Good Friday Fellowship in Malang, April 15, 2022 (Friday Evening)

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

Our theme is Job 19:25
19:25. For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;

Jesus has died, so He can stand. We celebrate His death in the Good Friday and His resurrection in the Passover.

Revelation 16:3
16:3. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

We link with the shepherding Word, namely the punishment of the second bowl. The second bowl is the sea water that becomes blood as of a dead man.
Who is the sea water?

Isaiah 57:20-21
57:20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
57:21. "There is no peace," Says my God, "for the wicked."

  1. The sea water refers to the wicked who just casts up mire and dirt. It means fouling the true teaching Word with the sinful deeds up to the peak of sin in deeds, words, sight, et cetera.
    The mire means that one becomes scumbag who is useless for the body of Christ. He just makes the heart of God grieved, the heart of parents sore, and the heart of the shepherd lament

  2. The sea water refers to the wicked who lives without peace or serenity, so he is in hard labor, heavy laden, and tears.
If it continues, the sea water will become blood as of a dead man. It refers to the spiritual death. He is not fervent anymore in the spiritual things such as worship and ministry to God, but he is just fervent to commit sin. He will surely experience the second death in the hell forever.

We give thanks to God. Tonight we celebrate the Good Friday or the death of Jesus on the cross to redeem the wicked or the sinner, so he does not experience the spiritual death up to the second death in the hell forever.

Luke 23:53
23:53. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

Jesus was laid in a tomb because He really died. We celebrate the Good Friday to have the death or the cross experience with Him.
There are four persons who are linked with Jesus' burial as follows:
  1. A woman who anointed Jesus for His burial.
    Mark 14:3,8
    14:3. And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
    14:8. "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.


    She refers to one who has the death or the cross experience with Jesus. The fact is living in the anointing of Holy Spirit.

    Acts 2:36-38
    2:36. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
    2:37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
    2:38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


    The process is as follows:

    • Hearing the Word of God until we know assuredly that Jesus who has been crucified is both Lord and Christ. We hear the Word until we understand (at mind) and believe in it (in the heart). Further, we are cut to the heart. It means that we can realize our sin. Jesus does not commit sin, but He is crucified to redeem us from the sin. We realize, regret, and confess our sin to God and others (vertical and horizontal refer to the cross), so we experience the remission of sins by Jesus' blood, and we are not punished.

    • Repenting or stopping sinning and returning to God or being dead to sin.
    • Entering the true water baptism, namely one who has believed in Jesus and died to sin or repented must be buried in water with Jesus and come out or rise from water with Him to receive new life, namely life in righteousness.

    • Receiving Holy Spirit baptism. We receive the anointing up to the fullness of Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will give His gifts, namely the miraculous ability of Holy Spirit, so we can minister to God according to the ministry that God gives to us. A woman who anointed Jesus did not serve many men anymore, but lived truly in the anointing of Holy Spirit, and only served Jesus (one man).

    If we persevere and become faithful in the ministry and gift, and we follow the true fellowship, our ministry and gift will increase up to being permanent, namely a garland of twelve stars on woman's head (Revelation 12:1). The bride's crown is used to greet Jesus when He comes a second time on the glorious clouds, and we enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God.

    Song of Solomon 3:11
    3:11. Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.

    We are indeed in the death or the cross experience when hearing the Word. Our sin is shown, so we can repent, be baptized, and live in righteousness. There is bride's crown behind the death experience.

  2. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
    John 19:38-40
    19:38. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
    19:39. And
    Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
    19:40. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.


    Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man.
    Nicodemus was a teacher--a smart man.
    Both of them were respected. They had position but they willingly took the risk to ask the body of Jesus and buried Him. It means taking the risk to have the death experience with Jesus. So, why do not we want to take a part in the death experience with Jesus? Why do we reject? Who are we?

    The facts of having the death experience with Jesusin our daily life are as follows:

    • Joseph of Arimathea brought white linen. It refers to the deed of truth and righteous act.
      The white color refers to the truth or goodness. One of the deeds of truth and righteous act is giving time, power, mind, money, and our whole life for the building of the body of Christ. We must be true first and then we can give. Otherwise, our sacrifice will be the same as the one of the wicked.

      All things must be sacrificed for the building of the body of Christ, except the true teaching Word (Jesus as the Head). If we sacrifice Jesus, we will be like the body without the Head. It is the same as being without mind and feeling (the beast).

      2 Corinthians 9:7-8
      9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
      9:8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work


      The requirements of giving are as follows:

      • Giving as we purpose in our heart, not of necessity. We are not forced or forcing, but because of being stirred up by God as the Head through the true teaching Word.
      • Giving cheerfully. The heavenly joy cannot be influenced by anything in the world.

      As a result, we receive God's grace. How great our sacrifice is, it cannot be compared with the unlimited God's mercy. What for?

      • Taking care of our life up to abundance, namely we give thanks to God ("I shall not want", Psalm 23:1).
      • Making the deed of truth and righteous act abound toward us. It is the clean, bright fine linen or the robe of the bride of God, so we can greet Jesus when He comes a second time on the glorious clouds until we enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God.

        Revelation 19:7-8
        19:7. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
        19:8. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is
        the righteous acts of the saints.


    • Nicodemus gave a mixture of myrrh and aloes. It is the incense material for the Golden Altar of Incense (the prayer).
      Jesus teaches an hour prayer, fasting prayer (number forty refers to the total tearing of the flesh), and all night-long prayer.
      The prayer is the process of the crucifixion or the burning of the flesh with all of its desires, characteristics, and lusts, so we can produce fragrance before God.

      The incense goes up for God, but the ashes (the blessing) go down for us. We do not doubt anymore to lift up our worship to God. What must be burnt? Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel. A teacher always uses logic. May be something is true according to the logic, but it often does not according to the will of God. It the same as putting to death the faith. Only faith can result in miracle, not logic.

      John 3:3-4,9
      3:3. Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
      3:4. Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
      3:9. Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"


      There are many questions as long as we use the logic. How can it be? Can it be done? We doubt until we do not believe in God, so our faith dies. The Word may not be made as the knowledge. The Word is from God, namely one verse that explains the other verses in the Holy Bible. By faith we can experience the spiritual miracle, namely the renewal of life, including the physical one.

      The doubt must be changed into totally trusting and committing ourselves to God. We just cry out: "Alleluia", so there is no more question because we totally believe in God. We are in a great multitude when Jesus comes a second time. It is the sound of the bride or the biggest house of prayer from the four corners of the world to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God.

      Revelation 19:6-7
      19:6. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
      19:7. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

      There is pure bright linen or the robe of the bride and the sound of the bride behind the death experience.

  3. Mary who stood outside by the tomb and wept.
    John 20:10-11
    20:10. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
    20:11. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.


    The fact found in the death experience of Mary is being faithful and able to enjoy the death experience with Jesus.
    We are close to the resurrection and glory experiences when we have enjoyed the death experience. Be careful! If we want to quickly get out of the death experience, we will surely look for the way which is not according to the will of God or the true teaching Word. It is the same as committing sin. The consequence is facing the deadlock and destruction like a train which gets out of the rail.

    In the death experience, we must weep a lot like we are drinking sour wine mingled with gall. We do the introspection in our life many times. Our tear is not caused by the temptation, but we aim our cry to the one that pleases God as follows:

    • We weep, so we are not separated from God.
      John 20:13
      20:13. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

      We cry when we are sick. But do we weep when we cannot minister to God?
      We must be faithful in the shepherding and ministry to God. We are always with Jesus as long as we are faithful, so our life is in the powerful hand of God that does all things we need physically and spiritually. As soon as we become unfaithful in the true ministry, we will be separated from God, and we are in the hand of Satan who will destroy us.

    • We weep to receive the revelation of the Word of God.
      Revelation 5:4-5
      5:4. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
      5:5. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."


      John 20:16
      20:16. Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

      God knows us deeply in the revelation of the Word. God knows the depth of our heart. Mary also knew God deeply. Now, we know Jesus who loves us so much. Our recognition of Jesus increases as follows:

      • Mary said to Jesus: "Rabboni!". It refers to the relationship between student and Teacher. We have received the Gospel Word. Further, we understand and believe in the true teaching Word.

        John 20:17
        20:17. Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"


      • Our relationship is increased to become the one of brothers.
        Matthew 12:48-50
        12:48. But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"
        12:49. And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!
        12:50. "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."


        God's brothers are those who understand and practice the true teaching Word.
        The Word will become the wisdom in our life. It is God's covering, protection, and preservation for us in the midst of the crises in the world on the last days until we are evacuated to the wilderness when the Antichrist reigns over the world, and God takes care of us with the Word and Holy Communion.

        Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
        7:11. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.
        7:12. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.


      • The relationship between the body and the Head.
        John 20:17
        20:17. Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

        1 Corinthians 11:3
        11:3. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

        The head of Christ is God. Our head is Jesus. The relationship between the Head and the body is in the neck. It refers to our worship to God.

      Mark 4:37-38
      4:37. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
      4:38. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"


      Matthew 8:23-25
      8:23. Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
      8:24. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
      8:25. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"


      In the worship, we are covered from the death up to the second death in hell forever.
      The death that threatens our physical life is accident and disaster.
      The death that threatens our spiritual life is the sins up to the peak, and the false teaching. Jesus dies to defeat the death, so He is able to set us free from the death and finish all of our problems.

      Hebrews 2:14,17-18
      2:14. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
      2:17. 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.
      2:18. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.


      Jesus dies, so He receives the name which is above every name to defeat the death. He is able to help us in His time. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea which were controlled by the death, so there was a great calm. All of impossible problems will be finished. We feel easy and light. We receive the beautiful and successful future. The boat can go forward in the calm ocean until it arrives at its destination.

      Jonah 2:1-2,6
      2:1. Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly.
      2:2. And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.
      2:6. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.


      Even though we have drowned like Jonah, if we have the death experience--'three days'--, Jesus will lift us up from all of drownings, namely weariness, heavy burden, toil, impossibility, disease, and gloomy future. Let us cry to Jesus. He is able to restore, change, perfect, and lift us up on the glorious clouds. We can enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God and the New Jerusalem forever.
God blesses you.