Last Sermon of Jesus (LS00)

   An Overcoming Christian

The establishment of the New Covenant was officiated by His first holy communion with His disciples, the covenant of His blood to be shed on the cross.

    Our Lord Jesus reiterated the only, easy and simple approach in becoming overcoming Christians; believe Him by keeping His word.

    He had completed His perfect work of salvation and glorification on the cross. After His resurrection, He gifted them with the Holy Spirit of Redemption. In addition, He also gave them the Spirit of Truth to help sanctify them and the Spirit of Christ to transform them into perfection.

True Humility

John 13:5  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

     Our Lord showed humility by washing the feet of His disciples. Are you ready to emulate this act of humility?

True Love for Brethren

John 13:34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

    Jesus died for us! Are you willing to help and lay down your life for your brethren? If your answer is yes, then you have truly loved.  

True Anointing

John 14:15-17a,26  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth_.. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

   Do you want the greatest teacher that no amount of wealth can buy to be your personal aide? Keep His commandments.

True Empowering

John 16:13-14  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

    With the truth in us, we will be able to overcome all bondages, deceptions, temptations and heresies of the evil one.

True Glorification

John 17:22-23  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

    Once we have kept His words, the Spirit of Christ transforms us into His image. Glorification ascends us to be seated on His throne as His sons or as the bride of the Lamb.

Rev 3:21  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Humility and Servanthood (LS01)

          'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 13:1  Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

    Before His impending death, and out of His dying love for us, our Lord gave His ultimate instructions to His disciples, We must obey them at all costs since it is the route to His blessings, peace, security, abundant lives, protections, and eternal rewards.

    With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can discern His teachings in John 13-16. With that, we can gauge our present spiritual conditions and turn from our worldly ways to be led by the Holy Spirit by keeping His words.

Phi 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

    Jesus, the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth humbled Himself by being born in the stable among animals and became an obedient servant sentenced to death.

John 13:5-7  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."

    He demonstrated His servanthood once again by washing His disciples' feet. Before anything else, are we willing to lower ourselves to serve others? Brethren, bring yourselves down to the level of your friends, employees, sheep, poor brethren and children to enjoy their fellowship and you will be surprised at how God will bless you with His peace, joy and comfort.

    The moment we crucify our old man through humility, our spiritual man will be able to manifest His gifts, empowerment and anointing thus bringing glory to His Name.

John 13:13-15,17  "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you... If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

Mat 20:26-28  "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

A New Commandment (LS02)

          'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 13:34  " A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

Mat 22:37-40  Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

    Our Lord told us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Lev 19:18  "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."

    Loving our neighbours as ourselves is also included in the old commandment.

1 John 2:7  Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

What is this new commandment?

1 John 2:8  Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

    The wicked Jews who dwelled in darkness abused the old commandment by making excuses. The priests and the Levites in the parable of the good Samaritan assumed that if one was starving, one could survive on wheat alone. So it is reasonable to give a starving family only one kg of wheat! Is this how much I love myself?

    So when the true Light comes, this darkness will disappear. After our Lord had suffered and died for mankind, He repeated this new commandment to us.

John 15:12-13  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

    Brethren, we have to love one another as our Lord Jesus loved us. He was lashed thirty-nine times for our healing and died on the cross for our propitiation. Out of His great love for us, He suffered and died. Please see the love of Jesus in 'Passion of the Christ', as an example for us to follow. We too, can show our love to our brethren, by suffering and dying for one another.

What is Love?

1Cor 13:4-8a  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

True Discipleship (LS03)

      'Last Sermon of Jesus'

 

John 13:34-35  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

    Our Lord stated that when we love one another as He had loved us, then all, including Christians, will believe that we are truly His disciples. This is the beginning of a revival.

Acts 2:7-11 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

    The disciples were astounded that Jews from the four corners of the earth were hearing the gospel in their own language, from where they came from.

Acts 2:41-42,44-47  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

    When the disciples saw that thousands were saved, they were filled with so much joy that they gave up everything they owned.

Acts 4:13-14  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

   Even the priesthood marvelled at those uneducated fishermen disciples of Jesus, who preached fearlessly and performed miracles.

Acts 4:32-35  Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Believe Me (LS04)

        'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:1  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

    Our Lord Jesus knew that at His death, His disciples' faith would be badly shaken.

They witnessed first-hand how the crippled walked, the blind saw, the deaf heard, and the dead resurrected and they believed that He is the Son of God. Their misconception led them to believe that the Messiah was the king who would deliver Israel. 

    Therefore, it was preposterous that an immortal God can suffer and even die eventually. The disciples' hope and dreams died along with Jesus on that day.

    The truth is, God did not die. The flesh that God came in must suffer, for by His stripes we are healed; and then killed, for by His death we are redeemed.

    Regrettably, His disciples believed only what they saw for to them 'seeing is believing'. Disoriented, His disciples including Peter went back to fishing.

John 13:1  Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

You believe in God

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

    John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God.

John 1:35-36  Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

You also believe in Me

Mat 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

    Our Lord constantly reminded His disciples that as the sacrificial Lamb of God, He must suffer many things and then be killed, and on the third day, He would resurrect.

Mat 20:18-19  "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."

    Our Lord was trying to raise their faith level by telling them things to come so that they could believe.

John 20:29  Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

    Brethren, we must not be like the heathens or those without the Helper or Spirit of truth, who could only believe what they see. Let us move on to the next level of faith, whereby we believe the promises of God in accordance to His words and will.

Where Are You Going? (LS05)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:1-3  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

    Our Lord told His disciples that after His crucifixion, He will be with the Father in heaven. So the Roman soldiers actually helped God to fulfill His plan by sacrificing Jesus' physical body to redeem mankind. Our Lord, having completed His work on earth is now in heaven preparing a place for each one of us. This was to comfort His disciples that He was in full control of the situation.

John 14:4-5  "And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"

    Our Lord must be disheartened to see that Thomas and possibly His other disciples were still ignorant of the gospel; that believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God will give them eternal life in heaven. These disciples were with our Lord for three years, yet they failed to comprehend salvation. An emergency had arisen on the ground that our Lord would be betrayed that very night! How could these unlearned, naive and ignorant; possibly stupid, simple folks be expected to carry His gospel to the ends of the world? Besides, their disappointment of His death, His failure to come as the King of the Jews and the fear of persecution and martyrdom had blinded them.

John 20:21-22  So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

    Can you see that His disciples were only a group of simple-minded, ordinary folk? Nevertheless, after the coming and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts, these same disciples were immediately transformed into knowledgeable, wise, bold and powerful preachers of His everlasting gospel of truth and grace.  

Brethren, we too, can be mightily used by Him if we express our faith in Him by obeying and keeping His words and commandments.

I Am The Way (LS06)

        'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

      It is clear that Jesus is the only way to salvation and to God.

Rom 10:9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

      When we sincerely confess Jesus as Lord, we have surrendered our lives to Him. He becomes our Lord and Master and we are then His bond servants. His every word becomes our command. The death of our Lord Jesus at Calvary had redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells within us as His seal of redemption (John 20:21-22).

Acts 4:11-12  "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Rom 8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

      God, then becomes our Father and being His children, the devil no longer has any control or power over us since we have been delivered from Satan or the evil one.

2 Cor 13:5  Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

    We are reminded to examine ourselves whether we are keeping His words and commandments by bearing fruits of righteousness and of the Spirit. Only then He is indeed the Lord of our lives. This is the ultimate test of our faith in Jesus, otherwise we may be disqualified, even possibly losing our salvation, if Jesus is no longer our Lord.

2 Tim 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

      Paul kept the faith that 'Jesus is his Lord' by obeying His words, will and commandments, thus allowing Jesus to be the finisher of His faith.

Heb 12:2   looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

James 2:20,26   But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

      Brethren, try to give one hour every morning reading the NT and another hour every night the OT, so that we can complete reading the NT every month and the OT, once every three months. Then we can have a better assurance of knowing His words, commandments and will.

I Am The Truth (LS07)

        'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 8:31-32,36  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free..... Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

    If we obey and keep (abide) His word then we will know the truth, which will set us free from the flesh, worldliness, wickedness, falsehood, lies, covetousness, addictions and bad habits, fears, doubts, unbelief, deceptions and bondages.

Mark 4:34  But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

    All this while our Lord Himself taught His disciples, the mysteries and truth hidden in His parables.

Luke 18:28  Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You."

    His disciples obeyed and followed Him all those years, but still they were not able to know the truth because they had not yet received the Spirit of truth (another Helper).

John 14:15-17,26;16:3  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you... But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you... However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

    When we love Him (by keeping His words and commandments) at the request of our Lord Jesus, God will give us the Spirit of truth.

Acts 1:5,8  "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

      Our Lord instructed His disciples who loved Him, to wait until they had received the power of the Holy Spirit. So immediately after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, His disciples, having known the truth which is the knowledge and understanding of the mysteries and wisdom of God), preached the gospel boldly and fearlessly.      

Brethren, when we keep His words and commandments, our Lord will baptize us with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of truth), who will guide and teach us the truth hidden in the words, teachings and parables of Jesus.

Note - Christians and devout Jews filled with the Holy Spirit were given certain gifts of the Holy Spirit, but only Christians who are baptized in the Holy Spirit know the truth.

Acts 2:6-8  And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Luke 1:41  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:67  Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied...

I Am The Life (LS08)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:6  "Jesus said to him, " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

The Way - Baptism of Water

    Whoever sincerely believes our Lord Jesus, he is a child of God and a born again Christian (born of Spirit) with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the seal of redemption. His sins are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. His water baptism signifies his acceptance of Jesus Christ as His Saviour. Whenever he is filled with the Holy Spirit, he will operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as healing, tongues, faith, prophecies, etc.

    Brethren, we cannot stay as a child, but move on to maturity through the knowledge of Jesus (below)

Eph 4:11-15  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

The Truth - Baptism of the Holy Spirit      

    Whoever obeys Jesus is purified by the truth of His word or pure water (born of water). Jesus will then baptize him with the Holy Spirit by completely immersing his spirit in the Holy Spirit, who will then be able to guide and lead him into all truth. (Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God)   

1 Pet 1:22-23  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

    Having crucified the flesh (old man) we are now born again not only of the Spirit but also of water.

The Life - Baptism of Fire

    The abundant life given by our Lord is joyful and exciting, for we always experience His presence during our testing and trials. His peace and joy, comfort us and His powers and miracles surround and protect us, but our final testing is His baptism of fire.

Mark 9:49-50  "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

    We rejoice, though we suffer great pains by helping and loving others, so that we can live in peace with them by forgiving their persecutions, reviling, etc.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

      When we are offered as a living sacrifice by fire (pains caused by persecution, deceptions, lies, hatred, sickness, poverty, imprisonment, torture, martyrdom, betrayal, rejection) let our sacrifices be holy and acceptable (out of love for one another). Let us also glorify Him by joyfully accepting His painful will for us, just like our Lord Jesus joyfully endured the cross.

Heb 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Knowing God - Through Jesus (LS09)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:7-9  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Rom 8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

    Brethren, just by virtue of sincerely believing Jesus as the Son of God and accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour, we are now adopted as children of God as well.

    Having lived with the OA deep in the jungle, we acknowledge that they are ignorant of good hygiene. Since their houses are made of bamboo, we have to walk and sleep on the bamboo floor covered with their red spits (colour from chewing the betel nut). At night, they just remove the loose bamboo floor and relieve themselves, leaving us to suffer the foul smell of raw sewage.

    When their children excrete worms, they just pull them out with their bare fingers. Having accepted the Lord and our teachings along with good food and good hygienic practices, our brethren are healthier, cleaner and happier. Many OA still gives out a foul smell even with clean clothes on.

    We have temporarily adopted fifty OA tots who are five to ten years old for schooling. Should we allow them to continue with their unhygienic and filthy ways in their new home with us? We treat their sores, wounds and lice and also deworm them. We taught them how to use the toilet, toothbrush, soap and hygienic practices.

    We feed, teach and educate them. Initially, we have to wash their excretions in the rooms, halls, walkways and even on roads! Within two to three weeks, these sickly, foul-smelling tots look fresh, healthy, and most of all happy. Caring, playing and carrying these cute, clean, fragrant and cheerful OA tots is a joy and a blessing of God.

Col 1:21-23  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and 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.

    Brethren, since we have been adopted by God, we are now part of the family of God. To live In God's home, we have to leave behind our foul and filthy deeds of the old man (sins, pride, covetousness, hatred, deceptions, anger, wicked ways, worldliness, lies, etc.) and put on the fragrance of Christ (love, mercy, long-suffering, temperance, compassion, faith, etc.) by keeping His words. Without this transformation, putting on the righteousness of Jesus by constant repentance will not cover the unhygienic and smelly, sinful nature of the old man.

    How much joy will it give God, that by obeying His word, we can present ourselves holy, godly and joyful (clean, fragrant, healthy and cheerful) before Him.

A God of Humility (LS10)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:7-9  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Birth of Jesus

    He was humbled for being born among the animals in the stable.

Luke 2:7,11-12  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn... For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

Word Made Flesh

    Born as a bondservant in the form of a man.

Phi 2:5-7  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Baptized by John the Baptist

     He humbled Himself to request a human being to baptize Him.

Mat 3:13-15  Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

Washed Disciples' Feet

    Our Lord displayed His humility by washing His disciples' feet.

John 13:5  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Lamb of God

    The Son of God humbled Himself by dying on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb to redeem mankind from their sin.

Phi 2:8-11  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

From the above scriptures, we find that our Lord Jesus was filled with humility. Is it possible that our heavenly Father, the Almighty God and Creator of heaven and earth is also filled with humility?

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

    Our Almighty God will humble Himself and make the human body of anyone who loves Him and keeps His word as His home (throne or temple). He will become a Friend and Helper by living in his physical body, just like Jesus came in the flesh, so that He can teach, help, heal, protect, guide and minister to mankind.

Brethren, when we love Jesus by keeping His word, God will reveal His love and humility to us so that we can easily come before His face.

Is God Our Friend? (LS11)

       'Last sermon of Jesus'

John 14:7-9  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Jam 2:23  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

    Abraham and Moses were friends of God, for they believed Him and obeyed all His commands.

Gen 18:17,23-24  And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,'.. And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?"

    Abraham and Moses both talk to God as friends, and they even negotiated with God as they made their journeys to the promised land.

John 15:14-15  "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."

    When we obey Jesus' commands, we become His friends, then He will reveal God's will, plan, work and truth to us, and we will no longer be fearful or in darkness.

John 15:7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

    Brethren, as God's friends (if we obey His word), we have the privilege to talk to Him anytime, anywhere and anyhow or when His Holy Spirit impresses on us to intercede. He will always grant our requests because we ask only for good and helpful things such as wisdom, knowledge of God, truth, love for one another, peace, the Holy Spirit, riches in Christ Jesus, needs, and not the things of the world, which will lead us to covetousness, jealousy, carnality, pride, worldliness. Without repentance, our worldly desires will silently but surely destroy us.

John 16:24  "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

Mat 7:11  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

   Brethren, when we pray in secret in our rooms, let us always worship our heavenly Father, the Almighty God, by bowing down to Him, for He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Zeal For His House (LS12)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:7-9  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

John 2:13-17  Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

    Our Lord ensured that the temple of God, where God dwells is not defiled. Though the traders (for the convenience of the Jews from afar) were only selling oxen, sheep and doves, all meant for sacrifices to God, still, our Lord would not allow this to defile His temple.

Note - Churches and Christian missions must not be involved in any type of business, investments in banks, stocks, properties, etc. Let God bless our brethren businessmen, who make the money offer it to God as love offerings.

John 2:19-21  Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

    Since our physical bodies are temples of God, God will be zealous to ensure that we keep them holy otherwise He may not dwell within us. For God in us is the hope of glory.

1Cor 3:16-17  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Col 1:26-27  The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Col 3:8-10  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

The Father's Revelation (LS13)

      'Last Sermon of Jesus'

 

John 14:7  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

   Jesus' disciples witnessed His numerous miracles. Healing the sick, blind, crippled and deaf, casting out demons, walking on water and raising the dead. To Him nothing was impossible. They also believed that He was the coming Messiah to deliver Israel.

Mat 16:14  So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

    Because of their deeply ingrained Jewish convictions, the Almighty God, Yahweh is esteemed as a righteous, holy but judgmental God. No sinful human having seen God could stay alive, so they could only believe Jesus as another prophet like Elijah or Moses. When our Lord taught them things that were too difficult to accept, they just abandoned Him.

John 6:66  From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

John 6:67-69  Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

    The twelve disciples, who followed Him and had been living together with Him in His new found family, confessed Him as 'the Son of the living God' which was revealed to them by God.

Mat 16:15-17  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

    Brethren, to get revelations from God, just like the twelve disciples, we need to spend as much time as possible before His presence in our quiet time. Meditate on His word while reflecting on His love, long-suffering, and deliverance for the rebellious Jews in the OT. Take heed of His warnings concerning heresies and depraved Christians in the last days, so that we immerse ourselves in prayers of gratitude for perfecting our sinful nature to the fulfilment of His will and the advancement of His kingdom.

Seen the Father (LS14)

         'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:7-8  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."

    The Jews feared God very much, for they realized that they had not loved Him nor kept His commands. They dare not mention His Name but just YHWH because He is righteous, holy and just, the Almighty God, who quickly metes out judgment and chastisements.

Deu 11:1-2  "Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. Know today that I do not speak with your children, who have not known and who have not seen the chastening of the Lord your God, His greatness and His mighty hand and His outstretched arm"

Deu 28:1-2  "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:"

    Yahweh is a God of justice, who will bless those who obey His commands, but curse those who disobey Him. Since Yahweh is a righteous and just God, how can He be merciful? So the only mercy that the Jews could expect from Yahweh was possibly the reduction of chastisements for their sins.

Deu 28:15  "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:"

Hosea 6:6  "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

    The Jews did not realize that Yahweh is all merciful, for His throne is the mercy seat and He desires mercy more than sacrifices.

Luke 23:34a  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

    Our Lord displayed the love and mercies of the Father on the cross. All those who know Jesus has seen the attributes of the Almighty God - merciful, compassionate, humble, righteous, faithful, upright and just.

Brethren, love God! It is by His grace that our sins are forgiven whenever we confess and repent of our iniquities. Our Lord Jesus was judged for our sins on the cross at Calvary, otherwise, hell fire awaits us! As such, we too must forgive our brethren who have sinned against us.

God Became a Man (LS15)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

Phi 2:5-7  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

    Our Almighty God relinquished all His divine authority and powers when He incarnated into a human form, called Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:22  "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know"

Luke 2:21  And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

    Jesus' parents decided that He should grow up as a Jew so that Yahweh can bless Him and bring Him up. So, on the eighth day by faith, Jesus was circumcised. Just as by faith, we have our children baptized into the body of Christ.

Luke 2:39-40  So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

   Just like Samuel and Samson, God was with Jesus and filled Him with wisdom.

1 Sam 3:19  So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

Judg 13:24  So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.

Luke 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

    The only difference between Jesus and the chosen Jews lies in the fact that the Spirit of Jesus is the Spirit of God, but the others were human spirits created by God just before they were formed in the wombs.

Isaiah 44:24  Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

    So, if God is still creating human spirits and has not completed His creation work, then we are still living in His sixth day of creation.

(Note: the new heaven and the new earth have not been created yet.)

Gen 2:3  Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

    Since the Hebrew language has no vowels and no tenses, the above scripture can be translated as such.

    And God will bless the seventh day and will sanctify it because He will rest from all His work which He has created and made.

(Had God rested after creating Adam, and if 1 creation day is taken as 1000 years, then Adam must be over 1000 years old, but Adam died at the age of only 930 years old)

Heb 4:1  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

    This will be our rewards - entering His rest on the Seventh Day of Creation, to be with the Lord forever in the new heaven and the new earth.

On the sixth day, God created all living things, Adam and Eve. If God is still creating human spirits for every new born and the coming new heaven and new earth, then one creation day can be one billion years. The hypothesis revealed that science is just a discovery of the mysteries of the creation of God such physical, chemical, thermodynamic and gravitational laws, forces, molecules, DNA, stem cells, viruses and medicine.

Jesus the Man (LS16)

        'Last Sermon of Jesus'

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."

    Jesus was born a human being but His Spirit was the Holy Spirit. Since He gave up His divine powers and authority, His Spirit is similar to that of the human spirit. Baby Jesus was circumcised (Luke2:22) to become a Jew so that the Holy Spirit can protect Him. Similarly, by faith when a child is baptised into the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit will protect, guide and lead him to be God-fearing with godly wisdom.

Whole Household Baptized

Act 16:15a  And when she (Lydia) and her household were baptized,..

     Whole households or families (must include babies and children, otherwise it will be specified) were baptized by the apostles.

Act 16:33  And he (jailer) took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Mat 15:38  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

Isaiah 3:4-5  "I will give children to be their princes, And babes shall rule over them. The people will be oppressed, Every one by another and everyone by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, And the base toward the honorable."

    When a generation is wicked, babies and children will become rulers, especially in their homes. During these last days, children are so rebellious and disobedient that they cause great pain, sorrow and troubles in many homes. Thank God that our God-fearing children (those baptized) will not be like them, for the Holy Spirit through His word will lead them to love, honour, respect and obey their parents.

Mat 3:13,16-17  Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him...When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

    When Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by John the Baptist, God sent the Holy Spirit (to baptize) to be with Him for He had pleased God by His obedience of humility.

Matt 4:1  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

    After our Lord had overcome the temptations of Satan, He was full of the Holy Spirit for His ministry.

John 5:19  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."

    The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to perform signs and wonders in accordance to God's will.

John 7:16-17  Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

    God also leads Him into all truth and doctrines, and whoever sincerely wants to do God's will, he too will be able to understand His truth and doctrines.

Brethren, when we continuously obey His word, Jesus will baptized us with the Holy Spirit. If Jesus (a man and elder Brother), who was led by the Holy Spirit could fulfil God's will, we too can be transformed into His image to do His will, if we are led by the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit.

Believe In Him Whom God Has Sent (LS17)

         'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 6:28-29  Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

    A farmer's work will include clearing the land, tilling the earth, sowing the seeds, and watering the seedlings until the harvest. Similarly, those doing the work of God, are expected to believe in Him, whom God sent until they are called home (His harvest).

James 2:17-18  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

    Thus, believing is working out our faith in God. When we read the bible, we begin to understand the attributes of God, His creation, the fall of man, His deliverance and salvation. Then, it is our work to ensure that we believe these scriptures as the word of God and not just myths. If anyone thinks that creation and OT events are myths, then he is a non-believer.

    Once we believe the bible is the word of God, then our work is to try to understand God's redemption plan, the sacrificial Lamb of God, the Saviour, the Baptiser of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Healer, the Provider, the Father, the Shepherd, the Teacher and the Messiah so that we can believe that Jesus was the One sent by God.

    Once we believe that Jesus is the Christ, then from studying the bible we will know His words, teachings, commandments, and instructions, and then, it is our work to believe them by obeying them.

   Brethren, it is only when we obey and kept all the words, teachings and commandments of Jesus, that we are doing the work of God.

John 5:44-47  "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

    Anyone, who seeks the approval of men, will reject Jesus' teachings. To satisfy the desires of worldly, carnal and covetous Christians, he will teach the distorted truth and heresies to their itching ears.

Mat 15:8-9  "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

    The biggest problem today is the craze for distorted doctrines and false teachings of men, which led many to worldliness and destruction. The truth in the Word of God that leads to holiness and eternal life, is shunned by depraved and covetous pastors, Christians and Christian leaders.

The Father In Me (LS18)

         'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:10a  "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."

John 14:23  "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

    Unless we love Jesus by keeping His word, the Father will not be in us. Our Lord Jesus kept God's word and will, so the Father was in Him.

John 10:37-38  "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."

    Signs and wonders can only be performed by God and not by man. So, whoever consistently performs signs and wonders (not lies not deceptions) in the Name of Jesus, then we know that the Father is in him, for the Father in him is performing all these miracles. This is different from those 'filled with the Holy Spirit' whom God uses to perform the miracle just once (twice or so) to meet the needs of the brethren.

Note - whoever is filled with the Holy Spirit, will be given the gifts of the Holy Spirit to meet the needs then.  Read  1Cor 12: 7-11

John 5:19  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."

    However, our Lord could only perform the miracles which God wanted Him to do otherwise He could not do them.

Matt 15:24  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

    Jesus was sent by God only to minister to the Jews, and He was not authorized to heal non-Jews.

Matt 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

    Out of God's mercy to the Gentiles who had great faith in Him, He gave them healing; the Centurion in Mat 8:5-13 and Naaman the leper, in 2 Kings 5:5-14). Thus, our Lord Jesus was able to heal the Canaanite's daughter and the Centurion's servant.

1 Tim 4:1-2  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

    So when these unlearned and covetous televangelists and pastors display their pride and healing powers in public without God's approval, God will not perform miracles for He is our Lord and King, not our servant. These depraved televangelists and pastors, who are without conscience, will therefore resort to lies and false miracles.

    Brethren have nothing to do with them otherwise we may be found to be partakers of their deceptions.

Doing Greater Works (LS19)

         'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:12-14  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."    

If we believe in Jesus as -

Saviour - we will fervently be preaching the gospel everywhere.

Lord - As servants, we must faithfully obey all His words, instructions and teachings.

King - Jesus' commandments, will and words are our decrees.

Provider - Jesus will meet all our needs and we don't need to hoard up.

Healer - Jesus will heal and we don't need any other physician.

and also as Teacher, Protector, Deliverer, Comforter, Advisor... then we can do greater works than what our Lord Jesus had done before. Millions of us are faced with a different types of difficulties and challenges when we do His work and preach His gospel. In the book of Acts, many miracles found were different from those performed by our Lord Jesus.

During our thirty years of ministering in remote and inaccessible areas that are without any medical facilities, we constantly experience His power, presence, deliverance and healing. Here are some of the testimonies that glorify God

   OA woman in labour, suffering for two nights, suspected baby in breech position, gave birth immediately after prayer,

    A tigress guarding its cub who was caught in a wild boar trap fled on seeing our unsuspecting tiny OA brethren as an angel advancing,

   An OA child was drowned for more than ten minutes under the river bed was revived instantly after prayer.

    It is normally these simple and obvious miracles that bring the heathens to believe in Jesus, that our Father in heaven is glorified.

Signs and wonders are still common in remote, poor and needy areas.

Brethren, most of our prayers of salvation, provisions, deliverance, and healing for the benefits of the poor and desperate Chinese villagers and the almost inaccessible OA brethren deep in the jungle were joyfully answered by our Lord.

The Spirit of Truth (LS20)

         'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:15-17a  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth,"…

    The Spirit of truth is given only to those who love Him by keeping His commandments.

Acts 1:5, 8  "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

    Our Lord Jesus told them to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, who will empower them, and they will be His witnesses.

Acts 2:4-6  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

    At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came, all the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke in tongues. The devout Jews, who came to Jerusalem to worship and to offer sacrifices to Yahweh also had the gift of the interpretation of tongues just like other godly Jews who were filled with the Holy Spirit:- Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-45 Word of wisdom), Zachariah (Luke 1:67-79 Prophecy), Simeon (Luke 2:25-32 Word of knowledge), and in the OT when the Spirit of God was upon Saul and his messengers, all of them also prophesied, etc.

    The manifestation of any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is normally the sign of those 'filled with the holy Spirit'. Speaking in tongues is the most prominent.

Acts 2:14, 36  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words"...... "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

    At Pentecost, as promised all the disciples, who had followed and obeyed Jesus, were baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of truth then leads them into all truth. Peter, a fisherman being empowered by the Holy Spirit became His witness, who fearlessly preached the gospel in truth.

Acts 2:37-38  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

    The anointed preaching of Peter convicted the hearers. 'Witnessing in truth fearlessly' is possibly the sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and 'speaking in tongue', is possibly a sign of those 'filled with the Holy Spirit', or a gift for service in the church in 1Cor 12:2

    Today, with depraved and covetous pastors and televangelists boldly and zealously preaching the prosperity gospel for personal gain, we can discern these wolves with the fruit of the Spirit as stated in Gal 5:22-25

Abide Forever (LS21)

       'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:15-16  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."

    When the Israelites disobeyed God, God suffered greatly for their sins and iniquities. Similarly, our disobedience will bring great suffering to God.

Eze 4:5,9,12  "For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.… Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it…. And you shall eat it as barley cakes; and bake it using fuel of human waste in their sight."

    God abhors sin, that He has to drive Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. It is so nauseating and revolting to eat bread bake in human excretion, and this is what sin is to God.

Eph 1:13  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

    When we become a Christian He gives us His holy Spirit (the seal of redemption) to dwell within us. Whenever we sin, our body is full with sin (excreta), and the holy Spirit dwelling in us will be forced to be immersed in excreta. He will always suffer greatly from this nauseating, and revolting humiliation whenever we sin. His holy Spirit will not leave us, otherwise, we will lose our salvation and be condemned to hell.

Phi 2:12-13  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

    Brethren, until we confess and repent of our sins and the blood of Jesus cleanses these filthy sins, the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is grieved and has to suffer the nauseating sin committed by us. This great love of God for us is beyond our imagination (Please read Rom 8:35-39).

    It is only when we know Him and understand His sacrifices, love and sufferings that we begin to appreciate His love by keeping His words. Only then can He baptize us with the Holy Spirit, so that God can work in us, with His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and set us free from the corruption of this world.

   Brethren, God loves us so much that He wants to dwell in our bodies forever. Are we going to perpetuate His suffering by immersing Him in our sins (excreta)?

John 14:16  "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."

Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

   Brethren, when we evangelise and disciple the new converts according to the truth in His words, our Lord will be always be with us. He will lead, guide, teach and protect us especially during these last days of great distress and tribulation.

World Cannot Receive (LS22)

         'Last Sermon of Jesus'

John 14:16-17  "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."

    The Spirit of truth is holy and He cannot dwell in any filthy or sinful temple.

Gen 3:8  And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

    God created Adam and Eve so that they could walk alongside Him as friends in the cool of the day. Instead, they sinned by disobeying God, and God had to chase them out from the Garden of Eden.

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

    God continued to walk with Enoch as with Adam and Eve, and Enoch did not see death, for he was physically taken up to heaven.

Gen 18:16-17  Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,"

    God continued to speak to the Patriarchs, and in this case with Abraham in the appearance of a man.

Gen 6:5-6  Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

    Man was a great disappointment to God, since they were filled with great wickedness and their every intent was continually evil.

   In those days God Himself came down to earth to talk and walk with man, but when He was not around, they rebelled against Him. Thus, 2000 years after creation, almost all of mankind became idol worshippers. Man was so sinful that the Spirit of God could not dwell among man.

The Law and Commandments

    Because of His great love for man, God was prepared to endure the nauseating and revolting sins dwelling in the bodies of men. All for the sake of delivering man from their bondages. He called Abraham out from Ur, and because of Abraham's obedience and faith in God, He gave laws to his descendants through Israel (Jacob) to observe, so that they were sanctified by the sacrificial lamb.

    Then, God sent His Spirit to dwell with all His anointed kings, priesthood and prophets in order to help them overcome the evil and wickedness in man.

[Warning - God cannot dwell in any defile temple i.e. sinful human physical bodies ]

2 Tim 3:1-7  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    Beware, brethren, that in the last days, not only unbelievers but Christians too will be filled with evil and wickedness. This will grieve the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.