Rev. Jusak Widjaja Hendra - WR Supratman 4 Sby
Today we continue learning Exodus 32, which is wholly divided into five parts as follows:
- vs. 1 – 6 about golden calf
- vs. 7 – 14 about God’s wrath
- vs. 15 – 20 about the two tablets of stone being broken (signifying redemption)
- vs. 21 – 29 about the wrath of Moses toward Aaron and the people of Israel (signifying sanctification)
- vs. 30 – 35 about the prayer of Moses over the people of Israel (signifying the ministry of reconciliation)
Previously we have learned until vs. 4, that is, the golden calf was made of golden earrings broken off from the ears of Israel, which speaks of disobedience.
Exodus 32:4
4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!"Exodus 32:5-6
5 So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD."
6 Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
It is said in verse 4, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” “This” refers to the golden calf. Thus, Israel proclaimed the golden calf was their god that brought them out of the land of Egypt. They were disobedient and they were big liars.
Below are the spiritual meanings of a liar:
- Ephesians 4:25
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
A liar is a person who says or does something out of the truth/the word of God.
1 John 2:4
4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Liars have nothing to do with the truth/the word of God. Very often we are unconsciously slipped away when carrying on business. We do gain advantage but we pretend to be disadvantaged. In such a manner, we have unconsciously made ourselves empty of the word of God – even if we still go to church and hear what God says. - 1 John 2:22
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
A liar is he who denies Jesus by words and deeds. Peter denied by saying that he had not known Jesus. Some Christians may do the same, but it is rare. The most common is by deeds.
Titus 1:15-16
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him,being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Many Christians deny Jesus by doing abominable works (wicked and unclean deeds).
They profess to know God; they are the servants of God but none can see any good in their works – abominable, wicked, unclean, and disadvantaged to the others even they do not admit God with mouth just because of disadvantage to their flesh.
Not only being abominable, they are disobedient in godliness. They confess themselves Christians and profess to know God, but they do not want to serve and minister God.
Hebrews 10:25-27
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
That they get used not to do godliness is disobedience and they will be destroyed for their being adversaries.
It has been told that liars (those who deny Christ) are antichrists, while Christ means the Anointed. Thus, liars are antichrist or anti-anointing; they have nothing to do with the Spirit. Consequently, they become dry. A pastor who lies will be empty of the word of God. Thus, he does not preach the word of God truly but other word. Besides, there is no Holy Spirit. - 1 John 4:20
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
A liar is he who hates his brother, who professes to love God whom he has not seen but hates his brother whom he has seen. Such a man is a big liar.
Our closest brothers are family members; lest there be hatred, aversion, or any other breaking feelings between husbands and wives, children and parents, and among children. If any, we must fix it. A liar, who hates his brother, does not have the love of God.
In summary, here are the descriptions of a liar:- A liar is empty of the word of God, for he says and does something unrighteous.
- A liar is empty of the Holy Spirit, for he denies God through his words and deeds.
- A liar is empty of the love of God, for he says that he loves God but hates his brother.
Revelation 21:8
8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Liars is written last of all; meaning they are at the shortest distance with the hell because of the dry spirituality causing separation with the Lord forever. - Mark 14:55-59
55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.
56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying,
58 "We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.”
59 But not even then did their testimony agree.
A liar is he who likes to crucify Jesus Christ for the second time than to crucify his own flesh. Such a man obviously despises the Sacrifice of Christ .
Now let’s see what liars will get as a consequence:
- They are misled into the false godliness and worship.
Exodus 32:5-6
5 So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD."
6 Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
The false worship is to worship antichrist. That the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play portrays the false godliness, whose purpose is to seek bodily prosperity and pleasures. There will be no God’s presence and they have no connection with the word, the Spirit, the love, and the Cross/the Sacrifice of Christ.
Prosperity and pleasures are badly sought because the world is today in the midst of dryness. People are hard to live and earn money. That’s why, such false prosperity and pleasures are awfully offered in churches and most of youths like it. But remember, it is false! You must choose the service system with the sign of the Cross until you bodily feel suffered. If you choose the service with worldly pleasures, you are being led to worship antichrist.
Today, prosperity and pleasure are extremely shown off at church and the word of God is ignored, just like Moses was ignored by the Israel, whereas Moses went up to the mountain, neither ate nor drank for forty days and forty nights to get the word of God for their sake.
Apostle Paul wept much for many Christians and pastors have become the enemies of the cross of Christ; they have a form of godliness but hunt for fleshly pleasures.
Philippians 3:18-19
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame––who set their mind on earthly things.
It is clear that the false godliness is directed to get prosperity and pleasure only. Because of that, the congregation is becoming the enemy of the Cross.
On the contrary, the true godliness (service, ministry, and worship) is directed to tear or crucify the flesh, so that we can feel the heavenly joy given by the Holy Spirit, as well as the life change as water were changed into wine. Only if the flesh is crucified, there will be heavenly joy (not worldly). Today godliness is packed with the pleasures of flesh. Do not be deceived by such godliness because there will be no appreciation to the word of God just as Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai did not appreciate Moses. Such are liars having no connection with the word of God, Holy Spirit, and the love of God, as well as the cross because of falseness even the false worship. - They are falling into the sins of Babylon, that is, sexual sin and eating-drinking
Exodus 32:6
6 Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
In the world people seek food and drink and pleasures. If they continue seeking those things in church, their flesh will gradually draw them away into the sins of Babylon. But if they go to church to crucify their flesh, the word of God will restrain their lusts and they will eat, drink, marry, and seek pleasure normally, according to their life needs. Youths enjoyed much with godliness in the pleasure of the flesh, but it turns out to doom themselves into the sins of Babylon.
To converse liars, we must be honest in order to walk with God and own the word, the Spirit, and the love.
Proverbs 3:32
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright.
A liar has no relationship with God, for he has a false godliness and does the sins of Babylon. So he will surely die. If we are honest, however, we will walk with God, which means having the word, the Spirit, and the love of God. A liar will mock the word since it does not make any sense to him, but the honest will have the understanding of the word.
Thus, we can get the word, the Spirit, and the love not because of our brilliance or silliness, richness or poverty, but because of our honesty. The beginning of honesty is when confessing sin. A sin separates us from God. If we confess and not do it again after being forgiven, we will be able to walk with God; which means to the congregation, being able to understand the word, and to pastors, receiving the revelation of the word, the Spirit, and the love of God.
We, especially as the gentiles, cannot walk with God because of retaining sins.
John 4:9, 15-18
9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, ‘I have no husband,
18 "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."
Jesus in the flesh was a Jew and the woman was a Samaritan (gentile), both of whom had no dealing. In the spiritual matter of fact, the gentiles (including us) frequently cannot walk with the Lord because of bitterness as a result of quarrels and because of uncleanness. These two typical sins of the gentiles disconnect the fellowship with God, so that they are empty of the word, the Spirit, and the love and they get no satisfaction. Notice verse 15, the Samaritan woman said to the Lord that He gave her that water, that she might not thirst, nor came there to draw. Her request implies a sighing of the gentiles for satisfaction. The gentiles never get satisfaction; they are spiritually dried until they see the second death.
The way out is to confess sin honestly.
John 4:16-17
16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, ‘I have no husband,
Luckily, the woman spoke the truth of herself. If she had lied, her life would have got worse and destroyed forever. She did speak the truth even if she had to bear a risk by saying, “I have no husband.” It is not easy to confess sin honestly; a sacrifice to pay the price and bear a risk is absolutely needed. The woman showed herself committing adultery while it was said in the law that everyone caught in adultery had to be stoned to death. If Jesus had applied the law and called the elders, it shall be upon her according to the law.
Being honest in confessing sin is indeed a sacrifice like climbing Mount Golgotha, that is to say the sacrifice of prestige. A husband confessing sin to his wife or parents confessing sin to their children or a pastor confessing sin to his sheep sacrificing the prestige. We can see that Gentiles keeping the prestige will remain in suffering and dissatisfaction. Being separated with the Lord in form of dry spirituality and dissatisfaction, let us now confess our sins honestly to God and men. In such a manner, we have a connection with the cross and the Lord Himself.
John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Before dying, Jesus on the Cross cried out, “I thirst!” He did not feel satisfied yet because He had not drunk the sour wine, which portrays the sins of men especially of the Gentiles.
John 4:7
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."
The Samaritan woman gave Jesus a drink, but now we give Jesus a drink by confessing sin honestly. No matter what our sins are, we must confess them honestly to God and others. That would satisfy Jesus much and He will settle all of our problems (for Jesus cried out, “It is finished!”).
John 4:10
10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
If we give Jesus a drink by confessing sin honestly, He will in return give us a drink by the living water/Holy Spirit. Where there is Holy Spirit, the word and love are there; and where the word exists, there must be Holy Spirit and love.
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
The more we lie, the more we feel bitter and dry. Even more, the godliness
we do is aimed at Babylon.
Confessing sins honestly, we give Jesus a drink and He will give us a drink
so out of our heart will flow rivers of living water.
When we are filled with Holy Spirit, we will get heartburn. Many people make a mistake by stopping praying because they cannot endure the ache. Do not stop because Holy Spirit is cleansing all dirtiness. If we continue, the living water will flow from heart to tongue until we cannot control our tongue anymore. Just let if flow and we will speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gives us utterance. It is the Spirit and not a man that give us utterance. Let us now worship Him with opening our heart and mouth. Today many people falsify the Holy Spirit and they become liars, no connection with the Lord but bitterness, dryness, and dissatisfaction. Only one thing can satisfy us, that is to say the living water poured by Holy Spirit.
Here are the roles of the living water:
- Isaiah 44:3-4
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.
Willows are small weak trees suitable to describe the condition of the servants and ministers of God. Yet, the living water gives them a new strength to be always faithful and fervent in spirit until the blessing of God comes upon them, even until Jesus comes the second time. It is very important to be anointed by the Holy Spirit; otherwise, they will quickly be dry and carried away by Babylon or the world with its influences, either pleasures or sorrows, until they cannot be active anymore in the service and ministry. Many servants of God suffer because of lacking of rice and they do not willing to serve God anymore. In such condition, they are far away from the source of living water and by the rivers of Babylon they are sat down. It happens because they become weak without Holy Spirit.
Psalms 137:1-5
1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song In a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!
To hang harps upon the willows by the rivers of Babylon means to stop serving and ministering God as Judas did. Finally, another man took his office and he died. Besides Judas, we have other three bad examples: Esau, who had lost his birthright, Hophni and Phinehas, who had fallen short of the glory. Seeing that, never we hang our harps for God will pour out His judgments.
On the contrary, if we by the Spirit renew our strength to serve and minister God faithfully and fervently like willows by the watercourses – no matter what happens – until Jesus comes back, God will pour out His blessings. - Holy Spirit revives the dead
Ezekiel 47:8-9
8 Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed.
9 "And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.
Where the living water flows, even to the Dead Sea, whose level of salinity is very high until there is no creature even bacteria may live, there will be a life. If you get a serious economic problem or you feel no more hope for the future, the Holy Spirit is able to revive your hope and strength, both physically and spiritually. - Holy Spirit renews our lives
Titus 3:4-5
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Spirit renews us, from fleshly to spiritual men, as if water is transformed into wine. The transformation includes these three facts:- the color: white becomes red.
It signifies a change in the appearance, which means that our works are changed to be acceptable to God. - the chemical substances: hydrogen is changed into elements occurring
in wine.
It signifies a change in the character, which means our characters are changed to be gentle and humble like Jesus. - the taste: water is tasteless, but wine is sweet.
It signifies a change in the tongue, which means our sayings are changed to be sweet until we someday become as perfect as Jesus is.
- the color: white becomes red.
The more we are renewed, the more we feel joy, even the greatest joy in the
marriage supper of the Lamb (in which we will have been perfect). We need Holy
Spirit in order not to become liars being led to false godliness.
No matter what happens, we should confess our sins to God and the Holy Spirit
will give a new strength, revive a hope, and renew our lives. Tasteless and
bitter marriages will be changed into joy and tears will be wiped away. Everything
will be restored until we come into the marriage supper of the Lamb when Jesus
comes back the second time.
God bless you!