Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have learned in the New Year Eve Service that there are three things that must be paid attention toin facing the new year as follows:
We take an example in Exodus 2: 29 that refers to the ministry in the shepherding.
Exodus 2:9
2:9. Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him.
The ministry in the shepherding is like Moses' mother nursing Moses.
The sign is in the resurrection atmosphere.
Previously, Moses' mother was afraid to breast-feed Moses. But, she experienced resurrection atmosphere after Pharaoh's daughter said to her to nurse Moses.
The signs of resurrection atmosphere are as follows:
The position of life who ministers in the shepherding is under the strong hands of God (God's merciful hand which is as strong as the death), although he is like a hair only.
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,
Song of Solomon 8:6
8:6. THE SHULAMITE TO HER BELOVED Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.
A baby who is sealed in the heart and hand of God which is as strong as the death cannot be charged against by anything.
The results are as follows:
God blesses us.
We have learned in the New Year Eve Service that there are three things that must be paid attention toin facing the new year as follows:
- We must face the great earthquake physically and spiritually, namely the world with all of its influences such as business, pseudo joy, distress, difficulties, wickedness, uncleanness, et cetera.
Revelation 6: 12-17
6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
6:13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree dropsits late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
6:14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
6:16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
6:17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
The earthquake spiritually causes the things as follows:- Verse 12-13 = the darkness in the world (the sun becomes black as sackcloth, the moon becomes like blood, and the star of heaven falls to the earth) = THE CRISIS OF HOPE.
The sun refers to God the Father, the moon refers to Son of God, and the star refers to Holy Spirit God.
The sun becomes black as sackcloth, the moon becomes like blood, and the star of heaven falls to the earth means that the servant and the minister of God are separated from the trinity of God or near the world or the trinity of Satan.
The consequence is living in the darkness of sin up to the peak, namely wickedness, bitterness, and uncleanness or the sins concerning eating drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
The sin of eating drinking= smoking, getting drunk, drugs abuse.
The sin of marrying and giving in marriage= sexual sin with all of its kinds. - Verse 14 = the great shaking that happens on the earth = THE CRISIS OF FAITH.
The trials in all aspects make the church, the servant and the minister of God move from faith to God or true teaching word, and use their own way.
One looks for the way which is not according to the word of God in his work, marriage, and all things, so he truly goes to the stalemate and perdition. - Verse 15-17= fear= THE CRISIS OF LOVE OR DISOBEDIENCE.
There are many people who live in fear of something until having no fear of God (they are against God or disobey Him).
The way out is that we must be shepherded, namely perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God, so we receive the light of faith, hope, and love.
As a result, our life will be counted. A hair is counted by God.
God's merciful hand is able to take care of and protect all of us up to the age of antichrist, even to the eternal life, although we are just a powerless hair. - Verse 12-13 = the darkness in the world (the sun becomes black as sackcloth, the moon becomes like blood, and the star of heaven falls to the earth) = THE CRISIS OF HOPE.
- The wind does not blow on the earth.
Revelation 7: 1
7:1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
It refers to THE CRISIS OF CONSECRATION OR THE SERVICE and MINISTRY.
There are many servants of God who become unfaithful in ministering God and leave the ministry. They are unwilling and unable to minister to God.
The consequence is being in vain or useless and cast to the outer darkness.
The way out is that we have to become the servant of God who ministers to Him faithfully and fervently, faithfully and well, and faithfully and obediently.
As a result, we will receive the defense of God.
Jonathan was faithful and obedient, but he tasted a little honey with the end of the rod.
There was a little sin, namely sin of feeling.
Our feeling must be purified, so there is no more hatred and wrong love.
David was also faithful and obedient, but he loved other's wife, so he fell into a big sin namely committing adultery and killing Bathsheba's husband.
Jonathan had a little sin and David fell into big sin. Both of them were faithful and obedient, so they experienced the defense and lifting up of God.
A hair will not fall. A hair that has become in decay is still able to be restored to become life in righteousness, produce fragrance, receive the eternal life, and become as the blowing wind again.
The result is being happy and fresh (Matthew 26).
This is the wind that blows. We are used to bring fragrance, life, freshness, and peace to the world that has been dry and destroyed. We are blown by God wherever He sends us. - We are sealed by God until we become His bride who cannot be charged against by anything.
Revelation 7:2-8
7:2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,
7:3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
7:5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
7:6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7:7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
7:8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
God will seal us in messy, shaky, and full of difficulty situation which is like a hair in the midst of waves. We have to keep strong and of good courage. Do not retreat! God is sealing us and it cannot be charged against by anything.
2018 IS THE YEAR OF SEALING.
It is the door of either eternal life or perdition forever.
We take an example in Exodus 2: 29 that refers to the ministry in the shepherding.
Exodus 2:9
2:9. Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him.
The ministry in the shepherding is like Moses' mother nursing Moses.
The sign is in the resurrection atmosphere.
Previously, Moses' mother was afraid to breast-feed Moses. But, she experienced resurrection atmosphere after Pharaoh's daughter said to her to nurse Moses.
The signs of resurrection atmosphere are as follows:
- There are no more fear and worry, especially about daily life. We do not fear to sacrifice for God.
- We always give thanks to God. We do not grumble but live in tenderness.
- We do not think about physical wage but dedication.
We do our duty without demanding the right like Jesus.
God will not lie to us. Our right is in His hands.
There are three kinds of right for the servant of God, namely eating-drinking, marrying, and wages.
1 Corinthians 9:4-7
9:4. Do we have no right to eat and drink?
9:5. Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
9:6. Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
9:7. Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
God will fully give our right.
Our obligation is glorifying God, not embarrassing Him, so our right and wages are in His hand. God gives it a hundred percent up to eternal life. God never lies.
1 Peter 5:3
5:3. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; - Becoming the pattern, not being lords over others or forcing or threatening.
We become the pattern in three things as follows:- The pattern of faith.
Hebrews 13:7
13:7. Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
The fact of becoming the pattern of faith is living in righteousness and holding fast the true teaching word.
Hebrews 13:8-9
13:8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
13:9. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
We are also steadfast in temptation. We only trust and hope in God. - The pattern of the renewal of life.
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.
The pattern of the renewal of life starts from not being afraid to confess our sin. - The pattern of love, namely obeying God until the flesh does not sound anymore.
- The pattern of faith.
The position of life who ministers in the shepherding is under the strong hands of God (God's merciful hand which is as strong as the death), although he is like a hair only.
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,
Song of Solomon 8:6
8:6. THE SHULAMITE TO HER BELOVED Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.
A baby who is sealed in the heart and hand of God which is as strong as the death cannot be charged against by anything.
The results are as follows:
- We receive all things from God.
God's merciful hand which is as strong as the death will provide all of our daily needs in the middle of the difficulties in the world until the time when the antichrist reigns over the world up to eternal life. - God's merciful hand which is as strong as the death lifts us up. He makes all things beautiful and successful in His time. He uses us in the ministry of the building of the perfect body of Christ.
The hand of God purifies and changes us up to perfection like Him when He comes a second time on the glorious clouds. We receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
God blesses us.