This note was written on Sun 03Aug2014 (5m-9d)
John 13:13
Jesus told the disciples, calling them little children, that he would by with them a little while longer. On hearing this, Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?"
John 14:19
Jesus told the disciples that a little while longer, the world would see him no more. The disciples, however, would see him. And he would manifest himself to those who loved him. Judas (not Iscariot) asked him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world.
John 16:16
Jesus told the disciples that in a little while they would not see him anymore, and again in a little while they would see him again: because he was going to the Father. Some of his disciples said among themselves, (not asking Jesus directly), "What is this he says? . . . We do not know what he is saying."
Friday, August 8, 2014
In that day.
This note was written on Friday 1-8-14 (5m-7d)
John 16: 16 - 29 KJV
Jesus, as usual, spoke in "proverbs" to his disciples (v.25).
John 16:16
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while ye shall see me again, because I go to the Father.
And just like before, his disciples did not understand him (v17 - 19).
In v.22ff, Jesus explained his "little while" proverb, and went on further to tell of the future, "in that day".
In that day, ye shall ask me nothing (v.23)
cf v.26, At that day . . . I say not unto you, I will pray the Father for you.
Meaning: in that day, the day spoken of in v22 when Jesus will see them again, when their sorrow will turn into joy, the disciples will be able to ask from the Father directly without having to ask Jesus to pray for them. See also 16:23, 24.
John 16: 23 - 24
What soever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you.
In that day, this can happen for the disciples believed that Jesus came forth from God (v27)
See v.28, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world and go to the Father.
In that day, the Lord Jesus no longer spoke to them in proverbs. (v29)
On hearing that, the disciples realised that "that day" is very near because they could see that Jesus has begun to speak plainly to them, and no longer in proverbs
John 16: 30
. . . by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
John 16: 16 - 29 KJV
Jesus, as usual, spoke in "proverbs" to his disciples (v.25).
John 16:16
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while ye shall see me again, because I go to the Father.
And just like before, his disciples did not understand him (v17 - 19).
In v.22ff, Jesus explained his "little while" proverb, and went on further to tell of the future, "in that day".
In that day, ye shall ask me nothing (v.23)
cf v.26, At that day . . . I say not unto you, I will pray the Father for you.
Meaning: in that day, the day spoken of in v22 when Jesus will see them again, when their sorrow will turn into joy, the disciples will be able to ask from the Father directly without having to ask Jesus to pray for them. See also 16:23, 24.
John 16: 23 - 24
What soever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you.
In that day, this can happen for the disciples believed that Jesus came forth from God (v27)
See v.28, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world and go to the Father.
In that day, the Lord Jesus no longer spoke to them in proverbs. (v29)
On hearing that, the disciples realised that "that day" is very near because they could see that Jesus has begun to speak plainly to them, and no longer in proverbs
John 16: 30
. . . by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Worship Him Who Sits on the Throne, the Lord God Almighty.
This note was written on Sunday 14th April 2013, in Wesley Methodist Church Kampar.
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Verses 5 and 6 above tells us that our Lord Jesus is the faithful witness, the first to be raised from the death, and made the ruler of the kings of the earth. He made us a kingdom of priests to His God and His Father. To God be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Note verse 8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Brothers and Sisters, let us worship God alone. He is the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus the Christ.
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
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Revelations 1: 5 - 6 NASB5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Verses 5 and 6 above tells us that our Lord Jesus is the faithful witness, the first to be raised from the death, and made the ruler of the kings of the earth. He made us a kingdom of priests to His God and His Father. To God be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.Note verse 8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Brothers and Sisters, let us worship God alone. He is the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus the Christ.
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Revelations 4: 8 - 11 NASB8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
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Revelations 5: 9 - 12 NASB9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Note from verses 9 to 11 above that Our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to open the seals of the scroll, that he was killed and by his death he bought people from every tribe, language, nation and race as a people for God. Verse 10, in repeating Rev 1:6, says that Our Lord has made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule the earth.
Finally in verse 11, we read that Our Lord Jesus is the Lamb that was killed, and he is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honour and praise. Compare this affirmation with the words in Rev.3: 21, where Our Lord Jesus himself declares, " He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
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Revelations 5: 13 - 1413 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
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Revelations 19: 3 - 43 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Revelations 19: 5 - 65 And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
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Prayers and Good Deeds of God's People
Noted on Sunday 14th April 2013, in Wesley Methodist Church Kampar.
When the seventh seal is opened, the prayers of God's people are offered to God with a lot of incense on the golden altar, as seen in the verse below:
Revelations 8: 3, 4 NKJV
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
The good deeds (righteous acts) of God's people are shown by clean shining linen worn by the bride, as follows:
Revelations 19: 6 - 8 NKJV
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us, as the saints of God, persevere in much prayer and in righteous acts.
When the seventh seal is opened, the prayers of God's people are offered to God with a lot of incense on the golden altar, as seen in the verse below:
Revelations 8: 3, 4 NKJV
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
The good deeds (righteous acts) of God's people are shown by clean shining linen worn by the bride, as follows:
Revelations 19: 6 - 8 NKJV
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us, as the saints of God, persevere in much prayer and in righteous acts.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
The Keys of the Kingdom.
This note was written on Fri 22Nov13
Matthew 16: 16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
What the Lord Jesus said in reply to Simon Peter in Matthew 16: 17 - 19
"Thou art eben, and upon this eben I will ebeneh my assembly, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it . . ."
If we try saying it in Malay, it would be similarly poetic:
"Engkaulah ubin, di atas ubin inilah aku akan bina jemaah ku . . ."
Further on in verse 18, we read that our Lord gave the "keys" of the Kingdom to Peter, such that Peter would have the authority to govern the assembly that the Lord would build. It wasn't an absolute conferment of absolute power, but rather a delegation of agency, for Peter to act as an agent on behalf of his Lord. For the Lord Jesus was later described in Revelations 3:7 as the one " that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"
This delegation of authority to govern God's people can be seen in the Old Testament example of Eliakim (also known as Azariah) son of Hilkiah, who was described as "over the household" of King Hezekiah.
http://understanding-ministries.co.uk/eliakim-a-type-of-the-lord-jesus-christ.html
"The reference is either (according to some) to the keys of the temple or, more likely, the keys to the king’s treasury; Jewish Targums imply both meanings. Officials holding keys often had them hanging down on sashes from the shoulder as a mark of their office in both Jewish and Greek cultures, as some magistrates do today. However, a literal key may not be implied, being figuratively spoken as the power of office. The one with the key makes the decisions; he opens the door for new officers and shuts out those who are rejected, he controls the treasury and allows admission to the palace. It suggests high political authority.
The shoulder is symbolic of human power or strength and the one carrying the key is hereby symbolically declared as being strong enough to carry out the tasks required. Access (the power of the keys) rested with him. For Eliakim this responsibility meant control over the kings chambers and resources, and also the decision as to who was responsible in the king’s service."
Matthew 16: 16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
What the Lord Jesus said in reply to Simon Peter in Matthew 16: 17 - 19
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.In verse, 17, the Hebrew word for peter or rock is "eben" sounding somewhat similar to the Malay word "ubin" for tile (a type of rock, if you like). Also the Hebrew for build is "ebeneh", again similar to the Malay word "bina", to build. Thus, if one were to this verse in Hebrew, a kind of rhyme or parallelism between eben and ebeneh would appear i.e.
"Thou art eben, and upon this eben I will ebeneh my assembly, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it . . ."
If we try saying it in Malay, it would be similarly poetic:
"Engkaulah ubin, di atas ubin inilah aku akan bina jemaah ku . . ."
Further on in verse 18, we read that our Lord gave the "keys" of the Kingdom to Peter, such that Peter would have the authority to govern the assembly that the Lord would build. It wasn't an absolute conferment of absolute power, but rather a delegation of agency, for Peter to act as an agent on behalf of his Lord. For the Lord Jesus was later described in Revelations 3:7 as the one " that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"
This delegation of authority to govern God's people can be seen in the Old Testament example of Eliakim (also known as Azariah) son of Hilkiah, who was described as "over the household" of King Hezekiah.
Isaiah 22:22 (concerning Eliakim ben Hilkiah)A commentary on the symbolic meaning of laying a key upon one's shoulder is given in
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder;
so he shall open, and none shall shut;
and he shall shut, and none shall open.
http://understanding-ministries.co.uk/eliakim-a-type-of-the-lord-jesus-christ.html
"The reference is either (according to some) to the keys of the temple or, more likely, the keys to the king’s treasury; Jewish Targums imply both meanings. Officials holding keys often had them hanging down on sashes from the shoulder as a mark of their office in both Jewish and Greek cultures, as some magistrates do today. However, a literal key may not be implied, being figuratively spoken as the power of office. The one with the key makes the decisions; he opens the door for new officers and shuts out those who are rejected, he controls the treasury and allows admission to the palace. It suggests high political authority.
The shoulder is symbolic of human power or strength and the one carrying the key is hereby symbolically declared as being strong enough to carry out the tasks required. Access (the power of the keys) rested with him. For Eliakim this responsibility meant control over the kings chambers and resources, and also the decision as to who was responsible in the king’s service."
Saturday, August 2, 2014
The Apostle Paul wrote in Parallels.
These observations were made back in 7th July 2013
The words of the Apostle Paul were written parallels, as shown in the following instances from Galatians 6: 1 - 6 (the lectionary for this Sunday in Wesley Methodist Church, Kampar)
When he wrote in v2, "Bear one another's burden", he was writing in parallel to v1 where he taught that those who are spiritual should set aright him who is caught in wrong-doing.
Also, his words in v3, "If anyone thinks he is somebody when he is nobody, is only deceiving himself" is in parallel to v1b telling his readers to "keep an eye" on themselves so that they will not be tempted.
Similarly, v7 "god is not mocked, a person reaps what he sows" is a parallel of v4 where Paul called on each one to judge his own conduct without comparing with what another person has done. This teaching provides the context for v5, "Everyone has to carry his own load (bear his own burden)".
Likewise, the exhortation in v9, "Be not weary of well doing - we will reap in due time if we do not give up" and the call in v10 to do good to everyone, particularly to the household of faith, is parallel to the teaching of v8 that those who sow in the spirit will from the spirit reap the harvest of eternal life.
Finally, Paul's boast in v14, "Only in the cross (death, suffering) of our Master Yeshua the Messiah" is a parallel to those who boast in the submission of the Galatians to physical circumcision (v13). Note from v13 that that the latter do NOT obey the Torah.
Arm yourself: with the same mind as Messiah
This note was written sometime last year.
Arm yourself likewise
1 Peter 4: 1 - 2
For as much then as Messiah has suffered for us in the flesh,
Arm yourself likewise
With the same mind:
For he that hath suffered in the flesh
Hath ceased from sin:
That he should no longer live the rest of his life in the flesh
To the lusts of men
But to the will of God.
---------------------------------------------
Dear Christian Brother and Sister, this then, is how we arm ourselves against the dark forces of this world - that we have the same mind as our Master Yeshua, the Messiah - to suffer in the flesh and thereby live to the will of God. Amein.
Melchizedek, Priest of the Most High God.
This note was written back in year 2013, Friday November 13th.
Genesis 14:18 - 20
And Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of most high God.
And he blessed him and said,
"Blessed be Abraham of the most high God,
Possessor of heaven and earth.
And blessed be the Most High God,
Which delivered thine enemies unto thy hand"
And he gave him tithes of all.
- ------------------------------------------------- -
In this passage, we read that Abraham, ancestor of the Levitical priests, gave one tenth of his riches to Melchizedek, the non-Levitical priest.
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