Weekly message: Word of comfort
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts
Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music July 11,2021
My friends,
have you ever concerned the salvation of your loved one, families, and friends?
Are you frustrated and discouraged when they turn away from the Lord? Neither
desires for reading the Bible nor believe in Jesus Christ. Will you anxious
about their salvation and pray for them earnestly? When they reject you, act
like antichrist against you, will you give up them and stop to pray for them?
In your frustration, you became a bitter and salt less vessel. How to revive of
your inner man’s peace, joy, confident and response to these scenarios so that
you will not sink down nor fail of your faith? Today, let us discover the Word
of comfort in the Bible and what is the hope and reward of Christians in
Christ?
The Word of Comfort to Joshua in O.T. (Joshua1:7-9)
In Old Testament, when Joshua was
elected as a leader to lead Israel cross the Jordan River, the words of comfort
as follow,
“Be
strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses
gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be
successful whoever you do. Do not let this book of the Law depart from your
mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I
not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrifies; do not be
discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua:
1:7-9)
The faith realization to Joshua,
First, he must
affirm and believe that the Lord is with him after Moses died, for his
leadership was confirmed by the Lord. Second, he must acknowledge the book of
the laws, decrees, commands, and precepts of the Lord, no matter what people
may say. Joshua led Israel successfully arrived the Cannon, the land, full of
milk and honey after he followed Moses whole heartily. Because his strong faith
in the Lord, the Lord made him a remarkable leader of Israelites after Moses
died.
The Word of Comfort to Apostle John in N.T. (Revelation
22:8-17)
In New Testament, the Word of comfort to
Apostle John appears in the book of Revelation 22:8-17, The Lord told him and
encouraged him,
“Do not seal
up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let him
who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile;
let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue
to be holy. Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to
everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First
and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their
robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the
gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the
sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and
practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony
for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright
Morning Star. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come, and let him who hears say,
“Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the
free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:8-17)
The faith realization to Apostle John,
First, he must
affirm the Words of the prophecy of this book –Bible because the time is near. The
commands are same as Joshua’s in the O.T. which emphasized the important of
this Book of Law, “Do not let this book
of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful.”(Joshua1:7).
Secord, Apostle
John must not get bitter, nor be aroused by certain group of people who reject
the Words of prophecy in this book-Bible. No matters the groups of people who
do wrong or the group of people are vile. For the Lord will bring the judgment
and give to everyone according to what he has done.
Third, Apostle John needs to press on in order to gain the reward. To those who do right, continue to be holy, and wash their robes, keep their conduct clean through the washing of the blood of the Lamb(Rev.7:14), the reward is “the Lord is with them” and “ they may have right to the tree of life, and may go through the gates into the city. (Rev.22:12, 14). According to Gen.2:8-9, Adam, after being created, he was put before the tree of life. He was privileged to partake of it, but because of the fall of man, the way to the tree of life was closed to man by God’s glory, holiness, and righteousness (Gen.3:24). Through Christ’s redemption, which fulfilled all the requirements of God’s glory, holiness, and righteousness, the way to the tree of life was opened again to believers(Heb.10:19-20).
Therefore, those who wash
their robes in the redeeming blood of Christ have the right to enjoy the tree
of life as their eternal portion in the holy city, the Paradise of God, in
eternity (Rev.2:7). To enter by the gates into the city is to enter the New
Jerusalem, as a realm of God’s eternal blessing, by regeneration through the
death-overcoming and life-imparting Christ.
In contrary,
in outside the New Jerusalem city, where the lake of fire, which holds all the
sinners who have perished, will be located. Those who are liars, practice magic
arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves
and practices falsehood.
The significance of Bible
The testimony
of this book was made by the Lord Jesus for the churches. The entire revelation
of the Bible shows us the love story of a universal couple. That is, the
sovereign Lord, who created the universe and all things, the Triune God-the
Father, the Son, and the Spirit who went through the processes of incarnation,
human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, and who ultimately
became the life-giving Spirit, is joined in marriage to the created, redeemed,
regenerated, transformed, and glorified tripartite man-composed of spirit,
soul, and body who ultimately constitutes the church, the expression of God. In
the eternity that is without end, by the divine, eternal, and surpassingly
glorious life, they will live a life that is the mingling of God and man as one
spirit, a life that is superexcellent and that overflows with blessings and
joy.
Implication/ application
1). Do not seal
up the words of the prophecy of this book. Do not let this book depart from your
mouth; meditate it day and night so that you may be successful in everything you
do.
2). Do not
worry, nor be discouraged because of your loved one or families or friends who turn
away from the Lord. Don’t give up, keep on praying for them and lift them up to
the Lord in the name of Jesus. In God’s timing, Saul will become Apostle Paul. The
salvation is for sure and is eternal.
3). The Lord, Jesus
will unveil Himself to individual, for it
is the Lord put His law in our mind, and writes it on our hearts. Joshua’s faith
resulted in his successful as a great leader. Apostle John’s vision empowers him
to press on in order to gain the reward as overcomers.
4). Saints need to fix your eyes to Jesus and gaze
upon the reward –tree of life and into the city, New Jerusalem, let He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Bibliography,
King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland,
OH: The world publishing company
Ryrie, Charles
C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute,
1986.
Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.)
Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.
