To Coincide with Priests and Priests to be Upgrading Service II
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 strengthen the 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."
We can conclude that there are three groups of the congregation is Sardis as follows.
We compare with Matthew 8: 18-27(about the following to Jesus) that there are three groups of Jesus' followers as follows.
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 strengthen the 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."
We can conclude that there are three groups of the congregation is Sardis as follows.
- Verse 1= 'have a name that you are alive, but you are dead'.
- Verse 2= 'ready to die'.
- Verse 4= 'walk with Me in white, for they are worthy'.
We compare with Matthew 8: 18-27(about the following to Jesus) that there are three groups of Jesus' followers as follows.
- The scribe.
Matthew 8: 18-20
8:18. And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
8:19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
8:20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxeshave holes and birdsof the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
It is the same as the group that is said alive, but DEAD(Revelation 3: 1).
'Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go'= the scribe wants to follow Jesus wherever He goes. It means being active in doing the service and ministry to God or seeming to be alive, but dead.
Why does it happen?
Jesus sighed in verse 20 because the service and ministry of the scribe or some men in Sardis do not place Jesus as the Head('the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head').
Jesus refers to the true teaching Word. It is written in John 1: 1, 14 'In the beginning was the Word' = the Word becomes a human.
Not placing Jesus as the head means NOT PRIORITIZING the true teaching Word.
Consequently, one is dead as the body without the head is dead. Although he seems active or alive, actually he is dead.
Notplacing Jesus as the head, one will be ruled over by two other heads as follows.- Foxes= evil spirits or desires.
1 Timothy 6: 10
6:10.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.
The evil desire or the root of all kinds of evil is the love of money. Money roots in the heart to become the head, not Jesus. There is no love of God, the Word, and Holy Spirit.
The facts found in the money roots in the heart are as follows.- Looking for money in illegal ways.
- Serving and ministering to God only for looking for money or physical things.
- Leaving the service and ministry only to look for money.
- Stinginess and greediness.
Stinginess means that one cannot give to the work of God and other people who need.
Greediness means robbing the possession of others, especially God's, namely tithes and offerings.
The trust of God to a pastor to receive the tithes and offerings is robbed by the congregationnow. Consequently, there is no spiritual food or the true teaching Word in the congregation because the pastor is not trusted to get it. Finally, both the pastor and congregation die spiritually and perish forever.
- Birds= unclean spirit or desiresthat aim at the sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse, as well as marrying-being given in marriage.
Revelation 18: 2
18:2. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylonthe great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every uncleanand hated bird!
Thus, Babylon is the dwelling place of evil and unclean spirits.
Jeremiah 51: 37
51:37. Babylonshall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.
The foxes and birds or evil and unclean spirits bring the congregation to the building of the body of Babylonor the bride of Satan that will be destroyed forever.
Hebrews 4: 12-13
4:12.For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercingeven to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
The Word sharper than any two-edged sword or the true teaching Word is able to sanctify our heart and mind, even our whole life, from evil and unclean desires.
Ephesians 4: 11-12
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 saintsfor the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
'some to be apostles, some prophets' = the ministry.
'the saints' = being holy.
If our heart, mind, and whole life are sanctified from the evil and unclean desires, Jesus will appear as the Headto equip us with the ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit. We are appointed as the priests and kings or God's servant that is used in the ministry for building the perfect body of Christ, not of the Babylon anymore.
1 Timothy 4: 14 (the chapter about the consecration)
4:14. Do not neglectthe gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecywith the laying on of the handsof the eldership.
'prophecy'= the revelation of God's Word.
The gifts of Holy Spirit and ministry are given by Godthrough the prophecy or the revelation of God's Word that sanctifies us as well as the laying on of the hands of a pastor. The gifts and the ministry cannot be separated.
After being appointed as the priests, we must keep our holiness stillin the Holy Place. Leviticus 21: 12 (the holiness of the priests)
21:12. 'nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
It must start from the pastor first.
Entering the Holy Place means perseverance in doing three main services to Godas follows.- Golden Candlestick = perseverance in doing General Service.
- Table of Showbread = perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- Golden Altar of Incense = perseverance in doing Prayer Service.
How great a servant of God is, he must profane the sanctuary when he goes outof the Holy Place. Not being holy, one begins to be dry because there is no anointing of Holy Spirit, playful in the joke, and there is no regularity anymore.
The thing that distinguishes the ministry in the house of God and the service in the world is whether we have the holiness and anointing of Holy Spirit or not.
Serving and ministering to God carelessly in the church because there is no holiness is the same as ones in the world or marketplace.
The more we are sanctified, the anointing becomes stronger and the gifts of Holy Spirit are increased.
The more we are used by God, the more He blesses us spiritually and physically. He never fools us.
It is written in 1Timothy 4: 14 'Do not neglectthe gift that is in you'= the attitude to the gifts of Holy Spirit and ministry, namely do not be negligent or unfaithful.
Being negligent, one will be cursed. Not being sanctified, one will be negligent for sure(they come together).
Jeremiah 48: 10
48:10. Cursed is hewho does the work of the LORD deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
'deceitfully'= unfaithfulness.
'keeps back his sword from blood'= not being sanctified (not being pierced by the sword of God's Word).
Consequently, the presence of God is blocked. Such servant of God and the congregation will be in curse. Therefore, let us minister to God in holiness, faithfulness, and fervency in spirit.
Hebrews 1: 7
1:7. And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."
The holy, faithful, and fervent in spirit minister of God is the flame of fire.
Revelation 1: 14
1:14. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
The eyes of God are like the flame of fire.
Thus, the holy, faithful, and fervent in spirit minister of God is the same as the apple of God's eye that cannot be touched by anyone. We are preserved and protectedspecially by God in the wilderness until a grain of sand cannot enter. Being specialized means we become the apple of God's eye. - Foxes= evil spirits or desires.
- The disciple that buried the dead.
Matthew 8: 21-22
8:21. Then another of His disciplessaid to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
8:22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
This is the same as the church in Sardis that is ready to die(Revelation 3: 2).
Beware!This is about the disciple of Jesus. This disciple had received the true teaching Word, but he did not obey it. He only discussed or received it as the knowledge or material to be delivered to the congregation.
This means REJECTING the true teaching Word.
It means that he is not the true disciple. He seems alive, but never obeys the Word. He is ready to die.
Burying the dead means as follows.- Taking care of dead body, namely organization. On the contrary, the living body is organism.
2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4
2:3. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
2:4 who opposes and exalts himselfabove all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Organisation is led by men. If the man that becomes the head or management is not holy, even he rejects the true teaching Word or preaches it without obeying it, he will be rebellious man like the antichristwho appears to have full authority over the sevants of God and the congregation. Even, he wants to be worshiped or praised by using all ways.
If we obey the true teaching Word and live in holiness, we will serve the organism or the living body of Christ.
Ephesians 4: 2
4:2. with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
There are three important factorsin serving the body of Christ as follows.- Lowlinessor the ability to confessthe sin. We do not repeat it after being forgiven.
- Gentleness or the ability to forgivethe sin of others and forget it.
- Longsufferingor the ability to help other people although it causes suffering like Jesus who was willingly crucified to help us.
- The body that is ruled over by the death(human in blood and flesh that does not experience life renewal to be spiritual man). In such condition, one cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15: 50-51
15:50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
'cannot inherit the kingdom of God' = perdition or death.
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 lovers of themselves(1), lovers of money(2), boasters(3), proud(4), blasphemers(5), disobedient to parents(6), unthankful(7), unholy(8),
3:3 unloving(9), unforgiving(10), slanderers(11), without self-control(12), brutal(13), despisers of good(14),
3:4 traitors(15), headstrong(16), haughty(17), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God(18),
3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Such man serves and ministers to God, but rejects the poweror the true teaching Word and the cross of Jesus. There is no crucifixion to the flesh. One does not experience the life renewal, but keeps on being human in flesh and blood with the eighteen characteristics or the stamp 666 and becomes the same as the antichrist that will be destroyed forever.
The condition is the same as a woman who was bent over for eighteen years.
Luke 13: 10-11
13:10. Now He was teachingin one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
13:11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent overand could in no way raise herself up.
'He was teaching' = it means that there was the teaching.
'was bent over eighteen years'= being ready to die or suffering.
Being bent over for eighteen years happens in the house of the Lord. Thus, the group that is ready to die refers to the servant of God who is bent over for eighteen years.
Being bent over spiritually means as follows.- Worrying always about daily needs or food and drink as well as the future.
Proverbs 12: 25
12:25. Anxietyin the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. - Being doubtful to the Lord or the true teaching Word and His power.It means that one cannot stand upright like the boards of Tabernacle.
If there are worry and doubt,one will be unfaithfulin doing the service and ministry to God, unrighteous, and unable to prioritize God.
In such condition, one is ready to die spiritually until perishes. - Dissatisfaction and dry spirituality that cause murmur, gossip, slandering and blaming others.
Luke 13: 15-16
13:15. The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?
13:16 "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
'this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound' = being bound as an ox that does not drink.
'be loosed from this bond' = must be given the drink. - Not being renewed or obeying God('lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God').
- Facing impossible things, suffering, sorrows, and tears.
Revelation 3: 1
3:1. "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says Hewho 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."
Where there is the preaching of the true teaching Word in the anointing of Holy Spirit, there are activities of Jesus as the High Priest and Great Shepherd in the midst of the congregation as follows.- Jesus saw= the true teaching Word reveals all our sins and failures. There is nothing hidden before God.
Luke 13: 12
13:12. But when Jesus sawher, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."
'saw' = sight.
Jesus sees us with the sight of mercy to help us, not to condemn.
We will get the help from God although we have been like the criminal crucififed beside Jesus as long as we willingly hear the true teaching Word. This is the mercy of God. On the contrary, how great we are, we will not get the help if we do not hear the Word. - Jesus called and said= we get the main priority to be sanctified and helped by God, not to be ashamed.
Luke 13: 12
13:12. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and saidto her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."
We are called by God when the Word shows us our condition.
We must confess the sin and all our powerlessness as well as failure honestly to God and others. We do not repeat the sin after being forgiven, but repent and forgive the sin of others.
The sin is the separator between us and God. If the sin is kept, God will not be able to do anything. On the contrary, God will lay His hand after we finish our sins. - Jesus laid His hands.
Luke 13: 13
13:13. And He laid His handson her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
As for us, we must confess our sin and forgive the sin of others to finish our sin and others'.
As for God, He was willingly hung on the cross to touch us.
Thus, the preaching of the Word is the stretching out of God's hand.
It must be added with the Holy Communion or the sacrifice of Christ and the Lord will be able to touch and embrace us to reach us from above.
The results are as follows.- Spiritual miracle(the woman who was bent over could stand upright and glorify God),
- From disobedience to obedience.
- From worry to believing.
Believing and obeying God mean we entrust our life fully to Him. - Luke 13: 13: 'and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.'=glorifying Godwith our good deeds and ministry, including our saying anywhere.
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.'"
Believing, obeying, entrusting our life to, and glorifying God are the proofs that we are touched by Him.
How can the congregation be touched by God when His servants are nottouched by Him?
The servants of God must have His touching first!
Do not make God grieved like in the days of Noah, or else there will be total destruction.
On the contrary there will be power, help, and hope from God when we can glorify Him.
The results of glorifying God are as follows.- Our work and reward are in the hand of God as follows.
- The Lord gives us the guarantee of assurancefor the preservation of our daily life from now on up to the beautiful future and the eternal one.
- The Lord removes the impossibilityand solves all problems.
- The Lord gives us the guarantee of assurancefor the preservation of our daily life from now on up to the beautiful future and the eternal one.
- Our whole life or our death and life are in the hand of God.
We are perfected and glorified with Him forever when He comes a second time.
- Our work and reward are in the hand of God as follows.
- Spiritual miracle(the woman who was bent over could stand upright and glorify God),
- Worrying always about daily needs or food and drink as well as the future.
- Taking care of dead body, namely organization. On the contrary, the living body is organism.
- The third group will be discussed in the next service.
God blesses you.