CITY

The city is the world of man: his creation (made in his image) and his pride because it reflects his culture and his civilization. It is also a place of absurdity, of chaos, and of man's power over Nature and man, a place of slavery par excellence. wikipedia

 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. 

And he built a city, and called the name of the city 

after the name of his son--Enoch.

Genesis 4:17

After Cain murdered his brother Abel, he went away from the presence of the LORD. Then he had a son and then he built a city and named it after his son Enoch. This is the first city mentioned in the Bible. Living conditions changed from the beautiful garden that GOD created, to a city built by man.

A community of people live in a city. They take ownership of the facilities of the city and take pride in the name of their city.

The city provides opportunities to work and earn money. City life constantly promotes self improvement, pride and worldliness and typifies 'The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life'. This is exactly what Eve was tempted with, when the serpent offered her the fruit forbidden by the LORD GOD.

 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, 

that it was pleasant to the eyes, 

and a tree desirable to make one wise, 

she took of its fruit and ate. 

She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6

Babel/ Babylon - means confusion 

 C (OMMUN) ITY -    come unity,  

comm, u n i ty -   come, you and I tie

The people worked in unity to build a city and a tall tower  - a sky tower - to make a name for themselves. 

 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 

Then they said to one another, 

"Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." 

They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 

And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, 

and a tower whose top is in the heavens; 

let us make a name for ourselves, 

lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 

Genesis 11:1-4

The sky tower did not reach heaven because GOD came down to see it. GOD wasn't pleased with this project of mankind because He knew the danger it would bring to their souls. Their achievement would pump up their souls with pride. 

But the Lord came down to see the city 

and the tower which the sons of men had built. 

And the Lord said, "Indeed the people are one 

and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; 

now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 

Genesis 11:5-6

GOD intervened and interupted their unity by confusing their language! The building project was stalled! Exactly what they feared, happened to them!

Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, 

that they may not understand one another's speech." 

So the Lord scattered them abroad from there 

over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 

Therefore its name is called Babel, 

because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; 

and from there the Lord scattered them abroad 

over the face of all the earth.

Genesis 11:1-9

This is what the communities in the world are building! 

Glamorous buildings with fancy names!

Great cities with tall towers! - A name for their glory! 

                                            A buidling for their glory!

                                          A tower for their glory!

                                        A city for their glory!

                                            

        GOD opposes the proud.   

GOD interrupted the Babel project by confusing their language and scattering the people.

The opposite happened when GOD poured out His Spirit on His people who were gathered together in Jerusalem. Although they were from different nations, they understood the apostled when they spoke in their own languages the wonderful works of GOD!

This was the beginning of the building of the Church, the Body of CHRIST.

Even as GOD is causing Babylon to fall, He Himself is building another city, the new Jerusalem! 

Jerusalem - means City of Peace

 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, 

they were all with one accord in one place. 

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, 

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, 

and one sat upon each of them. 

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, 

as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, 

from every nation under heaven. 

And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 

Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, 

"Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 

And how is it that we hear, each in our own language 

in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, 

those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, 

Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, 

Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, 

visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-

-we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

Acts 2:1-11

Babylon - The Pride of Man

We shall read the story of King Nebu, who built Babylon and took pride in his work!

 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 

  At the end of the twelve months 

he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 

  The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, 

that I have built for a royal dwelling 

by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" 

  While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: 

"King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: 

the kingdom has departed from you! 

  And they shall drive you from men, 

and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. 

They shall make you eat grass like oxen; 

and seven times shall pass over you, 

until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, 

and gives it to whomever He chooses." 

  That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; 

he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; 

his body was wet with the dew of heaven 

till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws. 

  And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, 

and my understanding returned to me; 

and I blessed the Most High 

and praised and honored Him who lives forever: 

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 

And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 

  All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; 

He does according to His will in the army of heaven 

And among the inhabitants of the earth. 

No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?" 

  At the same time my reason returned to me, 

and for the glory of my kingdom, 

my honor and splendor returned to me. 

My counselors and nobles resorted to me, 

I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 

  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, 

praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, 

all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. 

And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Daniel 4:28-37

 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, 

having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 

  And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 

"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, 

and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, 

and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

Revelation 18:1-2

It is clear from the following passage of Scripture, that the motives, attitudes, values and trend of thought of 'Babylon', is instigated by the enemy of our souls, the fallen angel, Lucifer, who is Satan.

 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! 

How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 

For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; 

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation 

On the farthest sides of the north; 

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 

I will be like the Most High.' 

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 

"Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: 

'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, 

Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness 

And destroyed its cities, 

Who did not open the house of his prisoners?'

Isaiah 14:12-17

 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 

'Thus says the Lord God: "You were the seal of perfection, 

Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 

  You were in Eden, the garden of God; 

Every precious stone was your covering: 

The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, 

Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. 

The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes 

Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 

  "You were the anointed cherub who covers; 

I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; 

You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 

  You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, 

Till iniquity was found in you. 

  "By the abundance of your trading 

You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; 

Therefore I cast you as a profane thing 

Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, 

From the midst of the fiery stones. 

  "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; 

You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; 

I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, 

That they might gaze at you. 

  "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, 

By the iniquity of your trading; 

Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, 

And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 

  All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; 

You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever." ' "

Ezekiel 28:12-19                                                       

 Worldliness and Oppression 

City life is a carnal life. Carnality   C (arnal) ity

Life in a city is embedded in worldliness. It results in spiritual oppression and imprisonment of souls.

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; 

but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17

Typical city culture is fun and games, drinks and food, clothes and shopping, fancy structures and dazzling lights that capture the mind! It is mostly transient enjoyment, immorality and gambling. This leaves one's stomach and wallet empty and his soul imprisoned in bondage under deception! 

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, 

To the oppressing city!

Zephaniah 3:1

The most important part of a city is its people. The city is for the people and not the other way round!

Buiding a city is very hard work and intense labour! The workers suffer much physical hardship, danger, exhaustion and pain. They may not be paid adequately and could be treated harshly. Therefore even in the process of the building of a city, there is oppression, like in the case of the children of Israel, who were slaves in Egypt.

 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. 

And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. 

  But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. 

And they were in dread of the children of Israel. 

  So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. 

  And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage-

-in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. 

All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
Exodus 1:11-14

If we look carefully, deeper into city life, we will realise that it is oppressive! Many individuals involved in city life, are fearful, anxious, depressed and lonely because there is a culture of comparison, competition, and copying of trends without compassion for the other person. Trading is mostly self-centred and selfish promotion of merchandise and fashions.

Godliness with Contentment

As long as we live on earth, we need food, clothing, shelter and other necessities. 

We must overcome worldliness and oppression with Godliness and contentment!

 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 

For we brought nothing into this world, 

and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, 

and into many foolish and harmful lusts 

which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, 

for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, 

and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:6-10

If we desire to overcome the snares of the world through its lusts, the following is a meaningful prayer especially when we shop in person or online!

 

 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. 

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, 

And revive me in Your way.
Psalm 119:36-37

The Holy City, New Jerusalem,

 The Great City, The Holy Jerusalem 

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place 

which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, 

not knowing where he was going. 

  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, 

dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 

the heirs with him of the same promise; 

  for he waited for the city which has foundations, 

whose builder and maker is God.
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. 

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, 

for He has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:8-16

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, 

the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Hebrews 12:22

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Hebrews 13:14

This city is also a community of people, who are brought together and built up together in the love of CHRIST, for the glory of His name! These may be individuals who may be living in the city, in the country or in the village, but they have the LORD JESUS enthroned in their heart and they live for the glory of GOD!

 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, 

but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 

  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 

Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 

  in whom the whole building, being joined together, 

grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 

  in whom you also are being built together 

for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22

Jerusalem - The Bride of CHRIST

 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 

for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 

Also there was no more sea. 

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 

coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 

and He will dwell with them, 

and they shall be His people. 

God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:1-3

While the spiritual Jerusalem symbolises the Bride of CHRIST, friendship with Babylon denotes spiritual fornication.

And another angel followed, saying, 

"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 

because she has made all nations drink 

of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Revelation 14:8

Our friendship with this world hinders and spoils our intimate relationship with the LORD JESUS.

 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot 

is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh.

" But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:16-17

It is very interesting that the Bride of CHRIST is likened to a city!

A city is a community of people, living in one area of proximity, under common leadership and some rules and regulations. They have their own facilities. People in the city are usually involved in providing the facilities for the whole community, like food, clothing, housing and so on.

You are the light of the world. 

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14

The Bride of CHRIST is a community of people who love the LORD JESUS above all else and love one another in Him. They are spiritual minded and not carnal in their thinking and in their ways. Their life in this world, through their selfless love, humility and spiritual power, is like a city on a hill that is lit up and cannot be hidden! This is the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the Holy Spirit Who is poured out from GOD above.

 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, 

"Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 

  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, 

and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, 

descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. 

Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Revelation 21:9-11

 Interestingly, in the book of Genesis, GOD came down to see and disrupt the tower of Babel that was 'ascending' from earth towards heaven. It was built by man. 

In the book of Revelation, we see the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven from GOD! It is built by GOD. 

The most important part of a city is the community of its people. It is made of people, for people. While the relatonships of the people of Babylon are typically carnal, the relationships of the people of the new Jerusalem are spiritual.

While Babylon reveals the pride of man, the new Jerusalem reveals the glory of the Bride of CHRIST.

New Jerusalem, Separate from Babylon

As a Church or a Christian community, are you planning any project, the motive for which is a name for yourself? If so, the LORD Himself will interupt the unity among the people to stall the project.

Any plan or project of a Church that originates from above, from the LORD, will be blessed by Him. The Pastor or leader needs to wait on the LORD and seek the LORD before embarking on any project.

The motive for anything we do as a Christian community should be to bring glory to the name of the LORD JESUS and not to make a name for ourselves.

The attitude of our hearts should always be humble, so that we may be positioned to receive His grace.

We must look out carefully for any sign of worldliness.

We must make sure there isn't any kind of oppression of the congregation by the leaders or rebellion and scheming against the leadership by the congregation!

 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 

"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.

" Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 

Cleanse your hands, you sinners; 

and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

Lament and mourn and weep! 

Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:6-10

In the Bible, life of man, transitions from a garden created by GOD, to a city built by man, and then to a garden city made by GOD through His people!

Blessed are those who do His commandments, 

that they may have the right to the tree of life, 

and may enter through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14

WISE MEN FROM THE EAST 

 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, 

behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? 

For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, 

he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 

So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; 

For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, 

determined from them what time the star appeared. 

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 

"Go and search carefully for the young Child, 

and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, 

that I may come and worship Him also." 

When they heard the king, they departed; 

and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, 

till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 

And when they had come into the house,

they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, 

and fell down and worshiped Him. 

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: 

gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, 

they departed for their own country another way.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, 

was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death 

all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, 

from two years old and under, 

according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Matthew 2:1-12, 16

The eastern astrogogers and soothsayers, find the Truth through the signs in the sky. 

When they came to Jerusalem, they used commonsense and went to Herod to find the King of the Jews. This was bad news to Herod and all Jerusalem! 

It is the star that led them to the Truth.

Those who seek GOD diligently, will find Him, whatever background they may be from. GOD will reveal Himself to them, where they are, and will lead them to the Truth. 

The wise men were free from religious tradition and bondage to a kingdom. Although they were not Jews, they sought the Truth and found Him and worshiped Him.

The religious leaders, through prophecy, knew where the King of the Jews was to be born.

Because they did not seek Him with an open mind and with a pure heart, they did not see the sign!

We don't read that the chief priests and scribes came to worship the CHRIST Child in Bethlehem!

Of course, when JESUS began His ministry with power, they plotted to kill Him, to preserve their religion! They wanted to hold on to their religion.

Herod heard about the birth of the King of the Jews from the wise men. He also got information about the timing of His birth from them. He learned from the religious leaders, that He would be born in Bethlehem. 

Herod angrily made plans to destroy the CHRIST Child. Herod wanted to hold on to his kingdom and his dynasty.

Which category are we in?

Like the wise men, having had some revelation of the Truth, diligently seek Him until we find Him and worship Him?

LIke the religious leaders, having a religious background and knowledge of the Scriptures, do not diligently seek the Truth and when He does show up, stand against Him because we do not expect to encounter Him that way?

Like Herod, seek out the Truth to actively work against His Kingdom so that we would not lose our rule and our kingdom!

 LAW and GRACE

One evening, my husband and I together with our son, drove to the city. We parked the car and walked around. Although summer was round the corner, the weather was simply perfect that evening! As we walked, we observed all kinds of people, the fancy tall buildings and lights and heard the loud rock-style music! We quietly prayed for the salvation of all the people and that the LORD's grace would be extended to each one of them.

Then we realised that we had walked quite a distance and desired to get a drink or a snack before striding back to the car. Most cafe`s and restaurants were closing as it was passed 9.30 at night. A hotel restaurant seemed to be open and Previn, our son, ran in to check whether they would get us a drink. He returned saying. "They can only offer cold drinks. They cannot give us hot drinks." We were disappointed and were about to turn back when the manager of that restaurant noticed us and asked what we wanted. We said that we were wanting to have some coffee. Then he asked us exactly what kind of coffee we desired to have. We said all three of us would like to have a cup of half strength Latte each. He lovingly said, "We can organise that for you, come on in"!  We walked in and sat on the comfortable lounge seats of this high class hotel restaurant.

Then one of the waitresses came to us and politely said that they do not serve hot drinks at that time of the day in that restaurant and if at all they did, it would be only to the in-house guests and that too only on special occassion.

We explained to her that the manager indicated to us that he could get the coffee for us. As we waited, thanking the LORD for the comfortable seats and the available hotel toilets, we also lifted up to the LORD in prayer, the staff and the guests there.

The waitress appeared and confirmed our order, as the manager had conveyed it to her. Within minutes, we had the drinks served to us graciously, together with some cookies! Another waitress, who initially made known the rule about the hot drinks to Previn, came to us with glasses of water! She profusely apologised for what she had said to Previn. We responded lovingly, saying that she did her part that was right!

We were very grateful to the LORD and expressed our gratitude to those who served us and  asked the LORD to bless them. We also asked the girl to let the manager know that we were very grateful for his gracious gesture!

That night, while in bed, the whole scene played in my mind and the Holy Spirit brought the following revelation.

The law of that hotel restaurant was that outsiders should not be served hot drinks after a certain time in the evening. The waitresses were good and lawful. The manager was gracious! He overruled the law to meet our need and desire. He had the authority to do so.

The waitresses, then, in submission to their manager, extended that grace to us in action!

GOD is like that manager. We should be like those waitresses, lawful, but not legalistic. While keeping the law, we should also obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit to go beyond the law to extend grace and mercy. 

That is what the LORD has done for us and continues to do for us. We should freely give, as we have freely received!

 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; 

and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 

And the Pharisees said to Him, 

"Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 

But He said to them, 

"Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, 

he and those with him: 

how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest,

 and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, 

and also gave some to those who were with him?" 

And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

Mark 2:23-28

Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees 

to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 

 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 

  And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, 

"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" But they kept silent. 

And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 

  Then He answered them, saying, 

"Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, 

will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" 

  And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Luke 14:1-6

 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 

and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 

full of grace and truth. 

  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, 

"This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, 

for He was before me.' " And of His fullness we have all received, 

and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, 

but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

  No one has seen God at any time. 

The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, 

He has declared Him.
John 1:14-18

https://youtu.be/CDdvReNKKuk