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.
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 proceeds from the mouth of God is the Word of God.
Matthew 4: 4
4: 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by breadalone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
One of the temptations faced by God is about food.
Breadcomes from the family of grass (physical food). If we only eat physically, our life will be as the grass that will dry and be burnt.
Satan only shows physical food to man, but God shows spiritual food, that is the Word that proceeds from His mouth)(= 'out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword').
There are two kinds of spiritual food as follows.
Because there are two kinds of spiritual food, there are also two kinds of spiritual growthas follows.
Thus, there is quantity growth (BEING CALLED) and quality growth (BEING CHOSEN).
Many people do not want to be chosen, but let us tonight fulfill these two criteria.
Luke 6: 13
6: 13 And when it was day, He calledHis disciplesto Himself;and from them He chosetwelvewhom He also named apostles:
=>Jesus chose 12 apostles from His disciples. Many are called, but only twelve are chosen.
There is enhancement from disciple to become apostle (‘He also named apostles’).
On the growth of the church of God, it is mentioned the figures 12and 70.
The figures 12 and 70 are the figures of commission(Jesus sends 12 apostles, but He also sends 70 disciples).
Thus, a growing church is marked with figures 12 and 70, that is a called and chosen church with given ministry. It equals to being appointed as priests and kings and being sentby God to be used by Him in the building of the perfect body of Christ.
Do not stand idle!If one is not used by God, he will be used by Satan in the building of the body of Babylon.
Leviticus 21: 12
21: 12 nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecrationof the anointing oil of his God isupon him: I amthe Lord.
The place for priests and kingsis inside the Holy Place (from the Court of Tabernacle, we enter the Holy Place).
If one does not live in righteousness although he has become Christians for years, he is still outside the Court.
The Holy Place= the shepherding pen, where there are three kinds of equipment. Now, they refer to perseverance in three main services as follows.
Why must it be three types of main services?Because we have body, soul, and spirit.
If we are shepherded, our body, soul, and spirit will attach to God the Trinity, so we always feel the touch of God’s hands and Satan cannot touch us.
Through the Tabernacle we can see our position as God’s children, whether we are in the Heaven or not.
Through perseverance in three main services, we are touched by God. Maybe in the past we wanted to do a lot of things, but now we only want to minister God and not being blocked by anything to minister Him. Frequently, we feel that we receive blessing from God, but actually it is not.
If we receive blessing from God, we will get closer to Him. If we even get farther from God, it is not blessing but temptation.
Thus, every priest and king (starting from the pastor) MUSTbe shepherded.If we are within the shepherding, the quantity and quality growth can be measured.
Why must we be shepherded?
Let us nowadays be shepherded seriously so we can grow and become priests and kings. We are faithful in the shepherding and consecrated as the apple of His eyes (we receive special task), where any grain of sand cannot enter.
Joseph was faithful in the shepherding and he received the tunic of many colors.
If we are consecrated by God, we must not be afraid because He gives us supplies for our commission.
Mark 6: 7-9
6: 7 And He called the twelve to Himself,and began to send them out two bytwo, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
6:8 He commanded them to take nothingfor the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in theirmoney belts—
6:9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
‘to take nothing’ means there is guarantee from God.
One of the supplies from God is a staff, that is the cross. The cross is our leaning place.
The practices of bearing the cross are as follows.
The usefulness of the cross is as follows.
Jesus appears in glory so we will not be deceived by Satan. Satan tempts Him with the grass to make us as the grass (flesh man who easily fades away and then being destroyed). But God shows us the food from the Heaven. God gives us the food of the gospel Word and the teaching Word, so we growin quantity and quality. We become priests and kings, and are well shepherded. We are chosenand given special task. God also equips us will special supply, that is a staff. There is the Spirit of glory behind the staff, that is the stretching out of God’s hands to help all of us and make miracle for us.
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 (It has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, April 06, 2014),
- His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Ad 2.Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.
What proceeds from the mouth of God is the Word of God.
Matthew 4: 4
4: 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by breadalone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
One of the temptations faced by God is about food.
Breadcomes from the family of grass (physical food). If we only eat physically, our life will be as the grass that will dry and be burnt.
Satan only shows physical food to man, but God shows spiritual food, that is the Word that proceeds from His mouth)(= 'out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword').
There are two kinds of spiritual food as follows.
- milk= the Gospel Word or Gospel of salvation = Good News (Ephesians 1: 13)= the Word that preaches Jesus’ first coming to the world to die on the cross and save sinful man.
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, - solid food= the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4: 3-4) = the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4: 12) = Bride Tidings that preaches Jesus’ second coming to perfect all of us.
It is the sword that proceeds from Jesus’ mouth.
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.
Hebrews 4: 12
4:12. For the word of God isliving 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.
Because there are two kinds of spiritual food, there are also two kinds of spiritual growthas follows.
- The growth of the quantity.It is because the body of Christ has amount. For example: a hand with only four fingers is not perfect. This growth is the result of the work of the gospel of salvation(milk)/good news, that calls sinful men to believe Jesus and be saved.
Exodus 1: 1-2, 5, 7
1: 1 Now these arethe names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:
1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
1:5 All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons(for Joseph was in Egypt already).
1:7 But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
The quantity growth of the church of God in Old Testamentcan be seen from the growth of the Israelites, that is started from Jacob (alone = 1), then he has 12children, and then his descendants are 70persons and increased abundantly.
The quantity growth of the church of God in the New Testamentcan be seen from Jesus (alone = 1), then He has 12apostles, and then 70disciples, and increased abundantly.
The signs of salvation are as follows.- Believing Jesus =>entering the Gate.
We believe and have faith to Jesus as the onlySavior.
This faith must be one and not wrong any little. - Repentance =>the Altar of Burnt Offerings, meaning being dead from sins to return to God.
- Water baptism =>the Brazen Laver.
- Holy Spirit baptism.
Through water and Holy Spirit baptism, we get new life (Heavenly life), that is living in righteousness. It equals to entering the Court of Tabernacle or the kingdom of Heaven.
By living in righteousness, we have been savedand blessedby God. If one is not right, he is not saved.
Psalm 37: 25-26
37: 25 I have been young, and nowam old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
37:26 He isever merciful, and lends; And his descendants areblessed.
Being saved= BEING CALLEDout of darkness into the light.We up to our descendants are blessed and we become blessing to the others.
But we must be careful because MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN
Therefore, there must be the second growth. - Believing Jesus =>entering the Gate.
- The growth of the quality.
For example: a hand has five fingers (the quantity is complete), but the shape is not perfect.
If the quantity growth is good but the quality is not, the growth is not perfect. Usually it is not taught in the congregation.
The quality growth is the result of the work of the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword/ Bride Tidings that CHOOSESsaved people to be sanctified until they are perfect and blameless, and have the same quality as Jesus(we are as perfect as Him and become His bride).
This teaching is also called Bride Tidingsbecause it has relation with the bride.
Thus, there is quantity growth (BEING CALLED) and quality growth (BEING CHOSEN).
Many people do not want to be chosen, but let us tonight fulfill these two criteria.
Luke 6: 13
6: 13 And when it was day, He calledHis disciplesto Himself;and from them He chosetwelvewhom He also named apostles:
=>Jesus chose 12 apostles from His disciples. Many are called, but only twelve are chosen.
There is enhancement from disciple to become apostle (‘He also named apostles’).
On the growth of the church of God, it is mentioned the figures 12and 70.
The figures 12 and 70 are the figures of commission(Jesus sends 12 apostles, but He also sends 70 disciples).
Thus, a growing church is marked with figures 12 and 70, that is a called and chosen church with given ministry. It equals to being appointed as priests and kings and being sentby God to be used by Him in the building of the perfect body of Christ.
Do not stand idle!If one is not used by God, he will be used by Satan in the building of the body of Babylon.
Leviticus 21: 12
21: 12 nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecrationof the anointing oil of his God isupon him: I amthe Lord.
The place for priests and kingsis inside the Holy Place (from the Court of Tabernacle, we enter the Holy Place).
If one does not live in righteousness although he has become Christians for years, he is still outside the Court.
The Holy Place= the shepherding pen, where there are three kinds of equipment. Now, they refer to perseverance in three main services as follows.
- Golden Candlestick = perseverance in General Service = fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of Showbread = perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion = fellowship with the Son of God in His words and the sacrifice of Christ.
- Golden Altar of Incense = perseverance in Prayer Service = fellowship with Father God in His love.
Why must it be three types of main services?Because we have body, soul, and spirit.
If we are shepherded, our body, soul, and spirit will attach to God the Trinity, so we always feel the touch of God’s hands and Satan cannot touch us.
Through the Tabernacle we can see our position as God’s children, whether we are in the Heaven or not.
Through perseverance in three main services, we are touched by God. Maybe in the past we wanted to do a lot of things, but now we only want to minister God and not being blocked by anything to minister Him. Frequently, we feel that we receive blessing from God, but actually it is not.
If we receive blessing from God, we will get closer to Him. If we even get farther from God, it is not blessing but temptation.
Thus, every priest and king (starting from the pastor) MUSTbe shepherded.If we are within the shepherding, the quantity and quality growth can be measured.
Why must we be shepherded?
- We must be shepherded so that our life is consecratedby God. (Leviticus 21: 12= 'for the consecrationof the anointing oil of his God isupon him').
Being consecratedmeans being sanctified and anointed with Holy Spirit so we become the apple of God’s eyes.
The results are as follows:- We are exclusively cared and protected by God until one grain of sand cannot disturb us.
- We receive special presents(special gifts) that are miraculous ability from Holy Spirit so we can be used in the ministry for building the perfect body of Christ.
John (John Mark) was ever consecrated by God.
Acts 13: 2, 5
13: 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to MeBarnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
13:5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagoguesof the Jews. They also had John as theirassistant.
‘preached the word of God in the synagogues‘ =>preaching the Word to saved people.
It is a special task, meaning we are used to bring saved life to enter the ministry for building the body of Christ.
John Mark was as the assistant here. He helped in every matter. Because he was keen, he was consecratedby God to write the book of Mark that presents Jesus as a Servant (John was not humiliated).
- We are exclusively cared and protected by God until one grain of sand cannot disturb us.
- Luke 10: 1, 3
10: 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
10:3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
The second reason why we must be shepherded is because the ambience of commission is as sending out lambs among wolves. The thing we need most is a shepherd, not grass.
If a lamb looks for grass by himself, it will die during the dry season or when it is among wolves. But if there is a shepherd, it will live in every situation.
Thus, the ambience of commission equals to the ambience of shepherding.It means thatif we are firm in the shepherding, we will be sent by God.
If we are not shepherded, the results are as follows.- Being drawn by the tail of the dragon.
Revelation 12: 4
12: 4 His tail drew a third of the starsof heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
'the tail of the dragon' refers to false teaching and sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage (it refers to unclean sins because there is reproduction organ in the dragon’s tail). Unclean sins are in the same level with evil sins (being stingy and greedy). - 1 Peter 5: 8
5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The second consequence is being devoured by the lion(Satan).
- Being drawn by the tail of the dragon.
Let us nowadays be shepherded seriously so we can grow and become priests and kings. We are faithful in the shepherding and consecrated as the apple of His eyes (we receive special task), where any grain of sand cannot enter.
Joseph was faithful in the shepherding and he received the tunic of many colors.
If we are consecrated by God, we must not be afraid because He gives us supplies for our commission.
Mark 6: 7-9
6: 7 And He called the twelve to Himself,and began to send them out two bytwo, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
6:8 He commanded them to take nothingfor the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in theirmoney belts—
6:9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
‘to take nothing’ means there is guarantee from God.
One of the supplies from God is a staff, that is the cross. The cross is our leaning place.
The practices of bearing the cross are as follows.
- 1 Peter 4: 1-2
4: 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
4:2 that he no longer should live the rest of histime in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
The first practice is flesh suffering to stop sinningto return to the will of God.
The cross is our armsto stop sinning and live in righteousness.
We cannot minister God if we keep living in sins, because we cannot serve two masters (God and sins). If there are no sins, we can focus on ministering God, not sins. - 1 Peter 4: 12-14
4: 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
4:13 but rejoiceto the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of gloryand of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
The second practice is flesh suffering withoutany sins(but because of the Word, because of Jesus, ministry, or the true teaching Word).
Do not be doubtful!There is the Spirit of glory or Shekinah glory behind the cross. The greater suffering we experience,the greater the Spirit of glory we receive and the greater God’s usage and blessing to us are. God never fools us!
The usefulness of the cross is as follows.
- Exodus 14: 16, 21
14: 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry groundthrough the midst of the sea.
14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go backby a strong east windall that night, and made the sea into dry land,and the waters were divided.
The first usefulness is the cross is able to divide the Kolsom Sea.
‘rod’ = the cross.
‘east wind’ = Holy Spirit.
If the Kolsom Sea had not been divided, the Israelites would have died. But because the Kolsom Sea was divided, they could live.
It means thatGod decides our death and life.
The waters can be dividedrefers to impossibility.
The Spirit of glory behind the cross makes all our problems solvable right in His time, even the impossible ones. The Spirit of glory also gives us beautiful future and uses us in the great revival.
When we face the cross, it is the time we meet God privately. - Exodus 15: 23,25
15: 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they werebitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.
15:25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast itinto the waters, the waters were made sweet.There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them,
'a tree'= the cross.
The second usefulness is the Spirit of glory is able to change bitterness into sweetness, failure into success, badness into goodness, and able to lift up the falling one.
DO NOT LOOSE THE CROSS!If one looses the cross, the staff will become a serpent. - 1 Peter 4: 14
4: 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
The third usefulness is the Spirit of glory renews usfrom flesh man to spiritual man as Jesus. We become the same as Him.
Life renewal is “blessed are you“, meaning we are joyful although in the middle of suffering.
If we can be joyful in the middle of suffering, it is a miracle.
If spiritual miracle happens, the first miracle (the Kolsom Sea is divided) and the second one (bitterness is changed into sweetness) surely will happen.
If we suffer because of sins, we must confess and ask for forgiveness from God and the others honestly. Thus, we will also receive the Spirit of glory.
When we are not wrong, we must keep silent and at that time the Spirit of glory is in the midst of us.
Honesty in confessing the sins is the shortest way to be helped by God.
Honestyis also life renewal. When Jesus comes for the second time, we will be renewed as glorious as Him, and we become His bride who is ready to welcome Him on the glorious clouds.
Jesus appears in glory so we will not be deceived by Satan. Satan tempts Him with the grass to make us as the grass (flesh man who easily fades away and then being destroyed). But God shows us the food from the Heaven. God gives us the food of the gospel Word and the teaching Word, so we growin quantity and quality. We become priests and kings, and are well shepherded. We are chosenand given special task. God also equips us will special supply, that is a staff. There is the Spirit of glory behind the staff, that is the stretching out of God’s hands to help all of us and make miracle for us.
God blesses us.