Speaker: Rev. Dadang
Psalm 103:8-10
103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
103:9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy to us, sinful people, but it does not mean that the sinful people will not be judged.
II Peter 3:9
3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The purpose of His being longsufferingis that all people can return and repentso they are not judged or perished.
The proof of His being longsuffering is as follows:
Amos 3:7
3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
The Lord always reveals His decision through prophetic Word, the Word which is revealed to show our mistakes, to rebuke, and to advise us to make us righteous, holy, and perfect as glorious as Jesus is, before He judges.
His patience and mercy are for us as long as we still receive the warning, rebuke, and advice of the Word.
Hebrews 12:5-8
12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
God's rebuke means His mercy, patience, and grace for us.
The example:
Jonah 1:1-2
1:1. Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
Jonah 3:3-9
3:3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.
3:4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast,and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
3:6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.
3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.
3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
Niniveh got the patience and mercy of God.
He reveals His patience and mercy through Jonah.
Jonah had to cry out to Niniveh. It was a loud voice, namely the voice of God's Word.
What did he cry out?
Matthew 25:6
25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Bride Tidings= the true teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword.
The function of the Word is as follows:
The fact found in it is as follows:
Matthew 5:8
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
The pure in heart can really see the Lordthrough these daily practices:
Psalm 103:8-10
103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
103:9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy to us, sinful people, but it does not mean that the sinful people will not be judged.
II Peter 3:9
3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The purpose of His being longsufferingis that all people can return and repentso they are not judged or perished.
The proof of His being longsuffering is as follows:
Amos 3:7
3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
The Lord always reveals His decision through prophetic Word, the Word which is revealed to show our mistakes, to rebuke, and to advise us to make us righteous, holy, and perfect as glorious as Jesus is, before He judges.
His patience and mercy are for us as long as we still receive the warning, rebuke, and advice of the Word.
Hebrews 12:5-8
12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
God's rebuke means His mercy, patience, and grace for us.
The example:
Jonah 1:1-2
1:1. Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
Jonah 3:3-9
3:3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.
3:4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast,and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
3:6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.
3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.
3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
Niniveh got the patience and mercy of God.
He reveals His patience and mercy through Jonah.
Jonah had to cry out to Niniveh. It was a loud voice, namely the voice of God's Word.
What did he cry out?
Matthew 25:6
25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Bride Tidings= the true teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword.
The function of the Word is as follows:
- To brake the velocity of sin.
- To sanctify and perfect us until we are as glorious as Jesus is, so we can welcome Jesus' second coming.
The fact found in it is as follows:
- Supposing that all matters are same, one cannot discern the right things in physical life and spiritual one.
- Living carelessly.
For example:- Working carelesslyjust to get money and position, no matter it is in legal ways or not so one does corruption, cheats, et cetera.
- Studying carelessly, just to get good marks and achievements so one cheats, et cetera.
- Getting married carelessly, no matter it is according to the Word or not, in mix-marriage, marrying after being divorced, and marrying and being given in marriage.
We have to be careful from the beginning of marriage, do not be careless just to see the beauty, the riches, et cetera!
The marriage of Christians is not only in the world but the physical marriage determines whether we are lead to the spiritual marriage, namely the marriage supper of the Lamb of God, or not.
The sign of the marriage coming from God or the true marriage is being comparable, starting from one faith, up to one true teaching Word. - Serving God carelessly.
Remember Cain and Abel! Do not serve and minister God carelessly!
God will not receive every ministry, because there is ministry He receives and there is ministry He rejects.
Serving Him carelessly is in vain although there is sacrifice.
We have to be faithful and full of responsibility to minister according to the Word of God. - Being in teaching and spiritual fellowship carelessly= not prioritizing the true teaching Word.
Fellowship without the true teaching Word is a poison or wild gourds in the fellowship of prophets.
Such person will attract the judgment of God to come. - Working carelesslyjust to get money and position, no matter it is in legal ways or not so one does corruption, cheats, et cetera.
- BELIEVING in GOD(verse 5).
Meaning receiving the Word although It comes hard pointing our sins, rebuking, and advising us.
The facts found in it are as follows:- Hearing the Word solemnly with a need.
- Understanding the Word.
- Believing in the Word.
- Practicing the Word.
- Hearing the Word solemnly with a need.
- Turning from evil way and violence= REPENTING(verse 8).
Meaningwe stop sinning and return to God. - Sitting in ashes (verse 6)=HUMBLING OURSELVES to the lowest part.
The example is Jesus Himself that He descended from the highest part to the low place, even the lowest one of the earth.
The lengthening of God's patience is given to us without any partiality, no matter we are kings or only citizens, and His judgment will be without any partiality too.
Philippians 2:8
2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus has humbled Himself and been obedient to the point of death.
The fact found in humbling ourselves is as follows:
Being OBEDIENT until our flesh does not sound anymore= we do not have our own will but the will of God only.
Acts 19:3-4
19:3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."
19:4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
The beginning of obedience is in WATER BAPTISM.
The water baptism is the baptism for one who has repented.
Matthew 3:13-17
3:13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
3:14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Jesus does not sin, so He would not have needed to experience water baptism.
Why is Jesus willing to be baptized?- Because He is willing to humble Himself and obey God's will.
- To give usthe right example of water baptism.
The true water baptism is as Jesus was baptized according to the Word of God.
The implementation of water baptism will be true if the requirement is fulfilled well, namely repentance. As a result, there is resurrection power.
The water baptism results in new life, namely life in anointing of Holy Spirit or being filled with Holy Spirit fully or heavenly life, whose signs are as follows:- Life in peace.
- Life in righteousness.
I Peter 3:20-21
3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
As a matter of fact, only eight people were obedient and saved in the era of Noah.
There are only few obedient people, and many more disobedient ones!
We can have good conscience through water baptism, namely heart which is obedient to God.
The result of obedience is as follows:- Our life becomes easier. On the contrary, our life will become heavier and sink if we are disobedient.
- There is joy in the obedience, although in suffering. The ark of Noah got higher than the flood when the flood became high.
- Because He is willing to humble Himself and obey God's will.
- FASTING(verse 5, 7).
Fasting physically means not eating and not drinking or cutting the relationship with the flesh need/will.
Fasting only for restraining the desire to eat and to drink has no difference with asceticism to get magical power in the world.
On the contrary, there is spiritual power we have to pursue through fasting.
Matthew 6:16-17
6:16. "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6:17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
The right attitudes in fasting are as follows:- Anointing head= experiencing the sanctification in our mind by Holy Spirit power.
- Washing face= experiencing the sanctification in our heart by the power of the true teaching Word. The face reflects our heart.
Thus, fasting equals to great opportunity to be sanctified in our heart and mind by the power of the true teaching Word in anointing of Holy Spirit.
We have to be sanctified especially in our heart, the storehouse of sins.
The content of the heart of human cannot be known by other people but God only.
What in our heart can be seen in our face, one cannot hide it.
The heart must be sanctified and then the deeds and words will be sanctified also.
Matthew 15:19
15:19 "For out of the heart proceed (1) evil thoughts, (2) murders, (3) adulteries, (4) fornications, (5) thefts, (6) false witness, (7) blasphemies.
There are seven sinful things hidden in the heart of human and must be sanctified as follows:- Evil thoughts: prejudice or evil plans for other people, including the thought or plan of not serving and ministering God deliberately (intentional sin).
- Murders: beginning with dislike feelings, hatred that is not finished until it increases to bitterness, revenge, even strife, corrupt words and deeds such as beating other people and murdering.
- Adulteries and fornications: beginning with unclean lusts in heart, eye lusts, up to unclean deeds.
- Thefts: evil lusts, the love of money.
- False witness.
- Blasphemies.
If our heart is filled with seven positive things, our lamp will burn brightly.
On the contrary, if it is filled with seven sinful things, the lamp is quenched and there is only darkness, referring to sinful words and deeds. - Anointing head= experiencing the sanctification in our mind by Holy Spirit power.
Matthew 5:8
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
The pure in heart can really see the Lordthrough these daily practices:
- Psalm 16:8
16:8. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Not being moved= being strong and of good courage.
Joshua is the example.
The proof of being strong and of good courage is as follows:- Facing River Jordan and the wall of Jericho, referring to problems, temptations, and impossible matters, Joshuakeep seeing and following the Ark of Covenant, not seeing the others.
Meaning keeping HOLDING and BEING OBEDIENT TO THE WORD, whatever the risk.
It is indeed as fool thing outside the logic before the eyes of human but it is not in vain before the Lord.
As a result, the help of God will come in His time.
We win together with Him.
Do not stop seeing and following the Ark of Covenant before the wall of Jericho is fallen!
Do not take the fake offerings which are comfortable to the flesh but not in line with the Word!
Do not seek your own way or try with your own strength! We will not be able. - Facing sins (Achan) and fakes (the trick of the Gibeonites), Joshua kept BEING FIRM holding fast one true teaching Word and rejecting all sins and fakes.
One will not be firm but doubtful and unsteady if s/he is reluctant or shy.
The sign of being doubtful is as follows:
Feeling unsteady facing many choices in the world.
For example, Herod doubted choosing Herodias or John the Baptist.
Consequently, He beheaded John the Baptist.
On the contrary, John the Baptist was firm in the Word although he had to take the risk, namely being shackled and beheaded.
As a result of being FIRM, we can wait for the Lord's coming until we enter New Jerusalem(just as Joshua can enter Canaan).
Psalm 27:14
27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
- Facing River Jordan and the wall of Jericho, referring to problems, temptations, and impossible matters, Joshuakeep seeing and following the Ark of Covenant, not seeing the others.
- II Chronicles 20:12, 24
20:12 "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
20:24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
King Jehoshaphat faced the people of Ammon and Moab, referring to sins. He was powerless and did not know what to do.
The fact found in seeing the Lord is fully believing and hoping in the Lordor stretching our hands to God.
As a result,the Lord stretches His hand to help us.- The great multitude became dead bodies, meaning that the impossible matters can become possible.
Nothing is impossible for God! - On the contrary, the dead body of Lazarus, referring to one who has been in destruction because of sins, economy, or bad healthy, can be healed by God.
- The great multitude became dead bodies, meaning that the impossible matters can become possible.
- We have life renewal, the greatest miracle we have to experience, especially the renewal of our face, referring to our heart.
What must be renewed?- Sad face as Hannah, because of envy and hatred to Peninnah.
- Pale face because of many fears and worries.
- Marred face as dogs and swine because of falling and rising in sins frequently.
Jesus was willing that His glorious face became marred until being as dogs and swine on the cross to renew our face.
Isaiah 52:13-14
52:13. Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
52:14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men;
Revelation 1:16
1:16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
As a result, we have bright face in glory to see Jesus face to face when He comes a second time.
We enter the joy together with the Lord forever. - Sad face as Hannah, because of envy and hatred to Peninnah.