Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are still discussing Revelation 2-3.
According to Tabernacle Teaching, it refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant.
It means the seven epistlesfor the seven churches of the Gentiles or the last sanctificationdone by Jesus for the seven churches of the Gentilesor the congregation in the last days to make them perfect or without blemish like Jesus. They become the perfect Bride of heaven who is ready to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds to meet Him, the Heavenly Bridegroom, forever.
There are seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.
We are learning the fifth church, namely the one is SARDIS.
Revelation 3: 1-4
3: 1. "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
3:2 "Be watchful, and strengthenthe things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3:3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
3:4 "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy."
Jesus appears in two things'has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars' for delivering the Word of God to the church in Sardis (it has been explained since Prayer Sevice in Surabaya, January 21, 2015up to General Service in Surabaya, January 25, 2015) so that they can experience the spiritual revival and their spirituality becomes strong. They may get the extra power from God to KEEP ON WATCHING.
Theer are two things that must be kept by the church in Sardis as follows.
Jude 1: 11-12
1:11.Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaamfor profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
1:12 These are spotsin your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
There are three kinds of spot as follows.
We will learn one of the spots, namely the spot of Korah or rebellion.
The rebellion hits three places as follows.
Ruth 3: 18
3:18. Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."
Being faithful and fervent in spirit added with worshiping Godis the same as sitting to wait. Boaz or the Bridegroom or the Lord will work to finish all things in His time. The guarantee is the Holy Communion. He cried 'It is finished!' on the cross.
God blesses you.
We are still discussing Revelation 2-3.
According to Tabernacle Teaching, it refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant.
It means the seven epistlesfor the seven churches of the Gentiles or the last sanctificationdone by Jesus for the seven churches of the Gentilesor the congregation in the last days to make them perfect or without blemish like Jesus. They become the perfect Bride of heaven who is ready to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds to meet Him, the Heavenly Bridegroom, forever.
There are seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.
- The church of EPHESUS(Revelation 2: 1-7) (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014up to General Service in Surabaya, September 7, 2014). The church in Ephesus must return to the first loveto return to Paradise.
- The church of SMYRNA(Revelation 2: 8-11) that had to suffer. God said to them not to be afraid in the suffering, but faithful until death(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, September 14, 2014up to General Service in Surabaya, November 9, 2014).
- The church of PERGAMOS(Revelation 2: 12-17) that must leave the false teachings(it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, November 17, 2014).
- The church of THYATIRA(Revelation 2:18-19) thatmust have the sanctification to the heart and deepest mind(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, January 4, 2015up to General Service in Surabaya, January 18, 2015).
- The church in SARDIS(Revelation 3: 1-6) that experiences spiritual revival and their spirituality is strong= being watchful(it has been explained in Prayer Service in Surabaya, January 21, 2015)
We are learning the fifth church, namely the one is SARDIS.
Revelation 3: 1-4
3: 1. "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
3:2 "Be watchful, and strengthenthe things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3:3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
3:4 "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy."
Jesus appears in two things'has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars' for delivering the Word of God to the church in Sardis (it has been explained since Prayer Sevice in Surabaya, January 21, 2015up to General Service in Surabaya, January 25, 2015) so that they can experience the spiritual revival and their spirituality becomes strong. They may get the extra power from God to KEEP ON WATCHING.
Theer are two things that must be kept by the church in Sardis as follows.
- Being watchful in the service and ministry to God or the consecrationbecause the works are not perfect or well-pleasing to God. There is no flame of fire anymore (it has been explained from Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 2, 2015to Prayer Service in Surabaya, February 4, 2015).
Verse 2 = 'for I have not found your worksperfect before God'. - Being watchful in waiting for Jesus' second coming.
Revelation 3:3
3:3. "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
It has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, February 8, 2015as follows.- Being watchful that is related to the TIME of Jesus' second coming like a thief. No one knows about it.
- In verse 4 is written 'You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments.' It means that we must be watchful about the GARMENTSso that it will not be defiled by the spots, but we can have the fine linen, clean and bright or the garments of the Bride of God.
Jude 1: 11-12
1:11.Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaamfor profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
1:12 These are spotsin your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
There are three kinds of spot as follows.
- The spot of Cain.
- The spot of Balaam.
- The spot of Korah (rebellion).
We will learn one of the spots, namely the spot of Korah or rebellion.
The rebellion hits three places as follows.
- The marriage and household.
The facts found in it are as follows.- Unfaithfulnessthat causes sexual affairs, divorce and remarrying, even marrying-being given in marriage (free sex).
Malachi 2: 15-16
2:15. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
2:16 "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."
It will result in giant seed like in the days of Noah, not the godly offspring.
It means that men live in the giant flesh lusts that exceed the natural limit.
Being unfaithful means that the spirit of Babylonhas entered the marriage and household. The woman of Babylon is a harlot who is not faithful. - Hatredthat causes strife and violence in the household.
Matthew 10: 21-22
10:21. "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up againstparents and cause them to be put to death.
10:22 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
The violence means that the husband does not love the wife as his own body, the wife does not submit to the husband, and the children do not obey the parents.
The hatred begins from dislike feelings until there is murder.
Ephesians 5: 31
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."
Genesis 2: 24
2:24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and motherand be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
It has been written twice to make it legal.The formula is 'a man shall leave his father and mother'. The parents must agree or give the permission.
"they shall become one flesh" means that 1 husband + 1 wife = one flesh. Only the cross (positive mark) may be between them. There must be no other mark. The cross or positive mark refers to the love of Jesus from the cross.
The proof or the fact found in having the crossis confessing and forgiving one another.
The false must confess the sin honestly to God and the husband or wife. The right must forgive and forget. As a result, the blood of Jesus on the cross finishes all sins and the spouse can be united again.
The sin, not only adultery but also the lie or other sins, will cause the separation in the household between the husband and wife, the parents and children, and siblings.
Sin is the heaviest burden of human. If it can be finished, the marriage can be one and all other problems will also be solved by the blood of Jesus. The tears are wiped away and the marriage will aim at the bigger unity, namely the marriage supper of the Lamb of Godand we are with Him forever.
Ephesians 5: 32
5:32. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
The marriage supper of the Lamb of Godis the spiritual marriage between Christ and the church on the glorious clouds. - Unfaithfulnessthat causes sexual affairs, divorce and remarrying, even marrying-being given in marriage (free sex).
- The service and ministry to God or consecration.
The facts found in it are as follows.- Unfaithfulness, even leaving the service and ministry to God.
Hebrews 10: 25-27
10:25. not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhortingone another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
10:26 For if we sin willfullyafter we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
It happens first to the pastor.
This is the cleverness of Satan that he kills the pastor first by making him unfaithful to make the sheep scattered.
The unfaithfulness in the service or not serving to God is an increasing sin as follows.- Habitual sin.
In the past, one felt guilty when he could not go to the church. Nevertheless, he does not feel guilty or sinful anymore if the sin has been the habit. It is dangerous. - Intentional sin.
It means that one has an opened chance but he deliberately does not serve and minister to God.
It means forever perdition.
There are many advices, but the highestone when Jesus will come a second time is the advice that encourages us to serve and minister to God faithfully. Do not get angry when you get it. Do not be ashamed to give such advice to others if the purpose is only to help them.
1 Timothy 4: 8-10 (the chapter about the consecration)
4:8. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godlinessis profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
'bodily exercise profits a little' = it will only reach the tomb.
There is double promise of Godor the double guarantee of assurance in the service and ministry to Him to preserve our life in the world now, the future, up to the eternal life. We must try hard or fight to serve and minister to God more than anything in the world. - Habitual sin.
- Murmuring.
Numbers 16: 8-11, 31-32
16:8.Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi:
16:9 "Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to serve them;
16:10 "and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?
16:11 "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complain againsthim?"
16:31. Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,
16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.
'are gathered together against the LORD'= rebellion (Jude 1: 11).
It includes murmuring.
Why does a man always murmur?
Because serving and ministering to God without any love is the same as flesh ministry.
The sign of the flesh ministryis insisting the right for eating, drinking, physical things, the thanking from others, compliments, position, and so on.
Consequently, in verse 31-32 is written 'the earthopened its mouth and swallowed them up'= going down physically and spiritually. The holiness decreases and one goes to the hell to perish forever.
- Sacrificing our right like Jesus who ministers to us in the world by sacrificing all things such as the heaven and the right to live. He was obedient to the point of death on the cross.
- Doing the duty only, without any right.
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 donewhat was our dutyto do.'" - Giving thanks to God, without murmuring.
- Obeying God.
Philippians 2: 8
2:8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedientto the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus is obedient to the point of death. We must be obedient until our flesh does not speak anymore.
The results are as follows.- Our reward and work, even the eternal life, are in the hand of God and no one can snatch them away.
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.'"
Satan cannot snatch them away. - We experience the power of lifting up. We do not go down like what has happened to Korah.
Philippians 2: 8-9
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.
2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Himand given Him the name which is above every name,- Our life is beautiful and successful in His time.
- We are used by God.
- We are lifted up to the throne of heaven forever to sit with Him.
- Unfaithfulness, even leaving the service and ministry to God.
- The Revival of Holy Spirit at the Latter Rainor the building of the perfect body of Christ.
Joshua 7: 11, 15-21
7:11. "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
7:15 'Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done a disgraceful thingin Israel.' "
7:16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribeof Judah was taken.
7:17 He brought the clanof Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.
7:18 Then he brought his householdman by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
7:19 Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."
7:20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done:
7:21 "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."
'he has done a disgraceful thingin Israel' = there was spot of rebellion.
The rebellion of Achan is stealing.
'brought Israel by their tribes'= the lot was cast using Urim and Thummim or the the sword of God's Word.
(verse 19: 'My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confessionto Him'). Achan could confess after he "was brought in the corner" in verse 20. It means too late confession and there is no forgiveness anymore.
There are many times that we keep on hiding our sins by our hard heart after the sword of the Word or Urim and Thummim work to show them clearly. Let us confess our sin, not because of human, but the sword of God's Word.
We must confess our sins to God and others soon after the Word shows our hidden sin.
Joshua 6: 24
6:24.But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
Achan stolethe gold and silver that actually must have been put in the treasury of the house of the Lord.
It meansthat Achan stole the possession of God, namely the tithes ans offerings.
Joshua 7: 24-25
7:24. Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
7:25 And Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day." So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
The meaning of the Valley of Achor is difficulty.
The consequence of stealing the possession of God is the valley of difficulties.
A pastor who only receives the tithes without feeding the congregation will also go down to the Valley of Achor.
Complicating or obstructingthe building of Christ's body because of rebellion, namely stealing, slandering, gossipping, even the death for sure.
The house of Israel were scattered and defeated by Ai, a small city, because of Achan.
The husband, wife, and children we have will not be the obstruction if they are the blessings of God. If a thing becomes the obstruction, it will be the temptation that makes us fall to the valley of difficulties, not the blessing from God.
Malachi 3: 8(about the tithes and offerings)
3:8. "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
The tithes means as follows.- The confessionthat we have been blessed by God and we live by Him, not by others.
- The confession that our life and what we have are God's so that we do not need to be afraid.
The offerings means as follows.- Our thanksgiving that we have been blessed by God.
- It includes our giving to other people who are in need or the alms.
Malachi 3: 10
3:10. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Because it will provide the food of God's Word in the house of the Lord. We live by the Word. We have an eternal life because the Word is eternal.
We will perish like the grass that is dry and burnt if we live by the grass or paddy.
Why do we have to give the offerings?
Luke 6: 38
6:38. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Because it will give us the gifts of Holy Spirit.
Thus, the tithes has the relationship with the Word and the offerings with the gifts of Holy Spirit or we are used in in the building of the body of Christ.
The beginning when God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle was the offerings.
If there are the tithes and offerings, we will live by the Word and the anointing of Holy Spiritthat are like the two wings of a great eagle.
The functions of the two wings of a great eagle are as follows.- Bringing us to the high mountain(the one of worship).
Job 39: 30-33
39:30. Does the eaglemount up at your command, And make its nest on high?
39:31 On the rocks it dwells and resides, On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
39:32 From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar.
39:33 Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is."
What does the eagle make its nest on high for?- Laying the eggs(proliferation) = spiritual growth.
There will be spiritual growth to the maturity if we worship God much more and the physical life will also grow. - Changing the feather (the old one falls and the new grows) = we are renewedfrom carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus. We can be obedient until our flesh does not speak anymore.
As long as we are obedient, our enemies cannot easily reach us. We cannot be defeated or fallen and we do not make others fall also. We do not judge others. On the contrary, we will be destroyed soon after we are not obedient.
We are peaceful and savedon the mountain of worship. We do not feel the things that our flesh feels anymore, but the love of God.
- Laying the eggs(proliferation) = spiritual growth.
- Facing temptations, shakings, crisis in all aspects of life, up to the days of the antichrist.
Deuteronomy 32: 10-11
32:10. "He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.
32:11 As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings
'As an eagle stirs up its nest'= the young eagle is fed by the mother but sometime the nest is strirred to make its young fall and start flying. It will feed the young anymore when it cannot fly well, and then the nest is stirred again. It happens continually until the young eagle can fly well.
Likewise, we get the shaking as the exercise to our wings to make us hope fully in Godonly, not in others. God will help, preserve, and protect us directly as the apple of His eye. He will help us in time of need and we can endure until He comes a second time. - Giving us the new strength.
Isaiah 40: 29-31
40:29. He gives powerto the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
40:30 Even the youthsshall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
There are many weak wings when Jesus will come a second time.
There are many servants and sons of God who are weary, heavy laden, disappointed, and hopeless. They fall in sin up to the peak; even leave the service and ministry to God.
We can be strong and of good courage to wait for Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds because of the two wings of a great eagle.
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!
Being strong and of good courage means as follows.- Not being disappointedand hopeless, or leaving God.
- Not being weary and heavy laden, but giving thanks always to God.
- We keep faithfuland fervent in spirit in serving and ministering to God.
- We keep on worshiping Godlike Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.
28:20. And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
As a result, God does not leave us, but accompanies, cares, and struggles for us until all impossible problems and the building of Christ's body are finished. We are sanctified and renewed to be as perfect as Jesus is.
Ruth 3: 18
3:18. Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."
Being faithful and fervent in spirit added with worshiping Godis the same as sitting to wait. Boaz or the Bridegroom or the Lord will work to finish all things in His time. The guarantee is the Holy Communion. He cried 'It is finished!' on the cross.
God blesses you.