General Service in Malang, April 03, 2022 (Sunday Morning)

Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 16:1-21 refers to the seven plagues or the seven bowls of the last judgments of God.

It means that we have been in the last days. We must be ready for welcoming Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds, namely we must get the process of renewal from the fleshly man to the spiritual one like Jesus, so we can be set free from the seven last judgments of God.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52
15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The matter of being dead or alive is not important because all things happen by the will and mercy of God. The important thing is that we must receive and experience the sound of the trumpet as long as we live in the world. Thus, we must be renewed little by little towards the perfection life Jesus as long as we live in the world.

When the last trumpet sounds when Jesus comes a second time, the dead in Jesus will be resurrected in the body of glory and the alive in Jesus will be changed in the body of glory. Both will be one perfect body of Christ for welcoming Jesus' second coming, we are set free from the seven last judgments.

Revelation 16:1-2
16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
16:2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sorecame upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

The first judgment is the foul and loathsome sore coming upon the men who had the mark of the beast, namely the triple six.
The first six refers to the disobedient flesh.
The second flesh refers to the blasphemous flesh.
The third flesh refers to the flesh which is deceived by the false teachings.

Being stamped with the triple six, one will not be able to repent although he has been judged or in suffering. That is the power of the stamp of the triple six.

The fleshly body is easily ruled over by the spirit of disobedience, blasphemy, and deception, so one is easily stamped with the triple six.

Therefore, we must pay attention to how we live so that we are not stamped with the triple six.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

The sinful and despicable body or flesh which is not precious has been purchased or redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, so it becomes so precious or expensive before God. Therefore, do not use the precious life for doing the cheap thing or sin, but for obeying the will of God and becoming the dwelling place of Holy Spirit. As a result, the spirit of disobedience, blasphemy, and deception cannot enter us because Holy Spirit is greater than any spirits in the world. We can glorify God with our body, soul, and spirit which are God's until someday we can be glorified with Him forever.

2 Samuel 21:1-2, 6, 14
21:1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites."
21:2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.
21:6 "let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose." And the king said, "I will give them."
21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.

When David reigned, there was the crisis or famine in Israel because of Saul's mistake by killing the Gibeonites who had received the covenant of peace with Joshua, namely the Gibeonites (the flesh) had to work for the temple as the wood cutters and water carriers.

Being the wood cutters for the Altar of the Burnt Offerings refers to believing Jesus and repenting.

Being the water carriers for the Brazen Laver refers to the true water baptism or the life renewal and living in righteousness.

Saul was wrong by killing the Gibeonites. It means deleting the task of the flesh, namely repenting and being renewed. It means deleting the repentance and renewal in the church, so the church experiences crises in many aspects.

The church or God's servant who still keeps the hatred (killing), revenge, jealousy, and so on cannot bring the fleshly body which has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus for repenting and living in righteousness. It is the same as keeping the old life or not being able to glorify God, but only making God ashamed and His heart grieved.

The consequence of the mistake in the past in the Court of the Tabernacle or not repenting and not being renewed is the physical and spiritual crisis in the present life (the Holy Place) as follows:

1. Saul (the father) died. It refers to the Golden Altar of Incense, namely the church does not persevere in committing the Prayer Service. The worship prayer is so weak and dead or one cannot worship God anymore. It means having no relationship with Father God.
   
   
2. Jonathan (the son) died. It refers to the Table of Showbread, namely the church does not persevere in committing the Bible Study Service with the Holy Communion or there is no longing to the true teaching Word. It means having no relationship with the Son of God.
   
   
3. The other seven sons were dead. It refers to the Golden Candlestick or the church does not persevere in committing the General Service. The spirituality is dry because there is no Holy Spirit. It means having no testimony of Jesus or not experiencing the life renewal to be like Jesus, so one keeps on being the fleshly man.
   

Consequently, he enters the persecution of the Antichrist for three and a half years in the world until being beheaded like Saul.

2 Peter 3:9-12
3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsufferingtoward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Therefore, we must use the longsuffering of God that Jesus has not come a second time yet and we still get the long age:

• For repairing the past (the Court), namely believing Jesus and repenting or stopping sinning, being renewed, and living in righteousness.
  
• For seeing the future (the Most Holy Place), namely the perseverance in doing the three main services to God in the sheepfold or Holy Place. It means that we live in holiness and serve and minister to God. There is the guarantee from God for our future life. He never breaks His promise.
  

John 10:27
10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

We must hear and obey the shepherding Word or the repeated true teaching Word as the spiritual food for the congregation.

We must be shepherded well and correctly to get the sanctification and renewal until we can say 'I shall not want' or we are preserved abundantly up to being perfect.

The position of one who is shepherded well and correctly is as follows:

1. Being like a small branch that attaches to the true Vine, namely Jesus Himself or the true teaching Word.
   John 15:3-4
   15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
   15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
   
   John 13:10-11
   13:10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
   13:11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."
   
   We get the sanctification or cleansing from the sins of Judas Iscariot as follows:
   
   
   • The will of money which causes stinginess and greediness.
     The stinginess means not being able give to the work of God or other people who are in need.
     The greediness means stealing the possession of God, other people, and government (tax, and so on).
     
     
   • The liar.
     Revelation 9:20-21
     9:20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.
     9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
     
     Revelation 2:8-9
     2:8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
     2:9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
     
     The thief and liar are the sins that attach in the flesh, so one cannot attach to God. It means that he cannot be shepherded well and correctly, but he attaches to Satan.
     
     
   • The traitor or selling Jesus. It means unfaithfulness until leaving the service and ministry to God.
     Being sanctified from the sins of Judas Iscariot, we can attach to Jesus or be shepherded well and correctly in the true teaching Word. Although we are the small powerless branch, the Great Shepherd pays attention to, cares, and struggles for us so that we can be sanctified and changed until we can bear many firm sweet fruits sooner or later as follows:
     
     
     1. Being able to return the possession of God, namely the tithes and offerings, as well as the possession of others (paying the debt) and government (paying the tax).
        
        
     2. Being able to experience the sweetness or joy of heaven. The tears are wiped away until someday there is no tear anymore.
        
        
2. Being like the donkey (the Gentiles) that is tied to the true Vine.
   Mark 11:1-2,7
   11:1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;
   11:2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.
   11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.
   
   Genesis 49:11
   49:11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
   
   In the shepherding, the Gentiles get the sprinkling of blood for sanctifying from the characteristics of sins or paganism as follows:
   
   
   • The dog licks the vomit. It is the same as the wild donkey or fulfilling the fleshly lusts until resisting against the will of God. It also refers to the wild words such as lies, gossips, slanders, and blasphemies.
     It is sanctified to be the righteous and good words to become blessings for others.
     
     
   • The swine returns to the wallowing in the mire. It is the same as the unclean donkey or keeping sins up to the peak, namely the sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse as well as the ones concerning marrying-being given in marriage.
     It is sanctified, so we can get the satisfaction in our service to God.
     
     1 Timothy 6:6-8
     6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
     6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
     6:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
     
     The marriage will also get the satisfaction, holiness, unity, and perfection.
     
     
   • Being anxious until being unfaithful and unrighteous.
     It is sanctified, so we can believe and entrust our life fully to God. We only hope His mercy. We can be the faithful and righteous servant of God. It means that we gird ourselves. All other things will be God's concerning.
     
     Mark 11:7
     11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.
     
     As a result, the donkey can be used in the revival of the edification of Christ's perfect body. It means placing Jesus as the Head who is responsible for our life.
     
     
3. As a newborn baby.
   1 Peter 2:2-3
   2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
   2:3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
   
   It means the deep longing or we always long for the shepherding Word. God will always carry, pay attention to, care, and struggle for us.
   
   
   • He stretches out the merciful hands for protecting and preserving us in the midst of the difficulties in the world up to the time when the Antichrist reigns over the world.
     
   • God makes us warm, so we can be faithful and fervent in spirit in serving and ministering to God.
     
   • The merciful hands of God help us for doing all things we cannot do and think. He finishes all impossible problems and gives the beautiful and successful future life in time of need.
     
     
   It continues to perfect us, so we can be worthy for welcoming Jesus' second coming and entering the paradise and New Jerusalem.
   

God blesses you.