351-The Covering and Salvation of the Lamb's Blood#
351-The Covering and Salvation of the Lamb's Blood
(JP Text Group—Huang Jihong Compilation)
Brothers and sisters, peace in the Lord.
Welcome to your arrival. Today is the Spring Festival, and I wish everyone a happy Spring Festival online!
We share a special Spring Festival message: The Covering and Salvation of the Lamb's Blood.
Exodus 12:11-14
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
Egypt symbolizes the world, Pharaoh symbolizes the kings of the world, and the people of Israel symbolize God's chosen ones. In the past, the Pharaoh of Egypt used deceit to turn the Israelites, who were kind to them, into slaves. This is a hope that people in the world cannot see. Perhaps you have helped some people, but these people have turned against you. You may have genuinely treated some people well and done good deeds, but in the end, others have slandered you. The people of Israel were just like this; they seemed to have lost hope, and many lost hope when problems arose.
Where is the way out for the people of Israel? They must look up to the God they believe in. They cried out to God, and God would save them. Some may ask: Why did the people of Israel have 400 years of slavery? Were they not God's chosen people? Where is God's covering and salvation for them? In fact, this is not the fault of the people of Israel.
Exodus 1:6-11
6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Through these scriptures, we see that the Pharaoh of Egypt is one after another, and a new king arose who did not know Joseph. Joseph had indeed played a very significant role in Egypt; he preserved the entire Egypt with the wisdom God gave him, making Egypt rapidly powerful in the world and able to stand firm even in years of famine.
Later, when this matter passed, a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph. When he went to govern Egypt, he discovered a problem: at that time, the people of Israel were living in the best land of Egypt, and there were so many of them that they began to worry. He said to his people: Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
This is God's blessing! The Egyptians did not understand that the reason they could settle down was because of the people of Israel, but they did not realize this, so they did a very foolish thing, treating the people of Israel with deceit, trying to weaken them, even wanting them to become permanent slaves. The Egyptians set taskmasters over them to afflict them, and the people of Israel began to build treasure cities for Pharaoh.
Brothers and sisters, these disastrous problems did not arise from the fault of the people of Israel; it was not because they did something wrong that God punished them, causing them to be slaves in Egypt for 400 years. No, it was because Pharaoh's heart was wicked. It was not the people of Israel's sin that caused their suffering; it was because Pharaoh did not believe in them.
Many believers do good things with good intentions, but others do not believe you, do not think what you are doing is good, and instead harm you, causing everything you do to come to nothing, not understanding you. The people of Israel fell into such a predicament. The question I just posed is: Why did the people of Israel suffer in such misery? From a human perspective, the people of Israel are suffering now, but in reality, God is allowing them to prosper and wait for the right time to lead them out of Egypt permanently, so they no longer have to live under others' roofs. When God's time comes, He will save them from Egypt. Why did God wait so long?
Let's look at a passage from Genesis 15:13-16.
13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
When God made a covenant with Abraham, He had already told them about his descendants and what would happen afterward. God told Abraham: Your descendants will one day be strangers in a land that is not theirs. Since they are strangers, it is not a permanent place, and they will serve the people of that land. Brothers and sisters, to be a blessing to others, one must first be a servant. God actually had a very simple plan for the people of Israel: God blessed the people of Israel so that they could serve the nations. However, from the Bible, we see that the people of Israel were unwilling to do so; after receiving God's blessing, they discriminated against the Gentiles. What is God's intention now? To let them learn to serve others first, to let them know that without God's help, they are no different from the world.
The people of that land refer to the Egyptians, who afflicted them for 400 years. But God is just; many people emphasize that God is a God of grace, and I also want to tell everyone that God is also a God of justice. Where is God's justice manifested? He rewards good and punishes evil. If God does not reward the good, He is unjust; if He does not punish the wicked, then He is an unjust God.
If we always emphasize that God is a God of grace, many people will become extreme, thinking that even if they sin, God will not do anything to them, that God will forgive them, and thus they can freely sin. What I am saying is that God must punish evil, whether it is Pharaoh or the people of Canaan; God has given them opportunities, but they have always turned a blind eye, so God had to destroy them. If God does not destroy them, it is to condone evil.
Through reading Exodus, you will find that God did not initially want to bring so many disasters upon Egypt. If Pharaoh had willingly let the people of Israel go at the beginning, then so many disasters would not have occurred, including the plague of the firstborn, which could have been completely avoided. God gave them one opportunity after another, but they completely did not believe. The seven nations of Canaan were the same; they set up formations to fight against the people of Israel, wanting to destroy the people of Israel, so God acted.
I have been saying that God is a God of grace, and at the same time, He is a God of justice. Previously, God told Abraham that in the fourth generation, they would return to this land. The land of the covenant is in Canaan. When the fourth generation comes, the people of Israel will return to Canaan. Now, why do they not return? Why did God not let them return for 300 years before Moses? One reason is that the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. This is God's opportunity for the Canaanites to repent, but they, like Pharaoh of Egypt, opposed the people of Israel and opposed God, completely not believing and ignoring God's words, so in the end, they were destroyed.
The background of this article is that God has sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let my people go that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let them go, leading to the final disaster, the plague of the firstborn. Still, God had already given them a way out before bringing this disaster. God would destroy your firstborn, whether man or beast; if you do not listen to my words, you will die. This is the disaster of Egypt, which has already come upon many disasters, yet Pharaoh of Egypt still did not wake up. In the last plague, God also gave them a way out, which is the blood of the lamb.
Exodus 12:7, And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
This is the way out God gave them when He was killing the firstborn in the land of Egypt because God must punish evil. Before this, God had already given them a way out. The blood of the lamb can bring them covering and salvation. Whether you are an Israelite or an Egyptian, it does not matter; what matters is that when God said so, can you take some blood and put it on the doorposts and the lintel of the house? This is the way out of this world. Without the blood of the lamb, we would all die in sin. It is only right for God to kill us because the evil of this world is such.
There is no absolute fairness among men, but God is an absolutely just God, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. According to God's laws, He must kill us to appease His justice and anger. However, God has still given us a way out, which is the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the way out for mankind; otherwise, there are many problems in the world, wars, plagues, famines, and so on. Where is our way out? We must find it in Jesus; the blood of Jesus can bring you covering and salvation.
John 6:53-54
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Looking at the context, it is not about turning us into cannibals, seizing Jesus and eating Him; this refers to the Holy Communion. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is a very certain and affirmative way Jesus gives us a way out. If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. This life refers to the life of God. In other words, if you believe in Jesus and receive Holy Communion, that bread should not be seen as ordinary bread; it is the body of Jesus, filled with power, and the life of Jesus will be within you. The life of Jesus can overcome all problems in this world. Amen, He will overcome all diseases.
Not drinking the blood of the Son of man, when you drink this wine, you will know that the life of Jesus is within you, that the blood of Jesus is within you. What will the blood of Jesus bring you? It will bring you glory, life, and power. If you feel panic, fear, and do not know where the path of life is, when you receive the precious blood of Jesus, know that the life of Jesus is within you, that He is with you and will never leave you; He has not abandoned you.
When you know that this glorious power is within you, you will no longer be afraid. Therefore, the flesh of Jesus, the Holy Communion can bring you comfort, salvation, and covering. When panic, plague, and various problems arise, no one in this world can give you covering, only Jesus.
You also have this opportunity to remove these problems through Holy Communion, no longer fearing the virus. You can command the virus to die in the name of the Lord Jesus, and even through the body of Jesus, let your whole body be filled with His power. You can also, through the blood of Jesus, fill your heart with strength. This is the way God has already given us; the blood of Jesus Christ is the way out.
Just as God said at that time: I will send the destroyer to go through the land of Egypt, and when I see the blood on your door and doorposts, you will be safe. When God gives you this word, what should you do? You should think that this is our way out, so you should do it. Today, I also give you the way out; receive Holy Communion, for this is your way out, allowing you to escape from these fears and problems, filling your heart with His peace, because you are under the covering of His precious blood, under His protection. Hallelujah.
We share the second point: Through the blood, God sanctifies us and brings us salvation.
Exodus 11:5-7,
5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it anymore. 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
We see that God gave Pharaoh many opportunities, but he did not repent, and in the end, he still would not let the people of Israel go. God gave him one last warning, saying that there would surely be a great cry in the land of Egypt. God gave the people of Israel a sign of sanctification: But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
Do you know that you are a sanctified person? From the moment you believed in Jesus, you were separated by God from the world. If you read Exodus, you will find that every time disaster came, the people of Israel were always different from the Egyptians; they were under the covering and salvation of God's precious blood. The last plague was no different.
You see wars, plagues, and various problems in the world. I want to tell all the children of God, do not worry; you are separated from this world; it is God who has separated you. You can use God's promises, hold onto His promises, and live without fear.
I also want to tell those in the world not to worry or panic because our God loves you too. At that time, God did not restrict the Egyptians from putting the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintels. As long as they believe that the blood of the lamb can bring them covering and salvation, they can also be saved by putting the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintels. If you feel fear in your heart and do not know how to deal with the problems you are facing now, seek Jesus; please believe in Jesus; He is the Savior.
His purpose for coming into the world is to save us from evil. He knows that people in the world have fears, worries, and various problems troubling them, so He said: He did not come to destroy the lives of men, but to save them through Him. God can separate His people and also accept all others in this world. God can not only give you His life but also let you live every day under His protection in this world.
God is a fair God; He is willing for you to seek Him. We can be sanctified by God, not because we have done well, but because of the blood of the lamb. Because we believe that Jesus shed His blood for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead three days later, because we believe in Jesus, God has separated us, and we belong to Him, which brings us salvation.
Exodus 12:13 says, And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
This is the way out God has given us. There may be many problems in the world that catch us off guard, but God always has a way. The way is the blood of the lamb; when God sees the blood of the lamb, the destroyer will leave you. Similarly, you should know that the blood of the lamb symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ!
When you accept Jesus, you are covered by His precious blood, protected by Him, and sanctified by Him. When you reach out your hand to declare and pray, you should also believe that these viruses, these problems, and these disasters will not come upon you. You can declare Psalm 91 over yourself, or you can declare this word over yourself: all these disasters must pass over when they see the blood of Jesus. Hallelujah!
Because the name of Jesus is above all names in the world, you should use this name; there is no need to continue living in pain. Call upon God, Hallelujah, call upon God. Know that the blood of Jesus has brought you a sanctified life. If you have anxiety, fear, or worry, please receive Holy Communion. During the process of receiving Holy Communion, think about this scripture, think about what happened in Egypt back then, think about how God separated the people of Israel, and how they were safe under the covering of this precious blood. You are the same. This rest should be within you; you are living under this protection. Hallelujah.
Today, God gives a word: Although we have faith, we must accept those with little faith. Many people do not have faith like ours, so do not boast in front of them. We are not blindly confident; we are a group of people who believe in God's promises and live by holding onto God's promises. Therefore, when others feel fear, do not deliberately do things that make them afraid. Bring them the good news of Christ, so they can enter into this protection with you. This is the best time. Hallelujah!
This is also the reason why God initially chose the people of Israel: God wanted to bless them and make them a blessing to the world. Initially, God said to Abraham, I will bless you, and you will also bless others. The descendants of Abraham should do such things. We are the same; when others panic and fear, we should give them Christ, and peace will be with them. Hallelujah, so believe that you are a messenger of the gospel.
Let's look at a passage from Hebrews 9:13-15.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9 gives us a comparison: the blood of goats, bulls, and the ashes of a heifer can bring purification under the old covenant. The blood of goats, the blood of bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on unclean people can sanctify them. What kind of people are unclean? Perhaps they have touched a dead body, perhaps they have been contaminated, or perhaps they have leprosy, etc. These are all unclean people, but where is the way out for these unclean people? The blood of goats, the blood of bulls, and the ashes of a heifer can sanctify this person and purify their flesh.
You should also know that you can be cleansed through these, but what you are relying on is definitely not the blood of goats, the blood of bulls, or the ashes of a heifer. What are you relying on? The eternal Spirit of Christ, which is the Holy Spirit. When you accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart. When the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you have already been sanctified by God, and your body is cleansed. Do you believe in the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you believe that through the blood of Jesus, God has sanctified you and placed you under His salvation? If you believe, please continue to meditate; you are under God's protection, and your body will change and become stronger.
God has brought us eternal salvation through Jesus and has presented us without spot or blemish before God. Therefore, you must believe that the blood of Christ can absolutely cleanse your heart. When you receive Holy Communion, this cup, believe that this blood has cleansed my heart. Abandon all the panic, fear, accidents, and worries that the world brings you, because the blood of Jesus has cleansed your heart. He wants to bring you peace and joy, allowing you to enjoy protection in Him. This is what you need to think about.
Every time you look at the cup of Holy Communion, think of it as cleansing my heart, washing away all the guilt, condemnation, shame, fear, and negative emotions. Your conscience is cleansed in the blood of Jesus. Every time you feel fear, you can use these to find release. Do you believe that the Holy Spirit has this power? Do you believe that the blood of Jesus has this power? If you believe, please act.
Through Holy Communion, let you see this power, and then it will remove your death sentence. What does the death sentence refer to? Fearful behavior, panic behavior, etc., or various sinful behaviors due to sin can all be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. If the wrong things in your heart are cleansed, your behavior will naturally change, and then your behavior will change, and you will serve God. This is our sanctified life.
Do you know? For this, Jesus became the mediator of the new covenant. A mediator is not for one side; a mediator is a mediator before God and also a mediator before us. Jesus is your guarantee. Every time you receive Holy Communion and see these, that is Jesus' guarantee to you, guaranteeing that your heart will no longer fear, no longer feel hopeless, guaranteeing that you are under His protection, under His covering, under His salvation. Hallelujah. At the same time, it also guarantees that you are called, that God no longer remembers the sins you have committed in the past, and that God promises you will inherit the inheritance. This is God's promise to you. He is your mediator; He has brought you covering and salvation.
Dear family, do you know that you can inherit the inheritance? You are separated from the world. If you forget, let Holy Communion remind you that you are a different group of people. Jesus is your mediator; He wants you to inherit His eternal inheritance. I encourage everyone at this moment to read the Bible, meditate on the promises God has given you. You can read the entire book of Exodus to see how great the blessings God has given you are.
Just as God saved the people of Israel in the past, leading them out of Egypt and into the beautiful land of Canaan, this is also what God is doing for you today. Although there are enemies and dangers in the land of Canaan, there is also God's protection and covering. In the end, the inheritance was still given to the people of Israel, and you should believe this as well. These enemies are not to be feared; what is to be feared is that you do not know that God's power is greater. What is to be feared is that you do not know you are under God's protection, yet you want to overcome the enemies with your own strength, and in the end, they fail. Do not do this; know that you are sanctified by God, that He has brought you salvation, and that He is your hope. Amen.
In the Old Testament, the people of Israel relied on the blood of bulls and goats; today, you must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Always think about what Jesus has done for you on the cross. When you think about the finished work of Jesus on the cross, your heart will be filled with strength. You are no longer the same as the world; you are a person who possesses the blessings of Jesus Christ. At any time and in any place, you will be a comfort and help to those around you. Amen.
Because you also possess a staff like Moses, a brain like Joshua, and strong faith like Caleb; all of these are within you. When should we use these abilities? It is when disasters and calamities come, when danger arises, call upon our Lord, stretch out our hands, and pray with authority, and you will see the Red Sea part, you will see water come from the rock, you will see the walls of Jericho collapse, you will see countless miracles of God. This is not what you do; it is because you believe that God can, so you see it. This power is in your hands; through the body of Jesus, through His precious blood, let you see hope and bring hope to your family and friends. Hallelujah. This is the most blessed and worthwhile thing to do.
Let's look at a passage from 1 Peter 2:9-11.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.
First, look at these three verses. In these verses, God tells you that you are a chosen generation. God chose the people of Israel, chose Abraham, chose Solomon, and you are also a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. In the Old Testament, priests served before God, serving the people. When the people encountered problems, difficulties, diseases, or sins, the priests would bring the blood of bulls and goats before God to atone for them, telling them the good news that because of the blood of bulls and goats, they could return in peace. Do you know? You are also this royal priesthood. When your family and friends encounter danger and panic, you can also tell them of God's power and also tell them that under the protection of Christ, you are safe. Hallelujah.
You are a holy nation. We are not competing for any nation in this world; our nation is above, a separated nation. In this nation, know that you are under God's complete protection and provision; you are His people, so God will protect you. While living in this world, what should we do? Proclaim this wonderful Lord, what can He bring us? If you say, I am now in darkness, I am very afraid, I do not know what to do, our Lord is your way out. Tell the world what Jesus has done for them. Tell the world that Jesus brings them not law but salvation, not condemnation but forgiveness, not death but life.
1 Peter 2:10, Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
How do you become the people of God? Believe in Jesus. You believe in what He did on the cross, so God accepts you as His people. He protects you, cares for you, and provides for you. Brothers and sisters, while living in this world, believe that this world is temporary; we are strangers and pilgrims. We live in this world but are not the same as the world, just as the people of Israel lived in Egypt; they did not belong to Egypt but were merely sojourning there. The real place they were going to was the land of Canaan, which was the dwelling place God gave them, the inheritance God gave them.
You should also believe that in this world, we are sojourners and pilgrims, so our conduct should always bring hope to others according to the ways of the kingdom of heaven. Live according to the ways of Jesus, and later Peter tells us to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. There are no fleshly desires in the kingdom of heaven; we should live according to the ways of the kingdom of heaven, and you will see another way of living manifested in you.
Next, let’s look at 1 Peter 2:12-15.
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
How do we live among the Gentiles, saying that we are a sanctified and holy people? It is manifested in letting the world see that you are different. I want to tell you that you are indeed different because you have support, you have hope, and you are a group of people covered and saved by the precious blood of God. You are truly different; the world does not know your God. How can they see that you are different? It is through your behavior. Behavior allows us to receive the life of Christ, and the part that is lived out is not the part that is forced; it is naturally lived out.
If it is forced, there will be times when it cannot be lived out. If you truly understand the love of the Father, understand His protection and salvation, your life will naturally change from the inside out. That change is not deliberate; it is very natural. We conduct ourselves honorably among the Gentiles because we are the disciples of Jesus.
But what if there are people who slander you as evildoers? Do not pay attention to them; continue your good works, and this will glorify God. Amen. Brothers and sisters, in the world, live according to God's words, and you will see God's salvation and power upon you. Do not deliberately defend yourself; God will testify for you.
Verse 13, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.
This is the key. Brothers and sisters, as we live in this world, we must submit to the ordinances of the world. If you work in a company, please obey the company's rules; if you live in a country, follow the laws of that country. Some systems must be followed. For example, many people are very afraid right now, so do not do things that make them afraid... and do not say that you belong to God and fear nothing.
Please live with God's wisdom, please accept those with little faith and those who do not know God. Amen. So when they give us some systems to follow, just do it well. Do not do anything else, and do not deliberately say some boastful words, because many people need comfort, and we should be obedient people. For example, during this time, some say not to spread negative, panic-inducing news; then just don’t spread it. At any time, we should not do such things; instead, we should actively encourage those around us not to be afraid and positively obey the ordinances of man. Let us be an example. Amen.
God says you should submit to every ordinance of man. Even if you are in a WeChat group or a QQ group, if there are rules in the group, please follow them. This is the most basic. Do not say that you are a child of God, a prince... then please show the demeanor of a prince. Therefore, the kings of the earth or the governors sent by the kings to punish evildoers and praise those who do well, we must submit to them. Why?
Verse 15 makes it very clear: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Before you do good, do you first let others accept you? If you do not even obey others' systems, others will not believe you are a person willing to do good. This is the premise, brothers and sisters. Before we do good, we must first let others see that we are a harmonious group. We do not have to show how different we are; you are separated by God, but there is no need to deliberately show how different you are, making you incompatible with everyone else. That is not separation; separation is in the face of danger, in the face of great disasters, we can have rest and pray for those who are afraid. This is a sanctified life. Hallelujah.
You already know that you are under God's protection, and the way you express this is through a lifestyle of doing good, which is absolutely not about singing when everyone else is crying to show you are different. That will make everyone hate you. So dear family, the will of God is for you to do good. God blesses you first, so you can go and do more good deeds, which can silence the mouths of some foolish and ignorant people. Amen.
During the Spring Festival holiday, I hope brothers and sisters live wisely. You know where the way out of the world is, and you also know why you are not afraid: it is because of the blood of Jesus. It is not that we are special; it is because of God's covering and salvation for us. At all times, we should bring hope to those around us, bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a good time for us to evangelize.
Exodus 12:11 says, And thus shall ye eat it with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover.
Why should we be so tense when eating? What do girding your loins, wearing shoes, and holding a staff refer to? Girding your loins can be understood as a belt; the belt of truth is tightened.
Eating the flesh of the lamb gives you strength. In this era, please always treat God's truth as your belt. Eat the words of truth often, and when you gird yourself with the belt of truth, you will have strength.
Wearing shoes; what kind of shoes are you wearing? What is the purpose of wearing shoes? It is not to prepare for sleep after eating. The purpose of your shoes is to walk. After eating, you have strength, so you put on shoes to walk out. These are the shoes of the gospel, the shoes of peace, to bring peace out.
Holding a staff; the staff symbolizes authority. Holding the staff, you go out with strength at your waist. You should tell the people of Israel, who feel afraid and hopeless, to stand still and see the Lord work wonders for you. Amen. Brothers and sisters, this is the good news we need to tell those around us. I hope you bring this good news to those around you. God bless you!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You! Thank You for bringing us back to the truth through Your word. The blood of Jesus brings me covering and salvation; no matter what environment I encounter, I will no longer be afraid. Your covering is upon me, Your help is upon me, and You have brought such blessings upon me, allowing us to bring peace to others when they are panicking and afraid. Because we have the shoes of the gospel, we have strength at our waist, and we can be a supplier and helper to others. Father, thank You for giving us Jesus. In this era, we always have hope.
We are not people without a way out. Thank You for loving us this way, allowing Jesus to die on the cross for my sins, letting me be under Your protection, always being with us, never abandoning us, always holding us with Your hand. Thank You for loving us this way!
Father, thank You. Please help more people to rise up, understand the truth, and proclaim the truth. Bring hope to those around us, bring the salvation of Jesus Christ, believing that we have authority in our hands. We raise our hands to pray for them, and God will accomplish great things. All glory be to You. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.