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: 9-20
It is about the vision of John the apostle in Patmos Island.
Revelation 1: 9
1:9. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of Godand for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John the apostle was in Patmos Island and experienced flesh suffering, notbecause of doing sins, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Thus, he could experience three thingsas follows.
Tonight, we learn Revelation 1: 17-20.
Revelation 1: 17
1:17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
“when I saw Him” = seeing Jesus in glory.
“as dead” = the flesh does not sound anymore.
John the apostle could fall down before Jesus’ feet so there is no more fear (the flesh does not sound anymore).
Falling down before Jesus’ feet= worshiping Jesus.
Tonight we learn about FEAR.
In the last days, welcoming Jesus’ second coming, fear will attack this world and cause death.
After John the apostle fell down at Jesus’ feet (worshiped Him), there is no more fear ('Do not be afraid').
Luke 21: 25-27
21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distressof nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
21:26 men’s hearts failing them from fearand the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Welcoming His second coming, the earth, heaven, and sea will be shaken, so men are in fear (distress).
Shock in the earth, heaven, and sea= shock in every field (economy, et cetera), physical and spiritual shock. Total crisis will happen.
“men’s hearts failing them from fear” meansfear becomes the main killer(physically) of all men in this world, including the servants or children of God. Fear or distress also kills the soul and spirit.
Revelation 21: 8
21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Fear does not only cause physical death, but also spiritual death up to the second death (perdition in the hell forever).
John the apostle fell down before Jesus’ feet and was touched by the right hand of God. God said “Do not be afraid”, so there is no more fear. Thus, it is important for us to fall down before His feet!
Fear attacks men from era to era. There are three types of fearthat have happened and will happen again as follows.
The way out to face three types of fear iswe must fall down more before His feet, as experienced by John the apostle.
Falling down before His feet= worshiping Him more = seeing the countenance of God that illuminates the light of glory, so we experience life renewalfrom flesh man with fearto become spiritual one as Jesus withfear of Him.
The fear of the fleshis fear because of sinning, wind and wave, and seeing His second coming.
The fears that we are experiencing now (fear of the future, et cetera) must be renewed to become the fear of God.
The practices of having the fear of God are as follows.
Tonight, let us surrender all our fears to God and let us have the fear of God.
1 Peter 5: 5-6
5:5. Likewise you younger people, submityourselves to yourelders. Yes, all of yoube submissiveto one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
“humble” = obedient.
“submit” = “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God”.
Being obedient equals to being humble. Being against God equals to being proud.
Within the Tabernacle, there are three rooms that denote three types of obedience as follows.
A humble person will be able to become obedient according to the Tabernacle system.
The position of an obedient one (being humble) is within the embrace of the strong right hand of God.
When we are afraid, that is the proof that we are outside the right hand of God. Let us fall down before His feet more, so we are renewed to have the fear of God until we can be obedient and return to the strong right hand of God.
If we are within the strong right hand of God, the resultsare as follows.
Psalm 118: 15-16
118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Isin the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
118:16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
It is our preparation. It is the most terrible fear. The first fear has happened in Garden Eden and it lasts until now. Richness cannot guarantee happiness.
Tonight let us return to the hand of God. Let us be sanctified and renewed until we are as perfect as Him.
It is started with having the fear of God. We are sanctified continually until we are honest and faithful, until we are as glorious as Him at His second coming. We are as perfect as Him and become the bride of Heaven. We are not afraid anymore, but we are readyto welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds. We are glad and rejoice to be together with Him forever.
Revelation 19: 6-7
19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
We are sanctified and renewed little by little until we are as perfect as Him, that is not stumbling in word anymore, but only saying “Alleluia” to welcome His second coming.
“for the marriage of the Lamb has come”= He is the bridegroom and we are the bride. We are readyto welcome His second coming in glory as King of kings and Heavenly bridegroom on the glorious clouds.
While the others experience fear and downfall, we only rejoice with the saying “Alleluia”. We are together with Him and we are glad forever (there is no more tear).
Let us surrender all our fears until we have the fear of God. We become obedient and are within the hand of God. Being obedient (being humble) means we stretch out our hands to God and He will hold us with His right hand.
God blesses us.
Revelation 1: 9-20
It is about the vision of John the apostle in Patmos Island.
Revelation 1: 9
1:9. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of Godand for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John the apostle was in Patmos Island and experienced flesh suffering, notbecause of doing sins, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Thus, he could experience three thingsas follows.
- Revelation 1: 9
He experienced flesh suffering because of Jesus(the sprinkling of blood), so he could enter the true fellowship with God and the others (It has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, December 09, 2013).
The true fellowship with the others is the true fellowship of the body of Christ (because there is false fellowship). Fellowship with God is the fellowship of the body and the Head forever. - Revelation 1: 10-16
John the apostle could hear and see the sound of the trumpet that becomes two real manifestations as follows.- Seven golden candlesticks = the perfect church of God (It has been explained since Christmas Service in Surabaya, December 23, 2013).
- verse 13-16= Jesus in glory as the High Priest, King of all kings, Just Judge, and Heavenly bridegroom (It has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 03, 2014).
- Seven golden candlesticks = the perfect church of God (It has been explained since Christmas Service in Surabaya, December 23, 2013).
- Revelation 1: 17-20, John the apostle could fall down before Jesus’ feet, so there is no more fear.
Tonight, we learn Revelation 1: 17-20.
Revelation 1: 17
1:17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
“when I saw Him” = seeing Jesus in glory.
“as dead” = the flesh does not sound anymore.
John the apostle could fall down before Jesus’ feet so there is no more fear (the flesh does not sound anymore).
Falling down before Jesus’ feet= worshiping Jesus.
Tonight we learn about FEAR.
In the last days, welcoming Jesus’ second coming, fear will attack this world and cause death.
After John the apostle fell down at Jesus’ feet (worshiped Him), there is no more fear ('Do not be afraid').
Luke 21: 25-27
21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distressof nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
21:26 men’s hearts failing them from fearand the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Welcoming His second coming, the earth, heaven, and sea will be shaken, so men are in fear (distress).
Shock in the earth, heaven, and sea= shock in every field (economy, et cetera), physical and spiritual shock. Total crisis will happen.
“men’s hearts failing them from fear” meansfear becomes the main killer(physically) of all men in this world, including the servants or children of God. Fear or distress also kills the soul and spirit.
Revelation 21: 8
21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Fear does not only cause physical death, but also spiritual death up to the second death (perdition in the hell forever).
John the apostle fell down before Jesus’ feet and was touched by the right hand of God. God said “Do not be afraid”, so there is no more fear. Thus, it is important for us to fall down before His feet!
Fear attacks men from era to era. There are three types of fearthat have happened and will happen again as follows.
- Genesis 3: 9-10
3:9. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where areyou?”
3:10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
= Fear in the beginning or the days of Father God (fear that happened in the Garden Eden).
The first fear is fear because of being naked =fear because of doing sin =being disobedient to the Word of God.
At that time, God commanded Adam and Eve “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat”. At the end, Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It means being disobedientto the Word of God.
Fear because of doing sins happened in Garden Eden. Garden Edenrepresents the ambience of abundance. Now it refers to richness, having good position, smartness, et cetera.
“Adam and Eve was in the Garden Eden, but they still could be afraid”. We can learn from this that richness, position, smartness, et ceteracannot guaranteethe happiness of men in this world. Being afraidmeans being unhappy and worried.
No matter how great a man in this world is, if he does sin(being disobedient to the Word of God), he will be afraid, unhappy, and experience suffering in the world. Adam and Eve were thrown to the world and they experienced the cursed ambience (living in great difficulty and tears). They were unhappy and lived in suffering.
Thus, obedience decides our happiness in this world!
If we are obedient (not doing sin) and live in righteousness, we will experience Heavenly joy with God.
If there is preserved sin, we will be unhappy.
Let us ask God so we can be obedient and not break His command (we live in righteousness). - Matthew 14: 30-32
14:30 But when he saw that the wind wasboisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out Hishand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
14:32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
= Fear in the middle or the days of the Son of God (fear in facing wind and wave).
The boat of the disciples was blown by wind and wave. Jesus came and walked on the sea, but they did not recoqnize Him. Peter said to God “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And God said “Come”. Peter could walk on the sea. But when the wind was boisterous, Peter was afraid and began to sink. Fortunately he stiil could cry out “Lord save me”, so he could be saved by God.
The second fear is fear in facing wind and wave in the middle of this world as the sea.
It meansfear because of facing difficulties in daily life and future, so one doubtsGod (the true teaching Word) and His power.
After being doubtful, many questions will arise (not focusing on God). For examples are: How will it be? Who will help? Why is it like this?
When many questions arise (including about the teaching Word), it is a sign that that life is in fear and doubt. When many questions arise(life is not in certainty anymore), problems (tears) will appear. For examplePeter could walk on the sea although there was great wind and wave. Peter walked because there was certainty. But after he was afraid and doubtful, he began to sink.
Be careful!When many questions arise, problems will come and one will begin to sink.
Sinking means the spiritual life goes down until being dry even dead spiritually.
The signs when the spiritual life is going down are as follows.- There is no more passion (faithfulness and fervency in spirit) to minister God and to worship Him.
- There is no more passion for spiritual matters.
Peter is a senior servant of God and a great disciple. He could walk on the sea but he sinked because he was afraid. Therefore, we must be careful in facing fear!
John the apostle was grateful. Although he experienced flesh suffering because he was exiled to Patmos Island, but he could fall down before Jesus’ feet. Thus, God laid His right hand on him and said 'Do not be afraid'. All fears vanish. If he had not been exiled to Patmos Island, he would have not fallen down. - There is no more passion (faithfulness and fervency in spirit) to minister God and to worship Him.
- Revelation 6: 15-17
6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hidthemselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
6:16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
6:17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
= Fear in the last days or the days of Holy Spirit God, that is the most terrible fear.
“hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb" =it refers to Jesus’ second coming as the King of kings and Heavenly bridegroom, as well as the Just Judge who will punish the world.
The third fear is fear to see Jesus in gloryas the High Priest, King of kings, Just Judge, and Heavenly bridegroom on His second coming.
In Patmos Island, John the apostle saw Jesus in glory as the High Priest, King of kings, Just Judge, and Heavenly bridegroom. Thus, he had experience of seeing Jesus in glory. When one has no experience of seeing Jesus in glory, he will be afraid when He comes a second time.
If we are afraid to see Jesus in glory when He comes a second time, we will be left in this world.We will not be lifted up to the glorious clouds, but being destroyed together with the world by His wrath, up to the perdition in the hell forever. It is the most terrible fear.
Actually the aim of Jesus’ second coming is to lift us up together with Him.
God’s judgment to this world is the doomsday. We work hard in a legal way to get richness in this world. We study hard to get the diploma. Those all are not forbidden. But we must REMEMBERthat all richness, smartness, greatness in this world are in vainif we are left at Jesus’ second coming.
The way out to face three types of fear iswe must fall down more before His feet, as experienced by John the apostle.
Falling down before His feet= worshiping Him more = seeing the countenance of God that illuminates the light of glory, so we experience life renewalfrom flesh man with fearto become spiritual one as Jesus withfear of Him.
The fear of the fleshis fear because of sinning, wind and wave, and seeing His second coming.
The fears that we are experiencing now (fear of the future, et cetera) must be renewed to become the fear of God.
The practices of having the fear of God are as follows.
- Proverbs 8: 13
8:13 The fear of the Lord isto hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouthI hate.
The first practice is hating sins up to hating lies.
If we do sins, it means we have no fear of God, even we are against God. The exampleis Adam and Eve ate one forbidden fruit. Actually God’s command was not difficult, because it is written “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat”. If it is reversed “Of every tree of the garden you shall not eat;but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may eat”, it will be difficult. It means they did sins and were against God intentionally.
Lying is also against God(having no fear of God). In the book of Isaiah, usually we hide ourselves in lies. For exampleis one lies after stealing something. It seems that the problem is finished because none can touch him(nobody knows). Actually he also cannot be touched by God, but only by Satan.
Thus, if we are against God(we do sins intentionally and lies), we are outside God’s hands and being within the hands of Satan. - Joshua 24: 14
24:14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!
The second practice is serving God in sincerity and truth.
“sincerity” means in righteousness, not being forced and not forcing the others. If we serve God in sincerity, there will be joy and willingness.
If there is chance to minister God, but we serve Him without faithfulnessor we are forced to come, it means we have no fear of God (being against God). - The third practice is being obedient to God whatever the risk we must face. It equals to being obedient to Him until the flesh does not sound anymore.
To be obedient to God, we must be willing to pay the price.
The examples of lives who were willingand unwillingto pay the price are as follows.- Abraham obeyedGod’s command to slaughter his son. Abraham was willing to pay the price to obey God. If he was disobedient, he will pay higher price. But since he was willing to pay the price by sacrificing Isaac, God was responsiblefor him. Isaac was not slaughtered, but he was replaced with a ram. The temple of God was also built at that place. Now it meanswe are used in the building of the body of Christ.
- Saul. Samuel promised to come and burn the offering in the seventh day. Before Samuel came, enemies had come and the Isrealites had scattered and left Saul. Saul was afraid and because Samuel did not come, he was disobedient. He burnt the offering for God that actually should be done by Samuel. Saul did not want to pay the price and he was disobedient. The consequencewas Saul had to pay higher price and he was rejected as king by God.
Let us also be obedient in everything and God will be responsible for us. - Abraham obeyedGod’s command to slaughter his son. Abraham was willing to pay the price to obey God. If he was disobedient, he will pay higher price. But since he was willing to pay the price by sacrificing Isaac, God was responsiblefor him. Isaac was not slaughtered, but he was replaced with a ram. The temple of God was also built at that place. Now it meanswe are used in the building of the body of Christ.
Tonight, let us surrender all our fears to God and let us have the fear of God.
1 Peter 5: 5-6
5:5. Likewise you younger people, submityourselves to yourelders. Yes, all of yoube submissiveto one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
“humble” = obedient.
“submit” = “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God”.
Being obedient equals to being humble. Being against God equals to being proud.
Within the Tabernacle, there are three rooms that denote three types of obedience as follows.
- The Court= obedience to physical parents.
- The Holy Place= obedience to spiritual parents (pastor).
- The Most Holy Place= obedience to Heavenly parents or God (the true teaching Word).
A humble person will be able to become obedient according to the Tabernacle system.
The position of an obedient one (being humble) is within the embrace of the strong right hand of God.
When we are afraid, that is the proof that we are outside the right hand of God. Let us fall down before His feet more, so we are renewed to have the fear of God until we can be obedient and return to the strong right hand of God.
If we are within the strong right hand of God, the resultsare as follows.
Psalm 118: 15-16
118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Isin the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
118:16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
- The right hand of God does valiantly. It means as follows.
- The right hand of God is able to care our physical lifein the middle of difficulties in this world (shocks and crisis), until the days of antichrist.
- The right hand of God is able to care our spiritual life, so we are in peace and calm (we are not afraid) in the middle of shocks in this world.
Tonight let us detect ourselves, whether we are within the strong right hand of God or not.If we have peace in facing everything (there is no panic or fear), it means we are within the right hand of God.
When there is peace, everything will be easy and light. - The right hand of God can beat the enemies= the right hand of God is able to solve all problems in His time.
If we are let experience suffering because of Jesus as John the apostles was, we must fall down before Jesus’ feet more, until “as dead”. Do not grumble and demand for something. - The right hand of God is able to care our physical lifein the middle of difficulties in this world (shocks and crisis), until the days of antichrist.
- The right hand of God exalts usin His time.
It means as follows.- The right hand of God exalts us from failures and downfall,so everything will be successful and beautiful in His time.
“in His time” means the right hand of God works and we just wait. We may struggle but it must be added with falling down before Jesus’ feet more. The right hand of God will decide everything. - The right hand of God is able to use our lifein the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain (the revival of the building of the perfect body of Christ).
If we want to be used actively in the building of the body of Christ, it is one of the proofs that we are within the right hand of God.
There are only two types of the building of the body as follows.- The building of the perfect body of Christ (the Heavenly bride) who is ready to welcome His second coming.
If one rejects this, he will be used in the second type. - The building of Babylon, that is perfection in evil and uncleanness. She is the bride of Satan who will be destroyed.
- The building of the perfect body of Christ (the Heavenly bride) who is ready to welcome His second coming.
- The right hand of God is able to sanctify and renew usuntil we are as perfect as Him.
- The right hand of God exalts us from failures and downfall,so everything will be successful and beautiful in His time.
It is our preparation. It is the most terrible fear. The first fear has happened in Garden Eden and it lasts until now. Richness cannot guarantee happiness.
Tonight let us return to the hand of God. Let us be sanctified and renewed until we are as perfect as Him.
It is started with having the fear of God. We are sanctified continually until we are honest and faithful, until we are as glorious as Him at His second coming. We are as perfect as Him and become the bride of Heaven. We are not afraid anymore, but we are readyto welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds. We are glad and rejoice to be together with Him forever.
Revelation 19: 6-7
19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
We are sanctified and renewed little by little until we are as perfect as Him, that is not stumbling in word anymore, but only saying “Alleluia” to welcome His second coming.
“for the marriage of the Lamb has come”= He is the bridegroom and we are the bride. We are readyto welcome His second coming in glory as King of kings and Heavenly bridegroom on the glorious clouds.
While the others experience fear and downfall, we only rejoice with the saying “Alleluia”. We are together with Him and we are glad forever (there is no more tear).
Let us surrender all our fears until we have the fear of God. We become obedient and are within the hand of God. Being obedient (being humble) means we stretch out our hands to God and He will hold us with His right hand.
God blesses us.