The theme is "Behold, the Bridegroom is Coming! Go out to Meet Him!" (Matthew 25:6)
Matthew 25:6
25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
The midnight refers to the last days when human, including the sons and servants of God, tends to sin up to the peak as on the days of Lot and Noah.
The peak of sin is sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage that will cause the destruction of marriage and children at the last days.
The one tiding we need at that time is Bride Tiding or prophetic Word as the Word sharper than any two-edged sword.
Jesus gives us example about two things in the preaching of the Word as follows.
There are three possibilities about the washing or the sanctification done by the teaching Word as follows.
Matthew 25:6
25:6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
The midnight refers to the last days when human, including the sons and servants of God, tends to sin up to the peak as on the days of Lot and Noah.
The peak of sin is sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage that will cause the destruction of marriage and children at the last days.
The one tiding we need at that time is Bride Tiding or prophetic Word as the Word sharper than any two-edged sword.
Jesus gives us example about two things in the preaching of the Word as follows.
- Luke 4:43
4:43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of Godto the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
Jesus preaches the gospel of the kingdom of God or the gorpel of salvation.
It is called Good Tiding or milk, namely the Word which preaches Jesus’ first coming in the world to save the sinful.
Proverbs 25:25
25:25 As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.
It is as a swallow of water to save the thirsty in the wilderness of the world or the sinful. - Luke 13:22
13:22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Jesus preachesthe teaching Wordor Bride Tiding. It is as solid food or the word that is sharper than any two-edged sword.
Deuteronomy 32:2
32:2 Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass.
The teaching Word is not as a swallow of water we fast drink but the much rain waters that will be able to wash and sanctify us until we are perfect or blameless as Jesus is.
The journey in the wilderness is full of many dirty things, so we need the washing in order to become the Bride of God.
The revival in the teaching Word begins from the dew that not many people know then it becomes the raindrops that many people begin to know, until someday it becomes as the showers to fulfill the quantity and quality of the Church of God.
There are three possibilities about the washing or the sanctification done by the teaching Word as follows.
- Exodus 2:5
2:5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it.
The daughter of Pharaoh bathes at the river.
Spiritually, the daughter of Pharaoh refers to the daughter of Satan, namely evil and unclean person.
It is a revival that an evil and unclean person wants to bathe.
Physically, she is the representative of the Gentiles.
Combining them, the evil and unclean Gentiles have a longing to be cleansed or sanctified.
Do not hinder other people who are evil and unclean but have the longing to be sanctified; you have to show the truth to guide them.
There are two faults in the Gentiles who have the longing to be sanctified as follows.- There is no power to endure living in the truth and holiness after being cleansed or sanctififed by the Bride Tiding, so they return to sin and perdition.
Such life is as swine which has been washed but returns to the wallowing in the mire. - The daughter of Pharaoh bathes at the river, not with the rain water.
The water of the river refers to dirty one because of being mixed with the dirty water of ditch and the faeces of Pharaoh.
Meaning one who wants to be sanctified by the Word but mixes it with something in the world such as philosophy, knowledge, performance, et cetera.
The Word of God will lose its spiritual value and sanctification power if it is mixed with something in the world.
Consequently, how many times she bathes at the river, the daughter of Pharaoh keeps on being in her condition, namely evil and uncleanness. Likewise, one keeps on being evil and unclean or in the mire of sin although he is in the shepherding and fellowship so long.
The fault of the Gentiles is that they often do not use the opportunity to be sanctified by the Bride Tiding, even they want to seek others according to their will. - There is no power to endure living in the truth and holiness after being cleansed or sanctififed by the Bride Tiding, so they return to sin and perdition.
- II Samuel 11:1-2
11:1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
11:2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
David does neither go out to battle nor take a bath at the time to take a bath.
David is the representative of the house of Israel, the chosen people.
The weakness of them is not using the opportunity to be sanctified by the Word.
The practice is through unfaithfulness in doing the service and ministry until someday there is no opportunity to do them anymore.
Not taking a bath at the time of it means as follows.- Not being willing to be sanctified by the teaching Word, whatever the reason is, especially because of keeping sin.
- Neglecting the time to take a bath, especially in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion, including fellowship.
For example, David has fallen to the peak of sin, namely uncleanness.
The unclean sin can happen through deeds, words, mind, et cetera.
If one is not willing to be sanctified, his sight and saying will be unclean, including the self-truth, slandering other peole, even blaspheming God. - Not being willing to be sanctified by the teaching Word, whatever the reason is, especially because of keeping sin.
- Ephesians 5:25-27
5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
The Church of God consists of the genuine house of Israel and the Gentiles who have been saved or redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Jesus, Heavenly Bridegroom, is willing to die on the cross in order to doubly wash His Church with the water and the Word.
God is good but He is just. There are only eight people have the salvation on the days of Noah. Likewise, there are only three people who are saved from among the whole city on the days of Lot. On the last days, we need the double sanctification to endure.
On the last days, the Church of God has to use the Bride Tidings and the remaining time in order to be sanctified.
Jesus washes His congregation twice as follows.- Sanctification done by the water, referring to water baptism.
I Kings 7:23-25
7:23 And he made the Sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was completely round. Its height was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.
7:24 Below its brim were ornamental buds encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, all the way around the Sea. The ornamental buds were cast in two rows when it was cast.
7:25 It stood on twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward.
In Old Testament, it is described as the sea with two thousand baths, referring to two thousand years. We are on the last days now, at the end of the two thousand years of the last age.
The sea stands on twelve oxen, referring to the twelve apostles in the early rain church who preach about the Gospel of Salvation or water baptism from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, up to the end of the earth.
Romans 6:2-4
6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The true water baptism is only one, namely the water baptism that can save us as follows.- In accordance to the Bible.
- In accordance to the example of Jesus.
- The requirement of the true water baptism.It is repentance, meaning we die to sin or stop doing sins to return to God.
- The true water baptismis done through being buried in water together with Jesus. The dead must be buried, or else there is rottenness more and more.
- The result of the true water baptismis a new life, namely heavenly one.
3:15But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
The new life determines whether the door of heaven is opened for us or not.
The proof or practice of the new life is as follows,- I Kings 7:25
7:25 It stood on twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward.
All the back parts of the oxen point inward, meaning we leave our old life.
Philippians 3:13-14
3:13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We must forget our past life, meaning all prides and sins which are as dirtiness or rubbish. Do not seek any pride!
Revelation 21:8
21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
It begins from the eight sins drowning human into the hell that must be thrown away.
If we dare throw away the eight sins, we will become as the eight people who enter the ark of Noah. Meaning we can live in righteousness and have salvation and the blessings of God up to our descendants.
Righteous life is the main inheritance to our descendants.
The eight sins begin from the cowardly, meaning the fear of something until there is no fear of the Lord. The last sin is in the liars.
Being saved and blessed are not enough because there is the descendant of Noah who is cursed. - I Kings 7:26
7:26 It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained two thousand baths.
Song of Solomon2:16
2:16 THE SHULAMITE My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies.
It is as the lily that flowers, referring to the one who is shepherded.
It keeps on flowering in white color although it lives among the mire.
The white color refers to righteousness and holiness. We HAVE TO BE SHEPHERDED in order to keep on living in righteousness and holiness.
The shepherding is the place where we can keep our righteousness and holiness.
John 21:15, 17-19
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."
21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because 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, "Feed My sheep.
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."
21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Peter, the great servant of God, cannot keep 'the white color'.
He denies Jesus because of false friendship, namely he warms himself near the fire together with the soldiers.
The shepherding limits our flesh and all its lust and wills, so we do not fall in the false friendship or fellowship that is not in line with the true teaching Word.
We can keep the white color, referring to holiness, when we can keep the true teaching Word.
Jesus asks Peter three times, referring to the three kinds of object in the Holy Place of Tabernacle (Exodus 25) or the perseverance in shepherding as follows.- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service. It is the fellowship with Holy Spirit with the gifts.
- Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. It is fellowship with the Son of God in the Word and Christ’s sacrifice.
- Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service. It is fellowship with Father God in His love.
The abundance in the shepherding will become the fellowship inter-shepherding.
If we are shepherded, our body, soul, and spirit will walk with God, the trinity, so we can experience the sun of God’s love that shines to us.
The sun of God’s love makes us stand firmly and flower although we are surrounded by dirtiness and uncleanness. We can keep on living in righteousness and holiness.
We will fade away and be mixed with the dirtiness of the world if we are not shepherded, even we will deny Jesus and perish. - Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service. It is the fellowship with Holy Spirit with the gifts.
- In accordance to the Bible.
- Sanctification done by the Shepherding Word.
Ephesians 5:26
5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Being baptized of water, we have to continue to have the rain water of the Shepherding Word to sanctify and perfect us.
The process of being washed by the Word is listening to it, understanding, believing and practicing it.
Hebrews 4:12
4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Shepherding Word is as a sharp two-edged sword.
The result is as follows.- Sanctification to our heart and hand, referring to deeds, up to mouth or saying.
Mark 7:21-22
7:21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
7:22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
Psalm 149:6-7
149:6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two–edged sword in their hand,
149:7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples;
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.
We have been perfect as Jesus is when we do not stumble in word. Our mouth only worships ALELLUIA.
On the contrary, the ones reject the sanctification will be left when Jesus comes a second time and cry or groan because of the sword of slaughter. - Double sanctification done by the water and Word or the washing to the leper.
Leviticus 14:8-9
14:8 "He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days.
14:9 "But on the seventh day he shall shave all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows -- all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes and wash his body in water, and he shall be clean.
Luke 4:27
4:27 "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."
For example, Namaan.
There are many lepers in Israel but God’s attention is toward Naaman, referring to the Gentiles now.
Leprosy means the sin of self-truth human often does not realize, seeing that it is white but leprosy. The meaning of the self-truth is as follows.
II Kings 5:1, 9-12, 14
5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.
5:9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."
5:11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’
5:12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
5:14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.- Truth by blaming other people even God.
- Covering the sin by pretending to do good things.
- Covering sins by easily getting angry.
- Having negative prejudice that results in gossips.
- Envy and hatred without any cause as Joseph’s brothers have toward him.
This morning God wants to help us, the Gentiles.
The leprosy also refers to impossibilities.
II Kings 5:7
5:7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me." - Truth by blaming other people even God.
II Kings 5:14
5:14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Naaman "goes down" and dips in the river.
The meaning of “going down” is as follows.- Humbling ourselves to confess all sins, weaknesses, and our failures.
- Obeying the Word of God whatever risk may come until our flesh does not speak anymore.
No matter how great we are, we have to go down to confess our condition and be obedient.
As a result, physical miracle such as help and solution of all problems can happen.
Moreover, the spiritual miracle happens that we have life renewal until we are perfect and worthy of welcoming Jesus’ second coming.
The important thing is “we go down” and God will help us. - Sanctification to our heart and hand, referring to deeds, up to mouth or saying.
- Sanctification done by the water, referring to water baptism.