Other Ceremony - Wednesday Morning, March 12, 2009

We will continue the preaching of the Word with the same theme mentioned in Revelation 21 : 5, Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Last night we have heard from Genesis book, that men created by God in His image and pattern were ruined by Satan or by sin, such that they were driven to the earth. But Satan has not satisfied yet, they continuously pursue the ruined men to make them the same as the wild beast, to be cast into hell or eternal perdition. But we give thanks with this theme, so we know that it is mentioned in Revelation book >>> " I make all things new ". God wants to create us as new human, He wants to restore us to the image and pattern of the LORD.

God’s effort to restore human to the image and pattern of the LORD is called God’s upbringing. We will learn from Luke 6 which contains seven parts. The first part is written in Luke 6:1–5, i.e. body is brought up by God. Why does this body need to be brought up by God? Because this body is passive for spiritual activities, moreover for the Word activities, e.g. being inside the church, but becoming faint during the preaching of the Word. Therefore, the body needs to be brought up by God, such that: we can join the spiritual activities, i.e. eating the God’s Word, so there are God’s wonderful things to restore us to the image and pattern of the LORD. We have heard this part last night. Now, we will talk about the second part.

Soul is brought up by God

Luke 6:12–16
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;
16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Judas Iscariot has a title as the traitor.
The soul is important to be brought up by God, because in verse 16 it has been shown that if a human’s soul is not brought up by God, he will become a traitor. Whoever is a human, whatever his tribe and nation, whatever his position, there are many people have a traitor soul. I hope we can understand.

Luke 6 : 12
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

There are two activities of Jesus, i.e.:

1. Jesus went to a mountainside, which denotes the Golgotha mountainside, means Jesus had to suffer by pouring out His blood even dying on the cross at Golgotha mountainside. I called this as Jesus has blood mark or there is blood mark in Jesus’ life.
2. Lord Jesus prayed all night to God denotes the intercession pray. About praying, especially in Tabernacle, is related to incense. Jesus has prayer/incense mark.
   So, Jesus’ activities in vs. 12, having blood mark and pray/incense mark, remind us to the High Priest Aaron (fig: http://gptkk.org/imambesar-en.php), who enters the Most Holy Place to hold the ministry of reconciliation once a year. By bringing the blood of the bull and incense, he is allowed to enter the Most Holy Place to hold the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, the conclusion of vs 12 is the appearance of Jesus as the High Priest to hold the ministry of reconciliation with His Blood. This is God’s upbringing to bring up our soul.

Revelation 1:5,6 >>> this is the ministry of reconciliation by Lord Jesus.
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The result of the ministry of reconciliation by Lord Jesus:

• To free us from sins.
• To make us to be priests and kings. Priests and kings are people who minister and serve the LORD.

So in this vs. 12, Jesus comes as the High Priest with blood and incense to hold the ministry of reconciliation. What is this ministry of reconciliation for? Revelation 1:5,6 >>> for delivering us out and setting us free from our sins, since there is no power e.g. riches, knowledge, or standing, which is able to deliver us out from sins. Even they frequently drive man to do sins, although he is a prophet, an apostle. Since all the people have made sins, only Jesus is the one who is able to deliver us out or set us free from sins because Jesus is a man without sins. Only the blood from Man without Sins able to set us free from our sins.

Last night, the story in the Garden of Eden was Adam and Eve became naked when they made sins. When God arrived, they could not serve God, even just to meet God they were very afraid and they hid. Therefore, sinned people cannot serve God, they have to be set free from sins first. Then there will be the abilities and appointment as priests and kings >>> life who minister and serve God. Many times we are wrong, i.e we serve God but with bearing sins or burdens such that will not be able for a long time. Also there are people who come and look like humble themselves, they come and say that they have sinned and then want to leave the ministry >>> this is wrong! It is the sins/burdens which have to be thrown away, not the ministry is leaved. I hope that we can understand.

This can be concluded >>> Jesus appears as the High Priest with the ministry of reconciliation = brings up our soul such that we may become priests and kings = have spiritual standing = have place in the body of Christ.
Last night, body is brought up such that we may enter spiritual activities or grainfiled activities.

I have told that human’s soul which is not brought up by the High Priest or not experienced the ministry of reconciliation is the soul of a traitor. Why is it called traitor? Who is our creator? God. So, the soul of a traitor is man who does not want to serve and minister God, he just serves sins or world. He only looks for a standing in the world, but does not want to look for spiritual standing. Man who only looks for a standing in the world = a traitor.

It is a woe if in a fellowship or shepherding the congregation minister only to look for carnal standing and not the spiritual one. They will be called as traitors like Judas, and will be destructed. Therefore, we should be solemn so that our soul is brought up by God. I hope we can understand.

The process of getting spiritual standing such that can become priests and kings:

• Luke 6 : 13
  13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
  Called >>> Jesus called first. It will be better if we check in the letter of Peter.
  
  1 Peter 2:9
  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;
  
  In this letter of Petter, the term ‘called’ is called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. This means from sinful people to righteous people = being saved by the blood of Jesus. So it is not angels or holy people who are called, because if that is the case, then we cannot become priests. Therefore, there are no reasons to not serve God just because I am a sinful person. There are no reasons like that! Because the calling process is we are called from sinful people, as the equipments inside the Tabernacle were made from acacia wood or black wood which denote the sinful people. I hope we can understand.
  
  From sinful people, we are called to become righteous or saved people through the Gospel Word which is called as the Gospel of Salvation in Ephesians 1 : 13. The Gospel of Salvation = milk = the Word which declares the first coming of Jesus for dying on the cross to save the sinful people. This is which calls the sinful people such that they can be righted and saved. For example is me myself, I am not a generation of a God’s servant, my whole family is not Christians also. How can we be righted or become a Christian? Because of God’s calling through the Gospel Word. I believe that all of us can come to this place because we were righted by the Gospel Word. The proof that we have been saved or righted, being called from sinful people by hearing the Gospel Word, is we believe in Jesus. In Tabernacle, this means that we enter the Gate (fig: http://gptkk.org/gerbang-en.php). We believe not through vision but through hearing the Word. Thomas was corrected by God because he said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” When God came, He asked Thomas to put his finger into His hand, and Thomas just believed. Nowadays there are many Christians or God’s servants like this, they have to see first and then believe. God said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Like Abraham commanded by God to go although he did not know where he had to go. Abraham believed from hearing the Word and this is the right thing since Abraham’s faith is a tried faith. Thomas was not being critical by saying that he has to see first and then he will believe. Thomas was not critical, but he hardened his heart because he did not believe in God and wanted to see the proof first. God does not serve the people who harden their hearts such that they will not be glad. Repentance >>> the Altar of Burnt Offerings (fig: http://gptkk.org/mkb-en.php) means stop doing sins and come back to the Lord. Do not repeat the sins, because repeating the sins means that the salvation is still being questioned. Has he really been saved? In the past, there was animal sacrificed to purify the sins. Now, this is the cross of the Lord to stop the sins, means a tribulation to the flesh to stop doing sins.
  
  1 Petrus 4:1
  1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
  
  So, if we want to make it clearer, repentance is a tribulation to the flesh to stop doing sins and come back to God. The cross is our weapon to put the sins to death. The next step is baptism in water >>> the Brazen Laver (fig: http://gptkk.org/bejana-en.php) and baptism in Holy Spirit >>> the Door of Tabernacle (fig: http://gptkk.org/kemah-en.php). These are the proofs that we have been saved. The baptism in water and Holy Spirit is a new birth. We are born and become a new human, i.e. living in righteousness. After we put the sins to death, we will live in righteousness. These are the saved people which are called by God. Let us assure our calling by living in righteousness.
  It does not enough if we are only called, the second process is:
  
• Chosen >>> many are called, but few are chosen.
  That is why we have to be careful, because many Christians have been satisfied until a calling (have been baptized in Holy Spirit and have lived in righteousness). This has not been enough yet! We have to experience God’s choice, for many are called, but few are chosen (or few are inside God’s choice).
  
  What are we chosen for?
  Exodus 28:1
  1 “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Elemazar, and Ithamar.
  
  The Israelites denotes Christian people or saved people. But from these saved people, Aaron and his sons were brought >>> they are the chosen people. So, in order to be a priest (chosen people), people will really experience extraordinary process, i.e. are called from the nations in the world and then chosen.
  
  What are we chosen for? For being purified.
  Exodus 29 : 1
  1 “And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish,
  
  ‘Them’ here refers to, Exodus 28 : 1, Aaron and his sons who are chosen from among the Israelites for being purified so they might serve as priests. We, as God’s servants, usually do faults by giving ministry to the people who have not repented to let them serve God.
  
  By what are we purified?
  John 15:3
  3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
  
  We are purified by the Word said by Jesus to us. The purification only can be done by the Word said by Jesus himself, i.e. the Word whose secrets are opened, verses are explained by another verses in the Bible. This is the Word said by Jesus and has the power to purify. We should not explain the Word in a rash utterance, because if the Word is explained by knowledge or by humor, maybe it will be more fresh and great, but there is no power to purify.
  
  Therefore, for God’s servant colleagues, do not be deceived. In a fellowship like this, I have to be controlled, because if I am preaching the Word whose verses are not explained by verses, we will not be purified but we will do sins instead. Also for the congregation, if you enter a church, you have to see whether there is the Word opened or not? If not, you will not be purified when entering the church, you will do sins instead. This is what is called the true Teaching Word or the Word whose secrets are opened, verses are explained by another verses in the Bible, which preachs the second coming of Jesus in glory, not for being crossed but as the Heavenly Bridegroom. Therefore, we should focuss only on the Bible >> one book is enough. If all of us only focuss on one book, the One Body of Christ will be formed. Now, the One Body of Christ has not been formed because there are many people still use the other books.
  
  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.
  
  After being called and chosen, the question is by what are we purified? We are purified by the Teaching Word. So it is a must in a congregation or in the body of Christ the presence of the Teaching Word. The Gospel Word also should be there to increase the quantity. But there should also be the Teaching Word to increase the quality so we may become priests and kings.
  
  The requirement of being purified.
  John 15:1,2
  1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
  2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
  
  The requirement is a branch has to remain on the vine = shepherded. After we repent, believe, enter the baptism in water and Holy Spirit, we have to go further, i.e. entering the Holy Place, because being shepherded is like a branch which remains on the vine and to be pruned/ purified until it bears fruit and the highest fruit is the bride’s fruit. Inside the Holy Place, there are three objects, i.e.:
  1. Golden Candlestick (fig: http://gptkk.org/pelita-en.php) = perseverance in Public Service.
  2. Table of Showbread (fig: http://gptkk.org/mrs-en.php) = perseverance in Bible Study Service and Holy Communion, since besides the bread on the table, there is also drink offering which you can read in Exodus.
  3. Golden Altar of Incense (fig: http://gptkk.org/dupa-en.php) = perseverance in Worship Service.

  This is a branch which remains on the True Vine so that we will be pruned/ purified.

  What is being pruned? It starts from heart and mind because inside heart and mind there are many desires. If these are being grouped, there are 2 kinds, i.e.
  1. unclean desire which drives to sexual sins and eating-drinking sins, including drunkenness, drugs; and
  2. evil desire, i.e. money want desire or the bound of money which makes people become stingy and greedy.
     These two kinds of sins are going together/ duet which cannot be separated >>> if we fault in money matters, we have to be careful, since it may drive to the uncleanness. I hope we can understand.
  
  We are called/ saved >>> believe, repent, baptism in water, baptism in Holy Spirit; and we live in righteousness. Then we are chosen >>> purified from the heart and mind; if we are purified, we will be able to live in purity. Being called and chosen are the processes of being priest. There is one more, but this is not written in Luke (so this is verses are explained by another verses), it is written in Mark instead.
  
• Mark 3:13,14 >>> appointed,
  13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
  14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,

These are the processes of being a God’s servant, i.e.:

• called >>> we live in righteousness.
• chosen >>> we live in purity/ we are shepherded.
• appointed.

We are appointed as priests and kings by God. What are the statutes?

Ephesians 4:11,12
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Pastors and teachers are one unity, the others are not. It means that pastors and teachers can be hold by one person and this was implemented by the late Pastor In Juwono in Lempin-El Kristus Ajaib since the first generation. The teachers for the major subjects are pastors and teachers. This was also continued by the late Pastor Pong and I follow this until today. So, God gives us equipments to appoint us as God’s servants.

Through this fellowship and through this Word, I do not want to give advice, I would like to remind pastor colleagues and also myself not to receive the Word of God in vain. There are people who preach the Word but we did not know where he comes from, and we as a pastor listen to him, even receive a laying on of the hands. When a businessman, whom we did not know where comes from, can give a lot of money, he asked to listen to the Word preached by him, even hold an altar-call for pastors and then lay on of the hands to the pastors. That kind of laying on of the hands was not to get the gift of Holy Spirit, but to get the gift of a thousand rupiahs, or two thousand rupiahs, etc. How sadistic is Judas in the ends of the ages. We do not aim to choose people! It is just because we are pastors and there is congregation behind us, and we really have to give account to God.

Pastor and teacher are in unity. Like the word’s preaching yesterday, if we have a longing for plucking, peeling, and eating the grains, surely we will get the opening secret of the Word. Therefore, as pastors, let us ask God to give us the wisdom gift such that we can understand/peeling the Word though God’s help. I hope that we can understand.

Ephesians 4 : 12
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

What is the sign that I am appointed by God? In organization, there is ministry card as a young pastor or pastor. If we are appointed by God, He will give equipments to His servants, priests and kings.

In this verse, it is only mentioned one equipment, but actually there are three equipments given by God to appoint us as God’s servants or priests, i.e.:

1 Corinthians 12:4-6
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

These three equipments are given by God to the called, chosen, and appointed people, to the right and holy people as priests and kings. The requirement is just become holy people, not smart/fool people, nor rich/poor people. The more we are purified, the clearer and the more visible God’s appointing and the more the congregation will be shepherded.

The diversities of gifts with 3 equipments, i.e.:

• Nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. Gifts/charis = miraculous ability from the Holy Spirit such that we can serve God. For those who have high diploma, do not be proud of it; and for those who have low diploma, do not be shy of it, because there are miraculous gifts from the Holy Spirit which are more than any diplomas in this world.
  
  1 Corinthians 12:8–10,
  8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
  9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
  10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
  
  

  Gifts of opening the Word Gifts of worshipping (breathing) Gifts of power Gifts of wisdom Gifts of prophecy Gifts of faith Gifts of the word of knowledge Gifts of talking in different kinds of tongues Gifts of healings Gifts of considering the Spirit Gifts of interpreting the tongues Gifts of the working of miracles

• Nine ministries from the Son of God.
  1 Corinthians 12:5,
  5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
  
  1 Corinthians 12:28–30,
  28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
  29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
  30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
  
  We will match the nine ministries from the Son of God with the nine gifts from the Holy Spirit:
  
  

  Gifts from the Holy Spirit Ministries from the Son of God Gifts of wisdom Apostle Gifts of the word of knowledge Teacher Gifts of considering the Spirit Pastor (shepherd) Gifts of prophecy Prophet Gifts of talking in different kinds of tongues Talk in different kinds of tongues Gifts of interpreting the tongues Interpreter of the tongues Gifts of faith Minister Gifts of healings Healer Gifts of the working of miracles Worker of miracles Gifts of power Evangelist

  Minister, healer, and worker of miracles are owned by evangelist, while the gifts of worshipping are owned by prophet. So, if these nine are tightened like written in Ephesians 4, they will become five main ministries, i.e. apostle, teacher, pastor, prophet, and evangelist.
  Apostle >>> thumb
  Prophet >>> point finger
  Evangelist >>> middle finger
  Pastor >>> ring finger
  Teacher >>> little finger
  If each God’s servant or God’s minister serves inside the congregation correspond with the ministries and gifts from God, there will be God’s hands work miraculously inside the congregation. On the contrary, working without corresponding to the ministries, will ruin the body of Christ.
  
  2 Chronicles 26:16–19
  16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
  17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the LORD—valiant men.
  18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God.”
  19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar.
  
  So, this is! If we serve God but not according to the ministry and gift from God, it will just ruin the body of Christ, not build it. I said that there is rich man came and asked God’s servants to come and listen his preach, and promised to give money to them. I apologize for saying that. I am crying inside my heart, not because I become envious, but base on the verses above, he did the work not according to his ministry, such that ruining the body of Christ and ruining God’s servant who listen to him. If they go back to their church, they will also ruin their congregation. Therefore, we should be careful.
  
  The person who serves God’s work, but not according to the ministry and gift from God, is a haughty person like King Uzziah who was strong, he does not remember God and become haughty. Besides haughty, it is also leprosy, or the self-truth. This also happened with King Saul when he was caught. Actually, it was Samuel who has to burn the sacrifice, but Saul burnt the sacrifice so that Samuel said ‘Why did you so fool and dare?’
  
  Once more I apologize, if my words are rather rude. It was explained above that when we serve according to the ministry and gift from God, there will be God’s hands which do the wonderful things. But if we serve not according to the ministry and gift from God, there will be Satan’s hands which will ruin. This fellowship must be solemn because if I preach the Word not according to my ministry, Satan’s hands will be inside this fellowship, and you will get loss come to this place. If you force yourself to come to this fellowship but then there is no opening of the Word, then you will be touched by Satan’s hands, and you will get loss since everything is ruined by Satan. For the committee, if you want to invite a speaker whose capacity is not according to the ministry, and then many God’s servants come, Satan will laugh more since more people will be ruined by Satan. I am fearful, fearful to tell this since you account for this, and so do the speaker. This is really a serious matter.
  
• Miraculous activities from God’s love,
  1 Corinthians 12:6
  6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
  
  There are nine loves from God the Father that you can read in 1 Corinthians 13, i.e.:
  1. Vs 1 – vs 3 >>> love is the greatest.
  2. Vs 4 >>> love suffers long.
  3. Love is kind.
  4. Love rejoices in the truth. Many people said, let us rejoice, we have to rejoice >>> but rejoice because of what? In this world, too many discotheques create rejoice. Which church is as great as discotheque? They do not dance in ordinary way, event they keep rolling on the floor and jump, but all of those not because of the Word.
  5. Love bears all things.
  6. Love believes all things.
  7. Love hopes all things.
  8. Love endures all things.
  9. Love never fails >>> vs 8.
     This is the appointment from God, if we are really used by God as priests and kings, or as God’s servants. Not only the minister from organization as young pastor, or pastor, and these are not necessary to be fight for, but the most important thing is the confession/appointment from God. Nine gifts, nine ministries which are tightened as five main ministries and nine miraculous activities of God the Father until the love is eternal.
  
  Each gift and ministry must be practiced with love, since love is the motor. The motor of my coming to this place should not be money, but must be love. I and you serve with ministry as pastors, but what is the booster, or what is the motor? If the booster/motor is money, it will not be eternal; even will perish, since everything is not eternal besides love, since love never fails.
  
  The results of serving with love are:
  • Eternity. Our ministry will not stop in the middle but will last eternal until the Throne of the Lord. Therefore, starting from me, i.e. inside the shepherding, we must work with love. Likewise the congregation, if you serve in the choir or musics team, it must be done in love, so that the result is eternal. Not only in Ciawi, not only in church, not stopped at 50 years old, 60 years old, but eternal until the Throne of the Lord.
  • If there is love, the flesh will be overlaid and it will not speak out, so we will not fall into the haughty, i.e. in position, wealth, and woman. We must be careful in sight, and I was also reminded by my wife to be careful, and I was really grateful for that. As husband and wife, we must remind each other and also pray for each other, because the three things (position, wealth, and woman) are the enemy of Bride Tidings. I hope that we can understand.
  
  If we work with love, there will be a progress, not degeneration nor ruination >>> if a branch remains on the vine, it must produce fruits (progress), so that it can produce nine fruits of the Spirit.
  
  Galatians 5:22,23
  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
  23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
  
  If we have produced fruits, then the Lord’s image has become real in our life. Every time we serve with office and gifts of Holy Spirit, it must be motored by love, so that our ministry will be eternal, not decreasing but increasing until yielding nine fruits of the Spirit.
  
  Nine fruits of the Spirit are divided into three parts, i.e.:
  
  

  Love from God the Father Love from the Son of God = JESUS Love from God the Holy Spirit Love Patience Faithfulness Joy Kindness Gentleness Peace Goodness Self-control

  Therefore, if God is calling, chosing, and appointing us as God’s servants, in a village or everywhere as God’s servant (e.g. we have choir’s practice after working), that is not for tormenting us but for bringing up our soul such that we are restored back to the Lord’s image. Last night, through eating the Word, we are restored to the Lord’s image. Now, through the right ministry, gifts, and love, we are also restored back to the Lord’s image.
  
  I apologize! Without ministry and gifts, there is only Satan’s image, or that is Satan’s hands who work inside the household. Also for young people, if you are going to marry, the foundation must be right, i.e. the true teaching Word, that is love. Since when it is wrong, there are only Satan’s hands.
  Likewise if we want to be shepherded, we also have to see whether there is opening of the Word with the right ministry, i.e. used by God as a pastor; and whether there is gift of considering the Spirit? If there is none of them, it will be only Satan’s hands there.
  
  Also if we want to have a fellowship, whether the speaker is really used by God? If there is no opening of the Word, it will be only Satan’s hands there. If there is opening of the Word, whoever he is, there will be God’s hands which bring us up and restore us back to the Lord’s image.

Each day I become more and more understand, and I talked to my wife and to the congregation to forgive me since once a month I have to leave the congregation. But for me it is a gain because after going back from a fellowship, I become more burn inside the congregation, because I become more understand God’s word. I have explained about this thing frequently in Lempin-El, but now I am getting a new knowledge I have not understood which God gives to me, i.e. there is Satan’s hands or God’s hands, and there is Satan’s visage or God’s visage. Therefore, we should not mock and do not become bashful in ministry >>> do not do this! Because we will be faced with God or Satan. To where will we bring the congregation? Therefore we should become valiant these days. I hope that we can understand.

These three characters of God the Trinity are the image of God the Trinity. We are restored back to the Lord’s image to be placed in Paradise or A Thousand Years Kingdom of Peace and in the New Jerusalem. Yesterday it has been explained about the new earth and heaven.

God called twelve apostles. Why was it twelve? Why was it not only ten apostles? Judas has gone, why was it not only eleven people, better than there is a traitor again? It cannot be! Since twelve is the number of the New Jerusalem. Why did God keep the number twelve? Since twelve is the number of the New Jerusalem and this denotes the direction and purpose of God’s call and choice.

There are four times nine, i.e. nine gifts, nine ministries, nine deeds/love, and nine fruits of the Spirit >>> these become the Bride’s property that Satan want to destroy.

Canaan has two meanings, i.e. nowadays Canaan, which is physically reigned by Israel, means the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain / the perfection of God’s Bride. But there is also the term ‘Heavenly Canaan’ = the heavenly/spiritually land which God swore = heaven. While Joshua was going to Canaan which is the revival of Holy Spirit in the last rain for the perfection of the Body of Christ/God’s Bride, the four times nine were being destroyed.

Joshua 7:3–5
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.”
4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

These 36 = 4 x 9 will be destructed by Satan in the ends of the ages. Like the example I gave before >>> there is a rich people who asks people to come and listen to his words, with getting some recompensing money, although that rich person is not a pastor >>> ministries, gifts, loves, and God’s image will be destructed by Satan.

Later there will be many revivals but without 4x9 signs >>> revivals without ministries >>> no matter who is preaching the word; there is no gifts and loves, maybe there is only money. And also there are no fruits, such that they cannot be the Bride because all the fruits fall off. Satan cannot withhold all the revivals or fellowships happened, but he withholds these 4x9, such that the people who come to the revivals will suffer loss >>> it is better to stay at home and pray. Therefore, we should not be deceived by Satan.
We must be careful, since Ai is small but it can destruct 36 = 4x9, while Jericho which is big can be defeated by Israel. Ai means waste/heap, what can make a wasting? They are small things which waste the Bride or the perfect body of Christ. We often underestimate small things and think that we are successful since we have defeated Jericho/ have a big church building, but those small things are enough to ruin.

What does it mean by waste?

• Proverbs 11 : 11,
  11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
  
  The tounge is a little member, but it can overthrow the New Jerusalem/ the Bride. For God’s servant colleagues, especially me first, we have to keep our tongue, because if our tongue talks in vain, the ministry will become unclear. Most of the times we have not known the people, but we have talked about him. I testified in the congregation; in 1998 I went to The Netherlands, when I just stepped out from the airplane, there was one family came. I did not know them. They did not ask me whether I was tired or how on the journey. They did not ask that, but they asked me whether I am Widjaja who comes from Malang? They asked me to tell them how can I serve in Malang? What news have they heard from the tounge of a God’s servant? I hope that the people asked me also hear the preaching today, since there is a live streaming through internet. Let us! Although the tongue is a little member, but it can ruin 4x9.
  
• Why Israel was defeated by Ai? Because there was sin, and whose sin?
  Achan’s sin, because he stole gold, silver, and money. While actually money is a small matter (Luke 16) and inside God’s house the smallest things belongs to God, i.e. the tithe. Most of the time, we as God’s servants act smart by saying, “The matter of tithe is different, the most important is the teaching.” It cannot be happened, because God asked to bring the tithe so there is food/teaching. The second meaning of waste is the theft by Achan, and now it means the theft of the tithe. The things stolen by Achan actually must be put into the treasury of the house of the Lord (Joshua 6), and this talks about the tithe.

Nowadays there are two kinds of the theft of the tithe, i.e.:

1. Like Judas, i.e. he stole the money which belongs to God, so that he perished/ruined himself.
2. This is more evil, because the stolen thing is the trust of God to a pastor about the tithe. This is stolen by the eldership and the congregation >>> pastor is not allowed to receive the tithe anymore so that there is no food. The consequence is the congregations will be dead/withered/ruined because there is no teaching anymore and there will be no Bride’s fruit anymore. Therefore do not consider the tithe as small matter, because the small things will cause a ruin. If people have been ruined, he will become disappointed, desperate, and will leave the service and therefore become a traitor.

If 4x9 has been ruined, there will not be only disappointment and desperation, but until the size of bedstead. This is still 4x9 in cubit dimension. 1 cubit = ½ - ¾ m . Thus, 4 x 45 cm = 1.80 m >>> this is still a standard size. But 9 x 45 cm = 4.05 m, is there any bedstead whose length up to 4 m? This size passes the standard limit, or overdose. If ministry is taken off, it will direct to the bedstead such that become overdose.

Deuteronomy 3:11
11 “For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants. Indeed his bedstead was an iron bedstead. (Is it not in Rabbah of the people of Ammon?) Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit.

Iron bedstead >>> Remember pastors, including me/Widjaja, if we have been rude/iron hands to our wife and also with iron words >>> this means that we have been ruined. To wives, because this talks about bedstead and not about platform >>> luckily it is not platform mentioned. The not standard size of the bedstead signifies to the not standard desire and will direct to Babel’s sin.

This is not trivial because we must give an account. I came to Ciawi, the committee accounted for that. But I must also account, if there is no ministry, gifts, and love >>> there is no opening secret of the Word, we will go home and everything will ruin. But if there is the opening secret of the Word, we will go home with God’s touch so that we will bear fruits. I hope we can understand.

The example in the Old Tentament is Achan, and in the New Tentament the ruined life is Judas the traitor.
One of the causes why Judas ruined is because his name is written in the latest order or later, and this means that he did not solemnly serve God.

1 John 2:18,19
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Being not solemn = not faithful in the ministry. But Judas was not solemn in the Word and the Holy Communion, because it has become a habit. Therefore, we must be careful, because many people argue that the more we listen to the Word and take the Holy Communiion, will be better. But we must be careful, because it can become a habit. Therefore we must correct each other, we must do it properly.

When Judas was with Jesus in the Holy Communion, Jesus has shown >>> ’He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me’ but Judas said >>> ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ >>> this is Judas who was not solemn in the preaching of the Word and the Holy Communion. He was not solemn in purification.

Matthew 26:23,25
23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”

Vs 23 >>> it has been clear already that the true teaching Word purify us directly/privately. It has been clear >>> who dipped and they are antichrist and traitor.
Vs 25 >>> Judas was not solemn in purification, he always avoided the Word. Judas is like Achan who did not want to be purified, he was not solemn in purification because he kept the desire of money. Also like Achan who stole God’s property. But Judas was also lying >>> like the meaning of ruin/Ai, i.e. the lying tongue >>> ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ We must be careful in tithe and special offering, because at the end Judas was perished.

Let us, now! God does not look at our greatness in serving Him, God does not look at our deficiency/infirmity in serving Him. But now God wants to look our zeal. Last night God wanted to look our yearning in serving Him. We examine ourselves through the Holy Communion: are we still like Judas who was not solemn because still keeping the sins? Maybe we have been unfaithful.

If there is zeal, God will give extra strength from the Heaven.

2 Chronicles 16 : 9
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

In the past Asa faced a large forces of Ethiopians and Lubim as enemies, but God gave strength to: win from enemies/problems. In the past Asa only had small army, he had no power, but when facing a large forces of Ethiopians and Lubim as enemies, Asa only put his hope and solemn in God, such that God gave the power to win over the enemies/whatever the problems. But after that, Asa made war again, he hired the other force and this was his foolish. Let us! Not financial, not wealth, not foolishness, not infirmity, but God looks at the zeal.

Deuteronomy 8:18
18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

In zeal, God gives us power to get wealth especially spiritual wealth, i.e. the opening secret of the Word. Besides He gives the spiritual wealth, He will also give carnal blessing to care us. Maybe as a human we have 8 persons as the member of our family, but the congregation only three persons >>> how can we life? We must be solemnly and do not leave the congregation and go to another place >>> you will not be cared if you leave the congregation even it is only three persons. But if you are solemn like David who had two/three sheeps but he kept them all, he became the king because there was power from God. If we get the spiritual wealth, i.e. the opening secret of the Word, there will be opening ways for everything. The power from God cannot be hindered by man.

1 Thessalonians 3:13
13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

God will establish our hearts to:

1. stand facing the sins >>> we keep the righteous live.
2. face the temptation >>> we do not become disappointed and desperate
3. face the false teaching >>> we are not driven up and down. If we have strong heart and solemnly serve God, on Jesus’ second coming we will be renewed and become perfect or we are restored to the Lord’s image to rise (not go down from the earth to perdition) up to Paradise, rise to the New Jerusalem, forever with Him.
   If we are solemn, although there are no more congregations, it does not mean that God does not see that. And although we still have to rent the church building or it has to be made from boards, God does not see that. But God sees our zeal such that we will get extra power from the Holy Communion/Christ’s sacrifice to make us win, we will be cared by God with spiritual and carnal blessings until we become perfect on Jesus’ second coming.

God bless us.