General Service in Malang, May 24, 2020 (Sunday Morning)

Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 11:7-10
11:7. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomlesspit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
11:9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

The title is The Two Witnesses Killed

'the beast that ascends out of the bottomless'= the Antichrist.

The two witnesses are killed by the Antichrist. It means as follows:

• The end of the persecution or massacre of the Antichrist who reigns over the world to the churches that are left in the world.
  
• The death or cross experience with Jesus of the two witnesses and the churches that are left when the Antichrist reigns over the world for fulfilling the measurement of God, namely the flesh does not speak anymore, so they are resurrected when Jesus comes a second time and ascend to heaven.
  
  Revelation 11:11-12
  11:11. Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
  11:12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heavenin a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
  

Verse 8 = Where are the two witnesses killed? They are killed in Sodom and Egypt.
Sodom and Egypt are the same as the physical Jerusalem which has been ruled over by the Antichrist and become the center of the governance of the Antichrist who reigns over the world for three and a half years. So, Jerusalem is in the atmosphere of Sodom or the peak of sins and Egypt or the idolatry.

Spiritually, Sodom and Egypt refer to the place where Jesus is crucified. Be careful! There are the servants of God who crucify Jesus for the second time.
Hebrews 6:4-6
6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
6:5 and have tasted the good wordof God and the powers of the age to come,
6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

'have tasted the good word' = the church or God's servants on the last days who have received the true teaching Word in the anointing of Holy Spirit; even they are used by God, but they can fall away. It means crucifying Jesus for the second time or rejecting the death or cross of Jesus.

Thus, Sodom and Egypt refer to the people who do not believe Jesus and the churches that reject the cross of Jesus until they get the spiritual dryness and death.

Ezekiel 37:1-2,11-12
37:1. The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
37:2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
37:11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!'
37:12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

The condition of the Israel which was prophesied by Ezekiel the prophet is the same as the one of the church specially and the one of the world generally that reject the cross or death experience with Jesus. They are like the dry bones in the grave.

The facts found in the dry bones are as follows:

1. The broken spirit.
   Proverbs 17:22
   17:22. A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
   
   It means being proud of something in the world as well as easily getting disappointed and hopeless and leaving God because of facing problems, false teachings, and sins. One who easily gets proud will easily get disappointed and hopeless.
   
   
2. The sorrowful or painful heart which continues until one is in distress.
   Proverbs 15:13
   15:13. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
   
   
   
3. Not being faithful and fervent in spirit anymore in the spiritual things.
   Be careful! Such spirit rules over the church until the time when Jesus comes a second time. The ten virgins slept until there was a separation between them.
   
   
4. Getting sorrowful because of the truth and rejoicing because of sins or enjoying in sins up to the peak.
   Maybe one does not commit sin, but he is also sinful if he agrees others in theirs sin.
   

Consequently, he is left when Jesus comes a second time. He is neither resurrected nor ascended to heaven, but perishes forever.

God does not want that His church only becomes the dry bones and perishes forever.
What is the way out?
Ezekiel 37:3-6
37:3. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."
37:4 Again He said to me, "Prophesyto these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
37:5 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
37:6 "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."'"

The only way is the prophetic Word.
It refers to the Word which is revealed, the true teaching Word, the Word that shows the sins, the sanctification Word, and the Word which reveals all things which have not happened yet but will happen for sure, especially about Jesus' second coming as the King of all kings and the Heavenly Bridegroom.

Ezekiel 37:7-8
37:7. So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; andthe bones came together, bone to bone.
37:8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinewsandthe flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

The results of the work of the Bride Tidings or the prophetic Word are as follows:

1. 'a rattling' = the voice of confessing sins.
   This is the proof that our spirituality is alive. We do neither sleep nor die (It has been explained).
   
   
2. 'the bones came together, bone to bone'= the fellowship (It has been explained).
   
3. The sinews and joints.
   The joints are useful for moving.
   The sinews are for uniting (It has been explained).
   
   
4. 'the flesh came upon them ' = the new flesh grows. It means that the power of Bride Tidings is able to renew the old fleshly man to be the new one until being as perfect as Jesus is.
   

ad. 4.
Why must the renewal happen?

1. Because the man of flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
   1 Corinthians 15:50-52
   15:50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
   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 prophetic Word is the same as the sound of trumpet.
   
   
2. To make us enter the everlasting heavenly kingdom.
   

The life renewal is the greatest miracle which we must experience. The man of flesh and blood must be changed into the spiritual one, or else there will be the spiritual death from now on up to the second death in the hell.

The example of the man of flesh and blood who must be changed is Herod, who is like the fox or beast.
Luke 13: 31-32
13:31. On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."
13:32 And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'

'that fox' = the body, soul, and spirit are the flesh or the man of flesh and blood as follows:

1. The fleshly characteristics or heart, namely the hatred, revenge, up to killing.
   Matthew 2: 16
   2:16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male childrenwho were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
   
   Holy Spirit is important, but without the teaching Word, one will only come to Herod, not to the pen where Jesus is born. This is dangerous because finally there will be the fleshly spirit.
   On the contrary, the Word without Holy Spirit will become a dull sword, so the congregation will never be sanctified.
   
   Thus, the Word and Holy Spirit cannot be separated.
   
   
2. The fleshly words, namely lies, gossips, slanders, and blasphemies to God.
   Matthew 2:7-8,13
   2:7. Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
   2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
   2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
   
   The Word cannot be deceived. Therefore, we must look at the Word. Do not look at any men!
   
   
3. The fleshly deeds, namely arrogant deeds.
   Acts 12:21-23
   12:21. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
   12:22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
   12:23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
   
   Acts 12:1-2
   12:1. Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
   12:2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
   
   It means as follows:
   
   
   • Putting God's servant who has the ministry and gifts and whom He uses to prison.
     It means as follows:
     
     
     1. Unfaithfulness until leaving the ministry. It is the same as not honoring God like Judas Iscariot.
        Being unfaithful without a clear reason is the same as arrogance.
        
        
     2. Unfaithfulness in the true teaching Word.
        
     3. Ministering to God, but not according to the ministry or place which is determined by Him.
        
        
   • Not being willing to be shepherded because of feeling strong and intelligent as well as having position.
     1 Peter 5:5
     5:5. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
     
     This is the chapter about the shepherding.
     Consequently, one goes astray and falls in sins until he cannot arise anymore.
     
     The shepherding system is in submission.
     We must be shepherded correctly with obeying the voice of the shepherd. We always dwell in the sheepfold or have the perseverance in doing the three main services to God. This is the proof that we are humble and submissive.
     
     In the shepherding, we get the preservation and protection and we become the apple of God's eye.
     Not being willing to be shepherded means being the fox.
     
     
   • Having a will to be the same as God with one's own way, namely relying on the fleshly matters.
     Acts 12:21-23
     12:21. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
     12:22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a godand not of a man!"
     12:23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
     
     Using the fleshly matters, one will be the same as the Antichrist.
     Eve wanted to be the same as God through eating the forbidden fruit. It refers to the logic of man. Do not use your own way, but of the heavenly kingdom.
     

Those are the signs of being the man of fox. Consequently, Herod was struck by the angel of the Lord, eaten by worms, and dead. He was made the same as a rebel.

Isaiah 66:24
66:24. "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpsesof the men Who have transgressed againstMe. For their wormdoes not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

Herod could be the corpse because of being arrogant. We must be careful.

There is only way to be the same as God, namely the cross or death experience. We willingly suffer in the flesh to be struck by the angel positively. The angel refers to the shepherd.
It means that we are sanctified and changed by the shepherding Word, the sound of trumpet, or the true teaching Word which is repeated.

What must be struck? The cheek refers to the sanctification to the five senses. The five senses are sanctified in the shepherding.
John 10:22-24
10:22. Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
10:24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."

In the shepherding, we are sanctified to kill the worms of sins by the striking of the Bride Tidings. It begins from the five sensesas follows:

1. 'doubt' = the doubtful feeling because of temptations and other teachings. It refers to the sanctification to the skin.
   The skin is struck so that we can be strong and of good courage or we do not doubt. We keep on believing God when we are facing the temptations. We keep on holding fast the true teaching Word when we are facing the false teachings.
   
   As a result, we get the pure gold or the tested faith.
   
   
2. The ears.
   John 10:27-28
   10:27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
   10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
   
   The ears are sanctified, so we only hear and obey the voice of the shepherd. We are in the hands of the Great Shepherd who gives us guarantee for our life now up to the eternality.
   Do not steal the opportunity to hear the other teachings! Hearing the false teaching, one will not be in the hands of the Great Shepherd anymore, but Satan.
   
   
3. The eyes.
   John 10:32-33
   10:32. Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shownyou from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"
   10:33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God."
   
   The eyes are sanctified so that our sight is only on God Himself or the true teaching Word and His field, not to any men or physical things. If one only sees the physical things, someday he will die. Nevertheless, we will live if we prioritize God.
   Do not sacrifice God for physical things, but sacrifice the physical things for God!
   
   
4. The tongue.
   John 10:35-36
   10:35. "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
   10:36 "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
   
   The tongue is sanctified, so we can confess Jesus or the true teaching Word. After that, we can confess our mistakes.
   Don't hesitate or be ashamed to confess the true teaching Word when we are being invited to do the wrong things.
   If the tongue is sanctified, we will rejoice. The tongue tastes the sweet wine.
   
   
5. The nose.
   John 10:31
   10:31.Then the Jews took up stonesagain to stone Him.
   
   The nose is sanctified to smell the aroma of incense, not the stench. The hands are lifted up not to stone, blame at God and others, or force God to do our will until we cannot worship Him, but to worship Him and our mouth can cry out His name. We experience the life renewal from the fleshly man to the spiritual one like Jesus.
   

If the five senses are sanctified, we will get the renewal. It begins from feeling that we are only like the worm before God.

Isaiah 41:13-14
41:13. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'
41:14 "Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

This is the struggle of Jacob.
Feeling like the worms means confessing that we are unworthy with our many sins. We confess that we are nothing or not precious, but we only rely on God's mercy.

The fact of being the worm so that we are not eaten by the worms is making peace with God and others.

Mark 9:49-50
9:49. "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
9:50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

We confess our physical and spiritual weaknesses. After being forgiven, we do not repeat the sin. If we humble ourselves, we will be in the strong hands of God.

Isaiah 41:13
41:13. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'

The strong hands of God refer to Holy Spirit.
The functions of Holy Spirit are as follows:

1. Holy Spirit is of truth.
   John 16:13
   16:13. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
   
   We firmly choose the true things and distinguish between the true and false. We live in righteousness.
   Without Holy Spirit, we will keep on sinning.
   The righteous life is the strong foundation to receive the blessings of God. We are saved and blessed. On the contrary, unrighteousness is the foundation of the curse.
   
   
2. Holy Spirit is the Comforter.
   John 15:25-27
   15:25. "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
   15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
   15:27 "And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
   
   John 16:1-2
   16:1. "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
   16:2 "They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
   
   He gives comfort and extra power to us for facing the impossibilities, persecution, shakings, and so on, so we are neither disappointed nor hopeless. We do not leave God regardless of anything we must face, but keep faithful and fervent in spirit in the service and ministry to Him. We keep on being the witness of God and worshiping Him.
   
   
3. Holy Spirit sanctifies and changes us.
   Romans 15:16
   15:16. that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
   
   The Gentiles are only like the dog, swine, and wolf. All of them must be burned to be the sweet-smelling aroma before God, namely being obedient until the flesh does not speak anymore.
   We get the power of creation from nothing to something for preserving us and from impossibilities to possibilities for helping us.
   
   If we are obedient, God is able to open the doors for us, namely the victory, lifting up, up to the door of the heavenly kingdom.
   When Jesus comes a second time, we are changed to be perfect and worthy to welcome His coming on the glorious clouds.
   If there is life renewal, there will be the miracles for sure.
   

God blesses you.