Rev. Jusak Widjaja Hendra - WR Supratman 4 Sby
We
will still discuss the end part of the epistle of Jude in verse 24
and 25.
Jude 1:24-25
1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
1:25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
It is said in verse 24 "to present" that means to lead. This verse is the appearance of Jesus as a Shepherd covering us so we do not stumble or go astray but He leads us faultless, glorious, and perfect as He is. He appears as the Shepherd and we have to become shepherded sheep in the sheepfold.
I often show in Tabernacle that the sheepfold refers to the Holy Place, in which there are three equipments, namely golden candlestick (http://www.gptkk.org/tabernacle_golden+candlestick.html), table of showbread (http://www.gptkk.org/tabernacle_table+of+showbread.html), and golden altar of incense (http://www.gptkk.org/tabernacle_the+golden+altar+of+incense.html). They refer to perseverance in committing three main services to the Lord, namely perseverance in committing General Service, Bible Study Service and Holy Communion, and Prayer Service. We have to take heed to our perseverance in the sheepfold because Jesus has become our Shepherd.
We are lead to live in the sheepfold with the perseverance in committing three main services to the Lord, and Jesus appears as our Shepherd three times. We can see the justice of God in this matter.
The three appearances of Jesus as Shepherd are as follows:
4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
The five examples make us remember the five wounds of Jesus. Thus, the example or the life of Jesus is shined in our life if we have the five examples. It is the ministry to get the crown of glory.
The requirements of receiving the crown of glory are as follows:
1 Peter 5:5-6
5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
Comparing with these verses!
Song of Solomon 8:1,3
8:1 Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.
8:3 (TO THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM) His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.
The mighty hand is the right hand embracing us, meaning the hand of God is able to do all things we are not able to do. It is as a baby who is not able to eat by him/herself but the mother's hand will do it.
Maybe you find it is difficult now in economy, you should do these things:
God blesses you.1
Jude 1:24-25
1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
1:25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
It is said in verse 24 "to present" that means to lead. This verse is the appearance of Jesus as a Shepherd covering us so we do not stumble or go astray but He leads us faultless, glorious, and perfect as He is. He appears as the Shepherd and we have to become shepherded sheep in the sheepfold.
I often show in Tabernacle that the sheepfold refers to the Holy Place, in which there are three equipments, namely golden candlestick (http://www.gptkk.org/tabernacle_golden+candlestick.html), table of showbread (http://www.gptkk.org/tabernacle_table+of+showbread.html), and golden altar of incense (http://www.gptkk.org/tabernacle_the+golden+altar+of+incense.html). They refer to perseverance in committing three main services to the Lord, namely perseverance in committing General Service, Bible Study Service and Holy Communion, and Prayer Service. We have to take heed to our perseverance in the sheepfold because Jesus has become our Shepherd.
We are lead to live in the sheepfold with the perseverance in committing three main services to the Lord, and Jesus appears as our Shepherd three times. We can see the justice of God in this matter.
The three appearances of Jesus as Shepherd are as follows:
- As
Good Shepherd
John 10:11
10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
It means He suffered even died for His sheep so the sheep are covered and do not stumble.
1 Peter 2:21
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
In shorts, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life to give us His example through the step of death and resurrection. We only need to follow the example He gives, and we will not go astray.
The facts found in following the example or step of death and resurrection He has given us are as follows:
1 Peter 2:22-24
2:22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
- The
fact found in the example of death is being dead to sin as follows:
- Not
sinning.
- There
is no deceit found in mouth.
- Being
reviled but not reviling in return = not repaying evil for evil
but repaying good for evil.
1 Peter 2:24-25
2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
- Not
sinning.
- The
fact found in the step of resurrection is living for righteousness
(nothing may be not righteous) as follows:
- Righteousness
at school, not cheating in exam.
- No
corruption in working.
- Righteousness
in driving vehicle, not breaking the rule.
- Having
citizen card.
All things have to be righteous, beginning from the little ones because the way in righteousness is Jesus' way.
- Righteousness
at school, not cheating in exam.
If we have followed Jesus' step as the Good Shepherd who has died and resurrected to open the way for us, namely the way of death and resurrection, through being dead to sin and living in righteousness until we do not stumble, we will get these results:
- "by
whose stripes you were healed" means we are healed from
bodily disease, and disease or problem in economy, study, and
marriage if we want to follow Jesus' step, namely living in
righteousness, so the power of His stripes may heal us.
Likewise, spiritual disease in our heart, in form of broken heart and hopeless one will be healed as long as we return to Jesus' step, namely the step of death and resurrection.
In shorts, the result of the resurrection step is the power of healing from bodily disease and spiritual one.
- "For
you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
As long as we are in the step of Jesus, Good Shepherd, in the death and resurrection, He will preserve our life in the world physically and spiritually with peace and joy.
Do not be afraid because of the world which is described as a desert in which it is difficult to sow and to reap. God has already made a way to preserve our life physically and spiritually as long as we walk on it. On the contrary, not being on the way of God, one will find difficulties in his life because he cannot walk, not mention to sow and reap.
- If
we are on the way of Jesus' death and resurrection, we will
never stumble. It is fair; if we are shepherded in three kinds
of service to the Lord, He as our Shepherd will show Himself three
times. The Good Shepherd must die to make a way for us in the
middle of difficulties in the world. Let us walk on the way of
death and resurrection because there is no other way.
13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
13:21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- The
fact found in the example of death is being dead to sin as follows:
- As
Great Shepherd
Jesus has died, risen, and ascended to heaven.
What for does He ascended to heaven? "make you complete in every good work to do His will" (verse 21) is the task of the Great Shepherd.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, must die and create a way for us so we will not go astray and stumble but be preserved and healed.
After there is a way, the Great Shepherd gives us equipment in our journey.
For example, if we will make a journey to go to our hometown, we need equipment to pay the fare, et cetera. In spiritual life Great Shepherd completes us with spiritual equipment, namely every good work.
What is the function of the good work?
There are three kinds of good work as follows:
- Good
conscience
The target of shepherding system is our heart.
Moses had studied in Egypt for forty years, referring to having Doctoral degree now, but he was failed when he was going to serve God in facing two peoples who were in strife, that he killed one of them, who was an Egyptian. In such condition, Moses wanted to serve God with his intelligence, but he was failed and ran away to Midian, becoming a shepherd. He turned from a doctor to a shepherd, referring to his entering into shepherding system.
Both the clever and the unwise can be employed by God because God does not see the intelligence. He forms our heart in shepherding to become good conscience, namely obedient heart to the voice of Shepherd or shepherding Word. We will go astray although there is a way from God but we do not have the good conscience. Therefore, do not hear strange voice because it deceives. Having obedient heart to the voice of Shepherd or shepherding Word, we will live in holiness so we will not stumble.
1 Peter 1:22a
1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren.
Living in righteousness and holiness, we will not fall into sin.
Thus, it is not enough that Jesus only appears as Good Shepherd giving us way which is free of stumbling, and guarantee for the preservation of our life. One whose heart is not good may choose other ways because the voice comes from outside often sounds better.
- Ministry
(after we live in holiness)
Ephesians 4:11-12
4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
After we have obedient heart and holy life, God gives us the equipment. I really like this verse because we do have hope. If God says that He will equip the clever, or the rich, so the fool and the poor will be in danger because of having no equipment. As the matter of fact, He equips the holy with ministry, no matter the intelligence, and the riches but the obedience, and the holiness.
The ministry is said in Genesis as Joseph's tunic of many colors. Not all men can have it because Joseph's eleven brothers could not have it but only Joseph had it because he lived in holiness and was shepherded.
Let us now have the tunic of many colors, referring to ministry, because our life has not become beautiful if we do not have it, even our life may become naked or ashamed.
Therefore, we have to ask God that we may have the ministry and be shepherded well as the sons of God with our living in holiness and obedience, so our life will become beautiful.
What are we given the ministry for? To make us enter into the building of perfect Christ's body or His bride. Having no ministry, one will enter into the building of perfect Babel's body to perish.
There are only two kinds of spiritual growth in the world as follows:
- the
building of perfect Christ's body in holiness to become God's
bride.
- the
building of perfect Babel's body in uncleanness to become the
bride of Satan.
Let us now be earnest because God has already shown Himself to cover and lead us so we do not stumble. Flowing from that, we have to become shepherded sheep by following His way as follows:
- the
way Good Shepherd, namely the way of death and resurrection, so we
can live in righteousness and be preserved well.
- the
way of Great Shepherd, and He gives us the equipment, namely good
conscience which is obedient, so we can live holily and be given
the ministry. Let us now minister God in the building of Christ's
body, otherwise we are employed in building Babel's body.
The equipments are sequential. We can get the ministry after we live holily because we have the tunic of many colors. Afterward, we are given the next equipment because it is not enough only having the tunic. One maybe does not put on the tunic anymore like Esau did not put on his tunic, referring to not ministering anymore, because of hunting. He could put it on after he went home, and so on, until someday he could not put it on anymore. It was so dangerous. You and I, who have had the tunic must be alert, and we need the next equipment as follows.
- the
building of perfect Christ's body in holiness to become God's
bride.
- The
power of Holy Spirit
Luke 24:49
24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
What is the function of the power of Holy Spirit? To make us faithful and fervent in spirit in serving and ministering so we do not want to leave it and stumble but we are getting firmer in committing the call and election we have. There will be many people who stumble and have great consequences, so we need the power of Holy Spirit to anoint and help us because our flesh is easy to get bored.
2 Peter 1:10-11
1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thus, the ministry is our full entrance ticket to heavenly kingdom.
Being more unfaithful, the right of entrance will decrease. Comparing with a percentage, the full right is one hundred percent. If we are faithful one hundred percent, our right is one hundred percent also. Students of university understand well about the attendance list because it will determine whether they can get the exam or not. It is as the heavenly kingdom. Being more unfaithful, the right of entrance will decrease. Leaving the ministry, the right will be nil, meaning there is no right to enter into heavenly kingdom at all like Esau who cried bitterly. It is very tragic that many people will stumble in front of the door of heavenly kingdom because of being unfaithful and leaving the service and ministry.
Let you who have not ministered God yet ask Him to give the ministry, and you who have already ministered also ask Him to give the third equipment, namely Holy Spirit to make us faithful and fervent in spirit. Let you who have been weak be zealous again so you do not stumble in front of the door of heavenly kingdom that is a tragedy.
Christians should not wander but be shepherded because Jesus has shown Himself as the Shepherd who wants to overshadow us to make us not stumble but may enter into the perfection or pass through the door of heavenly kingdom. Let us become shepherded sheep through entering into the sheepfold in which we commit three main services so we can experience the three times of Jesus' appearance as the Shepherd. It is so fair.
Afterward, Jesus the Great Shepherd gives us the equipment of the tunic of many colors to make our life beautiful because we walk together with Him until we can enter into the door of heavenly kingdom.
- Good
conscience
- As
Chief Shepherd
1 Peter 5:4
5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd who will come a second time from heaven to grant us the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The requirements of having the crown of glory are as follows:
- Serving
and ministering God without compulsion but willingly according to
God's will.
1 Peter 5:1-3
5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
"willingly" means there is willfulness to suffer in the ministry together with Jesus. There is no compulsion if we are willful. It there is compulsion, one will fade away because there is characteristic of flesh. The crown of glory does not fade away because fading away is the characteristic of flesh or leaf. Serving and ministering God with compulsion means fading away and not reaching the glory. On the other hand, there will be thanksgiving, no murmuring or grumbling if we minister God willingly.
Actually, we are not worthy to suffer together with Jesus, not mention to enter into the heavenly kingdom. Therefore, the disciples, as it is said in Acts, felt happy although they were in prison because they knew that they were counted worthy to suffer together with Jesus. We will be glorified if we are counted worthy to suffer together with Jesus.
Acts 5:40-41
5:40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
The apostles rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. Being counted worthy to suffer, one must be counted worthy to be glorified.
Therefore, let us now minister earnestly and willingly as follows:
- being
willing to suffer together with Jesus.
- being
joyful because of being counted worthy to suffer together with
Jesus.
- having
hope to be counted worthy to receive the glory or to have the
crown of glory.
Thus, we have to give thanks when we suffer in ministering God.
- being
willing to suffer together with Jesus.
- Not
for dishonest gain such as money, position, et cetera, but eagerly,
meaning we are willing to sacrifice.
1 Peter 5:2b
5:2 not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
We have to be willing to sacrifice all things such as time, energy, money, et cetera, for our ministry because Jesus has already sacrificed his soul for us.
Now, there are many false teachings which teach about worldly gain in ministry. It is so dangerous because there is no dedication.
The work which needs greatest dedication is as a priest or a teacher. Nevertheless, there are many teachers make demonstration to insist their rights. It means the dedication has been removed. Therefore, there are only the priests of God who have the dedication. If they begin to insist, all dedications will go away. Likewise, the servants of God such as the musicians, or other ministers should not insist.
Let us now be earnest because all of us, beginning with me, are corrected by God. What is the purpose of my coming to Surabaya? It will be dangerous if I go to Surabaya for physical gain because I will stumble in front of the door of heavenly kingdom.
- Being
examples
1 Peter 5:3
5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
The Lord uses many ways to make us suffered as the test for us as follows:
- Do
we grumble or not when we suffer? If we give thanks when we
suffer, we have already passed the test.
- We
minister with dedication if we do not seek physical gain but
eagerly.
- We
become examples in the ministry in shepherding to get the wage of
the crown of glory.
For example, we smoked but now we do not smoke anymore or we liked to say unclean or rude words to other people but now we do not say it anymore.
There is no reason of not having the life renewal as long as we want to receive God's word earnestly.
- Do
we grumble or not when we suffer? If we give thanks when we
suffer, we have already passed the test.
It is as Paul who was the chief of sinners but he could be an example.
1 Timothy 1:15-16
1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
This is the epistle Paul wrote to Timothy, who is a youth. Paul was not doubtful or ashamed to write to his student, confessing that he was the chief of sinners. It is a kind of being example.
How many leaders who have committed sins but they do not want to confess their sins even blame other people? How many husbands who have committed sin but they hit the children or got angry to the wives in order to cover their sins?
Thus, the life renewal begins with confessing sins. As long as a man does not want to confess his sins, he has not renewed yet but being fleshly man still. Confessing sins and being forgiven, do not do the sins anymore. It is the life renewal.
- Serving
and ministering God without compulsion but willingly according to
God's will.
4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
The five examples make us remember the five wounds of Jesus. Thus, the example or the life of Jesus is shined in our life if we have the five examples. It is the ministry to get the crown of glory.
The requirements of receiving the crown of glory are as follows:
- Serving
and ministering God without compulsion but willingly
- Not
for dishonest gain such as money, position, et cetera, but eagerly
- Being
examples
1 Peter 5:5-6
5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
Comparing with these verses!
Song of Solomon 8:1,3
8:1 Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.
8:3 (TO THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM) His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.
The mighty hand is the right hand embracing us, meaning the hand of God is able to do all things we are not able to do. It is as a baby who is not able to eat by him/herself but the mother's hand will do it.
Maybe you find it is difficult now in economy, you should do these things:
- Return to the shepherding, and you can see the Good Shepherd in the way of death and resurrection.
- Afterward, we see the Great Shepherd, so we can minister God by putting on the tunic of ministry.
- Then,
we see the Chief Shepherd. Our ministry must be corrected to be in
righteousness always, so we live in the embrace of God.
- The
hand of God is able to do all things we are not able to do. Maybe we
are facing temptations or problems now. Let us surrender to Him
because He is able to settle them all.
- The
hand of God will exalt us in due time. Maybe we are in the valley
such as the valley of difficulties, and the valley of sins now.
There are many people despising us, and we are like a wheel which is
in the lowest part. The wheel will be turned so we can be in the
highest part because the hand of God will glorify us, both in the
world and on the glorious clouds. We get the crown of glory and see
the Lord forever.
God blesses you.1