General Service in Malang, June 14, 2020 (Sunday Morning)

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

We have learned about the two witnesses, namely Moses and Elijah who strengthen the people who are left in the days of Antichrist, so they do not worship the Antichrist, but Jesus.
They all die, but they will be risen by God to ascend to heaven.

What happen in the world?
Revelation 11:13-14
111:13. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
11:14. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

This is the second woe or the sixth trumpet, namely there is a great earthquake. It refers to the spiritual and physical shocks in the world and church of God.
The trumpet sound refers to the preaching of the hard word of God.

John 6:60-61,66
6:60. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
6:61. When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
6:66. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

At the previous verse, Jesus feeds five thousand men. They like the gospel word, but they complain when Jesus teaches.
Be careful! The church of God cannot endure hearing the true teaching word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. They grumble. The word is considered too long or too hard.
Actually, the thing that is too hard is his flesh that keeps his will, lust, and sin.

The word is food. How can the people grumble when they are given food? They should give thanks. They grumble because of their flesh that keeps sinning up to the peak.
Consequently, they will reject the true teaching word. They go back from Jesus and walk with Him no more. It means that they follow Satan with false teaching that pleases the flesh.

The spiritual and physical shock or earthquake causes three things as follows:

• A tenth of the city falls.
  
• Seven thousand people are killed.
  
• The rest are afraid and give glory to the God of heaven.
  

ad. 1.
A tenth reminds us to the tithe or the smallest possession of God that cannot be charged against by anyone.
If we are wrong in the smallest thing, we will not be able to be true about the temple and bride of God.

At this time, there are many shocks about the tithe.
Malachi 3:6-9
3:6. "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
3:7. Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?'
3:8. "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithesand offerings.
3:9. You are cursedwith a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

Actually it is for the Israelites, but at last it happens in the whole world.
'Return to Me' means that they are separated from God.

The massive theft of the tithe and special offerings in the house of God is caused by the false teaching that triggers the lust of the flesh, so the church of God is separated from God and lives in curse. He experiences the physical and spiritual shocks up to perdition forever.

The tithe formula is: 10 - 1 = 9.
The number 10 refers to the blessing or law of God.
The number 1 refers to the tithe or the possession of God which is returned to Him.
The number 9 refers to the mercy.

So, the tithe is the confession that we have been blessed by God, and we live by His mercy.
The salary, et ceteraare just a medium but only God's mercy determines everything.
If we live by the world, we will be shaken. But if we live by the mercy, we will never be shaken.

The base of the tithe is righteousness. Do not be ashamed about giving a little! Do not be stingy about giving a lot!

The special offerings are our gratitude because we have been blessed by God.
The base is willingness.

Genesis 14:19-20
14:19. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
14:20. And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Genesis 28:20-22
28:20. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on,
28:21. "so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.
28:22. "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."

It is clear that the tithe is not the law.
'this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house'= the tithe is linked with the building of physical God's house which is made by stone.
Now, the tithe is linked with the building of the spiritual God's house, namely the body of Christ or the perfect heavenly bride.
The building of the spiritual God's house is also by stone.

The stone refers to the Gentiles who are hard-hearted.
Malachi 3:9
3:9. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

At verse six, God only speaks to the Israelites, but here to the whole nation, including the Gentiles.
If the Israelites rob the tithe, they will become the same as the Gentiles who enter into the building of the body of Babylon, Satan's bride, or false church.
Although the Israelites are God's chosen people, but if they rob the possession of God, they will not be recognized as the chosen people.

On the contrary, the Gentiles who are like dog and swine can be lifted up to become the same as the Israelites and enter into the building of the perfect body of Christ if they experience the whole life purification up to the one of the will of money, so they can return the tithe that belongs to God.

The example is the woman of Samaria.
The Samaritans are the mixing of Israelites and Gentiles, but they are not recognized as the Israelites.
The condition of the Gentiles is the same as the one of the woman of Samaria.

How is the condition of the woman of Samaria?

1. The bitterness.
   John 4:9
   4:9. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
   
   Having no dealings means the bitterness.
   Having bitterness between brother and sister, children and parents, quarrelling, and putting hostility to one another means being the same as the woman of Samaria or the Gentiles who are cursed.
   
   
2. The uncleanness(five times of divorce-remarrying). It is the same the bride of Satan who is cursed and destroyed.
   John 4:18
   4:18. "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."
   
   Be careful! Do not be like the woman of Samaria, starting from the relationship.
   Satan just touts the physical thing or money, but without the purification, so one will truly be shaken, cursed, and destroyed.
   

We can enter into the building of the body of Christ by the mercy of God. We become the heavenly bride who is ready to greet Jesus when He comes a second time on the glorious clouds. It means that we honor the five main injuries of Jesus.
The five times of divorce-remarrying mean insulting the five main injuries of Jesus on the cross.

How can the hard stone be built to become the body of Christ?

1. The place of the building of the body of Christ.
   John 4:5-9
   4:5. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
   4:6. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
   4:7. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."
   4:8. For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
   4:9. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
   
   'the sixth hour' means sun heat.
   Jesus meets the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well.
   Jacob's well is the same as the well of shepherding. This is the place of the building of the body of Christ.
   
   The Gentiles must be shepherded well and correctly. Otherwise, we will be like dog and swine.
   
   The requirements of being shepherded are as follows:
   
   
   • Being in the sheepfold. In the Tabernacle, it refers to the Holy Place.
     We have been saved (the Court) but we have not been perfect yet (the Most Holy Place). So we must be in the sheepfold (the Holy Place).
     
     There are three tools in the Holy Place that refer to the perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God as follows:
     
     
     1. The Golden Candlestick refers to the perseverance in committing the General Service. We have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His anointing and gifts.
        
        
     2. The Table of Showbread refers to the perseverance in committing the Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. We have fellowship with the Son of God in the teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ.
        
        
     3. The Golden Altar of Incense refers to the perseverance in committing the Prayer Service. We have fellowship with Father God in His love.
        
        
     In the sheepfold, our body, soul, and spirit attach to the Trinity of God, so the trinity of Satan cannot touch us. We do not sin. We are not deceived by false teaching, but we keep being calm. We are not shaken by anything.
     This is the importance of the sheepfold.
     
     
   • We must eat the shepherding word or hear and obey the voice of shepherd.
     It is our main purpose when we come to the church.
     
     The shepherding word is the true teaching word which is entrusted by God to a shepherd to be preached to the congregation faithfully, continually, and repetitively to become the food for them and the strength. It is also to grow their spirituality to maturity or purity up to perfection.
     
     That is why we must return the tithe because it is linked with the shepherding word.
     Malachi 3:10
     3:10. Bring all the tithesinto the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
     
     If there is food in the sheepfold, we will be full and calm. We always give thanks to God.
     
     The main duty of a shepherd is feeding the congregation.
     The main duty of the congregation is eating and then serving.
     We are often wrong because the shepherding is considered as the place to serve.
     The shepherding is the place to eat the word, and then we can serve God, et cetera.
     
     The tithe is also our confession that we are shepherded well and correctly. The dog and swine have been lifted up to become God's sheep.
     
     
   The Gentiles must meet Jesus at Jacob's well.
   Jacob's well also refers to the river of the water of life.
   It means as follows:
   
   
   • The Golden Candlestick refers to the perseverance in committing the General Service. We have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His anointing and gifts. It is the water of life of Holy Spirit.
     
     
   • The Table of Showbread refers to the perseverance in committing the Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. We have fellowship with the Son of God in the teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ. It is the water of life of the word of God.
     
     
   • The Golden Altar of Incense refers to perseverance in committing the Prayer Service. We have fellowship with Father God in His love. It is the water of life of God's love.
     
     
   So, the shepherding is the source of the water of life of the word, Holy Spirit, and God's love.
   John 4:6
   4:6. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
   
   'about the sixth hour' means the hottest time.
   The sheepfold is the right place to face the sun heat of the desert of the world, namely the increasing temptations until the Antichrist reigns over the world.
   
   Exodus 2:15
   2:15. When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
   
   For example, Moses sat down by a well when Pharaoh sought to kill him.
   It means that the sheepfold is the place to flee from Satan who wants to torment and destroy us by the unpredictable way, namely temptation, impossible problem, and sin.
   
   Moses became Pharaoh's son, but suddenly Pharaoh sought to kill him.
   David walked on the roof and suddenly he felt into sin.
   
   In the shepherding, there is certainty, but not in the world.
   That is why we must not be desperate when we are at the bottom, and not arrogant on the top. Let us enter into the shepherding.
   
   In the sheepfold, we experience protection, serenity, and satisfaction, even the way out from God. We receive all in the sheepfold.
   
   The sheepfold is the right place for bridal meeting.
   Jesus as the Head or Bridegroom meets the woman of Samaria as the body or bride.
   Moses met Zipporah.
   
   So, the shepherding is the place to educate and grow our spirituality to maturity. It is the same as the place to wash or purify us, so we are appointed as the priests and kings to be used in the building of the perfect body of Christ up to perfection like Jesus. We become perfect bride of heaven who is ready to greet Jesus when He comes a second time. We enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb, the One-Thousand-Year Kingdom of Peace (upcoming Paradise), and New Jerusalem.
   
   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,
   
   This is the spiritual marriage.
   The physical marriage also happens at the well of shepherding, so it aims at the marriage supper of the Lamb. It must be in one shepherding, one teaching, one baptism, and one ministry. One must be earnest in a relationship. Do not lie or have affair!
   The style of a shepherded man especially the priest is that he has relationship once. Otherwise, he will not aim at the marriage supper of the Lamb, but the flesh.
   That is why we must pray earnestly until we meet our marriage partner at the well and enter into holy marriage up to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
   
   How great we are, outside the well of shepherding, we are like the woman of Samaria who keeps being thirsty. We do not experience satisfaction, so we look for it in the world. We cannot do the good thing, but always hurt God and others.
   
   But thankfully, the woman of Samaria was found by Jesus.
   
   
2. The attitude in the building of the body of Christ as follows:
   
   
   • Looking at the fields that are already white. It is the same as the earnest or special attention to the working of God like in the race. It means that we prioritize the ministry to God more than anything in the world. We are ready to sacrifice physical thing to get the spiritual one.
     
     John 4:35
     4:35. "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
     
     Do not be like Esau who sacrificed the spiritual thing for physical one! Consequently, he lost forever.
     Do not get false in the ministry or underestimate the mistake in the ministry!
     Let us sacrifice all things for God like He has sacrificed His life on the cross.
     
     
   • Being obedient until the finish line, namely our death or Jesus' second coming.
     John 4:34
     4:34. Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Himwho sent Me, and to finish His work.
     
     'to do the will of Him' means that we must minister to Jesus in line with His will, not ours.
     Obedience and faithfulness are the same as feeding Jesus or satisfying Him, and He will satisfy us.
     
     
   • Looking unto Jesus as the High Priest, the Great Shepherd, and King of kings who sits at the right hand of the Father God.
     Hebrews 12:1-2
     12:1. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
     12:2. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
     
     Looking unto God is the same as worshipping Him much more, and He is monitoring us.
     
     God is ready to stretch out His merciful hands to lift us up from drowning.
     In the past time, Jesus watched His disciples whose boat began to sink, and He stretched out His hands to lift up Peter who began to sink.
     
     Matthew 14:23-33
     14:23. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
     14:24. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
     14:25. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
     14:26. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
     14:27. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
     14:28. And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
     14:29. So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
     14:30. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
     14:31. And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
     14:32. And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
     14:33. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
     
     God remembers, cares, understands, and struggles for us. He helps us in His time. He never leaves us for lifting us up from drowning.
     
     Lifting up from drowning means as follows:
     
     
     1. Lifting up from anxiety to believing and hoping only in God.
        The anxiety is the source of drowning.
        
        If no one remembers us, we still have Jesus who never disappoints us.
        
        
     2. Lifting up from decadence, so our physical and spiritual lives are restored even improved.
        If we fall into sin, God will restore us to the life in righteousness and holiness.
        
        Leave your sin now! Do not drown all the time!
        If one sinks in the sin, all things will drown too.
        
        
     3. Lifting up from failure to become success and beauty in due time.
        
     4. Lifting up from fear, tears, suffering, disappointment, desperation, and stress to become happiness.
        
     5. All impossible problems are finished in due time.
        
     6. Being lifting up from perdition. It is the same as being purified and changed continuously up to perfection. We are lifted up on the glorious clouds to the New Jerusalem where there is no tear.
        

God blesses us.