Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1: 20
1:20 "The mystery of the seven starswhich you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
John the apostle got the revelation of the Word about seven stars and seven golden lampstands.
The starrefers to the angel of the church ("The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches") or the pastorof the congregation.
The pastor becomes THE STARin the congregation if he lights the shine to the congregation or become the example for them, especially the example of faith. The facts found in being the example of faith are as follows.
If the pastor becomes the star, the congregation will be in joy without any fear or stumbling because of sins, and so on.
The pastor becomes the ANGELin the congregation if there are things as follows.
BE ALERT!Satan may pretend to be the angel of the light.
Satan can pretend to be a pastor. The signs are as follows.
If the pastor is in the right hand of God, he will never fall, but be glorified and the results will be as follows.
It has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, July 06, 2014.
John the apostle received the revelation of God's Word about the relationship between a pastor and the congregation.
Tonight we discuss about THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK.
Exodus 25: 31-32
25:31 " You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.
25:32 "And six branchesshall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side."
The golden candlestick consists of three main parts as follows.
The BASE or foundation
It refers to a strong foundation of the servants, sons, or church of God.
Ephesians 2: 19-20
2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
2:20 having been built on the foundationof the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
There are two kinds of foundation as follows.
Bible Study Service with Holy Communion in which we get the true teaching Word and Christ's sacrifice builds a strong foundation of the church. On the contrary, the church will fall and perish forever because of not enduring if there is no true teaching Word with Holy Communion.
The facts found in having or standing upon Christ's sacrifice and true teaching Word are as follows.
The results of the honesty and obedience are asfollows.
The SHAFT or the centre
It is Jesus Himself as the example.
We must take the example of Jesus, so that we can become the example for others in our house, shepherding, even before all people and anywhere.
1 Peter 2: 21-25
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
2:22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
What example do we have to take? It is the steps of Jesusas follows.
BRANCH
There are six branches that come out of the shaft.
Exodus 25: 32
25:32 "And six branchesshall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.
The figure six refers to human who was created on the sixth day.
The six branches refer to human who has relationship with the True Vine or Jesus Himself.
The branch must dwell in the True Vine or Jesus Himself.
It meanshuman who has the fellowship with Jesus in holinessand faithfulness.
The holiness cannot be separated from the faithfulness. One will be faithful if he is holy. On the contrary, one will be unfaithful if he is not holy. Consequently, he becomes a dry branch that will die and not bear any fruit. In such condition, the lamp is quenched.
One who is not faithful will do the things that are not holy. Consequently, he is left behind when Jesus comes a second time. Finally, he perishes forever.
There are three series in every branch. Each series consists of bowl, knob, and flower.
Exodus 25: 33
25:33 "Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower -- and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand.
Thus, there are 3 x 3 = 9 units in every branch.
The figure nine means as follows.
If we become a holy and faithful branch, we can have the four times of figure nine to get the perfection as the Bride of God.
Be alert!When Israelites went out of Egypt to enter Canaan, the great Jericho could be defeated, but the small Ai could defeat them. There were thirty six (4x9) people who died.
Yosua 7: 5
7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
In the revival for building the perfect body of Christ, Satan uses Ai, a city that refers to the spirit of ruin, to destroy the four times of figure nine, namely the gifts of Holy Spirit, ministries, deeds of love, and fruits of Spirit.
What is the spirit of ruin?
Consequently, there is a ruin or disappointed heart until one leaves the service and ministry and perishes forever.
The example of a servant of God who is ruined is Judas Iskariot. He was ruined because of not being serious, so he became the antichrist. He kept the lie and love of money.
Matthew 26: 23, 25
26:23 He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
26:25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
'Rabbi, is it I?' = Judas kept the lie and accused the other eleven disciples, even Jesus.
Actually, the time when Judas received the true teaching Word and Holy Communion determined whether he was ruined or used by God.
Likewise, the time we receive the true teaching Word and Holy Communion determines whether we are ruined or used by Godand trusted to bear the fruits of Spirit. Therefore, we must be serious.
John 13: 27
13:27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
Judas hardened his heart, so he rejected the true teaching Word and Holy Communion until Satan entered him and he became the same as the antichrist. Finally, he was separated from the Lord and perished forever.
John willingly received the work of the true teaching Word and Holy Communion to sanctify his heart (to love God only) and mouth (to worship Him only), even his whole life, so he could lean on Jesus' bosom.
John 13: 23
13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosomone of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Leaning on Jesus' bosom means that we become as a crying baby in the embrace of God's merciful hand.
Isaiah 49: 14-16
49:14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me."
49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
John leaned on Jesus' bosom, so he was in the embrace of God's merciful hand.
It meansthat the Lord always remembers, cares, pays attention to, and struggles with us.
The results are as follows.
God blesses you.
Revelation 1: 20
1:20 "The mystery of the seven starswhich you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
John the apostle got the revelation of the Word about seven stars and seven golden lampstands.
The starrefers to the angel of the church ("The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches") or the pastorof the congregation.
The pastor becomes THE STARin the congregation if he lights the shine to the congregation or become the example for them, especially the example of faith. The facts found in being the example of faith are as follows.
- Living in righteousness.
The faith means the righteousness. All things in our private life, marriage, finance, identity card, and so on must be correct. - Holding fast to one true teaching Word, which has been life experience.
If the pastor becomes the star, the congregation will be in joy without any fear or stumbling because of sins, and so on.
The pastor becomes the ANGELin the congregation if there are things as follows.
- He provides the bread of angel or manna from heaven, not from the world.
The bread is the Word of God. The angel refers to the pastor or shepherd. Thus the bread of angel is Shepherding Word. It comes from heaven. No bible school can study it. - He lifts up the intercession prayer in the congregation to keep the salvation of the congregation or sheep.
- He pays attention to the congregation according to the need or visits them.
BE ALERT!Satan may pretend to be the angel of the light.
Satan can pretend to be a pastor. The signs are as follows.
- He cannot feed the congregation faithfully.
- He cannot be the example for the congregation.
- He cannot be the guard of the congregation.
If the pastor is in the right hand of God, he will never fall, but be glorified and the results will be as follows.
- The congregation will also be in the right hand of God, not stumbling but being glorified.
- The congregation feels the presence of Jesus as The High Priest. They are not dry in spirituality, but have the satisfaction of heaven.
- The congregation experiences the work of the Shepherding Word that is as the sound of trumpet to sanctify and change them until they can appear as the seven golden lampstands or the perfect church or heavenly bride.
It has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, July 06, 2014.
John the apostle received the revelation of God's Word about the relationship between a pastor and the congregation.
Tonight we discuss about THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK.
Exodus 25: 31-32
25:31 " You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.
25:32 "And six branchesshall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side."
The golden candlestick consists of three main parts as follows.
- base,
- shaft,
- branches.
The BASE or foundation
It refers to a strong foundation of the servants, sons, or church of God.
Ephesians 2: 19-20
2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
2:20 having been built on the foundationof the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
There are two kinds of foundation as follows.
- Jesus as the chief cornerstone.
Jesus is a beautiful stone, but thrown away by the builders.
1 Peter 2: 6-7
2:6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
2:7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are
disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,"
The chief cornerstone refers to Jesus who dies on the cross or His sacrifice as the reconciliation offering.
If we have the foundation of Christ's sacrifice, we can reconcilewith one another or confess and forgive sin one another as follows.- Confessing sin to God and others; not repeating the sin after being forgiven.
- Forgiving the sin of others and forget it.
- The foundation of the apostles and prophets.
The prophetsrefer to Old Testament.
The apostlesrefer to New Testament.
Thus, the second foundation is the Bible or the true teaching Word.
Bible Study Service with Holy Communion in which we get the true teaching Word and Christ's sacrifice builds a strong foundation of the church. On the contrary, the church will fall and perish forever because of not enduring if there is no true teaching Word with Holy Communion.
The facts found in having or standing upon Christ's sacrifice and true teaching Word are as follows.
- Matthew 5: 37
5:37 "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Honesty, beginning from about teaching or godly matters that we can say 'yes' if yes and 'no' if no, and then we can be honest in all matters regardless of any risk we have to face. - Matthew 7: 21-23
7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
7:23 "And then I will declareto them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Obedience to the true teaching Word.
Being disobedient, one is practicing lawlessness although his service and ministry to God seem to be great because there is no accordance to the true teaching Word. Consequently, he is cast out by God, even He does not know him, and he perishes forever.
The results of the honesty and obedience are asfollows.
- We are not moved by anything or we do not fall, but endure in facing all things.
- Haggai 2: 19-20
2:19 'Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid--consider it:
2:20 'Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.'
The second result is "from this day God will bless us" from heaven, both physically and spiritually. - Revelation 12: 1
12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
The church stands upon the red moon or the redemption done by the blood of Jesus. We cannot be defeated by anything, even the death cannot defeat us, and we will never fall.
All sins have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, so we can get the GARMENT OF THE BRIDE, namely clean and bright fine linen or the sun, moon, and stars (Revelation 19: 8).
The SHAFT or the centre
It is Jesus Himself as the example.
We must take the example of Jesus, so that we can become the example for others in our house, shepherding, even before all people and anywhere.
1 Peter 2: 21-25
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
2:22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
What example do we have to take? It is the steps of Jesusas follows.
- [verse 21-24] The step of death and resurrection.
The step of deathmeans being dead to sin or repenting as follows.- Not sinning.
- Not lying.
- Not repaying evil for evil, but good for evil.
Not living in righteousness means not rising or not being on the steps of Jesus, but being deceived.
The result of taking the step of Jesus' death and resurrection is we experience the power of His stripesto heal us physically and spiritually in our inward or outward man or we are healthy in our physical life and spiritual one that we do not sin but live in righteousness. In addition, we are healthy in our marriage, finance, and so on. - 1 Peter 2: 25
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The second example is we must be the sheep that are shepherded well and correctly.
It means as follows.- Being shepherded to the true teaching Word or Jesus Himself.
- Being inside the shepherding pen always, namely the Holy Place, to persevere in doing three main services to God as follows.
- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of Showbreador perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion to have fellowship with the Son of God in the teaching Word and Christ's sacrifice.
- Golden Altar of Incenseor perseverance in doing Prayer Service to have fellowship with Father God in His love.
- Extra power, so we can willingly suffer in the flesh together with Jesus.
- Sanctification to our body, soul, and spirit done by the Trinity of God.
Therefore, it is called as the three main services to God because our life consists of the body, soul, and spirit.
Then, we can be used by God to minister to Him.
5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examplesto the flock;
The signs of the ministry in the right shepherding system are as follows.- We willingly suffer in the flesh together with Jesus to be a witness of the sufferings of Christ.
- We willingly serve Him, not by compulsion and not for dishonest gain but eagerly or with loyality. We have no right, but duty only as a doulos.
Our duty is glorifying God through our ministry only.
Do not be afraid!Our reward and work are in the hand of God. - We must be examples for others, not being lords over them.
It begins from a pastor that must be the example for the sheep. Then, the sheep become the example for other sheep.
Being examples means that the lamp shines. Other people who are in the darkness can receive the shine.
1 Timothy 4: 12
4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an exampleto the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
We become examples, expecially in these five tings.- In word.
- In conduct.
- In love.
- In faithfulness.
- In purity.
[verse 12] A young person must learn to be an example. Moreover, the old people or those who have been so long in the teaching Word must have been the examples.
1 Peter 5: 4
5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The result of being the examplesis we get the crown of glory that does not fade away or THE CROWN OF THE BRIDE.
'the crown of glory that does not fade away' means we must keep faithful and fervent in spiritin doing our service and ministry to God, and in our marriage.
BRANCH
There are six branches that come out of the shaft.
Exodus 25: 32
25:32 "And six branchesshall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.
The figure six refers to human who was created on the sixth day.
The six branches refer to human who has relationship with the True Vine or Jesus Himself.
The branch must dwell in the True Vine or Jesus Himself.
It meanshuman who has the fellowship with Jesus in holinessand faithfulness.
The holiness cannot be separated from the faithfulness. One will be faithful if he is holy. On the contrary, one will be unfaithful if he is not holy. Consequently, he becomes a dry branch that will die and not bear any fruit. In such condition, the lamp is quenched.
One who is not faithful will do the things that are not holy. Consequently, he is left behind when Jesus comes a second time. Finally, he perishes forever.
There are three series in every branch. Each series consists of bowl, knob, and flower.
Exodus 25: 33
25:33 "Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower -- and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand.
Thus, there are 3 x 3 = 9 units in every branch.
The figure nine means as follows.
- Nine gifts of Holy Spirit.
- Nine ministries.
- Nine deeds of love.
- Nine fruits of Spirit.
If we become a holy and faithful branch, we can have the four times of figure nine to get the perfection as the Bride of God.
Be alert!When Israelites went out of Egypt to enter Canaan, the great Jericho could be defeated, but the small Ai could defeat them. There were thirty six (4x9) people who died.
Yosua 7: 5
7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
In the revival for building the perfect body of Christ, Satan uses Ai, a city that refers to the spirit of ruin, to destroy the four times of figure nine, namely the gifts of Holy Spirit, ministries, deeds of love, and fruits of Spirit.
What is the spirit of ruin?
- The sin of Achan or the heartthat is bound by the will of money until one becomes stingy and greedy.
Stinginessmeans that one cannot give.
Greedinessmeans that one robs the possession of God, namely tithes and offering, and others.
Money is a small thing for God, but it can ruin a servant of God if there is the sin of Achan. - Proverbs 11: 11
11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
The spirit of ruin is unrighteous saying or the mouthof the wicked, namely lie, gossip, slander, and so on.
Consequently, there is a ruin or disappointed heart until one leaves the service and ministry and perishes forever.
The example of a servant of God who is ruined is Judas Iskariot. He was ruined because of not being serious, so he became the antichrist. He kept the lie and love of money.
Matthew 26: 23, 25
26:23 He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
26:25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
'Rabbi, is it I?' = Judas kept the lie and accused the other eleven disciples, even Jesus.
Actually, the time when Judas received the true teaching Word and Holy Communion determined whether he was ruined or used by God.
Likewise, the time we receive the true teaching Word and Holy Communion determines whether we are ruined or used by Godand trusted to bear the fruits of Spirit. Therefore, we must be serious.
John 13: 27
13:27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
Judas hardened his heart, so he rejected the true teaching Word and Holy Communion until Satan entered him and he became the same as the antichrist. Finally, he was separated from the Lord and perished forever.
John willingly received the work of the true teaching Word and Holy Communion to sanctify his heart (to love God only) and mouth (to worship Him only), even his whole life, so he could lean on Jesus' bosom.
John 13: 23
13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosomone of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Leaning on Jesus' bosom means that we become as a crying baby in the embrace of God's merciful hand.
Isaiah 49: 14-16
49:14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me."
49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
John leaned on Jesus' bosom, so he was in the embrace of God's merciful hand.
It meansthat the Lord always remembers, cares, pays attention to, and struggles with us.
The results are as follows.
- The merciful hand of God determines our life or death.
It means as follows.- The hand of mercy of God is able to preserve our life although we are powerless in facing difficulties and impossibilities.
- The hand of mercy of God is able to give us beautiful, successful, and joyful future life.
- The hand of mercy of God is able to use our life in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain.
- The hand of mercy of God is able to cleanse or wash us (the spiritual miracle happens).
Zephaniah 3: 17
3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
The hand of mercy of God is able to renew us from fleshy men to spiritual ones who are as perfect as Jesus is. We can produce the fruits of spirit and our mouth does not stumble in word (James3: 2). We only say 'Alleluia!' = THE VOICE OF THE BRIDE.
The hand of mercy of God is able to do physical miracle to remove all impossibilities in our life.
We are changed to be as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time, and we are lifted up to the glorious clouds with shouting for joy 'Alleluia.' Now we are leaning on His bosom, but someday we will truly sit together with Him forever.
God blesses you.