The Spiritual Journey (5)

Biblle Reading:

Exodus 17:8-16; 19:6-8,16; 20:3-5; 25:8-9

Galatians 5:16-24; 2:20

Romans 8:2

1 Corinthians 1:24

X. Defeating the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8–16) — Christ is the Victorious Life

[Rephidim]

Exodus 17:8–16 records the Israelites’ victory over the Amalekites. The central spiritual meaning of this passage is that Christ is the victorious life. The Israelites’ conquest over the Amalekites mirrors the spiritual journey of every believer—one that, sooner or later, reveals a season marked by constant failure and persistent weakness. One moment we love the Lord, and the next we’re drawn to the world. We are fervent for a time, and then grow cold again. In our excitement we serve diligently, but in discouragement we disappear. When things go well, we rejoice exuberantly; in disappointment, we grow despondent. These highs and lows, this unpredictability, are all too familiar. Sometimes we truly desire to be humble and gentle, yet discover pride and arrogance rising within. We long to live a victorious life, but find ourselves failing miserably, unable to carry it out. So how can a Christian live in victory? The answer is this: Christ Himself is the victorious life.

1. The Amalekites fought with the Israelites

At that time, the Israelites came to Rephidim. Indeed, they had already had many experiences: the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire—symbolizing a group of Christians following the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures (God’s Word). They had also partaken of the manna from heaven—that is, drawing near to the Lord each morning and receiving His Word as the bread of life. They drank the living water from the rock—being filled with the Holy Spirit. These experiences were truly remarkable. Yet, even after all these precious encounters, we still find ourselves repeatedly defeated, often weak. Though our hearts may burn with passion during a special conference, not long after, our old selves reappear. Year after year, we fail to live a victorious life. The root reason is that we have not yet received revelation to truly see that Christ is our victorious life.

1. The Amalekites

   That day, the Israelites—young and old—journeyed together and arrived at Rephidim, where they encountered the fierce enemy, the Amalekites. Thus began the battle between the Amalekites and the Israelites. This conflict portrays the Christian experience of futile struggles and repeated failures.

   1. The Amalekites symbolizes the flesh

      The Amalekites symbolize the flesh, as they are descendants of Esau. Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob. There is a biblical principle where the first represents what belongs to Adam—that is, the flesh; and the second represents what belongs to Christ—that is, the spirit. As 1 Corinthians 15:46–47 states: "However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is from heaven.” This shows that Esau's descendants—the Amalekites—represent the flesh.

   2. The flesh is fallen man (the corrupt nature)

      The name “Amalek” means “warlike.” This suggests that there is no goodness within the flesh. Romans 7:18 says: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find." Isn’t that true? In our experience, we want to be humble and gentle, but fail to live it out. We dislike pride and selfishness, yet repeatedly fall into them. Paul continues in verse 24: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" This reveals the painful struggle of living in the flesh.

   3. God condemns the flesh

      Exodus 17:14 records: "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.'" This means God has condemned and judged the flesh. So when we live in selfishness, arrogance, and pride, we must not take it lightly—for God has judged it. Jealousy, strife, anger, factionalism, slander, lies, arrogance, chaos, sin, impurity, fornication, and lustful deeds… all these are expressions of the flesh exemplified by the Amalekites—and all are under God's judgment and condemnation.

2. Israelites

   What, then, does “Israelites” represent? The Israelites and the Amalekites were sworn enemies, locked in continual battle.

   1. The Israelites symbolize the born-again spirit

      When we believe in Jesus and are born again, the Holy Spirit renews and quickens our spirit—it comes alive. The Spirit then dwells in our spirit with eternal life. This reborn spirit is represented by the Israelites, since Israel is the descendant of Jacob. Esau was the firstborn and Jacob the second. In the Bible, the first typically represents what is of Adam; and the second, what is of Christ—meaning our reborn spirit is heavenly and spiritual.

   2. The born-again spirit is the redeemed new man

      Although our entire fallen being is fleshly, once we believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life, we are born again. The spirit within us—the born again spirit—is also called the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2) and the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11). This renewed part of us is symbolized by the Israelites. In other words, the born-again spirit is the redeemed new man.

   3. Christ dwells in the born-again spirit

      This born-again spirit—the Spirit of life—is also the Spirit of Christ, and Christ dwells within it. Experience-wise, after we are born again, friends may invite us to indulge the desires of the flesh, or companions lure us to love the worldly pleasures, we may feel an incomprehensible inner power that forbids us from following after them. That forbidding power is the born-agian spirit symbolized by the Israelites—it is the indwelling power of Christ within.

3. Amalekites fougth with Israelites — Living in Defeat Under the Flesh

   The day the Amalekites fought the Israelites is a depiction of the internal struggle within us, where two opposing forces are at work. One part of us is of the flesh—represented by the Amalekites; the other is our reborn spirit. This reveals that man is living in constant tension and conflict.

   For instance, after being born again, a young believer might experience subtle thoughts before attending a meeting—perhaps a nudge to sit and watch TV for a while. Or when they decided to love the Lord, another thought emerges convincing them that they are still young to devout themselves to the Lord, and it is never too late to wait until their old age. This inner force that urges us to turn away from loving God and depart from Him is called the Amalekite.

   In contrast, there is another force within you and me—called the Israelites—which refers to the born-again spirit, together with the Holy Spirit. Each Lord’s Day, He reminds us: today is Lord's Day, go to church to worship; love the Lord while still young; seize the opportunity to serve Him, for time is short. These two opposing powers continue to contend within us, and in our experiences, we find that sometimes the Israelites triumph, and other times the Amalekites prevail. When we are prideful, indulge the flesh, and love the world—it is the Amalekites winning. When we are humble, gentle, and love and serve the Lord—it is the Israelites overcoming.

   This condition is vividly described in Galatians 5:17:“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

2. Joshua Defeats the Amalekites

   At that time, Moses appointed Joshua as commander and told him to select skilled and strong men to go out and engage the Amalekites in battle. Joshua obeyed Moses’ instructions and went to fight the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8–10).

   1. Moses Held up his hands on the hill — The ascended Christ gain authority

      Meanwhile, Moses stood on the mountaintop holding the staff of God. Exodus 17:10–11 records:“Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.” This means that though the battle took place in the valley, the key to victory was determined on top of the hill.

      The spiritual meaning of this image reveals the secret of victory: Christ is the victorious life. “Moses went up the top of the hill” symbolizes Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and was exalted at God’s right hand. In other words, Moses represents Christ who has ascended to the highest heaven. “Holding the staff” represents His authority—power in heaven and on earth.

      In our experience, when we have fellowship and union with the ascended Christ, and live daily in communion with Him, the power of the flesh within us loses its grip. As one hymn beautifully puts it:

      Abiding, this will Satan's strength disarm;

      In fellowship, the world will lose its charm.

      Abiding, we sin's power need not fear;

      In fellowship, the self will disappear.

   2. Joshua’s Victory Over the Amalekites in the Valley — The Indwelling Christ (Holy Spirit) Overcomes the Flesh

      Moses held up his hands for a considerable time, but when he could no longer do so, Aaron and Hur supported him—one on each side. His hands remained steady until sunset. The Scripture records: "Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." (Exodus 17:13). This shows that victory wasn’t achieved by Moses simply lifting his hands; Joshua also had to fight courageously in the valley. In other words, Joshua needed Moses, and Moses needed Joshua.

      Literally speaking, the name “Joshua” is the Hebrew equivalent of the name “Jesus.” Therefore, Joshua represents Christ. Spiritually, “Joshua in the valley, dwelling among the Israelites” symbolizes the indwelling Christ—the Holy Spirit residing in the saints. Moses and Joshua thus depict two aspects of one Person: Moses on top of the hill represents the ascended and enthroned Christ; Joshua in the valley represents the indwelling Christ (the Holy Spirit) within you and me.

      Just as we each have two natures within—an Israelite (spirit) and an Amalekite (flesh)—who can conquer the Amalekite? It is not the Israelite, but Commander Joshua who defeats Amalek and slays its king. Likewise, the flesh within us is not overcome by our own efforts, but by the indwelling Christ. Only Christ as the victorious life empowers us to break the power of the flesh.

      May the Lord have mercy on us and enlighten us. Through the historical account of Joshua defeating the Amalekites, may we perceive in our spirit the deeper truth: it is not “I” who overcome the flesh, nor can I restrain it by myself, but Christ (Joshua) who dwells within and triumphs over the flesh (the Amalekite). Only Christ as our victorious life can overcome our corrupted flesh. In other words, you and I must see that Christ is our victorious life, and whenever Christ becomes our life, victory is assured.

3. Christ Is the Victorious Life

   Indeed, we have the Lord Jesus within us. But in our daily experience—who truly wins, Christ or the flesh? Oh, how we often find that from morning till night, we are entangled in idle talk, overflowing with fleshly reactions, or lost in restless and selfish thoughts galloping like wild horses. Therefore, we must explore further how Joshua defeated the Amalekites, in order to understand how Christ becomes our victorious life.

   1. Abide in Christ — Moses holding up his hands on the hill

      Just as the Israelites could not resist the Amalekites, likewise, we cannot overcome our corrupt flesh. The path to victory does not lie in human's resolution, effort, or even in all-night prayers or day-long fasts—we can only gain victory with Christ as our life.

      In spiritual experience, Christ becomes our life when the enthroned Christ governs us with His authority—this is represented by Moses lifting his hands on the hill. Whenever Christ in heaven exercises His authority over us, it’s like Moses raising his hands. On the contrary, when human pride surfaces—our fleshly ideas, strategies, intelligence, talents, and opinions dominate—we hinder Christ's rule. That moment mirrors Moses lowering his hands. When Christ has the full authority over us, naturally Christ reigns in us as out Lord and squeeze out the flesh in us. Therefore, we should step off the throne and let Christ ascend. There cannot be two thrones in the universe: when we sit on the throne, Christ is hidden; when we relinquish our throne, His reign emerges. That is when Joshua steps forward to defeat Amalek—when our flesh collapses. In this way, we change masters.

      There is a parable about Christ as Our Lord. Once, there was a devout, illiterate Christian couple living in the countryside. Every Sunday, the husband faithfully attended worship. One week, he returned feeling gloomy. His wife was puzzled, as he usually came home smiling. When she asked, he said, “Today at church, I saw that all the brothers and sisters were wearing red.” To comfort him, the wife promised, “I’ll sew you a red outfit to wear next Sunday.” He went joyfully the following week, but came home again disheartened. “Everyone’s red clothing had embroidered words,” he said, “but mine didn’t.” “No problem,” said his wife. “I’ll embroider something for you.” But being illiterate, she didn’t know what to stitch. Just then, she noticed across the street a shop that had recently reopened under new ownership. A sign outside read “Grand Reopening.” It signified a fresh start, a new boss. So she stitched those four characters onto his garment. That Sunday, he wore it proudly to worship. The chapel belonged to the Salvation Army, whose members wore uniforms with inscriptions. He returned home ecstatic. “Everyone clapped and praised me,” he said. “They said the words on my outfit were amazing!”

      This parable illustrates the secret to victory: the old self is finished, a new master has taken over. Now, Jesus Christ dwells within us and replaces our old nature, we become living testimonies that our master had changed. With Christ as our Lord and Master naturally leads to victory. This is a spiritual truth that requires the revelation of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord be gracious to us

      In practice, how do we let Christ truly reign in us from morning till night? There is no secret apart from this: “Abide in Christ.” When we draw near to the Lord in the morning—through prayer and reading Scripture—Christ invisibly dwells within us. As a result, Christ becomes our victorious life, enabling us to overcome in school, work, family, and relationships.

      However, the moment we step out from abiding in Christ, it’s as if Moses begin to lower his hands—and the Amalekite within rises. That means we are back in the flesh. Consequently, the manifestations of the flesh—temper, pride, jealousy.....come rushing in. Therefore, the key spiritual practice is to consistently build a lifestyle of drawing near to the Lord each morning: praying, reading His Word, fellowshipping with Him, abiding in Christ.

      In my youth, I was short-tempered and impatient. After experiencing revival and being captured by the Lord, I began to sincerely pray about changing my temperament, letting go of pride, and becoming a living testimony. I made many resolutions, but each one ended in failure. I once wrote down the words humility, patience, gentleness, quietness on paper and placed it under glass on my desk—hoping that daily reminders would reform me. Yet I remained weak and defeated. Eventually I grew discouraged, because “to will is present with me, but how to perform it I do not find.” (Romans 7:18) At that point, I lost motivation to preach the gospel, feeling as if I were deceiving people. I preached that believing in Christ would bring life transformation, yet I myself continued failing just as before. After a period of time, through the Lord’s mercy, I discovered a path of life, and discovered that the secret to victory is letting Christ be our life. The method is simple: abide in Christ and remain in fellowship with Him, and victory will flow naturally.

      So I began spending an hour or more each morning, drawing near to the Lord. Miraculously, I stopped losing my temper. Later, I spent another hour in the afternoon reading Andrew Murray’s The Secret of Communion, practicing communion with Christ. After six months, I felt as if a spiritual cable had connected me to heaven. Whether cycling, riding the bus, walking, preaching, or visiting—I was constantly in communion with the Lord. Before I realized it, I had entered into abiding in Christ.

      Brothers and sisters, my temper dropped significantly. But let me clarify: we are still in the flesh, and pride or anger may still occasionally arise. Yet it is not the same as before. In the past, my temper would build and simmer for half a day. Now, whenever I feel it rise, it is quickly restrained. It subsides quickly, because the indwelling Christ reins it in and squeeze it away. Even now, I still sometimes falter. Until we meet the Lord, failures may continue. But after crossing the threshold of victory, victory outweighs defeat. Those who have not yet entered into the experience of Christ as the victorious life still find defeat more frequent than triumph.

   2. Crucified with Christ — Yet to live… is Christ (Galatians 2:20)

      The apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:20:"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." This verse reveals clearly that when the Lord Jesus was crucified, He bore all of humanity upon Himself—our flesh was nailed to the cross with Him. Because Christ died in our place, we are spared from death. And now, the life we live is Christ living in us. Christ lives for us, so we no longer have to live by our own strength. As Paul also declares in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ,” and in Colossians 3:4: “Christ, who is our life.” This is the secret to victorious living. May the Lord open the eyes of our hearts to recognize and know that Christ truly is our victorious life.

      
      

XI. Handing Down of the Law  (Exo 19:1~8, 16~17) — Christ is the Power for Service  [Mount Sinai]

The people of Israel departed from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, where they encamped at the foot of the mountain.  Not long after, God gave the Ten Commandments, statutes, and ordinances from Mount Sinai to the people of Israel. God wanted them to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to serve Him. Experience-wise, once a Christian has passed through the gateway of victory, God will lead him to serve Him.  However, in service there is one issue that needs to be resolved, that is, to come to Mount Sinai where the Lord handed down the Ten Commandments.  Without revelation in this matter, we would think that God wants us to walk according to the law.  We would not know that the original intention of giving the law is to point out that Christ is our strength in service.

1. God wants man to serve Him

   We just read what was recorded in Exodus chapter 19.  "And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Thus you shal...tell the children of Israel:...Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'" (Exodus 19:3~6)  This means that God redeemed us for one particular purpose, that is, for us to serve Him.

2. The nature of man (strength) is the obstacle (difficulty) in service

   Verse 4 states, "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I [a]bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself." The Lord indicated that He brought the Israelites out of Egypt like an eagle bearing young eagles on its back. The baby eagle on its mother’s wing does not need to exert any effort while flying in the air. This depicts that the Israelites came out of Egypt completely by God’s grace. However, the people of Israel thought that they themselves were capable. Hence, shortly afterwards, verse 8 records, "Then all the people answered together and said, 'All that the Lord has spoken we will do.'" This shows us that they believed that they could serve God by their own natural strength.

3. God judges the natural of man (strength) and reveals the uselessness of the natural strength

   All the people of Israel said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!”  Just when they thought that they could serve God with their natural strength and ability, the Bible says, “And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain, … so that all the people who were in the camp trembled." This means that the Lord had changed His countenance towards them.  ‘Thunders, lightning…’ shows that God abhors the natural strength of man.

   Furthermore, the Lord handed down the law.  ‘Handing down the law’ is to tell the people of Israel that God will judge the natural strength (ability) of man.  At the same time, it is to reveal that the natural strength of man is powerless.  This is a profound experience.  Therefore, after the Lord had spoken to Moses at Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the Ten Commandments in two tablets of stones which He personally inscribed.  This is the so called handing down of the Ten Commandments or the handing down of the law.

   Moses went up the mountain for forty days and forty nights. When the people saw that he delayed to come down from the mountain, they gathered before Aaron and asked him to make them a god who will go before them. Aaron also thought that Moses was not coming down from the mountain after forty days and forty nights.  So he said to the people, “Break off the golden rings that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”  Then all the people brought them to Aaron. And he took them out of their hand, and fashioned it with a chisel and made of it a molded calf for the people to worship.

   Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days.  God wrote the Ten Commandments on the tables of stone (the first four commandments pertain to our relation with God and the last six pertain to our relation with others) and gave them to Moses. At the same time, when the people at the foot of the mountain saw that Moses had not come down, they started to worship the gold calf. They transgressed the first three commandments and greatly offended God.  Moses turned back and came down from the mountain. He saw the people’s behavior were unbridled: worshipping the golden calf, eating, drinking, and feasting.  He was extremely angry, and he cast the two tablets of stone out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. This historical fact is an illustration that the flesh of man cannot keep the law; rather, it breaks the law.

4. The example of the cutting off (extermination) of the natural strength

   In order to have genuine spiritual service, we must let God lead us and cut off our natural strength. Moses grew up in the palace of Egypt. He was instructed in all the wisdom of Egypt, and he excelled in both civil and military matters. In his first forty years, he was conceited, and had a very high opinion of himself. He thought that he could save his fellowmen by means of his wisdom, bravery, and ability. Just when he thought of serving God and leading the people through his natural strength, unexpectedly his killing of the Egyptian was seen by the Israelites. Moreover, he was rejected by his own countrymen. He realized that by natural means, he was powerless to lead the people, thus he fled to the land of Midian and became a shepherd for forty years.

5. Christ is the power in service

   These forty years of difficult life in the wilderness had rubbed off Moses’ natural strength.  Acts 7:22 tells us of his first forty years, "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds." He went to the wilderness of Midian and passed his second forty years as a shepherd.  After that, his natural power was knocked down and wiped out. Consequently, when the Lord called him and wanted to use him to bring forth His people out of Egypt, Moses said to the Lord, “I am not eloquent…” (Exodus 4:10) Obviously, his natural power had been cut off.  And now, God could use him.  It was God in Moses, and Christ became the power for his service.  God instructed him to hold the staff in his hand and perform ten great miracles before Pharaoh.  Later, in the third forty years, he depended on God’s power to lead the people through the wilderness up to the border of Canaan. 1 Corinthians 1:24 says, “but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  This clearly shows us that Christ is the power in service.

   Take a look at the surroundings of our assembly hall and the lights on the ceiling.  Inside these fluorescent lamps are tungsten wires.  It allows the source of electricity to pass through, producing a dazzling bright light. You and I are but tungsten wires, but when Christ’s exceedingly great power passes through us, it manifests surpassing power.  But the process requires the doing away of our natural abilities before the power of Christ can pass through us enabling us to serve Him.

6. Christ is our law of life

   Christ in us not only becomes our power for service, His life in us also becomes our law of life.  We do not keep the external law, for it is but an expression of God’s very nature, and it just serves to expose the powerlessness of man’s flesh.  Today, Christ’s life in us becomes our law of life. We could feel this life teaching us how to live, work, and serve.  Simultaneously, this life brings forth power, enabling us to live out the law of life. This power of life enables us to live out the law of life and follow God’s will.  The historical fact of God handing down the law makes us see that Christ is the power in our service.

   
   

XII. The Making of the Sanctuary (Exo 25:8~9)—Christ is the wisdom (vision) in service  

 [Mount Sinai]

Furthermore, it is written in Exodus 25:8-9, “And let them make Me a sanctuary,[ that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” Here, it clearly states that the Lord instructed Moses to make for Him a sanctuary according to the pattern He showed him on the mountain.  The spiritual meaning is that Christ is our wisdom (method/way) in service.

On Mount Sinai, on one hand, the Lord handed down the law to do away with man’s natural strength in order that man may know that Christ is the power in service.  On the other hand, He also showed the pattern of the sanctuary, that is, He pointed out the way in service.  The pattern revealed on the mountain must be followed in the building of the sanctuary.  This means that man’s way must be cut off and we must acknowledge that Christ is the wisdom (way) in service.

1. Man’s self (methods) (ideas and opinions) is the obstacle (difficulty) in service

   In service, not only is man’s natural ability and strength a hindrance to God, but also his wisdom and ways.  From the time he left his mother’s womb, his natural inborn wisdom plus the wisdom he gained through society and its education are all beneficial to him. These are also the prerequisites for God to use him in the future.  However, we cannot serve the Lord by this natural wisdom.  Just as man’s natural strength has to be knocked down by God, man’s natural wisdom and ways also have to be emptied by God. Emptying is to prevent us from randomly giving out our suggestions and easily voicing out our opinions to take the lead.  We must not misunderstand this point.   Emptying our wisdom does not mean that we do not have to study or pursue a degree.  How can one who is ignorant live and survive in today’s society?  Young people should study diligently. Especially those who would want to serve the Lord, all the more they need education and wisdom.  However, natural knowledge and wisdom must be emptied, meaning it should pass through death and resurrect.  ‘To die and rise again’ refers to emptying one’s wisdom and being filled with Christ.  It is serving the Lord with Christ as wisdom.  It is only in this way that we can comprehend spiritual things and serve the Lord.

2. God’s judgement of man’s ways also exposes its futility

   As mentioned earlier, Moses went up the mountain for forty days and nights.  Aaron heeded the pleas of the people and in man’s ways moulded a molten calf of gold that was later on destroyed.  Through this historical fact, we evidently see that God abhors man serving Him through his own ways.  At the same time, He strictly executes judgement on human means, exposing its uselessness.

   Now, we are going to take a step further and consider the death of Nadab and Abihu as a cautionary advice and warning in our service.  Nadab and Abihu were the two sons of Aaron.  At that time, they were engaged in the holy work and served as priests.  Both of them had seen the Lord caused fire to come down from heaven, burning up completely the burnt offering and its fats. They had been blessed with so much grace, yet they did not honour the Lord in His greatness, holiness, and magnificence. By human means they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. The Lord immediately consumed them with fire.  Therefore, in the matter of service, not only does God consider man’s ways useless, He would also never allow man to serve Him by human means.  He will strictly administer judgment on man’s ways.

3. An Illustration of Doing Away with Self (Human means)

   May we clearly see that man’s opinions and methods are hindrances to the ministry in the church.

   According to Biblical records, among the twelve disciples of the Lord Jesus, Peter was the most opinionated.  He was full of ideas.  Consequently, when he had a fervent desire to serve the Lord, the Lord dealt with his opinions and ways.

   That day, Jesus brought Peter, James, and John up the mountaintop by themselves. And He was transfigured before them and lo, Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus.  When Peter saw it, he immediately said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good we should be here.  If You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well please. Hear Him!”  And the disciples hearing it fell upon their faces, and were greatly terrified.  Thereafter, lifting up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone. (Matthew 17:1~8)

   This historical fact shows us that when Peter’s (man’s) opinion and way came out, the cloud and voice from heaven immediately interrupted it.  Peter came to himself and heard, “This is My beloved Son, hear Him.”  It clearly shows that the glorious Christ you behold is the very method to service.  You just have to listen to Him and do according to His will and not according to the opinion and ways of you Peter.

4. According to the pattern shown on the mountain — according to Christ — the Revealed Christ  — the Vision of Christ

   When Moses was on the mountain for forty days and nights, God not only gave him the Ten Commandments (tablets of law), but God also showed him ‘the pattern on the mount’ and instructed him in the making of the sanctuary.  It is written in Exodus 25:40, “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

   The "pattern on the mount" refers to the revealed Christ (vision of Christ).   Moreover, the pattern on the mount is also the means for ministering in the church.  When it comes to ministry in the church, man’s ideas, methods, and suggestions must never be allowed to interfere.  Without the revelation of Christ, we cannot participate in the ministry.  Not only should the making of the sanctuary be according to the pattern on the mount because it was the Lord’s personal instructions to Moses, the construction of the holy temple should also be according to the blueprint, for it was the Lord Himself who revealed it to David.  For this reason, today our way of ministry in the New Testament era is based on the revealed Christ and not the historical Christ.

   May the Lord be gracious to us that in our remaining days, we may receive more of the revelation of Christ, know more of the Father’s will, and see more of the things within the veil, that we may enter into a service with revelation.

5. Christ is the wisdom (means) in service

   It is very difficult to bring forth workers, elders, and deacons in the church these days.  This is because you and I cannot serve if we have not personally touched the revealed Christ. If we are willing to serve the Lord out of a pure heart, He will surely take note of it and gradually lead us to enter into revelation.  Thus, we may truly serve according to the revealed Christ in us.

   Thank God!  Christ is the wisdom and means in our service; therefore, while He was on earth, the Lord Jesus publicly declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) What is the way?  Way refers to means and wisdom.  Only Christ is the wisdom and the means. 1 Corinthians 1:24 tells us, "but to those who are called....Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

   During the Thursday night Bible study meeting, a young brother testified: Before, I knew and experienced Jesus to be my Savior.  He bore my sins on the cross. Then, the Lord gradually led me.  When I was sick on my bed and prayed, the next day I am well. Hence, I experienced and know that the Lord is my physician. Not long after, I prayed for my needs, and this time the Lord aptly provided for me.  I came to know Christ as my Shepherd. However, when the pulpit preached on Christ as wisdom, I could hardly comprehend it. Thank the Lord for His mercy. I was working in a big company and my salary was quite high. One day, my boss assigned me a job. However, the job assigned to me this time was to prepare a report and it was difficult on my part. Day after day, I prayed to the Lord. Amazingly, one day, the Lord gave me some inspiration, and I began to jot it down on a piece of paper. The next day, I submitted the report to the manager.  Unexpectedly, the manager was very pleased after reading it.  At that time, I truly had a firsthand experience of what is meant by Christ as my wisdom.  Christ became my wisdom. It was not I who had the intelligence nor was I instructed by someone else.

   May the Lord be gracious to us that through ‘defeating the Amalekites’, we may experience Christ as our victorious life. In the ‘handling down of the law’, may we experience Christ as our strength in service. And in the ‘building of the sanctuary’ may we experience Christ as our wisdom. We must personally enter into and experience each and every point. I deeply hope that the Lord will bless His words so that we may receive revelation through the message.  Amen.

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