Taken from Live Broadcast Service of Fellowship in Makassar
Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The theme is “Take heed and beware of the leaven.”
Matthew 16:6
16:6 Then Jesus said to them, " Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."
There are two spiritual meanings of the leaven as follows.
We must take heed and beware of the leaven by making fellowship with Jesus, the Bread of Life, through the breaking of bread.
Who becomes the target of the leaven of sin and false teaching?
Matthew 16:8-9
16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, " O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?
16:9 " Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?
Mark 8:17-18
8:17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, " Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?
8:18 " Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?
The target of the leaven of sin and false teaching is the hard-hearted.
The practice of having hard heart is as follows.
Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The theme is “Take heed and beware of the leaven.”
Matthew 16:6
16:6 Then Jesus said to them, " Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."
There are two spiritual meanings of the leaven as follows.
- Sin.
- False teaching.
We must take heed and beware of the leaven by making fellowship with Jesus, the Bread of Life, through the breaking of bread.
Who becomes the target of the leaven of sin and false teaching?
Matthew 16:8-9
16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, " O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?
16:9 " Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?
Mark 8:17-18
8:17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, " Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?
8:18 " Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?
The target of the leaven of sin and false teaching is the hard-hearted.
The practice of having hard heart is as follows.
- Not understanding, remembering, or practicing the Word of God.
Not understanding the Word of God means the mind is vain of it.
Not remembering the Word of God means the heart is vain of it.
Not practicing the Word means the hand is vain of it.
Thus, the whole life of the hard-hearted is vain of the Word of God.
The consequence is as follows.- The life depends on physical matters (money, et cetera) and worldly condition.
The characteristic is one always starts something by asking “how ...?” about physical matters.
Matthew 15:32-33
15:32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, " I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."
15:33 Then His disciples said to Him, " Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"
Matthew 15:34
15:34 Jesus said to them, " How many loavesdo you have?" And they said, " Seven, and a few little fish."
Jesus starts all things by the revelation of God’s Word " How many loaves (referring to the Word) do you have?"
God works wonderfully with the teaching Word we hold fast and practice. Moreover, we are employed by God to become blessings for other people. - The heart which is vain of the Word of God will be written with permanent sin or sin which cannot be forgiven anymore.
Jeremiah 17:1
17:1. "" The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,
The horns of the altars refer to the place of the forgiveness of sin. The sin is written on the horns of the altars means it cannot be forgiven but become permanent and written on the hard heart. - Being stamped with 666 by antichrist.
Revelation 13:16-18
13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
13:17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
It means the body, soul, and spirit are only flesh. There is no life renewal but human in flesh and blood only like beast or antichrist.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
3:1. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
3:2 For men will be (1)lovers of themselves, (2)lovers of money, (3)boasters, (4)proud, (5)blasphemers, (6)disobedient to parents, (7)unthankful, (8)unholy,
3:3 (9)unloving, (10)unforgiving, (11)slanderers, (12)without self–control, (13)brutal, (14)despisers of good,
3:4 (15)traitors, (16)headstrong, (17)haughty, (18)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away
Antichrist is one who serves and ministers to God but denies its power. It means rejecting the true teaching Word or not prioritizing the Word of God. There is no life renewal but keeping the eighteen characteristics of flesh. Such life is stamped with 666 and become same as antichrist that will perish.
- The life depends on physical matters (money, et cetera) and worldly condition.
- Being deaf and blind.
Mark 8:18
8:18 " Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?
It means not being shepherded.
Luke 2:20
2:20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
The experience of hearing and seeing the Word is in the shepherded life. On the contrary, not hearing and seeing the Word, referring to being deaf and blind, one is not shepherded.
Isaiah 42:19
42:19 Who is blind but My servant, Or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, And blind as the LORD’S servant?
It happens to the servants of God, including the pastor.
1 Peter 5:8
5:8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Not being shepherded but wandering, one meets lion.
Amos 3:12
3:12 Thus says the LORD: " As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria––In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!
The lion bites the leg and ear.
The leg refers to our conviction. The leg is bitten by the lion means there is no conviction to the true teaching Word.
1Timothy 4:1-2
4:1. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Only the servant of God who is anointed by Holy Spirit who can expressly hold fast to one true teaching Word with firm belief. On the contrary, not being anointed by Holy Spirit means the ear has been bitten by the lion.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
One whose ears have been bitten by the lion will turn them from the truth and be turned aside to fables or lullaby.
1 Timothy 4:7
4:7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
There are two old wives who like to tell the fables as follows- The woman of Babylon
Revelation 17:3-4
17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
17:4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
The teaching is about physical prosperity and entertainment without sanctification, so there is uncleanness. - The woman Jezebel
Revelation 2:20
2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
The teaching is as follows.- False teaching that allows woman to teach and have authority over a man.
1 Timothy 2:11-14
2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
2:12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
Woman may serve in all ministries to God but teaching and having authority over man.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
14:34. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
14:35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
If the woman can be in silence in the congregation, the man will be her head and God will become the Head upon the congregation.
Barak is written in New Testament to fulfill Deborah, a female judge in Old Testament.
Hebrews 11:32
11:32. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
Phoebe serves in Cenchrea not as a pastor but a helper.
Romans 16:1-2
16:1. I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
16:2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. - Doctrine about the depths of Satan.
Revelation 2:24
2:24 " Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
It learns the depth of Satan and hell, et cetera. Every teaching has its spirit. Learning about Satan, one is ruled over by his spirit.
- False teaching that allows woman to teach and have authority over a man.
- Golden Candlestick, referring to the perseverance in doing General Service. It is as drink to the sheep.
- Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. It is as food to the sheep.
- Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service or the breath to the sheep.
The requirement of being shepherded is entering the sheepfold and eating the shepherding Word, meaning hearing and seeing it.
Revelation 1:10-13
1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
1:11 saying, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, " What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
1:13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
The shepherding Word is the Word God trusts to a pastor to preach to the congregation patiently, faithfully, and repetitively to become their food, so they can grow toward spiritual maturity.
The shepherding Word is the sound of trumpet a pastor blows to become a command for the congregation.
The sound of trumpet arranges all movements of ministry in the congregation up to the last movement or revival, namely the lifting up when Jesus comes a second time.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
The shepherding Word is the sound of trumpet that has resurrection power to deliver us from the death.
For example, Peter, a great apostle, can deny Jesus three times. Meaning his body, soul, and spirit have denied the trinity of God. He must have perished but there is rooster’s crowing to help and deliver him from the death. The crowing of the rooster means the shepherding Word which is preached repetitively. It is able to save us from the death although it is simple.
The process of seeing the shepherding Word or the sound of trumpet is as follows.- Listening to the teaching Word with a need.
- Understanding it.
- Believing in the Word. It becomes faith in our heart.
- Practicing it, whatever risk may come.
- Golden candlestick, referring to the congregation that is sanctified and renewed continually until as glorious as Jesus is.
Colossians 3:5-10, 12-14
3:5.Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: (1)fornication, (2)uncleanness, (3)passion, (4)evil desire, and (5)covetousness, which is (6)idolatry.
3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: (1)anger, (2)wrath, (3)malice, (4)blasphemy, (5)filthy language out of your mouth.
3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on (1)tender mercies, (2)kindness, (3)humility, (4)meekness, (5)longsuffering;
3:13 bearing with one another, and (6)forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
3:14 But above all these things put on (7)love, which is the bond of perfection.
We must be sanctified from the lie or the end of all sins. The holy inward and outward man are determined by there is no lie.
Being sanctified from the six sins of our outward man, we are sanctified from the six sins in our inward man and the seven lamps of the candlestick will burn. - Jesus with His glory as the King of all kings.
The result of worshiping Jesus, the King of all kings, is as follows.- Creating power. God creates a way in the sea.
Isaiah 43:15-17
43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King."
43:16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,
43:17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
The house of Israel is as broken reed and quenched wick
God gives us way out of all problems and heals our life. There is wonderful preservation and beautiful future life for us. - Sanctifying power.
Isaiah 6:5-8
6:5. So I said: " Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.
6:7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: " Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."
6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: " Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, " Here am I! Send me."
Isaiah with unclean lips means his whole life is unclean and useless. Nevertheless, he can see the king with His sanctifying power to sanctify our life. As a result, we can be employed in the revival of building the body of Christ. - Healing power.
Luke 23:40-43
23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, " Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
23:41 " And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
23:42 Then he said to Jesus, " Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
23:43 And Jesus said to him, " Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
We are renewed from carnal men to spiritual ones until we are as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time.
- Creating power. God creates a way in the sea.
- The woman of Babylon