Prayer Service in Malang, August 17, 2010 (Tuesday Evening)

Matthew25:14-15
25:14. "For the kingdom of heaven islike a man traveling to a far country, whocalled his own servants and delivered his goodsto them.
25:15
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability;and immediately he went on a journey.

Verse 14: The Lord trusts us, the sinful men, with the holy heavenly goods or the talents, referring to the ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit. It points to His mercy.

Verse 15: He gives us the talents according to our own ability, meaning all men can serve Him according to their own ability. It points to the justice of God.

Therefore, it is only the mercy and the justice of God if the sinful men can serve Him.

Serving the Lord = working together with Him.

John9:1-4
9:1. Now as Jesuspassed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
9:4Imust work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; thenight is coming when no one can work.

The subject 'I' [John 9:4] means that Jesus has to work together with us.
Why do we have to work together with God?
  1. Because we are facing the things that is outside the human ability limits.
    The example is a man who was blind from birth can do nothing.

    A man who was blind from birth denotes a life who:
    • lives in unclean sins
    • has no strength, faces impossibility
    • suffers, is in distress, and has bitterness of life.

    When God lets us be in the condition as the blind man, do not blame each other, but let us use the opportunity to work together with God. God wants to work together with us to help us and give us the abilities.

  2. Because God wants to perfect us to be as glorious as Him.
How are God's ways to work together with us?
  1. God gives the true teaching Word = saliva which comes out from His mouth.
    John9:6
    9:6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

    Hand = the Holy Spirit.
    Clay = human.

    Thus, it means below:
    • Saliva which is mixed by hand = the Word which is preached in the anointing of Holy Spirit = the Word which is revealed (one verse is explained by another verse) = the Word which is sharper than any double-edged sword.

    • Clay which is mixed with saliva = disgusting mud = sins mud.
      The word which is sharper than any double-edged sword will be able to show the disgusting sins = being touched by the Word.
      When we are touched by the Word, at that time God works together with us. It is dangerous if we are never touched by the Word. Therefore, when the Word is preached, we have to listen to the Word solemnly.
    Our attitude to the Word is confessing the sins and repenting (not doing the sins anymore) such that our working together contract with the Lord will not be cancelled.
    Confessing the sins and repenting is the shortest way to be helped by God.
    Preserving the sins (do not want to confess the sins) even blaming the others = signing a contract with death such that that life will be perished forever.

  2. God gives a command.
    John9:7
    9:7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

    The true teaching Word is God's command to be practiced.
    Our attitude is being obedient whatever the risks.
    The result is we experience the purifying power = the eyes can see = living in light that will produce the fruit of light.

    Ephesians5:8-10
    5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you arelight in the Lord. Walk as children of light
    5:9
    (for the fruit of the Spiritisin all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
    5:10
    finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

    The fruits of light:
    • Truth fruit
    • Righteousness fruit: without partiality
    • Goodness fruit: not wrong the others
    • Life which is acceptable to the Lord.
    Siloam = sent, means that the life which has been purified will be sent/used by God in the revival of the building body of Christ.

  3. God permits us to experience the cross/the sprinkling of the blood.
    John9:30-35,37-38

    9:30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!
    9:31
    Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
    9:32
    Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.
    9:33
    If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
    9:34
    They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And theycast him out.
    9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him,He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"
    9:37
    And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."
    9:38
    Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And heworshiped Him.

    Being cast out = being left alone. After being left alone, we even will find, see, and talk with Jesus on the cross. Jesus was also cast out when He was on the cross, even His Father also left Him.

    Talking with Jesus is the closest relationship = worshiping Jesus and fully surrendering our life to God.

    When we are left alone, do not be as Elijah who was being discouraged and asked to die, but it is the time we are together with God and enjoy the relationship on His cross.

    It will be difficult to find Jesus when distributing 5 breads and 2 fishes. But when He is alone on the cross, that is the easiest time to find Jesus.

    Matthew17:1-2
    17:1. Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
    17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

    The result of worshiping is the renewal of life which is the greatest miracle.
    The renewal of life are below:
    • talking the good things
    • not lying
    • talking the words which bring blessings
    • not wrong in saying, starting from calling the name of Jesus and saying "Alleluia".
      James3:2
      3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he isa perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

    If the spiritual miracles can happen, the carnal miracles (the blind may see) will also happen.

    Until the last miracle, we will be renewed as glorious as Him and meet Him face to face on the glorious cloud in His second coming.
God blesses you.