Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We discuss the theme in the Revelation 1: 17-20 (it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014), but we are still discussing Revelation 1: 17-18.
Revelation 1: 17-18
1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feetas dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am aliveforevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
John, the apostle, fell at the Lord’s feetmeans that he worshiped God with contrite heart, so he could experience the touching of His right hand and receive these three things.
Tonight, we still discuss the third part, namely 'I AM HE WHO WAS DEAD, AND LIVES'.
'I was dead' refers to Jesus who has died on the cross.
'I who lives' refers to Jesus who has been resurrected.
“I was dead, and behold, I am alive” means that Jesus has been dead and resurrected to do these things.
What is the key of heavenly kingdom?
Acts 14: 22
14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
“enter the kingdom of God” means that we have the key.
The key of heavenly kingdom is experiencing the suffering in the flesh together with Jesus or the CROSS.
Now, we are learning about the cross or suffering in the flesh.
1 Peter 2: 19-20
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
There are two kinds of the suffering in the fleshas follows.
1 Peter 2: 21
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.
The suffering in the flesh together with Jesus is the CROSSas well as the grace.
We suffer in the flesh together with Jesus means that we experience the cross with Him or we are following His steps, namely the steps in blood or the steps of the death and resurrection.
The facts found in following Jesus with the steps of the death and resurrection are as follows.
The Lord gives an example about how important the shepherding is.
Luke 2: 6-7
2:6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
'there was no room for them in the inn' means there was only a pen with the manger.
'manger' is the place of food for the animal.
Thus, Jesus was born in a pen to show us about the importance of a good and right shepherdingbecause nowadays we are facing many beasts, namely false teachings, sins, difficulties, and so on.
Jesus was born in a pen also to show us that He is a Good Shepherd.
The duties of Jesus as the Good Shepherd are as follows.
There is a relationship between Jesus and the manger.
Isaiah 1: 3
1:3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider."
'donkey' refers to the Gentile.
'the donkey knows its master’s crib' means that the Gentiles know the manger, so that they can be the sheep of God.
It emphasizes the food, not any human.
A part of Israel does not know the manger, so they are lost and replaced by the Gentiles.
'manger' is the place of sheep’s food.
Jesus was born in a pen and laid in a manger. It means that Jesus is ready to become the food of the sheep, both for the house of Israel and the Gentiles.
There are two kinds of the sheep’s food as follows.
God blesses you.
We discuss the theme in the Revelation 1: 17-20 (it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014), but we are still discussing Revelation 1: 17-18.
Revelation 1: 17-18
1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feetas dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am aliveforevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
John, the apostle, fell at the Lord’s feetmeans that he worshiped God with contrite heart, so he could experience the touching of His right hand and receive these three things.
- 'Do not be afraid ' = there is no more fear (it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014).
- 'I am the First and the Last' (it has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, May 19, 2014).
“the First” means the first love.
“the Last” is the love of the Bridegroom or the peak of love. Thus,“I am the First and the Last” means receiving the love of God. - [verse 18] 'I am He who was dead , and lives' means receiving the victory power over the death(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 25, 2014).
Tonight, we still discuss the third part, namely 'I AM HE WHO WAS DEAD, AND LIVES'.
'I was dead' refers to Jesus who has died on the cross.
'I who lives' refers to Jesus who has been resurrected.
“I was dead, and behold, I am alive” means that Jesus has been dead and resurrected to do these things.
- Defeating the death or holding the keys of Hades to shut the door, so that we will not perish forever.
- Holding the key of heavenly kingdom to open the doorfor us or give the key to us.
Matthew 16: 18-19
16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
“the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” means the door of Hades has been locked by God, so we do not need to perish.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” means that God has opened the door of heavenly kingdom with the key and He gives it to us (formerly, it was given to Peter), so that we can open the door and live eternally with Him forever.
What is the key of heavenly kingdom?
Acts 14: 22
14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
“enter the kingdom of God” means that we have the key.
The key of heavenly kingdom is experiencing the suffering in the flesh together with Jesus or the CROSS.
Now, we are learning about the cross or suffering in the flesh.
1 Peter 2: 19-20
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
There are two kinds of the suffering in the fleshas follows.
- verse 20= 'you are beaten for your faults'= hit or chastening.
It means the suffering in the flesh because of sinning.
How can the hit and chastening come?
It happens when one keeps the sinand rejects the true teaching Word when it is preached. Actually, the true teaching Word is the cord of the love of Godthat is stretched to the sinners to make them return to Him.
The repeatedteaching Word refers to the cords of the love of God.
Actually, one does not need to be chastened because the preaching of the Word is enough.
But, if it is rejected still, the cords will be spun to be a whip for hitting or chasteningthe life that rejects the teaching Word. We can be chastened in all matters, such as economy, health, and so on.
Hebrews 12: 10
12:10 For they indeed for a few days chastened usas seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
What is God’s purpose in the hit and chastening for us?
The chastening is His grace to return us to the righteousness and holiness. If we return to the righteousness and holiness, the chastening will stop. If we do not return to the righteousness and holiness, the chastening will come still.
For example, Jonah was commanded to go to Niniveh, but he went to Tarshis. Finally, he was chastened, entering the sea and the belly of a fish. After he realized his sin, he could be taken out of the belly of the fish or the chastening stopped.
On the contrary, if the chastening is rejected by keeping the sins still, God will let him go. It means that he has been under the condemnation and only waits for the time to get the condemnation of God up to the perdition.
Being chastened means that we are still loved by God(we get His grace). - 1 Peter 2: 19
2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
The second one is the suffering because of the will of Godor together with Jesus. It is the grace or God’s giftto the people who are not worthy, especially the Gentileswho are as dogs and swine that cannot be offered to Him. Moreover, the Gentiles actually are not worthy to suffer with Jesus.
1 Peter 2: 21
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.
The suffering in the flesh together with Jesus is the CROSSas well as the grace.
We suffer in the flesh together with Jesus means that we experience the cross with Him or we are following His steps, namely the steps in blood or the steps of the death and resurrection.
The facts found in following Jesus with the steps of the death and resurrection are as follows.
- 1 Peter 2: 22-24
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.
The step of the death means we die to sin as follows.- Not sinning.
- Not lying.
- Not replying evil for evil but good for evil. It is the suffering in the flesh together with Jesus.
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.
The step of resurrection is we live for righteousness according to the Word of God.
Something that is not in line to the Bible is not right although one thousand people say that it is right.
Thus, the step of death and resurrection is being dead to sin and living for righteousness.
This is the fact found in having the key of heavenly kingdom.
As a result, we experience the power of Jesus’ stripes to heal physical and spiritual diseases or sins such as uncleanness, evil, revenge, bitterness of heart, and so on. - Not sinning.
- 1 Peter 2: 25
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherdand Overseer of your souls.
The second fact of following Jesus with the step of death and resurrection is being shepherded well and correctlyas follows.- Being shepherded to the true Teaching Wordor Jesus as The Great Shepherd or The True Vine.
- Entering the shepherding penor the Holy Place in which there are three kinds of equipment that refer to the perseverance in doing three main services to God as follows.
- Golden Altar of Incense: perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts as if the sheep are drinking the living water.
- Table of Showbreador perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with the Holy Communion to have fellowship with the Son of God in the teaching Word and Christ’s sacrifice as if the sheep are eating the bread of life.
- Golden Altar of Incenseor perseverance in doing Prayer Service to have fellowship with Father God in His love as we are breathing well to get a good air circulation.
- Golden Altar of Incense: perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts as if the sheep are drinking the living water.
- We can live in serenityor peace.
- We experience a spiritual growthup to the perfection.
If all things have been calm and there is no windstorm, the plant can have the root, flower, and fruits. It means that if we have been calm, we will have sweet fruits in our life up to the fruit of perfection or the Bride.
The duty of a pastor(according to tabernacle teaching, the office as a pastor refers to the Table of Showbread) is having the gift to examine or distinguish the Spirit and the teachings, between the right and the poisonous. The pastor must not say that all teachings are same.
Why do we have to be shepherded well and correctly?- Because it will make the righteousness, holiness, and perfection firm, so that we will not often fall and rise in sin and our flesh will be repressed.
The sheep that has gone out of the shepherding pen is called wild horse, not only wild sheep anymore. If we have been in the sheepfold, our flesh will be repressed, so that we do not live in sin, but leave it. - Because it makes us not be deceivedby false teachings as Jesus’ second coming is signified by deception.
Matthew 24: 3-5, 11, 24
24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you(1).
24:5 "For manywill come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many(2).
24:11 "Then many false prophetswill rise up and deceive many(3)."
24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect(4).
It means that the important thing is not the signs of the world, but the spiritual one.
'many' means there are manypeople who will be deceived and only fewcan endure.
'the elect' means the people in Bride Tidings.
Thus, the main signof Jesus’ second coming is many deceptions that happen as follows.- To the four directions of the wind(four times of deception), or anywhere, including in Indonesia.
- To the elect or the people in Bride Tidings.
- The people who are not shepherdedwell and correctly.
- The people whose hearts are hard. They reject the true teaching Word although they are shepherded well, like Judas Iscariot. His shepherd was Jesus Himself or he was shepherded perfectly, but he had hard heart and rejected the Word. Consequently, he was deceived by the chief priests.
2 Timothy 4: 2-4
4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Consequently, they leave the true teaching Word and turn to fables.
1 Timothy 4: 7
4:7But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
There two old wives as follows.- The woman Jezebelmans the false service and consecration.
Revelation 2: 19-20
2:19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servantsto commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
Satan will hinder the sons of God who want to serve Him. Moreover, if they cannot be hindered, the service and ministry will be falsified.
The teachings of Jezebel are as follows.- False teaching that allows woman to teach and have authority over men, so Jesus does not become the Head, but Satan or wolves and birds that refer to evil and unclean spirits, and the antichrist and false prophets.
- Revelation 2: 24
2:24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
= teaching about the depths of Sataneven the house or the hell. It means a resistance against Tabernacle teachingor the depths of God or His house.
- False teaching that allows woman to teach and have authority over men, so Jesus does not become the Head, but Satan or wolves and birds that refer to evil and unclean spirits, and the antichrist and false prophets.
- The woman Babylon.
Revelation 17: 4-5
17:4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
17:5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
The teaching of Babylon is about fleshy prosperity or physical blessings and entertainment without sanctification or the true Teaching Word, so one is ruled by fornication spiritthat destroys the marriage of the servants and sons of God. It is a resistance against the Bride Tidings.
Be careful! Such ministry without the Word and sanctification will be dangerous.
- To the four directions of the wind(four times of deception), or anywhere, including in Indonesia.
- Being shepherded to the true Teaching Wordor Jesus as The Great Shepherd or The True Vine.
The Lord gives an example about how important the shepherding is.
Luke 2: 6-7
2:6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
'there was no room for them in the inn' means there was only a pen with the manger.
'manger' is the place of food for the animal.
Thus, Jesus was born in a pen to show us about the importance of a good and right shepherdingbecause nowadays we are facing many beasts, namely false teachings, sins, difficulties, and so on.
Jesus was born in a pen also to show us that He is a Good Shepherd.
The duties of Jesus as the Good Shepherd are as follows.
- Matthew 2: 6
2:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’"
The first duty is to shepherdthe sheep of the house of Israelor the people of God.
The Gentiles have no opportunity because they are dogs and swine. - The Gentiles have the opportunity because God has the second duty.
Matthew 15: 24
15:24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
The second duty is to look forthe lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Romans 11: 25
11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israeluntil the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Because a part of the house of Israel had stony heart that rejected Jesus, they were lost. Moreover, the opportunity and mercyfor the Gentiles are opened, so that they can be lifted up from the dogs and swine to become the sheep of God. As a result, Israel and Gentiles can be a flockwhose shepherd is Jesus Himself.
The Gentiles must not harden their hearts and reject the shepherding because the opportunity is only as a needle hole. Rejecting it, there will be no opportunity anymore and one will be lost forever.
Let us use the opportunity to be shepherded well and correctly nowadays.
There is a relationship between Jesus and the manger.
Isaiah 1: 3
1:3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider."
'donkey' refers to the Gentile.
'the donkey knows its master’s crib' means that the Gentiles know the manger, so that they can be the sheep of God.
It emphasizes the food, not any human.
A part of Israel does not know the manger, so they are lost and replaced by the Gentiles.
'manger' is the place of sheep’s food.
Jesus was born in a pen and laid in a manger. It means that Jesus is ready to become the food of the sheep, both for the house of Israel and the Gentiles.
There are two kinds of the sheep’s food as follows.
- The food of the true Teaching Word or Jesus Himself.
Jesus is the teaching Word that is born in human.
Hebrews 8: 10-12
8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My lawsin their mindand write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
8:11 "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
verse 12 means that Jesus as the High Priest and Great Shepherd is full of mercy.
If we eat the true teaching Word, namely we hear and obeyit, it will be engraved or written in our whole lifeas follows.- Being written or engraved in our mindto become an understanding.
The understanding is different from knowledge. The knowledge will not become faith, but the understanding will. - Being written or engraved in our heartto become faith, so that we can believe in the true teaching Word.
- Deuteronomy 30: 14
30:14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouthand in yourheart, that you may do it.
Being written or engraved in our mouthto become the saying of wisdomto determine our success. - Being written or engraved in our handthat we can do it and the miracle happens.
For example, Peter and his friends could not catch the fish. The Lord commanded him to cast the net on the right side of the boat. Peter did it and the miracle happened.
Hebrews 8: 10-12
8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
8:11 "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
8:12 "For I will be mercifulto their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
'the least of them to the greatest of them shall know Me' refers to the duties of the teachers of Sunday School Service as follows.- Inviting the students or little children to come to the church. It is also the responsibility of the parents about what will be written in such children because their lives are as a piece of white paper. If it is not written by the Word, it will be dangerous because other things will be written in it. It is better for the parents to labor in order to bring their children to God than their lives are written with the sins someday because it means a severe sorrow.
- Praying for the children that they can hear the Word.
2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priestin things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sinsof the people.
2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
If we have been engraved with the Word, our sins will be reconciledand thrown away. Do not engrave the sins in your life because it cannot be removed, even the Word will be removed. We have to choose.
The sin is the heaviest burden. If it can be finished, the temptation will also be finished ('aid those who are tempted').
The duty of the High Priest is to make reconciliationfor our sins.
Thus, the one who is shepherded and knows the mangeror eats the teaching Word and obeys it loves to make peaceas follows.- Confessing sins to God and others. Do not repeat the sin after being forgiven.
- Forgiving the sins of othersand forget them.
If our heart has been peaceful, all things will be easy, light, and finished. The High Priest and Great Shepherd can help to finish all problems and temptations, even the impossible one. - Being written or engraved in our mindto become an understanding.
- The food of Christ’s sacrifice or the Holy Communion.
John 6: 55-56
6:55 "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
6:56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
We are dwelling in Jesus and He is dwelling in us when we are consuming the Holy Communion. It means that WE ARE UNITED with Jesus Himselflike John who leaned on Jesus’ bosom at the supper or we are in the embrace of God’s merciful handas the sheep for slaughter.
Romans 8: 35-37
8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
8:36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerorsthrough Him who loved us.
How great a servant or son of God is, he is only as the sheep for slaughterthat is powerless and cannot do anything. The distance with the death is only a stepor a heartbeat. The death spiritually means the sins. Physically, it means the disease, disaster, accident, and so on even the second death in the hell.
Therefore, we need the embrace of Great Shepherd’s merciful hand.
The results are as follows.- Romans 8: 35
8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
The merciful hand of God gives an extra power, so that we are not disappointed and hopeless until leaving Him. We are not separated from Him. Moreover, we are not proud of anything. We keep faithful and fervent in spiritin doing our service and ministr to God. We also keep on believing, hoping in God, and worship Him as a crying baby. - Romans 8: 37
8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerorsthrough Him who loved us.
The merciful hand of God is able to make us more than conquerors. It means that we are powerless, but we can defeat all enemies that are stronger than us.
Physically, all impossibilities are removed like David who could defeat Goliath.
Spiritually, maybe we have fallen down in failure, uncleanness, evil, dirt, and hopelessness, but His merciful hands are able to lift up, sanctify, renew us, and make all things beautiful and successful in His time until we sit on the throne of God like the church of Laodicean.
The church of Laodicean is the church that has fallen down and been unclean the most as a vomit, but being lifted up to the highest place, namely the throne of God. There is nothing impossible for Him.
- Romans 8: 35
God blesses you.