Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We discuss the book of Revelation chapter 2-3that refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant or the last sanctification for the church of God to become perfect and without blemish as Jesus is or the heavenly bride who is worthy to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds.
In the book of Revelation chapter 2-3, the seven churches of the Gentiles experience the sanctification to become the perfect bride of heaven.
We must experience the sanctification until someday we get the last one.
There are four means of the sanctification as follows.
Tonight we learn the forth means.
1 John 3: 2-3
3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
We have many hopes and dreams in the world, but all of them must peak on the highest hope, namely the hope for Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds, so that we can be lifted up on the glorious clouds to get eternal life with Him forever.
If we only get our dreams in the world, but we are left when Jesus comes a second time, all things are useless and will perish forever.
The requirements to hope for Jesus' second comingso that we can be lifted up together with Him are as follows.
The results of being strong and of good courage are as follows.
Do not be moved!Keep on being strong and of good courage, regardless of anything that happens in your life. The LOVINGKINDNESS OF GOD is always with you.
God blesses you.
We discuss the book of Revelation chapter 2-3that refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant or the last sanctification for the church of God to become perfect and without blemish as Jesus is or the heavenly bride who is worthy to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds.
In the book of Revelation chapter 2-3, the seven churches of the Gentiles experience the sanctification to become the perfect bride of heaven.
We must experience the sanctification until someday we get the last one.
There are four means of the sanctification as follows.
- The blood of Jesus.
Jesus' blood sanctifies us from our sins we have done, said, and thought in the past.
The process isthrough confessing our sins to God and others.
For example,David, a great king, who fell in great sin with Bathsheba as follows.- Evil sin, namely killing Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, intentionally by commanding for placing him in the forefront of the hottest battle and leaving him to die.
- Uncleanness sin, namely committing adultery with the wife of other man.
- Evil sin, namely killing Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, intentionally by commanding for placing him in the forefront of the hottest battle and leaving him to die.
- The word of sanctificationor the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword to sanctify our present sins.
The true teaching Word becomes a sword to cut the snares of sin that are set by Satan.
There are many kinds of the snare of sin as follows.- The snare of false teaching,
- The snare of the bond of money,
- The snare of the woman of Babylon, namely sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
- Chastening.
If the sword of the Word of sanctification is rejected, it will be a whip. Thus, how hard the Word is, it is the cord of the love of God. If it is rejected, it will be spun to be the whip of chastening. We are chastened to return to the holiness.
For example,Jonah was commanded to Niniveh, but he ran to Tarshish. It seemed to be good, but he experienced the storm and sank to the deep sea. He was chastened hard, but still got the LOVINGKINDNESS OF GODthat is never cancelled.
The chastening is also the sanctification for our present life.
We have learnt those three means in General Service in Surabaya, July 13, 2014. - The hope for Jesus' second coming.
It is the sanctification for the life in the future.
Tonight we learn the forth means.
1 John 3: 2-3
3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
We have many hopes and dreams in the world, but all of them must peak on the highest hope, namely the hope for Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds, so that we can be lifted up on the glorious clouds to get eternal life with Him forever.
If we only get our dreams in the world, but we are left when Jesus comes a second time, all things are useless and will perish forever.
The requirements to hope for Jesus' second comingso that we can be lifted up together with Him are as follows.
- Romans 8: 25
8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
'hope for what we do not see' = we hope for the second coming of Jesus.
The first requirement is perseverancebecause Jesus' second coming is as a thief. When we are sleepy and sleep while we are waiting for Him, and then Jesus comes, we will perish.
How can we persevere?
Luke 8: 15
8:15 "But the ones that fell on the good groundare those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Thus, perseverance is the fruit of the preaching of God's Word (the fruit of perseverance is the highest fruit)/the true teaching Word is a good seed.
For producing the fruit of perseverance, we must have the good soil of our heart or good conscience. Although the seed is good, but the soil is not, it cannot grow.
In the book of Genesis chapter6, namely in the days of Noah, the heart of human, including child, tended to be evil and unclean. Only eight people could enter the ark of Noah.
How can we get the good conscience?
1 Peter 3: 20-21
3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
We get the good conscience through water baptism we commit not because of any human's command, but God's.
The water baptism is the process of renewalfrom evil and unclean heart to good conscience that can consume the true teaching Word that is hard and sharper than any two-edged sword and be sanctified. As a result, we can hear and obeythe true teaching Word to result in the fruit of perseverance.
Acts 2: 41-42
2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The fruit of perseverance means the perseverance in the shepherding pen or Holy Place.
There are three kinds of equipment inside the Holy Place. They have been destroyed, but still have the spiritual meanings in the days of the apostles of the early rain, namely three kinds of perseverance. They refer to the perseverance in doing three main services in the latter rain church.
Thus, we must be shepherded well and correctly because there is false shepherding, namely the one with foolish shepherd and the shepherd as the merchant of sheep who does not feed the sheep but sell them. The right duty of a shepherd is feeding the sheep.
Only those who have good consciencecan shepherd (as the pastors) and be shepherded (as the sheep) well and correctly.
If the conscience is not good, the pastor cannot shepherd well and correctly, but count the profit only.
Thus, the success of the preaching of God's Wordis not enough only when the sheep cry or regret themselves, but when they can enter the sheepfold or have the fruit of perseverance in doing three main services to God.
Ezekiel 20: 37
20:37 "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
'the rod ' = the shepherding Word.
Only the sheep that are inside the sheepfold can be counted, although they are as a piece of hair that is powerless and not precious, whereas the ones outside are still lost and need to be seeked.
Being inside the sheepfold, all things are God's concern.
Hebrews 10: 36-38
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."
'For you have need of endurance' means that our needs are so many in the last days, the price of many things and education fee are more expensive, but all of the things have been fulfilled in the perseverance in the sheepfold. God has provided all things in the sheepfold when we are patient and serious in it.
It means as follows.- The hand of the Great Shepherd is able to supply our need and preserve us until we do not lack of anything as the saying of David, namely 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want'.
I shall not wantmeans God preserves our life abundantly. It is not about much money, but until we can give thanks to God. - The hand of the Great Shepherd is able to embrace our life, so that we can be firmin the faith or righteousness, grow in the faith or live in the holiness until produce the fruit of perfection. Do not get out of the embrace of God's hand, or else you lose your righteousness and follow the conduct of the world.
- The hand of the Great Shepherd is able to supply our need and preserve us until we do not lack of anything as the saying of David, namely 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want'.
- 1 John 3: 2-3
3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
The second requirement isliving in holiness as Jesus is holy until we can be as perfect and glorious as Jesus is.
The second coming of Jesus as He is in the glory is as The King of all kings and heavenly bridegroom, not as a baby anymore like His first coming to die on the cross.
How can we be holy and perfect as Jesus is?
By the seven sprinklings of bloodor the last sanctification until there is no more blemish.
Leviticus 16: 14
16:14 "He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seaton the east side; and before the mercy seathe shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
The Ark of the Covenant is the equipment whose place is the furthest in Tabernacle, namely the Most Holy Place. The Ark of the Covenant consists of the ark and the mercy seat with the two cherubim.
There are two times of the sprinkling of blood as follows.- The first of the seven sprinklings of blood that is upon the mercy seat.
The blood refers to the suffering.
The mercy seat is made of pure gold. It refers to Jesus as The Head.
Thus, the seven sprinklings of blood upon the mercy seat is the suffering of Jesus until He dies on the cross to save and perfect us, the Church.
If Jesus had not suffered and died, we would not have been saved (all sinners must be condemned), sanctified, and perfected as glorious as Jesus is. All people are unclean and sinful. Nevertheless, Jesus willingly suffers and dies on the cross to save and perfect the Church, so there is a hope for us to get salvation and perfection. - The second of the seven sprinklings of blood that is in front of the Ark of the Covenant.
The ark is made of wood. It refers to the Church.
Thus, the seven sprinklings of blood in front of the Ark of the Covenant refer to the suffering that must be experienced by the Church.
Jesus as The Head suffers, so the body must suffer also. It is impossible that the body has a good time while the Head is suffering.
The Church must willingly suffer in the flesh together with Jesusto get the last sanctification up to perfection as Jesus is perfect.
1 Peter 4: 12-14
4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Why do we have to suffer?We must suffer in the flesh together with Jesus to be as holy, perfect, and glorious as He is.
1 Peter 4: 12-14 refers to the sprinkling of blood, the fiery trial, the suffering in the flesh together with Jesus, or the test.
There is the LOVINGKINDNESS OF GODin the sprinkling of blood, one of which is being blamed when we are right.
The test or suffering in the flesh with Jesus results in two things as follows.- The first is the last sanctification from sins we often do not realize.
For example, Job.
Job was holy and upright. He was blameless, but there was a sin in him that he did not realize, so God allowed him to get total test or the sprinkling of blood to make him realize his sin.
Job 1: 1-3
1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
1:2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
1:3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatestof all the people of the East.
The sin was self-truth.
Job 32: 1-2
32:1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
32:2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
It means as follows:- The truth that is not in line to the Bible.
- Covering the sin by blaming others and God.
The Late Rev. Van Gessel said that pointing or blaming one person with our finger meant that the other one finger is pointing to God and the other three fingers are pointing to himself. It means that actually he himself is false.
Nevertheless, the people who are in failure have the self-truth also.
Thus, Job was allowed to experience the sprinkling of blood to make him realize his self-truth. Praise the Lord, he still remembered the LOVINGKINDNESS OF GOD. He was given the life and grace of God until he could be sanctified.
Job 10: 11-12
10:11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews?
10:12 You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit.
When we are allowed to experience the suffering in any kind and the sprinkling of blood or test, we must not be hopeless, but always remember the lovingkindness of God that is never changing revoked from us, so that we can check ourselves more to find our mistake.
The people who consider himself righteous in his own opinion often stumble in word.
Job 42: 5-6
42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
42:6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.""
'I abhor myself ' = Job had many faults in his saying.
The tongue determineswhether our life is good or not, we can enter the heaven or the hell, and we are anointed by Holy Spirit or demon-possessed. Let we revoke our false saying and the lovingkindness of God will heal our life until someday we do not stumble in words or we are perfect.
James 3: 2
3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Job sat on dust and ashes or confessed that he was only clay and revoked all his false words. As a result, he experienced the great lovingkindness of God and He healed him doubly in his physical and spiritual life. It will continue until someday we do not stumble in word, but become as holy and perfect as Jesus is. - 1 Peter 4: 14
4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of gloryand of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Formerly, Aaron, the high priest, entered the Most Holy Place to sprinkle the blood seven times upon the mercy seat and in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Afterwards, there was the clouds of glory or shekinah glory. It refers to the spirit of glory in 1 Peter chapter 4.
The second one is resulting the spirit of glory(shekinah glory) to renew our life from fleshy man to glorious one as Jesus is.
If Jesus had not died on the cross, there would not have been the glorious body, but the body of blood and flesh. Nevertheless, Jesus willingly experienced the sprinkling of blood until He died on the cross, so He could rise in the body of glory and ascend to heaven.
Likewise, if we want to experience the sprinking of blood, there will be the spirit of glory that renews us from fleshy man to spiritual one that is as glorious as Jesus is.
The life renewal starts from being strong and of good courage. We need it to welcome Jesus' second coming.
Ephesians 3: 16
3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with mightthrough His Spirit in the inner man,
If we are strong and of courage, we will be able to persevere and get sanctification.
Being strong and of good courage means as follows.- Keeping on holding fast to the true teaching Word and being obedient regardless of any risk we have to face.
Jesus is obedient to the point of death and we must be obedient also, regardless of any risk we have to face. Abraham was commanded to offer his son, Isaac. He had to be obedient, regardless of any risk, until his flesh did not speak anymore. - Keeping on living in righteousness and holiness, regardless of any risk.
- Not being disappointed and hopeless or leaving God in facing all things, but we keep on giving thanks to Him, rejoicing in the suffering, being faithful and fervent in spirit in serving and ministering to Him, believing and hoping in Him or worshiping Him.
For examples,- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the worship to the statue. Not doing that, they had to be burnt in fire, but they kept on worshiping God.
- Daniel faced the worship to the king, but he kept on worshiping God although he had to be put in the den of lions.
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the worship to the statue. Not doing that, they had to be burnt in fire, but they kept on worshiping God.
- Keeping on holding fast to the true teaching Word and being obedient regardless of any risk we have to face.
- The first of the seven sprinklings of blood that is upon the mercy seat.
The results of being strong and of good courage are as follows.
- 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!
We can wait for Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds.
Be alert!Towards the second coming of Jesus, there will be many youths falling and being weak. There are many weak wings because of not being strong and of good courage.
Isaiah 40: 29-31
40:29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
40:30 Even the youths shall 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.
'the youths shall faint and be weary'= the youths refer to the strongest life, but they are weary.
'the young men shall utterly fall'= there are many who fall in sin concerning finance, sexual affairs, and so on towards the second coming of Jesus. We must be careful.
In such condition, let us return to the Holy Communion as an eagle that eats the carcass, so that we can be strong again.
The lovingkindness of God that never ends becomes a new strength in the Holy Communion. - 1 Chronicles 28: 20
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.
The lovingkindness of God is able to finish all things.
1 Chronicles 17: 12-13
17:12 "He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
17:13 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy awayfrom him, as I took it from him who was before you.
Solomon only lived by the mercy of God. He was young and had no enough experience, but he held fast to the mercy of God. The mercy of God is able to finish all things in due time.
Jesus had drunk the sourwine mingled with gall that refers to unsolved problems and sins that cause bitter life. Afterwards, Jesus said "It is finished!" It means that all things are finished right in God's time for sure, even the building of the spiritual temple or the perfect body of Christ.
The spirit of glory changes our life to be as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time and we can be lifted up together with Him forever.
Do not be moved!Keep on being strong and of good courage, regardless of anything that happens in your life. The LOVINGKINDNESS OF GOD is always with you.
God blesses you.