Youth Service in Malang, August 03, 2013 (Saturday Evening)
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 5:1
5:1. So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God
The main purpose of our service and ministry to God isto hear the Word of God.
If we prioritize the Word of God in our ministry, we are pressing about Him. We feel the presence of Jesus as the High Priest in ministry, that we experience purification, satisfaction of Heaven and God's help in our lives.
There are two kinds of preaching of the Word that isexemplifiedby Jesusas follows.
- The gospel of salvation = the gospel Word.
Luke 4:43
4:43. but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of Godto the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
Ephesians 1:13
1:13. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
The gospel of salvation tells about Jesus' first coming to save sinners.
Only Jesus is the Savior, the only innocent man who is able to save a sinner.
The signs of salvation arebelieving God, repenting (to die for sin), water and Holy Spirit baptism (to be reborn in water and spirit), that we have a new life, namely heavenly life.
- The gospel of the glory = teaching Word.
Luke 5:2-5
5:2. and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
5:3. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taughtthe multitudes from the boat.
5:4. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
5:5. But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."
II Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4. whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
The gospel of the glory is the gospel which tells about Jesus' second coming to purify the saved people up to perfect as Jesus, so they do not sin anymore, but become the bride who is ready to greet when Jesus comes a second time.
In every preaching of teaching Word, there are activities of Jesus as the High Priest as follows:
- Jesus looks at uswith the sight of mercy. Nothing is hidden, both our sins and condition,
- Jesus sits on the failedboat. It means He also feels all of our failure and fall,
- Jesus stretches out His hand to help usjust in time.
Romans 10:21
10:21. But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My handsTo a disobedient and contrary people."
Our attitude when Jesus tells the teaching Word isto obey true teaching Word even it is out of mind.
Luke 5:5-6
5:5. But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."
5:6. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
Being obedient is same as stretching out our hand to God to accept His stretching hand to us and we will experience the power of miracle by the teaching Word.
There are three kinds of the power oftheteaching Wordas follows.
- Creation power.
Luke 5:6
5:6. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
From no fish to great number of fish. It means there is the power to fulfill our need.
All human effort (wealth, cleverness, experience, et cetera) without obedience will be useless.
The creation power also happens when water becomeswine.
It means we receive satisfaction and happiness of Heaven that we do not fall into sin.
Luke 5:7
5:7. So they signaled to their partners in the other boatto come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
After we are blessed, we have to remember the others as follows:
- Jesus, the grantor of blessing, by returning tithes and special offering.
- The others in need and parents.
Spiritually, we have to testify too that we become blessing for others.
- The power of purification.
Luke 5:8
5:8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
When we are failed or blessed, do not be hard-hearted but want to be purified.
Teaching Word is the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword, to purify our heart (the center of spiritual life).
Hebrews4:12
4:12. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of souland spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Matthew 15:18-20
15:18. "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
15:19. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts(1), murders(2), adulteries(3), fornications(4), thefts(5), false witness(6), blasphemies(7).
15:20. "These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
We experience purification up to our mouth. Our mouth is only to confess our sin, testify and worship God until we do not stumble in word.
James 3:2
3:2. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
- The power of life renewal.
Luke 5:10
5:10. and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."
It is the renewal of life from flesh men to spiritual ones.
Selfish human is changed to one who prioritizes God and others, and brings people to know God and listen to the teaching Word.
II Timothy 3:1-5
3:1. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
3:2. For men will be lovers of themselves(1), lovers of money(2), boasters(3), proud(4), blasphemers(5), disobedient to parents(6), unthankful(7), unholy(8),
3:3. unloving(9), unforgiving(10), slanderers(11), without self–control(12), brutal(13, despisers of good(14),
3:4. traitors(15), headstrong(16), haughty(17), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God(18),
3:5. having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
When we are selfish, the other sins will follow.
The renewal of life is the biggest spiritual miracle that can happen in our lives.
If we experience the renewal of life, the physical miracle will happen too.
Revelation 19:7
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."
If we reveal all hidden things and our sins, God's power is not hidden on our lives.
All impossibilities are erased by God until we become perfect as Him.
God blesses us.