Bible Study Service in Malang, January 30, 2020 (Thursday Evening)

From the record of the Bible Study Service in Medan

Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Song of Solomon 2:3
2:3 THE SHULAMITE Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

An apple tree has many branches. It is leafy. The flowers are fragrant and the fruits are sweet. It refers to Jesus Himself in the glory as the Heavenly Bridegroom or the place where we can be shaded in the midst of the dry wilderness of the world.
The apple tree is among the trees of the woods, namely all things in the world beside Jesus such as money, men, and so on, which only cause the fleshly lust and will. Consequently, one cannot love God; even he falls and rises in sins up to the peak.

Thus, we must face two choices, namely the apple tree (Jesus Himself) or the trees of the woods (all things which are outside Jesus).

Unfortunately, Judas Iscariot chose the trees of the woods.
Acts 1:17-18
1:17 "for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry."
1:18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and
falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

Judas Iscariot fell headlong (he embraced the earth). It means loving the world with all of its contents, not loving God, or turning his back to God.

Jeremiah 2:27
2:27 Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, 'Arise and save us.'

1 John 2:15-17
2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The facts found in embracing the earth or loving the world are as follows:
  1. Following the lust of the eyes or the fleshly sight until sacrificing the spiritual things to get the physical ones. Consequently, one falls in the sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse.

  2. Following the fleshly lusts or wills or being without the anointing of Holy Spirit. Consequently, one falls in the sins concerning marrying-being given in marriage or the adultery with all of its kinds, sexual deviation, and the wrong marriage.

  3. The pride of life or relying something in the world more than God. One does not rely on God anymore; even he becomes disobedient.
Judas Iscariot refers to the servant of God who does not love Him, but the world. Consequently, he falls in the lusts of the eyes, the ones of the flesh, and the pride of life. Moreover, the dangerous thing is that all of them are hidden, made spiritual, and covered by the spiritual things. Judas pretended to care for the poor people and kiss Jesus. Nevertheless, someday all rotten things will be revealed by God for sure. All sins will be revealed by God, but there is no more forgiveness.

The servant of God or the congregation who only has the physical sight will also be deceived by the appearance of the servant of God who is like Judas Iscariot for sure.

Therefore, let us hope that God gives the sword of the Word which is sharper than any two-edged sword in every service to Him to reveal the hidden sins. So, we can realize, regret, and confess our sins to God and others. After being forgiven, we do not commit the sin anymore. We can live in righteousness and holiness until we are perfect when Jesus comes a second time.

Acts 22:25
22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"

Paul the apostle was bound with thongs or looking at the heaven. It is the same as turning the back to the world and always looking at Jesus, who sits at the right side of the throne of Father God, although Paul had to face the cross and the sufferings in the world.

The facts found in being bound with thongs or looking at Jesus are as follows:
  1. Willingly undergoing the death and resurrection experience with Jesus.
    Colossians 2:20
    2:20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--

    Colossians 3:1
    3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

    It begins from the water baptism. The true water baptism means that one who has died to sin must be buried in water with Jesus and raised with Him in the new life, namely the righteous life. We dare to live in righteousness although it is not in line with the world (we turn our back to the world).

  2. Obeying God, regardless of any risks we must take.
    1 John 2:17
    2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.


  3. Persevering in the worship prayer.
    It begins from persevering in the three main services to God which peak on the perseverance in the worship prayer.

    • The Golden Candlestick or the perseverance in doing the General Service to get the fellowship with Holy Spirit God in the anointing and gifts.
    • The Table of Showbread or the perseverance in doing the Bible Study Service with the Holy Communion to get the fellowship with the Son of God in the true teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ.

    • The Golden Altar of Incense or the perseverance in doing the Prayer Service to get the fellowship with Father God in His love.
      The Word and Holy Spirit encourage us to worship God.

    Acts 1:14
    1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

    Acts 2:1-4
    2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
    2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
    2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
    2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

    If we persevere in the worship prayer, we will be able to love God more than anything and to love others like we love ourselves; even we can love our enemy.
    And, Holy Spirit will be poured out, so we get the anointing and fullness of Holy Spirit; even Holy Spirit overflows in our life.

    The functions of Holy Spirit are as follows:

    • Sanctifying us, the Gentiles, from the characteristics of dog and swine, so we can be the sweet-smelling aroma before God.
      Romans 15:16
      15:16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.


    • Renewing us from the fleshly men to the spiritual ones like Jesus.
      Titus 3:5
      3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

      The ears become good, namely only hearing and obeying the true teaching Word.
      The mouth becomes good, namely only saying the good and righteous words as well as testifying about the Good News to the people who have not believed Jesus yet so that they can be saved and about the Bride Tidings to those who have been saved so that they can be sanctified and perfected.

      Mark 7:34,37
      7:34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."
      7:37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

      If the ears and mouth are good, all things will be good and all ways will be opened to finish all problems. There is a beautiful and successful future life. The door of the heavenly kingdom will be opened when Jesus comes a second time. We can sit with the Lord on the heavenly throne forever.
God blesses you.