Peace and grace in the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Good evening, let us hear the Word of God. Let the peace, grace, and joy of God be in the midst of us abundantly.
Revelation 1: 9-20(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014) =>the vision of John on Patmos Island.
Revelation 1: 9
1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John was exiled on Patmos Island, notbecause of sinning, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, so he could experience these three things.
Revelation 1: 17
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.
‘fell at His feet’= worship to God with a contrite heart.
John experienced the touching of God’s right hand in worship, so he could receive these things.
Tonight, we learn the second part, namely 'I am the First and the Last'.
'I am the First'= the beginning. It refers to the Altar of Burnt offeringin Tabernacle or Jesus as The Saviourwho dies on the cross to save the sinners. It means the FIRST LOVE.
'and the Last'= the Ark of the Covenantin Tabernacle. It means Jesus in His glory as The Heavenly Bridegroomwho comes a second time on the glorious clouds to lift us up. It refers to the LOVE OF BRIDEGROOM or the PEAK OF LOVE.
When we suffer in the flesh together with Jesus, we must not be disappointed or hopeless. It is a chance for us to fall at Jesus’ feet and experience the touching of God’s right hand. We also receive the first love and the perfect one.
Matthew 24: 12
24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
We extremely need the increasing love of God, beginning from the fist love up to the perfect one, because we face the increasing rebellionin these last days until the love grows coldand there is the crisis of love.
Without love, all things we do will be meaningless, useless, and not eternal, but destroyed forever.
Tonight we learn about the process to increase the love of God as follows.
God blesses us.
Revelation 1: 9-20(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014) =>the vision of John on Patmos Island.
Revelation 1: 9
1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John was exiled on Patmos Island, notbecause of sinning, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, so he could experience these three things.
- verse 9: He could enter the right fellowshipwith God or the fellowship between the body and the Head and the one with others in the fellowship of Christ’s body (it has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, December 9, 2013).
The fellowship with others begins from the right marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding, up to the perfect body of Christ. - verse 10-16: He could hear and see the loud voice, as of a trumpet, or the Shepherding Word that becomes two real manifestationsas follows.
- seven golden candlesticks or the perfect congregation, Christ’s body, or the Bride of God (it has been explained since Christmas Service in Surabaya, December 23, 2013).
- (verse 13-16) the appearance of Jesus in His glory as The High Priest, King, Just Judge, and Heavenly Bridegroom (it has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 3, 2014).
- seven golden candlesticks or the perfect congregation, Christ’s body, or the Bride of God (it has been explained since Christmas Service in Surabaya, December 23, 2013).
- verse 17-20: He could fall at Jesus’ feet(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014).
Revelation 1: 17
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.
‘fell at His feet’= worship to God with a contrite heart.
John experienced the touching of God’s right hand in worship, so he could receive these things.
- 'Do not be afraid!'= there is no more fear = removing fear (it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014).
- 'I am the First and the Last' = receiving the love of God.
Tonight, we learn the second part, namely 'I am the First and the Last'.
'I am the First'= the beginning. It refers to the Altar of Burnt offeringin Tabernacle or Jesus as The Saviourwho dies on the cross to save the sinners. It means the FIRST LOVE.
'and the Last'= the Ark of the Covenantin Tabernacle. It means Jesus in His glory as The Heavenly Bridegroomwho comes a second time on the glorious clouds to lift us up. It refers to the LOVE OF BRIDEGROOM or the PEAK OF LOVE.
When we suffer in the flesh together with Jesus, we must not be disappointed or hopeless. It is a chance for us to fall at Jesus’ feet and experience the touching of God’s right hand. We also receive the first love and the perfect one.
Matthew 24: 12
24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
We extremely need the increasing love of God, beginning from the fist love up to the perfect one, because we face the increasing rebellionin these last days until the love grows coldand there is the crisis of love.
Without love, all things we do will be meaningless, useless, and not eternal, but destroyed forever.
Tonight we learn about the process to increase the love of God as follows.
- Receiving the first love (the Court of Tabernacle).
We were born by our mother as the human in blood and flesh. How great such human is, there is no love of God in himbut the lust and will of flesh, emotion, ambition, and so on.
Where can we get the first love?
From the cross of Christ.
Thus, we must always keep on holding fastto the cross of Christ, so that we can receive the first love.
Exodus 4: 2-3
4:2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."
4:3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
In the Old Testament, the crossis described as a rod.
Moses held the cross or rod formerly and God used him to bring the house of Israel to go out of Egypt and enter Canaan. Now, Canaan means the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain.
God wants to use us in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rainfor building the perfect body of Christ or God’s bride in order to go out of the world and welcome Jesus’ second coming on the glorious clouds. He wants to use us just the way we are as long as we hold fast to the cross.
The facts found in holding fast to the cross are as follows.- Believing or having faith in Jesuswho has died on the cross. In such condition, we have passed through 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 by hearing the Word of Christ in the anointing of Holy Spirit.
Thus, preaching and hearing the Word must be in the anointing of Holy Spirit, so that we can hear it seriously with a need, understand it to be written on our mind, believe in it to become the faith in our heart and it is written in it to save us.
The rod which is released will become a serpent.
Numbers 21: 5-6
21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathesthis worthless bread."
21:6 So the LORD sent fiery serpentsamong the people, and they bitthe people; and many of the people of Israel died.
verse 5= 'our soul loathesthis worthless bread'= releasing the rod or cross means not seriously hearing the Word even loathing or being sleepy in hearing it. Consequently, the serpent comes and bites until one becomes dry and dead in the spirituality, even perishes in the second death or loses the salvation. In such condition, he goes out of the Gate.
We can know whether we hold the cross or not through the way we hear the Word. - Repenting. (The Altar of Burnt Offering).
The meanings are as follows.- Stopping sinning to return to God.
Our heart believes in Jesus and our mouth confesses our sins to God (vertical line) and others (horizontal line). We must not repeat the sins after being forgiven. - Stopping judging the mistakes of others.
- Stopping sinning to return to God.
- Being baptized of water(the Brazen Laver) and of Holy Spirit (The Door of Tabernacle).
It meansbeing renewed by the water and spirit.
John 3: 5-8
3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
3:8 "The windblows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
The person who is renewed by the water and spirit is as the windand fireor the servant of God.
FIREmeans the servant of Gos who is faithful and fervent in spiritin serving and ministering to God according to the ministry until the end, namely he dies or Jesus comes a second time.
Releasing the rodmeans not being faithful and fervent in spirit anymore, even leaving the service and ministry. The consequence is being bitten by a serpent.
WINDmeans as follows.- The servants of God who bring peaceor coolness, not dissension, quarrel or “hot” condition, so that there is unity.
We have to make big problem little and the little one must be made nothing. Do not magnify little problem to cause divisions.
Contendeing means releasing the rodand the serpent will come. - The servants of God who are obedientto the Word of God as the wind blows where it wishes.
Not being obedient means releasing the rodand the serpent will come.
- The servants of God who bring peaceor coolness, not dissension, quarrel or “hot” condition, so that there is unity.
The servant of God who is faithful and fervent in spirit, obedient and brings peace is the one who has the salvation and whom God usesto testify and bring the sinners to receive the salvation.
The rebellion is increasing; therefore, the love of God must increase also in our life. - Believing or having faith in Jesuswho has died on the cross. In such condition, we have passed through the Gate of Tabernacle.
- Joshua 23: 11
23:11 "Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.
The second process is “take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God” It is for our soul, not for others. It refers to the Holy Place.
The facts found in t are as follows.- Having perseverance in the sheepfoldor being shepherded well and correctly through persevering in three main services to Godas follows.
- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service.
- Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doingPrayer Service.
John 21: 15-17
21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
21:16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "TendMy sheep."
21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grievedbecause He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "FeedMy sheep.
The three times of Jesus’ question to Peter is related to 'Feed My lambs' or perseverance in doing three main services to God in the sheepfold.
We must strive to have it.
The first and second questions were about whether Peter loved Jesus with the love of God and Peter answered that he loved Jesus with fileo love or the love to other people.
The third question was about whether Peter loved Jesus with the love to others and Peter was grieved. He wept because he remembered his denial to Jesus for three times. It was real that he had no loveto God and others.
Although one has been saved, he will decrease in love, even become empty of the love if he is outside the shepherding. He loses the first love. It means losing the life or salvation.
John 21: 18
21:18"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
'younger' means one has not experienced a spiritual growth yet, so he follows his flesh will.
Young people must be alert!Do not follow your own will which is not inline to the Word.
‘old' means one has been spiritual and his love has grown.
'you will stretch out your hands' is the same as 'it is up to you, Lord.' We surrender to God in all things although it is not in line to our own will. It is the sign that our love has grown.
It is like Jesus who has surrendered to be crucified. We must begin to fully surrender to God.
John 10: 11
10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His lifefor the sheep.
The Lord has given the guarantee of His own soulinside the sheepfold. He never fools us.
The results are as follows.
Psalm 23: 1
23:1 <<A Psalm of David.>>The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
'I shall not want' means as follows.- The Great Shepherd is able to preserve our life until we have an abundant life, namely we always give thanksto God and there is no murmur, grumble, or demand to Him.
- Perfection,there is no blemish.
The love covers the sinsuntil we are perfect or without blemish.
The more love we have, the more sins are covered until there is no sin anymore and we are perfect.
- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service.
- James 1: 12
1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of lifewhich the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The second fact found in the perseverance is when we endure facing the test or temptation.
We can endure after we are shepherded.
God allows us to experience the test or temptationnot to make us hopeless and disappointed until we leave Him, but we can believe, hope, and surrender fully to Him, even we can love Him more than anything. We can endureall things. It means that we keep our faith, service, and ministry to God, even we are more faithful and not weak.
As a result, God helpsus to solve all problems, even the impossible one. He also gives us the crown of lifeand eternal life.
- Having perseverance in the sheepfoldor being shepherded well and correctly through persevering in three main services to Godas follows.
- Receiving the perfect love(the Most Holy Place).
There is the Ark of the Covenant with its two partsinside the Most Holy Place.- The mercy seatthat is made of pure gold or godly things with two cherubim.
The first cherubrefers to Father God or the Lord.
The mercy seatrefers to the Son of God or Jesus.
The second cherubrefers to Holy Spirit God or Christ.
Thus, the mercy seat refers to God the Trinity in the Lord Jesus Christ as The Heavenly Bridegroom with His loveto cover or protect the Ark of the Covenant. - The arkis made of shittim wood which is black and hard, referring to the sinful human, but overlaid with pure gold or godly matters. It means that the sinners are overlaid with the Word, Holy Spirit, and the love of God, to become perfect as the bride of God.
Isaiah 30: 26
30:26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun will be sevenfold, As the light of seven days, In the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people And heals the stroke of their wound.
The perfect love or the love of The Heavenly Bridegroom to the bride until they cannot sepatared anymore can be described as the sevenfold light of the sun.
The figure seven refers to the perfection.
Psalm 19: 5-6
19:5 Which is like a bridegroomcoming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
19:6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
There is nothing hidden from its heat or the perfect love of The Heavenly Bridegroom as long as we DO NOT hide ourselves in sins.
Hiding a sin, although it is small, the perfect love as the sun cannotpierce through our life. Consequently, our heart is cold or frozen or the love grows cold.
Through the Holy Communion, we can examine ourselves by the sharpness of the sword of the Word of God. If it shows us our sins, we have to confess to God and others, so that there is an opened opportunity for us to feel the heat of the sun.
The functions of the love as the sun are as follows.- Jeremiah 33: 19-21
33:19 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
33:20 "Thus says the LORD: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season,
33:21 ‘then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers.
The perfect love gives us extra power, so that we always keep faithful and fervent in spiritin our ministering to Him according to the ministry He has given us until the end, without being hindered by anything, so that we will never stop on our journey. - Ezekiel 1: 28
1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbowin a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
The perfect love is able to face the dark clouds or the rain, so that there is a rainbow. The love of God is able to solve all problems up to the impossible one. - The love as the sun is able to face the spiritual winter. Our heart is not frozen anymore, but joyful in God and we can love one another in the Lord.
Cold heart means disappointed, hopeless, and plain one. - Matthew 13: 43
13:43"Then the righteous will shine forth as the sunin the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The love as the sun is able to renew usuntil we are as glorious as Jesus is. We can shine as the sun in order to be lifted up on the glorious clouds together with Him and enter the eternal heavenly kingdom.
The beginning is the sad face is changed into bright oneuntil someday we have the glorious face as Jesus’ and we are worthy of welcoming His second coming on the glorious clouds and enter the eternal heavenly kingdom.
- The mercy seatthat is made of pure gold or godly things with two cherubim.
God blesses us.