
The clay is in the hand of the Potter or the Creatorand we are used by God for the glory of His name. We will experience restoration both physically and spiritually. - Continuing with one accord in prayer.
Acts 1:14
1:14. These all continued with one accord in prayerand supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
The prayer is also the tearing of flesh.
In prayer, the characteristics of flesh that grieve the Holy Spirit must be torn.
Ephesians 4:30-31
4:30. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
4:31. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
If we put away the characteristics of flesh, Holy Spirit will be poured upon us.
Acts 2:1-3
2:1. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
2:3. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
In the Old Testament, Holy Spirit was the anointing oil from the ointment of the spices.
In the New Testament, Jesus pours Holy Spirit for us.
Holy Spirit works through our heart to purify it, and overflows to our mouth in form of tongues.
The usefulness of Holy Spirit is as follows:- Holy Spirit purifies us from the characteristic of dog and swine.
Romans 15:16
15:16. that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
The dog refers to dirty and useless word.
We are changed, so we have holy and good word.
The swine refers to unclean deed, namely sin of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage.
The dog and swine also refer to evil company.
We are purified, so we walk with God in righteousness and holiness. - Holy Spirit helps us.
2 Kings 6:15-17
6:15. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
6:16. So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
6:17. And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Holy Spirit protects all around us.
We are protected from the fiery dart of the evil, so we are safe, serene, and peaceful and we win.
We are weak, but we can defeat strong enemy, because Holy Spirit makes war for us. - Holy Spirit lifts us up to the Heaven.
2 Kings 2:11
2:11. Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
It means that Holy Spirit is able to make success in our life
Holy Spirit changes us from flesh men to spiritual ones. We obey God and just say, 'Abba, Father!'.
When Jesus comes a second time, we will be changed and lifted up to the Heaven.
If we can say, 'Abba, Father!', the miracle will happen in our life.
- Holy Spirit purifies us from the characteristic of dog and swine.
God blesses us.