Romans 8:28 states that all things must work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Redeeming the Positive Value within Evil Time
Since we are also called in Jesus Christ to redeem the time (cf. Ephesians 5:16), I would like to refer to the time of the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (cf. Matthew 26:14-16).
Ephesians 5:16:
… 16 making the most of every opportunity (Note: redeeming the time), because the days are evil.
Matthew 26:14-16:
14 Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
To redeem the positive value from the time of Judas’ betrayal, which was an evil time, it is necessary to know what the identity of Judas was and which task was entrusted to him by Christ.
Judas was appointed by Jesus to manage the treasury of the ministry (cf. John 12:4-6).
John 12:4-6:
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
The name ‘Judas’ translated means ‘praise, worship’. Judas was the son of ‘Simon Iscariot’. ‘Simon’ translated means ‘hearing in the form of answering’ and ‘Iscariot’ indicates ‘a man from Kerioth’. The name ‘Kerioth’ means ‘cities, city complex in the form of places’. (Name explanations taken from the Biblical Dictionary of Names by Dr. Abraham Meister, pages 198, 317, 165, 204).
The Greek word used in John 12:6 for ‘money bag’ is ‘glōssọkomon’ and also means ‘a case for mouthpieces of wind instruments’. It is composed of two Greek words used for ‘tongue’ and ‘order’ as well as ‘jewelry’. (Word explanation taken from the Elberfelder Study Bible for the word ‘purse – glōssọkomon’ with word key number: 1094*).
Based on the name and word explanation, Judas was called in his given identity to contribute in a Spirit-filled way, through the expression of his devotion in the form of worship and stewardship the glorious manifestation of the Kingdom of God. This glorious manifestation comprises the structure of the heavenly Jerusalem on earth that is the Bride of Christ who, out of first love (Gr. ‘agąpē’), serves her King and Bridegroom Jesus Christ.
Breaking with the Power of Mammon
Knowing that Judas had an inner conflict with the power of mammon (note: love of money) because he loved money, Jesus entrusted him with the ministry’s treasury to give him the opportunity to break with the power of mammon by learning to give through Jesus’ instructions (cf. Luke 16:9 i.c.w. Acts 20:35).
Luke 16:9:
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Acts 20:35:
“… 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
The love of money is the root of all evil and is closely related to false worship because Aaron made a golden calf at the request of the people of Israel, which caused them to stop worshiping God (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10 i.c.w. Exodus 32:2-6; Exodus 3:18).
1 Timothy 6:10:
10 For the love of money (Note: Mammon) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Exodus 32:2-6:
2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.”
6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
Exodus 3:18:
18 “The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices (Note: worship) to the Lord our God.’
Romans 8:28:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Redeeming the Positive Value within Evil Time
Since we are also called in Jesus Christ to redeem the time (cf. Ephesians 5:16), I would like to refer to the time of the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (cf. Matthew 26:14-16).
Ephesians 5:16:
… 16 making the most of every opportunity (Note: redeeming the time), because the days are evil.
Matthew 26:14-16:
14 Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
To redeem the positive value from the time of Judas’ betrayal, which was an evil time, it is necessary to know what the identity of Judas was and which task was entrusted to him by Christ.
Judas was appointed by Jesus to manage the treasury of the ministry (cf. John 12:4-6).
John 12:4-6:
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
The name ‘Judas’ translated means ‘praise, worship’. Judas was the son of ‘Simon Iscariot’. ‘Simon’ translated means ‘hearing in the form of answering’ and ‘Iscariot’ indicates ‘a man from Kerioth’. The name ‘Kerioth’ means ‘cities, city complex in the form of places’. (Name explanations taken from the Biblical Dictionary of Names by Dr. Abraham Meister, pages 198, 317, 165, 204).
The Greek word used in John 12:6 for ‘money bag’ is ‘glōssọkomon’ and also means ‘a case for mouthpieces of wind instruments’. It is composed of two Greek words used for ‘tongue’ and ‘order’ as well as ‘jewelry’. (Word explanation taken from the Elberfelder Study Bible for the word ‘purse – glōssọkomon’ with word key number: 1094*).
Based on the name and word explanation, Judas was called in his given identity to contribute in a Spirit-filled way, through the expression of his devotion in the form of worship and stewardship the glorious manifestation of the Kingdom of God. This glorious manifestation comprises the structure of the heavenly Jerusalem on earth that is the Bride of Christ who, out of first love (Gr. ‘agąpē’), serves her King and Bridegroom Jesus Christ.
Breaking with the Power of Mammon
Knowing that Judas had an inner conflict with the power of mammon (note: love of money) because he loved money, Jesus entrusted him with the ministry’s treasury to give him the opportunity to break with the power of mammon by learning to give through Jesus’ instructions (cf. Luke 16:9 i.c.w. Acts 20:35).
Luke 16:9:
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Acts 20:35:
“… 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
The love of money is the root of all evil and is closely related to false worship because Aaron made a golden calf at the request of the people of Israel, which caused them to stop worshiping God (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10 i.c.w. Exodus 32:2-6; Exodus 3:18).
1 Timothy 6:10:
10 For the love of money (Note: Mammon) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Exodus 32:2-6:
2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.”
6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
Exodus 3:18:
18 “The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices (Note: worship) to the Lord our God.’
The people of Israel had no true confidence that Moses would come back to them from the mountain to lead them. In a similar way, Judas also had his own idea and concept of the building of the Kingdom, so he clashed with the view of his Master Jesus (cf. John 18:36a).
John 18:36a:
36a Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. …
As previously mentioned, Judas’ calling was normally to go forward with the proper understanding of worship based on God’s love (Note: ‘agąpē’) and His order the coming Kingdom in the form of the bride of Christ, who is a cube-shaped city complex made of pure gold coming down from heaven in order to pave the way for the coming generations with the wealth entrusted to him (cf. Revelation 21:9-14, 18).
Revelation 21:9-14.18:
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. …
18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.It is no coincidence that Judas decided to betray his Master Jesus in the center of the Lord’s Supper.
John 18:36a:
36a Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. …
As previously mentioned, Judas’ calling was normally to go forward with the proper understanding of worship based on God’s love (Note: ‘agąpē’) and His order the coming Kingdom in the form of the bride of Christ, who is a cube-shaped city complex made of pure gold coming down from heaven in order to pave the way for the coming generations with the wealth entrusted to him (cf. Revelation 21:9-14, 18).
Revelation 21:9-14.18:
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. …
18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.It is no coincidence that Judas decided to betray his Master Jesus in the center of the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper was held in the time slot before Passover in the biblical month of Abib/Nissan and is an expression of God’s first love (cf. John 3:16). It was at this time that Judas decided to betray his LORD and later delivered him to the enemies by the sign of a kiss. The biblical month of Abib/Nissan is associated with the tribe of Judah (cf. Luke 22,47-48; John 13:1-2.21.26-27).
John 3:16:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 22:47-48:
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
John 13:1-2.21.26-27:
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. …
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” …
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
True Worship and Redemption of Time
We need to use the resources and prosperity entrusted to us by the Heavenly Father to further expand His Kingdom on earth. In this, it is significant that we do not allow the enemy to pervert our focus in worship, who has sought to pervert our attitude in worship in the form of giving.
This perversion would result in us being torn away from the realm of God’s abundance and being placed in the realm of lack, resulting in thieving thinking, such as that possessed by Judas, who instead of giving, chose to receive 30 pieces of silver in order to betray Jesus. The reason is because the realm of lack is accompanied by the fear of having not enough.
Therefore, it is necessary to go forward Spirit-filled and to receive the beginning of the biblical times of the Heavenly Father, heralded with the sound of the Shofar (note: wind instrument), and furthermore, to bless His Kingdom with our giving, so that Jesus Christ is glorified (cf. Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:18.20d-23; Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11).
Exodus 23:15:
15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Note: Passover); for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.
Exodus 34:18.20d-23:
18 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Note: Passover – Crucifixion of Christ). For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. …
… 20d “No one is to appear before me empty-handed. …”
21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day (Note: Shabbat – Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Shabbat; cf. Matthew 12:8) you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
22 “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks (Note: Shavuot – Giving of Torah and Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost) with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year (Note: Sukkot/ Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Glory, Thanksgiving of harvest).
23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel.
Numbers 10:10:
“… 10 Also at your times of rejoicing – your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts – you are to sound the trumpets (Note: Shofar) over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 28:11:
11 “ ‘On the first of every month (Note: Rosh Chodesch), present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. …”
John 3:16:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 22:47-48:
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
John 13:1-2.21.26-27:
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. …
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” …
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
True Worship and Redemption of Time
We need to use the resources and prosperity entrusted to us by the Heavenly Father to further expand His Kingdom on earth. In this, it is significant that we do not allow the enemy to pervert our focus in worship, who has sought to pervert our attitude in worship in the form of giving.
This perversion would result in us being torn away from the realm of God’s abundance and being placed in the realm of lack, resulting in thieving thinking, such as that possessed by Judas, who instead of giving, chose to receive 30 pieces of silver in order to betray Jesus. The reason is because the realm of lack is accompanied by the fear of having not enough.
Therefore, it is necessary to go forward Spirit-filled and to receive the beginning of the biblical times of the Heavenly Father, heralded with the sound of the Shofar (note: wind instrument), and furthermore, to bless His Kingdom with our giving, so that Jesus Christ is glorified (cf. Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:18.20d-23; Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11).
Exodus 23:15:
15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Note: Passover); for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.
Exodus 34:18.20d-23:
18 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Note: Passover – Crucifixion of Christ). For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. …
… 20d “No one is to appear before me empty-handed. …”
21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day (Note: Shabbat – Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Shabbat; cf. Matthew 12:8) you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
22 “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks (Note: Shavuot – Giving of Torah and Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost) with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year (Note: Sukkot/ Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Glory, Thanksgiving of harvest).
23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel.
Numbers 10:10:
“… 10 Also at your times of rejoicing – your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts – you are to sound the trumpets (Note: Shofar) over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 28:11:
11 “ ‘On the first of every month (Note: Rosh Chodesch), present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. …”
The Father wants to teach us, especially in challenging circumstances, crises and shift situations, to place our trust in Him alone and fullness with Him, so that as Blessed Ones we can release blessings from supernatural realms for redemption, which is glory.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
