Rev. Jusak Widjaja Hendra - WR Supratman 4 Sby
On the other hands, the true churches bow more when they are more fulfilled. In fact, coarse grasses grow taller. This is the difference between the true churches, which give priority to the true teaching word, and the false ones, which do not put the true teaching word in the main place. The result of the true churches’ attitude toward the word of God is they will be harvested in the barn. Barn is the description of the kingdom of 1000 years of peace/ paradise until the barn of everlasting kingdom of heaven.
There are four kinds of false churches. They are:
- Churches which are not shepherded > verse 4
- Churches which are based on the law of Moses > vs. 5
- Churches of Satan as Sodom and Gomorrah > vs. 6&7
- Fleshly churches > starting from vs. 8
We will continue reading Jude. 1: 17-19 > fleshly churches
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would
walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
These are the signs of fleshly churches:
- They are mockers > vs. 18
- They are sensual persons, who cause divisions (troublemakers) > vs. 19
We will discuss the first part, which is about mockers. We will also look up
what things which are mocked in 2 Peter 3: 3-6
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking
according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of
old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
From the verses above it is clear that the fleshly churches mock the word of God, which is about the second coming of Jesus as the King of all kings and the Bridegroom of heaven. We know this word as the true teaching word.
I always tell that there are two kinds of preaching of the word of God, namely:
- The gospel of salvation > Ephesians 1: 13 states about
the first coming of Jesus who has died on the cross to redeem the sins of
men. The main object of the gospel of salvation is sinners. The gospel of
salvation touches the sinners so that they can believe in Jesus and be saved.
The example is my family and I. We did not know who Jesus is because we are
not Christians. However, we were able to believe in Jesus and be saved since
we heard about the gospel of salvation. This is the description of the gospel
of salvation. Paul called it breast milk.
- The true teaching word. That is, the word of God that tells about the glory
of Christ and the second coming of Jesus in glory as the King of all kings
and also the Bridegroom of heaven. Jesus’ second coming does not have
something to do with sins. Thus, the true teaching word sanctifies and glorifies
our lives as Jesus is perfect.
In short, the false churches mock the promise about His return as the king of all kings and the Bridegroom of heaven. They mock it because everything is just the same as in the past and nothing is changed.
Now, we are going to discuss the second part. It is about the performance of
fleshly churches as troublemakers > Jude 1: 19 These are sensual persons,
who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Troublemakers live without Holy Spirit (= refuse the ointment of Holy Spirit).
The mockers reject the true teaching word and troublemakers live without Holy
Spirit/ refuse the ointment of Holy Spirit. In conclusion, the fleshly churches
are people who reject the true teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy
Spirit. It is stated in Hebrew 4: 12-13 that the true teaching word is the word
of God which is sharper than any two-edged sword.
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.
Vs. 12 > the true teaching word= sword=Thummim. Mockers refuse the true
teaching word/ sword
Vs. 13 > all things are opened=light=Holy Spirit.
As a conclusion, the fleshly churches are people who reject the true teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit or the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying. These are several terms that we have to know so we do not include in the group of fleshly churches.
John 6: 60
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
The verse above is an evidence for us that the churches of God need the true
teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit or the word of God which
is sharper than two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying. However,
we have to be careful because there will be a lot of people who are not able
to hear the true teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit or the
word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword/ the word of God which is
hard saying. I hope we can understand it.
Next, we will see what the contents of the true teaching word are. The fleshly
churches refuse the true teaching word. They murmur about the contents of the
true teaching word, even about the time which, according to them, is too long.
We have heard nowadays that men’s ability to hear the word of God is only
for 45 minutes. Nevertheless, I have taught in senior high school and university.
It is the fact that there is a limitation of age, time, etc for hearing knowledge.
However, if there is the ointment of Holy Spirit in the word of God, Holy Spirit
will be unlimited. Holy Spirit cannot be limited by time and ability. I hope
we can understand it.
Now, we will discuss the contents of the true teaching word/ the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword which is often rejected.
2 Timothy 4: 2
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
These are the contents of the true teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit or the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying:
- Convincing/revealing wrong thing. It means the word of
God pointing hidden sins in the congregation. We often do not know that something
is sin. Thus, we need the true teaching word. Perhaps there is a term of lying
for goodness to avoid fighting/ quarreling. It seems good, yet in the true
teaching word’s point of view we know that actually it is wrong.
The true teaching word, which reveals hidden sins in the congregation, helps us to realize and regret and also confess our sins so that we are forgiven by the blood of Jesus or we are not punished. This is the importance of the true teaching word in the ointment of Holy Spirit or the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword. After realizing our sins, we may not laugh, yet we have to regret and confess our sins and the blood of Jesus forgives us and we are not punished. It also means that we are free from death for the reward of sins is death. It will be useless if we are blessed and know about heaven, yet we hide sins. Consequently, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. We should pray so that the preaching of the word of God does not only show the glory of heaven or blessings and miracles, but it shows hidden sins.
If sins are revealed, the presence of God will be in the middle of the congregation. Therefore, for shepherds, including me, we may not hide sins even though the congregation does not know it. If a shepherd hides sins and pretends to be good, the presence of God will be hidden and only God who knows his hidden sins. It also happens when the congregation hides sins and thinks that the shepherd will not know it because they pretend to be good and faithful. Consequently, God hides His presence and the congregation will not feel God’s touching which is God’s help.
God says in Isaiah 59: 1-2
1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
It is clear that the true teaching word which points our sins is very important to invite the presence of God in the congregation. If there is a presence of God we will be led step by step: after this, we are led to do whatever we want according to Him. In conclusion, if we always stumble here and there, it means that God still hides His presence because we still hide our sins. So do the shepherds. If your ministries stumble back and forth, it indicates that the presence of God is hidden. Thus, if God reveals our sins now, we should confess our sins even though they are hidden. As a result, there will be the presence of God. I hope we can feel the contents of the true teaching word.
- ‘Rebuke everything which is wrong’ > the
true teaching word rebukes to help us stop sinning and we can back to God’s
will= repent. Mostly, we confess our sins in church, but after a while we
are outside the church, we do the old sins again. Thus, we have to be rebuked
continually. As long as we keep sinning, the true teaching word will come
as hard rebuking and if it happens steadily we will not be able to endure
the hard true teaching word. However, if we are willing to stop sinning, the
true teaching word will become an advice.
- ‘Advice’. We have to be serious in hearing
the true teaching word, nowadays, because the mockers and troublemakers refuse
the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword. Nevertheless, now we
should receive the true teaching word so that we can confess our sins and
repent and the true teaching word becomes advice for us which is the guidance
hands of God to help us stay in truth and holiness, not back to the old sins,
until we are perfect. The advice will also become solution from God and it
cannot be hindered by Satan. Where there is sin, there is Satan. We want to
do goodness yet we keep sinning, Satan will hinder and destroy us. However,
if God has led us-we live in truth and holiness-, we will find solution from
God to resolve our problems and Satan cannot hinder us. When the wise men
met Jesus in His born day, they were advised-through a dream- not to come
back to Herod, yet walked on another way which was without Herod.
Why are we always stumbled and locked in problems even though we have received the true teaching word? We may not blame the true teaching word since it is not wrong and does not need revision at all. We have to correct our attitudes, whether or not the true teaching word is still rebuking for us. If the true teaching word is still a rebuking for us and we keep sinning so that the true teaching word becomes harder for us, we will not be able to endure it. Nevertheless, if we follow the true teaching word and it has already become an advice for us, we will be able to pick the fruit and tell about how great the true teaching word is because it gives solution to our problems. However, the fleshly churches reject this true teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit/ the word of God which is sharper than the two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying. We must not follow them, yet we have to stay in the true teaching word. As a result, God will help us.
John 6:60
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
Vs. 60 > rejecting > the attitudes of fleshly churches. When the gospel of salvation was preached, Jesus gave five loaves of bread to five thousand people. Number “5” refers to the Christ sacrifice > the word of God which tells about the sacrifice of Jesus = gospel of salvation. There were five thousand men, excluding women and children. The gospel of salvation promised carnal blessings. So, people saw that Jesus was extraordinary/ wonderful and they felt safe because they did not have to work. But when God wanted to increase their spirituality with hard sayings, most of five thousand people refused it and only twelve men, who were Jesus’ disciples, who received it. However, one of the twelve disciples, that was Judas, refused it and went. Thus, in John 6:60 it is written that many people rejected it.
There will be happen the same event as Judas. That is, there are some people who will mock and refuse the true teaching word although they have received it previously. In conclusion, not only people who never hear the true teaching word reject it, but also those who have heard it. Thus, we have to be careful nowadays.
Consequences of refusing the true teaching word, which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit/ the word of God which is sharper than the two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying, are:
- John 6:61-63, 66
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Vs. 66 is not a coincidence statement. In John 6:66 we read the word ‘many’. Now we should not look at the numbers of people because it is risky. In Holy Bible, the great numbers of people are meant negatively. I explain about Matthew 24 in Malang. It is stated in Matthew 24 that there were many deceivers, many people were deceived and many people went back and walked with Jesus no more. Thus, we may not be interested in great numbers of people.
In short, the consequence of rejecting the true teaching word, which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit/ the word of God which is sharper than the two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying, is murmuring. It happens because there is no satisfaction so that our spirituality is dry and our faith is shaken (Vs. 61) > 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? If we keep doubting and uncertain, we will get into spiritual death.
In vs. 62 it is said that "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?> it was said by Jesus to His disciples because if their faith were shaken, they would not see Jesus who rose from death and was exalted to heaven. For us now, if our faith is shaken, we will not able to see Jesus’ second coming.
In vs. 66> 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.> went back from the true teaching word, which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit/ the word of God which is sharper than the two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying, = walk with Jesus no more. To go back from the true teaching word means that they follow false teachers and fable. On the other hands, it is impossible for them to stay following Jesus. They are still doing their service and ministries, but they do not follow Jesus due to their rejection toward the true teaching word and they join fables and false prophet.
2 Timothy 4:3, 4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Vs. 3> it is stated that they cannot receive right word. Consequently they go back = do not follow Jesus anymore and in vs. 4 it is stated that they are following false prophets and fables.
Fables are:- Fable is not the word of God because it does not use verses in Holy Bible;
- Fable is not based on the word of God, yet it only contains of jokes;
- Fables is the word of God which is scientific, not revealed;
- Fable is unrevealed word of God (the opening of the secret of the word
is through verses explain verses).
Who do like stories of fables? Children do. So, the spirituality of people who like fables is the same as children. Thus, we have to be careful since besides following false teachers, they also follow this world and their own will. I hope we can understand it and be careful nowadays.
The examples of Gentiles who live without the true teaching word which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit/ the word of God which is sharper than the two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying is a Canaan woman. God said> it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. Frankly speaking, it means “you are dog”. This is the example of true teaching word which is hard saying and points to our conditions.
Before the Gentiles receive the true teaching word, they are not different from dogs. Their lives are like dogs and they are suffering because Satan gets into their life, particularly their marriage (including children). Marriage problems are international problems which cannot be solved by anyone and anything, but the sword/ the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword. For instance is Solomon when he confronted two women who seized a child, he solved the problem with sword. Thus, don’t ever lose this sword. I hope we can understand it.
Nevertheless, as soon as the woman met Jesus she did not murmur. Instead, she confessed that the word of God is true. We have to mirror her attitude toward the word of God that is professing that the word of God is always true.
Matthew 15: 22, 24-26
22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon–possessed.”
24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
When the woman came with her condition, the word of God became hard saying for her. Hence, come on my fellow Gentiles! If you are in sorrow because of your marriage or other problems, seek the sword and do not look for good tidings which cannot solve our problems (it is only able to bless us). Only the sword is able to solve our problems.
What is the attitude of that woman? Matthew 15: 27
27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table."
Right God> this woman did not murmur and reject the word of God. Instead, she profess that it is true.
Professing that the word of God is true= do not have comment or critics to the word of God. Instead, we have to receive and do the word of God.
But dog= confessing that she was, indeed, dog= confessing her condition and faults as dog. The tongue of dog is used to lick his vomit. It means someone who lives or does the same sins repeatedly. However, let us confess our sins to God> it is true that I do these old sins repeatedly and I am like dog. If we confess our sins, we will be sanctified and become sheep. Dog is changed to be sheep. As a result, when the sheep cry, God will hear their prayers and all problems in marriage, economics or other aspects in this life will be solved. However, if we are still dog, our prayer will not be acceptable before God.
If a sheep can only cry, the great Shepherd will soon know and help it. Thus, let us now do these following deeds:- Do not remain to be dog
- Do not murmur
- Do not leave the true teaching word. Instead, we have to profess that the true teaching word is true and receive it until we do it.
- We have to confess as a dog which needs breads> confessing our weaknesses
and sins so that we are sanctified from dog and become sheep. As a result,
sheep which cry to God will be helped by God in solving and answering
problems. I hope we can understand it.
This is the first consequence if we refuse and go back from the word of God. That is, we will be destroyed. Yet, the right attitude is > from dog is helped by God, especially we are the gentiles.
- Do not have two wings of great eagle. If we reject the true teaching word
which is in the ointment of Holy Spirit/ the word of God which is sharper
than the two-edged sword/ the word of God which is hard saying, we will not
have two wings of great eagle, which are the description of the word of God
and Holy Spirit. The word of God in the ointment of Holy Spirit is the two
wings of great eagle. If it is refused, we do not have the two wings of great
eagle and it is dangerous. If we do not have two wings of great eagle we will
have other wings, those are wings of a stork and these wings are antichrist’s
possession.
Zechariah 5: 7-11
7 "Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket";
8 then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth.
9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.
10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they carrying the basket?"
11 And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base."
The wings of antichrist lead us to the land of Shinar. Women refer to churches of God who are led to the land of Shinar. Where is Shinar?
Genesis 11: 2, 9
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.
9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
The wings of a stork / antichrist lead the churches of God to the land of Shinar/ Babylon so that they become women of Babylon/ the bride of antichrist/ Satan- to the peak of filthiness and evil-. However, there are lots of churches which choose the wings of a stork / antichrist whose power is money>
Revelation 17: 3-6
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
Vs. 3> beast with 7 heads and 10 horns> revelation 13 points to antichrist. We have to be careful. If churches of God are only supported by mammon that is wealthy and earthly richness and other earthly thing, they will go to Shinar. On the other hands, if the women are supported by two wings of great eagle, they will be lead to the Jesus’ second coming/ New Jerusalem.
We just choose where we want to be shepherded and held fellowships. For my partners, the servant of God, you have to be painstaking in holding fellowship. We have to have a clear conscience in order to be able to see> ‘I come to the church in Wr Supratman 4 Surabaya or in other fellowship, what do I really want and what does motivate me?’ If I just put the carnally things/ mammon in the main place=I have the wings of a stork and I have been deceived since I am led to the women of Babylon. I hope we can understand it. Thus, we have to be serious, particularly we are as the shepherds> where do we lead the congregation? If we reject the true teaching word we will be proud of carnally things=wings of a stork and go to the Babylon.
You have to pay attention in vs.6 because it is dangerous> I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. Mostly we are like Martha who thinks that ministries are the most important thing. It is wrong. Mary gave priority to the word of Jesus. Consequently, Martha jeered her and said that Mary was only able to sit while she was so busy. The blood of sanctified people and witnesses of Jesus refer to the servants of God who are targeted.
The wings of a stork / women of Babylon is eager to destroy servants of God. So, if we only serve God it will be dangerous because you do not know what motivates you. You may not be proud of yourselves if you are able to serve God. Cain is an example of servants whose ministry was refused by God. Hence, we have to notice the motivation. Then, we can serve God properly.
Satan, indeed, hinders us to serve God. If we are motivated by mammon and not by the power of the word of God, we will go to Babylon. I give example about my motivation to go to Wr Supratman 4 Surabaya> I have to have a clear conscience. I may not be supported by mammon because it will lead me to Babylon. For my partners, servants of God, you have to possess clear conscience in holding fellowship. It is important because there are a lot of people of congregation behind us who have to be led to the right direction. We, the servants of God, have to be responsible for. I hope we can understand it.
If we receive the work of the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword, we will get two wings of a great eagle. I have mentioned the level of having the two wings of great eagle as follows:
- We are sheltered/ protected
- We are supported
- We are given the two wings of great eagle if we are willing to be sanctified.
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.
We have to possess the two wings of great eagle to flee us from the power of mammon, nowadays. There is a term in this world which states that money is everything and churches of God agree and follow this belief. For instance: Jesus whipped the sellers in front of the temple of God. Now, this event will happen again> in churches of God, money becomes everything because lots of people say that churches will not run if there is no money. However, we have to escape from that assumption. We will be evacuated from mammon, which considers that money is everything, by the two wings of great eagle. Moreover, we will flee from antichrist which will rule this world for 3.5 years and stay in the desert.
I will explain slowly how the two wings of great eagle help us to flee from antichrist:
- Now, we are tied by mammon/ money and thought that money is everything. But, now we only rely our hope on God with the two wings of great eagle, we can profess that money is not everything. Instead, we confess that God / the word of God means everything in our lives.
- In the future, we will flee from antichrist which will rule this world
for 3.5 years. We will go to desert and we are blessed directly by God and
we do not rely on this world.
We have to start learning from now on. If everyone says that money is everything we have to say> God is everything/ the word of God is everything. This is meant that we have possessed the two wings of great eagle. These wings will grow until we flee to the desert and do not have something to do with this world. In the desert we will be blessed and waiting for Jesus’ second coming because right after 3.5 years God will return and we will be with Him. I hope we can understand it.
As a conclusion, the consequences of refusing the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword are:
- Murmuring until you go back and walk with Jesus no more. Instead, if we receive the word of God, God will solve our problems=God helps the Gentiles.
- We lost the two wings of great eagle and possess the wings of a stork which lead us to Babylon. However, if we have the two wings of great eagle we will go to the wilderness to wait for His return and we will be with Him in New Jerusalem.
- We do not undergo the reconciliation ministry of the High Priest. If churches refuse the true teaching word/ sword, the High Priest will not be there. I have explained that the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword is Thummim and Urim.
Thummim=sword> Hebrews 4: 12
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.
Urim=light/ Holy spirit> Hebrews 4: 13
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.
In conclusion, the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword= Thummim and Urim which are put on the chest / heart of Aaron, the High Priest. Refusing the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword=rejecting Thummim and Urim=we never feel the presence and reconciliation ministry of the High Priest. If there is the High Priest, there will be Thummim and Urim/ the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword. We may not forget it. If this word is refused, we will not feel the reconciliation ministry of the High Priest/ the presence of High Priest. I hope we can understand it.
How is the reconciliation ministry of the High priest? In Old Testament, Aaron, the High Priest, brought the blood of calf and incense to the most holy place. When he sprinkled the blood 2x7 times, there was happen Shekinah Glory and all sins of the Israelites are forgiven by God. We will read in Old Testament in Leviticus which is titled reconciliation ministry (the day of atonement)
Leviticus 16: 12, 14, 16
12 "Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil.
14 "He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
16 "So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Vs. 12> to the back part of the veil= the most Holy Place. The first reconciliation ministry of Aaron as the High Priest done annually was entering the most holy place and bringing the blood of the calf and incense. Then Aaron sprinkled the blood twice so that there was Shekinah glory and God forgave all sins of Israelites.
Now, the reconciliation in new testament, the High Priest is not Aaron, but Jesus as the High Priest. He is in the true most Holy Place/ the kingdom of heaven/ throne of heaven that is in the right side of God Father. Aaron was High Priest in Tabernacle, which is miniature of the kingdom of heaven.
What are brought by Jesus?
- Blood- His own blood which He got from being death on the cross Hebrews
9: 11, 12
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
- Incence > 1 John 2: 1, 2
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The doctrine of Tabernacle is not based on the Law of Moses, yet it is completed by Jesus> Aaron and Jesus bring the blood and incense. The blood of calf is only for the reconciliation of Israelites’ sins. Meanwhile, the blood of Jesus is for people all over the world, including the Gentiles. Advocate> in Old Testament= one who lifted the intercession prayer. Blood and incense which are brought by Jesus are for reconciliation of sins of people all over the world, including us, the gentiles.
How can we undergo reconciliation ministry? We have to, firstly, undergo the work of the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword/ Thummim and Urim. Those are:
- Pointing our sins
- We regret our sins after realizing the sins
- We confess our sins to God and our fellows. If we are forgiven, we may not do the same sins again. This is what reconciliation means.
Jesus is ready to reconcile our sins. Now, we also have to be ready to receive the work of the word of God which is sharper than two-edged sword and points our sins so that we are able to realize, regret and confess our sins to God and our fellows. As a result, the blood of Jesus forgives us and we may not do these old sins. That is the ministry of reconciliation. If this process is running continuously, the High Priest will be present and the sword will stab us. If this sword always stabs us and we confess our sins, we will be forgiven and not do the old sins until we are not blemish and perfect as God. Thus, don’t have hard heart if the word of God stabs us. Instead, we have to realize and confess our sins to God and our fellows, until we are not blemish when He returns. This is the essential of the presence of the High Priest. If we refuse the true teaching word because it takes a long time, too hard and we do not want to come again, it is our problems. I hope we can understand it.
If we are willing to make peace, we will get the advantages as follows:
- Hebrews 2: 16-18
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Vs. 16> Abraham’s descent> we are sinners who get the mercy of God.
Vs. 17> God has to be a man and die on the cross and shed His blood. If God has made propitiation for our sins, He is able to help us. The word ‘able’ means that His helps cannot be limited with any kind of problems. As long as we remain in our sins, God cannot help us because ‘what separates me from you is your sin’. God is able to help us in the due time>
Hebrews 4: 14, 16
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The first benefit is the High Priest is able to help us by stretching His hands which are full of mercy and had hole of nail.
We may not think that we have been destroyed because God leaves us> No! As long as we are willing to hear the Urim and Thummim, God is still faithful and ready to stretch His mercy hands to help us solving our problems in due time.
A reality of God’s help was taken place in a mountain, referring to Hill of Golgotha. He went up there and prayed because His disciples were confronting storms. In this condition, He became a High Priest. Peter, the senior pastor, was sinking. But God was able to help him in due time. If a person who is sinking is not helped in exact time, he will be totally drowned. However, our high Priest is so painstaking in helping us.
Matthew 14: 23, 29-32
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Vs. 23> hill= hill of Golgotha/ blood, while praying=incense. It indicates that Jesus was in appearance of High Priest who brought blood and incense to help Peter in due time. Vs. 30> blowing of wind=wind of false doctrine which makes people sink. Vs. 31> mercy and faithful hands are stretched out to help Peter, who was sunk, in due time.
This is the demonstration of Jesus’ help for Peter. If God had not helped him in exact time, he would have been dead. Thus, in our condition which is sinking like Peter or even if we have been destroyed, we have to accept the ministry of reconciliation from the High Priest so that:- We can stretch our hands to God
- We can only worship Him
- We can rely on God
Mostly we remember other people, not God. If Peter had not called God, but his friends, he would have been drowned and dead. However, Peter only called a name, that was Jesus, which was able to help him. When we are sinking or in difficulties/ impossibilities, these are tests for us to make us not in doubt but only believe in one name> ‘Jesus, help me!’ and Peter was not drowned. We will not be drown too. I hope we can understand it.
God does not only help us in this world’s wavy sea now, which has a tough competition. In John 21, His disciples were in difficulties to get fish even though the sea was still and they had been experienced in fishing. This is the description of globalization of this world. Globalization cannot be defeated with knowledge and science, but the true teaching word which is often illogical. For a whole night His disciples did not catch any fish, yet God commanded them to throw the net at noon. This is the description of the illogical word of God. However, it is the true teaching word which is to sanctify our mind. If Peter had used his experience as a fisherman and refused to throw the net, he would have been destroyed. Nevertheless, he obeyed God since his thoughts, feelings, and heart were already sanctified by God.
Maybe there were people who thought that Peter was crazy because he throw the net at noon. But if it is the command of the true teaching word, you have to do it whatever the risks are. Nowadays, we feel the wave of difficulties. Let us keep holding Urim and Thummim which are together with the stretched hands of God, which have a power to help us. There is no help outside the Urim and Thummim in confronting the globalization. We have to keep holding the true teaching word since it is never changed and its power also never changed, in past time, now and forever.
- Exodus 32: 30-33
30 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."
31 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!
32 "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin––but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
33 And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
As a conclusion, the positive side of reconciliation ministry is the hands of the High Priest do not only help us, but also write our name on the book of life in the New Jerusalem. When we are propitiated, His hands help us in the due time and write our names on the book of life in the city of New Jerusalem. It is proved by Peter. His name is written in the book of life in New Jerusalem because the names of twelve disciples become the foundation of the city of New Jerusalem. Revelation 21: 14
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Thus, don’t refuse the true teaching word! In the globalization era we do not need to change the true teaching word, but the true teaching is never changed. Then, it depends on our attitudes toward the true teaching word, whether we obey it or not or whether we receive or refuse it. If we are willing to receive Urim and Thummim, God’s hands will be stretched for us.
God blesses us!
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