Rev. Jusak Widjaja Hendra - WR Supratman 4 Sby
We will still be learning the epistle of Jude, which in Tabernacle structure refers to the covering of badger skins. The term “covering” signifies the protection and attention of God towards the true church as well as the separation from the false one.
The following are the four kinds of false church:
- unshepherded church (vs. 4)
- law-based church (vs. 5)
- satanic church like Sodom and Gomorrah (vs. 6-7)
- fleshly church (starting vs. 8)
We have been learning the fleshly church and now we continue reading Jude
1:14-16
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying,
"Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
15 "to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and
of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and
they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
Reading the verses above, we can conclude that there are two groups of church
at the time of Jesus’ second coming; they are:
- vs. 14: The true Church like Enoch, as wheat entering barn, that is to say Christians and pastors who live in righteousness and holiness until they become perfect and worthy to welcome Jesus’ second coming. They will enter into the kingdom of peace for a thousand years and then into the everlasting kingdom of heaven / the New Jerusalem.
- vs. 15-16: Christians and pastors who live in lusts and going to be punished at the end of the world and burned out in the hell.
The fleshly church is like tares burnt in the fire: (a) they like to commit ungodly deeds, not in line with the word of God, and (b) they like to speak harsh things
Today we learn about ungodly deeds. Here are the practices of ungodly deeds:
- fleshly works
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“and the like” means there are many more works of the flesh.
“will not inherit the kingdom of God” means not entering the barn but being as burnt tares in hell forever.
Because we are men of the flesh and blood, we tend to do the works of the flesh. To deal with this, God makes this way:
Romans 8:11-13
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors––not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
vs. 12. Although we are men of the flesh and blood, we are debtors not to the flesh; meaning we may not do the works of the flesh.
vs. 13a. If we live according to the flesh, we will die spiritually, even unto the second death.
vs. 13b. the Holy Spirit sent by God will help us to put to death the works of the flesh. Neither intelligence nor riches is able to do it, only the Holy Spirit can do – so that we will live in righteousness and holiness until we become perfect and inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The Holy Spirit will revive not only our spiritual life, but also our body.
Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Christ died bodily (not spiritually) and the Holy Spirit has raised Him. Thus, the Holy Spirit is also able to revive our mortal bodies. This means: if the Holy Spirit dwells in us, everything we need will be supplied.
- dead works
Hebrews 9:14
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Dead works are put away and we may serve the living God. Thus, dead works are life activities that have no connection with the service and ministry, even hinder us to serve God. It is nothing to pursue education to the highest degree or work hard to the highest salary and position if we cannot serve God because it cannot go with us when we leave this world. How much more vain it is when someone is in sorrow and he does not commit service to the Lord.
The only useful activity is to serve and minister God.
1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
As we labor to live in the world, we must also labor to serve God. No office man will go to work only if he has a spare time and neither will a student to his school. Everything in the world needs laboring and struggling. Likewise is to serve God; we need to labor to serve God. The difference is: our labor in godliness will never be in vain. Why? Because godliness is the only activity in the world that will break through the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 22:3
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
People despise and say that it wastes time to go to church, but what we do actually is an adaption or exercise to live in the kingdom of heaven. There we will only serve God day and night.
Please consider how it will be in the kingdom of heaven if now we are not willing to serve God or supposing it takes much time. Satan is indeed so tricky by hindering the sons of God to do service to Him. If there is no relationship with the service to God, all men will be in vain.
It happened in the past that Pharaoh afflicted the people of Israel with burdens when they would go out of Egypt. Now as the church of God will go out of the world to welcome Jesus’ second coming, Satan afflicts us with various activities so that we cannot serve God.
Exodus 1:11
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Burden here means hard bondage: no advantage but sorrows and sufferings, it is all about vain.
None who is put to forced labor will be rich. On the contrary, they get physic disabilities because of too many wounds.
I am happy with many graduations from Bachelor and Master degree this year and many are accepted to continue to higher level, even in Netherland. Not only their achievements that make me happy, but their efforts to relate themselves with the service to the Lord. I do not hinder your studying or working but every activities in the world hindering the sons of God to serve Him or having no relationship with the service, are in vain.
The Israel were put to forced labor to build the supply cities of Pharaoh, that is, Pithom and Raamses (describing the city of Babylon / the woman of Babylon / the bride of Satan). The woman of Babylon stands up to the Bride of God, but God will destroy her with all her luxuries within one hour.
And the bad news, many Christians do not realize that forsaking godliness is a sin.
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.
As the time of Jesus’ second coming draws near, many Christians do not realize that forsaking godliness is an advancing sin. They start to get accustomed not to serve God and they feel nothing about that, neither guilty nor sad, even they laugh. Or on the contrary, they feel nothing in godliness. When the pastor delivers a sermon, they are sleepy or busy talking to one another.
If this habit continues, they will deliberately refuse to serve God anymore. Such people are categorized adversaries whom the judgment of God will come upon.
How do we connect our activities with godliness? We need the Blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 9:14
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Only the Blood of Jesus is able to sanctify us from dead works that we can serve God faithfully. The power of the Blood has been proved in the Old Testament when Pharaoh hindered Israel to go out of Egypt to serve God in the desert. God came nine plagues upon Egypt, but Pharaoh still hardened his heart, but not anymore after the last/the tenth plagues. He could not bear the sign of blood / the death of his firstborn son. Only houses with the sign of blood were delivered from the death. All Israel with the sign of blood were saved from the death and they could go out of Egypt and serve God in the desert.
Now, in the New Testament, the Gentiles may have the power of Jesus' blood in the door of our heart to sanctify us from dead work to serve God more than anything in the world.
Therefore, we must put godliness as number one and serve God faithfully. We are busy with many activities, but there is no more reason not to serve God if we have the sign of blood. Actually, only Israel might become priests and kings and the Gentiles might not serve God. Just because of the Blood of Jesus / the mercy and grace of the Lord, we may serve God. Seeing that, we must appreciate the mercy of God.
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.
When we can appreciate the Blood of Jesus, we can serve God harder like Apostle Paul did.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
As long as we prioritize godliness more than anything, we will know that our labor is not in vain because God never lies.
1 Timothy 4:8-10
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
If we labor in ministry, God will guarantee our life that now is and that which is to come. We should not doubt about this. What the Israel did in the desert was serve God only; they neither sowed nor harvested any seed, but they lived. If they had not served God, they would have died. Thus, God cared Israel because they served God.
- the works of darkness
Romans 13:12-14
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
The works of darkness include these things:- revelry = eating and drinking (smoking, narcotics, drunkenness)
- lewdness and lust = sexual sin, whose types are so many.
- strife and envy. Both had took place in the marriages of Jacob with his two wives: Leah and Rachel. When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, Leah, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!" In conclusion, strife and envy are equal to eating-drinking, which is the sin at the end of the age, just as it had happened in the days of Noah, also in the days of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. Both of them are going to happen again in the last days when Jesus' coming a second time is drawing near.
How to anticipate the darkness?
vs. 12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”
vs. 14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
We have to put on the armor of light, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ. Money cannot deal with eating-drinking, adultery, envy, and strife. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can do.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is the Light of Father God, symbolized with the Sun.
Jesus is the Light of the Son, symbolized with the Moon.
Christ is the Light of the Holy Spirit, symbolized with the Star.
That is the armor of light to defeat the works of darkness.
Now the question is: where will we get the armor of light? Through the shepherding
service system or patience in the three main services.
Parents should bring their children to the shepherding because they can only
watch them within the house wall and they know nothing about the children do
outside. When I was a teacher, I caught a boy smoking at school. Then I told
his parents, but they became so angry and accused me of being a slander. Why?
The boy was very good and quiet at home, but in reality, he smoked outside.
Seeing that, parents should encourage their children to continue steadfastly
in the shepherding.
Previously, Moses saw the tabernacle as the pattern of heavenly kingdom and
made it in order to commit service to the Lord. Now there are many people saying
that we need no Tabernacle Teaching because it is the Law. Actually, Tabernacle
Teaching is not the Law because if it were the Law, we would have to make the
equipment and we would not be able to do that, seeing that the price of gold
is very expensive today.
Shepherding is shown with the Holy Place of Tabernacle with the three objects
therein:
- Golden Candlestick (http://www.gptkk.org/pelita-en.php) means patience in Public Service, in which we associate with Holy Spirit God and get the light of the Star. The more we continue steadfastly, the brighter the star shines on us until it becomes the crown of twelve stars.
- Table of Showbread (http://www.gptkk.org/mrs-en.php)
means patience in Bible Study Service and in the Holy Communion.
Through Bible Study Service, we associate with the Son and get the light of the Moon. Besides the two rows of six loaves of bread, referring to the sixty six books of Holy Bible as well as the body of Christ, there is wine for the offering, referring to Jesus' blood (the Holy Communion). - Golden Altar of Incense (http://www.gptkk.org/dupa-en.php)
means patience in Worship Service, in which we associate with the Father in
His love and get the light of the Sun.
The more we continue steadfastly in those three services, the brighter we will be until we are presented to become a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. There will be no more darkness.
Revelation 12:1
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
The woman refers to the Church of God / the Bride of God / the light of the
world.
Christ is the Light of the world and so are we. There will be no more darkness
and blemish. This is called perfection.
Now we are not perfect yet; the lights we have do not shine a 100% yet. In
spite of that, we must continue steadfastly until we become the perfect Bride
of God.
The little light that we have now in the Sanctuary is enough to give us a shelter.
Patience in the three services (until we can understand the word) determines
our life and future.
Psalms 61:4
4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
Being shepherded in the Sanctuary, we have the shelter of God's wings. The Sanctuary and the Most Holy Place were covered from any storm, rain, dust, etc. by four coverings. Even the last covering, referring to the epistle of Jude, protects them from judgment. Such is the good condition of shepherded people under the shadow of God's wings.
The shadow of God’s wings consists of three stages as follows:
- Psalms 17:7-8
7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
“Hidden under the shadow of God’s wings“ just like chicks and young eagles are hidden under the shadow of their mothers. Chicks cannot seek food by themselves but they will be cared under the shelter of their mother’s wings.
We are also small and weak. We need the shelter of God’s wings to face the condition of the world, which is like the desert: hard to live (hard to sow and harvest) and surrounded by problems as many as the sand.
By being under the shadow of God’s wings, we will be cared as the little apple of eye with His marvelous lovingkindness – even though we do not have enough potential to meet our daily needs. Besides, the lovingkindness will keep us safe from troubles as the apple of eye. No grain of sand will hurt the apple of eye. Such is the strong protection of God toward us, considering that sands may be on hand or other parts of our body but the apple of eye.
- Deuteronomy 32:11-12
11 As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings,
12 So the LORD alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him.
“Carried on God’s wings” to face the sprinkling of blood / suffering because of committing no sin.
We should not remain under God’s wings; or else, we will remain children. As the Christians, we should develop in hearing the word of God and should not want the short sermon only.
“As an eagle stirs up its nest”
As an eagle is still young, it stays under its mother’s wings. But when it grows bigger, the mother stirs up its nest and pushes it down to train it to fly (note: the nest of eagle lays on a hill). When the young is not strong enough and going to fall down, the mother carries it on its wings and put it back to the nest. There it is supplied with food until it is strong enough to learn to fly again.
In the same analogy as the young eagle, we are being trained to grow up in our spiritual life. We are fed with the shepherding word in the three main services and then tested. When we cannot endure the test, God will carry us to the shepherding and feed us again with the shepherding word. After we are strong enough, God will test us again. If, again, we cannot endure, God will carry us and we will not fall. No matter what God tests to us, we will not fall because we are carried on the two wings of eagle until someday we will be able to fly by ourselves.
Deuteronomy 32:12 So the LORD alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him
Why does God allow us to be tested and to experience sufferings without sin – even if we have led this life according to God’s path?- in order that our wings grow bigger and stronger / in order that we grow up spiritually
- in order that we hope God only
When young eagle falls from its nest, on whom will it hope? Only on the carrying of its mother's wings, that is to say God's wings.
As long as we hope men, the test will never end. If we hope God only, the test is over. Thus, we should not be downhearted when we are tested – although we have served God faithfully. God longs us to hope in Him alone. The Lord is a jealous God; He accordingly does not want us to hope in men even just one percent. God wants us to hope and love Him a 100%. That’s why, He allows us to be tested to upgrade our spirituality.
- Revelation 12:14
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
“Given the two wings of a great eagle” after being perfect.
The two wings of a great eagle are the Word and the Holy Spirit, both of which are the Hands of God. The great wings are needed to take us away from the antichrist, who will reign over the world for three years and a half, and to fly us into another wilderness. There God will care for our lives.
None will live in the days of antichrist unless they worship antichrist. Education certificate, company, deposit will give no advantage. Only those who worship antichrist may live.
The great wings are also needed to welcome Jesus’ second coming, because many young men (describing strong people) will fall approaching the Day.
Isaiah 40:29-31
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
We must be extra careful while we are waiting for Jesus’ second coming for many will break their wings. The young men, who literally describe Christians with power, intelligence, and riches, will faint and be weary because of heavy burdens and desperations. They will also fall into sins and will not welcome His second coming in the end; they get lost forever.
Nonetheless, today God is still giving us new strength. This Holy Communion
is the food of eagle to get new strength. Maybe we are weak to deal with life
problems: disease, economy, sins, etc. No matter what our conditions are, let
us cry out His name and He is ready to give help. This will continue until He
comes the second time; we will be with Him forever more.
God bless you!