Bible Study at Surabaya - Monday, January 29, 2007

We still confer around Colossians 4:17
17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."
The word “fulfill” has two meanings as follows:

• work with all our heart
• work with all faithfulness from beginning to the end

And here is the result.

2 Peter 1:10-11
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance (Indonesian: hak penuh = full entrance) will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The result is a full entrance into everlasting kingdom/New Jerusalem (verse 11). But we still must beware of stumbling block in ministry (verse 10). Previously we have learnt that there are three stumbling blocks:

1. disobedience
2. treasures of the earth / worldly gold and silver
3. sins of Babylon

Judas, for example, stumbled because of the lust of money, which is evil and unclean desire. A root of all kinds of evil is the lust of money, and evil desire always connects with unclean desire.

The following are practices of Judas:

1. Judas was a thief; there was a woman who anointed Jesus, but Judas disagreed.
   John 12:6
   6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
   If someone stumbles in money / evil and unclean desire, he must become a thief primarily of God’s possession, namely tithe and special offering.
   Judas was an apostle and servant of God, but he stumbled in evil and unclean desire and became a thief. Today the theft of God’s possession becomes so severe in church and the leading doers are pastors.
2. Judas was a betrayer; he sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
   Mark 3:19
   19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.
   The twelve apostles are mentioned one by one (verse 16) and Judas, who betrayed Jesus, is the last. Betrayal means being unfaithful and forsaking the service and ministry for seeking life needs in the world. It does not mean that we may not work to earn our fortune or pursue education, but lest we become a betrayer like Judas.
3. Judas was a liar
   At the feast, an apostle asked, “Lord, who is it (who will betray You)?” Jesus answered, "It is he who dips his hand in the dish”; but Judas did not confess.
   Matthew 26:23, 25
   23 He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
   25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
   Judas lied by saying, "Rabbi, is it I?" so Jesus could not help him.
   As long as we honestly confess to God, Jesus could help us -- no matter what we are, whether a betrayer or thief.

Judas stumbled and lost his office.

Acts 1:18, 20
18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’;and, ‘Let another take his office.’

Judas stumbled in evil and unclean desire and he became a thief, betrayer, and liar. As a consequence, another took his office and it means that he failed in the ministry and lost an entrance into everlasting kingdom/New Jerusalem. As we have known, the full entrance will be surely supplied to us if we fulfill the ministry.

Revelation 21:27
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

A liar may not enter into kingdom of heaven and so is he who loses his office like Judas. Therefore, we must pray to be able to minister God and hold the ministry as our last job. You may work or run any kind of business in the world, but you must promise God that ministering God is your last job
If a Christian becomes a thief, betrayer, and liar, he must lose his office and another will take it, since the kingdom of heaven may not be empty. For example, the song leader in heaven was formerly the angel Lucifer, son of the morning. After he fell and was cut down, however, Jesus the Bright and Morning Star takes his office. So was Judas; after forsaking and losing his office, Matthias took the office in order that the apostles remained twelve.

Acts 1:21
21 "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

In the Indonesian Bible, it is clearly mentioned “must” (must = may not be empty).
If we minister God, then forsake it and another takes our office, there will be no more chance for us to get it back.

Now the question is why God maintains the figure twelve. It is the mercy of God; if we fulfill the ministry (like the twelve disciples that may not be eliminated although only one of them), we will obtain a full entrance into heaven. God maintains the figure twelve as it is found a lot in New Jerusalem. That is to say, God intends to direct the ministry towards the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:12
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

The ministry of kingdom of heaven may not be empty; if someone intentionally lefts the service and ministry – no matter what the reason is, excluding mutation – like Judas who stumbled in ministry, another must take his office. As such, God maintains the number twelve so that His servants may have the full entrance into heaven. God has chosen us and He will keep us. Seeing that the number twelve is of New Jerusalem, He does not cheat so that we have full entrance into New Jerusalem because we do not stumble on the way like Judas.
The gate (verse 12) is a chance to enter New Jerusalem having a lot of figure twelve. We will learn only about the gate on which the names of twelve tribes of the children of Israel are written. It means the opportunity for Israelites/chosen people of God to enter into New Jerusalem and to become His Bride.
New Jerusalem = God’s Bride = heavenly kingdom

Flowing from that, how about the opportunity for Gentiles?
The Gentiles also get an opportunity to enter into New Jerusalem because of having gate too.

Revelation 21:21
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The gates are adorned with pearls. The word “pearl” is only written in New Testament, while the Old Testament simply describes stones. Pearl written in the New Testament refers to the Gentiles. Thus, the gates with pearls give a meaning that an opportunity is opened for the Gentiles to enter into New Jerusalem/to become the Bride of God.

Now we learn about pearl. Pearl is naturally formed from a grain of sand/dirt entering the shell and wounding the oyster. If the oyster is not wounded, the sand will not turn into pearl. After the oyster bleeds, pearl layers start to coat the sand until the sand becomes a pearl. This is how pearl is formed naturally/physically and let us take the spiritual meaning. Pearl symbolizes the Gentiles, the stones which are not written in the New Testament.
Pearl is a grain of sand/dirt proceeded inside the oyster. Thus, in actuality, you and I as the Gentiles although highly educated, earning high salary, and possessing abundant treasures, or on the contrary, uneducated and underprivileged, are simply a grain of sand/dirt. That is why the sand/dirt must enter the shell.

Who is the wounded oyster? It symbolizes Jesus who was crucified to death, mainly His pierced Side out of which blood and water comes particularly intended for the Gentiles. Actually Jesus had died on the cross with four wounds – two wounds at hands and two on feet – to redeem the Israelites breaking the law, while there was no part for the Gentiles. After Jesus died, however, a soldier came to see whether He had died or not, so that the soldier could break His leg to induce His death. However in fact, Jesus had died so His leg was not broken but His side was pierced and this wound was the fifth (the wounded oyster) and the deepest emitting blood and water. This fifth wound is intended for the Gentiles.

The Gentiles are grains of sand/dirt under the sea/in death/in the lower parts of the earth, but God wishes to make them pearls.

Ephesians 4:8-10
8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this, "He ascended" ––what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Jesus died on the cross = Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth/under the sea to find grains of sand/dirt and make them precious pearls. This is how Jesus struggled to make the Gentiles pearls. It would be great mercy for the Gentiles, who are actually grains of sand, but made pearls. If Jesus had not descended into the sea, we would have been under the sea all the time.

Just as the sand remains under the sea if it is not ascended into the oyster, the Gentiles who are captivated in sin/death will also not be saved if Jesus had not died on the cross. Just because Jesus had died on the cross, He could lift up and make us pearls.

Here is the process of spiritual pearl made:

1. John 19:33-34
   33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
   34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
   The fifth wound of which blood and water came out is intended for the Gentiles. We are simply grains of sand / dirt, which are worthless and accounted as nothing, but we could become pearl by accepting blood and water coming out of Jesus’ side, seeing that blood comes out of oyster too. The blood denotes repentance, stopping sinning and returning to God. Just because Jesus’ side was pierced, we could become pearl. So, we should walk in righteousness and not repeat sins.
   The water refers to baptism of water and baptism of the Holy Spirit. We must be buried with Jesus through baptism of water to be raised and walk in newness of life / in righteousness. After Jesus was baptized and came out from the water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and alighted upon Him, and so will we also be anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit if we truly repent and walk in righteousness. By the Holy Spirit, we will become obedient, crying out “Abba, Father” (Romans 8).
   Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth to lift up the Gentiles who go bound in captivity and in death. To escape from captivity, the Gentiles must repent, have baptism of water/walking in righteousness and baptism of the Holy Spirit/becoming obedient. The amazing grace has brought captives of sin to become the captives of the Holy Spirit. The captives of the Holy Spirit are those who obtain offices and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Soon after we are delivered from captivity of sin and go bound in Holy Spirit, God gives us gifts.
   The captives of sin are set free to go bound in the Holy Spirit.
   Ephesians 4:8-10
   8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
   9 (Now this, "He ascended" ––what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
   10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
   Further, the captives of the Holy Spirit are used in the ministry of the forming of the Body of Christ. How great the mercy is!
   Ephesians 4:11-12
   11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
   12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
   The Gentiles, who are simply grains of sand/dirt, should have perished owing to their wickedness and uncleanness, but they may enter the shell (Jesus had actually died with four wounds but He still remembered the Gentiles). We must repent and have the baptism of water and Holy Spirit, so that we go bound in spirit and are given the offices and gifts of the Holy Spirit to minister the forming of the Body of Christ. Without the office, we remain bound in sin. Thus, this is the first process of sand’s becoming a pearl: the sand is made to go bound in spirit / to minister God in the forming of the Body of Christ.
2. When an oyster bleeds and if the wound is very deep, blood will continuously flow and at one time, it will stop. What comes out next is water/fluid and after the water, the pearl layer will come out. Such is when we follow the bleeding of Jesus:
   1. We accept the water sign/baptism of water and the blood sign/baptism of the Holy Spirit, so we are obedient and become the servant of God.
   2. We still accept the next layer which I termed “sanctification layer” as the servant of God must walk in holiness.
   Just as a grain of sand is still sand if it is not coated, so are we if we are not sanctified after being made the ministers of God.
   Where can a priest/God’s servant undergo the process of sanctification like the process of layering in the body of oyster continuously?
   Leviticus 21:12
   12 ‘nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
   The anointing oil must become permanent.
   In order to be sanctified incessantly, we may not go out of the Holy Place/shepherding
   After entering the Court – repentance (the Altar of Burnt Offering), baptism of water (the Laver), and baptism of Holy Spirit (the Door), we must enter the shepherding / continue steadfastly in the three main services:
   1. the Golden Candlestick = patience in General
   2. the Table of Shewbread = patience in Bible Study
   3. the Golden Altar of Incense = patience in Pray and Worship Service.
   Every minister (including pastors) must be shepherded to undergo incessant and intensive sanctification, just as branches cling to the True Vine.
   What can sanctify us as branches cling to the True Vine?
   John 15:3
   3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
   “the word which I have spoken to you” = the word which is disclosed its mystery by God = a verse explains another verse = the teaching word in shepherding service system = the word which is sharper than any two-edged sword.
   The teaching word sanctifies our lives like launderer’s soap.
   The duty of a pastor is not only to preach the word of Gospel, but also preach the teaching word. Therefore, pastors should pray to be able to preach the teaching word and bring the Church and absolutely themselves – who are all like sand but have bound in spirit (through the word of Gospel) – to enter into shepherding/sanctification.
   Students of Lempin-El, you have learnt the teaching word and now you learn to preach it continuously in order. The late Rev. Pong said that he had been a pastor in Manado (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) for twenty years but the late Rev. In Juwono always advised him to learn shepherding, meaning to preach the word of God in shepherding system continuously in order. Such system will sanctify the Church as the layering process of a pearl that must be continuous. If the process of layering (the preaching of the word) is cut, there will be some parts of the grain that are not layered. If the layering (the preaching of the word) happens continuously, the process will be in order and the whole sand is covered well.
   Let us be shepherded now through being in the pen and undergoing the work of God’s word in shepherding system, which sanctifies us in the vineyard/ministry in Bride Tidings/building of Christ’s body continuously.
   What have to be sanctified?
   We remember about one working early in the morning and nearly evening. The last one worked one hour only but he got the same reward, i.e. one denarrius. Seeing that, the first murmured. We have to be sanctified from the sin about complaint, or else we cannot become pearl. Then the Lord said ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ Evil eye or envy happens in the vineyard. We must be careful about the sin of envy and complaint.
   Matthew 20:11-12, 15
   11 "And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner,
   12 "saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
   15 ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil (Indonesian: iri hati = envious) because I am good?’
   If we complain and keep envy, we remain bound in sin (still being as sand) and cannot become pearl.
   Matthew 21 also writes the parable of vinedressers whom the landowner leased his vineyard. The Owner then sent His servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. Yet, they even killed His servants. Last of all, He sent His Only Son to them, but they killed the Son as well. The Only Son represents Jesus Christ and the vinedressers were leaseholders.
   Students of Lempin-El, beware of this fact: many leaseholders work in the vineyard and they are actually pastors/ministers who work behind the cover of the Bride Tidings to seek worldly profit. Such must be stopped and sanctified for they are not the true pastors/ministers of God.
   In short, matters that need to be sanctified are complaint, envy, and leaseholders – those ministering God simply to seek physical things. One more thing that needs to be sanctified is the sin of Judas.
   John 15:3
   3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
   John 13:10-11
   10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
   11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."
   "You are not all clean" from the sins of Judas, that is, theft, betrayal, and lie. The last sanctification works to clean us from lying to present us spotless. As long as we still lie in pursuing education, making a friend, or running a business, we do not have sanctification layer yet. In such condition, we should pray that God sanctifies until there is no more lie and we become the perfect Bride of God, without spot and blemish.
   Revelation 14:1, 5
   1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty–four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
   5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
   Revelation 14 points to the Bride which core is Israelites.
   Thus, sanctification works to clean us from complaint, envy, physical interest, and the sins of Judas (theft, betrayal, and lie).
   Nowadays we must dwell in Holy Place; otherwise, we will spiritually die.
3. Becoming pearl
   In its original language, “pearl” is called “margaritha”, which means pure. So, after being sanctified, we need to be purified to become pearl.
   purification = sprinkling of blood
   Those things above are along with Tabernacle:
   1. entering the shell from which blood and water come out = entering the Court
   2. going bound in spirit and becoming the ministers of God = entering the Door
   3. being sanctified to be spotless = entering the Holy Place
   4. undergoing the sprinkling of blood = entering the Holiest Place
      The sprinkling of blood will not destroy us; even bring us to the glory (Shekinah Glory). It happened once a year that the high priest Aaron entered into the Holiest Place with blood and incense in his hands. Soon after he entered and sprinkled the blood twice, seven times in each time, there came up the glory (Shekinah Glory). Thus, if we wish to be glorious (becoming pearl), there is no other way except to experience sprinkling of blood/purification/suffering because of committing no sin.
   What does the glory mean?
   The glory cannot be valued such as huge church building (it does not mean that I do not want huge church building), for the true glory is the renewal of life from fleshly men to spiritual ones.
   2 Corinthians 4:16-17
   16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
   17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
   Afflictions will bring us to eternal glory.
   The renewal of life begins with being strong, not losing heart nor being disappointed in everything. If we often grumble and complain, become disappointed and desperate, we are not purified yet (there is no pearl layer, not even margaritha). In such condition, we need to repent for justification, sanctification, and renewal.
   On the contrary, we always become proud of something in the world. If we love to be proud of and disappointed with something in the world – money, for example – we live by money, not by the mercy of God. Very often we do not realize such.
   Only if we feel that we live by the mercy of God, we will never become disappointed or proud of something because we realize that everything comes from God. It also happens when we remember that we are simply a grain of dirty sand; if God does not grant His mercy, we will still be under the sea and go bound in death, also never come up in the service and ministry.
   By being strong (no disappointment or despair) and fully trusting in the mercy and grace of God, we will be transformed, even perfected as glorious as Jesus is at the time of His second coming.

Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

When Jesus comes the second time, we will be transformed as perfect as He is and the mercy of God will lift us up from the bottom of the sea / the lowest and filthiest pit to the highest place, that is, kingdom of peace for a thousand years. Then, we will enter into everlasting kingdom of heaven/New Jerusalem/the throne of the Lamb of God.

We are the Gentiles, sands, which cannot come up without the grace and mercy of God. Only the grace and mercy of God can settle our problems, which are as sands in the sea.

Students of Lempin-El, you do not know what will happen after you graduate. You live by the grace and mercy of God. We all come as we are now because of His grace and mercy too. Let us continue until we reach the last grace to lift us up highly when Jesus comes a second time. God bless you.