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."
Theme at Sidikalang: "There is but a step between me and death."
This theme becomes a warning for us, that everything in this world means nothing, because our life is just a step with death.
There are 3 kinds of deathas follows:
9:21. For death has come through our windows, Has entered our palaces, To kill off the children--no longer to be outside! And the young men--no longer on the streets!
9:22. Speak, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even the carcasses of men shall fall as refuse on the open field, Like cuttings after the harvester, And no one shall gather them.'"
The death works everywhere; on the ground, sea and air.
The death also works on all ages, from womb to old age.
It means every our pulse is being threatened by the death. Therefore, we have to be watchful.
The death also threatened David who was a person chosen by God.
Now, the Christian life who has already been saved by God is also being threatened by the death.
David was a king.
It means, all positions and wealth in this world cannot defeat the death.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
15:25. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
15:26. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
The safest position fromthedeath is UNDER JESUS' FEET, where the death was defeated.
The position under Jesus' feet was chosen by Mary.
Now, church of God must choose the place under Jesus' feet.
The facts found in being at under God's feetare as follows:
Luke 10:39,42
10:39. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
10:42. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Sitting at Jesus' feet = listeningand being obedient to God's Word, meaning as follows:
So, sitting under Jesus' feet= being shephered by the trueteaching Word.
Luke 10:42
10:42. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
In this life, ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED, that is sittingat Jesus' feetorbeingshepherded to the right teaching Wordwherethere is guarantee that everything will be fine, the future will be fine. And it can't be disturbed by anything, even the death can't touch it.
Don't be like Judas who existed at the pen of shepherding (the shepherd was Jesus Himself), but actually he was not shepherded and refused the right teaching Word.
Mark 14:10-11
114:10. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
14:11. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
We HAVE TO join in fellowship, but don't join in false fellowship.
Matthew 26:23-25
26:23. He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
26:24. "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."
26:25. Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
Judas chose the worst place which is controlled by death. Judas left ministry and hung himself. His life hung in doubt until all his entrails gushed out.
Unshepherded life is actually hanging in doubt.
Position of life who is shepherded to the right teaching Wordis as follows:
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."
Theme at Sidikalang: "There is but a step between me and death."
This theme becomes a warning for us, that everything in this world means nothing, because our life is just a step with death.
There are 3 kinds of deathas follows:
- physical death.
- spiritual death.
Ephesians2:1
2:1. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Sign of spiritual death is being bored when listening to Word of God, and rejoicing in sin. - the second death, going to the hell forever.
Revelation20:14
20:14. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
If Christian life experiences spiritual death, he will be taken to second death, that is hell forever.
9:21. For death has come through our windows, Has entered our palaces, To kill off the children--no longer to be outside! And the young men--no longer on the streets!
9:22. Speak, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even the carcasses of men shall fall as refuse on the open field, Like cuttings after the harvester, And no one shall gather them.'"
The death works everywhere; on the ground, sea and air.
The death also works on all ages, from womb to old age.
- Matthew 19:1-12 -->death works from womb through divorce.
- Matthew 19:13-15 -->death works on children by preventing them to come to God. The parents are very busy, so they can't bring their child to come to God, or the children prevent their parents to come to God.
- Matthew 19:16-26 -->death works on the youth age through wickedness sins or the lust of money, and uncleanness sins (eating-drinking sin and sin of marrying and giving in marriage),
- Matthew 19:27-30 -->death works on adult age up to old one through unfaithfulness even leaving the ministry.
Matthew19:30
19:30. "But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
It means every our pulse is being threatened by the death. Therefore, we have to be watchful.
The death also threatened David who was a person chosen by God.
Now, the Christian life who has already been saved by God is also being threatened by the death.
David was a king.
It means, all positions and wealth in this world cannot defeat the death.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
15:25. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
15:26. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
The safest position fromthedeath is UNDER JESUS' FEET, where the death was defeated.
The position under Jesus' feet was chosen by Mary.
Now, church of God must choose the place under Jesus' feet.
The facts found in being at under God's feetare as follows:
Luke 10:39,42
10:39. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
10:42. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Sitting at Jesus' feet = listeningand being obedient to God's Word, meaning as follows:
- God's Word = Shepherd's voice.
Listening and being obedient to God's Word= listeningandbeingobedient to shepherding Wordwhich is trusted to a shepherd.
The Word of shepherding will lead us to pen of shepherding. The pen of shepherding in Tabernacle is Holy Place with 3 kinds of object as follows:
- Golden Candlestick -->perseverance in committing General Service.
- Table of Showbread -->perseverance in committing Bible Study Service and Holy Communion.
- The Golden Altar of Incense -->perseverance in committing Prayer Service.
- Word which is the Word of Jesus= Word which is revealed, that is a verse (Jesus' Word) explains another verse (Jesus' Word) in the Bible.
John15:3
15:3. "You are already cleanbecause of the word which I have spoken to you.
The Word which is Jesus' Word has the power of sanctification to purify our life. It is called the true teaching Words.
Listening and being obedient to Jesus' Word= listeningand being obedient to the true teaching Words.
So, sitting under Jesus' feet= being shephered by the trueteaching Word.
Luke 10:42
10:42. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
In this life, ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED, that is sittingat Jesus' feetorbeingshepherded to the right teaching Wordwherethere is guarantee that everything will be fine, the future will be fine. And it can't be disturbed by anything, even the death can't touch it.
Don't be like Judas who existed at the pen of shepherding (the shepherd was Jesus Himself), but actually he was not shepherded and refused the right teaching Word.
Mark 14:10-11
114:10. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
14:11. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
We HAVE TO join in fellowship, but don't join in false fellowship.
Matthew 26:23-25
26:23. He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
26:24. "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."
26:25. Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
Judas chose the worst place which is controlled by death. Judas left ministry and hung himself. His life hung in doubt until all his entrails gushed out.
Unshepherded life is actually hanging in doubt.
Position of life who is shepherded to the right teaching Wordis as follows:
- Like branch abides in the right true vine.
If a branch abides in the true vine, it will not be dry.
John 15:1-2,4
15:1. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
15:2. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
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.
If we abides in the True Vine, we will be purified intensively and continuously, especially from Judas' sins.
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."
Judas' sin is stealing. Don't steal God's property, those are tithes and offerings.
Judas' sin is also lying.
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 21:8
21:8. "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liarsshall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Thefts and liars = abiding in Satan and going to hell.
If one abides in Satan through keeping on stealing and lying, it's impossible for him to abide in the True Vine.
If a person has already stolen and lied, s/he will be betrayer, indicating the unfaithfulness in the ministry and the right teaching Word.
If the branch abides in True Vine, and wants to be shepherded life, sooner or later s/he will bear sweet fruits. Tear will be wiped away by God little by little. Until one day, we meet with God and there is no more tears. - Like a donkey bound to the vine.
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.
Here, there are the blood of grapes.
In the shepherding, we must havethesprinkling of the blood, meaning sufferingwithout sin for purifying sin characteristics.
The characteristics of gentiles are as follows:- the characteristic of dog and pig -->unclean characteristic, that is eating-drinking sin and marrying and giving in marriage.
Dog's characteristic includes dirty speaking. It must be purified to become good and encouraging speaking. - the characteristic of wild donkey which cannot be controlled.
- the characteristic of worries.
This behaviour must be replaced with totally surrender to God.
Mark 11:2,7
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.
If the donkey has already been sprinkled by blood and purified from the behaviour of worries, the donkey will be used in the revival of last rain. - the characteristic of dog and pig -->unclean characteristic, that is eating-drinking sin and marrying and giving in marriage.
- Like baby in the mother's hug.
1 Peter 2:2
2:2. as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
Milk is the right shepherding Word.
If we are shepherded in the right teaching Word, our position is in God's Hands.
Isaiah 49:14-16
49:14. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me."
49:15. "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
49:16. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
In God's Hands, God will understand and pay attention to our life. God struggles for our life.
The results are as follows:- God's Hands of mercy can take care and protect us in the middle of difficulties in desert.
- God's Hands of mercy can help our life in facing all things.
- God's Hands of mercy purify our life until the perfection.
- God's Hands of mercy lead us to New Jerusalem, where there is no more tear.
Revelation 7:17
7:17. "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
- God's Hands of mercy can take care and protect us in the middle of difficulties in desert.