Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are in Revelation 2-3 (it has been explained from General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014).
We are learning Revelation 3: 14-22 about the church of the LAODICEANS. This is the last or the seventh church in the book of Revelation that shows the condition of the church in the last days (it has been explained from General Service in Surabaya, June 14, 2015).
Revelation 3: 20
3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
The church of the Laodiceans is in lukewarmness so they will be vomited by God.
Being vomited by God means they are useless before Him, disgusting, unclean, cursed, and separated from Him until they perish forever.
If we are rich spiritually, we will never be vomited by God, but He will eat and enjoy. We can please Him and satisfy His heart. As a result, He will satisfy us.
God rebukes, advises, and chastensthe church of the Laodiceans (verse 18-19) to make them or all of us buy the treasure of heaven so that they or all of us do not perish forever.
It is related to verse 20 that the Lord rebukes, advises, and chastens. It is the same as the Lord knocks the door of heart.
Song of Solomon 5: 2-3
5:2. THE SHULAMITE I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."
5:3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
This is the longing of the bride that must be our longing.
'I sleep, but my heart is awake' = lukewarmness like the church of the Laodiceans that is neither cold nor hot.
'my dove' = the calling to the bride.
'my perfect one'= God longs for our perfection.
The word 'dew' means that the time has been late at night and the morning will come. This is the last days. We need the perfection in such time.
Deuteronomy 32: 1-2
32:1. "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
32:2 Let my teachingdrop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass.
The dewrefers to the true teaching Word.
The levels of the teaching Word are as follows.
The Lord Jesus knocks with the sign of the dew or the true teaching Word when it shows us our sins and weaknesses. He knocks the door of our heart to help, perfect, and possess us forever.
Song of Solomon 5: 2
5:2. THE SHULAMITE I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."
He does it until His head is covered with dew or for a long time. It means the longsuffering and seriousness of Godto help and possess our life.
The term 'knocks' means a repetitive thing. The true teaching Word must be repeated, especially in Bible Study Service and there will be a progress.
2 Chronicles 36: 15-16
36:15. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His peopleand on His dwelling place.
36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
'sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them'= God repeated His Word for long time ago.
'despised His words' = getting bored of the Word.
The true teaching Word that is preached repetitively is the same as the shepherding Word. Only a pastor can repeat the Word with a progress to ensure the congregation and grow their spirituality to reach the perfection. It is not about repeating one material of God's Word like an evangelist does.
The repeated Word is useful to help us.
It is trusted by God to a pastor, one who has the spirit of consideration.
It is especially aimed at the Gentiles, who always repeat the sins as follows.
Therefore, the Gentiles really need the repeated Word to sanctify the repeated sins. As a result, there is spiritual growth from the dog and swine to the shepherded sheep of God.
Song of Solomon 5: 3
5:3. I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
This is the false attitude towards the true teaching Word that shows the sins, namely the self truth as follows.
The self truth causes the lukewarmness of the church of God. One lingers to open the door of his heart for God or the true teaching Word. Consequently, God has gone when the door is opened.
Song of Solomon 5: 5-6
5:5. I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.
5:6 I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
The consequences of keeping the self truth are as follows.
The Lord is knocking our heart. It means that He is near us, only a step between us and Him. It means a heart beat or the death cannot have dominion over us.
Not being near God because of despising the true teaching Word, only a step between us and the death.
1 Samuel 20: 3
20:3. Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."
Matthew 6: 27
6:27. "Which of you by worrying can add one cubitto his stature?
'cubit'= the measurement of Tabernacle.
If there is only a step between us and Him or we receive the work of the true teaching Word, we will use every step, cubit, or heart-beat of our life to actively build the spiritual Tabernacle or the perfect body of Christ. This is the proof that we are far away from the death.
The body of Christ begins from the marriage, shepherding, and inter-shepherding, until the Gentiles and the house of Israel become one perfect body of Christ.
The requirements of ministering to God in the building of the body of Christ are as follows.
God blesses you.
We are in Revelation 2-3 (it has been explained from General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014).
We are learning Revelation 3: 14-22 about the church of the LAODICEANS. This is the last or the seventh church in the book of Revelation that shows the condition of the church in the last days (it has been explained from General Service in Surabaya, June 14, 2015).
Revelation 3: 20
3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
The church of the Laodiceans is in lukewarmness so they will be vomited by God.
Being vomited by God means they are useless before Him, disgusting, unclean, cursed, and separated from Him until they perish forever.
If we are rich spiritually, we will never be vomited by God, but He will eat and enjoy. We can please Him and satisfy His heart. As a result, He will satisfy us.
God rebukes, advises, and chastensthe church of the Laodiceans (verse 18-19) to make them or all of us buy the treasure of heaven so that they or all of us do not perish forever.
It is related to verse 20 that the Lord rebukes, advises, and chastens. It is the same as the Lord knocks the door of heart.
Song of Solomon 5: 2-3
5:2. THE SHULAMITE I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."
5:3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
This is the longing of the bride that must be our longing.
'I sleep, but my heart is awake' = lukewarmness like the church of the Laodiceans that is neither cold nor hot.
'my dove' = the calling to the bride.
'my perfect one'= God longs for our perfection.
The word 'dew' means that the time has been late at night and the morning will come. This is the last days. We need the perfection in such time.
Deuteronomy 32: 1-2
32:1. "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
32:2 Let my teachingdrop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass.
The dewrefers to the true teaching Word.
The levels of the teaching Word are as follows.
- Like the dew not many people may see or react towards.
- Like the raindrops the people begin to react towards.
- Like the showers.
The Lord Jesus knocks with the sign of the dew or the true teaching Word when it shows us our sins and weaknesses. He knocks the door of our heart to help, perfect, and possess us forever.
Song of Solomon 5: 2
5:2. THE SHULAMITE I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."
He does it until His head is covered with dew or for a long time. It means the longsuffering and seriousness of Godto help and possess our life.
The term 'knocks' means a repetitive thing. The true teaching Word must be repeated, especially in Bible Study Service and there will be a progress.
2 Chronicles 36: 15-16
36:15. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His peopleand on His dwelling place.
36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
'sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them'= God repeated His Word for long time ago.
'despised His words' = getting bored of the Word.
The true teaching Word that is preached repetitively is the same as the shepherding Word. Only a pastor can repeat the Word with a progress to ensure the congregation and grow their spirituality to reach the perfection. It is not about repeating one material of God's Word like an evangelist does.
The repeated Word is useful to help us.
It is trusted by God to a pastor, one who has the spirit of consideration.
It is especially aimed at the Gentiles, who always repeat the sins as follows.
- The dog licks the vomit or repeats the sinful saying, including the idle words.
- The swine that has been cleansed returns to the wallowing in the mire. It means the repeated sinful deedsup to the peak as follows.
- The sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse.
- The sins concerning marrying-being given in marriage such as sexuality sin with all of its kinds, including the sexual deviation.
Therefore, the Gentiles really need the repeated Word to sanctify the repeated sins. As a result, there is spiritual growth from the dog and swine to the shepherded sheep of God.
Song of Solomon 5: 3
5:3. I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
This is the false attitude towards the true teaching Word that shows the sins, namely the self truth as follows.
- Getting bored.
- Having many reasons.
- Getting angry.
- Blaming others and not confessing the sins.
'I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?' =>One feels that his feet have been washed, but actually they are dirty. - Blaming God.
The self truth causes the lukewarmness of the church of God. One lingers to open the door of his heart for God or the true teaching Word. Consequently, God has gone when the door is opened.
Song of Solomon 5: 5-6
5:5. I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.
5:6 I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
The consequences of keeping the self truth are as follows.
- The life is empty. There is no satisfaction, but sufferings because Jesus has gone. He is separated from Jesus. The Lord never forces us, but seriously knocks. He will leave one who does not willingly receive His knocking.
Such person looks for the satisfaction, entertainment, and prosperity in the world, including the false teachings that satisfy his ears without showing the sins. Moreover, the satisfaction of the world is brought to the church to cover the emptiness of his heart. - Fainting. One is neither alive nor dead. He is in half death and near the spiritual death and perdition.
- There is no remedy. He cannot be helped anymore.
2 Chronicles 36: 16
36:16. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
The Lord is knocking our heart. It means that He is near us, only a step between us and Him. It means a heart beat or the death cannot have dominion over us.
Not being near God because of despising the true teaching Word, only a step between us and the death.
1 Samuel 20: 3
20:3. Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."
Matthew 6: 27
6:27. "Which of you by worrying can add one cubitto his stature?
'cubit'= the measurement of Tabernacle.
If there is only a step between us and Him or we receive the work of the true teaching Word, we will use every step, cubit, or heart-beat of our life to actively build the spiritual Tabernacle or the perfect body of Christ. This is the proof that we are far away from the death.
The body of Christ begins from the marriage, shepherding, and inter-shepherding, until the Gentiles and the house of Israel become one perfect body of Christ.
The requirements of ministering to God in the building of the body of Christ are as follows.
- Living in holinessby the work of the repeated shepherding Word.
Ephesians 4: 11-12
4:11. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Verse 11= we must have the ministry and gift first and then we can be used.
If we willingly open our heart for the true teaching Word, receive the correction and sanctification until we can confess our sins and weaknesses, we will live in holiness.
There must not be the paganism as follows.- The characters of dog and swine, namely sinful words and deeds.
- The character of the Gentiles, namely worry. Being sanctified from the worry, we can surrender fully to God and prioritize Him or the service and ministry to Him more than anything. We can serve and minister to Him faithfully and correctly.
- The characters of dog and swine, namely sinful words and deeds.
- We are trusted with the ministry and gifts of Holy Spirit according to the will of God, so we can cooperate.
1 Corinthians 12: 7, 11
12:7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
'for the profit of all' = we can cooperate.
The gifts may be different but we can cooperate. - We have the character of Jesus, our Head.
Ephesians 4: 1-4
4:1. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one anotherin love,
4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
The character of Jesus is lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering. We are His body, so we have to have His characters. If we have the lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering, we can help and unite one anotheruntil we are in the one perfect body.- Lowlinessmeans as follows.
- The ability to confess sins honestly to God and others. After being forgiven, we do not sin anymore. As a result, we can cooperate and unite one another.
- The ability to esteem others and God.
Philippians 2: 3
2:3.Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowlinessof mind let each esteem others better than himself. - The ability to confess the goodness of others.
- The ability to receive the reality.
- Gentlenessmeans as follows.
- The ability to forgive others' sins and forget them.
- The ability to receive others in their weakness. We can pray for them.
- The ability to receive other people in their goodness.
11:28. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentleand lowly in heart, and you will find restfor your souls.
11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
If we have the lowliness and gentleness, all heavy burdens, weariness, and tears have been born by Jesus on the cross, so we will have the peaceor relief and serenity and all things will be easy and light. - Longsuffering.
James 5: 7-8
5:7. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
We must be patient in the sufferings and waiting for the time of God like a farmer does after he sows the seed until he can get the ripe fruits.- In sufferings.
Psalm 126: 5-6
126:5.Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
126:6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.
A pastor must cry much more to get the revelation of God's Wordto be delivered to the congregation. If there is the revelation of God's Word, there will be the solution of all problems; even the way to heaven will be opened.
The congregation must cry much more also to get the true teaching Word.
The process is being sowed or hearing the Word seriously to understand, believe, and obey it. The result is the fruit of patience.
Luke 8: 15
8:15. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Matthew 13: 8
13:8. "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
30, 60, 100= the perseverance in doing three main services to God in the shepherding pen as follows.- Thirtyfold= perseverance in doing General Service or the Golden Candlestick.
- Sixtyfold= perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion or the Table of Showbread.
- A hundredfold= perseverance in doing Prayer Service or the Golden Altar of Incense.
Jacob does not have anything, but he perseveres in the shepherding and gets all things. Do not be like Esau who has already gotten all things, but then he loses them because of not persevering in the shepherding. Moreover, he cries forever.
James 1: 3-4
1:3. knowing that the testingof your faith produces patience.
1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The fruit of patience becomes ripe, namely perfection or the bride of God, through the patience in the tests in economy, sins, false teachings, slander, hatred without a cause, and so on.
Do not murmur, get disappointed, nor leave God in facing the test!We must always give thanks to God and live in righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, and fervency in spirit in serving and ministering to Him. - In waiting for the time of God.
John 7: 6
7:6. Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
The time of God has not yet come means that God has not helped us yet to make us correct ourselves by the sharpness of the sword, believe, and entrust our life to God.
Remember!The temptation and suffering we experience are allowed by God like a pregnant mother who will deliver the baby. She feels heavier day by day up to the heaviest one when she is in the weakest condition. That is the time of God that is not so long, only a little while, and all things will be finished or the baby is born if there is a full surrendering to Him. The negative attitude may happen at that time, namely disappointment and hopelessness until one leaves God and perishes.
The baby is born means as follows.- The problems are finished and there is no more tear.
- There is joy of heaven.
- We experience the life renewal. A baby is honest and sincere. If we are honest, our prayer will be answered by God and we become the house of prayer. It is especially the honesty about the true teaching Wordlike a baby who does not want to drink the other milk, and we can be honest in everything.
Proverbs 15: 8
15:8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The physical miracles will also happen. The last miracle happens when Jesus comes a second time that we are changed to be as perfect as He is, we become the ripe fruits that will be reaped.
We can be lifted up on the glorious clouds to be with Him forever.
- In sufferings.
- Lowlinessmeans as follows.
God blesses you.