Shalom God's beloved GMS online congregation. We are delighted to be able to greet you wherever you are. Today is a day that God has given overflowing joy in the midst of all of us, so let's welcome this extraordinary worship service. Of course, we pray for you to remain in God's presence, in which we're all in good health. Likewise, we are overjoyed to embrace God's presence in this magnificent worship session. I am broadcasting this live from GMS Rooftop Pakuwon Mall, and, of course, we hope to see you here on site one day. And before we know it, it's October. And of course, we have a very special theme for this month: "Emptying Hell and Populating Heaven." Come on, we're all on fire, and we're all eager and burning to fulfill God's call. GMS online service is available five times a day, at 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Don't miss a single service since each one brings God's blessing, protection and answers into our lives and God will say great things in our midst. Brothers and sisters, GMS Church has three venues in Surabaya: Rooftop Pakuwon Mall in West Surabaya, Pakuwon City Mall in East Surabaya, and Maspion Convention Center in South Surabaya. With these three sites, you have more options for inviting your family and loved ones to GMS Church venues to encounter God. And the first week of each month is tithe week. Tithing week is an opportunity where we can give back to God. And this is an important part of a Christian's life, as an act of obedience in our life and trust to God. Let Him continue to be there and touch our life and change it. And I believe we return this tithe because we know He is the giver of everything, He is the Alpha and He is the Omega. With Him in our lives, we shall lack nothing. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity. You can give your tithes and offerings by scanning QR code on your screen. And the time has come for us to welcome this great service. Let us bow our heads, pray together. Thank you, LORD, You are truly wonderful, care for each one of us, let us Enter into your presence. We believe you are the God who exists and is not bound by time, place, or space. You are here, you are there. And we believe your power will touch each one of us who attend this service. That our hearts are attached to You. And we believe, LORD, that You have the power of healing, the power of deliverance, as well as the power of life that follows You. You will bring change to our lives, and victory, freedom to every one of Your children. We welcome this service with joy. We pray, we lift it up only in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah, amen. Enjoy the service. Let's praise and worship Him together. Come on, clap your hands together. Can you clap your hands like this? Let's claps our hands together. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We want to fly high with You, God because You owns our life. Clap your hands like this. Lift up your hands like this. Get ready to fly high for Him and say Get ready to dance for Him, amen. Let's praise our God. Say to people beside you, "Good to see you here". Let's worship Him deeper and deeper. Our joy are overflowing within you, thank you Jesus. My joy is overflowing only in Your presence, God. We worship You, Jesus. Let's worship Him and exalt the name of God. We want to follow You in our lifetime. We want to worship You until the end of our life. Every soul is valuable, every life is special. When we come together to worship God, there's a moment when we meet Him face-to-face in our hearts. In that moment, we may feel alone in the room, but not lonely. We feel God's presence with us. LORD Jesus loves each and every person as an individual. We won't leave this place of worship until everyone feels loved, until every thirsty soul is overflowing with the love of Jesus. Only those who thirst for God's love will be satisfied. Only those who are full will overflow. Only those who overflow and give freely what they've received can be filled again. I pray that we don't become a selfish church, but a church that's restored in love. We take pleasure in giving and serving because You have already done so in our lives. LORD, give us wisdom - the wisdom of God's love, the wisdom of Your love. Hide me behind Your cross to reveal the greatest mystery of how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is in the simplest words so that even a child can understand. Help me, Your servant, LORD. Hide me behind Your cross. In Jesus' name, Hallelujah, Amen. If you feel loved by Jesus, give a round of applause for Him. Praise the LORD. Please be seated. We've just finished the Super Conference. Those who attended the Super Conference, raise your hands. Praise the LORD, give a round of applause for Him. Those overflowing with love will never cease moving for the LORD. There's no time for us to count the blessings first. Indeed, last week was so hectic and remarkably productive- there were countless blessings and their impact is eternal. However, let's refrain from counting them for now because we must continue to be a blessing to others. There is no time for us to contemplate how abundantly the LORD has blessed our lives. Now is the time for us to intentionally be a blessing to others. On this Tuesday, my team and I will be in Bali to inaugurate the Mawar Sharon Church Bali building, which was funded by the congregation through offerings and tithes. On Wednesday, Our Devotion will be held there. Then, we will fly to Jakarta to preach 5 times at Mawar Sharon Church Jakarta. There is no time for us to count our blessings. Let's keep being a blessing. Amen? Tell it to your left and right: keep being a blessing. Praise the LORD. We have several victory reports. Let's watch this one first, and then we'll proceed with the Word. Please play the video. Everything that originates from the Holy Spirit will ultimately point to Jesus. Give a round of applause for Jesus. Children, if you long to make the Holy Spirit your best friend and if you yearn to be used extraordinarily by Him throughout your life, your decision will be sealed by the Holy Spirit today. Step forward now, kneel before the LORD here. I've witnessed in a service that is filled with the Holy Spirit, the devil can't withstand the anointing. The lame walk, the sick are healed and restored, and yokes are broken all because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. Let's continue with the biography series of the apostles. These are the themes for each service today. During the first service, I talked about Peter - Prince of the Apostles. I truly enjoyed the first service. There were many things I said that even surprised me. The Holy Spirit is truly present in today's services; He speaks in a way that goes even beyond my reflections. I believe that God speaks to His people. Don't miss a single sermon. Catch up on everything, including the first service from earlier today. Now, we will be focusing on John the Apostle. Let's read the opening verse from Matthew 10. I humbly ask you to stand. Let's respect the reading of the Bible more than the words of the preacher. Let's read Matthew 10:1-4 aloud. On the count of three- two, three. [1] "Jesus called his twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. [2] These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." Please be seated. At the end of this biography series, I will talk about the biography of the betrayer, Judas Iscariot, in today's last service. We won't only study the written Word, but also from its exposition. The 12 Apostles: Who They Are, Their Impact and Their History. In these sessions, we'll also learn about some things from history, not just what is recorded in the Bible. We aren't changing or adding to the Word, but simply providing additional knowledge so that we can reflect on the lives of the heroes of faith. Not only that, we need to get to the application of the Word. The true purpose of a sermon is not just to share information but to transform lives. I hope that you can apply what you'll learn today in your daily lives- in your marriage, in guiding your children towards their future, and in matters of dating. In the first service, I talked about husband-wife relationships. The Holy Spirit unexpectedly led me to discuss husband-wife relationship while preaching about Peter the Apostle. Now, I'd like to invite you to learn about the Apostle of Love, named John. Let's turn to the last chapter of the gospel of John. Open your Bible to John 21: 20-25. Prepare your notes as there is interesting information that you can write down. Starting from verse 20. [20] "Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, 'LORD, who is going to betray You?')" Let's stop here. These events took place following the earlier verses in which Jesus was talking to Peter. Jesus met with Peter and restored Peter after Peter had denied Jesus. This all happened before verse 20, which is why verse 20 begins with this: [20] "Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them." Jesus walked ahead of John, having a private conversation with Peter. John wasn't directly behind them, but he wasn't too far away either. So, when Peter turned, the first thing he saw was his fellow believer and comrade, John. John possessed this one trait, he was curious- curious about what's important. You can't move forward if you aren't curious. What is curiosity? Curiosity is the need to know- it's FOMO, Fear of Missing Out. Fear of missing out. Strange, isn't it? In this world, we often have FOMO for things that aren't essential. We apply for online loans just to upgrade our iPhones. We also experience FOMO for celebrity news, even though it has nothing to do with our lives. Good or bad news, you can't do anything about it - it's all gossip. But, when it comes to spiritual matters, there's no FOMO. However, the congregation of GMS Church is different. Everyone is thirsty and hungry, you can see it during the Super Conference. As servants of God, we couldn't become tired when we witness how the congregation thirsted for God. Were you aware that during those 2 days and 2 nights, you listened to a dozen sermons? Everyone experienced FOMO, taking notes of the sermons. People stood in line from 6:30 AM. Some even said they arrived at 5 AM, even though the first service began at 1 PM. Isn't it amazing? It is exceptional. So, that type of FOMO is good. "I don't want to miss the LORD's kairos. I don't want to miss what Jesus is teaching and explaining what's important in His heart. I don't want to miss any of it." The Super Conference is over. For those who missed it, let's not miss the next movement. Don't say, "I don't want to get caught up in a ticket war." Well, if it comes down to a ticket war, so be it. Adopt this attitude, "I'll join any ticket war as long as I don't miss out on the revelations. I want to be in tune with what Jesus is saying and doing. I don't want to miss out on any impartation of the Word." John the Apostle had such an attitude, which is why he was able to grow spiritually, why God used him, and why his life left an impact. Even when John was old and gray, God still carried him- just like what's written in the Old Testament. Even into his old age, he continued to bear fruit and declared to the next generation that the LORD was his foundation and the LORD was the Rock of his Salvation. We should follow John's example - having a 'fear of missing out' on what truly matters. But when it comes to matters concerning others- such as gossip, slander- it is best to close our ears. Why do we take in poison? We shouldn't develop a liking for toxic matters; our liking should be for what's enriching our souls- for spiritual matters. Let's place our hands on our hearts and say, "LORD, instill in me the liking for things of God, for spiritual matters." Give an applause for the Holy Spirit. [20] "Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them." Wait a minute. "The disciple whom Jesus loved." The phrase 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' is mentioned four times, all of which are found in the Gospel of John. Isn't it interesting? This implies that John was referring to himself, yet he chose not to mention his name. Can you imagine? This is akin to someone making an anonymous offering. It's as if John said, "It's fine if my name is forgotten, but I mustn't forget that the LORD loves me." He consistently called himself 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' - a phrase that was repeated exactly four times. Turns out, it's better to be 'overconfident' of God's love or us than to doubt it. It's better to be 'too confident' of His love than to question it, as long as that confidence is not intended to exalt ourselves over others, because that is pride. Why do we feel have to bring others down first to feel good about ourselves? I wonder why. It's a form of illness. Some people enjoy criticizing others to make themselves look good, to elevate themselves. These people only feel valuable when they can insult others. At times, those who judge others are subject to God's judgment. Unknowingly, those who do this try to dig up others' mistakes to cover up their own. This is not a mental illness; perhaps these individuals are still mentally sound. This is a spiritual illness. I pray that this spiritual virus won't infect Mawar Sharon Church congregation. It is okay to be 'too confident' of God's love for us. Actually, we are encouraged to. The proof is that Jesus didn't rebuke John. If someone says something that isn't true, Jesus will certainly rebuke them because He is not afraid of His disciples. When Jesus told that He must be killed, Peter said to Him, "This shall never happen to You!" It seemed like an act of love. However Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan! You don't have in mind the concerns of God." But when John proclaimed to be the disciple whom Jesus loved, Jesus didn't reprimand or rebuke him. That phrase wasn't driven by pride or conceit. John referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, and it became a part of the Bible - part of the Word. Does it mean we can be 'too confident' of His love for us? Yes, it's highly recommended, go ahead. Talking to doubtful and insecure people is frustrating. We say, "OK, I'll give you a task." Then they respond, "I can't.." At first, we might be inclined to sympathize, "You've got this, I believe in you." They still reply, "It's impossible.." The second time around, we become more assertive, "Come on, I'll pray for you, what are you struggling with? I'll try to find a way so you can do it. If you don't understand how, I'll teach you." Then, even after providing training and having extensive conversations with them, they still end up saying, "I'm incapable of anything." As time goes by - I'm imitating Ps Judy's gesture - [Annoyed gesture] we'll say, "Alright then, just forget about it." Being timid and insecure doesn't equal to being humble; it frustrates both God and other people. Don't be timid or insecure. Don't have low self-esteem. True humility is rooted in confidence. Those who with low self-esteem can turn prideful. Observe them when they have power and wealth; they'll surely flaunt it. Those with low self-esteem may still be flashy when they get rich. This occurs when they have a hole in their hearts- the orphan spirit remains even if their earthly parents are present. They crave recognition; they yearn for validation from others. Wealth doesn't guarantee fulfillment; some still flaunt their wealth to seek approval. This is a spiritual illness. True humility doesn't have anything to do with low self-esteem. Those who are humble always have self-confidence, believing that the LORD has granted them capabilities. John called himself 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' four times and the LORD didn't object; it even becomes part of the Scriptures. We can have full confidence in God's love for us, but let's not use it to belittle others. Saying that we are loved by the LORD is perfectly fine. But refrain from saying, "I am loved by the LORD.. unlike you." Don't do that. Don't say, "I am loved by the LORD.. more than you." If it's truly the case, keep it for yourself; there's no need to boast. Can our love for God be restored? Absolutely. Take a look at a child who has reconciled with their parents or has never been hurt at all. They are 'bold' with their parents, all while showing respect. They feel no fear, no emotional distance, no need to maintain an image in front of their parents. The LORD wants our relationship with Him to be lasting in that way- no distance, no spirit of rejection, no feeling of unworthiness. Yes, we all know that we are not worthy. However, after Jesus' blood has been shed, and yet you stay the same- you persist in feeling unworthy- then the shedding of His blood would've been in vain. The main purpose of Jesus' blood being shed isn't to protect you from the devil and such. It is to make people who are guilty like us no longer feel guilty, to make people like us who feel rejected feel accepted. Jesus' blood was shed first and foremost with the purpose of making sinners feel forgiven, accepted, cared for by the LORD. As children of God, we must have a fully restored relationship with Him. Otherwise, partaking in Holy Communion is meaningless. The Holy Communion signifies our status as His children. Yet, this truth shouldn't be used for showing off; it should be used to bring peace to your hearts. You have to be healed because those who aren't healed often become troublemakers. Look at the rebellious children out there. If you trace their backgrounds, you will find that 9 out of 10 of them don't get enough love in their families and lives. That's why God can't work through us until we agree that we are disciples who are loved by Jesus. Some may say, "But Pastor, you are loved because you are obedient to the LORD. I'm not obedient." Let me ask you, which came first: the chicken or the egg? The answer is the chicken. In the beginning, God created the chicken, then the chicken laid the egg. God created the tree first, then the tree bears fruit. Indeed, in a poultry farm, eggs come before chickens. But, in the order of creation in the book of Genesis, God created animals first. God created fruit trees first, the seeds are inside the fruit. I want you to understand that you won't be able to change until you feel loved by Jesus, until you agree and accept it as a matter of faith. People typically focus on the result, saying, "You are perfect, good, and spiritual, that's why God loves you." It's wrong. At one point in my life, I decided to have faith in the LORD, I no longer focus on my feelings. I live not by sight or feeling, but by the word of God. I am loved by Jesus, then I changed. Only then did I change. Can I get an Amen? No one who experiences and embraces God's love would intentionally cause Him pain the following day, because they have no desire to hurt Him. Can I get an Amen? I want all of us to learn from John. "[20] Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said." We know from this that John had sat beside Jesus at the Holy Communion. He's the kind of congregant who, when attending church, aims to occupy the front row, even though all seats are equal. During that supper, also known as the Holy Communion, they were eating together. According to traditions, in the context of eating together, VIP's traditionally reserved the left and right sides of the host. But Jesus does not discriminate against people. So when they arrived, there were no previous agreements on the seating arrangement. John just immediately sat beside Jesus. In contrast, some church seats are reserved for certain people, such as companions, and we respect it as a rule. But here, John eagerly sought a place beside Jesus despite the semi-circular seating. Everyone on that table can hear Jesus, but John always wants to stay close. He always wants to get the closest place to Jesus. During the Connect Group Super Conference (CGSC), I was moved because I saw people coming in extra early to get a front seat, though our sound system reached the back just fine. They willingly shorten their food breaks to be close to the stage. It's silly because you'll receive the same message even from afar. Similarly, at the table, everyone received bread from Jesus. But the disciple that Jesus loves is naive. He wants to sit next to Jesus not for the VIP status but because if you can be close, why be far away? However, Christians now adopt the opposite approach. If i go to a service here, I will get a seat even if I don't show up early. In a venue with 6,000 seats like this, everyone will find a place. It's a different story if there's only a hundred seats. As a congregation member, I'd arrive early to queue for a closer seat. I want a better seat. However, the seat location doesn't dictate whether we go to heaven or hell. It doesn't dictate God's love towards us as well. The beloved disciple of Jesus had a principle: Why stay far when we can be close? Don't be someone who adopts the opposite. If an altar call is given, is it only during that time that God can meet someone? If it's possible now, why wait for tomorrow? Some might say, "I'll respond to the altar call personally later" but if you can receive prayer now, why delay until later? We cannot adopt the principle of "If it can be complicated, why keep it simple?" If we indeed long for him, why delay if you can do it now? Have you ever felt thirsty after playing badminton or running a marathon for a few hours? I'm sure that if you don't drink for another two hours after these, you won't die. But if there's water in front of you, why wait to drink it later? I'm skeptical when someone claims to be thirsty but chooses not to drink water before them, opting to wait for a different beverage instead. That means you're not thirsty; you crave a specific drink. Similarly, many Christians desire His Word without genuine thirst. If I were you, I'd come earlier for a better seat. I'd look for a seat in front, except for reserved seats, as I have to respect it for the sake of the rules implemented by the committee. I would look for a better place. Although it does not affect my salvation, the proximity profoundly impacts my heart, revealing a more solemn demeanor. I'm not judging those in the back, but some may have wrong motives for choosing those seats. Please don't assume I'm judging all of you. It's not like that. Please understand me. If you choose back seats for convenient restroom or exit access, your focus on attending the service may be misplaced. This is real in some cases. Look, even a child back there is laughing at the reason. If your motive for sitting at the back is to arrive late discreetly, you've got it wrong from the start already. Selecting a seat shouldn't be motivated by a desire to blend in while moving around. You might think, "In the back, I'll go unnoticed if I zone out." However, don't entertain this notion; you are noticed even at the back. It is the eyes of the Lord that sees you, not mine. I'm talking about the motive for seating, not the specific location. Please grasp the intention behind my words. John is straightforward: If you can be near, why be far? If you can do it now, why wait? If it can be simple, why complicate it? Someone who is loved by Him will not want to be far away from Him. They won't wait another day. So if you can wait for a day or week, what does it imply for you? A person who senses His love won't postpone serving Him until they are old and senior. Consider our church's teens. They serve Him now, driven by genuine love, regardless of age. They said, "Let's build churches in our youth now," though there's plenty of time ahead. If someone truly loves Him, they won't be able to wait another day. They simply couldn't wait. This brought to mind a previous experience when I was given two flight options: to depart at 7 a.m. or 2 p.m. following a ministry engagement outside of town. After the ministry, I was physically exhausted, and you're all familiar with the demands of my work. When I engage in ministry, I leave my family behind. I don't combine it with a brief vacation; I keep these two aspects separate. My heart is always with my family back home. My anointing is for missionaries, but my heart always remains at home. When faced with these flight options, one factor I could take into account was the opportunity to explore the local cuisine. There's no definitive right or wrong here. Ultimately, it boils down to individual preferences. However, if I must decide, even though I'll arrive back home on the same day regardless, even if it's quite late at night, I'd opt for the earlier flight. If I can share dinner with my family, I'll make it happen. If lunch is an option, that's what I'll aim for. Even with a weary body, if spending the day out with my family is possible, I'll take the chance. Sleep can always wait. The one thing I can't delay is being with my family. It's not incorrect for someone to believe they can serve later, but for someone who genuinely loves: "Why wait when I can act now?" I will take an earlier flight. My time on earth is short, so if I serve now, I can bear fruits for a more extended period. If there's a Christian here at ease, thinking they can act later, it may indicate a lesser degree of love for God. When someone is loved, their heart compels them to draw nearer. I urge you to deeply contemplate this. What will come after this? Next week, arrive earlier and line up for a seat up front. We might encounter a scenario akin to CGSC, where the event commences at 7 p.m., yet attendees arrive as early as 1 p.m. But it's okay, we have ample seating for everyone. Everyone in the back, please don't get upset; being in the front doesn't necessarily mean they have fewer sins. Indeed, some may opt for the back, feeling they don't need prayer, while those at the front may seek closeness for altar calls. I hope that's the reason, as it indicates your support for them. But if you choose to sit at the back to avoid attention when you arrive late, then you should consider repenting. Amen? A person that is loved, will want to be close to Him. I urge you to not delay anything. If God calls you to serve now, heed the call. Why wait until tomorrow to do it? Of course, you can register, and we're all eager for you. If you truly love God, why postpone? Am I right? Oh, Hallelujah. Look at teenagers and their desires. They may marry in their mid-twenties, but they want to start dating as early teenagers. In that case, please delay it. Don't rush with it. According to the Song of Solomon, love is even stronger than desire that burns passionately. Why do we like to delay things? We need to change our mindset and learn from John. Jesus said fair gains for all; no seat held greater importance. Yet, while others hesitated, John promptly took a seat. What advantage did he gain from this? When things happen, he is the first to know. Let's read it again: "[20] Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper." Take note of this. "[20] and had said, 'Lord, who is going to betray you?'" We see that John is in a strategic position to ask Jesus a question. A person that is loved will come closer. And someone close will always receive things first. Amen? Can I get an Amen? Let's continue with the next verse. "[21] When Peter saw him, he asked, 'Lord, what about him?'" Peter always gets all nosy, there's no need for this nosiness. "[22] Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.'" In these verses, we will see that someone may fear missing out, but it stems from envy. We can indeed experience envy but in a subtle manner. Peter's envy is veiled spiritually. When Peter saw John, it was as if he realized that John could ask a question and be answered by Jesus immediately. Because of this, Peter asked Jesus: "What about him?" And Jesus replied, "None of your business," which is amusing. Let me tell you: Those whom God loves will not care about others like Peter. Someone who knows that they belong to Christ and are heir to God's promise will not ask for more than necessary. You can tell someone's life is unhappy if they interfere in matters that do not concern them. I'm grateful that everyone in our congregation exudes happiness, to the extent that we've even composed numerous songs about it. We don't need to meddle in everything, like speaking ill of fellow Christians or pastors, since we are filled with His love. Let's consider this scenario: Those who frequently meddle in things that don't concern them are generally unhappy. An unhappy Christian often leads to an unhappy church. Unhappiness extends not only to the individual but also permeates the church. Moreover, individuals with misplaced priorities tend to harbor envy. In this case, Peter was envious of John's closeness to Jesus. He can draw near if he desires closeness; there's no need for blame. All he had to do was come closer. Why resort to blame? Does he believe blaming will bring him closer to Jesus? Blame only distances you from God. It's a different story when we reprimand, as reprimanding is based on clear foundations and serves a justifiable purpose. But defaming, often marked by relentless attacks, can inflict rapid and severe harm on a person. "[21] When Peter saw him, he asked, 'Lord, what about him?'" In earlier verses, Jesus forewarned Peter about his challenges in old age. Jesus was prophesying Peter's death. Passing away as a martyr is not a pleasant gift. As Peter inquired about John and compared their situations, Jesus responded accordingly. Why was Peter envious? He received a prophecy of becoming a martyr. Secondly, like a wound stung with salt, it stung him deeply that John was close to Jesus On one side, he had just gotten the prophecy of dying for the faith. On the other side, he felt stung that John was close to Jesus. Without much consideration, Peter then asked, "How about him?" Peter's heart was not proper when he had asked this. Amazingly, Peter is just a regular person; he was just healed and had cried out to Jesus before this. Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" Yet, in the very next moment, Peter displayed envy towards his brother. It's clear that during this time, the disciples were still in the process of maturing. But they are still used by God wonderfully. As Pastor Fuji mentioned in CGSC, God's grace is not contingent on your level of maturity. Shortly after receiving a message from God, Peter asked, "What about him?" From this, we gather that God does not entertain or indulge in others' envy towards you Therefore, do not fear accusations. Keep this verse in mind if you are accused in the pursuit of truth, for the fruits of the Spirit, or for the fruits of your ministry, for God's presence in your work, or for your family's wonderful condition in God. Remember this verse. It is indeed disheartening to see the children of God pointing fingers, as Peter did at John in this instance. But we can learn that if we maintain sincere hearts before God, center our focus on Him, and continue to bear fruit while fulfilling our parts, the devil's accusations will undoubtedly crumble. Trust me on this. Even accusations from fellow Christians in your life, God will not entertain or pay attention to. Just as Jesus dismissed Peter when he inquired, "What about him?" with a response akin to, "It's not your business." How astounding. Take comfort, even if you face such treatment on social media, and even if people around you treat you in this way. It's even more painful receiving this from a fellow Christian. In church, we sing, "You are my brother, you are my friend." But why is it that our brothers in Christ do these behind our backs? Let's not harbor hatred, for if we give in to anger, God will intervene. God will protect you if you guard your heart with vigilance against it and dismiss those who accuse you. I consistently turn to God for guidance when facing conflicts with others I always introspect and evaluate if such conflict happens because of me. We mustn't be self-righteous or overly confident. We should be open to input. After all, we're not flawless, and these perspectives can unveil something to us. We can't possibly be aware of everything, and sometimes we unintentionally hurt people. Don't worry about receiving accusations. Just leave that to Jesus. You will be surprised that fellow Christians pray against you. But God doesn't respond to those kind of prayers. He won't permit them to reach you. Those who prayed against you may fail but God won't end their life because they are His children too. Instead, God will discipline them because of their prayers, and your lives won't be affected by it. Keep focusing on God. Guard your heart. Keep serving Him, work seriously, and do your part well. Trust me, God will not entertain prayers that are not right for your life, even if they are sent by fellow Christians. Can I get an Amen? We will be alright if we don't get angry, as there will be a different consequence. For example, my youngest child fought with a relative, and a punch was thrown at him, causing him to cry. But as long as he doesn't retaliate, I will defend him, although I won't do anything too drastic as his relative is the child of my sibling. I would do the same thing if he was hit by his older brother, as they're both my children. Do you get the logic here? I won't do anything too drastic to them. I would comfort my youngest, talk to my oldest son, and make him reflect on his actions. Likewise, people who go against you can be shaped by God. But if, after being struck, my youngest doesn't stop at tears, and doesn't find solace in my comfort, disregarding his father's favor and privileges, and instead vows to seek revenge, then I won't be able to continue defending him. If I keep defending him, he will become spoiled. If I recognize he's wrong, I'll also have to shape his behavior. I still have to talk with his older brother, but I also have to talk to my youngest. Why haven't there been many instances of God's defense in your life? Because He's in the process of molding you. This takes time, and is a setback for His plans in your life. God can defend you right away, so don't retaliate. If my youngest struggles to forgive his brother despite my advice, saying "I can't forgive him," I'd comfort him. As a father, I would hug him. Similarly, God will embrace you with His presence. Sometimes, it would get to the point where I have to offer my youngest a reward to stop him from crying. Sometimes, receiving the blunt is good, so God will reward you. But if you get angry, you won't accept anything. Instead, God will teach you a lesson. After my youngest calms down, I will confront my eldest son. Maybe not today, but I will make him apologize for his actions. Then I'd ask if my youngest can forgive their sibling. Perhaps my youngest would respond, "Yes, I can," even with tears streaming down his face. This would bring immense relief as a parent. Afterward, once my youngest is asleep, I would have a private conversation with my eldest son. This is when he will learn a lesson due to his actions. Do you understand me? The father would sit the child down and ask him, "Why did you do that to your sibling?" Not only will the father buy the younger child toys, but the brother will have to share his toys too. Why was John the only apostle who did not die as a martyr? I'm not saying becoming a martyr is a curse. It's a blessing. But why did God let John grow old? I wonder if that's because John felt so loved by God, and God saw that when Peter was being a busybody, John did not retaliate. Oh, I'm sure he'd heard when Peter said, “LORD, what about him?” John was right in front of him! John kept quiet. He left it up to God. When you're right and everyone is irrationally against you, learn to surrender to God. [22] "Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return," — note, that the context here is martyrdom. Jesus was really saying, "Even if I let John grow old, what is it to you, son?" And indeed, John lived till his old age. Is possible that love is a self-fulfilling prophecy? Is possible that love is a self-fulfilling prophecy? That's amazing. [23] "Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die." A rumor began, but God was clear. [23] "But Jesus did not say that he would not die; He only said, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?'” Don't bother, it's none of your business. By this act, I see that God purposefully showed Peter His love for John. In fact, God intentionally blessed John because of it. Church, listen carefully. Our job is not only to feel loved by Jesus, but also to intentionally abide in that love no matter what happens. Abide in His love. Don't focus on others. Yes, you listen to God, but you also need to listen to others. Abiding in His love does not isolate you from people. Your church community is still around. Even someone as important as Apostle Paul needed Barnabas to rebuke him. Even though Paul had personally encountered God, he needed Ananias to help him with his sight and instruct him on what to do next. Paul saw a light shining from heaven on his way to Damascus. We need each other! If someone says, "God is enough for me," but doesn't listen to others, don't trust them. That person is overly spiritual and arrogant. We need input from others. In all things, your heart needs to intentionally respond in love. Your life needs to be perfected in God's love. Don't let yourself live outside of God's love. God will step into the lives of those who remain in His love. God will intentionally display His love to those who abide in His love. "No weapon forged against you will prevail". That verse isn't for everyone. It's a privilege for those who abide in His love. All weapons forged against you will become your ammunition for success, God will be like the father who will buy the bullied child toys, so don't be bitter toward the people who wronged you. Or worse yet, be bitter toward God. Say, if your brother hits you, why are you mad at your dad? Saying, "Dad, you're not fair!", now it's you against your dad. God would then need to restore you first, which would be a setback. God will need to look after your mess, even though His protection is there for you. Psalms 23:15 says: [23] "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." "Enemies" here could be the unbelievers, but it could also be misguided believers. Life is not a performance for approval or validation. Your part is to abide in His love and to love others, while also producing the fruits of righteousness. That's your part, church! [23] "Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die." If we ignore verse 23b, and if history didn't tell us of John's fate, we would've made the same assumptions as the disciples did. But Jesus never said that John was never going to die. What Jesus really said was “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” Jesus never said John was never going to die. As I read verse 23b, I can deduce that John, too, would eventually die. History taught us that John died of old age. After John left Patmos — the island where he received revelations — he became a bishop, that is, someone with authority over other priests. He also became an apostle and the spiritual father of the Ephesian churches. John died in Ephesus in the year 90 AD. John passed away at a ripe old age. The church's tradition described John in his old age like so: Apostle John needed to reach the pulpit for him to preach; he had to be carried in a chair by a few young men in the church. In his last days, he repeatedly preached to love one another. Love one another. John did not die a martyr's death as Peter had wished. I will not dare to assume why, please clarify to Jesus. I don't want to lose my riches in heaven. But is it possible, because Peter'd wanted him to die a martyr, that God didn't make it happen? Maybe God was teaching the other disciples to not envy. If my children complain that I'm being unfair when they're in the wrong, that is all the more reason for me to give to the youngest. First, to defend the youngest. Second, as a lesson for my other children. Don't you think so? I wouldn't know, only God knows if John was destined from the start to pass away gently in old age. As I read this, at least I find that John did pass away much later and he was full of age. That is, to teach Peter not to envy others. I pray that you are living proof of God's love. Those who pray for your downfall will be appalled as the opposite will happen. Some of them might even be Christians, but their heart is not right before God. Perhaps because they're praying for your downfall, God will bring you up to teach them not to envy. Feel free to tell the people next to you, "Please hope for my downfall, so God will bless me. Please hope that I will lose, so I will win." By all means! That's okay. But don't be so haughty and challenge others to do so. As long as we abide in love, love never fails. Abide in love, and you won't be disappointed. Let's give God a big hand. I'll discuss 3 lessons we can take away from Apostle John before wrapping up. You can write these down. The first of John's examples. 1. Someone Who Abides in God's Love Won't Be a Stumbling Block For Others. Alright? Abide in love, and If people try to make you stumble, you won't. You won't trip others either, since your focus is not on others, but on yourself. I'm talking about the right kind of focus here. Not me-me-me kind of focus. That's wrong. God never calls us to be selfish. The self-focus I'm talking about is being responsible for yourself, unless, say, you are given responsibility over people in your ministry. Do not disregard the people under your charge, like Cain did, lest their blood cry out as Abel's did. Don't be like Cain and say, "Am I my brother's keeper?" when God asks about these people. In the ministry, at work, or in the family, if someone is entrusted to your care, you must genuinely look out for them, so that when God inquires about them, their blood won't scream like Abel's did. You must take good care of them, but don't go overboard. Focus on your responsibilities. You won't cause others to stumble if you abide in God's love. Now, who is John? John is James's brother. I will preach about James in the next service. James, the son of Zebedee. John is James' business partner. And not only James, but John also partnered with Peter and Andrew, Peter's brother. They were all fishermen, and would often co-share their fishing boat. If you read the story of how their fishnet broke in the Gospels, there were always John, Peter, Andrew, and James in that story. They're a package deal. The funny thing is, that some people get along in church, but not in business settings. The reverse also applies, some people can get along so well in business, but they bicker when in church. But not so with John. I notice that John was never a stumbling block, in both his career and religious life. John was Peter's business partner. The history recorded their ministries; where and with whom each apostle went. John was close to Andrew, brother of Peter. But in ministry settings, John was often paired with Peter. Remember when John and Peter traveled to Samaria to establish the church? In business, John was closer to Andrew. I can tell from John's life that someone who abides in God's love, won't be a stumbling block for others, whether at church or elsewhere. Someone who abides in His love will be content; they will not look for trouble, nor will they be arrogant. Someone who does not look for validation, is incredibly easy to work with and befriend. That person won't be selfish. 2. God’s Love Is Not for Competition or Comparison. Only in the Gospel of John did John refer to himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved." The phrase doesn't appear anywhere else in the bible. Neither did Matthew nor Luke mentioned it. And that's okay. God's love is for you to experience and be thankful for. God's love in your life is not for comparison or competition. "God just blessed me, what about you?" "Check out my outfit. Guess how much it is?" You are profaning God's love by doing that. "Look at my ministry. How many dead people have you raised?" What? God's love is not for competition. If God loves you in a certain way, be thankful. If someone is loved by God in another way, be thankful. Someone who knows they are loved by God will be content. They will not compare. Amen, church? 3. Someone Secure in God’s Love Dares to Ask and Request. We can learn a valuable lesson from the Apostle John. The other apostles did not dare to ask Jesus during the Last Supper, but John immediately asked Him, “LORD, who is going to betray you?” He asked Jesus for an answer. If you abide in love, you have an advantage; God will not intimidate you. Be bold to ask. There are some arguments regarding prayer out there, and it baffles me. Some people discourage others from praying to God for favors. I never think that praying for blessings is manipulating God. Another point I've heard is that when you pray for blessing, you have the wrong motivation since all you want is the blessing. I simply ask God. I ask God for a lot of things. I don't feel distant from God. I don't overthink about my heart's motivation when I ask God. That's such a hassle and way too many confused Christians. In their eyes, asking is wrong, but not asking is wrong too. Imagine if you need God's help, but when you ask for it, people judge you. "Why do you expect a blessing in return? We need to bear the cross to follow Him." So then asking is wrong. If you don't ask for God's help and rely on your strength, that's wrong too; why don't you ask God, who is the Creator of everything? Too confusing. I don't want to debate over this issue. My heart is at peace before God in the Christianity that I know and live. As long as I'm close to Him, I'm not afraid to ask Him anything. I really do. Whenever I need anything, I say to God, "God I need this." I won't feel condemned for it. However, whenever I'm far from Him, my prayer life suffers. I've been there. When I ask God, I feel condemned. "You have the wrong motivation. You're manipulating God." Same request, different feels. When you're far, you'll feel condemned. When you're close, it's only natural to ask. Do you understand? Therefore, do not focus on asking. First, get close to Him. Give thanks for God's love. Others may envy you, saying "All you do is ask, ask and ask." But God hears your prayer, and that's what matters! Let those people be envious. But if you distance yourself from God, you will not dare to approach Him for anything; when you try to, the entirety of hell will try to condemn you. Some Christians are constantly in a struggle, one after the other. It isn't because their prayers have gone unanswered. The answer is simple: they never truly choose to be intimate with God. When you're close to God, such problems will take care of themselves. Ask God for help with the remaining issues, and He will make a way. Give glory to God. Let's all stand up. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Blessed be Your name. Asking God for something is not the same as tempting Him. Ask God for something only because you need it, not because you need proof. If you ask Him because you want confirmation of His love, you're doing it wrong. Asking God will come naturally if you're close to Him. One day, I was at the airport. To be clear, I was not asking for signs from God to convince me. Had I sought signs, I'd be putting God to the test. Walking with the LORD is a wonderful experience. Being near to God feels wonderful, even if you still face difficulties in your life. You need to experience that closeness with God. Close as a friend. A slave would merely receive commands and obey but a friend knows God's heart. So wonderful. I don't ask God to prove His love to me. I don't ask God to prove that He is God. However, asking God for my needs comes naturally to me. If I need something and God doesn't give it to me, that's okay. When it boils down to it, my prayer is, "Let Your will be done, not my will." Curiously, when we're close to God, we know His heart. Someone close to God and grateful for His love will not ask for the wrong things. That's because someone close to God, will not try to hurt Him. For things you ask for, which are neither right nor wrong, you will learn as you go. Let me give you an example. I've prayed to God a couple of times that I want to return home to my family. I'm not being whinny in my ministry, I just miss my family too much. There are times when God indulged me. I was on a plane with hundreds of people. And I prayed to God, "God, I'm not anyone special, but please go easy on me and make the boarding time earlier. Make it one hour earlier." Sorry, it was actually 30-45 minutes. God definitely indulged me a few times. The plane had boarded earlier. I couldn't tell the other passengers about it. I couldn't prove it happened because of me. But that's what I believe, so sue me. If the plane did board early because all of the passengers were on time, fine, I was overthinking it. God won't punish me because I overthink His love. But who knows? God could have boarded the plane earlier because His servant missed his family. I have also prayed for my flights to be delayed, because I was running late. Most of the time, the local churches were to blame, because they took me around the city. I prayed to God, "Please delay the flight," while people were panicking. I told them, "Don't worry. The plane will wait for me." "But you're not a government official," they said. Government officials get special treatment, but I'm not one of them. "I'm not a government official," I said, "But I'm God's beloved disciple." The flight was delayed. More than once I prayed for God to delay, and the flights were truly delayed. You'd be lucky not to be on the same flight as me if I prayed for a delay. Listen to me. I confess God does not always hear my prayer. But God has heard a lot of it. What's great about being thankful for His love is that it gives us confidence in His love for us. We won't be making reasons to guilt-trip ourselves to make less of His love. No. I'm not perfect, but neither do I live under the guilt of my conscience. It's so freeing. Imagine if someone's mean to you, and you pray to God, and suddenly God resolves it for you. Sometimes God's help will not come in an instance, to give you the endurance you need. For some, it could be 7 months or 3 years. Be wary of the prayers of the righteous. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Give praise to God! Don't always ask your pastors to pray on your behalf. That's hiding behind the righteousness of your pastors. You think because they're righteous, they'll have your prayers answered. Don't do that. Imitate your church's leaders as a disciple. I may not be the closest person to God in this room, but let us learn to always come near to God as John did. Okay? Say that to the person next to you, "Why be so far away from Him if you may be close?" Now say this, "If we can do it now, why later?" Tell them, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart." Hallelujah. Let's sing a song! We will sing a very simple song. Hallelujah 12x and then Jesus loves me. And I am not giving an altar call, but I am making this entire place of worship, and the live streaming of our church everywhere as the altar of God. From the front to the back as the altar of God. Let's make a promise to God. When we sing this song, you and I will feel very loved by God, and indeed He loves you. As we sing this, throw away everything that you know will grieves the heart of God. Can you? I give you a call to repent. Maybe it's not repentance class 101 or basic class nor vulgar. Maybe some people might be in 102, 103, 104. It's already second, third, fourth grade. There are people here who like to complain, complain, complain. It's not a visible sin, it's what you say, your words. Throw that away. If later on God said, I don't like it, throw it away. If there's someone here who is hard-hearted and loves to get angry even if he hasn't killed anyone, but he is always angry at home, throw it away! It widens the gap between you and God. God's love desires to operate freely. Throw away anything that prevents Him from working. God still loves you, even though you are angry. How can you be angry when you know you are loved by God? Some folks enjoy procrastinating. I'll serve God later, no problem... If we are already loved, we'll undoubtedly say, "Now LORD, I give myself. Now we sing this song. We promise, including myself, to throw away anything that we find unpleasant to God. the things we are certain grieve the Holy Spirit Let's raise our hands like this. Give thanks. Give thanks. You deserve to feel the most loved in this room. You deserved to feel that! Who among you is Jesus' beloved disciple? Raise your hand and sing, "Jesus loves me ... " Jesus' beloved disciples listen to your voice and sing: "Jesus loves me ... " Let us thank Him for His infinite love. Raise your hands, throw away your sin! Sing again, "Jesus loves me ... " Jesus' beloved disciples, let's declare! Although I don't deserve it ... Though I'm not perfect and covered in sin ... But today I'm throwing away things that grieve God! Worship Him! You're all His Johns ... Hallelujah ... Give your shout for God! Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! Hallelujah! It is not too much to ask, in the name of the LORD Jesus, that every member of our church be an apostle of love in their daily life. Okay? It is not too much if we should love our neighbors because God loves us so much. Say to your right and left, love your neighbor as yourself. Praise the Lord. Praise the LORD! As we finish the service, let's raise the envelope for our weekly offering. as well as the tithe from our monthly income. Let's lift them up before God. "LORD, please use these ... We are grateful for Your abundant gifts in our life. These offerings are insignificant compared to Your love. May these offerings result in new church buildings ... And send missionaries to far-flung corners of the globe. God be praised. We'll dedicate the new GMS Bali building in two days, thanks to the generosity of Your church. Thank you LORD. Blessed be Your name for everything You've done. Please accept our humble offerings in the name of Jesus, amen. Before we leave, tell each other: If you're weak, I'll strengthen you; if I'm weak, please strengthen me. if I'm weak, please strengthen me. Say it with your own word. Let's love each other, because God loves us. Go home. Love your family. Love your colleagues at work. Let's sing this again. This is a church that cares for one another. Just as Christ has loved you, love one another. Remind someone to love if they have forgotten. Reach out to anyone who is drifting away. If anyone is weak, the strong bears the weak. Thank you God. Yours is a kingdom of love. We thank You. Love is faithful, love is patient, gentle and humble. We pray that this church will not just grow in number. We are not just growing in quantity, but in quality. God's love will perfect us. I desire a church that's filled with love. Today, we return home as people who have been more than restored. No one goes home feeling guilty and intimidated. we're not perfect but as we leave this place we shed the burdens and we gain power We believe that our conscious will no longer accuse us. We will be a generation that dares to ask God, dares to ask. Beloved of the LORD, raise your hands. Receive the blessings of God, who never changes. May the LORD Jesus Christ's unwavering love and grace be with us. The anointing of God the Holy Spirit be with you always. From now until the LORD completes His work in you. In Jesus name. Hallelujah. Amen. Love you, love you so so much. Please take your seat. Today's service has ended. How was the service? Hopefully, you were blessed with the amazing word of God. May joy overflow in each of us, as much as it does here onsite. We hope to see you here one day to worship God. General services are at 07:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 01:00 PM, 04:00 PM and 07:00 PM. Hope to see you at the next service. Every member of GMS is a family to us, So if you desire to receive the LORD Jesus as your Saviour, be baptized, or pray with someone, and haven't yet joined CG, please contact us by clicking on: gms.church/connect. Don't be discouraged if you follow the service via streaming, Because the LORD Jesus, in His might, visits everyone of us without regard for time or space. May LORD Jesus bless you. Shalom, GMS congregation. For those of you who have friends or relatives who need an interpreter during the service. We provide interpreter services in English, Mandarin, and sign language. At GMS West Surabaya, English interpreter services are available at all Army of God services on Saturdays and at all General services on Sundays. While Chinese and sign language interpreter services are available at 10 am Sunday public worship service. In addition to GMS Surabaya Barat, interpreter services are also available at GMS Surabaya Timur. For English interpreter services, it is available at the 9 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm services, and also available at the 5 pm Army of God service. Chinese interpreter service is available at 11 am. And sign language is available at 3 pm. All information about the GMS interpreter service equipment can be obtained at the reception before the service begins. Have a great weekend and have a great service. Jesus bless you.