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The Called One

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Published: Monday, 16 July 2018 05:54
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The Called One

Jolibee, Walter Mart, San Antonio, Sucat

November 21, 2017 (Tuesday); 10:20 AM

Revised: July 15, 2018; Sunday; 1:31 am

 

 

 

Wilderness

There are some people who are called in the wilderness of life. Whether this wilderness is literal or figurative like in the wilderness of troubles or persecution. Only you and me can tell what kind of life we are going through in this very moment.

 

 

Why of all places, a desert? Why of all places, a shepherd? Why of all people, Moses a broken man? A fugitive, a murderer, a slave but a Levi took temporary asylum here on a barren ground – Mt. Sinai. (Exodus chapter 2-3; Hebrews 11:23-28)

 

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Mt Sinai, Egypt, May, 2017 (Photo by Peps)

 

 

Jesus was tested in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). John the Baptist is called “voice in the wilderness” (Matthew 3:3). Paul went to Arabia (Galatians 1:9; Visit www.clsfrosales.com CLICK “The Other Gospel”). Paul followed the footsteps of Elijah in the wilderness of Zidon whom the latter wanting to die (1 Kings 17:1-9; 1 Kings 18:1- 16; 19-10, 14 ). Why Moses was called from the wilderness of Sinai who later refused to be called as God’s divine instrument (Exodus 3:1-11; 4:10 ; Exodus 16:1). Sinai in Hebrew “siynay” means “thorny.”

 

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Peps with a colleague in Emirates Air, Riyadh, Arabia

 

And why I was called by the Lord in the wilderness of Saudi Arabia? Arabia means “barren.”

 

 

 

Ranting with God

I always rant God with these words, “Why me? Why me again? Why don’t you call others?” And when thing go wrong, I would at times blame Him for my misfortune or pain. I couldn’t understand why God called me to pastor back here in Pangasinan and why us, from my family and not other family?

 

 

 

Malacanan invitation

I was invited tin Malacanan on two separate occasions. One is former President Fidel V. Ramos, and the other one is by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. All these two visits were by invitation only. In some other instances, the invitation came from lower dignitaries like senators, congressmen, governors, military officers and other public servants.

 

The Lord will also invite me to go through difficult situations that I could hardly bear and I would at times ask Him to take my life away from me. In those difficult times, I would hurl Him the same question over and over and over again, “Why me Lord?”

 

But who are we to question God in the first place. We don’t have the position to rant him. (Isaiah 55:8; Romans 9:21). When Job was ranting God for his life misfortune then God turned to Job (Job 38).

 

And it is in our most severe hour when our faithfulness to God will be formidably tested. Why would God allow that? Because we called out ones – the ekklesia, the Church!





Called, sanctified and preserved

Jude 1:1 (NKJV)

“Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ”



Jude 1:1 (KJV)

“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: ”



NLT :“1 This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”



NIV: “ Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for[a] Jesus Christ.”

 

Called is only by invitation (to a feast).

 

The other Sunday before November 21, 2017, God spoke to me in Zechariah about the Feast of Tabernacle. Few days later I was off to Palawan to attend the Philippines’ Bishops Conference for the Evangelicals. That was by invitation only . The very moment that I was informed to attend this conference I said to myself, “I am not a bishop, why should I attend such an exclusive affair among spiritual giants?” It is because I was invited. It is from there I composed this teaching.

 

 

 

Definition of Terms

 

  • Sanctified

Hagiazo i.e. to venerable or hollow; separate from profane things and dedicate to God; to purify (internally by renewing of the soul); to make holy.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

 

 

  • Preserved

Tereo i.e. to attend carefully, take care of; to guard; to reserve. Origin: teros i.e. a watch i.e. to be a spectator; look at, behold; to view mentally, consider (1 Thess. 5:23)

 

 

Israel is a chosen and preserved nation of God

Psalm 121:4, “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. “

 

The word “keepeth” from Hebrew “shamar” means to guard, to watch, to protect, to treasure up (in memory); to reserve, to preserve, to keep ( Sabbath, covenant, vow, commands).”

 

 

  • Called

“kletos” (klaytos) i.e. called or invited (to a banquet); called to (the discharge of) some office; divinely selected and appointed (Thayer). Strong: “invited or appointed as a saint.”

 

The invitation is strictly to be dubbed as SAINTS.

 

The Saints of Philippi (Phil. 1:1), “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”

 

Saints “hagios” i.e. most holy thing. From “hagnos” i.e. reverence; pure (from carnality, chaste, modest; from every fault; immaculate; clean).

 

Matthew  22:14, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

 

 

The Book of the saints

Revelation 5:7-8, “ 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours (kithara), which are the prayers of saints.”‘

 

 

In Revelation chapter 5, the word “book” is mentioned 8th times. It is called “biblion” in Greek meaning “a small book, a scroll, a written document, bill of divorcement, a bill, a writing. “

 

Saints’ name must be listed down on that book. And I presumed it is the “book of life.” Those who are not included on that book might be written in some other books. Is there a “book of the dead” who are intended for the eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire? Revelation 20:12 says:

 

‘And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. “

 

 

 

Who the saints are?

  1. Prayer of the saints

Revelation 5:8

Prayers “proseuche” (pros-yoo-khay) i.e. prayer addressed to God; a place set apart for the offering of prayer (like synagogue); oratory (chapel).

 

Also Revelation 8:4, “Prayer of the saints”.

 

  1. Warrior-saints.

Revelation 13:6-9, “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy

against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. :7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  9  If any man have an ear, let him hear. 

 

Only he who listens, understand and obey have ears to hear. He who blasphemes His name is from anti-Christ while people of the earth worship him. They that worship him is not written in the book of life.

 

 

  1. Patience and faith of the saints.

Revelation 13:10, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

 

Patience “hupomone” i.e. “steadfast; constancy, endurance, steadfast waiting for; waiting (tambay) ; to tarry (behind); to remain; to preserve (under misfortunes and trial to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ); bear bravely. Also Revelation 14:12

 

Faith “pistis” conviction of truth, moral conviction of religious truth, reliance on Christ.

 

  1. King of the saints:

Rev. 15:3,   “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 

 

King is Basileus i.e. leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, a sovereign, foundation of power.

 

Your king isn’t an ordinary king, president or prime minister. But the King of gods and presidents. Your allegiance is to Him alone.

 

  1. Blood of the saints. Revelation 17:6, “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. “ Blood in Greek “aima” i.e bloodshed, to be shed by violence; slay, murder, atoning blood of Christ.

 

  1. Righteousness of saints (must be dressed in fine linen).

Revelation 19:8, “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. “

 

Righteousness “dikaioma” (dik-ah-yo-mah) i.e. that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law (what has been established and ordained by law an ordinance; judicial decision).

 

Righteousness in other words is when there is no anarchy but there is the Rule of Law. When people are subjects with injustice like the 22,000 over drug suspects that were slain, then is it NO LONGER RIGHT but the WRONG PREVAILS.


The Christians who compromise with the killings “without due process of the law” have lost their sainthood.

 

 

When a person or Christian or pastor believes any other “gospel” more than Gospel of Jesus Christ then his measurement of rightness from wrong vanished. The Bible is our Rule of Law as well as the 1987 Philippine Constitution is the Rule of Law of all public servants – from President down below to the barangay level.

 

Righteousness therefore is being determined in obedience of the given legal law i.e. the rule of law. There are law that are illegal and immoral law like that of Haman ( Esther 3:10-11).


So when a Christian or pastors put his allegiance to man’s rule and law more than the Law of God he loses his credibility of sainthood. Loyalty must first belong to God and His Words not on men. Peter said that “he ought to obey God than men, “ (Acts 5:29)./

 

 

 

The saints must obtained Esther-type of cleansing who underwent 6 straight months of beauty treatment or “purification” process under king’s keeper of women Hegai (Esther 2:9). Purification on Hebrew “tamruq” means remedy of an injury; a scraping. Scouring by soap or perfumery or detergent, cleansing.

 

 

 

Not many

Not many are called. Should one is being called, the calling is far beyond the special but normally the ordinary ones.

 

1 Corinthians 1:27b/ ESV, “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”

 

Should you be called and chosen, the question is whether you shall remain at the end? Only those who are in the battlefront can be truly tested.

 

Revelations 17 :14 says, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. “

 

Another definition for “pistis” or “faithful” is whether one is “worthy of trust.”

 

 


RSVP

Years back, I was officially invited by Office of the Executive Secretary of the President of the Republic of the Philippines to attend in Malacanan gathering through a registered mail. Under the Letter of Invitation is the President’s signature and under that signature is the word “RSVP.”

What is RSVP?

 

RSVP is a process for a response from the invited person or people. It is an initialism derived from the French phrase “Répondez s'il vous plaît “ meaning "Please respond". The initialism "RSVP" or the phrase "Répondez s'il vous plaît" are still used in current French to require confirmation of an invitation (Source: www.linternaute.com (in French).

 

 

Since reply is necessary I have to call the Office of the President in Malacanan to confirm my attendance for the event. In other words, only those who confirmed their attendance will be included in the official seating arrangement called “RSVP.” In the same manner, Christ is officially invites you as well. Revelation 3:20 writes,

 

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. “

 

Remember that the word, “called” means “kletos” (klaytos) in Greek which means “called or invited (to a banquet)” or “called (to the discharge of) some office; divinely selected and appointed” according to Thayer. While James Strong define “called” as “invited or appointed as a saint.”

 

In other words, called or invited or saint is one and the same.


For me, it was great honour to be included among the 99 invited guest at Malacanan to have an audience with the President. Again, I asked God, “Do I deserve this?” which I often do. This time, it is NOT President Trump of United States or President Rodrigo of the Philippines but Christ who is the Lord of lords and King of Kings who is calling us.

 

 

 

Deipnon

Revelation 3:21 is invitation of Christ to anyone who is worthy to join Him for the meal.

 

 

Christ is referring to the special evening meal called as “deipnon” in Greek. It is a reserved seat like RSVP for the “Messiah’s Feast symbolizing the salvation in the kingdom” (Thayer). This Messiah’s Feast is the “rehearsal” we often do which we call, “The Lord’s Supper” (Communion) mentioned in Matthew 26:28-29.

 

 

The Lord promised to "dine" ("sup" KJV) with the one who would hear His voice and open the door (Rev. 3:19-20).

 

"The word translated sup is deipnein and its corresponding noun is deipnon. The Greeks had three meals in the day. There was akratisma, breakfast, which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine. There was ariston, the midday meal. A man did not go home for it; it was simply a picnic snack eaten by the side of the pavement, or in some colonnade, or in the city square. There was deipnon; this was the evening meal; the main meal of the day; people lingered over it, for the day's work was done according to William Barclay.

 

 

Only those who are called as saints will be spared from the wrath of God (visit www.clsfrosales.com CLICK “Deipnon: The Invitation”). Only the saints are the called or invited to the Lamb’s Meal. “ For many are called but few are chosen” as Christ have said.

 

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 Above photo from the internet

 

Revelation 19:9, “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 

 

 

 

 

NOTES:

 

Church

Church in Greek “ekklesia” means “a gathering of citizen called out from their homes into some public place or assembly “ according to Thayer (Matthew 16:18).

 

 

 

Deipnon

The Lord promised to "dine" ("sup" KJV) with the one who would hear His voice and open the door (Rev. 3:19-20). "The word translated sup is deipnein and its corresponding noun is deipnon. The Greeks had three meals in the day. There was akratisma, breakfast, which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine. There was ariston, the midday meal. A man did not go home for it; it was simply a picnic snack eaten by the side of the pavement, or in some colonnade, or in the city square. There was deipnon; this was the evening meal; the main meal of the day; people lingered over it, for the day's work was done according to William Barclay.

 

 Orientals invariably begin by eating an “akratisma” in the morning before they will smoke a pipe, or drink a cup of coffee; they have also an insuperable prejudice against the internal use of cold water at this hour.

 

The Greek “áriston” literally means "without boundary, designation" – which is "undetermined," referring to the meal eaten anytime before the main meal (isupper or deípnon).

 

 

Greek goddess Hekate

Encyclopædia Britannica, Hekate has power over heaven, earth, and sea and is able to grant prosperity and all the blessings of daily life.

 

The main purpose of the Deipnon was to honour Hekate and to placate (appease) the souls in her wake who “longed for vengeance” according to Aeschylus, “Doubtful Fragment.”

 

A secondary purpose was to purify the household and to atone for bad deeds a household member may have committed offended Hekate, causing her to withhold her favor from them.

 

 

 

The Deipnon Hekate consists of three main parts:

  1. Meal set out at a crossroads.

The people of God, the Jews were on the crossroad between Egypt and the Promised Land according to the God’s promise to Abraham (Gen.12:1-4)

 

When God called Moses, he refuses and very doubtful and fearful. Moses was on the crossroad. So the promise of God to Abraham is at the crossroad as well. It is the sign of the cross is a crossroad? Crossroad is crossover. Passover is a crossroad.

 

Exodus 3:11 “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

 

 

Passover in Hebrew “pesach” i.e. Passover, sacrifice of Passover, animal victim, festival or victim. Root word “pasach” (paw-sakh) i.e. to pass over; spring over, to skip, to be lame, to limp, to hop, skip over, hesitate, halt, to dance. (Exodus 12:11, 21; 12:27)

 

 

  1. Expiation i.e. Atonement

Jewish Atonement. Exodus 29:33, 36-37; 30:10; Numbers 35:33; Lev. 4:26; Atonement during Sabbaths, new moons, set feats, for holy things Nehemiah 10:33; Christ the ultimate atoning sacrifice Romans 5:11, “Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the atonement “ i.e. “katallage” (kat-al-lag-ay)i.e. exchange of the business of money changers; reconciliation, restoration).

 

 

  1. Purification

Jewish Purification: Number 19:9, “for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin,” purification is “chata’ah” (khat-taw-aw) i.e. sin offering; purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanliness; penalty, sacrifice; punishment of sin. Luke 2:22; is Greek “katharismos” i.e. cleaning, ritual washing (before and after meals), ablution, washing off.” You see some jars inside Hagia Sofia as well in Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque in Constantinople (or modern Turkey today).

 

 

Acts 21:26 “days of purification” Greek “hagnismos” i.e. purification or expiation. Greek root word, “hagnizo” ceremonially (to make pure, purify, cleanse, sanctity).