Selamat Ari Gawai to all our Dayak brothers and sisters!!! May you be blessed with a bountiful harvest in everything that you put your hands to do!!! That you will participate in and see a Harvest Festival from the Lord!!!
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The Gospel
Yesterday, we went to Kenosis – Sarawak, a young, growing effort to aid in the rehabilitation of drug addicts in Miri. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon and the young men were gathered to learn some English and how to make sushi!
It was an experience that made a deep impression on us. It is easy to dismiss these young men as unworthy, but we must remember that God sees the opportunity for salvation and renewal. We were certainly blessed to stand in the midst of the miracle and serve the cause.
One of the core beliefs of Christianity is that all have sinned. We were born sinners; it is not simply our actions that make us sinners, it is the posture of our hearts.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6 (NKJV)
Sin doesn’t always appear evil on the surface. We sin because we want what is best for us, outside of God’s will. Sin isn’t just immorality, sin is the choice to remain separate from God. We chose the wisdom of the tree of life, which is not wisdom at all!
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
For sin invites shame and we are trapped in the viciousness of wanting to live by our own desires. We make makeshift coverings to hide what we don’t want others to see. They may not be Adam and Eve’s fig leaves. Instead, we find coverings in careers and relationships and adornment.
We want people to see what we want them to see.
The God we know sees us for ourselves. He was the one who gave us our will, knowing that the creation of beings who choose to love Him is more valuable than the creation of beings programmed to love Him.
So, He walks in the garden and He calls for Adam and Eve. And He put into motion a plan for reconciliation.
And she [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus , for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21 (NKJV)
So, why are we talking about sin when the wonderful season of Christmas is about the birth of Christ?
Because we need to remember why Christ came. This Christmas, we celebrate the God who came to us clothed in flesh. Jesus walked as Adam was created to, fully reflective of the Father who loves Him and in full communion with the Godhead.
He came to die for us.
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge on sour wine, put it on hyssop and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:28-30 (NKJV)
He came to make us right with Him. He came to allow us to make a home with Him.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
He didn’t come to give us everything we want, He came to give us everything we need. Jesus didn’t come just so we could be healthy and wealthy and blessed. He came so we could choose a life completely fulfilled in Him.
There is such richness in understanding the sacrifice of Christ. There is such wonder in being freed from sin and, therefore, the scourge of shame and fear.
Christmas is often a time where Christians find their way home. Some of them are the furthest from God they’ve ever been, some are God’s best friends. We don’t know where you stand, but we invite you regardless to reflect on the goodness of our God.
Pilih Kehidupan
Alkitab mengajar bahawa, “Hidup dan mati dikuasai lidah ..” (Amsal 18:21 TB). Mengapa begitu?
Lidah kita – lebih tepat lagi, perkataan-perkataan kita mempengaruhi arah Kehidupan kita. Lidah seperti kekang pada mulut kuda, kemudi pada kapal dan api kecil yang boleh membakar hutan yang besar, mampu menukar arah Hidup Kita.
Pada hakikatnya, Alkitab mengatakan, “Sebab kita semua bersalah dalam banyak hal; barangsiapa tidak bersalah dalam perkataannya, ia adalah orang sempurna, yang dapat juga mengendalikan seluruh tubuhnya. Kita mengenakan kekang pada mulut kuda, sehingga ia menuruti kehendak kita, dengan jalan demikian kita dapat juga mengendalikan seluruh tubuhnya. Dan lihat saja kapal-kapal, walaupun amat besar dan digerakkan oleh angin keras, namun dapat dikendalikan oleh kemudi yang amat kecil menurut kehendak jurumudi. Demikian juga lidah, walaupun suatu anggota kecil dari tubuh, namun dapat memegahkan perkara-perkara yang besar. Lihatlah, betapa pun kecilnya api, ia dapat membakar hutan yang besar.” (Yakobus 3:2-5 TB)
Apakah kita sedang menuju arah yang betul dalam Hidup Kita? Adakah percakapan kita sehari-harian adalah apa yang betul? Pengakuan mulut Kita (percakapan Kita) adalah berkait dengan hati Kita dan keselamatan Kita. Alkitab mengajar, “Tetapi apakah katanya? Ini: “Firman itu dekat kepadamu, yakni di dalam mulutmu dan di dalam hatimu.” Itulah firman iman, yang kami beritakan. Sebab jika kamu mengaku dengan mulutmu, bahwa Yesus adalah Tuhan, dan percaya dalam hatimu, bahwa Allah telah membangkitkan Dia dari antara orang mati, maka kamu akan diselamatkan. Karena dengan hati orang percaya dan dibenarkan, dan dengan mulut orang mengaku dan diselamatkan. (Roma 10:8-10 TB)
Kata-Nya lagi: “Apa yang keluar dari seseorang, itulah yang menajiskannya, sebab dari dalam, dari hati orang, timbul segala pikiran jahat, percabulan, pencurian, pembunuhan, perzinahan, keserakahan, kejahatan, kelicikan, hawa nafsu, iri hati, hujat, kesombongan, kebebalan. Semua hal-hal jahat ini timbul dari dalam dan menajiskan orang.” (Markus 7:20-23 TB)
Kata-kata kita, apa yang diucapkan mulut kita adalah apa yang meluah (datang) dari hati kita. “Karena tidak ada pohon yang baik yang menghasilkan buah yang tidak baik, dan juga tidak ada pohon yang tidak baik yang menghasilkan buah yang baik. Sebab setiap pohon dikenal pada buahnya. Karena dari semak duri orang tidak memetik buah ara dan dari duri-duri tidak memetik buah anggur. Orang yang baik mengeluarkan barang yang baik dari perbendaharaan hatinya yang baik dan orang yang jahat mengeluarkan barang yang jahat dari perbendaharaannya yang jahat. Karena yang diucapkan mulutnya, meluap dari hatinya.” (Lukas 6:43-45 TB)
Percakapan Kita menunjukkan apa yang di dalam hati kita. Dan apa yang di dalam hati seseorang, itulah yang menjadikan siapa orang itu. “Sebab seperti orang yang membuat perhitungan dalam dirinya sendiri demikianlah ia…” (Amsal 23:7 TB)
Bagaimanakah Cara Kita memilih “Kehidupan” dan “Keberuntungan”?
Apa yang harus Kita lakukan? Di Perjanjian Lama, tentang Kehidupan, keberuntungan, kematian dan kecelakaan, Alkitab mengatakan, “…Tetapi firman ini sangat dekat kepadamu, yakni di dalam mulutmu dan di dalam hatimu, untuk dilakukan. Ingatlah, aku menghadapkan kepadamu pada hari ini kehidupan dan keberuntungan, kematian dan kecelakaan,”. (Ulangan 30:14-15 TB)
Untuk mentaati Tuhan ialah untuk kita memilih “Kehidupan” dan “Keberuntungan” setiap hari. Bagaimanakah Cara Kita melakukan apa Yang diajar Firman Tuhan – mentaati Tuhan?
Bagaimanakah Cara Kita pastikan Kita memiliki keupayaan untuk mentaati Tuhan? Ingat kata Firman Tuhan, “Tetapi firman ini sangat dekat kepadamu, yakni di dalam mulutmu dan di dalam hatimu, untuk dilakukan.”
Tiga Langkah:
1. Baca dan renungkan Firman Tuhan
Baca dan renungkan Firman Tuhan untuk menyimpan Firman Tuhan di dalam hati. “tetapi renungkanlah itu siang dan malam, supaya engkau bertindak hati-hati sesuai dengan segala yang tertulis di dalamnya” (Yosua 1:8)
Pemazmur mengistyharkan, ” Dalam hatiku aku menyimpan janji-Mu, supaya aku jangan berdosa terhadap Engkau. (Mazmur 119:11 TB)
2. Membuat pengakuan – Lafazkan & Akui Firman Tuhan
Nyatakan, istyharkan atau deklarasikan Firman Tuhan. Kalau kita “menjaga” hati kita, dan merenungkan Firman Tuhan; apa Yang keluar dari hati kita akan merupakan Firmannya. Ini bukan bermakna kita menjadi lalai. Sebaliknya Kita perlu senantiasa mengawal mulut Kita supaya apa yang keluar dari mulut Kita adalah kata-kata Yang membawa Kehidupan. Yosua 1:8 mengajar kita, “Janganlah engkau lupa memperkatakan kitab Taurat ini..”
3. Taati dan lakukan Firman Tuhan:
Kalau Kita telah menyimpan Firman Tuhan di dalam hati Kita, dan senantiasa mengaku dengan mulut Kita akan Firman Tuhan (setiap hari), kita akan menerima kuasa untuk melakukanya.
Hasil terakhir orang yang membaca, merenung, dan melakukan Firman Tuhan menurut Yosua 1:8 ialah Kehidupan yang keberhasilan, “sebab dengan demikian perjalananmu akan berhasil dan engkau akan beruntung.”
Choose Life
The Bible teaches that, “death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21 KJV). But why is it so?
Our tongue – rather, the words we speak will influence the direction of our lives. The tongue is likened to a bit in a horse’s mouth, a small rudder in a ship, and little fires in a forest, capable of turning the direction of our lives (James 3:2-5).
In fact the Bible says, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.”
Are you going the right direction? Are we speaking the right words? The confession of our lips (i.e., what we say) is connected to our hearts and affects our salvation. In Romans 10:6-10, the Bible says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:6-10 NKJV)
Our mouths will speak what is in our hearts. That is why the Bible says, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23 NKJV)
Our words are the fruit of our lips, “…out of the abundance of his heart, the mouth speaks. For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45 NKJV)
“What we speak, reveals what is on the inside, in our heart. And what is in a person’s heart is what the person will become. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)
How do we choose “Life” and “Good”?
So, what should we do? In the Old Testament, concerning life or death, the Bible says, “…But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” (Deut. 30:13-15 NKJV). To obey God is to choose life and good. How do we do what God says, i.e. how do we obey God?
To obey God is to choose life and good! But how do we make sure that we have the ability to obey God? Remember, the word of God says, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it”!
Three steps to obey God:
1. Put the Word in your heart:
Read and meditate on the word of God to put the word of God in your heart.
“But you shall meditate in it day and night.” (Joshua 1:8).
The psalmist declares that, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:11 NKJV).
2. Confess the Word of God:
Speak and declare the word of God. If you guard your heart, meditating on the word, what naturally flows out will be of the word. But that isn’t to say that we should be careless. Rather, we should guard our mouths and ensure that we speak words of life.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth.” (Joshua 1:8)
3. Do it:
If you have kept the word in our heart and are able to speak it daily, then we will have the power to do His will. To obey Him and to do His works is to have a faith alive.
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17 NKJV)
The result according to Joshua 1:8 is “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
The Victorious Life is Yours – Have You Received It?
Easter has just passed and we are reminded once again of the overwhelming, overcoming, over surpassing power of God that defeated all the power that is available in the world, to raise Christ from the dead. Nothing in this world or in the world to come can stand up to God!
The Victory is Ours
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.””
It is not a narrow victory, neither is it a hard fought, nail-biting battle that either side could win. It is a lopsided battle that God wins hands down! Death is swallowed up in victory! The new life that we receive when we believe is eternal and victorious. Jesus died and He rose again. He cannot be defeated, and all the power of hell could not contain Him. He broke the power of sin, sickness and death! Hallelujah! This is the new life we have in Him.
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is what God has destined for us, to live victorious lives! This is the “…the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:19-21 (NKJV).
Every child of God, every believer has been placed with Christ far above all principalities and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. That is why John says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV). We cannot be defeated, we cannot fail, whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And we receive this victory every day by faith!
How Do I Receive Victory?
But I am not good enough! I have many weaknesses and many flaws. This is true if we are on our own; we will never be good enough to receive what God has promised us.
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”
God is greater than our hearts! You don’t have to stay condemned. Receive His forgiveness daily. Scripture affirms this over and over again. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV). We were never good enough to begin with; when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV). And, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV).
We don’t deserve to be saved, but He chose to save us anyway by grace and by faith. Both grace and faith are given freely by God! The same God who gave us the means to be saved, gave us the means to live a victorious Christian life!
By faith, receive His grace and receive His forgiveness. Choose to receive His power today and every day to live the victorious life that He has given to us!
The Mandate, Motivation & Means of Mission
As we approach Missions Sunday, let’s reflect and consider Three important aspects or 3 M’s concerning Missions!
The first M, The Mandate of Mission.
Why are we involved in missions? Because it is the Great Commission. Today, we run the risk of making the Great Commission into the Great Omission. Jesus last words to the church (his disciples) was to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations ….”. But today, just like in the day of Jesus, some still doubted Him. Many see it as an option, and not “The Great Commission”! If we are true disciples, then this commission is for us! Jesus has given us the divine mandate, and the command to go!
a. Mandate with All Authority
And with this big mandate, for this big task, He empower us with everything He has, that’s All authority in heaven and earth!
b. Mandate with His presence
Jesus promise to be with us as we obey Him, even to the ends of the earth.
Reference text:
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:16-20NKJV
The 2nd M is the Motivation of Mission: We do Missions because We Love God, We want to Make His Name great, and. Because we do not want anyone to perish!
a. The Motivation of L O V E
i)The Love of Christ: “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. II Corinthians 5:14-15NKJV
ii) For God so loved the world – He gave! Jesus so loved the world-He came, died & rose again! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16NKJV
iii) 2 Peter 3:9.. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the saving grace. His extravagant Love.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9NKJV.
iv) Our life purpose is to love God
“And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. [Deut. 6:4, 5.] The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. [Lev. 19:18.]”
Mark12:30-31AMP
b. My life purpose is to Do and complete the mission or assignment of God
Acts 20:24 My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord – the work of telling others the good news about God wonderful kindness and love (NLT)
“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts20:22-24NKJV
The 3rd M of Mission, the Means & Method of Mission.
There are at least 3 important Means & Method of Mission. Of course, the key is always a man or a woman who is willing to obey God to do His Will in this 3 areas, to pray, to give and to Go!
a. Pray: An important key to missions is prayer! In the midst of prayer, God can give directions as to who to talk to, why to go & direct us to pray for the right prayers! Identifying & breaking strongholds over a person, a family, a city or a state or country are necessary steps to win a person or city for Jesus!
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””
Matthew9:37-38NKJV
b. Give: Money is a necessary resource to finance the end time harvest! This is achieved through the faithful giving of God’s people giving towards Missions. There are blessings for those who cheerfully give to Missions. Paul encourages the Philippians that, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19NKJV”.
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 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.” II Corinthians 9:6-8NKJV
c. Go: The last important ingredient of every successful mission is for His people to answer the call to Go! “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”” Romans 10:14-15 NKJV
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”” Matthew 9:37-38NKJV
The harvest field need labourers, to fulfil God’s plan, we are to go.
Where are we to Go? Acts 1:8 teaches us to go to our Jerusalem (our city, our town, our village), our Judea (our district, division or our State, our country ), our Samaria (our neighbouring states, or countries) and to the whole world.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NKJV
Calvary Miri 