The Unity in The Witness Altar(Joshua 22)

27 but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come, "You have no part in the Lord." '28 Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or our generations in time to come, that we may say, 'Here is the replica of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.'(Joshua 22:27-28)

When God's people finish seven years of war, the two-and-a-half-tribe people went back to the East of Jordan River. Because they already have inherent there. An altar was erected, which looked tall. (Joshua,22:10) After the other people at the west of Jordan river hear this, they gather at Shiloh ready to attack. During this tense moment, nine-and-a-half tribes sent a delegation headed by the priest Phineha. They first went to the east side of the Jordan river to persuade and understand what they want to do. After knowing their purpose, understanding that they aren't going to abandon the True God and worship another God. The alter is proof to their descendant that all the people who live on either west or east side of the Jordan river are a family as they are all Abraham's descendants. The delegation thinks this is a beautiful thing to do and told the other tribes. This resolves the crisis of the brothers. The people named this alter the Altar, Ed.

(Deuteronomy 12:13-14)

13 Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;

14 but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

God once commanded the elect in Deuteronomy, that they need to sacrifice at God's chosen place. Why is it so troublesome? This is because whenever there's a God's festival, the people need to come from where they live to listen to God's command and maintain the same model of worship. This is to avoid the people to worship the other God. God has only chosen one place to teach the Truth which is to help their descendant to use worship God the same way. This is also why when the people who live on the west side of the Jordan river became angry when they hear the people who live on the east side of the Jordan river wants to build an altar for themselves. This is to keep the same way of worship.

(2 Corinthians 11:4) For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!

(2 Corinthians 12:18) I urged Titus and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

During the apostle era, they were only one church. A lot of apostles went to another place to establish this True Jesus Church. They will use this area's name to call the church. The church at Ephesus was called Ephesus church, the church at Galatians region was called Galatians church. As they all are True Jesus Church, they need to follow the same instruction. By receiving the promised Holy Spirt baptism this became God's church. During that era, churches in the Corinth region hear someone preached another Jesus to them which from their point of view that is called another Jesus and another gospel. From this, we can know that Jesus preached by the apostle's gospel was the only Truth. From the Bible’s perspective, we can see that all True Jesus church is preaching one Truth. We cannot build an altar in another place and worship God in our way. This is the unity that God has shown on the altar of witness.

Friends, do you believe in God? We should preach the same truth as the apostles.  God's church is indivisible, there is only one. Just like the place chosen by God to worship God, they are only one way. The world gives us the reason that we need to be diverse, worship God as we please. Just like the altar's event. People who believe in God must see the truth inside the altar. Let’s preaching together, believe in the truth that apostles are preaching. We need to come back to this only place that we can preach to God, receive one Truth, one flock, and one shepherd.

(John 10:16) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Translated by Nicole

 

Levite's Inheritance(Joshua 21)

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands (Joshua 21:41)

    God blessed Levites, Although Levities were separate around tribes, they received the cities and common lands as commanded by the Lord, they received forty-eight cities, Only the tribe of Judah (Joshua 20-62) and the tribe of Manasheh receive more cities than Levites (Joshua 29-30), Levites should be grateful as they did not deserve such grace from the Lord.

    "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. (Numbers 18:21)

    How can Levities receive this much inheritance? This is because Israelites dedicate tithes to Levites. If the people appreciate holy workers, then the Levites will work harder for God. Which will create a positive cycle and will help the people to have more faith in God. God chosen Levites instead of first-born Israelites. Although they were separated between tribes. God will rewarded people who work for Him. They seem to have no inheritance but behind this is countless grace and rich inheritance.

    (Mark 10:29-30) So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

    Due to the gospel, we have to leave things behind that we want to do on Earth, this seems to be a sacrifice but it is a blessing. This is a test from God on our faith. We don't need to broke our relationship with our family because we need to preach the gospel. But if we are willing to put the gospel on our priority list, knowing that nothing is more important than God. God's grace will bless us from our current life to eternal life.

    Sometimes we have to make a decision in our religion. There is a man in the bible called Peter. Before he met God, he was a fisher. One night when he couldn’t catch fish all night, he listened to God's instructions. He moved the boat to a deeper place, put down the net, and fishing. As he believed Jesus, he dropped down the net and fish, what he got was two boats of fish. Knowing that he is like a sinner, if there’s no God then there is no meaning in our life. Jesus call Peter and promised him that he will be a fisher of men so Peter left all things and followed God.

    From a person’s perspective, if they aren't life how could they have time to follow religion? But from God's perspective if they are not religious then they are no life because religion is life. Maybe we can't foreseen eternal life now but if we don't seize the time to know God then we will lose more grace. If we are willing to sacrifice our life and follow God then God will bless us. This is because God is our inheritance.

    (Joshua 13:33) But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as He had said to them.

Translated by Nicole

 

 

 

Set Apart the Cities of Refugee (Joshua20)

The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,  (Joshua 20:1-2) 

    For the establishment of the city of refuge, please refer to Numbers 35:9-28 and Deuteronomy 19:1- 13. 

    Joshua led a new generation of Israelites into the promised land. God told Joshua to follow "what Moses told you". This is the inheritance and succession of faith. 

    He wants to live in that city and stand in front of the congregation to hear the judgment. When the high priest is dead, the murderer can return to his home in the city, which is the city from which he escaped. (Joshua 20:6) 

    The city of refuge is a sanctuary, a place that can be accepted, in the arms of Jesus, and the true church of Jesus. If you have the opportunity to enter the city of refuge, you must leave the city and live a new life. For those who want to enter the city of refuge (church, fellowship), we should accept them, just like the Lord Jesus accepts us. 

    The murderer will flee to one of these cities, stand at the gate, and tell his story to the elders in the city. They took him into the city and gave him a place to live among them. (Joshua 20:4) The description of the city of refuge is different from those recorded in the Book of Numbers and Deuteronomy. It records what "the murderer" has to do-"Tell his affairs to the elders in the city "Listen" and telling our mistakes of "unintentionally killing people" is like kneeling before the mercy seat and acknowledging our weakness. Weakness can also be said to be a turning point in grace and the key to obtaining blessings. When we are weak when we can be strong（2 Corinthians12：10）.  Accept the weakness in life and let God’s grace appear perfect in our weakness（2 Corinthians12：9）. 

    We who have entered the city of refuge may also have a fellowship that makes us feel safe. In such a refuge, have we "told our weakness to the elders in the city" and properly exposed and shared our weaknesses, Let the members of the fellowship "receive us into the city", accept us as members of each other, and face the weakness and inherit the grace of life together. 

    I have heard of brothers and sisters who don’t often participate in fellowship meetings. They flashed after the meeting, and occasionally they had the opportunity to care for a few words at the door of the church, and in private, I heard them say that "the church has no love". Participation and a little more interaction allow us to walk into each other’s lives. Apart from gathering and listening to the sermons, we can have more sharing and reflection. To grow up, learn together the lessons of "being accompanied by faith", "accepting each other", and "life affects life". What a wonderful, joyous and satisfying church life like this! 

    (Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 
    (Philippians 2:1-2) 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Translated by Nicole