General Service in Malang, October 16, 2016 (Sunday Morning)

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

Revelation 4:6-7
4:6 Before the throne there wasa sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, werefour living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
4:7 The first living creature waslike a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature waslike a flying eagle.

There were four living creatures in the midst and around the throne. The four living creatures refer to four men who ever lived in the world in the ambience of the throne of Heaven, until they were really lifted up to the Heaven. They were Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and Lord Jesus.

The conditions of the four living creatures are as follows.

1. Like a lion refers to the character of Jesus as the King.
   
2. Like a calf refers to the character of Jesus as the Servant.
   
3. Like a man refers to the character of Jesus as the Man who suffered up to His death on the cross.
   
4. Like a flying eagle refers to the character of Jesus as the glorious Son of God.
   

The connection among the four conditions will form a cross.



Thus, the four creatures refer to four men who already experienced the cross, so they could live in the ambience of the throne of Heaven in the midst of the crooked, evil, and unclean world. We must also experience the crucifixion of the flesh so we can live in the ambience of the throne of Heaven in the midst of the crooked, evil, and unclean world. Sometime, we will also be lifted up to the throne of Heaven when Jesus comes a second time.

The throne of Heaven is surrounded by four living creatures. On earth, Jesus is surrounded by four disciples.
Matthew 4:18-19,21-22
4:18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
4:19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
4:21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the sonof Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
4:22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Thus, the condition on earth equals to the one in the Heaven. The ministry on earth must equal to the one in the Heaven.

The four disciples are fishermen called to become fishers of men. From being busy with earthly matters, they are called to become busy with Heavenly matters. It shows the authority of Jesus as the High Priest to set us free from all bonds in this world, so we can be used as the servants of God for the glory of the Heaven. Sometime, we will sit together with Him on the throne of Heaven.

Actually there were five people, namely Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Zebedee, but only four were called. It means that the ministry of the throne of Heaven cannot be affected by the feeling of the flesh (James and John left their father). We must prioritize the Heaven more than everything. The flesh must be crucified so we can love God more than everything.

In the past, God called four disciples to be used in the revival of Holy Spirit in the first rain, that is revival in the Gospel Word that preaches Jesus' first coming to save sinful men. The signs of being saved are believing Jesus, repenting, and being baptized in water and Holy Spirit. It is continued with living in righteousness in all aspects of our life. The aim of this revival is to increase the quantity or the amount of the member of the body of Christ.
Now, God calls us to become His servants who are used in the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain, that is revival in the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. It preaches Jesus' second coming in glory as the King of kings and Heavenly bridegroom, to sanctify the saved lives up to perfection. We become the perfect Heavenly bride who is ready to welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds, until entering the throne of Heaven forever.

The four disciples had to leave the net, the boat, and even their father, to receive God's call. It means as follows.

1. One who is called by God to be used in the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain must be marked with sacrifices. We must be willing to sacrifice everything, that is time, energy, money, thought, feeling, et cetera. There is only one exception, that is the true teaching Word must not be sacrificed. If we feel that it is heavy to sacrifice, let us always remember and follow the example of the sacrifice of Christ.
   
   
2. The answer to God's call is only one, that is "Abba, Father", meaning being obedient until the flesh does not sound anymore. An obedient life cannot be obstructed by anything. If we obey God although it is not according to our logic, the great merciful hands of God will be able to help us. If we are not obedient, we must bear all the risks by ourselves.
   

Exodus 3:4
3:4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."

God called "Moses, Moses!" means as follows.

1. God's call is private. It cannot be understood by the others nor be influenced or commanded or prevented.
   
2. God understands and knows deeply the condition of the one He calls, especially our lacks and weaknesses. Therefore, God gives us power.
   

The right answer for every God's call is "Here I am", meaning being obedient until the flesh does not sound anymore. Do not use logic, but let us use faith.
Obedience is related to two things as follows.

1. God's name.
   Revelation 1:8
   1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, theBeginning and theEnd," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
   
   God's name is the Alpha and the Omega, meaning as follows.
   
   
   • God who begins everything well will also ends it perfectly, so we can become the servants of God until the end line, that is until we die or Jesus comes a second time.
     
     
   • We experience the power of God's name to solve all obstacles and challenges, even the impossible ones.
     In the Old Testament, God divides the Red Sea.
     
     Acts 3:5-8
     3:5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
     3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
     3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted himup, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
     3:8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God.
     
     In the New Testament, a lame man was healed by the power of Jesus' name.
     Being lame refers to something that is not right and not beautiful, living in weariness and bearing heavy burdens. God can solve all things.
     Being lame also refers to being unfaithful in the ministry. It will be renewed to become faithful and fervent in spirit in the ministry. After being healed, the lame man entered the house of God. If we enter God's house when we are helped, it means that we are helped by the power of God. But if we even go farther from God, it is the temptation from Satan.
     Being lame in the bed also refers to uncleaness and broken marriage. The power of Jesus is able to help ones with these conditions.
     
     
2. It is related with Jesus as the High Priest.
   Hebrews 5:8-10
   5:8 though He was a Son, yetHe learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
   5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
   5:10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"
   
   Hebrews 10:19-20
   10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
   10:20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
   
   Jesus is obedient until He dies on the cross so the door of Heaven is opened. If we become the servants of God who are obedient, it is as stretching out both our hands to Him, and He will stretch out His hands to us. We will live within the great merciful hands of God. The results are as follows.
   
   
   • The great merciful hands of God are able to create the things that have not existed yet.
     John 21:3,7,11
     21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
     21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on hisouter garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
     21:11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
     
     No matter how great we are, if we are disobedient, it equals to being outside the hands of God, being naked and failed. But if we are obedient, no matter how powerless we are, there will be the great merciful hands of God that are able to make our life successful and to use us in the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain.
     
     
   • The merciful hands of God are able to open the door of Heaven.
     Hebrews 10:20
     10:20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
     
     It means that we experience the sanctification and life renewal. Obedience means we experience the sanctification. Disobedience means being dirtier and more unclean.
     
     Exodus 3:4-5
     3:4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!"And he said, "Here I am."
     3:5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand isholy ground."
     
     The New Jerusalem is about the sanctification and life renewal. The more we are sanctified, the more we feel the presence of the Heaven.
     Taking the sandals off means we experience inner and outer sanctification, so we become as a newborn baby. A newborn baby is marked with a crying mouth, meaning confessing sins and crying out Jesus' name.
     
     James 3:2
     3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he isa perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
     
     We must be sanctified and renewed continuously until we do not stumble in word anymore. We will be able to welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds until entering the throne of Heaven forever.
     

God blesses us.