Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Faith in Action

Faith in Action

"Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them into the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine."
1 Samuel 17:40, NIV

Many of you, like me, will know the story of David and Goliath from childhood. Yet on reading this passage again recently I wondered, ‘why choose five stones when only one was necessary, and why a staff?’

Perhaps we’re a little like David in that situation? There are times when we’re uncertain about what might be necessary as we move on to serve the Lord. As the saying goes, we equip ourselves with ‘belt and braces!’

David’s faith in God motivated him to go out alone against Goliath. His experiences of God enabling him to overpower a lion and a bear were sufficient for him to trust God in this situation. He knew he could overcome the enemy single-handed.

When we face a difficult situation, are we able to look back and recall those times where God has enabled us to overcome? Can we testify of His powerful intervention? This encourages us to ‘step out in faith’ believing He will help us.

Our God is such an amazing God. He has promised to ‘never leave or forsake us’ when we go in obedience to do what He has called us to do (Deuteronomy 31:6). David was so confident that God would enable him to defeat Goliath that he could discard Saul’s armour and take the simple things God had given him the skill to use.

As we face the difficult situations of life, let’s first recall God’s faithfulness and help and thank Him for those experiences. Then, encouraged, let’s look to Him to make us an overcomer, through the strength and ability He has equipped us with. Furthermore, as we experience the victory He gives, let’s not forget to give Him all the glory, for without His help we would only fail.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You for all those past experiences of Your help and enabling, when I have been successful in difficult situations. As I face fresh challenges, I ask You to help me overcome with Your strength, as I offer to You the gifts and abilities You’ve put within me, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today's Writer : David Silvester David Silvester is married and has a son, two daughters and eight grandchildren. He trained as a production engineer. He then moved on to become a lecturer of engineering craft skills before being called of God in his early fifties to become a pastor of a Baptist church. He says that,"having previously experienced an amazing healing on a day others expected me to die, it came as no surprise that God directed me and my wife, Margaret, to become involved with Ellel Ministries."

The Truth about Lies

The Truth about Lies

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
John 8:44, NIV

The truth about Satan’s lies is that we very easily assimilate them into our belief system as truth. They can feel very true! I’m thinking of things such as: ‘God can’t use you!’, ‘God isn’t interested in you!’, ‘God doesn’t really love you!’, and ‘You have completely blown it with God!’

Thinking about this I once asked God to show me any lies that I believed as truth, and this lie came quickly into my mind, ‘God could abandon me in the moment of my deepest need!’ How awful it was for me to believe this lie, but it felt very true. The purpose of the lies of Satan is to separate us from faith in God.

But I believe that Jesus speaks clearly to us. In John 10:2-5 Jesus uses a figure of speech about a man who is a shepherd. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out. The sheep know his voice and follow him, but they run away from a stranger because they don’t recognize a stranger’s voice. Then Jesus explains clearly that He is ‘the Good Shepherd’. ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:27). Jesus also said ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ (John 14:6). So I asked Jesus to speak truth to me that would disempower this lie. I sensed Him saying, ‘I will never ever leave you or forsake you, especially not in the moment of your deepest need!’ The lie was cancelled!

How could I have believed such a terrible lie of the enemy? Do you think it is possible that the father of lies has lied to you? Believing lies holds us into fear and rejection and many other things. Sometimes before we can be free we need to ask Jesus, who is the truth, to speak His truth into us personally, Jesus’ truth has greater power than Satan’s lies.

Prayer: We thank You, Jesus, that You taught us that the knowledge of the truth will set us free. Please come and expose to us today any of Satan’s lies that we believe are true. Please speak to us by name, that we may walk more deeply in Your truth. Thank You Jesus, Amen.

Today's Writer : Jill Southern-Jones Jill Southern-Jones was a successful business woman before becoming the Director of Ellel Pierrepont, home of the Luke Nine Eleven Training Programme (NETS). People from all over the world come for 5 – 10 months and learn to teach and minister on NETS. Jill’s book on Sex: God’s Truth is an essential guide to the restoration of Godly order in sexual relationships.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9: 6

When you have a tickly throat that is liable to send you into a coughing fit, it is not a good idea to try to sing, so I have spent this week listening to worship songs and joining in in my spirit. That has given me a good opportunity to focus in greater depth on the words of the different songs – one of which included the words: “Emmanuel, God is with us”, and I began to think what this truly means. As I worshipped, the enormity of our God actually coming to spend time with us here on earth began to sink in in a new way. So often we know these truths in our heads and accept them, but every so often God gives us a fresh revelation of what they really mean.

How astonishing it is that we, as Christians, have the unique experience of the God we worship, actually coming to earth share our lives and experience for Himself all the petty difficulties and problems, the awkward relationships and the pain – and the joy – that is part of our human condition. No other religion claims that for their god, and I do not think that any other faith would claim that their god cares for us as our God does.
The fact that Jesus came as an ordinary man (though of course He was God too), must have been what confused the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Jesus told them plainly, “I AM”, (John 8: 58) the very words God used to Moses (Exodus 3: 14), and yet they did not believe Him. Perhaps if He had appeared as a burning bush again or walked six inches above the ground with a halo on His head they might have recognised Him, but Jesus was so ordinary – just a simple carpenter, not the king they were expecting.

In our ministry, time and time again, we are thankful that Jesus knows how we feel and can empathise with someone who is going through pain and hurt. Whatever it is, He knows and understands. No pain is too big for Him and no life too messy for Him. He is not embarrassed by our sin and He knows what it is to feel fear and shame. Ultimately, of course, He took it all with Him on the cross in a way that I don’t think we shall ever truly understand. He did away with it, enabling us to walk free. Jesus came to set captives free. It may take a big act of courage on our part for us to allow Him to come into the deep areas of our lives, but we can be set free to enjoy the abundant life He speaks of in John 10: 10.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You so much that You cared enough about me to come and share my life here on earth. Lord, I am so amazed and grateful that You understand all about me and have already carried all my pain and hurt and sin to the cross and have done away with it. Please help me to learn to walk in Your freedom each day. In Your precious name I pray, Amen.

Today's Writer : Angela Weir Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress and after her marriage and move to Cumbria, taught drama in a girls’ school.

Happy or Joyful Christmas?

Happy or Joyful Christmas?

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Luke 2:10, NIV

I love Christmas! I love everything about it. I love the decorations, the gifts, the food, the fun, the time with family, the laughter, the cooking. I love it all! For me, Christmas is a precious time of the year. Yet it occurs to me that Christmas is not a happy time for everyone. Many are alone, having to do without necessities (let alone luxuries), missing a loved one for the first time, or not in a place within themselves to celebrate anything. For some, Christmas is a struggle.

I know that my enjoyment is temporal. It doesn’t last forever. A time will come when the festivities will come to an end, the decorations will be put away, the food will eventually diminish and we will return home from spending precious time with our families. My happiness will dwindle with the ending of the festivities.

Yet, the joy of Christmas is free for us all and is eternal. It’s the joy of the knowledge that God Himself entered our world to meet with us and to save us. He came to us as a baby – vulnerable, shamed by the gossip surrounding His very existence, His life under threat by those who feared for their position in life. Our God came down to this and was born into the dirt and squalour of a stable. He wasn’t born into a clean, safe environment. His first hours were hours of dirt, mess and fear. He entered our dirty, messy, fearful world to save us from the grip of the enemy. He came because He loves us and wants to draw us back to Himself.

This is the Christmas joy we can all celebrate. This isn’t temporal, it’s eternal. It will last forever. My prayer this Christmas time is that we all find that joy – a joy that deepens as we look to our Saviour and celebrate all that He has done for us. If you’re struggling with Christmas this year, I pray this unfathomable joy will be your strength. For those of us who have much to enjoy, I pray that you won’t lost sight of the deep joy that surpasses our understanding.

Prayer: What can we say to our Saviour who came to this earth to save us? Thank You does not seem enough but it’s all we have. Help us, Lord, to know the joy that is ours for free and is eternal, and help us not to lose sight of this truth as we celebrate your birth. We especially pray for those who are struggling this Christmas time. May You give each one of us the only gift that matters this year: may Your love penetrate our hearts in a deep and precious way. Amen.

Today's Writer : Lindsey Hanekom Lindsey Hanekom has, over the years, worked at all our UK centres! In 2003 Lindsey and her husband, Johann, joined the Blairmore team where she worked as the Centre Administrator as well as ministering and teaching on retreats and courses. She is currently a full-time mum to her baby son, Kyle and enjoys country sports in her spare time.

The good or the bad?

The good or the bad?

"He looked around at them all; then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand”, and he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other."
Luke 6:10, NKJV

Recently whilst talking about this healing miracle someone mused “I wonder which hand the man stretched out first”. I began to question my previous assumption and wondered for the first time, did he automatically stretch out his withered hand? After all he must have been used to reaching out to receive things with his good hand and so surely he would instinctively reach out that hand to receive from Jesus. Perhaps Jesus had to indicate to him “No, not the good one but the withered one”.

Considering this question made me think how often we are reluctant to show our weaknesses. We may readily show others, and Jesus, the bits of us that we consider ‘good’, useful and acceptable but often try to keep our ‘withered’, weak or damaged places hidden. Like the man we are used to working round our limitations; physical, emotional and spiritual. We feel more in control when the needy place is hidden and ignored so we reach out to receive healing with those parts of us we deem presentable.

If the man had only been willing to stretch out to Jesus the ‘good’ hand he would never have had the withered hand healed. He had to do something that he wasn’t used to doing and allow the full extent of his weakness to be seen by Jesus, and by all the others standing around the synagogue.

Are you hiding your weaknesses from Jesus when these withered places are exactly what He would want you to stretch out into the light for healing? Today is an excellent day to stretch out and expose our dysfunctional places to the healing touch of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know the truth of all my withered and dysfunctional inner places in my soul and spirit. I ask You to give me courage to reach out in the reality of my needs. Amen.

Today's Writer : Denise Cross Denise Cross has been married to David for 38 years and they have three grown up children. Denise leads the team at Glyndley Manor, the second oldest Ellel Centre in the UK. Denise originally trained as a mathematics teacher, but after a “Damascus Road” experience of the Lord Jesus in 1981, now delights to teach the Lord’s wonderfully logical truth. Her passion is to stir the hearts of believers to appropriate all the benefits of abundant life that their Heavenly Father freely offers to each of His children.

Monday, December 27, 2010

169. Memikul salib dengan paksa - Matius 27:32-44

Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan. Tuhan Yesus dengan tegas berkata bahwa barang siapa yg mau mengikut Aku, ia harus memikul salib dan menyangkal diri serta mengikut Aku. Jadi dengan tegas Yesus berkata di sini. Siapapun yg mau mengikut Aku, syarat yg terpenting dan tidak bisa dihindari, adalah bahwa Ia harus rela memikul salib dan menyangkal diri, sehingga ia layak mengikut Yesus.

Nah, tetapi sekarang persoalannya, saat memikul salib, apakah kita memikulnya dengan suka cita atau dengan terpaksa? Karena, bagaimana sikap kita saat memikul salib, itu menentukan hasil yg akan kita raih. Kita lihat di Matius 27:
32Ketika mereka berjalan ke luar kota, mereka berjumpa dengan seorang dari Kirene yang bernama Simon. Orang itu mereka paksa untuk memikul salib Yesus. 33Maka sampailah mereka di suatu tempat yang bernama Golgota, artinya: Tempat Tengkorak. 34Lalu mereka memberi Dia minum anggur bercampur empedu. Setelah Ia mengecapnya, Ia tidak mau meminumnya. 35Sesudah menyalibkan Dia mereka membagi-bagi pakaian-Nya dengan membuang undi. 36Lalu mereka duduk di situ menjaga Dia. 37Dan di atas kepala-Nya terpasang tulisan yang menyebut alasan mengapa Ia dihukum: "Inilah Yesus Raja orang Yahudi." 38Bersama dengan Dia disalibkan dua orang penyamun, seorang di sebelah kanan dan seorang di sebelah kiriNya. 39Orang-orang yang lewat di sana menghujat Dia dan sambil menggelengkan kepala, 40 mereka berkata: "Hai Engkau yang mau merubuhkan Bait Suci dan mau membangunnya kembali dalam tiga hari, selamatkanlah diri-Mu. Jikalau Engkau Anak Allah, turunlah dari salib itu!" 41Demikian juga imam-imam kepala bersama-sama ahli-ahli Taurat dan tua-tua mengolok-olokkan Dia dan mereka berkata: 42"Orang lain Ia selamatkan, tetapi diri-Nya sendiri tidak dapat Ia selamatkan! Ia Raja Israel? Baiklah Ia turun dari salib itu dan kami akan percaya kepada-Nya. 43Ia menaruh harapan-Nya pada Allah: baiklah Allah menyelamatkan Dia, jikalau Allah berkenan kepada-Nya! Karena Ia telah berkata: Aku adalah Anak Allah." 44Bahkan penyamun-penyamun yang disalibkan bersama-sama dengan Dia mencela-Nya demikian juga.

Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus dalam keadaan sangat terluka. Bahkan Alkitab berkata bahwa wajahNYA tidak seperti Anak Manusia lagi, tubuhNYA hancur dan Alkitab berkata bahwa IA tidak dapat dikenali lagi. Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus berjalan memikul salibNYA sendiri. Tetapi ada pada suatu tempat, dimana IA tidak mampu lagi untuk memikul salibNYA, sampai akhirnya terjatuh dan salibNYA menimpa diriNYA. Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, sama sekali tidak ada orang yg mau menolongNYA. Tidak ada seorangpun yg dengan kasih dan dengan kesadaran, berpikir bahwa Yesus adalah orang baik, dan patut ditolong. Semua takut dengan tentara-tentara Romawi, di pikiran mereka pasti,"jangan-jangan kalau saya menolongnya, saya akan mendapat perlakuan yg kejam juga, sama seperti yg dialami Yesus."

Dan, apa yg terjadi? Semua orang hanya menyaksikan, semua orang hanya melihat dari jauh. Dan, ketika Yesus sudah tidak mampu berjalan lagi, maka dicari seorang yg bernama Simon dari Kirene, dan ia dipaksa untuk mengangkat salib Yesus. Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Alkitab berbicara bahwa Yesus yg sudah lemah, diolok, dihina, dan penjahat yg di sebelah kirinya berkata," turun dari salib itu dan buktikan bahwa Engkau adalah Tuhan." Bahkan orang-orang Farisi dan ahli-ahli taurat yg berjalan di depan dia berkata,"katanya Engkau anak Allah, turunlah dari salib itu, sehingga kami percaya." Ada beberapa hal penting yg menarik yg dapat kita pelajari:

1. Memikul salib adalah awal pengalaman kita dengan Kristus
Memikul salib adalah: kita mendapatkan masalah yg bukan merupakan kesalahan kita. Jikalau engkau sebagai istri ribut dengan suami, karena engkau adalah istri yg tidak mau tunduk, pencemburu berat, engkau adalah istri yg kasar. Lalu saudara ribut, janganlah saudara bilang bahwa ini salib dari Tuhan. Dan bila saudara putus dengan pasangan saudara, meskipun ia cantik dan saudara berpacaran tanpa mengikuti pedoman-pedoman firman Tuhan/saudara engga berdoa dulu dan minta konfirmasi dari Tuhan, saat putus, itu bukanlah salib saudara.

Salib adalah sebuah tantangan berat, sebuah penderitaan, meskipun saya tidak salah. Misalnya: Saya mengabarkan injil, kemudian saya menderita aniaya, tekanan, itu namanya memikul salib. Tetapi sebaliknya, jika saya mengabarkan injil dengan cara memaksa, dan tidak sesuai pula dengan Firman Tuhan, itu bukanlah memikul salib, tetapi itu tanda bahwa kita tidak berhikmat. Memikul salib adalah:

Tantangan/persoalan hidup yg terjadi di dalam hidup kita dan bukan merupakan kesalahan kita, sehingga kita menderita, tetapi diijinkan terjadi oleh Tuhan dalam hidup kita, untuk membentuk dan memproses hidup kita, sehingga kita layak di hadapan Tuhan. Kalau kita belum memikul salib, kita belum layak dan pantas disebut anak-anak Kristus. Karena bisa saja kita tahu tentang Kristus, bisa saja kita dengar kotbah tentang Kristus, kita bisa saja baca tentang Kristus, tetapi bila kita tidak alami Yesus secara khusus, kita tidak alami dan rasakan kuasaNYA secara khusus setiap hari.

Tetapi bila kita memikul salib, di situ kita akan merasakan kuasaNYA dan berkatNYA, dan kita akan hidup dekat denganNYA, kita akan hidup akrab dengan Allah dan kita tahu bahwa Tuhan kita adalah Tuhan yg tidak pernah meninggalkan kita.

2. Memikul salib mendatangkan perubahan
Justru dengan memikul salib, hidup kita diubahkan, dengan memikul salib, kita menjadi manusia baru. Makanya di Alkitab dikatakan bahwa,"Siapa yg mau mengikut Aku, Ia harus memikul salib & menyangkal diri." Kita menghadapinya dengan benar dan penuh dengan sukacita. Kita mau menyalibkan daging dan menyalibkan kesenangan dunia dan berkata,"Tuhan, aku tidak berjuang untuk membela kebenaranku sendiri/menyatakan bahwa akulah yg paling baik, biarlah Roh Kudus yg menuntun aku, biarlah kuasa Tuhan yg melindungiku."

Biarlah dengan cara-cara Tuhan saja yg menyatakan kasih yg sempurna di dalam hidupku. Jadi, jelas di sini bahwa memikul salib mendatangkan perubahan di dalam hidup. Dengan lain kata, orang bisa saja jadi Kristen, tetapi tidak berubah juga. Dan yg mendatangkan perubahan adalah kerelaan kita untuk memikul salib, dan mau hidup serupa dengan Kristus.

3. Memikul salib dengan sukacita adalah kunci berkat.
Kalau saya rela memikul salib dengan sukacita, saya hadapi dengan iman dan penyerahan penuh kepada Tuhan, maka saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, kita akan melihat berkat-berkat Tuhan yg luar biasa.

Doa:
Bapa, kami berdoa untuk kami semua yg membutuhkan jawaban doa, yg membutuhkan kekuatan dan mujijat karena kehidupannya mendapatkan masalah, hamba berdoa akan Kuasa dan campur tangan Allah, dalam Nama Yesus Tuhan kiranya Tuhan jamah dan berikan mujijat, sehingga kami dapat menerima kebebasan dan kelegaan, haleluya, amin!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

They’re all looking at me!

They’re all looking at me!

"Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood."
Isaiah 54:4, NIV

In a village in rural Russia, about the year 1950, a little girl was sent by her mother to get bread from the shop. It was very early, but many people were waiting in line. The little girl burned with shame. Once again she had been sent out without any money, and would have to ask out loud for bread ‘on the slate’. Once again everybody would know that she came from a poor family. The shame of poverty was crushing her human spirit.

Sixty years later, after a life of work, she was still afraid to speak before people or voice an opinion. She was ashamed and afraid to be noticed. But then God reached in, healed her crushed human spirit, washed away her shame and restored her joy and life in abundance.

I have found that many things can crush the human spirit and restrict the flow of life itself - poverty, criticism, rejection, abuse, failure, shame – so that we feel we’re not living, only existing. But I have also found that God is able to ‘restore the years that the locusts have eaten’ (Joel 2:25) and give us life in abundance.

I want to encourage all those, who aren’t living but just existing, that there is hope. God can come to the place where your human spirit was crushed, bringing healing and restoring life and hope. Perhaps you would like to invite Him to do that by praying something like this:

God, I don’t know how to pray properly. I’m not even sure if you’re there. I feel like a walking shadow, not fully alive. Please heal my crushed human spirit, so that I can live again. I want to rejoin the human race. I want to know what it is to be alive. I want to be able to hold up my head. Please help me. Amen.

Today's Writer : Roger Pook Roger Pook joined the full-time staff of Ellel East in Hungary in January 1996 after a career in language teaching and financial services. He and his wife Christine are Directors of the Ellel East Regional Nations Centre, and they teach and minister throughout the former communist world.

Monday, December 20, 2010

168. Mahkota duri - Matius 27:27-31

Mahkota duri adalah sebuah fenomena hidup ini. Tidakkah saudara dapat bayangkan, bahwa itu sebenarnya mahkota, lambang kemuliaan, lambang kuasa, lambang kehormatan, tetapi di sisi yg lain terbuat dari duri. Lalu, di sisi lain merupakan lambang sakit, lambang kehancuran, dia mahkota, tetapi duri. Nah, ini adalah fenomena hidup ini. Ada banyak orang mencari mahkota, tetapi sebenarnya mahkota yg ia pegang, mahkota yg ia miliki sebenarnya adalah duri yg menghancurkan hidupnya. Tetapi saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus mengenakan mahkota duri, supaya kita dapat mengenakan mahkota Kemuliaan bersama Yesus. Matius 27:

27Kemudian serdadu-serdadu wali negeri membawa Yesus ke gedung pengadilan, lalu memanggil seluruh pasukan berkumpul sekeliling Yesus. 28Mereka menanggalkan pakaian-Nya dan mengenakan jubah ungu kepada-Nya. 29Mereka menganyam sebuah mahkota duri dan menaruhnya di atas kepala-Nya, lalu memberikan Dia sebatang buluh di tangan kanan-Nya. Kemudian mereka berlutut di hadapan-Nya dan mengolok-olokkan Dia, katanya: "Salam, hai Raja orang Yahudi!" 30Mereka meludahi-Nya dan mengambil buluh itu dan memukulkannya ke kepalaNya. 31Sesudah mengolok-olokkan Dia mereka menanggalkan jubah itu dari pada-Nya dan mengenakan pula pakaian-Nya kepada-Nya. Kemudian mereka membawa Dia ke luar untuk disalibkan.

Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, saat saya dalam perjalanan pergi ke Israel. Tour guide yg memimpin perjalanan itu berkata,"pendeta, saya mau tunjukkan anda sesuatu: "yaitu pohon yg durinya panjang sekali." Lalu ia berkata, tahukah, bahwa pohon ini adalah pohon yg digunakan untuk menganyam mahkota duri dari Yesus. Lalu saya berhenti dan menghentikan rombongan yg lain, serta berkata kepada mereka, bahwa "ini adalah pohon yg dipakai untuk menganyam mahkota Yesus." Panjangnya sekitar 2 inch. Lalu mereka semua menatap ke atas dan ada sebagian yg menitikkan air mata, termasuk saya. Karena durinya panjang sekali dan durinya tajam sekali, sehingga ada beberapa orang yg mau coba untuk memutuskannya secara hati-hati, dan ia masih terluka.

Saudara bisa bayangkan, bahwa ada orang yg menganyam mahkota duri ini dan dikenakan di atas kepala Yesus. Saudara bisa bayangkan, bahwa itu adalah sebuah tindakan yg sangat-sangat menyakitkan dan wajah Yesus pasti hancur, tetapi Yesus terima itu. Tetapi sebaliknya mahkota duri adalah sebuah ajaran mengenai lambang kehidupan. Apa arti dari Mahkota duri:

1. Bahwa kemuliaan dan penderitaan, kadang kala berjalan bersama-sama.
Dengan lain kata, kalau kita mau melihat kemuliaan, berarti kita harus siap menderita. Kalau kita mau lihat Kuasa dan mujijat Yesus terjadi dalam hidup kita, kita harus berani menghadapi tantangan-tantangan kehidupan. Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, saya kuatir dengan tawaran-tawaran injil yg terjadi pada hari-hari ini, yg banyak berbicara mengenai kemuliaan, tetapi tanpa penderitaan. Yang berbicara mengenai Kemuliaan, tetapi tanpa persiapan akan aniaya. Berbicara mengenai berkat, tetapi tanpa kesiapan untuk berkorban bagi Yesus. Yesus bilang,"bahwa barang siapa rela untuk kehilangan nyawanya karena Aku, justru akan mendapatkannya."Kita jelas ingat ketika Tuhan bilang kepada Abraham, "Abraham, engkau ambil anakmu Isac dan persembahkanlah Isac.

Tuhan tidak butuh melihat darah Isac tercurah, tetapi yg Tuhan lihat adalah, adakah Abraham mengasihi Tuhan melebih segala-galanya, sehingga rela mengorbankan semuanya demi Tuhan.Tetapi, ketika Abraham berani, siap dan rela. Alkitab berkata, "Tuhan berbicara Abraham, cukup." Karena yg Tuhan harapkan bukanlah darah Isac yg tercurah, tetapi yg Tuhan harapkan adalah kesiapan dari diri Abraham, dan rela menyerahkan segala-galanya bagi Tuhan. Jadi, dari sini jelas bahwa kemuliaan dan penderitaan seringkali berjalan bersama-sama. Oleh karena itu saat kita sedang mengalami penderitaan, kita engga perlu bersungut-sungut. Bila kita menghadapi aniaya, kita engga perlu kecewa, dan marah sama Tuhan,"God..kenapa Engkau ijinkan semua ini terjadi?" Kenapa Tuhan tidak bela saya, kenapa Tuhan engga beri kemenangan buat saya?

Tetapi dengan adanya mahkota duri, saat kita menghadapi cobaan, asalkan kita tetap setia, tetap teguh dalam iman, saya melihat bahwa bagian Kemuliaan kekal yg Tuhan telah sediakan buat saya menjadi bagian yg kekal buat hidup saya, haleluya!

2. Yesus sudah menanggung semuanya itu bagi kita
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus menanggung mahkota duri itu, supaya apa? Supaya kepada kita, kita dapat mengenakan mahkota kemuliaan itu. Betul bahwa kita harus siap menghadapi penderitaan. Tetapi, bukan berarti bahwa kehidupan Kristen adalah Kehidupan yg harus selalu mengenakan mahkota duri. Karena saat Yesus mati di kayu salib, yg sepertinya adalah kekalahan. Tetapi, sebenarnya itu adalah kemenangan buat kita, karena pada hari ke-3 Dia bangkit.

Oleh karena itu, janganlah kita berpikir dan menangisi hal-hal yg buruk dan berkata,"wah...sebentar lagi rumah tangga kita pasti bercerai." Atau sebentar lagi kita akan memiliki ibu/ayah tiri. Apapaun alasannya, Yesus sudah menanggung semuanya bagi kita. Itu berarti bahwa penderitaan kita bukan berarti kekalahan, tetapi kehidupan dan kemenangan yg kekal yg Tuhan sediakan bagi kita.

3. Yesus mengenakan mahkota duri, agar kita dapat mengenakan mahkota Allah
Itu sebabnya, Alkitab bilang,"Kalau kita setia dengan perkara kecil, Tuhan akan memberikan kita tanggung jawab yg lebih besar. Selama kita hidup di muka bumi, bertahanlah, bersuka citalah senantiasa, karena hariNYA akan tiba, Kristus akan ada di awan-awan menjemput kita. Dan kita akan berjalan di jalan emas di Sorga, dengan mahkota kemuliaan di atas kita. Itu sebabnya hidup Kristen adalah hidup yg indah, kita dapat dekat dengan Tuhan selalu.

Doa:
Bapa, dalam Nama Yesus, setiap dari kami yg dengan semua beban dan masalah datang kepada Yesus dengan apa adanya, Tuhan jamah kami semua yg sakit, yg berbeban berat, yg rumah tangganya goncang, maupun kami yg hidupnya dikuasai dosa dan kesenangan daging, dan kami yg saat ini hidupnya sedang mengenakan mahkota duri, di dalam Nama Yesus, biarlah KuasaMU mengalir, sehingga kami dapat melihat terang KasihMU, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!

Just the right Time

Just the right Time

"But when the right time came, the time God decided on, he sent his Son, born of a woman, born as a Jew, to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that he could adopt us as his very own sons."
Galatians 4:4-5, LB

God is never too early and never too late. He is above the limits of this world and lives in a timeless eternity, but He controls our times. He created the seasons, the days and years, the tides and the paths of the planets and our times are in His hands.

Gods’ timing is perfect. Sometimes when we pray for something, we may think God is not listening, but His answer may be: ‘Yes’, ‘no’ or perhaps ‘wait’. Often we have to wait because it’s not the right time. God, in His wisdom, knows best, and when we look back we can often see the reason why.

There are times when we have ‘divine appointments’, when unknown to us, the Lord has planned that we should meet someone at a time and place, where words would be exchanged and a direction or blessing given. Now the world would say this was a coincidence, but Christian believers know otherwise. Psalm 139 verse 16 says, ‘You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe’.

God knew the exact time that His Son was to be incarnated into the world. There were hundreds of prophecies in the Scriptures foretelling His birth, death and resurrection. All these prophecies were fulfilled literally in God’s perfect time.

But there’s a day when all of us can make the decision to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. On the first Christmas Day, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angels sang ‘Glory to God in the Highest’. The day someone receives Jesus as Saviour, Scripture says the angels will be singing once again, ‘Glory to God’, over one sinner that has repented’ (Luke 15:7).

Prayer: O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel. (Phillips Brooks).

Today's Writer : Pam Smith Pam Smith has a background in art and nursing, has a son and two daughters and a 'ministry to grandchildren.' She has been a friend and helper of Ellel Ministries since l992, and is involved with Healing Through Creativity Courses. As writer of the Shepherd Love Series, she has a passion for the comfort and encouragement that leads people towards enjoying abundant Life in Jesus.

Unchanging

Unchanging

"I the Lord do not change."
Malachi 3:6, NIV

It is often remarked that British people seem to enjoy talking about the weather. Maybe it is because our weather is so unpredictable, unlike that of many other countries. I remember people laughing when my wife and I were visiting Canada a while ago, because we carried raincoats when the sun was shining. Our response was “well it might rain”, much to the amusement of our Canadian friends.

However we do have something to talk about in the UK as I write. We have had unprecedented amounts of snow before Christmas, temperatures way below freezing, and yesterday in between snow and hail-storms we had thunder and lightening! In the midst of all this we have seen blue skies and bright shining starry heavens. Our temperate climate is definitely changeable, and our weather patterns appear to be changing.

What a blessing that our God doesn’t change. He is so consistent in His nature and resulting actions; if we sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. There is no ‘maybe’ in that Bible statement. His love endures forever, unconditionally to those who fear Him. His wrath against unrighteousness is however also unchanging, and only dealt with by the ‘propitiating’ work of Jesus on the Cross.

Lots there to talk about actually. Unlike our conversations about the weather – “it might change”, our conversations about God can be in direct contrast. There is no chance that He might change His mind. No need for extra help from other sources in case God lets us down, we don’t need to carry a spiritual extra umbrella. God’s grace is sufficient for us, we are told.

So when conversation turns to the state of the weather in the UK at this time (which for those of you in far off hot places may seem unlikely!), or even the state of your monotonous sunshine, if that is your experience, remember you can always talk about the God who doesn’t change, and thank God He doesn’t!

Prayer: Thank You Father God that You are utterly reliable, and that unlike the UK weather You never change in Your response to us when we come to You seeking Your mercy and grace. Please give us the boldness to talk with others about You when they are complaining about their changeable and unpredictable circumstances. Amen.

Today's Writer : John Berry John Berry is Team Pastor and part of the Leadership Team at Ellel Glyndley Manor, with his wife Jennie, having previously been in Baptist church ministry for over 30 years. His heart is for the equipping of the church for its ministry, and he sees the healing and deliverance ministry of Ellel as an essential part of this. John has travelled widely in the course of his work, and enjoys being a grandfather 6 times over!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Stand up and Declare

Stand up and Declare

"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen."


While in America a good many people celebrate ‘Thanksgiving Day’, every year, there’s a blatant voice from the American Atheist Association accusing people of not really believing in God. A large placard of the nativity scene has been erected on the Jersey Tunnel, declaring that God is a myth, Christ and the Incarnation is a myth, just as Father Christmas is mythical and that the people of America should be honest and admit this.

Although man’s heart is sinful and he has a fallen nature, many of God’s qualities are still reflected in human beings because they’re made in the image of God. God said that what He had made was very good. As we receive Christ into our lives we can experience the beautiful Holy Spirit with the love and power of God. The prophets in the Old Testament and the Apostles in the New Testament, together with the saints down through the ages have spoken and moved by His glorious power and have given the God of Heaven the worship and glory due His Name.

A myth cannot produce this love, power and beauty or restore a human heart and give new life to a soul and spirit. Let us, who’ve been changed by God, stand up and declare it to those around us, above the voices of those still in darkness, who want us to believe a lie and deny the glorious truth.

All Heaven declares the Glory of the risen Lord.
Who can compare with the beauty of the Lord.
Forever He will be the Lamb upon the throne.
I gladly bow the knee and worship Him alone. Noel & Tricia Richards


PrayerDear Lord, We give You all the praise, thanksgiving and glory, for all that You are, and have done for us. Help us to declare Your truth wherever we face the deception of the enemy, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Writer : Pam Smith Pam Smith has a background in art and nursing, has a son and two daughters and a 'ministry to grandchildren.' She has been a friend and helper of Ellel Ministries since l992, and is involved with Healing Through Creativity Courses. As writer of the Shepherd Love Series, she has a passion for the comfort and encouragement that leads people towards enjoying abundant Life in Jesus.

The Dinosaurs have Shrunk!

The Dinosaurs have Shrunk!

"But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land that had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendents of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our eyes, and we looked the same to them."
Numbers 13:31-33, NIV

Many years ago, aged 8, my parents took me to London to visit the Natural History Museum. I remember the awe I felt coming face-to-face with the enormous dinosaur skeleton of a Brontosaurus in the entrance hall! Everything there seemed huge and foreign. It made a big impact. So when, years later as a 23-year old student in London, I revisited that museum, I was shocked and deeply disappointed to discover that the dinosaurs had shrunk! They were no longer such a threat.

To a child, many things seem and actually are too big to handle. They can evoke awe and feelings of helplessness. But then children are not supposed to take on responsibilities beyond their years. They are meant to be protected by their parents from things which are beyond their grasp and competence level. As they grow and develop emotionally and intellectually, a watchful and caring parent will gradually entrust a child and teenager with more household responsibilities, freedoms and knowledge. For example, they can be allowed to do baby-sitting for the family, cutting the grass, climbing trees, cleaning windows, answering the door to strangers and having driving lessons. As we grow, our perspective on the world changes so that what once seemed beyond us, now no longer is such a challenge.

However, when life’s experiences are not so good, they can leave scars which affect our thinking and outlook. Seemingly insignificant issues to most people can seem like huge problems to others. A molehill becomes a mountain in the eyes of the beholder! As our scripture records, the promised land of Israel looked different to the twelve spies sent into the land by Moses. Eleven of them were terrified by the giants they saw; only Caleb had the eyes of faith to see the land positively and accurately: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it’ (Numbers 13:30).

The good news is that for us who struggle with issues which seem bigger than we can handle, Jesus has come to give us faith that we can be free and then the help to gain that freedom. We can take our own personal promised land and eat of its fruit!

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, please help me identify the ‘giants’ in my life, which You want to help me overcome and to see them from Your perspective! I ask You for all the help and courage I need to defeat the enemy strongholds in my life, so that I may dwell in the land You have prepared for me. Thank You, Lord, for the victories You have won ahead of me! Amen.

Today's Writer : Chris Eve Chris Eve has a background in librarianship, history and psychology and has been associated with Ellel Ministries since 1998. After doing NETS he has worked on and off at Ellel Grange since 2002. He is currently the bookshop manager and also works in the Bookings Office.

Monday, December 13, 2010

167. Mencuci tangan - Matius 27:11-26

Hari ini kita sedang membahas mengenai hal mencuci tangan. Apakah pendeta sedang mengajarkan bahwa sebelum makan harus mencuci tangan? Apakah pendeta sedang mengajarkan hidup sehatkah/hidup bersihkah? Ataukah ada produk sabun tertentu yg baik untuk mencuci tangan? Tetapi hari ini saya tidak sedang membahas hal mencuci tangan secara fisik, tetapi dunia akhir-akhir ini adalah dunia yg mencuci tangan. Apa maksudnya dengan dunia yg mencuci tangan? Karena banyak orang pada hari-hari ini yg tidak bertanggung jawab.

Saya ambil contoh sederhana..orang yg menikah dan mengambil anak gadis sebagai istrinya. Kemudian saat istrinya hamil dan melahirkan seorang anak. Sang suami begitu sibuk dengan bisnisnya. Dan sang suami merasa bahwa pendidikan anak bukanlah urusannya. Urusan papa adalah urusan mencari uang. Dan urusan mama adalah urusan mengenai pendidikan dan pergaulan dengan teman-temannya. Sehingga bila suatu saat kelak, ketika sang anak mencapai remaja/dewasa, kemudian pacaran dengan orang yg tidak seiman, anaknya terlibat dengan obat-obatan terlarang, anaknya terlibat dengan depresi/stress/hamil di luar nikah, maka sang suami kemudian menyalahkan istrinya,"Kamu, sebagai mama gimana sih, kenapa engkau tidak atur baik kehidupan rumah tangga!"

Maka saya sebut sang suami adalah suami yg mencuci tangan. Dunia ini adalah dunia yg penuh dengan orang-orang yg mencuci tangan, orang-orang yg mencari kambing hitam, dan melemparkan kesalahannya kepada orang lain. Intinya adalah bahwa saya selalu harus yg paling benar dan yang paling baik, masa bodo dengan orang lain. Tetapi, kita sungguh bersyukur bahwa Alkitab kita adalah buku yg sangat lengkap. Alkitab bukan hanya berbicara mengenai Sorga dan Neraka, tetapi Alkitab berbicara mengenai segala hal dalam aspek kehidupan manusia. Hanya persoalannya adalah: Apakah kita mengerti/tidak mengerti? Dalam Matius 27, kita akan melihat masalah pencucian tangan, kita lihat di ayat yg ke:

11Lalu Yesus dihadapkan kepada wali negeri. Dan wali negeri bertanya kepada-Nya: "Engkaukah raja orang Yahudi?" Jawab Yesus: "Engkau sendiri mengatakannya." 12Tetapi atas tuduhan yang diajukan imam-imam kepala dan tua-tua terhadap Dia, ia tidak memberi jawab apapun. 13Maka kata Pilatus kepada-Nya:"Tidakkah Engkau dengar betapa banyaknya tuduhan saksi-saksi ini terhadap Engkau?" 14Tetapi ia tidak menjawab suatu katapun, sehingga wali negeri itu sangat heran. 15Telah menjadi kebiasaan bagi wali negeri untuk membebaskan satu orang hukuman pada tiap-tiap hari raya itu atas pilihan orang banyak. 16Dan pada waktu itu ada dalam penjara seorang yang terkenal kejahatannya yang bernama Yesus Barabas. 17Karena mereka sudah berkumpul di sana, Pilatus berkata kepada mereka: "Siapa yang kamu kehendaki kubebaskan bagimu, Yesus Barabas atau Yesus, yang disebut Kristus?" 18Ia memang mengetahui, bahwa mereka telah menyerahkan Yesus karena dengki. 19Ketika Pilatus sedang duduk di kursi pengadilan, isterinya mengirim pesan kepadanya: "Jangan engkau mencampuri perkara orang benar itu, sebab karena Dia aku sangat menderita dalam mimpi tadi malam."20Tetapi oleh hasutan imam-imam kepala dan tua-tua, orang banyak bertekad untuk meminta supaya Barabas dibebaskan dan Yesus dihukum mati. 21Wali negeri menjawab dan berkata kepada mereka: "Siapa di antara kedua orang itu yang kamu kehendaki kubebaskan bagimu?" Kata mereka: "Barabas." 22Kata Pilatus kepada mereka: "Jika begitu, apakah yang harus kuperbuat dengan Yesus, yang disebut Kristus?" Mereka semua berseru:"Ia harus disalibkan!" 23Katanya: "Tetapi kejahatan apakah yang telah dilakukan-Nya?" Namun mereka makin keras berteriak: "Ia harus disalibkan!" 24Ketika Pilatus melihat bahwa segala usaha akan sia-sia, malah sudah mulai timbul kekacauan, ia mengambil air dan membasuh tangannya di hadapan orang banyak dan berkata: "Aku tidak bersalah terhadap darah orang ini; itu urusan kamu sendiri!" 25Dan seluruh rakyat itu menjawab: "Biarlah darah-Nya ditanggungkan atas kami dan atas anak-anak kami!" 26Lalu ia membebaskan Barabas bagi mereka, tetapi Yesus disesahnya lalu diserahkannya untuk disalibkan.

Pilatus adalah orang kepercayaan pemerintahan Romawi untuk menjadi wali negeri di tempat itu. Karena, pada saat itu ada 2 pemimpin:
1. Pemimnpin agama
Pemimpin agama dipegang oleh Yahudi.
2. Pemimpin pemerintahan
Pemimpin pemerintahan dipegang oleh Romawi

Yesus diserahkan karena berdasarkan agama. Tetapi, secara agama Yesus terbukti tidak bersalah. Karena itulah Yesus diadili secara kepemerintahan. Meskipun secara kepemerintahan Yesus juga tidak bersalah. Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, dari sini seharusnya Pilatus mengambil keputusan yg tegas, dan berkata,"bahwa orang ini tidak bersalah!" Tetapi, apa yg terjadi? Pilatus memilih untuk mencuci tangan. Banyak orang yg seperti Pilatus. Mereka mencuci tangan dan melepaskan diri dari tanggung jawab yg seharusnya ia pikul. Kenapa Pilatus mencuci tangan:

1. Pilatus mencuci tangan karena takut bertanggung jawab
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, dunia ini dipenuhi oleh orang-orang yg hanya mencari kesenangan dan tidak bertanggung jawab. Kita perhatikan, suami menikah kemudian ia berzinah, istri menikah, kemudian ia berselingkuh dan tidak bertanggung jawab terhadap anak-anaknya. Tahukah saudara, kenapa hari-hari ini, tingkat perkelahian pelajar semakin tinggi? Kenapa tingkat pemakaian obat-obatan terlarang semakin tinggi? Tingkat sex bebas di kalangan remaja semakin tinggi? Jawabannya sederhana, karena kurangnya orang-orang yg bertanggung jawab. Begitupun yg terjadi di dalam gereja, saya melayani supaya saya semakin diberkati. Saya melayani, supaya saya semakin melihat mujijat dan kuasaNYA.

Meskipun itu semuanya benar. Tetapi, saya kuatir bahwa kita kehilangan orang-orang yg bertanggung jawab dan orang-orang tidak lagi mau melayani dengan tetesan air mata dan cucuran keringat. Karena, sekarang yg dicari hanyalah hal-hal yg bersifat duniawi/materi/kesenangan-kesenangan sesaat dalam hidup ini. Sebagai hamba Allah saya mau ingatkan bahwa kita haruslah menjadi orang percaya yg bertanggung jawab dengan tugas kita.

2. Pilatus mencuci tangan, karena ia tidak mengerti kebenaran
Seandainya Pilatus tahu bahwa Yesus adalah Mesias, maka pastilah Ia tidak akan mencuci tangan. Kalaulah saya seorang suami, saya harus bertanggung jawab sebagai seorang suami. Kalaulah saya seorang pekerja, saya harus bertanggung jawab sebagai seorang pekerja, begitu pula dengan pedagang yg harus bertanggung jawab sebagai seorang pedagang. Tetapi, selain melakukan semuanya, dalam tugas keseharianmu, engkau juga harus bertanggung jawab atas jiwa-jiwa yg terhilang. Karena, Yesus berkata,"Kamu adalah terang dunia, kamu adalah garam dunia." Tidak seharusnya Pilatus mencuci tangan, tetapi ia harus bertanggung jawab atas jiwa-jiwa yg terhilang.

3. Pilatus mencuci tangan, karena ia tidak setia
Istrinya sebenernya sudah tahu dan memberitahu Pilatus dan di dalam hatinya, sebenarnya ia sudah tahu bahwa Yesus adalah kebenaran, tetapi ia tidak setia terhadap kebenaran, sehingga ia lebih memilih, yg penting saya selamat, yg penting saya aman. Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, kalau engkau suami, janganlah menjadi suami yg mencuci tangan, kalau engkau istri janganlah jadi istri yg mencuci tangan, kalaulah engkau sebagai pelayan, janganlah menjadi pelayan yg mencuci tangan, kalaulah engkau seorang Kristen, janganlah menjadi seorang Kristen yg mencuci tangan. Tetapi, jadilah seorang Kristen yg berjalan di dalam kebenaran, bertanggung jawab dan setia.

Doa:
Bapa, kami berdoa untuk kami semua yg memiliki banyak beban, yg cenderung ingin mencuci tangan di dalam hidupnya, di dalam Nama Yesus, Tuhan jamah, Tuhan pulihkan, biarlah yg sakit disembuhkan, yg lemah dikuatkan, dan perkara besar terjadi di dalam hidup mereka, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Rebuild or Reject?

Rebuild or Reject?

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10, NKJV

I was talking with someone recently who had been told by her garage that the engine on her car was damaged so much that the vehicle was not worth repairing. The work could be done as the vehicle body was in good condition, but the economics made it an nonviable proposition. The dilemma was then presented to the owner of the vehicle: ‘rebuild the engine of your car and gain a working vehicle, or reject the car and buy another one?’ Both ways would be expensive for her, but which way was the right way? The decision was eventually made when someone bought her another car (an ‘old banger’, but one that worked!) and her damaged car was scrapped.

I’m so glad God doesn’t choose us in terms of our value in money. Because God looks on the heart He knows our true condition, and frankly I believe we’re a pretty unattractive proposition. I’m aware we may all look reasonable on the outside, but our fallen human nature has had an effect on the inside part of us. Paul’s often quoted statement that ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’ summarises what for many of us is a terrible reality (Romans 3:23) . To use the car analogy our engine has received abuse, misuse, unreasonable stress, and something has ‘blown’. We can get the bodywork patched up, but rebuilding the engine is serious stuff. Ask Peter Horrobin!

If I were God I wouldn’t bother with the investment needed to restore me, but the Bible tells me that it was whilst we were still sinners that Jesus Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). In other words, God made the ultimate investment and He himself ‘got His hands dirty’ and dealt with the damage. As King David cried out to God in Psalm 51, quoted above, the Father in heaven responded with limitless love and rebuilt the life of the one He loved. And that’s true for every one who cries out to God for that ultimate make-over. God is prepared to make us new again, starting from the inside, as an eternal investment.

There are no ‘second-hand Christian’ stores? To God we’re all new creations, being re-created in Christ, to have relationship with the Father through Him. I may seem like a damaged, worthless car, but to my Father I am worth the life of His Son Jesus. God always chooses to ‘rebuild’, not to ‘reject’. But we sometimes cause a problem by rejecting Him as the ‘Rebuilder’. Keep on with the rebuilding of me Lord!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord God, that when You look on the inside and see our mess You choose restoration not rejection and You value us and deal with us in a loving way, prepared to pay the highest price for us. I’m sorry, Father, that I often seem to reject You in the way I live and speak and think. Thank You that even then You don’t reject me, Amen.

Today's Writer : John Berry John Berry is Team Pastor and part of the Leadership Team at Ellel Glyndley Manor, with his wife Jennie, having previously been in Baptist church ministry for over 30 years. His heart is for the equipping of the church for its ministry, and he sees the healing and deliverance ministry of Ellel as an essential part of this. John has travelled widely in the course of his work, and enjoys being a grandfather 6 times over!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Best Medicine

The Best Medicine

“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable . . . he who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Proverbs 28:9 and 13, NIV

All of us have memories of childhood, when our mothers had the impossible task of persuading us to swallow foul-tasting medicine. I know I have! I didn’t really want to know that it was ‘doing me good’ when all it did was make me pull my face in a disgusted grimace. The only consolation was the sugar cube I was given to suck, as a ‘reward for being such a good boy’! In my heart I knew my Mum wouldn’t ever harm me. But nevertheless, whenever the medicine bottle came out, I always tried to avoid the inevitable nose-twitching dose and turn away from what was best for me.

God is like both the ‘best Mum’ and the ‘best Doctor’. He knows what’s good for us, even if we don’t like it. And He knows that the safest and the best way for us to live is within the provisions of His law. This is the place of blessing. And by choosing to live according to the ways of God, we keep the doors closed through which the enemy can attack us. Paul warned us not to do things that would give a foothold to the enemy (Ephesians 4:27). The Psalmist put it this way, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Psalm 19:7).

So, if we know what the Word of God says, and we deliberately choose to live in a way that is contrary to the path of blessing, we shouldn’t be surprised if we are no longer living in the reviving presence of God’s Holy Spirit, but are on a downward path away from that highway of holiness that Isaiah talked about (Isaiah 35:8), and which the foolish will avoid. Yes, the Bible talks about the foolishness of those who walk away from His law and His way.

Our Scripture for today also tells us that when we actually choose to ignore the law of God, our prayers become detestable to God. In Isaiah 1 God says that in circumstances like this “even if you offer many prayers I will not listen” (Isaiah 1:15). People often ask me why God doesn’t answer their prayers. There can, obviously, be many reasons for this, but I am increasingly aware that the message of this proverb could be one of the most important words in Scripture for today’s worldwide community of believers. When we stop walking in the ways of God – our prayers no longer reach the heart of God. And isn’t this a simple outworking of a divine principle that we will be treated according to how we treat others?

God has spoken to us through His Word, and if we choose to turn a deaf ear to what He has already said, are we not simply telling God to treat what we say to Him (our prayers) in the same way that we treat what He has said to us? Perhaps we all need to look again at our lives in the light of God’s Word and repent. For this is what God’s Word also says: “Come now, let us reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow . . . if you are willing and obedient.” Isaiah 1:18-19.

Prayer: I am sorry Lord for expecting you to hear and answer my prayers when, in so many ways, I have not responded to the things you have already said to me. Please forgive me for the times when I have ignored your law and gone my own way. I choose to turn back to you now, and ask that you will forgive me for the contempt with which I have treated your living Word. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Writer : Peter Horrobin Peter Horrobin is currently writing an online training school called Ellel 365. This is specifically designed to help people ‘get the message’ and apply the practical truths of God’s Word into their lives. To take a look for yourself go to www.em365.org or click the link under the "links" section of this page.

The Best Medicine

The Best Medicine

“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable . . . he who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Proverbs 28:9 and 13, NIV

All of us have memories of childhood, when our mothers had the impossible task of persuading us to swallow foul-tasting medicine. I know I have! I didn’t really want to know that it was ‘doing me good’ when all it did was make me pull my face in a disgusted grimace. The only consolation was the sugar cube I was given to suck, as a ‘reward for being such a good boy’! In my heart I knew my Mum wouldn’t ever harm me. But nevertheless, whenever the medicine bottle came out, I always tried to avoid the inevitable nose-twitching dose and turn away from what was best for me.

God is like both the ‘best Mum’ and the ‘best Doctor’. He knows what’s good for us, even if we don’t like it. And He knows that the safest and the best way for us to live is within the provisions of His law. This is the place of blessing. And by choosing to live according to the ways of God, we keep the doors closed through which the enemy can attack us. Paul warned us not to do things that would give a foothold to the enemy (Ephesians 4:27). The Psalmist put it this way, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Psalm 19:7).

So, if we know what the Word of God says, and we deliberately choose to live in a way that is contrary to the path of blessing, we shouldn’t be surprised if we are no longer living in the reviving presence of God’s Holy Spirit, but are on a downward path away from that highway of holiness that Isaiah talked about (Isaiah 35:8), and which the foolish will avoid. Yes, the Bible talks about the foolishness of those who walk away from His law and His way.

Our Scripture for today also tells us that when we actually choose to ignore the law of God, our prayers become detestable to God. In Isaiah 1 God says that in circumstances like this “even if you offer many prayers I will not listen” (Isaiah 1:15). People often ask me why God doesn’t answer their prayers. There can, obviously, be many reasons for this, but I am increasingly aware that the message of this proverb could be one of the most important words in Scripture for today’s worldwide community of believers. When we stop walking in the ways of God – our prayers no longer reach the heart of God. And isn’t this a simple outworking of a divine principle that we will be treated according to how we treat others?

God has spoken to us through His Word, and if we choose to turn a deaf ear to what He has already said, are we not simply telling God to treat what we say to Him (our prayers) in the same way that we treat what He has said to us? Perhaps we all need to look again at our lives in the light of God’s Word and repent. For this is what God’s Word also says: “Come now, let us reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow . . . if you are willing and obedient.” Isaiah 1:18-19.

Prayer: I am sorry Lord for expecting you to hear and answer my prayers when, in so many ways, I have not responded to the things you have already said to me. Please forgive me for the times when I have ignored your law and gone my own way. I choose to turn back to you now, and ask that you will forgive me for the contempt with which I have treated your living Word. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Writer : Peter Horrobin Peter Horrobin is currently writing an online training school called Ellel 365. This is specifically designed to help people ‘get the message’ and apply the practical truths of God’s Word into their lives. To take a look for yourself go to www.em365.org or click the link under the "links" section of this page.

I will Pray for You

I will Pray for You

"Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere."
Ephesians 6:18, LB

What a comfort to know someone is praying for you. I have often felt very uplifted and have said to myself, “Someone must be praying for me just now”. There is power and blessing that goes out to someone who is genuinely being prayed for.

Jesus told St. Peter that Satan had desired to sift him like wheat, but that he had prayed for him, that his faith wouldn’t fail (Luke 22:31). And Jesus is our High Priest who ‘ever lives to make intercession for us’. How wonderful, that our Saviour is praying for us (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus also prayed for us in John’s Gospel. ‘I am not praying for these alone but also for the future believers who will come to me because of the testimony of these. My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are’.(John 17.20-21).

Sometimes through the day or night, I might find someone on my mind. This may be the Holy Spirit prompting me to pray specifically, for them at that time. I believe God is ready to receive these prayers and pour His blessings out. Perhaps we may be unaware of the power and strength of prayer and the warfare that goes on in the heavenlies, and the commands that God gives His angels to minister to His saints, but all we have to do is to be obedient when the Holy Spirit nudges us into action, that His will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

‘Then another angel having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand’ (Revelation 8:3).

Prayer: Lord, We thank You for praying for us. Teach us how to really pray and may our praise to You be as incense. May we be obedient to Your voice and faithful in praying for each other, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Today's Writer : Pam Smith Pam Smith has a background in art and nursing, has a son and two daughters and a 'ministry to grandchildren.' She has been a friend and helper of Ellel Ministries since l992, and is involved with Healing Through Creativity Courses. As writer of the Shepherd Love Series, she has a passion for the comfort and encouragement that leads people towards enjoying abundant Life in Jesus.

Christ in us

Christ in us

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 2:5, NASB

Paul, writing to the Christian community in Philippi, is urging them to be ‘Christ like’ in every way, in body, soul and spirit.

I like the above translation, which can also read, ‘have this attitude among yourselves’. Paul is trying to emphasise the need for every individual in the Christian community there to develop Christ likeness.

The Christ like qualities he is encouraging them to adopt are humility and holiness in every sense of the word, and he gives examples of how Jesus demonstrated this.
Firstly He demonstrated humility and holiness in His human body. Jesus is, and always has been, the Son of the Eternal God, and absolutely equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Yet He took on human flesh and became a man among humanity. As a man, He was born as a baby, and was dependent upon His mother to care for and nurture Him. He grew up through childhood and teen age years into adulthood. He then worked as a craftsman until beginning His ministry. In all stages of life He demonstrated those qualities of humility and holiness.

Although we know very little of those years before His ministry, we have the short glimpse of Him as a boy about to become a teenager, when He went with His parents to Jerusalem. His subjection to them demonstrates a humility and holiness we all long to see as our own children are growing up. He knew the principles God had intended for every child in relation to parents.

As He entered His ministry, whether among the crowds of followers, dealing with individuals, or before religious leaders, the two qualities of humility and holiness were always in pre-eminence. Yes, He was prepared to speak the truth, whatever the response to it might be. He never compromised whenever sin needed to be challenged, but His compassion for the sinner was never in question.

We too are challenged to ‘Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5) and to demonstrate the qualities of humility and holiness. It’s grievous to God whenever Christians display anything that contradicts these qualities, such as when we display anger, and speak to a brother or sister in Christ with disrespect. We need to be challenged by the Holy Spirit about what effect our attitude is doing to the One who suffered all the ignominy and shame of being crucified naked in our place, in order to carry the punishment of a Holy God upon our sin.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I’m sorry for those times when I haven’t displayed the qualities of humility and holiness, and have grieved You. Please forgive me and put a right spirit in me I pray. Amen.

Today's Writer : David Silvester David Silvester is married and has a son, two daughters and eight grandchildren. He trained as a production engineer. He then moved on to become a lecturer of engineering craft skills before being called of God in his early fifties to become a pastor of a Baptist church. He says that,"having previously experienced an amazing healing on a day others expected me to die, it came as no surprise that God directed me and my wife, Margaret, to become involved with Ellel Ministries."

57 sen

Seorg anak gadis kecil sedang berdiri terisak didekat pintu masuk sebuah gereja yang tidak terlalu besar, ia baru saja tdk diperkenankan masuk ke gereja tersebut krn "sudah terlalu penuh".

Seorang pastur lewat didekatnya & menanyakan kenapa gadis kecil itu menangis ?

"Saya tdk dpt ke Sekolah Minggu" kata si gadis kecil.

Melihat penampilan gadis kecil itu, yg acak2an & tdk terurus, sang pastur segera mengerti & bisa menduga sebabnya si gadis kecil tadi tdk disambut masuk ke Sekolah Minggu & ia mencarikan tempat duduk yg masih kosong utk si gadis kecil.

Sang gadis kecil ini begitu mendalam tergugah perasaannya, sehingga pada waktu sebelum tidur di malam itu, ia sempat memikirkan anak2 lain yg senasib dgn dirinya yg seolah-olah tdk mempunyai tempat utk memuliakan Yesus.

Ketika ia menceritakan hal ini kpd orang-tuanya, yg kebetulan merupakan org miskin, sang ibu menghiburnya bhw ia masih beruntung mendapatkan pertolongan dari seorg pastur. Sejak saat itu, si gadis kecil berkawan dgn sang pastur.

Dua tahun kemudian, si gadis kecil meninggal di tempat tinggalnya di daerah yg kumuh & sang orangtuanya meminta bantuan dari si pastur yg baik hati utk prosesi pemakaman yg amat sangat sederhana. Saat pemakaman selesai & ruang tidur si gadis dirapihkan, sebuah dompet usang, kumal dan sobek2 ditemukan, tampak sekali bahwa dompet itu adalah dompet yg mungkin ditemukan oleh si gadis kecil dari tempat sampah. Didalamnya ditemukan uang receh sejumlah 57 sen dan secarik kertas bertuliskan tang, yang jelas kelihatan ditulis oleh seorg anak kecil yg berbunyi:

"Uang ini utk membantu pembangunan gereja kecil agar gereja tsb bisa diperluas shg lebih banyak anak2 bisa menghadiri ke Sekolah Minggu."

Rupanya, selama 2 tahun, sejak ia tidak dpt masuk ke gereja itu, si gadis kecil ini mengumpulkan dan menabungkan uangnya sampai terkumpul sejumlah 57 sen utk maksud yg sangat mulia.

Ketika sang pastur membaca catatan kecil ini, matanya sembab & ia sadar apa yg harus diperbuatnya. Dgn berbekal dompet tua & catatan kecil ini, sang pastur segera memotivasi para pengurus & jemaat gerejanya utk meneruskan maksud mulia si gadis kecil ini utk memperbesar bangunan gereja.

namun ceritanya tidak berakhir sampai disini.

Suatu perusahaan koran yg besar mengetahui berita ini & mempublikasikannya terus menerus, sampai akhirnya seorang pengembang membaca berita ini & ia segera menawarkan suatu lokasi yg berada didekat gereja kecil itu dgn harga 57 sen, setelah para pengurus gereja menyatakan bahwa mereka tak mungkin sanggup membayar lokasi sebesar & sebaik itu.

Para anggota jemaat pun dgn sukarela memberikan donasi & melakukan pemberitaan, akhirnya bola salju yg dimulai oleh gadis kecil ini bergulir & dlm waktu 5 thn, berhasil terkumpul dana sebesar 250.000 dollar, suatu jumlah yg fantastik pd saat itu (pada pergantian abad, jumlah ini dpt membeli emas seberat 1 ton).

Inilah hasil nyata cinta kasih dari seorg gadis kecil yg miskin, kurang terawat & kurang makan, namun peduli pd sesama yg menderita. Tanpa pamrih, tanpa pretensi.

Saat ini, jika anda berada di Philadelphia, lihatlah Temple Babtist Church, dgn kapasitas duduk utk 3300 org & Temple University, tempat beribu-ribu murid belajar. Lihat juga Good Samaritan Hospital & sebuah bangunan spesial utk Sekolah Minggu yg lengkap dgn beratus-ratus (YA, Beratus-Ratus) pengajarnya, semuanya itu utk memastikan jgn sampai ada satu anakpun yg tdk mendapatkan tempat di Sekolah Minggu.

Didalam salah satu bangunan ini, tampak terlihat foto si gadis kecil, yg dgn tabungannya sebesar 57 sen, namun dikumpulkan berdasarkan rasa cinta kasih sesama yg telah membuat sejarah.
Tampak pula berjajar rapi foto sang pastur yg baik hati yg telah mengulurkan tangan kpd si gadis kecil miskin itu, yaitu pastur DR. Russel H. Conwell, Penulis buku "Acres of Diamonds".

- a true story -

Sunday, December 5, 2010

166. Penyesalan Yudas - Matius 27:1-10

Kita semua tahu bahwa Yudas adalah seorang penghianat. Dia berhianat terhadap Yesus, tetapi jarang sekali dikupas bahwa kemudian sebenarnya Yudas menyesal. Tetapi Alkitab tidak pernah berkata bahwa Yudas bertobat. Alkitab tidak pernah berkata juga bahwa Yudas kemudian terlibat di dalam pelayanan. Alkitab tidak pernah berkata juga bahwa kemudian Yudas minta ampun atas segala dosanya. Tetapi, Alkitab berkata bahwa Yudas menyesal. Nah, inilah yg kita akan pelajari hari ini di dalam Matius 27:

Ketika hari mulai siang, semua imam kepala dan tua-tua bangsa Yahudi berkumpul dan mengambil keputusan untuk membunuh Yesus. 2Mereka membelenggu Dia, lalu membawa-Nya dan menyerahkan-Nya kepada Pilatus, wali negeri itu. 3Pada waktu Yudas, yang menyerahkan Dia, melihat, bahwa Yesus telah dijatuhi hukuman mati, menyesallah ia. Lalu ia mengembalikan uang yang tiga puluh perak itu kepada imam-imam kepala dan tua-tua, 4dan berkata:"Aku telah berdosa karena menyerahkan darah orang yang tak bersalah." Tetapi jawab mereka: "Apa urusan kami dengan itu? Itu urusanmu sendiri!" 5Maka iapun melemparkan uang perak itu ke dalam Bait Suci, lalu pergi dari situ dan menggantung diri. 6Imam-imam kepala mengambil uang perak itu dan berkata: "Tidak diperbolehkan memasukkan uang ini ke dalam peti persembahan, sebab ini uang darah." 7Sesudah berunding mereka membeli dengan uang itu tanah yang disebut Tanah Tukang Periuk untuk dijadikan tempat pekuburan orang asing. 8Itulah sebabnya tanah itu sampai pada hari ini disebut Tanah darah. 9Dengan demikian genaplah firman yang disampaikan oleh nabi Yeremia: "Mereka menerima tiga puluh uang perak, yaitu harga yang ditetapkan untuk seorang menurut penilaian yang berlaku di antara orang Israel, 10dan mereka memberikan uang itu untuk tanah tukang periuk, seperti yang dipesankan Tuhan kepadaku."

Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yudas berhianat. Tetapi, yang menarik perhatian kita adalah bahwa Yudas menyesal. Lalu, pertanyaannya adalah: Kalau Yudas menyesal, kenapa Tuhan engga berbuat sesuatu? Kalau Yudas menyesal, kenapa Tuhan engga berkati Yudas kembali dan pulihkan keberadaannya? Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Inilah yg akan kita pelajari bersama-sama:

1. Penyesalan tidak selamanya adalah pertobatan
Contoh sederhana: Seorang sedang pesta sabu-sabu, lalu digerebek oleh polisi. Setelah digerebek, ia menyesal sekali, kenapa ia sampai digerebek? Pertanyaannya adalah: Apakah ia bener-bener bertobat? Belum tentu, mungkin pada saat dipenjara, ia memperbincangkan, wah...salah sih...mungkin pada saat buka sepatu, ia&temen-temennya membuka sepatu di depan pintu, sehingga saat polisi lewat, polisi curiga, koq banyak sepatu di depan pintu? Aduh...seandainya kita engga simpen sepatu di depan itu, kita pasti engga akan ketangkep. Jadi, nyeselnya dia karena ketangkepnya.

Seorang suami berzinah. Lalu, ia menyesal karena perempuan itu hamil. Jadi, dia engga bertobat. Seandainya engga hamil, ia engga akan ketahuan. Jadi, nyeselnya, bukan saya salah, atau saya berdosa, atau ..Tuhan ampuni saya. Tetapi nyesel, karena..saya ketahuan! Di muka bumi ini banyak orang menyesal, tetapi mereka tidak bertobat. Jadi, banyak yg ia menyesal, kemudian berbuat lagi, ia menyesal...kemudian berbuat lagi. Bila kita lihat perbandingannya. Petrus menyangkal Yesus, Yudas menghianati Yesus, mana yg dosanya lebih besar? Buat saya sama persis.

Karena, kedua-duanya sebenarnya menyangkal. Petrus menyangkal Yesus, dan sebetulnya Yudaspun menyangkal Yesus. Kedua-duanya melakukan kesalahan besar yg menyakitkan dan mengecewakan hati Tuhan. Pertanyaannya bukan seberapa besar dosa kita? Karena Alkitab berkata bahwa meskipun dosamu merah seperti Kirmizi (Yesaya1:18), Tuhan akan memutihkannya seputih salju. Nah, persoalannya di sini, adalah bukanlah dosa siapa yg lebih besar? Tetapi apa yg kita perbuat, setelah kita sadar kita berbuat dosa. Alkitab berkata, setelah Petrus berdosa, lalu ia pergi keluar dan menangis dengan sedihnya. Matius 26:75 dikatakan:75Maka teringatlah Petrus akan apa yang dikatakan Yesus kepadanya: "Sebelum ayam berkokok, engkau telah menyangkal Aku tiga kali."

Jadi, Petrus menangis, Petrus mengingat Tuhan dan Petrus mengingat Firman, Petrus mengingat Yesus. Di sinilah pertobatan terjadi. Dan kalau kita lihat kehidupan Petrus sebenarnya, Petrus dengan tegak dan teguh berdiri. Bahkan, di dalam Kisah Rasul pasal 2, Petrus dipenuhi oleh Roh Kudus. Dan di dalam Pasal 4, pada saat ia dihadapkan oleh imam-imam agama, dengan tegak ia berkata,"bahwa di bawah kolong langit ini tidak ada Nama lain yang OlehNYA manusia bisa selamat, kecuali di dalam Nama Yesus Kristus Tuhan. Jadi, kita bisa bandingkan bahwa Petrus buat salah, tetapi Petrus bertobat. Nah, pertobatan Petrus justru membawa kemenangan yg luar biasa.

Tetapi, Yudas di sini beda sekali, ia tidak bertobat, tetapi ia menyesal. Ia menyesal, kenapa ia berbuat seperti itu, ia menyesal kenapa sekarang Yesus disalibkan, tetapi di dalam hatinya tidak ada pertobatan. Ia tidak sadar bahwa ia harus berbalik kepada Tuhan. Karena, bila kita berbalik kepada Tuhan, maka Tuhan akan menerima kita apa adanya. Melalui program ini kita diingatkan, bahwa persoalannya bukanlah berapa besar dosa kita, persoalannya adalah maukah kita bertobat, bukan sekedar menyesal. Bertobat artinya:
1. Menyadari, menyesal, mengakui kesalahan
2. datang kembali pada Tuhan Yesus
3. Bertekad/berjanji untuk tidak berbuat lagi
4. Bertindak dalam iman, melakukan kebaikan dan berjalan lewat KuasaNYA.

Justru kita lihat di dalam Alkitab bahwa Petrus terlibat di dalam pelayanan. Ia mengakui kesalahannya bahkan Yesus tanya sama Petrus,"Simon, Anak Yohanes, adakah Engkau mengasihi Aku?" Petrus mengakuinya bahwa meskipun ia sudah berbuat salah, dan mengecewakan hati Tuhan, tetapi ia tetap mengasihi Yesus. Dan Yesus berkata,"gembalakanlah domba-dombaKU." Walaupun engkau pernah jatuh, gagal dan berbuat salah, tetapi engkau bertobat dan Tuhan memberikan kepercayaan baru di dalam hidupNYA.

2. Penyesalan dengan kekecewaan, itu akan mendatangkan kehancuran
Jadi, pertobatan adalah penyesalan dan menyerahkan semuanya kepada Tuhan. Saya minta ampun sama Tuhan, minta Tuhan kuatkan saya, saya minta Tuhan untuk pulihkan dan beri semangat untuk bangkit. Tetapi penyesalan dengan kekecewaan dengan hanya menangisi diri sendiri, kenapa saya menikah dengan dia, kenapa hidup saya jadi begini, jadi akhirnya kita hanya menyesali hidup. Jadi, menyesali hidup tidak akan membawa pada kemenangan hidup. Kita akan terus membawanya kepada keluhan-keluhan,"Ya..Tuhan, kenapa saya punya mertua seperti itu, kenapa saya lahir dari keluarga broken homes, dan lain-lain."

Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, hidup ini tidak selamanya yg kita harapkan, tetapi Tuhan sudah rancangkan yg indah dalam hidup kita. Yang penting adalah: Janganlah kita menangisi hidup ini. Hapuslah air mata kita, kita hadapi tantangan hidup kita, kita tegarkan semangat kita, kita berjalan bersama dengan Yesus dan melihat kuasaNYA yg luar biasa

3. Penyesalan kita harus dihubungkan dengan Tuhan dan doa
Artinya dalam penyesalan harus ada pengakuan dosa. Alkitab berkata,"Kalau kita mengaku dosa kita Allah itu setia dan adil. Dia akan mengampuni dan menyucikan kita dari segala kejahatan. Berarti kita menyesal bukan karena kedagingan kita. Kita menyesal karena kuasa Roh Kudus yg mulai menaungi kita, kita mulai ingat dan mengakui...iya Tuhan,..saya salah. Tetapi, di sisi lain kita punya keyakinan bahwa Tuhan itu baik.

Meskipun saya salah, saya tetap diterima apa adanya, mungkin saudara-saudara kita tidak mau menerima saudara, bahkan istri saudara juga tidak mau menerima saudara, saudara dicap jahat. Tetapi, tidak selamanya kita harus berjalan jauh dari Tuhan, kita ingat suaraNYA, kita ingat keadaan, Kita cepat-cepat bangkit dan akui kesalahan kita, dan yakin bahwa Tuhan selalu mencintai saya.

Doa:
Bapa, hamba berdoa untuk kami semua, dengan semua penyesalannya, dengan masa lalu dan situasi-situasi berat yg harus dihadapi, hamba berdoa, curahkan kuasaMU, sehingga kami dapat bangkit dan dibenarkan oleh KuasaMU, terima kasih Bapa, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!

Covering

Covering

"He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge."
Psalm 91: 4a, NIV

As I am writing this, (from Blairmore House, Ellel’s Scottish base), the snow is falling in large, fluffy flakes, covering everything in a thick white blanket. It is very beautiful to look at as the bare branches of the trees are all outlined with white, even the delicate slender twigs at the ends of the branches. It is covering all the muddy ground and filling in all the hollows and dips – “making unevenness even” as the poet, Robert Bridges said.

God has provided covering for us too. He intended that we should be covered by Him and walk sinless before Him, just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, but after the Fall and before God banned them from Eden, He provided cover for them in the form of animal skins. This covered their sin of disobedience, and was a forerunner, or prophecy, of the cover for the people’s sins provided by the sacrificing of the animals in the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple, which in turn was prophetic of the total covering Jesus was to provide by His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross.

But God has also provided covering for us in other ways. Our parents are supposed to give us covering, our fathers, under Christ, to be our head, and our mothers to show the softer, nurturing aspects of God’s love and protection for us. For very many of us this does not happen. Some may even have experienced violence or abuse at the hands of their fathers, and mothers, which makes them fearful, so it is very hard to trust their heavenly Father.

Our God is totally trustworthy. He will never abuse our trust, nor let us down. He will always be there for us. He is the Rock on which we can truly rely – the Rock which will never be shaken, even though everything around us is shaken. When our earthly covering is not there, He will provide it and will keep us safe.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, At times I feel insecure and anxious. I feel unprotected. May I run to You for cover, and may I know the safety of Your love surrounding me. May I be able to say, with David: ‘For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock’ (Psalm 27: 5). Amen.

Today's Writer : Angela Weir Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress and after her marriage and move to Cumbria, taught drama in a girls’ school.

Jesus be the centre

Jesus be the centre

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Mark 9:5, NIV

Jesus chose three disciples to be with Him up the mountain where they witnessed Him being transformed before them alongside the two most revered heroes in Hebrew history – Moses and Elijah.

Peter’s immediate response to the vision tells us quite a bit about his perspective on the amazing event. “It is good for us to be here.” In this short sentence, Peter makes himself and the other two disciples central to an experience to which they are only onlookers. It is not about them – it is about Jesus. The whole event is about Jesus and God’s affirmation of His Son and His mission to redeem lost mankind.

Like Peter we too are often egocentric. We approach life from our own perspective instead of from God’s perspective. We can be more conscious of ourselves than of Jesus. We may have prayed a prayer making Jesus Lord of our lives many times, but somehow the old self takes over the throne of the heart. We sing songs and call it ‘worship’, yet some of the songs we sing don’t even mention Jesus. They are sometimes songs about ourselves, or songs we sing to ourselves.

Peter’s second response to a profound spiritual experience was to say, “Let us put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He wanted to make a passing experience permanent. He was supposed to be listening to the voice from heaven revealing to them the person of Jesus and telling them to listen to Him. Peter was not supposed to be talking or suggesting; the intention of the transfiguration of Jesus was that he would see Jesus and know the truth about Him.

Like Peter we too can be found talking and suggesting, instead of listening. Like Peter we may have had our mountain experiences and we may want them to be repeated. But they are not meant to be memorials that we long to recreate. They are meant to transform us, to take us deeper into Jesus, so that increasingly He becomes the centre of our lives and the reason that we live.

Prayer: Father, please forgive me for the times I have looked at things from my perspective instead of from Your perspective and for the times when I have been centred on myself instead of on Jesus and the purpose for which He came. Thank You that You gave Your Son, and that You have revealed Him to me. Today I choose to make Jesus the centre of my life. Amen.

Today's Writer : Margaret Silvester Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God.

Encouragement

Encouragement

"You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. You are my lamp O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall."
2 Samuel 22.28-30, NIV

Experience gives authority to a testimony. There’s a difference between hearing a teenager speak about God`s faithfulness from hearing an old man speak about the same thing. Not that the teenager is saying anything wrong, but the old man is able to talk from a lifetime of experience. When he says that God gives light it’s not just because he’s heard others say so, but because he’s been in the darkness, and seen first hand how God changes that darkness into light. He’s been in the dark tunnel, and knows what it’s like when the first light appears in a distance. He’s seen that light slowly drive darkness away, and change the whole scene. He knows the thrill of seeing shadows fade away, and dark corners being lit up. His words carry weight, because he’s been there!

This is exactly how David describes his life. It’s been a life of many ups and downs. His experience disproves the idea that life will always be peaceful, with nothing but success, if you trust God. David had been tested, and tested hard. But all these tests had given him the chance to test God´s faithfulness. And David´s testimony was that he’d failed many times, but God had never failed him.

The purpose of a testimony is to give courage and strength to others. It’s a word from those who’ve passed through the wilderness - that there’s a safe road through. It’s an assurance from those who’ve been in the fiery furnace that someone keeps the heat down. It’s telling those who’re being tested that there’s a way through, and that God’s there to save, even if they don’t see him. So we do well to remember David’s words. We’re likely to need them one day.

Are you in need of encouragement? Let me suggest you read the testimony of some characters in the Bible which give us a rich variety of experience: Moses (Deuteronomy 32); Joshua (Joshua 24); Daniel (Daniel 2.20-23); Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34-36); Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3); and Paul (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

And if you have time for more, there are an abundance of autobiography books written by men and women who have experienced God`s faithfulness in adverse circumstances. Their cry to us today is very clear: “Hang on, it`s worth while, God is faithful!”

Their encouragement is for you, today.

Today's Writer : Goran Andersson Goran Andersson , together with his wife Roswitha, worked as missionaries in Japan from 1967 – 1985. They then pastored a church before moving to Kåfalla Herrgård, Sweden where Goran became Director. They have worked with Ellel Ministries since 2004 and are Goran is now Director of Ellel Ministries in Sweden.