Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We learn Revelation 2-3 since General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014.
We learn Revelation 3: 14-22 about the church of the Laodiceansor the last church in the book of Revelation. They refer to the church in the last days (It has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, June 14, 2015).
Revelation 3: 16-19
3:16. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
3:17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--
3:18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
THE SPIRITUALITYof the church of the Laodiceans is LUKEWARM.
It meansonly being satisfied or proud of physical things or blessings, but the spirituality iswretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Consequently, they are vomited by God as follows.
God rebukes and advises (verse 18 and 19) so that they buy the heavenly riches. If the rebuke and advice are ignored, He will chasten.
There are three kinds of heavenly riches the church of the Laodiceans or all of us must buy as follows.
AD. 1. GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE.
Formerly, the faith of Peter was shaken, so he denied the Lord. Getting the power from God, he was used to write about the pure faith like the gold refined in the fire.
1 Peter 1: 6-7
1:6. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Such faith is the permanent or perfect one that is worthy to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds.
How can we get the gold refined in the fire or the pure faith?
2 Peter 1: 5-8
1:5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faithvirtue, to virtue knowledge,
1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must give all diligence or try hardto incease in the faith up to the love and 'be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ' or we have the peak of our knowledge to Jesus as the Heavenly Bridegroom.
Peter wrote about the meaning of the perfect faith or the gold refined in the fire in the first epistle and the process in the second epistle.
The process of the increase of the faith according to Tabernacle or heavenly kingdom is as follows.
THE RESULT
Joshua 2: 18-19
2:18. "unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cordin the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home.
2:19 "So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
Formerly, Rahab got the line of scarlet cordwhose color is red. It refers to the blood or cross of Jesus, namely the great grace and mercy of God.
Song of Solomon 4: 3
4:3. Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate.
We are given the blood in our house or private life, especially our mouth. We can be honestsaying yes if yes and no if no as well as testify and worship God.
The functions of the cross or the line of scarlet cord are as follows.
God blesses you.
We learn Revelation 2-3 since General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014.
We learn Revelation 3: 14-22 about the church of the Laodiceansor the last church in the book of Revelation. They refer to the church in the last days (It has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, June 14, 2015).
Revelation 3: 16-19
3:16. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
3:17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--
3:18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
THE SPIRITUALITYof the church of the Laodiceans is LUKEWARM.
It meansonly being satisfied or proud of physical things or blessings, but the spirituality iswretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Consequently, they are vomited by God as follows.
- Being useless.
- Being cursed.
- Being disgusting and unclean.
- Perishing forever.
God rebukes and advises (verse 18 and 19) so that they buy the heavenly riches. If the rebuke and advice are ignored, He will chasten.
There are three kinds of heavenly riches the church of the Laodiceans or all of us must buy as follows.
- Gold refined in the fire (it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, July 12, 2015).
- white garment.
- Eye salve to anoint the eyes.
AD. 1. GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE.
Formerly, the faith of Peter was shaken, so he denied the Lord. Getting the power from God, he was used to write about the pure faith like the gold refined in the fire.
1 Peter 1: 6-7
1:6. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Such faith is the permanent or perfect one that is worthy to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds.
How can we get the gold refined in the fire or the pure faith?
2 Peter 1: 5-8
1:5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faithvirtue, to virtue knowledge,
1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must give all diligence or try hardto incease in the faith up to the love and 'be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ' or we have the peak of our knowledge to Jesus as the Heavenly Bridegroom.
Peter wrote about the meaning of the perfect faith or the gold refined in the fire in the first epistle and the process in the second epistle.
The process of the increase of the faith according to Tabernacle or heavenly kingdom is as follows.
- The right faithby believing in Jesus as the only one Savior.
2 Peter 1: 5
1:5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faithvirtue, to virtue knowledge,
It refers to the Gate of Tabernacle.
Romans 10: 17
10:17. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The right faith comes from hearingthe Word of Godin the anointing of Holy Spirit.
The Gate was on the width of tabernacle, whose measurement was fifty cubits. The number of fifty refers to Pentecost or the fullness of Holy Spirit. We rely on Holy Spirit to pass through the Gate. Relying on the power of the flesh, one cannot pass through it because he will deny.
John 2: 23-24
2:23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they sawthe signs which He did.
2:24 But Jesus did notcommit Himself to them, because He knew all men,
On the contrary, the faith by seeing is brittlebecause we believe in Jesus but He does not entrust Himself to us. This is a one-sided faith.
The consequences are as follows.- Denying the Lordwhen facing unsolvable problem.
- Worshiping the antichristwhen looking at the wonder done by the antichrist that makes fire come from heaven (Revelation 13).
8:18. "Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."
The way we hear the Word exceedingly determinesour destiny and future, whether we are saved by entering the Gate or destroyed by going out of the Gate. There are two attitudes as follows.- Positive one, namely hearing the Word in the anointing of Holy Spiritseriously without being disturbed by the feelings or tiredness of the flesh, so we can understand and believe in the Word. It becomes faith in our heart.
The results are as follows.- We enter the gate of salvation.
- 'For whoever has, to him more will be given' = the faith increasesup to the perfection.
- Negative one, namely hearing the Word without the anointing of Holy Spirit, but using the fleshly power in the intelligence, experience, and so on. Consequently, one criticizes the Word, get bored and sleepy, and so on. The Word does not become faith in the heart and 'whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him ' or the faith is taken and the salvation vanishes away. It means that one goes out of the gate.
- VIRTUEthat refers to the Altar of Burnt Offerings.
2 Peter 1: 5
1:5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
It means the good deed based on or related tothe sacrifice or cross of Christ.
The good deed of Jesus is willingly being dead on the cross to redeem us from sin.
Our good deedis repenting or stopping sinning to return to God.
Thus, the repentance is the first good deed God waits for.
All things we do or sacrifice, including the service and ministry, are rejected by God and uselesswithout the repentance.
2 Peter 3: 9
3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufferingtoward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Lord is longsuffering because Jesus has not come the second time yet and we are still given the long age. The purpose is our repentance so that we are saved.
THE MAIN PURPOSEof our life in the world is repenting.
Jeremiah 9: 5
9:5. Everyone will deceive his neighbor, And will not speak the truth; They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Do not lie!The lie makes laziness to repent until someday one cannot repent, but becomes the same as Satan. - KNOWLEDGEthat refers to Brazen Laver.
2 Peter 1: 5
1:5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
Philippians 3: 10
3:10. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
We know Jesus through His death and resurrection. We get it in the water baptism.
Romans 6: 2, 4-5
6:2. Certainly not! How shall we who died to sinlive any longer in it?
6:4 Therefore we were buriedwith Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raisedfrom the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
The requirementof the right water baptism is repentance (Romans 6:2).
The execution of the right water baptism is the person who has died to sin is buried in water with Jesus and raised up from water with Him to get the new or heavenly life, namely the righteous one.
The foundation of the successful knowledge to Jesus (2 Peter 1: 8) until we know Him who is glorious as the Heavenly Bridegroom is the right belief or faith, repentance, and water baptism. - SELF-CONTROLthat refers to the Door of Tabernacle or the fullness of Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1: 6
1:6. to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
Romans 8: 13
8:13. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
'by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live' = Holy Spirit is able to put to death the fleshly deeds or we have self-control.
Without the self-control, one will be full of flesh desires and there will be the fleshly deeds.
Galatians 5: 19-21
5:19. Now the works of the fleshare evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
5:21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
If we are anointed and filled up by Holy Spirit, we will be able to control our life or put to death the deeds, saying, and will of flesh so that we can live in righteousness and holiness as well as cry out 'Abba, Father' or become obedient.
Romans 8: 15
8:15. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spiritof adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
The obedience is the beginningof being used by God and success in our life, ministry, marriage, and so on. - PERSEVERANCE.
2 Peter 1: 6
1:6. to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, - GODLINESS.
It means we bring ourselves before the Lord or our service to Him.
Perseverance and godliness means the perseverance in doing the service and ministry to God that refers to the Holy Place. We persevere in doing three main services to God in the shepherding pen as follows.- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in his gifts -the sheep are drinking.
- Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion to have fellowship with the Son of God in the teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ -the sheep are eating.
- Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service to have fellowship with Father God in His love -the sheep are breathing.
Our perseverance in doing the service to God must be until the end as follows.- We die.
- Jesus comes a second time.
- We reach the last shepherding in New Jerusalem or heavenly kingdom where there is no tear.
10:35. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
10:37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
[verse 38] We must keep our faith because the second coming of Jesus is so soon.
'For you have need of endurance' = there are many things we need in the worldwhen Jesus will come a second time soon, even we are in the difficulties and impossibilities more when the antichrist comes. Do not be afraid because all our needs have beenfulfilled through the perseverance in the shepherding pen.
The Great Shepherd provides all our needs and He is guding us to the last shepherding in New Jerusalem where there is no tear.
The more we are guided or shepherded seriously, the more our tears are wiped away. It means that we have more comfortable life until someday there is no tear at all.
Romans 5: 4
5:4. and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
The perseverance in the shepherding results in characteror ability to endure so that we do not deny God, go back, nor doubt regardless of anything we have to face.
The character will result in hope. We are never disappointed or hopeless.
Hebrews 6: 19-20
6:19.This hopewe have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
6:20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
'which enters the Presence behind the veil' = we can pass through the veil, namely perfectionor we are as glorious as Jesus is. - LOVE.
2 Peter 1: 7
1:7. to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
It means we love other people as we love ourselves, even we can love our enemy.
1 John 4: 20-21
4:20. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
It means that we can love God more than anything. This is the work of faith, not the passive one. The faith without work is dead.
With the work of faith, our faith is perfect or PURElike the gold refined in the fire that equals to love.
James 2: 21-22
2:21. Was not Abrahamour father justified by works when he offered Isaachis son on the altar?
2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
The facts found in the work of faith are as follows.- Abrahamas the representative of the Israelites.
The work of Abraham's faithwas offering Isaac, his only son he had waited for twenty five years because God commanded it.
Abraham could do that because he loved God more than Isaac.
We often understand what God asks us something through his Word, but we do not do it because of loving something more than Him. - Rahabas the representative of the Gentiles.
She was a harlot. Her life was not good, even in destruction, but she could get the opportunity to get the faith and do the work.
James 2: 25-26
2:25.Likewise, was not Rahabthe harlot also justified by workswhen she received the messengers and sent them outanother way?
2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The work of the faith of Rahabis hiding the two spies by giving her soul. It means loving other people more than loving her life, even she loved the enemy. It is said loving the enemy because actually there is enmity or bitterness of heart between Israel and Gentiles.
Rahab hid the two spies of the Israelites until they could enter Canaan.
It means that we are used in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rainor the building of the perfect body of Christ. The requirement is there is no worry or fear like Rahab who did not think about her soul.
The worry is the characteristic of the Gentiles, besides the dog and swine, causing us not to do the work of faith.
Mark 11: 1-3, 7
11:1. Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;
11:2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colttied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.
11:3 "And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."
11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.
Jesus sat on a colt going to Jerusalem. It means that the target of Jesus in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain is the Gentiles.
The work of faith is able to remove the worry.
Matthew 6: 31-32, 34
6:31. "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32 "For after all these things the Gentilesseek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The Gentiles worry about the daily life and the future. Consequently, there is no faithfulness and righteousness or the work of faith and God cannot use them.
The Gentiles can be used by God in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain if they are set free from the worry and have the work of faith like Rahab.
The proofs of being set free from the worry are as follows.- We can give for the work of God.
Mark 11: 8
11:8. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
We can give our time, energy, money, thought, and so on, even our whole life to God for the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain.
Only one thing we must not sacrifice, namely the true teaching Word or Jesus Himself, or else we despise the sacrifice of Christ.
The matter of giving does not depend on riches or poverty, but on there is worry or not. Being set free from the worry, we can give, even our whole life.
The church in Macedonia was in poverty, but they could give because there was no worry. - We can prioritize the service and ministry to God more than anything in the world and serve and minister to Him faithfully and fervently in spirit.
Matthew 6: 33
6:33. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. - We can live in righteousness, regardless any risk we have to take.
We always live in righteousness anywhere, anytime, and in any circumstance.
- We can give for the work of God.
- Abrahamas the representative of the Israelites.
THE RESULT
Joshua 2: 18-19
2:18. "unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cordin the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home.
2:19 "So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
Formerly, Rahab got the line of scarlet cordwhose color is red. It refers to the blood or cross of Jesus, namely the great grace and mercy of God.
Song of Solomon 4: 3
4:3. Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate.
We are given the blood in our house or private life, especially our mouth. We can be honestsaying yes if yes and no if no as well as testify and worship God.
The functions of the cross or the line of scarlet cord are as follows.
- For the guarantee of the salvationfor our family physically and spiritually.
Physically, we are saved from disaster, accident, disease, and so on.
Spiritually, we are saved from sin up to the peak. - The cross or sacrifice of Jesus is able to fulfill our physical and spiritual needs miraculously.
Romans 8: 31-32
8:31. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be addedto you' = positive mark ("+") or the cross. It means that we live by the cross.
Physically, Jericho or a big trade city was destroyed, but Rahab and her family could live.
Spiritually, we can keep right and holy. - Israel and Gentiles become one perfect body of Christ by the power of the line of scarlet cord or the blood of Jesus.
Ephesians 2: 13-14
2:13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought nearby the blood of Christ.
2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
Our marriage must be united also. - Matthew 1: 1, 5
1:1. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
1:5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,
Abraham and Rahab were written in the genealogy of Jesus. They could receive Jesus' first coming. It means that now we can be written to receive Jesus' second coming. We can welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds.
God blesses you.