Public Service at Surabaya - Sunday, May 13, 2007

CHURCH OF THE FLESH
Jude 1:8
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
This false church love to do the things below:

• dreaming, intruding into those things which do not belong to the word of God / which do not have a spiritual meaning. Such is carnal soul/mind.
• defiling the flesh. Such is carnal body.
• speaking evil of dignitaries (“speak evil” is the word opposite in meaning to “worship”). Such is carnal spirit.
  Thus, church of the flesh is nothing other than carnality, which is symbolized with number “6” – so that they are sealed with the triple six and possessed by antichrist, whom the Lord has prepared for destruction.

Church of the flesh and the true church will have different great feasts as follows:

1. Revelation 19:17-18, 21
   17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
   18 "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
   21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
   The fleshly church will enter into great slaughter by the sword proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the white horse, that is, Jesus – because they refuse to be sanctified. The teaching word, which is shaper than any two-edged sword will be turned into the sword of slaughter in case of being rejected.
   Revelation 20:5
   5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
   The dead will be raised to eternal life while the others who do not have part in the first resurrection will be waiting a thousand more years for the second death or the hell. Let us now become serious in receiving the work of the two-edged sword, or else it becomes the sword of slaughter.
2. Revelation 19:9
   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."
   The true church will enter into marriage supper of the Lamb, that is to say, Jesus the Heavenly Groom comes the second time to meet and bring us, His Church, the perfect Bride of God, into the kingdom of a-thousand-year peace and into the everlasting kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 19:7
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."

Only the Bride who has made herself ready will enter into marriage of the Lamb. Therefore, we must make our preparation at least in these three things:

1. garment of fine linen, clean and bright
   Revelation 19:8
   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.
   The word “clean” denotes holiness, which is to differ from the garment of the woman of Babylon; the word “bright” is to state something given out of the heart. Thus, the term “clean and bright fine linen” means holiness originated from the heart. It surely makes sense to us by the work of the word sharper than any two-edged sword.
   Hebrews 4:12-13
   12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
   13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
   The teaching word – which is sharper than any two-edged sword – pierces and sanctifies even to the heart from hidden things, which are evil and unclean desires. We probably do not commit them yet, but have set the heart and mind on them. Such must be sanctified that we can give and share:
   • we give God tithes and special offerings, prayers and worship
     When we present our supplications before God, it means we ask something from God, but worshiping God means giving our whole life to God.
   • we share with the others by alms
     Revelation 19:8 “…for the fine linen is the righteous acts (Former Translation Indonesian Bible: good works) of the saints.” One of the good works is to give and share.
     God has been waiting for the good works of the Gentiles such as Cornelius.
     Acts 10:1-2, 4
     1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
     2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
     4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
     Cornelius was an Italian, not Israelite; he presented prayers and alms that came up as a sweet-smelling aroma for a memorial before God. The term “a memorial before God” means God always remembers us all of our life, even until Jesus comes the second time as King of kings and as the heavenly Groom. It more means that we will be received up and not left for antichrist’s persecution. The man crucified on the right hand of Jesus appealed God to remember him.
     Luke 23:42
     42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
     God will remember us from now in the world until the time of Jesus’ second coming although now we are alone and no one remember us. It can happen only when we have the fine linen (good works to God in form of tithe, special offering, and worship and good works to men in form of alms). The fine linen is our preparation that the Lord remembers us at the time of His second coming.
   If we do not do good works, we must do evil ones. For sure, all wickedness must come up and provoke God to fierce wrath, as in Nineveh.
   Jonah 1:1-2
   1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
   2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
   The wickedness of Nineveh was about money loving, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. These evil things bring God’s judgment over the earth either in the present time and the future, that is to say eternal judgment in hell.
2. Crown
   In Revelation 12:1 is written about a garland of twelve stars.
   Song of Solomon 3:11
   11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.
   Solomon with the crown in his glory describes Jesus the Heavenly Groom; we, the Bride of God, will also wear crown for the supper of the Lamb.
   How to get the crown?
   2 Timothy 4:6-8
   6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
   7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
   8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
   It shows the crown Paul has received
   1. “I have finished the race”
      Verse 7 says about finishing the race.
      Acts 20:24
      24 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
      It means: doing the ministry in faithfulness till the end of our lives. Some of us, by God’s will, will die and be buried like Apostle Paul, but some will remain till His second coming. Life and death belong to God’s concern; all that we need to do is to be faithful in ministry.
      Acts 20:19-20
      19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
      20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
      We must be faithful and fervent and must not be slack to do the work of ministry, for being slack means keeping back the sword of God from sanctification. This is a curse.
      Jeremiah 48:10
      10 Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
      As we are slack concerning the work of God, we must be less holy (may be in mouth by murmuring, etc.) and do less worship – since holiness is on a level with worship.
      Faithfulness and spirit to do the work of God actually come from Holy Spirit. If we minister God by our own strength, we will lag in diligence as growing older.
      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.
      By the anointing of Holy Spirit we will be more fervent in ministry until the end – even though the fact is, we are physically growing older. Therefore, we must dwell in Holy Place, which means continuing steadfastly in the three main services, to keep the anointing oil upon us until it becomes the wedding crown sometime.
   2. “I have kept the faith”
      2 Timothy 4:7
      7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
      Keeping the faith implies these two meanings:
      • holding fast to the true teaching word
      • obeying the word of God
        The strength and intelligence of man cannot encourage us to obey the word of God. Only the anointing of Holy Spirit can do that, not the strength of flesh. The head/mind is the target of Satan as Eve was deceived because her mind was not anointed. The strength and experience of man are very little, comparing with the strength and experience of Satan. Thus, only the anointing oil enables us to hold fast and obey/practice the true teaching word. Seeing that, we must be shepherded to keep the anointing oil upon us.
      2 Corinthians 11:2-4
      2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
      3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
      4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted––you may well put up with it!
      Verse 2 shows engagement, a moment in time before marriage. That is to say, these last days by Jesus’ second coming. Many are deceived in this time.
      Verse 3 shows the serpent, symbolizing heresies, ready to deceive our mind a moment before Jesus comes the second time. Nothing such as intelligence and experience can fight against the serpent, since it has now become a dragon. Only the anointing of Holy Spirit is able to contend with it.
      Verse 4 “you may well put up with it” shows that there is no anointing and power to reject heresies. Eve was deceived; her faith failed as she could not keep it.
      Satan is ready to put off our crown (the anointing oil upon the head) that we are easily deceived and have no power to resist.
      Students of Lempin-El, after the graduation you have no experience. Nevertheless, the serpent cannot poison and deceive as long as you have the anointing oil on head. Thus, we may see whether a person has the anointing of Holy Spirit or not through his boldness in holding fast to the true teaching word in addition to the speaking in a tongue.
      1 Timothy 4:1
      1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
      “some will depart from the faith” for they are not under the Spirit.
      By the anointing oil upon the head, we do not only speak with tongues, but also be bold to:
      • reject teachings different from the one we have received and experienced its power.
      • hold fast to the only one true teaching word.
        This is called boldness, not fanaticism. We cannot abstain from spiritual matters, such as doctrines. Be bold or we will depart from the faith! Solomon, for instance, was very wise more than all men who were on the face of the earth, but his excellent wisdom was no longer in effect soon after he let go his sword for the sake of his curiosity on the gods of his wives (Note: the sword symbolizes the true doctrine.) Seeing that, none of us, including pastors, considers ourselves wiser than Solomon was, by what is called filter or weighing spirit.
      Eve would have not deceived if only she had obeyed the Lord’s commandment, which is said: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” She should have had courage to ignore the serpent’s whisper toning down the Lord’s commandment, converting dot into double question mark. Notice and compare them below:
      God said: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat.”
      The serpent said: “”Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden??"
      The former success in deceiving Eve urges Satan to apply the same method. We must be bold, therefore. In Matthew 24, many say that the sign of Jesus’ second coming is earthquake but the main sign is deception/offense. There shall be no compromise with other doctrines, but bold steadfastness to the only true doctrine, which have become our life experiences. Whether the congregation will be deceived or not depends on pastor’s boldness.
      The true doctrine is originated from the Bible which is disclosed its mystery and manifested through explaining verses – a verse explain another one. Nothing is stronger than this. Bible is the oldest book but contains significant facts more than all scientific books in the world – in case of being disclosed its mystery.
   3. Enduring and being approved in temptations and sufferings for God’s sake.
      James 1:12
      12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
      None will endure sufferings without the Holy Spirit as flesh cannot stand being flamed.
      1 Peter 4:12, 14
      12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
      14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
   We find our strength in verse 14.
   A student of Lempin-El has prayed as follows “Lord, give me your amazing anointing.” I explained that if he wanted amazing anointing, he had to face amazing fiery trial. Therefore, we may not pray carelessly but in line with the true teaching word. If you ask gentleness in your prayer to God, do not snap when someone snaps at you. But confess your faults. If you as patience, do not be annoyed when your child cries and still cries whatever you have done because the annoyance shows your impatience.
   The more we endure sufferings, the more the Holy Spirit anoints us.
   Not only enduring, we will even rejoice in sufferings. It is all because of the Holy Spirit that becomes our strength and we have the crown to welcome Jesus’ second coming. Our ministry must be in faithfulness and fervent of spirit, boldness in faith/true teaching. Besides, we have to be approved.
3. Voice
   Revelation 19:6
   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!
   The great multitude is the Bride of God or the Body of Christ consisting of Christians from the four corners of the earth. They are one body with one voice, saying, “Alleluia!” Thus, we must have the voice “Alleluia” to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
   Formerly men were one and they all have one voice / one language, but the Lord had confused their language for their building the tower of Babylon. Now God is reuniting them into the Body of Christ: one body with one voice, saying, “Alleluia!”

All godliness and worship on the earth must be the reflection of worship in heaven.

Revelation 19:1, 3-4
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!"

Those in heaven say, “Alleluia!” and so are those on earth.

It is not easy to say “Alleluia!” Here is the process:

Revelation 14:1-3
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.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty–four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 14:2 = Revelation 19:6 “Alleluia!”
The hundred and forty–four thousand are the core of the Bride.
Below is the process of saying “Alleluia!”

1. Like singing, there are tunes set in high and low tone, so only those who walk in death and resurrection experiences such as of Jesus had will be able to say “Alleluia!” (new song). Death and resurrection experiences – which are the state of spiritual awakening - are like hills and valleys in the land of Canaan.
   Deuteronomy 11:11
   11 "but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven,
   Everybody has different experiences but the same result, that is, renewal of life (being dead to old life and raised up to a new life). As we are dead with Jesus, we will be raised up with Jesus as well.
   The renewal of life begins and ends with no lie or deceit.
   Revelation 14:5
   5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
   Hills and valleys are created in different forms, meaning different form of death experience, but receive the same rain. None who lives in the land such as of Canaan can draw water to water their field, but to drink. This lesson implies that we should depend only on the rain of God’s mercy in death and resurrection experiences. Otherwise, we will not endure. While walking in this experience, we will be able to confess the greatness of God and this will drive us to worship Him tremblingly and meaningfully. Just as the rain coming down upon dry land, so will the mercy of God upon us in our troubles. Seeing that, we will die without the rain of God. How then will we not tremble in saying “Alleluia!” ?
2. Being obedient
   Philippians 2:8-11
   8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
   9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
   10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
   11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
   The tongue of the obedient can only confess Jesus in His glory as the King and heavenly Groom as well as saying “Alleluia!” Besides, they have the power of Jesus to defeat the three beasts / the trinity of Satan:
   1. dragon with unclean spirits
   2. beast on the earth, that is, false prophets with heresies and falsehood
   3. antichrist with selling-buying spirits
   To converse, liars and the disobedient will feel nothing – even if they have worshiped and said “Alleluia” for hours. We will obviously not do this. Let us have renewal of life and obedience by which we worship God and sing out “Alleluia!” acceptably – that we may welcome Jesus’ second coming and enter into the supper of the Lamb.

It is true that the sound “Alleluia!” we sing out is not perfect yet, but we have truly worshiped God to meet the King and the heavenly Groom. He always remembers and pleads us by His magnificent power.

Isaiah 43:15
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King."

The Lord whom we worship is Jehovah Jireh: the Lord who provides, the Creator who creates something that does not exist before and enables all that is impossible with men, also who creates us new and perfect to welcome His second coming.

Just come to the Lord; He is our King and our Groom – no matter how big our troubles are – and sing out “Alleluia!” He will come with His power of creation to deal with all of our needs.
God bless you!