To coincide with Fasting Prayer Service
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.
We are still learning Revelation 3.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, Revelation 2-3refer to the seven blood sprinkles in front of the Ark of Covenant. They also refer to the seven lettersthat were sent to the seven churches of Gentiles, which refer to the last sanctificationto the seven churches of Gentiles(the churches at the end of time) to make them perfect, without blemish like Jesus and be the Bride of Heaven who is ready to welcome His second coming in the glorious cloud.
The seven churches of Gentiles who underwent the blood sprinkles are as follows.
We still learning the fifth church, the church of SARDIS.
Revelation 3:1-4
3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of Godand the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
3:2 Be watchful, and strengthenthe things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
We have learnt that Jesus took the form of 2 thingsto the church of Sardis, 'He who has the seven Spirits of God' and 'He who has the seven stars' (it has been explained since Prayer Service, January 21, 2015until General Service in Surabaya, January 25, 2015).
Jesus took the form of 'He who has the seven stars' and 'He who has the seven spirits of God', to make the church of Sardis experience a spiritual buildingand become spiritually strong(to receive an extra power from God), andWATCHFUL.
In verse 2 and 3, the church of Sardis has to be watchful on 2 thingsas follows.
Jude 1:11-12
1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
1:12 These are spotsin your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
There are 3 spots as follows.
We will study the spot of Korah, which is an increasing faithlessness as love is getting colder.
Numbers 16:11
16:11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complainagainst him?"
'are gathered together against the Lord' means being faithless.
The practice of being faithless is complaining about the services.
There are three places where complaining may happen. These are the places that we need to avoid.
To overcome the problem of Korah, the solutionis in Number 17:5-8.
17:5 And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaintsof the children of Israel, which they make against you."
17:6 So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaronwas among their rods.
17:7 And Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.
17:8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sproutedand put forth buds, had produced blossomsand yielded ripe almonds.
The solution is to use the rod of Aaron, which had sprouted and produced blossoms.
It means we have to minister in the anointment of the Holy Spiritso that we will not minister like Korah, a ministry of flesh who always complains).
A dead rod which could sprout, means there is an anointment of the Holy Spirit 'It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing'.
The process of a rod to have sprouts (to have the anointment of the Holy Spirit)is as follows.
The resultsare as follows.
Be careful with our mouth!
Starting from the Word, we should accept it so that we can be sanctified and we are worthy to welcome God's second coming. We will not face the judge.
In the ministry, we need the anointment of the Holy Spirit to sprout, bloom, and bear fruits until we are perfect.
We ask the Holy Spirit to help us to stop complaining.
Although we are a small rod, we mean nothing, but we will sprout, bloom, and bear fruits if the Holy Spirit helps us.
God blesses us.
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.
We are still learning Revelation 3.
In the arrangement of Tabernacle, Revelation 2-3refer to the seven blood sprinkles in front of the Ark of Covenant. They also refer to the seven lettersthat were sent to the seven churches of Gentiles, which refer to the last sanctificationto the seven churches of Gentiles(the churches at the end of time) to make them perfect, without blemish like Jesus and be the Bride of Heaven who is ready to welcome His second coming in the glorious cloud.
The seven churches of Gentiles who underwent the blood sprinkles are as follows.
- The church of EPHESUS(Revelation 2:1-7) (it has been explained since General Service, July 27, 2014until General Service in Surabaya, September 7, 2014). The church of Ephesus had to return to the initial loveto be able to get back to the paradise.
- The church of SMYRNA(Revelation 2:8-11) who experienced tribulations, but God said to them not to be afraid in the tribulations but be faithful until death(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, September 14, 2014until General Service in Surabaya, November 9, 2014).
- The church of PERGAMOS(Revelation 2:12-17) who has to leave the false teachings(it has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, November 17, 2014until General Service in Surabaya, December 28, 2014).
- The church of THYATIRA(Revelation 2:18-29) who have to experience the heart and mind purifying to the deepest mind(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, January 4, 2015until General Service in Surabaya, January 18, 2015).
- The church of SARDIS(Revelation 3:1-6), who experience a spiritual buildingand who is spiritually strong through being watchful(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, January 21, 2015).
We still learning the fifth church, the church of SARDIS.
Revelation 3:1-4
3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of Godand the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
3:2 Be watchful, and strengthenthe things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
We have learnt that Jesus took the form of 2 thingsto the church of Sardis, 'He who has the seven Spirits of God' and 'He who has the seven stars' (it has been explained since Prayer Service, January 21, 2015until General Service in Surabaya, January 25, 2015).
Jesus took the form of 'He who has the seven stars' and 'He who has the seven spirits of God', to make the church of Sardis experience a spiritual buildingand become spiritually strong(to receive an extra power from God), andWATCHFUL.
In verse 2 and 3, the church of Sardis has to be watchful on 2 thingsas follows.
- Verse 2 = 'for I have not found your worksperfect before God.'
The first thing to watch is the ministry, because their ministry was not perfect or acceptable to God, they were close to death, they had no more fire (it has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 2, 2015until Prayer Service in Surabaya, February 4, 2015). - Revelation 3:3
3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
The second thing to watch is about Jesus' second coming(it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, February 8, 2015) as follows.- Be watchful about the TIMEof Jesus' second coming which will be like a thief (no one knows it) (it has been explained since General Service in Surabaya, February 8, 2015).
- In verse 4 ('You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments'), we also need to be watchful about the WHITE GARMENTS, to keep it unblemished (it has been explained since Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 9, 2015).
Jude 1:11-12
1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
1:12 These are spotsin your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
There are 3 spots as follows.
- The spot of Cain.
- The spot of Balaam.
- The spot of Korah (faithlessness).
We will study the spot of Korah, which is an increasing faithlessness as love is getting colder.
Numbers 16:11
16:11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complainagainst him?"
'are gathered together against the Lord' means being faithless.
The practice of being faithless is complaining about the services.
There are three places where complaining may happen. These are the places that we need to avoid.
- John 6:60-62, 66
6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
6:61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
6:62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
6:66 From that time many of His disciples went backand walked with Him no more.
The first place to complain is because of rejecting the hard saying of Jesus.
Jesus' speech is a verse explaining other verses in the bible.
Rejecting Jesus' speech means rejecting the Word which is sharper than any two edged sword, or the sanctifying Word.
We should be grateful if we receive the sword.
The consequencesare as follows.- 'many of His disciples went back', means rejecting the Word and following the false teaching, although they are ministering in the church.
- In verse 62, Jesus had not gone to heaven yet. If the disciples could not accept the hard saying of Jesus, how could they watch Jesus ascended to the Heaven? The second consequence is not seeing Jesus who will come back for the second timeor being left.
We should accept the true Word to sanctify our lives to be as perfect as Jesus, so that we can welcome and see His second coming in the glorious cloud. We have to accept the strong Word, we have no other choice! - James 5:7-10
5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
5:10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
The second place to complain is grumbling in the middle of miseries, trials, or difficulties. If we complain in the middle of trials, we are facing the judge and ready to be punished.
We should always be grateful and worship God although we are in trials. We should confess our sins and forgive others, so that we face Jesus, the High Priest who will help us right in His time.
If we complain about the Word, we will also complain about the trials and ministry. - Numbers 16:8-11
16:8 Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi:
16:9 Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them;
16:10 and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthoodalso?
16:11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complainagainst him?"
The third place to complain is complaining about ministry. This is the ministry of flesh because we ask for our rights, the right to eat and drink, appreciations, positions, and many other things.
The ministry of flesh will never be satisfied. If we ask for our rights in the ministry, we will never be satisfied but always complain, starting from the marriage. If in the marriage we seek for our rights, we will complain. It also happens in the shepherding and fellowships.
A ministry of flesh is withoutlove and the anointment of the Holy Spirit.
Numbers 16:31-32
16:31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,
16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.
The consequenceis they fell down to the deepest part of the earth.
It means they have a deteriorating physical and spiritual life (they tell lies, and anything), their ministry falls, and they die forever and ever.
To overcome the problem of Korah, the solutionis in Number 17:5-8.
17:5 And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaintsof the children of Israel, which they make against you."
17:6 So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaronwas among their rods.
17:7 And Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.
17:8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sproutedand put forth buds, had produced blossomsand yielded ripe almonds.
The solution is to use the rod of Aaron, which had sprouted and produced blossoms.
It means we have to minister in the anointment of the Holy Spiritso that we will not minister like Korah, a ministry of flesh who always complains).
A dead rod which could sprout, means there is an anointment of the Holy Spirit 'It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing'.
The process of a rod to have sprouts (to have the anointment of the Holy Spirit)is as follows.
- We should have rods (the 12 tribes gathered the rods).
A rod refers to a wood which is taken away from the root (root means an evil root).
A wood refers to a sinful man.
In the anointment of the Holy Spirit, we have to be taken away from the root of sinsthrough repentance and water baptism.
Repentancemeans confessing sins to God and others, if we are forgiven, do not commit sins anymore, be dead from sins.
The true water baptismis when someone who has already been dead from sins (repented) is buried in the water and raised with Jesus to receive a new life, a life in righteousness. It means we are taken away from sins.
If we live in righteousness, we live in peace and we do not complain.
If we keep even a singleroot of sins, we will complain and we will not have a rod. - Moses put the rods in front of the Ark of the Covenant (in God's presence) all night long.
It means we have to be faithful in the ministry or in a long night prayer.
James 4:4
4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the worldis enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
If we are not faithful in the ministry, we are the friends of the world and are pulled by the world through the joy, richness, business, and difficulties of the world.
Many people do not minister when they have difficulties.
If we are pulled by the world, we are moving away from God until we become His enemy. We live in complaints and will be banished.
IF we are faithful in the ministry, God will cover us and we will give thanks and worship Him whatever happens to our lives. The small rod will sprout.
The resultsare as follows.
- We will sprout, we have lives and the anointment of the Holy Spirit
John 6:63
6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
'It is the Spirit who gives life' means if we have the Spirit, we will have a life.
If we have the anointment of the Holy Spirit, we will be obedient(we will say 'Abba, Father').
No matter how great our ministry is, withoutthe anointment of the Holy Spirit (without obedience), we have no hope, but become useless and dead.
Let's have the sprouts.
On the other hand, even though we are like a dead rod, if we repent and are reborn, faithful, and obedient, we who are dead can live.
We have a guarantee to live now in the middle of impossibilities, we have a beautiful future until a perfect life forever and ever. This is the power of the anointment of the Holy Spirit. - We will bloom, which are the talentsor miraculous abilitiesfrom the Holy Spirit so that we can do God's works according to the positions that He has entrusted to us. There is no reason to reject God's work. As long as we have the talent from the Holy Spirit, we can be used in the revival, the building of the perfect body of Christ, we get the beautiful robe. Our lives are beautiful and arranged well. The season of blossom is the most beautiful one. Anything which was in a mess is arranged.
- We will bear fruits; we will changefrom a carnal human to a spiritual one like Jesus. This is the greatest miracle; we bear fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
5:22 But the fruit of the Spiritis love(1), joy(2), peace(3), longsuffering(4), kindness(5), goodness(6), faithfulness(7),
5:23 gentleness(8), self-control(9). Against such there is no law.
If we have the fruits, God can enjoy them, we satisfy Him and others, starting from the family. We can enjoy ourselves, there will be no complaint anymore, but we will only give thanks and worship God.
This is the greatest miracle that we can have.
If we have the fruits of the Spirit, the physical miracles will happen too and the rod will bear fruits, the impossible things will be possible. If Jesus comes back, we will be changed as glorious as Him and we will be raised to the clouds, we will give thanks and worship 'Alleluia', there will be no more complaint.
Be careful with our mouth!
Starting from the Word, we should accept it so that we can be sanctified and we are worthy to welcome God's second coming. We will not face the judge.
In the ministry, we need the anointment of the Holy Spirit to sprout, bloom, and bear fruits until we are perfect.
We ask the Holy Spirit to help us to stop complaining.
Although we are a small rod, we mean nothing, but we will sprout, bloom, and bear fruits if the Holy Spirit helps us.
God blesses us.