Bible Study at Surabaya - Monday, February 26, 2007

Based on the structure of Tabernacle, the epistle of Jude refers to the covering of badger skins. The word ‘covering’ signifies protection and attention of God towards the true Church as well as separation from false Churches. As we can read in Jude 1:1, the writer of this epistle was Jude the brother of James and he was not Judas Iscariot. Both Jude and Judas ministered God but they were finally separated. We have a lesson from this because many say that all are same. It is not so for someday the separation will be obvious.

The epistle of Jude was written to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Previously we have conferred around this topic according to Romans 8; that is to say, those who are called and chosen will be sometime glorified as perfect as Jesus is.

We have also conferred around the status of those who are called, chosen, and glorified in 1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
That is to say, they are made priests and kings / a royal priesthood whom God gives covering.

Priest [origin kohen] means as follows:

• A man who holds a certain priest’s office (such as pastor, evangelist, elder, worker, cleaner, etc)
• A man who mediates between the Church and God in the ministry of reconciliation. A priest does not make reconciliation between the Church and God (Jesus does it); instead, he plays a part in the ministry of reconciliation that the Church makes peace with God. Thus, the task of a priest is not to play one against another.
  If we want to be covered, we must have a clear status. As Indonesians who want to be protected by law, they have to have obvious citizenship. Likewise, we have to hold certain priest’s office and God will give covering.

Actually, the status “priests and kings” is intended only for Israelites and their children, but through 1 Peter 2:10 we know that the Gentiles are also made priests and kings by the mercy of God, which is as precious as the Blood of Jesus.
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

We must have priest’s office – no matter what it is – so that our status becomes apparent, which means the covering is obviously upon us.
Here are the duties of a priest:

1. Bearing witness to the praises of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light = bearing witness to the renewal of life
   1 Peter 2:9
   9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
   The renewal of life is light; meaning that with the light of renewal of life in our ministry, others will see it and they will go out from darkness into His marvelous light. For example, you come to a dark place, bringing a flashlight. Someone in the dark place will be seen because of the light of the flashlight, no darkness is kept. Why is a pastor hopeless, seeing his unchanged Church although he bears witness of the greatness of teaching word? It is because he, who preaches, does not change, not having the light of renewal of life.
   Likewise, if the members of choir sing with the light of renewal of life, the hearers will change too because of the light’s coming to them. If Sunday school teachers minister with the light of renewal of life, Sunday school kids will have renewal of their life too. Flowing from that, it is obvious that a priest must bear witness, not only by saying but the more is by shining the light of renewal of life wherever he is (not in church only but also in office, at school, etc.). In such a manner, others receiving the light will by no means keep any darkness.
2. Joining actively in building up a spiritual house / in forming the Body of Christ.
   1 Peter 2:5
   5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
   a holy priesthood = priests and kings = a royal priesthood
   The forming of the Body of Christ is manifested through fellowship; just like all parts of the body are attached one another.

In John 15, fellowship of the Body of Christ is illustrated as association between branch and other branches. Besides, the branches must have association with Jesus as the True Vine.

John 15:1
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

Fellowship without Vine is like branches falling off from the Vine; they will get dried and profit God nothing. This is terrible but many people practice it.
The late Rev. In Juwono always said, “Who is able to become Vine in a fellowship?” None is, since the Vine is Jesus presented in the form of the word of God, exactly the true teaching word (“I am the true vine”) that the Vine is the beginning.

John 1:1, 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Bachelors and bachelor girls must be selective to choose spouse-to-be; look the spiritual matter inside of her/him (that is, s/he has the true teaching word) and not the physical ones, such as beauty and riches. You must look first the Vine. Similarly, we must look first whether the true teaching word is presented or not as we will serve God, not how wonderful the church building is.

John 15:1
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

The word “I” means one, which means the true teaching word is only one and there is no statement “two or three or all (teachings) are the same.” Teaching word is the word written in Bible that consists of sixty-six books.

John 15:3
3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

The true teaching word is:

• the word which Jesus speaks to us (which I have spoken to you)
• the word which is disclosed its mystery
• the word which is revelation of God, not science
• a series of verses that explains each other
• the practiced word; otherwise, it even becomes a heresy.

The true fellowship of the Body of Christ, which is encouraged by the true teaching word, will result in true worship directing towards Jesus/the Head. Thus, we should not attend a fellowship just because of reluctance to reject one’s invitation, wonder to see its splendid church building, or even desire to get money. Instead, we have fellowship because of the true teaching word. It is a must.

These are three stages of fellowship as follows:

1. Fellowship in marriage – the smallest association
   Matthew 18:19
   19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
   Youth, you have to take heed to the Vine if you want the sweetness of marriage. Without the Vine – the branches only – there will be no fruits even the branches will be dry. Formerly, we say that one faith in marriage is enough. It is true but you know that faith comes by hearing the word. Thus, the word must be one also, i.e. teaching word, for two kinds of the word mean two kinds of faith.
   Two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask = two persons with one heart. These two persons are first a husband and a wife with one heart as the right fellowship in marriage. When will it be? We can see that there are many differences between man and woman such as the hairs and hobbies; all things in them are different. Nevertheless, a husband and his wife can have one heart if they are filled with one true teaching word (True Vine).
   Being in one heart, they can pray and worship God and He answers their prayer; all problems are settled by God. Thus, there are many problems n household but the biggest one is the non-existence of one heart between a husband and his wife for they cannot pray as well as God does not answer their prayer.
   Let us check how our marriage was. If it was wrong, let us ask God’s forgiveness to repair our marriage. Check your foundation whether it is the one True Vine or not. With the one True Vine, there must be sweet fruits. If you have bitter fruits now, remove the old foundation (such as car, big salary, good appearance) and take the new foundation, i.e. the True Vine/one teaching word. "I am the true vine” means Jesus is the True Vine and we are the branches.
   In Tabernacle teaching, a husband and his wife are the table of showbread (http://gptkk.org/mrs-en.php). One table, showing one heart, on which there are two rows of bread, six in a row, showing sixty-six books in holy bible/the true teaching word. Besides, the “six” shows man because God created man in the sixth day. The first row shows husband, who has been filled with bread / true teaching word, and the second one is wife, who has been filled with the true teaching word. If both of them have been filled with the true teaching word/bread, there will be incense upon the bread. The smoke of the incense shows worship to God and He will answer the prayer. Let the spouse pray every morning and their children also, because of the encouragement of the one true teaching word. In such condition, God will settle all problems.
2. Fellowship in shepherding and inter-shepherdings.
   Fellowship in shepherding and inter-shepherdings must have one true teaching word as the True Vine and the fellowship will not be only a meeting. With the true teaching word we must enter the fellowship. On the contrary, we may not enter it without the true teaching word. If we have one true teaching word, we will enter the fellowship like Moses and Aaron who were actually separated by long distance. They could meet in wilderness because of God’s word to them. Thus, enter the fellowship in shepherding and inter-shepherdings because of the true teaching word, not of money, which will bring great loss.
   Exodus 4:27-31
   27 And the LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him.
   28 So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.
   29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.
   30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people.
   31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
   A fellowship encouraged by the word will result in worship. Just like Moses and Aaron getting together because of the revelation of the word / the true teaching word, so that the elders and congregation were also stirred up to gather and they all worshiped God. As a result, God was there to make wonders, primarily renewal of life from fleshly men to spiritual ones.
3. Fellowship of the perfect Body of Christ / the Bride of God.
   This international alliance is the union of Israeli and Gentiles, which is called the last-rain revival of Holy Spirit / the revival of white horse going to happen as written in Revelation 6 and ended in Revelation 19.
   There are actually two revivals of Holy Spirit as mentioned below:
   1. the first-rain revival of Holy Spirit = revival in gospel to bring sinful men to belief in Jesus and salvation.
      Acts 1:8
      8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
      Actually, Jesus came to the world just for Israelites. Jesus Himself said to a woman of Canaan begging His mercy upon her severely demon-possessed daughter, saying, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Thus, Jesus was sent only to Jerusalem/Israel, but because a great part of them rejected Him, Jesus turned to Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth, where we live now. That is the route of the first-rain revival.
      According to the map about the spread of gospel by Rev. Billy Graham, the end of the earth is Irian Jaya/Papua (Indonesia) in which there are still a great number of primitive men. These men are not yet introduced to physical clothes, not even the spiritual one, that is, gospel.
      This first-rain revival is important; otherwise, I would not be here today. I was not a Christian; just because of the word of gospel, now I am standing before you. Thus, the first-rain revival is important to increase the quantity of the Body of Christ: from twelve disciples became seventy, one hundred and twenty (in the upper room in Jerusalem), three thousands (as Peter gave sermons), five thousands, and until now, uncountable. This incredible number is good, but not enough for excellence. Therefore, this second revival is needed.
   2. The last-rain revival of Holy Spirit / the revival of white horse / the revival of the teaching word.
      The teaching word conveys the news on the second coming of Jesus Christ as well as prepares our lives for perfection.
      According to Matthew 24, teaching word comes from the east to west as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west. Where is the east? Papua, the place of Gentiles. Not a coincidence that the Late Rev. Van Gessel who received the revelation about Bride Tidings/teaching word was buried in Papua. The teaching word will spread from the end of the earth (the east), to Samaria, Judea, and to Jerusalem when Israelites receive it. If now we say to Israelites about Jesus’ first coming and death on cross, they will reject it, saying that Jesus was only the son of a carpenter. Nonetheless, if we bring the teaching word/Bride Tidings and say to them that Jesus will come as heavenly Bridegroom and King, they will accept it as truth. Then both Gentiles and Israelites will become one perfect body/heavenly Bride, referring to New Jerusalem.
      As I have told you, the word of gospel is important, but it must be continued with the teaching word – everyone must say. The quantity is important and so is the quality. Nevertheless, some persist in focusing on the quantity. This is good, but, for illustration, what would we say about five jeweled rings on five disabled fingers? Poor! On the contrary, some persist in focusing on the quality. This is also good, but how about this hand only has three fingers? It is not perfect. In conclusion, the word of gospel and the teaching word should work together – so that the quantity is fulfilled but also has good quality. This state is called ‘perfect’.

If today is still the time of gospel spreading all over the world, churches with the gospel have many churchgoers. Churches with teaching word should not be jealous about that for someday all people will enter into the opened door of teaching word (the revival of white horse). I am not jealous but give thanks because of other priests may bring the unbelievers to Jesus but someday we will reap them with teaching word, as the Late Rev. Pong has said to me. Let us now work together because all has its time.

The word of gospel must be continued with the teaching word that the perfect Body of Christ, which is the union of Israel and Gentiles from the four corners of the earth, is manifested. This event will be ended with a great voice of worship “Hallelujah”

Revelation 19:1, 3-4, 6-7
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!
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."

Verse 1, 3, and 4 show the voice in heaven, while verse 6 on earth.
Let us see the True Vine, i.e. Jesus/teaching word to go toward oneness as follows:

• Oneness in marriage – there is worship
• Oneness in shepherding – there is worship
• Oneness inter-shepherdings – there is worship
• Until Gentiles and Israelites are one to worship God with one voice “Alleluia”

If branches (symbolizing Christians) do not cling to the Vine (the true teaching word), they will be detached from the Vine; meaning that spirituality is withered. Very often we just focus on ministry and ignore the teaching. This is not true for our spirituality will be withered without the true teaching word.

John 15:6
6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

The word “gather” shows the existence of fellowships of withered branches, which may take place in marriages, shepherdings, or inter-shepherdings. Such fellowships are not of the true teaching word, but money, prestige, friends, etc, and those who take a part in such fellowships will be gathered for consuming fire.
This will truly happen: many priests have succeeded in serving and ministering in the house of God, but their spirituality is withered. What a real pity!

Here is the example:

Mark 3:1, 3, 5
1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. (Luke 6:6 “And a man was there whose right hand was withered.”
3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."
5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

The man in the synagogue refers to a priest/servant of God; and the withered right hand shows that he does not take heed the True Vine but the church building or the age of the preacher. Many have such thoughts so their spiritualities are dry and the dryness is covered with worldly facilities and activities. It often happens to youth that dryness is manipulated with worldly activities to create fleshly amenities but their heart are not touched by God because there is no true teaching word. Flowing from that, youth must pray much more to be able to prioritize the true teaching word in order not to become dry. It is also my responsibility as a pastor that my spirituality and the Church’s do not become dry also that God always reveals His word.

Here are several meanings of withered spirituality/right hand (Luke):

• No connection with the High Priest (as He is the One sitting on the right hand of the Father) = no peace but bitterness, worry, fear, etc. (For the ministry of reconciliation High Priest does will result in peaceful heart.)
• No fervent spirit to serve God = being lukewarm in ministry.
  Let us check ourselves about how we minister God formerly and now. As my experience, I was joyful and fervent in spirit when I ministered in Sunday school for the first time. I hoped the Sunday came soon. How was it after several years? I asked other to ministry because I was busy, lagging in diligence. God checks it. He knows my cry in order not to be dry in spirituality for the dry spirituality causes meaninglessness and dryness in all things.
• No heart to share = being filthy and greedy (Matthew 6:3 “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”)
  A covetous man must steal first the possession of God, namely tithe and special offering for being filthy and greedy / not returning God’s possession.
• No worship
  The king David named worship as an act to lift up hands. If our hands are withered, therefore, we cannot lift them up, which means that we cannot worship God. In spite of that, God is now ready to help us. Physically, withered right hand means dead hand because the tendon is dead and no blood flows. It shows death in economy or disease or dead lock in physical problems. Nevertheless, God never leaves us, He never leaves the priests, who have been lifted up by Jesus’ blood, in a death.

How will God help?

• Mark 3:3
  3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."
  As I have said, a priest (kohen) mediates between the Church and God. The man who had the withered hand was not in the proper place so Jesus got the man to step forward (in the midst of them). This is the way God heals us when we experience death in spiritual or physical life. Let us return to the proper position, i.e. in the middle, which points to Holy Place of Tabernacle / shepherding (none can enter the Most Holy Place; the Church is in the Court; the Holy Place is the place where priests may dwell).
  Being in the Holy Place, the spirituality of priests will not be dry. Thus, we must have True Vine/teaching word and true position, i.e. in the Holy Place (patience in committing three main services)
  It is very important to continue steadfastly in the three main services to prevent spirituality from being dried.
  • Golden Candlestick (http://gptkk.org/pelita-en.php) = patience in Public Service
  • Table of Shewbread (http://gptkk.org/mrs-en.php) = patience in Bible Study Service and Holy Communion
  • Golden Altar of Incense (http://gptkk.org/dupa-en.php) = patience in Pray and Worship Service
    Servants of God and priests, let us return to our true position in Holy Place so that we are healed.
    It was easy for the man who had the withered hand to step forward, wasn’t it? It was so easy, of course, for his leg was not withered. If it is hard for us to dwell in shepherding, how could God help? We as pastors or priests just need to return to shepherding with the true teaching word to obtain help from God.
• Mark 3:5
  5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
  Jesus got the man to stretch out his hand. It was hard, even impossible as his hand was withered; nevertheless at God’s word/commandment, we must believe and obey.
  Stretching out the withered hand = obeying and giving ourselves fully to God, so that God will stretch His hand and make a wonder to revive the dead (marriage, economy, ministry, etc). We obey His command by stepping forward and stretching our hand although they are difficult to do. Just obey and give yourselves fully to God and wonders will happen. The greatest wonder is: we may receive the eternal life like Jesus Christ, whereas we actually have to die because of our sins. Perhaps we feel that our spiritual life is dead owing to our sins, but such a condition will continue no longer.
  Thus, the wonders of God will revive us both physically and spiritually until we receive the eternal life to be with the Lord Jesus forever more.
  God Bless You!