Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Good evening, let us hear the Word of God. Let the peace, grace, and joy of God be in the midst of us abundantly.
Revelation 1: 13-16 = the appearance of Jesus Himself in four real manifestations (It has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 3, 2014):
Tonight, we still discuss the fourth part, namely JESUS APPEARS IN HIS GLORY AS THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM.
Revelation 1: 16
1: 16. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance waslike the sun shining in its strength.
The signs are as follows.
Ad 2.Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.
What comes out from the mouth of God is the Word of God(man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God).
A two-edged sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth is the Word of God.
There are two types of the preaching of the Word as follows.
Let us depend on the mercy of God in everything. If we have been saved and blessed, let us continue with receiving the sanctification sword until we are embraced by Him. The more we are sanctified, the stronger God embraces our life. Do not doubt it. The nail-pierced hands of God or His merciful hands will help us. He cares and pays attention to all of us. Whatever our condition is now, let us surrender it to God.
God blesses us.
Revelation 1: 13-16 = the appearance of Jesus Himself in four real manifestations (It has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 3, 2014):
- Revelation 1: 13= Jesus appears in His glory as The High Priest, being clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band (It has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 3, 2014).
- Revelation 1: 14= Jesus appears in His glory as The King of all kings, whose head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire (It has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, February 23, 2014).
- Revelation 1: 15= Jesus appears in His glory as The Just Judge, whose feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters (It has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, March 17, 2014).
- Revelation 1: 16= Jesus appears in His glory as The Heavenly Bridegroom, the peak. We will never be separated from Him, but we are with Him forever. (It has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, March 30, 2014).
Tonight, we still discuss the fourth part, namely JESUS APPEARS IN HIS GLORY AS THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM.
Revelation 1: 16
1: 16. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance waslike the sun shining in its strength.
The signs are as follows.
- He had in His right hand seven stars (It has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, March 30, 2014),
- Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
- His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Ad 2.Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.
What comes out from the mouth of God is the Word of God(man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God).
A two-edged sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth is the Word of God.
There are two types of the preaching of the Word as follows.
- The gospel Word or the gospel of salvation.
Ephesians 1: 13
1: 13 In Him you also trusted,after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
The gospel Wordis the gospel that preaches Jesus’ first coming into the world to die on the cross and save sinful men.
The activity of the gospel of salvation is CALLINGsinful men so they believe Jesus and are saved (from the darkness to the light).
The processof being called out of darkness into the light is as follows.- Believing or having faithto Jesus as the onlySavior. We must not doubt any little. We believe through hearing the Word. Therefore, we must listen more to the Word.
- Repenting, meaning stopping sinning to return to God.
- Water and Holy Spirit baptism= being newly born from water and the Spirit.
We are born as flesh man who is only suitable to live in this world, but not in the Heaven. Therefore, we must experience new birth to get new life, that is Heavenly life, so we can live in the Heaven.
1 Peter 1: 3-4
1: 3 Blessed bethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercyhas begotten us again to a living hopethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 to an inheritance incorruptibleand undefiledand that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
‘His abundant mercy‘ means that we can enter water and Holy Spirit baptism only by His mercy.
The results of having new life are as follows:- 'a living hope' = we only believe and fully surrender to Jesus.
It is proved when we face temptations, impossibilities, problems, et cetera, we only believe and fully surrender to Him. We are as a baby who cries and God’s hands will help us. - verse 4: 'an inheritance incorruptible'= the thing that is incorruptible is the Word.
It meanswe love receiving the Word.
If we love eating the Word, our spiritual life will be healthy.
If we do not love the Word, our spiritual life smells like the hell. - 'undefiled'= being as the lilies that cannot be defiled by anything. It is always white although growing in a black pond. Thus,we must not be defiled by anythingaround us. If we receive the gospel of salvation, we will keep living in righteousness.
- 'that does not fade away' =the flesh easily fades, but if we have new life, we will not easily be disappointed and desperate in facing anything. We keep being faithful and fervent in spiritin ministering God. Not fading also means not being proud of something when we are successful, but we keep giving thanks to God.
- 'reserved in heaven for you'= although we live in the world but we experience the ambience of the Heaven, that is having peace. A peaceful heart is a strong foundation to receive blessings from God.
Therefore, we must keep our heart peaceful.
- 'a living hope' = we only believe and fully surrender to Jesus.
Therefore, the gospel Word must be continued with the second type of the preaching of the Word. - Believing or having faithto Jesus as the onlySavior. We must not doubt any little. We believe through hearing the Word. Therefore, we must listen more to the Word.
- 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
The second type is the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. It equals to the teaching Wordor the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword.
Jesus must come with the sword so we can be perfected.
Hebrews 4: 12
4: 12 For the word of Godisliving and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The teaching Wordis the gospel that preaches Jesus’ second coming in glory as King of kings and Heavenly Bridegroom to sanctify us (the saved people) and perfect us until we are blameless as Him and become His bride. Therefore, the teaching Word is also called as Bride Tidings.
When Jesus comes for the second time, there must be no sins anymore. Therefore, we must be sanctified. Thus, the activity of the teaching Wordthat is sharper than any two-edged sword is to CHOOSEsaved people to be perfected as Jesus. At this point, many are failed. We must be careful not to reject the sword.If we reject it, we cannot be perfected and will be destroyed forever.
The gospel Word is important. God blesses us and there is strong foundation. But only foundation is not enough. We must be built (with the sword of the Word) to be as perfect as Jesus, the Heavenly Bridegroom.
The process from salvation to perfection is as follows:- Hebrews 4: 12
4: 12 For the word of God isliving and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercingeven to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The first process is the teaching Word sanctifies the heart, joints and marrow.
SANCTIFICATION OF THE HEART
Matthew 15: 19
15: 19 For out of the heart proceed (1)evil thoughts, (2)murders, (3)adulteries, (4)fornications, (5)thefts, (6)false witness, (7)blasphemies.
Blaspheming is started with slandering.
The teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword sanctifies our heart from 7 evil and unclean desires.
The resultis our heart is filled with Holy Spirit with its 7 manifestations.
Isaiah 11: 2-3
11:2 (1)The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, (2)The Spirit of wisdomand (3)understanding, (4)The Spirit of counseland (5)might, (6)The Spirit of knowledgeand (7)of the fear of the Lord.
11:3 His delight isin the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
Our heart is sanctified, until the peak is we have fear of the Lord. It means we breathe with being fearful of Him. The air is surrounded with the spirit of demons besides oxygen, et cetera. If one breathes without being fearful of Him, the spirit of demon will enter him.
The fear of the Lordmeans being afraid to do sins, and being faithful and fervent in spirit in ministering God.
If we die when we do sins, who will be responsible for our life? Therefore, in every breath of our life, let us have the fear of the Lord.
SANCTIFICATION OF JOINTS
Joints is the relation between bones. It refers to the relation between the members of the body of Christ (it is started within marriage).
1 Corinthians 3: 3
3: 3 for you are still carnal. For where there areenvy, strife,and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like meremen?
Joints are frequently unwell and sick. It is caused by envy and strife.Our joints must be sanctified from them.- Strife caused by misunderstanding or sins must be solved by reconciliation (the wrong one confesses and the right one forgives, so it is solved). If they do not want to reconcile, they will fight continually.
Strife caused by the teaching Word must be solved by returning to the Bible. - Envy or jealousy happens especially within marriage.
Genesis 30: 1
30: 1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel enviedher sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”
Be careful, if there is envy within marriage, they will be in dangerous situation and feel as being dead.
Envy within the shepherding must also be solved.
2 Corinthians 12: 20
12: 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and thatI shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there becontentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
If envy and strife are continued, they will cause tumults (division).
Marrow is located within the bone. It cannot be seen but it can be felt.
Proverbs 17: 22
17: 22 A merry heart does good, likemedicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Dry bone = dry marrow.
It refers to the sanctification of the broken spirit.
Frequently, we do not realize when our marrow is dry. It is when we are not enthusiastic anymore in ministry, in praying, and in serving Him (in spiritual matters).
Proverbs 15: 13
15: 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Dry bone also refers to sorrow. It must be sanctified so we can rejoice.
Thus, let God sanctify what has been dry, so we have new courage and enthusiasm, and joy from God, especially in doing spiritual matters. - Strife caused by misunderstanding or sins must be solved by reconciliation (the wrong one confesses and the right one forgives, so it is solved). If they do not want to reconcile, they will fight continually.
- The second process is sanctification of the deeds.
Isaiah 27: 1
27: 1 In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathanthat twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that isin the sea.
= The teaching Word sanctifies us from Leviathanwho rules the sea.
This prophecy is fulfilled in the book of Revelation as the sea or nations in this world are ruled by Babylon.
Revelation 17: 1-2, 5, 15
17: 1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
17:5 And on her forehead a name waswritten:MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
17:15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
'many waters' = the sea.
Thus, the true teaching Word sanctifies us from Babylon who rules the sea. It means as follows.- Sanctification from sinful deedup to its peak, that is sin concerning eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-being given in marriage (sexuality sin with all its variety, sexual deviation, et cetera).
We must be careful, if there is no sword, none will be able to beat Babylon, even a pastor!
If there is sword of the Word, Babylon cannot come in.
But if there is no sword of the Word, fornication will happen. - Sanctification from false teachingsabout prosperity and carnal entertainment.
Revelation 17: 4
17: 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
=it refers to prosperity, in which there are only uncleanness and fornication.
Many ministries are changed to show carnal entertainments and prosperities to please the flesh (without sanctification), so there is only fornication inside. - Harlot refers to unfaithful life.
It meanswe are sanctified from unfaithful character within the ministry, so we can be faithful and fervent in spirit in ministering Him. - Isaiah 14: 23
14: 23 “I will also make ita possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the Lord of hosts.
Babylon will lead to the city of Babylon that will become marshes. Marsh does not flow. It refers to egoism or self-interest. If one is egoistic, he cannot be a blessing to the others, and he will enter the building of Babylon. We are sanctified so we do not prioritize ourselves or become egoistic, but we can pay attention to the needs of the others. We can give and visit the others who are in need. It is the revival of building the perfect body of Christ.
We must sacrifice everything for the building of the body of Christ, except the true teaching Word.
- Sanctification from sinful deedup to its peak, that is sin concerning eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-being given in marriage (sexuality sin with all its variety, sexual deviation, et cetera).
- Psalm 149: 6
149: 6 Letthe high praises of God bein their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,
The third process is sanctification of the mouth. It is the last sanctification.
Let our mouth be sanctified, so it only praises and glorifies God until it becomes the mouth of a baby (only crying = worshiping God).
Praising and worshiping God means we say right words. Our words bless the others and there are no lies.
If there is the mouth of a baby, we will become the house of prayer. Else, one will become the den of thieves. Everything depends on the mouth!
Matthew 21: 16
21: 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,‘Out of the mouth of babesand nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”
The mouth of a baby only criesmeans confessing that we can do nothing and are powerless. We only depend on the merciful hands of God.
When we cry (praise, glorify, and worship God with a contrite heart), our position is in the embrace of 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 arecontinually before Me.
= God never forgets the baby who praises Him. He never leaves us. He always cares, pays attention to, and struggles for us.
If none cares us, we must not be angry. It is the chance for God to fully pay attention to us. The requirement is we must become a baby that cries.
The results are as follows.- 'I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands'means as follows.
- The merciful hands of God are able to careus in the middle of impossibilities, difficulties, and our weakness.
- The merciful hands of God are able to helpus and solve all our problems right on His time.
- The merciful hands of God are able to give beautiful, successful, and joyful future.
The more we are sanctified, the stronger God embraces our life.
- The merciful hands of God are able to careus in the middle of impossibilities, difficulties, and our weakness.
- 'Your walls arecontinually before Me'means as follows.
- The merciful hands of God are able to protect usphysically from danger and distress (sickness, natural disaster, et cetera) that threaten our life. Spiritually, we are protected from sin up to its peak and false teaching. We are also protected from God’s judgment to the world up to the judgment in the hell.
- We are sanctified and renewedby His hands until we are as perfect as Him. We do not stumble in word.
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.
Not stumbling in word means only saying 'Alleluia' to welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds. There are no more tears since they are changed into joys.
We enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God and the Paradise (A Thousand years Kingdom of Peace). Until we enter the New Jerusalem (passing the high wall) and we never quit it anymore.
- The merciful hands of God are able to protect usphysically from danger and distress (sickness, natural disaster, et cetera) that threaten our life. Spiritually, we are protected from sin up to its peak and false teaching. We are also protected from God’s judgment to the world up to the judgment in the hell.
- 'I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands'means as follows.
- Hebrews 4: 12
Let us depend on the mercy of God in everything. If we have been saved and blessed, let us continue with receiving the sanctification sword until we are embraced by Him. The more we are sanctified, the stronger God embraces our life. Do not doubt it. The nail-pierced hands of God or His merciful hands will help us. He cares and pays attention to all of us. Whatever our condition is now, let us surrender it to God.
God blesses us.