Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9-20 is about the vision of John, the apostle, in Patmos Island.
He was exiled in Patmos Island to suffer in the flesh, not because of doing evil things, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. As a result, he could experience some things as follows.
Likewise, if our life, marriage, service and ministry to God are signified by the suffering in the flesh because of Jesus, we will also able to hear and see the loud voice of the trumpet or the true hard Shepherding Word that is preached repetitively. It sanctifies and renews our life until we are as perfect as Jesus is. We become His perfect bride or the shining golden lampstand.
The duty of the Church or the shining golden lampstand is bearing witness and inviting.
Tonight, we learn about inviting.
Revelation 22:17
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"And let him who hears say, "Come!"And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
We invite the people of God to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb on the glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time.
Who is invited?
By what can we invite?
Matthew 25:6
25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
We invite by Bride Tidings.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Bride Tidings is the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ or the teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword. It preaches about the second coming of Jesus as The King of all kings or Heavenly Bridegroom on the glorious clouds. It also prepares the Church or saved people to become the bride of heaven.
How can we invite?
Through church visit services that God has trusted us.
There are three levels of invitation as follows.
God blesses you.
Revelation 1:9-20 is about the vision of John, the apostle, in Patmos Island.
He was exiled in Patmos Island to suffer in the flesh, not because of doing evil things, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. As a result, he could experience some things as follows.
- [Revelation 1:9] He could enter the true fellowship with God and others.
- [Revelation 1:10-16] He could hear and see the loud voice of trumpet that became two real manifestations, namely seven golden lampstands that shine and Jesus in the glory as The King of all kings and heavenly Bridegroom.
Revelation 1:10,12
1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heardbehind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
1:12 Then I turned to seethe voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
Likewise, if our life, marriage, service and ministry to God are signified by the suffering in the flesh because of Jesus, we will also able to hear and see the loud voice of the trumpet or the true hard Shepherding Word that is preached repetitively. It sanctifies and renews our life until we are as perfect as Jesus is. We become His perfect bride or the shining golden lampstand.
The duty of the Church or the shining golden lampstand is bearing witness and inviting.
Tonight, we learn about inviting.
Revelation 22:17
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"And let him who hears say, "Come!"And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
We invite the people of God to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb on the glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time.
Who is invited?
- The people of God who are weary and heavy laden.
- The people of God who are thirsty, dissatisfied, and in spiritual dryness, until they wallow in sins up to the peak.
By what can we invite?
Matthew 25:6
25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
We invite by Bride Tidings.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Bride Tidings is the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ or the teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword. It preaches about the second coming of Jesus as The King of all kings or Heavenly Bridegroom on the glorious clouds. It also prepares the Church or saved people to become the bride of heaven.
How can we invite?
Through church visit services that God has trusted us.
There are three levels of invitation as follows.
- Invitation to a wedding feast.
Luke 14:7-11
14:7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:
14:8 "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;
14:9 "and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.
14:10 "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.
14:11 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It means a marriage that is always in the athmosphere of feast. The marriage is the glorious gift from God to human only. Therefore, we must keep it always in the righteousness, holiness, and unity, from the beginning, during the marriage, up to the marriage supper of the Lamb of God. The righteous and holy will be united for sure.
There is no joy in the world more than the joy of marriage in the athmosphere of feast because it is the joy of heaven. Moreover, there is no other suffering in the world more than the marriage which is destroyed and without joy.
The requirements of the marriage with the athmosphere of feast are as follows.- Humbling ourselves, namely being humble and meek.
Humblenessis an ability to confess sins honestly to God and other people. Do not repeat the sin after being forgiven.
Meekness is an ability to forgive the sins of other people and forget them.
As a result, the blood of Jesus will cover and finish our sins, so our marriage becomes peaceful and joyful.
One who keeps the sin and does not confess it is arrogant. It is a heavy burden. - Serving one another in love. Do not want to become the most honorable guest.
Jesus comes not be served, but to serve up to sacrifice His soul.- A wifemust obey the husband in everything, not make any debate or quarrel, not decide all things in the household, not teach and have authority over her husband.
Colossians 3:18
3:18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Proverbs 21:9
21:9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
If a wife is not submissive, the husband will go up to the housetop like King David who fell in the sin of Babylon. Moreover, the household becomes the den of thieves.
Zephaniah 1:5-6
1:5Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Milcom;
1:6 Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."
In addition, if a wife is not submissive, the husband will be doubtful about the true teaching and worship, even there is idolatry and the household becomes the den of thieves. - A husbandmust love the wife and not be bitter toward her.
Colossians 3:19
3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
1 Peter 3:7
3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
The prayer of a husband who is bitter toward his wife will be hindered. The household becomes the den of thieves and there is dry weak spirituality.
Matthew 18:19
18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
If there is one heart between the husband and wife, they will be the house of prayer. The prayer will always be answered by God and the worship comes up before Him. As a result, the athmosphere of feast will be in the marriage. - The childrenobey the parents.
Colossians 3:20
3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
Do not be proud of anything, or else the thing you are proud of will hang you.
2 Samuel 18:9
18:9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hangingbetween heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.
Ephesians 5:31-32
5:31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. - A wifemust obey the husband in everything, not make any debate or quarrel, not decide all things in the household, not teach and have authority over her husband.
- Humbling ourselves, namely being humble and meek.
- Invitation to a dinner or a supper.
Luke 14:12-14
14:12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
14:13 "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
14:14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Exodus 29:38-39
29:38 " Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambsof the first year, day by day continually.
29:39 "One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.
The morning and evening offering is two lambs every day for seven days.
Exodus 29:1
29:1 "And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish,
The ram refers to the offering for consecration.
The consecration offering becomes double in the dinner and supper. Thus, it refers to the ministry that has the athmosphere of feast.
For example, the mother of Moses who nursed him.
We are the Gentiles that formerly were not worthy and allowed to minister to God. Nevertheless, God has opened the way of His mercy through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Therefore, we must be joyful.
The requirement of the ministry that has the athmosphere of feast is we live in the holiness because of the work of the teaching Word that is as the loud voice of trumpet or the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. The sanctification starts from our heart that cannot fool. If our heart is holy, the ministry will be joyful. Do not look for the joy that is not according to the Word or holiness because it is a pseudo joy that brings suffering and perdition.
The facts found in ministering with sanctified heart are as follows.- Without any will to get physical advantage.
Luke 17:7-10
17:7 "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
17:8 "But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?
17:9 "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
17:10 "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’"
We serve without insisting any right, but only do our duty.
Our duty is serving the Lord to glorify Him.
Isaiah 49:3-4
49:3 "And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’
49:4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.’"
As a result, our reward and work are guaranteed in the hand of God both for our present life and future one, up to the eternality together with Him. - There are no evil and unclean lusts.
The evil lust is the will of money causing stinginess and greediness.
The unclean lust aims at the sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse as well as the sins concerning marrying-being given in marriage such as sexuality sins, false marriage, and sexual affairs.
4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
The results of sanctification are as follows.- We receive the tunic of many colors, namely the gifts of Holy Spirit and the ministry from the Lord. Our life becomes beautiful and we are not naked anymore. We are used in the ministry for building the body of Christ. God arranges our life neatly. The more we are used by God the more beautiful and neat our life will be.
- We can feel more joyful to give than to receive.
Acts 20:33-35
20:33 "I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
20:34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
20:35 "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
We like to give for the work of God and other people who are in need; even we can submit our whole life to Him.
Revelation 19:8
19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Without any will to get physical advantage.
- The invitation to a great supper or the marriage supper of the Lamb of God.
Luke 14:15-20
14:15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
14:16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supperand invited many,
14:17 "and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’
14:18 "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’
14:19 "And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’
14:20 "Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
It is for the perfect bride or the Church that experiences sanctification and life renewal to become as glorious and perfect as Jesus is.
Nevertheless, there is rejection to the invitation because of these reasons.- Worldly things (horizontal).
- Rejection to the plan of God (vertical).
In such condition, one will not realize that he is going toward Babylon.
The requirement of entering the marriage supper of the Lamb of God is bearing the cross.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We experience the life renewalfrom carnal men to spiritual ones as Jesus is through the cross or the sprinkling of blood. It begins from being strong and of good courage as follows.- Not being disappointed, hopeless, or weak although we are getting older. We keep faithful and fervent in spirit doing our ministry to God.
- Not being disappointed and hopeless in facing temptation and problem. We keep on believing and hoping in God.
- Keeping on holding fast to the true teaching Word regardless to any risk we have to face.
Isaiah 46:3-4
46:3 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb:
46:4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
We are in the embrace of God until our old life, even forever. The results are as follows.- Our death and life are the responsibility of God. He is able to preserve our life in the midst of difficulties and impossibilitie.
- The merciful hand of God is able to bear and carry all our weariness and heavy burdens, so all things become easy and light. God is able to finish all problems even the impossible one right in His time.
- The merciful hand of God is able to sanctify and perfect our life to become as glorious as He is.
James 3:2
3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
The measure of being as glorious as Jesus is our mouth does not stumble in words, but we only say the name of Jesus and "Alleluia".
Revelation 19:6-7
19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia!For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
- Worldly things (horizontal).
God blesses you.