Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We still discuss about Luke 9:22-27.
Luke 9:24
9:24. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sakewill save it.
The requirement of our following to Jesus is we must lose our life.
There are two terms as follows:
So, the right following to Jesus is signified with the cross or the way of the cross to New Jerusalem.
Lord Jesus just gives one way to His followers, namely the way of the cross. It is God's mercy. Why is that?
The steps of the way of the cross are as follows:
God blesses us.
We still discuss about Luke 9:22-27.
Luke 9:24
9:24. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sakewill save it.
The requirement of our following to Jesus is we must lose our life.
There are two terms as follows:
- "saving his life". It means one fulfills the lust of the flesh, so he is against God, the word of God and his parents.
Consequently, he loses his life and perishes. - "losing his life for My sake". It means one wants to crucify the lust of the flesh because of Jesus and the word of God to be well pleasing before God.
The result is he saves his life, namely eternal life in the eternal Heaven or New Jerusalem.
So, the right following to Jesus is signified with the cross or the way of the cross to New Jerusalem.
Lord Jesus just gives one way to His followers, namely the way of the cross. It is God's mercy. Why is that?
- If there are many ways, we surely choose the one that is comforting for flesh.
The flesh always pushes us to sins up to the peak of sin, and it guides to perdition. - If there are many ways, a lot of sons or servants of God will be lost and perish.
The steps of the way of the cross are as follows:
- Having the mind of the cross.
1 Peter 4:1-2
4:1. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
4:2. that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
The youth mostly think the world as long as they are happy, so they fall into sins up to the peak of sin.
The practice of having the mind of the cross is one willingly suffers in the flesh to stop sinning and return to God's will, namely live in righteousness and become instrument of righteousness (one ministers faithfully and truly).
Psalms 5: 12
5:12. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
The result is God will surround us with His blessing and mercy. Satan and the curse cannot touch us, but we receive Paradise atmosphere. - Holding and lifting up the cross.
Exodus 14:16
14:16. "But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Exodus 14:5-8
14:5. Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, "Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"
14:6. So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him.
14:7. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them.
14:8. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.
Especially when we are deeply distressed like Moses and Israelites. They had already gone out of Egypt, but they were deeply distressed. There was the sea in front of them (difficulty and impossibility). Pharaoh and his servants (sins up to the peak of sin that keep chasing us) were behind them. There was the wilderness (the world with all of its influence) at the right and left.
God commanded Moses to hold and lift up the cross.
Exodus 14:14
14:14. "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
The practice is we shall hold our peace and God will fight for us.
Isaiah 30:15-16
30:15. For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and restyou shall be saved; In quietness and confidenceshall be your strength." But you would not,
30:16. And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" --Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses" --Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
Do not ride on horse! Do not rely on cleverness, power, et cetera.
Do not release the cross/the rod, because it will become a snake.
The problem will not be finished, but increase.
Being in rest means we correct ourselves through the sharpness of the sword of the word. If a sin is found, we must confess to God and others. If we are forgiven, do not sin anymore.
Being calm means we control ourselves. We do not hope anyone, but God totally.
Exodus 14:21-22
14:21. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.
14:22. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
The result is God's hand is able to open the way out from all problems. God's hand is able to use us in the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain. - Walking in the way of the cross.
1 Peter 2:21-25
2:21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
2:22. "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
2:23. who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
2:24. who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
2:25. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
It is the same as following the steps of Jesus, namely the ones of death and resurrection.
The practices are as follows:- Being dead to sin and living in righteousness. It means we stop doing sin; not lying nor repaying evil for evil, but repaying good for evil.
- Returning to good and true shepherding; we become the sheep that are shepherded well and truly.
1 Peter 2:25
2:25. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The terms are as follows:- We are always in the sheepfold.
John 10:1
10:1. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
In the Tabernacle, the sheepfold refers to the Holy Place. There are three tools inside it that refer to three kinds of perseverance in three kinds of main service and they are as follows:- The golden candlestick. It refers to perseverance in committing general service; we have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of showbread. It refers to perseverance in committing bible study service and Holy Communion; we have fellowship with Son of God in true teaching word and Christ's sacrifice.
- Golden altar of Incense. It refers to perseverance in committing prayer service; we have fellowship with God the Father in His love.
- The golden candlestick. It refers to perseverance in committing general service; we have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Being obedient to the voice of Shepherd, so the Good Shepherd will stretch out His hand to us.
John 10:27-28
10:27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
10:28. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
We live in the hand of Good Shepherd.
The results are as follows:- Good Shepherd's hand is able to give certainty to keep our life physically in the middle of hard world.
And for our spiritual life, we can live in righteousness and holiness. We live in peace and everything becomes easy and light.
Until we have the guarantee for eternal life. - Good Shepherd's hand is able to lead us to the last sheepfold in New Jerusalem.
Revelation 7:17
7:17. "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead themto living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
It means we are changed from carnal men to spiritual ones like Him.
The more we are changed, the more happiness we get, tear is wiped away and our future becomes more beautiful and successful.
Physical miracle happens too. The impossible thing becomes possible.
Until the last step, we are changed to become as glorious as God when He comes a second time and we enter New Jerusalem forever.
- Good Shepherd's hand is able to give certainty to keep our life physically in the middle of hard world.
- We are always in the sheepfold.
- Being dead to sin and living in righteousness. It means we stop doing sin; not lying nor repaying evil for evil, but repaying good for evil.
God blesses us.