Solid Ground sisters - Podcast #8 – The Heritage, Salvation, and Learnings of A.B. Simpson

 https://blog.xuite.net/warrenlois/twblog/120139389-%E5%AE%A3%E4%BF%A1%E5%B0%8F%E5%82%B3%EF%BC%88A.B.+Simpson%2C1843%EF%BD%9E1919%EF%BC%89

Solid Ground sisters - Podcast #7 – Moody’s Relationships

What the kind of person Moody is. 

1. A people person - He learnt to work with people (all kinds of people). He seemed to know many children, and the reason was that he visited them in person. 

2. Being raised in poverty, so Moody didn't want to show preferences with people and he liked to serve with common folks. 

3. Love and sympathy was his way to preach the gospel to others. 

4. A person of singing - using hymns as a vehicle along with his gospel preaching 

5. During the civil war, he was a conscientious objector. But he managed to go to the frontline to preach the gospel and visit the sick and wounded. 

6. He loved the believers, but he was very bothered about the matter of "divisions" in the Body of Christ because it was damage to the believers in receiving the gospel. The ground of oneness is very important. Keep the oneness and practise the oneness. 

When asked by the end of Moody's life, he said "What was the secret of his success" - every time he addresses things in his speaking, he was with the Lord's coming in view. He relied on the Lord to strengthen him in his speaking. 

Solid Ground sisters - [Podcast #5 – The Little-Known Burden of D.L. Moody]

Source of the podcase: 

https://ageturners.org/podcast-5-the-little-known-burden-of-d-l-moody/

Rm 10:13 For “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Rm 10:14 How then shall they call upon Him into whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe into Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without one who proclaims Him?

Rm 10:15 And how shall they proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the news of good things!”

--

Lord, may we be someone who speaks this gospel! 

(http://www.aboutbible.net/ecclesiastical-history/dwight-l-moody/)

Solid Ground Bible Study - Different aspects of the matter of reconciliation

Verse reading (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

18 But all things are out from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 Namely, that God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself, not accounting their offenses to them, and has put in us the word of reconciliation. 

20 On behalf of Christ then we are ambassadors, as God entreats you through us; we beseech you on behalf of Christ, Be reconciled to God.

>>> the apostles are fully authorised to bring saints to the reconciliation to God. 

21 Him who did not know sin He made sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The ministry of the NT - many ministers are in the one ministry (Unlike what's commonly discussed in the Christianity 

Two stages of reconciliation 

1. Unbelievers need to be reconciled to God

2. Believers need to be further reconciled to God. 

Something other than sins, but what we are, our being, our flesh, and our natural constitution also hinder us from being fully reconciled to God (the 2nd veil). 

Life-study radio 46 - The Correspondence between the Vision in Revelation 12 and the Book of Ephesians

The whole armour of God is for the Body, and thus it requires us to be in the Body (in the fellowship of the Body). Strength gets magnified when we have one another. 

Watchman Nee - tried to preach the gospel but couldn't succeed because, during that time, he thought that the matter of victory is only concerned with individuals. Yet when he realised that he needed to ask people he was staying with to pray for him. Even though people who stayed with him were not educated much to understand too many spiritual things, they were real believers. They prayed for brother Nee and the blessing followed. 

Life-study of Revelation msg 45 - The Beast out of the Earth

The characteristics of false prophets

Rev. 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.

Rev. 13:12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his sight, and he causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose death stroke was healed.

Rev. 13:13 And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth before men.

Rev. 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth on account of the signs which he was given [power] to do before the beast, commanding those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast, who had the stroke of the sword and revived.

Therefore, not a matter of signs that we should focus on, but the life that we shall focus on. 

Only this kind of life will preserve us till the end - the life that God has put in us to be lived out. 

Rev. 13:15 And [power] was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast that the image of the beast might even speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Rev. 13:16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

Rev. 13:17 And that no one may be able to buy or sell except him who has the mark, [that is,] the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred sixty-six.

Life-study msg 43 - The Beast Out of the Sea (3)

Opening Word: 

(Brother Lee was burdened to illuminate the saints to identify this anti-Christ)  

1. Oppose God, 

2. Pursecute all God's people (Jews+Christians) 

3. Smart in mind intellectually 

4. Capable

5. Superpower - the verse shows how powerful and evil he is. 

(Rv 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority) 

When we refer to the book of Daniel - the anti-Christ is the totality of all wild beasts. 

- a leopard - Alexander the great (the 3rd beast in Dan 7)

- a bear - middle Persia empire (destroying) (the 2nd beast in Dan 7) 

- a lion - Babalonion empire with devouring mouth (the 1st beast in Dan 7)

The man of lawlessness ---> sin = lawlessness 

We need to pray that Lord, we don't want the law of lawlessness operating in me but the law of Godliness operates in us. Lord, I don't wanna dethrone you- I want to make you the throne in my heart. When God came with His overcomers, He slays the anti-Christ with His breath, that is, the Word of God.  

Daniel, Paul, and John all share the same thing even though they were in different times in history. They all love the Lord, and they all describe how the end time will be like and who is the anti-Christ. 

6. Touch the stars and heavens

7. So strong and attractive in appearance 

• We are not in darkness (because we have these words) - we know what kind of person that the anti-Christ and is and will not be attracted to him. 
• We should not be people who pursue miracles and wonders- we should focus on the source even if there are miracles and wonders. Christ is whom that we pursue. 

Solid Ground: 2 Cor life-study (Meeting) - The Ministers of the New Covenant (1)

2Co 3:3 Since you are being manifested that you are a letter of Christ ministered by us, inscribed not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone but in tablets of hearts of flesh.

2 Co 3:4 And such confidence we have through Christ toward God,

2 Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,

*sufficient - or, competent, qualified, fit, worthy. The apostle's sufficiency comes from his knowing God inscribing on him as every letter.  

Christ is every alphabet - I am the Alpha and Omega. 

Paul knows Christ as alpha, beta... etc. - he knows Christ as every letter. 

Writing this letter with ink (oil) - that is we need to be filled with Christ, the life-giving Spirit 

Solid Ground: 1 Thes 5 (sisters gathering) - To Be Sanctified Wholly with Our Spirit, Soul, and Body Preserved Complete

Blessed are those who can say "I don't know" (XD)

- The only thing you need to learn is to say "I don't know". 

- Blessed are the poor in spirit and pure in heart. 

What it means to be sanctified wholly? 

- May your spirit, and soul, and body be preserved wholly. 

- Three parts need to be preserved from any dead works. 

Heb. 9:14 How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

- In fellowship with the Lord via the following means (singing, praying, rejoicing, praising etc.) 

1 Thes. 5:16 Always rejoice,
1 Thes. 5:17 Unceasingly pray,
1 Thes. 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How to be preserved complete? 

How to preserve these parts: 

1. Spirit 

- To fellowship with God (exercise this by praying with God) - this will help our spirit living! 

To rejoice, to pray, to give thanks are the ways to exercise our spirit. 

- intuition "knowing" whether we are right or wrong 

- conscience being justified 

2. Soul - 

3. Body - 

Life-study msg 42 - The Beast Out of the Sea (2)

Opening word

Two stages of the anti-Christ's manifestation

Prior to his assassination (emerge as a remarkable leader) - highly intelligent and capable of gaining a lot of followers. 

After his assassination - the spirit of Nero entered into him and he'll become anti-Christ - declare himself as God and want to be worshipped as God. (Judaism, Catholicism, and Christians will be persecuted). 

Bible reading: 

Rev. 13:1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and on his heads names of blasphemy.

Dan. 9:26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing; and the people of the prince who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end of it will be with a flood, and even to the end [there will be] war; desolations are determined.

Dan. 9:27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week; and in the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and will replace the sacrifice and the oblation with abominations of the desolator, even until the complete destruction that has been determined is poured out upon the desolator.

In the beginning, the Jews are still able to practise Judaism, but afterwards, the anti-Christ will exalt himself and want the Jews to worship him. Abominations and desolations will be brought into the temple. Other religions and beliefs will be destroyed as well. 

---

In Dan 11, there were two kings 

North King: Syria (Persia) - the type of the anti-Christ 

South King: Egypt

. 

Anti-Christ

> his source comes from the Greek race 

> Macedonian 

> Not from the west Roman Empire

> But from the East Roman Empire

> From the middle east (???)

What is young people's attitude towards all these prophecies? 

2 Pet. 1:19 And we have the prophetic word [made] more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

A careful study from the shining of the divine life. 

Solid Ground: 1 Thes 5 (Meeting) - To Be Sanctified Wholly with Our Spirit, Soul, and Body Preserved Complete

Quantitatively, God sanctifies us wholly; 

Qualitatively, God preserves us complete, that is, He keeps our spirit, soul, and body perfect

Be preserved - active-passive :)

1. Our default situation - a deadened condition 

• We must keep our spirit in a living condition - exercising (rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks) 
•  "exercising" means to put in some effort (on the one hand, God is doing it; on the other hand, we need to cooperate by putting in some effort).  
• Why our spirit sometimes feel heavy? We can see something, listen to something, etc. to deaden to our spirit 
• Being passive - just to do nothing 
• We need to be saved from this passivity 
• Sometimes, we might be "saying too much" yet without any reality and content. The Lord 

1 Thes Life-study 20 - Our Heart to be Established Blameless in Holiness and our Body to be Preserved Clean in Sanctification

Our heart needs to be sanctified, our body needs to be preserved in sanctification. 

Two hearts - 

1. Physical heart 

2. Psychological heart - 

All spiritual illness comes from this psychological heart (Three arteries: mind, emotions, and will). 

Have blockages in our psychological arteries - taking things other than Christ in our mind, emotion, and will. 

Romans 12: 1-2  - Presenting our Body and our inner heart being renewed. 

Rom. 12:1 I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Rom. 12:2 And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

Having rooted and grounded in love

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength."

To be saturated with the Lord,

Secret: Hymnal 572 

Thy Spirit will me saturate
Every part will God permeate,
Deliv’ring me from the old man,
With all saints building for His plan.

Excercise our spirit, opening/turning of our heart: So that the Lord can transform us. 

Fornication is the most defiling sin. Have our body be preserved clean. Inward being represented by our heart in blameless; our body clean in sanctification. 

Before God: we need to be sanctified. 

Before man: we need honour. 

How fornication can destroy/damage us. It does affect our being saturated with the Lord

Rom. 12:1 I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Rom. 12:2 And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

Rom. 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, [but] be burning in spirit, serving the Lord.

Life-study msg 41 - The Beast Out of the Sea (1)

Bible verses: Rev. 13

Rev. 13:1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and on his heads names of blasphemy.

Sea: mediterranean sea 

Beast: anti-Christ (Daniel 2; 7; 8 firstly mentioned and developed all the way to Revelation) 

Intellectual (the insights, political science, scientific knowledge, marvelously smart) 

Charismatic (attractive, eloquent, persecuting the saints, making wars with the saints, to wear out God's people)

Why do we need to be watchful? 

Dan 8 - the ram (Persia) and the goat (Greece) 

Ram- ?

Goat - Alexandar the great - break into four kingdoms 

A little horn rises up - grow exceedingly towards Egypt (South), Asia Minor (East), Judea (west), 

Source- Greece and Macedonia but not quite sure where exactly he will rise up. 

Solid Ground: 1 Thes 4 - Preserve our vessel in sanctification (note taking)

Brother Chris C.

Both the Lord Jesus and apostle Paul gave warnings, and these warnings are out of love.


The most defiling sin is fornication, that is, having sex outside a proper marriage. Other things also can defile us (e.g. the love for money etc., similar to having an improper relationship with money). 

Whether we feel that we are living a sinful life or not, we can all come forward to God with boldness. God's heart is not to condemn us, but "sin no more". In order to do so, we need to flee and pursue with companions.  

God's heart is that we can go on with Him! 

1 Thes Life-study 19: Our Heart to be Established Blameless in Holiness (2)

Bible verses:

1 Thes. 3:12 And the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we also to you,
1 Thes. 3:13 So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

The soul and the heart

The soul is composed of the mind, emotion, and will. 

The heart is composed of the soul + the conscience (the spirit) 

Our heart is our acting representative (the person in action), and that's why is it so important to keep our heart.

Prov. 4:23 – Keep your heart with all vigilance, / For from it are the issues of life.

Mt 12:34 Offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mt 12:35 The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things.
Mt 12:36 And I say to you that every idle word which men shall speak, they will render an account concerning it in the day of judgment.

A new heart (a heart turns to God and a heart that is pure) 

Characteristics of a new heart 

1. A heart turns to the Lord

Not a different heart - but a heart that turns to God and is renewed (a continual and unchangeable process) - sometimes we have the feeling to want to turn to God - this is a sign that this heart is renewed. 

In our part, we need to exercise ourselves to turn to Him, He has a way to flow through us and our daily activities. We need to switch on to let the heavenly electricity flow through us. 

2. A heart that is pure (pure in heart) 

The heart is seeking purity. - the single purpose and motive - we do things because we love God. 

How to establish our hearts blameless in holiness. - we're on the way to be fully separated from the world and way to holiness. 

God Himself is our only goal and only aim, and our heart is filled and saturated with God. At this point, God becomes the holiness of our hearts. It is a heart that is separated to God and saturated with God and our heart becomes our unchangeableness. God's element wrought into us to establish us.  

Life-study msg 40 - The Actuality and Practicality of the Bright Woman

Bible Verses: 

Rev. 13:1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and on his heads names of blasphemy.

Rev. 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

Rev. 13:3 And one of his heads was as it were slain to death, and his death stroke was healed. And the whole earth marveled after the beast.

Rev. 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? And who can make war with him?

Rev. 13:5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and authority was given to him to act for forty-two months.

Rev. 13:6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, which tabernacle in heaven.

Rev. 13:7 And [permission] was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority was given to him over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

Rev. 13:8 And all those dwelling on the earth will worship him, [everyone] whose name is not written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev. 13:9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

Rev. 13:10 If anyone is for captivity, into captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he is to be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.

Rev. 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.

Rev. 13:12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his sight, and he causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose death stroke was healed.

Rev. 13:13 And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth before men.

Rev. 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth on account of the signs which he was given [power] to do before the beast, commanding those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast, who had the stroke of the sword and revived.

Rev. 13:15 And [power] was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast that the image of the beast might even speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Rev. 13:16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

Rev. 13:17 And that no one may be able to buy or sell except him who has the mark, [that is,] the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred sixty-six.

Bible - A matter concerning life - A book of life - this applies to the prophecies  

Promises to the woman that she will have a seed to bruise the head of the Serpent. 

In our living and walk, we might be part of the dragon. - we might do this unintentionally. We can be used by the dragon to oppose God's economy. 

The reality of being one with the universal woman is to live in our regenerated spirit. We have to ask ourselves, are we side with the dragon or with the woman. There's no third ground. How do we live and walk according to the spirit? Do we let the Lord live in us, we live in the heavenly position that the enemy has no ground to touch us. Otherwise, we can also be food to the enemy. 

1 Thes Life-study 9: The Reward of Fostering

They lived what they preached.

Bible reading: 1 Thes. 2:10-20

1 Thes. 2:10 You are witnesses, as well as God, how in a holy and righteous and blameless manner we conducted ourselves toward you who believe,
1 Thes. 2:11 Just as you know how [we were] to each one of you, as a father to his own children, exhorting you and consoling [you] and testifying,
1 Thes. 2:12 So that you might walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thes. 2:13 And because of this we also thank God unceasingly that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted [it] not [as] the word of men but even as it truly is, the word of God, which also operates in you who believe.
1 Thes. 2:14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they also from the Jews,
1 Thes. 2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out; and they are not pleasing to God and are contrary to all men,
1 Thes. 2:16 In that they forbid us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so that they fill up their sins always. But wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
1 Thes. 2:17 But we, brothers, having been bereaved of you for a little while, in presence, not in heart, were more abundantly eager with great desire to see your face.
1 Thes. 2:18 Therefore we wanted to come to you, indeed I Paul, both once and again, yet Satan hindered us.
1 Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Are not even you?
1 Thes. 2:20 For you are our glory and joy.


Our understanding of Christian work
- Christian work is to grow instead of to educate or edification/improving characters.
- Paul considered the young believers are in a big family to grow together.
- Paul didn't give much teaching but gave life.
- A work of life - announcing the gospel to people without life. Therefore, our preaching the gospel is to impart life. As a father exhorting them and a mother nourishing them.


Education comes with growing as well so it is an important component but it is not all.
To imitate = to grow: Imitating in a family means to grow. Showing them (the children) the pattern.
Paul fed the young believers (his children) what he lived - his way of handling the Word of God, etc.


Paul was not trying to boast about himself but to feed the young believers what he lived. This kind of living can actually feed people.


Being a pattern is to feed people instead of trying to teach, teach, and teach. We might feel satisfied with our being able to teach others but it didn't feed people. The young believers can still be hungry.


What is the reward/crown (of fostering)


1 Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Are not even you?
1 Thes. 2:20 For you are our glory and joy.


- Paul was emotional but the best father- he just wanted to let the new believers know that whatever he had is really for the young believers. His life would be meaningless without these young believers (children).


- The best way to foster your children is to touch their (the children) heart.
- You thought to be an overcomer, you will be happy before the Lord - but Paul here said no, the glory and the joy are these believers.
- In order to care for new believers, we have to be such ones who are filled with Christ and live Christ.

Life-study 1: Introduction to a Holy Life for the Church Life

Bible verses: 

1 Thes. 1:1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
1 Thes. 1:2 We thank God always concerning all of you, making mention [of you] in our prayers,
1 Thes. 1:3 Remembering unceasingly your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; 

Enjoyment 

• One of the earliest writing from Paul - when Paul was still on his journey. 
• A solid beginning to a church with rather young believers who were gentiles (young spiritually and in age as well). Therefore, this book is full of tender loving care. 

• 1 Thes. 1:1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
• Jesus Christ is "our Lord" 
• God is "our Father" 
• These indicate that we have a life relationship with God, and we're also in the organic union with God after we're saved. 
• 1 Thes. 1:2 We thank God always concerning all of you, making mention [of you] in our prayers,
  1 Thes. 1:3 Remembering unceasingly your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; 
• Apostle Paul did not approach the new believers in an authoritarian way but in a way of love. 
• Work must be issued from faith
• Faith is a gift of God, from God's infusing us with Himself.  
• Love lasts long (love is the motivation)
• love being worked into us.
• Endurance comes from hope, and in any
• Without hope, we have no endurance. Something worked into us to have such an endurance that can endure any kinds of troubles. 
• In faith, in love, and in hope. 

Life-study msg 36 - The Woman and the Man-Child

Bible reading: Rev. 12

The vision of the woman and the man-child

This woman 

1. Submission - to allow the Husband to impart Himself into her.

2. Not doing anything for God, but we need something of Him 

3. Our receiving Christ will cause us to be "pregnant" to have this manchild. 

This manchild is what God needs to end this age.

This manchild

1. The strong part of this constitution

2. We all need to be manchild - being fully constituted with the elements of Christ 

3. Daily experience - receiving something of Christ 

4. In our experience, we are still woman, the weak ones. We need to learn to submit ourselves to Christ and daily receiving something of Christ. This will make us manchild.

5. Even before us being resurrected, we can be manchild today. 

The manchild is distinct from the woman but is one with the woman, from the strong part of the woman. 

Life-Study of 2 Kings msg 11: Elisha's Ministry of Grace

Miracle one performed by Elisha (2 Kings 2:19-22; corresponding to Jesus's performing miracle in John C2) 

Application: When God enters into us and into our situation, He changes death into life. 

2 Kings 2:19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, The location of the city is good, as my lord can see; but the water is bad, and the land is barren.

2 Kings 2:20 And he said, Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it. And they brought [it] to him.

2 Kings 2:21 And he went out to the source of the water and threw salt there; and he said, Thus says Jehovah, I have healed this water; there will not be any more death or barrenness from there.

2 Kings 2:22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha, which he spoke.

Elisha is typified by John the Baptist who came before Jesus to start the NT ministry. God's grace issues in the divine life

Life-Study of 1 Kings, 10: The Reign of Ahaziah Over Israel and Rapture of Elijah

2 Kings 2:1-18

Elija - a type of old testament age
Elisha - a type of new testament age 

Four-stops journey that brought us from old testament age to new testament age

Gilgal - The dealing of flesh (circumcision) 

Bethel - Give up the world (taking God's interests and Christ as all)

Jericho - the head of God's enemy, Satan (God's children's experience in the victory over Satan)

Jordan - death to old man, the natural man 

"The first step was from Gilgal to Bethel (vv. 1-3); the second step was from Bethel to Jericho (vv. 4-5); and the third step was from Jericho to the river Jordan. Fifty sons (disciples) of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance. Elijah struck the water with his mantle, and the water parted so that he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground (vv. 6-8)."

The mantle Spirit

"Finally, Elijah and Elisha went to the river Jordan, which signifies death. The New Testament baptism, putting people into death, began from the Jordan (Matt. 3:5-6, 13). To cross the river Jordan, Elijah struck the water with his mantle. Elijah's mantle typifies the outpoured Spirit, the Spirit of power. The Spirit of power, which some Bible teachers call the "mantle Spirit," dealt with the river of death so that the way was opened for Elijah and Elisha to cross over."

Eventually, Elijah was taken up and left his mantle; Elisha tore his cloth into two pieces and put on Elijah's mantle. By so doing, Elisha was clothed with the power from on high, even a doule portion of Spirit as he requested. 

Dealing with the power of death (the river Jordan) requires us not to trust in our own ability (typified by Elisha's own cloth) and cloth with the power from on high (typified by Elija's mantle).

(Some materials were directly quoted from "LIFE-STUDY OF FIRST AND SECOND KINGS - msg 12)

Life-study 1&2 Kings (msg 9) - The Reign of Ahab Over Israel (2)

God is not in the great wind, in the earthquake, and fire. He is not in those marvels and miracles. Instead, God comes in Elijah's despair as a gentle, quiet voice. Although Elijah thought he was hopeless and the condition of the children of Israel is a complete failure, God was not disappointed. He used Elijah, who thought he was finished, and encouraged him that He had reserved for Himself seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed unto idols. 

(1 Kings 19:10-13; 18)

1 Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.

1 Kings 19:11 And He said, Go out, and stand upon the mountain before Jehovah. And suddenly Jehovah passed by, and a great, strong wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before Jehovah--Jehovah was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake--Jehovah was not in the earthquake.

1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake, a fire--Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire, a gentle, quiet voice.

1 Kings 19:13 And when Elijah heard [it,] he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And then a voice [came] to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?


1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left [Myself] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed unto Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.

Life-study 34 - The Stone With the Seven Eyes For God's Building

Zec 3:9-10;Zec 4:1-10

Zech. 3:9 For here is the stone that I have set before Joshua--upon one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave its engraving, declares Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

(The removal of the iniquity is fulfilled through His death on the cross; John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.)

Zech. 3:10 In that day, declares Jehovah of hosts, each of you will invite his neighbor to [come] under the vine and under the fig tree.

Zech. 4:1 Then the angel who spoke with me returned and roused me as a man is roused from his sleep.

Zech. 4:2 And he said to me, What do you see? And I said, I see that there is a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on top of it and its seven lamps upon it, with seven pipes for each of the lamps on top of it;

Zech. 4:3 And [there are] two olive trees beside it, one to the right of the bowl and one to the left.

Zech. 4:4 And I answered and spoke to the angel who spoke with me, saying, What are these, sir?

Zech. 4:5 And the angel who spoke with me answered and said to me, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, sir.

Zech. 4:6 And he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of hosts.

Zech. 4:7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel [you will become] a plain, and he will bring forth the topstone with shouts of Grace, grace to it.

Zech. 4:8 Moreover the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

Zech. 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish [it;] and you will know that Jehovah of hosts has sent Me to you.

Zech. 4:10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice when they see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; they are the eyes of Jehovah running to and fro on the whole earth.

Verses: Rev. 5:5-6

Rev. 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, Do not weep; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.

Rev. 5:6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing as having [just] been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Brother Lee's experience

(Seven lamps to search) One day I was thoroughly searched and made a thorough confession - I was hating my whole self- my disposition, my old man etc., I was under full judgement. 

Confess and repent to the Lord, (Being looked at by God's seven eyes, while exposing, God infused Himself into us as well. This leads to the seven Spirits, the transformation (caused brother Lee to love the saints more). This transforms us more 

Life-study 31 - The Rapture of the Believers (2)

(Rev 14:1-16)

Rev. 14:1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.
Rev. 14:2 And I heard a voice out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the voice which I heard was like [the sound] of harp-singers playing on their harps.
Rev. 14:3 And they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the earth.
Rev. 14:4 These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These were purchased from among men [as] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Rev. 14:5 And in their mouth no lie was found; they are without blemish.
Rev. 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who has made heaven and earth and the sea and the springs of waters.
Rev. 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her fornication!
Rev. 14:9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev. 14:10 He also shall drink of the wine of the fury of God, which is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath; and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
Rev. 14:11 And the smoke of their tormenting goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Rev. 14:12 Here is the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice out of heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
Rev. 14:14 And I saw, and behold, [there was] a white cloud, and on the cloud One like the Son of Man sitting, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Rev. 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, Send forth Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come because the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev. 14:16 And He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Incentives to escape the great tribulation 

Lk 21:36 But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man. (Firstfruits/manchild)

What is the need to be watchful?

(1 The 4:14-18)
1Th 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him.
1Th 4:15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep;
1Th 4:16Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord.
1Th 4:18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

After the great tribulation, the majority of the saints will be raptured. The reaping of the harvest (rapture) is in a sequence. The rapture has at least two major parts - but why this is needed? 

The WRONG concept - all the believers will be raptured at the same time. 

The RIGHT concept - 

• Before the great tribulation- The rapture of the overcomes (first fruits, man child), the place at the throne of God, standing before the Son of Man. 
• After the great tribulation (7th trumpet sounds) - believers will know due to the lawlessness that will take place as mentioned in 2 The 2:1-4, the vast majority of the believers will be raptured, the place to the air and to the cloud. 

2 The 2: 1-4
2Th 2:1 Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2Th 2:2 That you be not quickly shaken in mind nor alarmed, neither by a spirit nor by word nor by a letter as if by us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or an object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth, saying that he is God.

Life-study 29- Review of Revelation, Chapters 1-12

The great tribulation - 3.5 years (between 69th-70th weeks)

• The beginning of the 70th week - The Israel make convenent with the leader of the Great European countries concerning the rebuilding of the temple. 
• In the middle of the 70th week - the Antichrist breaks the convenant, and the great tribulation begins. 
• The divided sections of the book of Revelation

1) General

2) More details 

3) Christ as the person instead of doctrines