Bible Study at Surabaya - Monday, June 04, 2007

CHURCH OF THE FLESH

Jude 1:10
10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.

One of the signs of the fleshly church is to follow God by nature or instinct like animals; meaning they follow God only with the purpose of gaining worldly matters and satisfying their flesh.

Matthew 8:18-20
18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Verse 19 shows the right conduct of following Jesus wherever He goes but verse 20 shows the contrary.
Jesus has been groaning with the Church because they have put Him aside and taken up foxes and birds as their head. Pastors and Christians whose head is foxes and birds walk in the manner of foxes and birds; meaning as follows:

1. Foxes symbolize evil spirits aiming at the love of money.
   1 Timothy 6:10
   10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
   The lovers of money have strayed from the faith / the word / the truth with these practices:
   • Earning money regardless honest and dishonest dealings. We have to be careful about this matter; in trading, working, or studying.
   • Forsaking godliness to earn money. We must earn money but must not forsake godliness just to get money.
   • Having a form of godliness with the purpose of getting worldly matters, such as money and position.
   • Stealing God’s possession, that is, a tithe and special offering.
     Such people, who take up wolves as their head, will live in many sorrows until they are cast into the hell (if they are not helped).
     Foxes have holes means they have had a place among the congregation. We, especially I, should be careful about this.
2. Birds symbolize unclean spirits aiming at sexual sins and eating-drinking.
   The foxes-and-birds church is going to the city of Babylon, not New Jerusalem; they are the false bride going to be made desolate in one hour.
   Revelation 18:2
   2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

Many proclaim that they are taking part in the forming of the Body of Christ, but it is a mere theory, in fact. They do not place Jesus Christ but foxes and birds as their head.

Matthew 8:19
19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."

The statement “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go” describes the right way of following Jesus Christ, which is termed the following of body to its head.
Before stepping forward, I would like to show you the stages of following Jesus Christ as follows:

1. as sons following the Father.
   We were formerly the sons of the devil, but now has become the sons of God. In spite of that, the sons will not follow the Father forever, seeing that the younger son was lost. There were two sons, i.e. the elder and the younger. There are 50% (half) among the sons of God will follow Him no longer. Therefore, the following of sons to the Father has to be increased.
2. as disciples following the Teacher
   They were not with the teacher forever because of Jesus’ death.
3. as sheep following the Shepherd
   Such is good but there was a lost sheep.
4. as the bride / the body following the Groom / the Head
   The body and its head cannot be separated.
   Many people such as the scribe have understood this highest level of following Jesus, that is to say the building of Christ’s body, but the practice is often wrong because of not placing Jesus but foxes and birds as the head. Be careful lest we are deceived by such people.

The true fellowship, which is named the forming of the body of Christ, shows up Jesus to be the Head and the Head itself is manifested in the true teaching word.

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.

The true teaching word is shown up to be our daily practices.
Now these are the true ways of our life as the Bride/the Body in following Jesus Christ (the Bridegroom/the Head):

1. We are sanctified with water and the word.
   Ephesians 5:25-27
   25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
   26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
   27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
   Water refers to water baptism and the word particularly points to the teaching word.
   Deuteronomy 32:2
   2 Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass.
   Those who have been baptized of water have to continue on the sanctification done by the water of the teaching word. Leviticus 14:8
   8 "He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days.
   9 "But on the seventh day he shall shave all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows––all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes and wash his body in water, and he shall be clean.
   He who is to be cleansed shall wash his body in water twice.
   This double sanctification, which is by water and the word, cleanses us from leprosy.
   What does leprosy mean?
   • uncleanness
     Leviticus 13:45-46
     45 "Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!
     46 "He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
     Let us place Jesus as our Head to cleanse ourselves from uncleanness (the birds of the air) through the baptism of water and the water of teaching word. We need both the Gospel and the teaching word to cleanse us from spiritual leprosy. The Gospel is important to save us but the uncleanness will take place in Church if it is without the teaching word.
   • evilness
     2 Kings 5:25-27
     25 Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you go, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant did not go anywhere."
     26 Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?
     27 "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.
     It is evil to earn money by telling a lie as Gehazi did to Elisha. Those who earn money in the manners contrary to the word of God have bound themselves to money; they are the lovers of money. Such sin is the leprosy as well as the sin of Babel, which has to be sanctified doubly.
   Revelation 18:16
   16 "and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
   The woman of Babylon (the false church) oppressed by evil and unclean spirits is clothed in fine linen, white but not bright (white but leprous). That is the false righteousness and holiness, which is named “self-truth”. I taught the students of Lempin-El that it was a chance to confess their sins when they were studying in Lempin-El, before being pastors. A man who is righteous in his own sight never confesses his sin and pretends to be holy behind his evilness and uncleanness. To converse the woman of Babylon, the Bride of God (the true church) is clothed in fine linen, clean and bright. That is the righteousness and holiness springing up from the pure heart.
   The sign of the Bride’s following to the Bridegroom is the double sanctification through baptism of water and teaching word that we are free from wolves and birds. As the result, we appear in fine linen, clean, and bright (Revelation 19:8) showing the righteousness and holiness until someday we are blameless.
2. We have the mind of Jesus Christ.
   Philippians 2:5-9
   5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
   6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
   7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
   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,
   • making ourselves of no reputation like the wind, invisible but ascertained.
     Jesus has all things, including the kingdom of heaven, but He had made Himself of no reputation as if He had nothing.
   • taking the form of a bondservant; being a servant of peace.
     Jesus Christ did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
   • being obedient until there is no more fleshly will.
     Jesus was obedient until He died on the cross. Likewise, we have to become obedient until there is no more fleshly will.
     Just because Jesus led His life like the wind, nothing could obstruct His works. Even though the door was closed, Jesus could break it through. Moreover, Jesus’ being like the wind has brought Himself to the highest place on the right hand of the Father. Therefore God also has highly exalted and glorified Him. Thus, the mind of Jesus Christ is like the wind. This also becomes our goal. Nonetheless, we must be firstly born again by water and the Spirit.
   John 3:1-8
   1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
   2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
   3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
   4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?"
   5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
   6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
   7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.
   8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
   Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, but he knew nothing about regeneration to become the wind. See verse 4 “Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" We can become the wind through the process of renewal by the water and the Spirit. Water refers to water baptism based on faith and repentance; returning to God, and the Spirit points to baptism by the Holy Spirit. God by baptism by water and the Spirit begets us to become like the wind, that is, to have the same mind as Jesus Christ, which is significant for the work of ministry, for the forming of the body of Christ. It is neither the rich nor the poor and neither the prudent nor the fool, but those whose mind is in Jesus Christ will be used for the work of God.
   John 19:39-41
   39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
   40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
   41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
   Nicodemus was chosen to bury Jesus’ body because he was willing to be born as the wind.
   Burying Jesus’ body = the last time of building Jesus’ body = the revival of Holy Spirit at the last rain, seeing that nothing remains in the dead body except the body of glory.
   In short, being the wind means making ourselves of no reputation, being God’s servants and obedient without any arrogance. As the result, we are used in the forming of Jesus’ body until we become perfect as His Bride.
   As long as we consider ourselves capable of doing the ministry, we will not be used for the work of God. The forming of the body of Christ is described as burying the body of Jesus, which signifies the sign of death. No death means no glory. I am so grateful for being taught by the Late Rev. In Juwono and the Late Rev. Pong Dongalemba about suffering. For example, we were commanded to guard the church building all night until 4 a.m. and we had to study at 7 a.m. Actually, someone could be hired to do the job but we had to do that as training, as the sign of death. I did the command because it was my duty as the servant of God and now I give thanks to the Lord. Many times I only have a little time to take a rest because of preparing the word of God I have to preach in Sunday morning after youth Service held in Saturday evening. I can do my duty as a pastor to feed the congregation well because of the training I have had when I studied in Lempin-El.
   In order to be used for the forming of the body of Christ, we must have the sign of death or walk in fleshly sufferings due to the will of God. It is commendable to those who endure sufferings wrongfully.
   1 Peter 2:19
   19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
   Enduring grief because of conscience toward God is the grace of God. Such people will be used by God in the ministry of forming the body of Christ at the last time until the perfection. Therefore, Satan wants to erase the sign of death on the servants of God. Students of Lempin-El, you must remember that you have to have the experience of death, that is to say suffering in flesh, not only when you are studying in Lempin-El but forever, although you have had a big church with many churchgoers someday. The fleshly suffering because of conscience toward God is His grace to those He will use.
   John 19:41
   41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
   The word ‘new’ means special or something specialized (“in which no one had yet been laid”). Now we compare the specialized tomb with an enclosed garden in Song of Solomon 4.
   Song of Solomon 4:12-15
   12 A garden enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, A spring shut up, A fountain sealed.
   13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates With pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard,
   14 Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, With all the chief spices––
   15 A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon.
   The Bride of God is like a spring shut up. As the tradition of Israelites, some people were buried together in a tomb but Jesus was buried in a new tomb.
   New tomb = enclosed garden = The Bride of God.
   Thus, the Bride of God is the people God specializes as the shepherded/enclosed lives.
   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.
   sanctuary = holy place = shepherding.
   The consecrated men of God are those who become the sheep under His shepherd. There are in the holy place three objects, which point to the three main services based on shepherding service system, as follows:
   • Golden Candlestick (http://www.gptkk.org/pelita-en.php) points to Sunday Service.
   • Table of Showbread (http://www.gptkk.org/mrs-en.php) points to Bible Study Service.
   • Golden Altar of Incense (http://www.gptkk.org/dupa-en.php) points to Worship Service.
   The Bride of God is like a spring shut up. It means that none may enter and touch her. Let’s pretend there are fresh blooming flowers outside the fence. The more the flowers grow beautifully, the more people want to pick them. In the same analogy as these flowers, there are tens of thousands of good Christians: good evangelists, good singers, and other good ministers. An evangelist, for example, should be filled with greater gifts in accordance with his growing old and should be more excellent in the work of ministry. As he is not shut up (not shepherded), however, he is easily picked up and pulled down by the devil. For that reason, all ministers, such as shepherds, apostles, prophets, singers, and others, must be shepherded that God shuts us up from the hands of the devil.
   By being shepherded, we will get these results:
   • Song of Solomon 4:15
     15 A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon.
     A fountain flows and wets our life both physically and spiritually; we are totally cared with the living waters of the word, Holy Spirit, and the love of God.
   • Song of Solomon 4:14
     14 Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, With all the chief spices––
     We may offer sweet aroma to the Lord and the others (being acceptable to the Lord and the others).
     The fig tree by the road failed to yield fruits and be cursed forever because it could not satisfy Jesus who was hungry, but we as the spring shut up with myrrh, aloes, and all the chief spices, may offer a sweet aroma pleasing the Lord and the others.
   As the conclusion, one who has Jesus’ mind and follows Him as the following of Bride to the Bridegroom has double sanctification and renewal through baptism of water and of Holy Spirit. God uses such person as the wind. Besides, he is shepherded and God wets his physical and spiritual life until there is a sweet-smelling aroma and worship to God.
3. We worship God.
   Worship is the most intimate and private bond with the Lord.
   Song of Solomon 4:16
   16 THE SHULAMITE Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits.
   In worship, we become as a spring shut up and nobody but Jesus may come in (“Let my beloved come to his garden”). This implies: in worship we can only say, “Let my Beloved (Jesus) come to His garden (my life).” None can feel, interfere, and touch our lives, so that we can love and trust in God alone. We look at Him only. Hoping in others, we have not worshiped the Lord yet. Now if a trouble comes into our life, we should invite Jesus, the only one we hope and love, to come into our life. We will see the goodness of God as mentioned below:
   • We will not be afraid of the wind. (“Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out.”). The north wind is cold and the south wind is hot. Thus, the wind here denotes temptations. Destruction will happen if coldness and heat come upon something, including a stone but we will not be afraid or discouraged of any kind of temptation if we worship and look upon God with hope and love. God allows a temptation to come not to destroy us, but that we may offer a sweet aroma (“Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out.”) The more we are afflicted by many kinds of temptations, the more we have hope in God (“Let my beloved come to his garden”), not in others.
   • God will come in due time to settle all problems and give us all things.
     Romans 8:32
     32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
     Jesus had died in Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. He is the Head (the Groom) responsible for all things that the body (the Bride) needs.
     We will get everything that we need from God until we become as perfect as He is. The Holy Communion is to prove that Jesus Christ is the Head who has died and never deceived us.

God bless you!