Public Service at Surabaya - Sunday, February 11, 2007

Today we confer around the last verse which was part of Paul’s struggles.

Colossians 4:18
18 This salutation by my own hand––Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

This is the last struggle of Paul – struggle in preaching the word of God.
Paul was challenged with two difficulties in preaching the word of God:

1. His hand was bit by a viper in order that he could not write the word of God (Please check the word on February 05, 2007).
2. His feet were bound in order that he could not walk to preach the word.

Acts 16:24
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Paul had suffered by those two troubles; meaning that we should undergo sufferings in preaching the word.

There are two bonds or sufferings as follows:

1. Ecclesiastes 7:26
   26 And I find more bitter than death The woman whose heart is snares and nets, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her.
   Negative bond: the woman of Babylon with fetters, that is, bonds of sin.
   Bonds of sin are not passive, but continuously grow to the top, which is sin of Babylon – sexual sins and eating drinking. These bonds of sin chain men and sons of God and lead their life to sufferings. The world deceives by saying that committing sin is a party, such as sex party and narcotics party. The world says that living in sin is a party, but actually it is a suffering.
   In Peter, it is called blow that someone has to suffer because of committing sin.
   1 Peter 2:20
   20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
   Do you remember what Bible writes about a certain man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho? The man was plundered and wounded. Such a man symbolizes a sinner; he is beaten/plundered by Satan until he sometime perishes. Seeing that, we should not disregard bonds of sin; or else, they will grow and become sin of Babylon. Although people say that it is a little sin, we should not let it bind and grow.
2. 2 Timothy 2:9
   9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
   Positive bond: bonds because of the word of God
   Previously we have conferred about Paul in his preaching the word of God; he preached the word of gospel to increase the quantity and the gospel of the glory of Christ to elevate the quality.

There provides two bonds and we just need to choose: bonds of sin or bonds due to the word of God. An example of bonds due to the word of God is: we have to go to church although it rains. Peter termed the second bond as “suffering because of the will of God”.

1 Peter 2:19
19 For this is commendable (Indonesian: kasih karunia grace), if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

Suffering through the word of God is not a blow, but grace. Both are bonds, but each has its own result; bond of sin is a suffering that beats and wounds us until we faint and die, but suffering through the word of God - especially teaching word - is grace, not a blow. Comparing with Acts 5: as sinful men, we are actually not worthy to suffer for God and we are fit to suffer a blow (since we are sinful men). Yet, apostles praised the Lord for they were counted worthy to suffer through the will/the word of God.

Acts 5:41-42
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Reading verse 41, it is clear that we are actually not worthy to suffer for the word of God, especially teaching word. What is fitting for us is suffering because of sin and that comes upon ourselves blow and death. Nevertheless, praise the Lord because He counts us worthy to suffer not as blow but grace and joy like Peter and other apostles departed from the presence of the council with a joy. Once again, sinful men are not worthy to suffer because of Jesus due to Jesus does not commit any sin. How can sinful men suffer for one who does not commit any sin? It cannot be so. If we are counted worthy to suffer for the word of God, it is really a joy. Let us do it seriously, not because of necessity preaching or hearing the word. Not even be doubt because Paul said “Remember my chains.” We are in ministry encouraged by teaching word with the sufferings/chains as the sign. It is not a blow but grace that is more than anything.

Below is the significance of the grace of God:

• To save sinful men
  Titus 2:11
  11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
  Romans 3:23
  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  All men, whoever they are, have sinned/naked and fall short of the glory of God, for example, Adam and Eve. Such men must be cursed and destroyed as the wages of sin is death. How can we avoid God’s judgment? For only those with His grace are saved.
  Romans 3:24
  24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
  being justified = being saved
  The grace of God is as precious as redemption by the blood of Jesus/Sacrifice of Christ. Thus, only by the grace of God we will be saved. If we are not willing to suffer because of God, we will neither receive His grace nor find salvation. Therefore, now we should give ourselves to suffer for Jesus, being bound for the word of God, to find our salvation.
  To be saved by the grace of God, we have to confess sin to God and others, and not do it over again after being forgiven. There is no other except this way to be saved/justified. The grace saves men from judgment, and it has happened in the days of Noah. God commanded him to make an ark. It was indeed a suffering because there was neither rain nor wind even he might be despised for he made an ark on a mountain. Noah suffered because God’s will but there is grace for him.
  That is an example of suffering through the will of God.
  Genesis 6:5-8
  5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
  6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
  7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
  8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
  It was not the rich or the intellect, but those finding grace of the Lord were delivered from His judgment. This was a reality; we can see how God had saved Noah and his family as Noah had found His grace – and it happened not because Noah was an intellect or a rich man. God is always to begin with His grace; He does not work by giving money. Like Noah and his family, we will be also saved from upcoming judgment, that is, fire destroying the world and fire of hell provided we find grace in His eyes. For that reason, we must keep on holding grace of the Lord even though we must go through sufferings.
  Hopefully, what had happened in the days of Noah can make us certain, for it is not a fiction, but fact that the world has ever been punished. Only by the grace of the Lord, not dollar or other things, Noah and his family had been saved. Likewise is today at the end of the age; the world will be destroyed with fire coming down from heaven and only those finding the grace of the Lord will be saved, even from fire of hell.
  The practices of being justified / finding the grace of the Lord are as follows:
  Titus 2:12
  12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
  1. forsaking sins / walking in righteousness / departing from sins.
     Soon after we commit a sin, the grace departs from us. Therefore, we may not play with sin as although it is regarded small sin, it will bind and draw us to sin of Babylon. If we really have been saved from the fire that will destroy the world, the practice must be real, that is, we walk in righteousness and depart from sins.
  2. living soberly or wisely / obeying the word of God (Matthew 7 – a wise man built his house on the rock). Such man will be saved.
  3. living righteously or impartially
  4. living godly / serving and ministering God in the present age.
     Both service and ministry cannot be separated.
  Living godly in the present age guides us to godliness in the throne of God.
  Revelation 22:3
  3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
  Thus, godliness in this world is an exercise or adaptation for the coming godliness in the throne of God. If we today have no delight or faithfulness to a form of godliness because it takes too much time, how will we serve God in heaven day and night? We are therefore being trained in the three main services until we will someday continue daily in church (Acts 2:46). It goes forward: from the three main services to each day in the temple of God, even to day and night in heaven to worship God.
  That is about those finding grace of the Lord; they will be saved from God’s judgment and from fire of hell.
• 1 Peter 1:13-16
  13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
  14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
  15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
  16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
  To sanctify us until we become as holy as Jesus is, without spot and blemish.
  In the first part, we find the grace of the Lord to be saved through walking in righteousness, obeying the word of God, living righteously and serving and ministering God n three main serving until sometime serving in the temple of God day and night. Now we will see the second part that we find the grace of the Lord to sanctify us until we become as holy and perfect as Jesus is, without spot and blemish.
  Who sanctifies us? The Trinity of God does; He sanctifies our body, soul, and spirit. This is fit with our service in Holy Place to the Trinity of Lord as follows:
  1. General Service (pointing to Golden Candlestick) in which we serve and have fellowship with Holy Spirit God with the gifts and anointing.
  2. Bible Study Service (referring to Table of Shewbread) in which we have fellowship with Son of God with teaching word and Holy Communion.
  3. Prayer Service (Golden Altar of Incense) in which we have fellowship with Father God in His love.
  It can be seen obviously that in shepherding service system we serve the Trinity of the Lord. Why? Because the Lord, the One who has three parts, i.e. Father God, Son of God, and Holy Spirit God, and we also have three pats, namely body, soul, and spirit. It is fit. We must serve Him seriously with our body, soul, and spirit, not one third only.
  † The Son of God sanctifies us through the word and Holy Communion (Table of Shewbread)
  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” refers to the word disclosed its mystery / the teaching word (a verse explains another verse).
  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."
  The Son of God sanctifies us primarily from the sin of Judas:
  • stealing God’s possession namely tithe and special offering (Judas desired for evil lust, which is money).
  • betraying Jesus = being unfaithful to the service and ministry.
    When Jesus called/chose the twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot was mentioned the last and written: “who betrayed Him”.
    Unfaithfulness always goes along with evilness; meaning that if someone becomes unfaithful, he must become evil, and so does the contrary. In Matthew 25, the servant with one talent was called wicked and lazy. That is the sin of Judas; the wicked/thief must become unfaithful/lazy.
  Matthew 25:25-26, 30
  25 ‘And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
  26 "But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
  30 ‘And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
  A wicked and lazy servant is unprofitable though he is a great man. God does not see man’s greatness, but his faithfulness, and such is profitable.
  Evilness and faithfulness must be sanctified that we become good and faithful servant.
  Matthew 25:21
  21 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
  Goodness and faithfulness cover all of our weaknesses and imperfections, so that we may be made ruler over many things. It is not certain that a great preacher will be made ruler over many things, but good and faithful servant surely will.
  Besides, by goodness and faithfulness we receive the joy of God/heavenly joy that nothing can change. Although there is no much money, we still could be joyful by our goodness and faithfulness. On the other hand, a betrayer and thief although with much money will not be joyful, even always be in tears. Such a man suffers weeping and gnashing of teeth. That’s why, we need to be sanctified by the Son of God through Bible Study Service and Holy Communion.
  † Holy Spirit God sanctifies us in General Service (Golden Candlestick)
  1 Peter 1:2
  2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
  Holy Spirit sanctifies us to be obedient and faithful – even if we have to go through suffering like Jesus becoming obedient to death. It happens many times that our flesh wills ‘A’ but, God ‘B’. Both are incompatible. Thus, we need to be sanctified by Holy Spirit God to become obedient despite against our will.
  † Father God sanctifies us through worship (Golden Altar of Incense)
  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
  23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
  Father God with His love sanctifies our body, soul, and spirit to perfection, without spot and blemish. It is necessary to have intensive service in the three main services for intensive sanctification of the Trinity of God.
  Not only sanctifying, God also cares for our lives. Sanctification runs together with attention/care (“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” and “You are already clean”); meaning that if we are sanctified, God must care our lives. The more we are sanctified, the more God’s attention is manifest.
  As written in Exodus 16 about manna coming down from heaven, I always teach and remind the students of Lempin-El that the main need of a pastor is not bread or money, but sanctification by which the Father will concern with our daily needs for He is the faithful God who will keep His promise. Thus, nowadays we should serve God in the same way as Jacob did and should not take an interest in Esau’s system.
• 1 Peter 5:10
  10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
  By our suffering through the word of God, the grace of God is working to:
  1. perfect/make us without spot as glorious as Jesus is
  2. establish, strengthen, and settle us = make us strong and courageous
  Here is to sum up the significance of the grace of God:
  • The grace of God is much more value than money as it can save us. In what thing is our salvation manifest? Only if we walk in righteousness and serve and minister God under shepherding system. Today we continue steadfastly in the three main services, but someday it will be every day, even day and night in heaven.
    Acts 2:42, 46
    42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
    46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
  • The grace of God (Trinity of God) sanctifies and attends our body, soul, and spirit. as long as we walk in holiness, there must be a way for God to care our lives – no matter whether we have certificate or not, we have business or not. He can care us miraculously like what Israelites have experienced. They cannot sow and reap but He gave them manna from heaven.
  The grace of God is to:
  1. perfect/make us as glorious as Jesus is
  2. make us strong and courageous
     It is nothing without being strong and of good courage – even though we have been going forward perfection.

Now let us check the first part: the grace of God perfects/makes us as glorious as Jesus is.
Suffering due to the word of God/Jesus/bond is like what a woman has in delivering her baby.

John 16:21
21 "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Thus, the bond/suffering due to the word of God/Jesus is not never-ending suffering. Instead, it is like the suffering in giving birth; a woman has to suffer for nine months and ten days in her pregnancy, also for about one hour or more in giving birth but she will forget all her sufferings after the baby is born. Paul called it the laboring in birth.

Galatians 4:19
19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

Our suffering is as a mother labor in birth so that Christ is formed in us. Meaning we are reborn/renewed from fleshly men to spiritual men as glorious as Jesus is, because God lets us suffer in flesh as the mother’s giving birth so that a baby is born and Christ is formed in us. Thus, according to John, our suffering is as a mother’s giving birth and in Galatians, “I labor in birth until Christ is formed in you” means a process of renewal of life. We cannot change without suffering/cross. It is like Jesus who would not have been glorious ascending to heaven but remaining in flesh needing food if He had no suffering/cross. Soon after He died on the cross, He rose in a glorious Body. If we are willing to suffer in flesh because of Christ/the word/the will of God, we will have renewal of life from fleshly men to spiritual men until we become as glorious as Jesus when He comes a second time.
Have we been renewed? As long as a baby is not born yet, the mother continuously feels painful, but soon after the baby is born, the suffering is over. Students of Lempin-El, you do have the same thing: as long as you are not renewed, you will remain in pain and it is your own fault. If God permits us to suffer and we are not willing to be renewed, for example, we are slandered and repay the slanderer with slander as well, we will persistently be slandered. Only if we remain peaceful (not repaying slander with slander), and it means that the baby were born, the suffering is over.

Let the baby born; meaning that we should give ourselves for the renewal of life, which begins with mouth. What excellence does a baby have that God praises him? God shows the mouth of babes and mouth determines whether our future will be good or not.

Matthew 21:16
16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?"

The mouth of babes delights these two things:

1. Drinking milk / eating the word of God.
   A baby must desire the pure milk of the word (the teaching word) more than anything (1 Peter 2). Thus, we are renewed to be like babes desiring milk. The pure milk comes from mother’s breast. The spiritual one is the word of God preached by pastor (mother). It refers to shepherding word. If a baby cries because he is hungry and his parent gives him ignition key to a very expensive car, he will still cry, for what he needs is milk, not key to a car.
2. Praising God “You have perfected praise’”.
   Mouth only can praise and worship God, not lying or talking gossip.
   If our mouth lies and talks gossip only, we will persistently suffer because the baby is not born yet. The baby cannot be born through Cesarean as a short cut. Jesus did not take the short cut but he had to be crucified. Do we want to suffer persistently? We will suffer persistently before we long the shepherding word because the baby is not born yet. Paul labored in birth because the Church was not willing to receive shepherding word. Not receiving it because of being boring/sleepy due to it takes too much time, the mouth will say vain words, slander, and lie.

Good mouth brings us to good future.

1 Peter 3:10
10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

Keep our mouth for our bright future! If pastors desire good ministry and young men good future, you should keep your mouth!
For example, my eldest brother did not drink milk from mother’s breast but canned milk when he was a babe. Some day we ran of the stock of the canned milk he usually drank because we lived in a village. Accordingly, he had to drink other milk and he was going to die because the other milk was not suitable for him. Therefore, we must hold only one teaching word. Many say “We will be boring if only pastor preaching the word.” You may choose whether you become boring and die or not. Do not be boring, or else you will die.

The purest milk comes from mother’s breast, referring to pastor. You may see when the pastor is preaching about marriage, whether his marriage is true or not. See when he is preaching about tithe, whether he gives the tithe back to God properly or not. You should see it so that you can be sure of the purity of the word. Shepherding word is also the purest word because it is preached in order. If it is not in order, a danger will happen because a pastor can preach the word according to his own will. For example, he got a phone call telling that A has ears like this or like that and the next day the pastors the word about ears. It can be seen easily that the word comes from his own will, not from God, because there will be no connection with ears if the word is preached in order.

In short, the grace of God makes us:

1. as glorious as Jesus is. It begins with mouth; taking the pure word/shepherding word into our lives and mouthing praises and worship unto God, not idle words until we become perfect when Jesus comes a second time.
2. strong and courageous (1 Peter 5:10 “perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you”)
   We must be renewed; or else, we cannot go into heaven for we remain fleshly men. In the same way, if we are not strong and courageous, we cannot wait on Jesus’ second coming.

Now we confer about being strong and courageous.

Psalms 27:14
14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Why do we have to be strong and courageous? To know the answer, let us learn from Joshua. Before entering into Canaan (symbolizing the revival of Holy Spirit at the end of the age / the second coming of Jesus Christ), the Lord had four times reminded Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 18
6 "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
18 "Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage."

To enter Canaan/welcome Jesus’ second coming/the revival of Holy Spirit at the end of age, God commands us to be strong and courageous and why is it said four times? For we are encountering heresies.

In the New Testament, Jesus advised His disciples to beware of heresies.

Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

This is Sermon about the End of the Age. As written in verse 23, many will say “Look, here is the Christ!” or “Look, the Lord is present! It’s so amazing.” We should beware of such; lest we be deceived!

According to the late Rev. Totaijs, the elect are those who have accepted the teaching word/Bride Tidings. Such people may be deceived.
“Be strong and of good courage” is mentioned four times; meaning:

• Offenses hit the four corners of the earth.
• We must hold fast to the only true teaching word and must not be moved by heresies.
• True worship

The true teaching results in true worship, and just the opposite.

Revelation 19:1, 3-4, 6
1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!
3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"
4 And the twenty–four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"
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!

Heaven sounds off ‘Alleluia’ and so should the earth. ‘Alleluia’ is mentioned four times; indicating the true worship.
Thus, four times of “be strong and of good courage”:

• That we are not moved by heresies coming upon the four corners of the earth.
• That we are able to reject heresies and hold the only true teaching encouraging us to worship God rightly (Alleluia). The true worship, which is encouraged by the true teaching word, is the reflection of worship in heaven and required to welcome Jesus’ second coming.

Revelation 19:8-9
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’"And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

Be strong and courageous to face heresies and remain in worship! “Alleluia”
Also, we should not grumble about temptation, but be strong and courageous and remain in worship! “Alleluia” Someday at the time of Jesus’ returning, we will be lifted up with a great voice (One Body with One Voice), crying out “Alleluia”. We will welcome His second coming and then enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Men were previously created with one language. Because they built up the tower of Babylon (and not the Body of Christ), God confused their language. Nonetheless, now through the only one true teaching word, God desires to build one perfect Body of Christ with one voice “Alleluia” – so that we will be able to welcome His second coming and be with Him forever more.

This is the grace of God: saving, sanctifying, and perfecting us that we will see Jesus at the time of His second return.
The book of Genesis is opened with the grace of the Lord precisely revealed in the days of Noah, and the book of Revelation is ended with the grace as well.

Revelation 22:20-21
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

As we have read in Colossians 4:18
18 This salutation by my own hand––Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
There is a grace. By suffering through Jesus, we have the grace of God for our salvation, sanctification, and perfection that we may welcome His second coming. From the beginning in the book of Genesis to the end in Revelation, the grace of the Lord is always with us, even until we dwell with Him in heaven forever more.
Let’s come to God; His grace is able to work out whatever things are troubled/difficult/unsettled. God bless you!

That concludes the word on COLOSSIANS
and we will move on to the word on JUDAS.