Public Service at Surabaya - Sunday, February 24, 2008

The book of Exodus chapter 32 is overall 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)

Today we will still be learning the second part about God’s wrath. Previously we have learned three things that provoked God to anger; they are:

1. (vs. 7) The people of Israel had corrupted themselves.
2. (vs. 8) The people of Israel had turned aside out of the way of the Lord.
3. (vs. 9) The people of Israel had made themselves a stiff-necked / hard-heartened people

Below is the explanation about turning aside out of the way of the Lord / going astray from the way of the Lord.

Exodus 32:8
8 "They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!?

To go astray means not reaching the goal, that is, the New Jerusalem / the everlasting kingdom of heaven. Thus, we will not enter into heaven if we go astray.
In order not to go astray, we must serve and minister God according to the will of God by obeying His word.

Matthew 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?
23 "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

The word of God must be the focus of each service and ministry we do. All great ministries, such as prophesying, casting out demons, and doing many wonders, but without the word/the will of God, are lawless and evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Such minister will not enter into the kingdom of God but perdition because of going astray. God said “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

There are three errors that make us go astray:

1. corrupted mind
   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!
   The engagement is now in the last days. Corrupted mind has happened in Eden Garden when Eve’s mind was corrupted by serpent/Satan. Now we are in the time of engagement when Jesus’ second coming is drawing near that we will enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. We face dragon, not just serpent anymore.
   Corrupted mind results in unfaithfulness to the true teaching word which has become the experience in life. In such condition, one will turn to another Jesus, different spirit, and different gospel. See that Eve had experienced and been well preserved by the true teaching word "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." But then she turned to the voice of serpent because of her corrupted mind.
   “you may well put up with it!” means there is no power to reject although knowing the false teaching which will bring destruction. Even all teachings are considered same. Many people will reject dangerous matter expressly if it is about their physical life. Unfortunately, they do not do that in spiritual life because of their corrupted minds.
   The true doctrine preaches about:
   • Christ crucified
     1 Corinthians 1:23-24
     23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
     24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
     The crucified Christ, which is the wisdom and the power of God to save us, is regarded foolishness by many Christians. They do not crucify the flesh but replace the cross with the prosperity and pleasure of flesh.
   • Christ in His glory as Heavenly Bridegroom
     Colossians 1:27-28
     27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
     28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
     Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God perfects us as He is. Thus, the true doctrine preaches about Christ crucified and Christ in His glory as Heavenly Bridegroom although many says that it is pornographic.
     As the consequence of having corrupted mind, one cannot return to paradise.
2. wrong life way
   1 Peter 2:21-25
   21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
   22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
   23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
   24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness––by whose stripes you were healed.
   25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
   The wrong life way means being unshepherded. Satan strikes shepherds that they are not shepherded and the sheep are scattered. To anticipate this, we must be shepherded, which means following the steps of the Great Shepherd in the way of the Cross (vs. 21 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps”). By walking on the way of the Cross, we will never go astray for Satan cannot go through Jesus’ Blood. If we reject the Cross, however, Satan will touch us.
   What does the way of the Cross mean?
   • the way of righteousness
     1 Peter 2:24
     24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness––by whose stripes you were healed.
     The way of righteousness is to be dead to sins and live for righteousness with these practices:
     • committing no sin in everything and speaking no lie. We think that we cannot progress if we are honest, but if we walk in righteousness, the Great Shepherd will care our body, soul, and spirit.
     • repaying no evil for evil, but good for evil as Jesus did on the Cross. He was afflicted and crucified, but He wanted Father to forgive them all who had made Him suffered.
       We have to keep living in righteousness although our flesh suffers. It is indeed so difficult but we have Jesus’ example in verse 22 and verse 23.
   • the way of renewal, which is to be dead to the old life and live for a new life.
     The experiences of death and resurrection with God will result in renewal as it were a new song.
     Revelation 14:1-5
     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.
     4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
     5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
     None can learn the new song because it is our private experience with God in the sign of death and resurrection. Here are the practices of the new song:
     • speaking no lie until we do not stumble in word.
       James 3:2
       2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
       Many times we face the experience of death. For example, a wife, whose husband has a debt, has to face the debt collector coming to her house. Lying with saying that her husband is not at home, she has no new song/renewal of life. On the contrary, being honest although she has to suffer because of her husband’s anger, she has the experience with Jesus.
     • worshiping God with Hallelujah
       Revelation 14:2
       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.
       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!
       Alleluia is the new song as well as worship to the Lord. We say Alleluia to worship Jesus the King of kings, Heavenly Bridegroom. We sing a new song and our mouth does not lie until Jesus comes a second time and there will be a great worship from all Christians all over the world.
       We say Alleluia not just as a common word but with a personal experience because of the word of God. The word is preached to show our sins and we say Alleluia confessing our sins to God. Other people may get blessings because of obeying the word and they say Alleluia giving thanks to God. Everyone has his own experience in saying Alleluia that all together will become the voice of many waters and the voice of loud thunder when Jesus comes a second time.
       Thus, in order not to go astray, let us become shepherded through the way of cross. We live in righteousness whatever risk may come and the Lord preserves ours lives. Besides, let us have the renewal until there is no lie but new song (worship to the Lord).
3. evil company
   1 Corinthians 15:32-34
   32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
   33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
   34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
   The first part (corrupted mind) and the second one (the wrong way of life) are about our own selves but now the third one (evil company) is about our relationship with others.
   The following evil companies corrupt good habits:
   1. carnal/animal company, which teaches no resurrection – there is nothing after men die. It encourages men to sin unto the peak, i.e. sins concerning eating-drinking and sexuality. Animal lives by instinct only. Being hungry, it may eat its young. There is no problem about legality in marriage. It is all because of the teaching about there is nothing after men die.
   2. worldly company, which breaks our faithfulness in godliness and makes us the enemy of God.
   James 4:4
   4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
   At home we associate with our family, but lest any of them break our faithfulness to God. To anticipate the evil companies, we must bring ourselves closer to God through the three main services in the shepherding service system. Children may often misunderstand the sermon, but they should keep continuing steadfastly until they can build a close relationship with God. Babes cannot understand the word, but they can absorb it by skin pores and they will little by little associate closely with God.
   In Tabernacle, the close relationship with God through the three main services is portrayed by the three objects in the Holy Place:
   • Golden Candlestick (http://www.gptkk.org/pelita-en.php) = Public Service to build a close relationship with Holy Spirit.
   • Table of Showbread (http://www.gptkk.org/mrs-en.php) = Bible Study Service and Holy Communion to build a close relationship with the Son.
   • Golden Altar of Incense (http://www.gptkk.org/dupa-en.php) = Pray and Worship Service to build a close relationship with the Father.
   We have to increase our relationship with God through the three main services because it is the only one way that we do not enter the evil company. Husband, wife, youth, and children must have the close relationship with God through the three main services because there is evil company everywhere. Do not be late! None may endure except those who have the close relationship with God through the three main services because the body, soul, and spirit relate to God the Trinity closely.

The close relationship with God will be manifested in these evidences:

• We will fear God
  Psalms 25:14
  14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
  The fear of the Lord is to hate evil/to walk in holiness.
  Proverbs 8:13
  13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
  Parents do not need to worry about what their children do wherever they are and neither do wives about their husbands. Provided the children and husbands have a close relationship with God, they must fear God and hate evil, and God will show them His covenant; meaning they will get the revelation of the word (if they are pastors) and understand the revealed word (if they are the congregation). Even babes will understand the word by skin pores.
• We will be honest
  Proverbs 3:32
  32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright.
  Proverbs 15:8
  8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
  By holiness and honesty, we will be able to worship God and it will be His delight.
  Psalms 95:6-7
  6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
  7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
  Through worship, we are building the closest, the sweetest, the deepest, and the most intimate relationship with God.
  Worship is:
  • the oneness of two hearts, in which our hearts meets the Lord’s heart and we could pour out our spirit on Him.
  • the oneness of two eyes, in which our eyes meet the Lord’s eyes.
  • the oneness of two hands, in which our hands meet the Lord’s hands.
  As a result, there will be a miracle because of His merciful hands. God will create something that has not existed before and make true something impossible (“Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”) Besides, the Shepherd will lead our way and we will not go astray to reach our last destination, that is, the New Jerusalem.
  Psalms 95:7
  7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
  Revelation 7:17
  17 "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
  The main and last goal of our godliness is the New Jerusalem. There we will be led and all tears will be ended.

In conclusion, we should build a close relationship with God until we can worship God, so that:

• our mind is not deceived and we can hold fast to the word of God
• our way is not deceived and we can be shepherded in the way of the cross
• our company is not deceived and we can worship God in holiness and honesty: heart to heart, eyes to eyes, and hands to hands, and God with His mercy will do miracles and lead us to the New Jerusalem.

God bless you!