End Times
"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter… "
2 Thessalonians: 1-2, NIV
The talk about the end times, and the second coming of our Lord has often made people very opinionated and caused varied reactions. There have been times when thoughts about all what is going to happen, and what is a right theology about the second coming, have divided some Christians and churches. But the Bible does give a vivid picture of the coming of Jesus, and the times preceding it: War, rumors of wars, natural disasters, famine, political upheavals, and more of the same.
It might come as a surprise that a basic Bible statement about the knowledge of the return of our Lord is: ‘This should by no means disturb you, or cause any alarm’. On the contrary, as Christians, we are supposed to know what is going to happen, so we remain in peace!
And that peace is ours, not because circumstances are beneficial to Christians, but because we know that in spite of all that happens, and obviously is going to happen, God is in control. War in many places, radioactivity leaking into air and water, earthquakes and revolutions, yes, but God is in control! He’s not taken by surprise, and He doesn’t want His people to be taken by surprise either.
That’s the point where He gives a word of revelation, and of strong warning to us: There will be people, who not only will be in turmoil themselves, but who want to unsettle others by painting frightening pictures of what will come. They will call what they produce ‘revelation’ or ‘prophecy’. Paul is very clear: ‘Do not be deceived by such words`, God is not in the business of scaring people to heaven, not even in the Church. He’s always calling, never frightening, us to action.
But amidst the darkness all around us the peace of God is all the more wonderful, and the unshaking peace of those who trust in Him a strong witness that our God is real.
Paul wanted the Thessalonians to have a healthy respect for what was going to happen, and a deep knowledge of the plans of God for days to come. That would keep them in peace, and the same will also make us stand firm and overcome all the evil powers that now rise up against the Lord and His people.
Remember, news of what happens in the world comes from TV, papers and other media, but peace and assurance comes from the Lord! Your Lord! Your Father God!
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
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
183. Meraih Mujijat - Markus 1:40-45
Saya mengerti bahwa masalah mujijat adalah masalah yg banyak sekali diperdebatkan oleh banyak orang. Di satu sisi mujijat adalah merupakan sesuatu yg tidak bisa ditawar lagi, karena setiap orang pada dasarnya membutuhkan mujijat. Tetapi pada kenyataannya ada sebagian orang yg mulai mengkritik bahwa mujijat sudah tidak terjadi lagi. Tetapi, ada sebagian lagi yg berkata, jangan singgung soal mujijat lagi di gereja. Karena, di luar gereja banyak sekali terjadi mujijat.
Bila hanya gereja yg menyatakan mujijat demi mujijat, maka itu tidak mendidik jemaat untuk menjadi dewasa. Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, saya percaya bahwa iman, kebenaran dan mujijat adalah 3 hal yg tidak dapat dipisahkan. Karena, bila saya hidup dalam kebenaran, maka saya berjalan dalam iman. Dan bila saya hidup dalam kebenaran dan berjalan dalam iman, otomatis saya meraih mujijat. Iman timbul dari pendengaran akan Firman Tuhan, dan dari iman mendatangkan mujijat dalam hidup kita. Jadi, 3 hal itu adalah sesuatu yg tidak dapat dipisahkan. Apapun yg terjadi dalam hidup saudara, mujijat masih berlangsung. Ada orang bilang bahwa setan juga dapat melakukan mujijat. Tetapi, saya mau ingatkan bahwa mujijat yg setan buat adalah palsunya dari yg Yesus buat. Karena, ingat! Bahwa setan tidak punya sesuatu yg baik. Apapun yg setan buat, sebenarnya setan sedang memalsukan. Karena, di dalam Alkitab dikatakan,"Iblis menyamar sebagai malaikat terang.
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Allah kita sebenarnya adalah sumber dari segala mujijat. Berarti, bila kita sebagai orang percaya, kita harus bersandar, bergantung dan berharap sepenuhnya kepada Tuhan Yesus bahwa mujijat masih terjadi, itulah sebabnya kita tidak menyerah.
Markus 1:
40Seorang yang sakit kusta datang kepada Yesus, dan sambil berlutut di hadapan-Nya ia memohon bantuanNya, katanya:"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." 41Maka tergeraklah hati-Nya oleh belas kasihan, lalu Ia mengulurkan tangan-Nya menjamah orang itu dan berkata kepadanya:"Aku mau, jadilah engkau tahir." 42Seketika itu juga lenyaplah penyakit kusta orang itu, dan ia menjadi tahir. 43Segera Ia menyuruh orang itu pergi dengan peringatan keras: 44"Ingatlah, janganlah engkau memberitahukan apa-apa tentang hal ini kepada siapapun, tetapi pergilah, perlihatkanlah dirimu kepada imam dan persembahkanlah untuk pentahiranmu persembahan, yang diperintahkan oleh Musa, sebagai bukti bagi mereka." 45Tetapi orang itu pergi memberitakan peristiwa itu dan menyebarkannya kemana-mana, sehingga Yesus tidak dapat lagi terang-terangan masuk ke dalam kota. Ia tinggal di luar di tempat-tempat yang sepi; namun orang terus juga datang kepada-Nya dari segala penjuru.
Kita lihat bahwa Yesus mengadakan pengajaran yg sangat berbeda. Karena, orang-orang Farisi mengajarkannya dengan kata-kata yg indah. Yesus mengajar dengan kuasa dan membuktikannya apa yg Yesus ajar dengan Firman dan mendemonstrasikan Kuasa Allah. Mujijat itu memeteraikan iman, dan memeteraikan kebenaran yg kita terima dari Firman Tuhan. Orang Kusta adalah orang yg menderita, kenapa?
Karena, di satu sisi, orang kusta adalah orang yg sakit. Tetapi, di sisi lain, yaitu secara kejiwaan, orang kusta adalah juga orang yg tertekan. Orang kusta tidak boleh tinggal dengan banyak orang. Karena, pada jaman itu penyakit kusta dianggap sebagai penyakit kutukan.
Mereka tidak diperbolehkan memotong rambut, mereka tidak boleh memakai baju yg baik, tetapi mereka harus memakai baju yg compang-camping. Dan, kemanapun mereka pergi mereka harus menutupi mukanya sambil berteriak,"najis, najis, najis!" Sehingga orang kusta adalah orang yg sangat menderita, karena selain tubuhnya sakit, jiwanyapun tertekan. Orang kusta tidak boleh mendatangi orang biasa. Karena, bila ada orang kusta yg ketahuan mendatangi orang biasa, maka ia akan ditarik ke luar kota dan dilempari batu sampai mati.
Tetapi, kita lihat pada ayat yg ke-4o,Seorang yang sakit kusta datang kepada Yesus, dan sambil berlutut di hadapan-Nya ia memohon bantuanNya, katanya:"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." Yesus bukan hanya menerima kehadirannnya, tetapi Yesus juga menyembuhkannya. Karena, Yesus tahu bahwa bila ada orang lain yg tahu bahwa orang kusta ini menghampirinya, maka ia pasti akan diseret ke luar kota dan dilempari batu sampai mati, taruhannya adalah nyawa. Dari sini kita bisa melihat, apa sebenarnya sumber segala mujijat:
1. Jangan batasi Kuasa Allah
Karena Tuhan, sejauh apa yg kita percaya. Bagaimana bila orang kusta itu banyak berpikir: "Bagaimana yah, kalau Yesus tidak menyembuhkannya?" "Bagaimana yah..kalau Yesus tidak menerimanya?" Inilah yg selalu setan mau bawa, yg selalu mau melemahkan pikiran-pikiran kita. Dan berkata," saya tidak akan disembuhkan, dosa-dosa saya terlalu banyak, keadaan saya terlalu parah. Tetapi Yesus KuasaNYA luar biasa, sehingga waktu kita tidak membatasi Kuasa Allah dan kita beriman dengan iman yg teguh, maka saat itulah kita meraih janji yg teguh.
Karena, yg menarik perhatian saya, biasanya kalau orang sakit datang ke dokter, biasanya dokter bertanya dengan 2 pertanyaan:
1. Seberapa parah sakit/penyakitnya?
2. Sudah berapa lama sakitnya?
Karena, sakit yg baru terjadi tadi siang, kemaren malam dan 3 bulan yg lalu, cara pengobatannya berbeda. Tetapi, Yesus tidak dibatasi 2 pertanyaan di atas. Yesus tidak tertarik dengan seberapa parah penyakitmu dan sudah berapa lama sakitmu?Yang Yesus tekankan adalah bila engkau percaya, maka engkau akan melihat kemuliaan Allah, jadi kita perlu imani dan percaya.
Janganlah terlalu percaya dengan keadaan,.."Oh..suami saya terlalu keras!" Atau..."Oh..kata dokter sudah tidak bisa disembuhkan!"...atau.."oh..penyakit saya sudah terlalu parah!" Atau "oh..masa silam saya terlalu gelap!" Atau.."dokter bilang bahwa saya mandul!" Tetapi sekali lagi saya tekankan, jangan batasi Kuasa Allah, keadaan boleh seburuk apapun, tetapi percaya bahwa Allah saya akan mengerjakan mujijatNYA dengan luar biasa, meskipun keadaan kita sesukar apapun.
2. Merendahkan diri dan sungguh-sungguh memohon kepada Tuhan
Kita lihat di ayat yg ke-40 "....dan sambil berlutut di hadapan-Nya ia memohon bantuanNya, katanya:"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, orang yg berlutut dan memohon, pada jaman itu sebenarnya ia merendahkan diri lebih daripada seorang hamba. Kadang kala pada saat kita berdoa dan memohon, sering kali kita memaksa Tuhan, sehingga seringkali doa kita tidak terkabul, sering kali kita marah,"kenapa Tuhan tidak buat mujijat?"
Nah, inilah seringkali kita tidak merendahkan diri kita. Merendahkan diri adalah berlutut dan memohon, meletakkan segala keegoan kita, meletakkan segala kepantasan kita. Kita berkata,"Tuhan, saya mau hanya bergantung sepenuhnya kepada Tuhan, tanpa Tuhan saya tidak bisa buat apa-apa, jadi sekali lagi, kita datang dengan merendahkan diri dan memohon.
3. Mempraktekan apa yg kita mengerti
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, orang Kusta ini mengerti bahwa Tuhan Yesus bisa mengerjakan mujijat. Ia mulai praktekan apa yg ia mengerti, dengan berkata,"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." Tetapi, seringkali apa yg kita mengerti, kita tidak praktekan. Iman tanpa perbuatan, pada hakekatnya mati. Jadi, apa yg kita sudah dengar dan mengerti mengenai Firman Tuhan, kita mulai praktekan. Kita berjalan dengan teguh dan bersandar pada janji Allah.
Doa:
Di dalam Nama Yesus, apapun mujijat yg kita butuhkan, dengan iman dan keteguhan akan janji Allah, kita boleh meraihnya. Karena hari ini adalah mujijat dan kemenangan. Terima kasih Bapa, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!
Bila hanya gereja yg menyatakan mujijat demi mujijat, maka itu tidak mendidik jemaat untuk menjadi dewasa. Nah, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, saya percaya bahwa iman, kebenaran dan mujijat adalah 3 hal yg tidak dapat dipisahkan. Karena, bila saya hidup dalam kebenaran, maka saya berjalan dalam iman. Dan bila saya hidup dalam kebenaran dan berjalan dalam iman, otomatis saya meraih mujijat. Iman timbul dari pendengaran akan Firman Tuhan, dan dari iman mendatangkan mujijat dalam hidup kita. Jadi, 3 hal itu adalah sesuatu yg tidak dapat dipisahkan. Apapun yg terjadi dalam hidup saudara, mujijat masih berlangsung. Ada orang bilang bahwa setan juga dapat melakukan mujijat. Tetapi, saya mau ingatkan bahwa mujijat yg setan buat adalah palsunya dari yg Yesus buat. Karena, ingat! Bahwa setan tidak punya sesuatu yg baik. Apapun yg setan buat, sebenarnya setan sedang memalsukan. Karena, di dalam Alkitab dikatakan,"Iblis menyamar sebagai malaikat terang.
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Allah kita sebenarnya adalah sumber dari segala mujijat. Berarti, bila kita sebagai orang percaya, kita harus bersandar, bergantung dan berharap sepenuhnya kepada Tuhan Yesus bahwa mujijat masih terjadi, itulah sebabnya kita tidak menyerah.
Markus 1:
40Seorang yang sakit kusta datang kepada Yesus, dan sambil berlutut di hadapan-Nya ia memohon bantuanNya, katanya:"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." 41Maka tergeraklah hati-Nya oleh belas kasihan, lalu Ia mengulurkan tangan-Nya menjamah orang itu dan berkata kepadanya:"Aku mau, jadilah engkau tahir." 42Seketika itu juga lenyaplah penyakit kusta orang itu, dan ia menjadi tahir. 43Segera Ia menyuruh orang itu pergi dengan peringatan keras: 44"Ingatlah, janganlah engkau memberitahukan apa-apa tentang hal ini kepada siapapun, tetapi pergilah, perlihatkanlah dirimu kepada imam dan persembahkanlah untuk pentahiranmu persembahan, yang diperintahkan oleh Musa, sebagai bukti bagi mereka." 45Tetapi orang itu pergi memberitakan peristiwa itu dan menyebarkannya kemana-mana, sehingga Yesus tidak dapat lagi terang-terangan masuk ke dalam kota. Ia tinggal di luar di tempat-tempat yang sepi; namun orang terus juga datang kepada-Nya dari segala penjuru.
Kita lihat bahwa Yesus mengadakan pengajaran yg sangat berbeda. Karena, orang-orang Farisi mengajarkannya dengan kata-kata yg indah. Yesus mengajar dengan kuasa dan membuktikannya apa yg Yesus ajar dengan Firman dan mendemonstrasikan Kuasa Allah. Mujijat itu memeteraikan iman, dan memeteraikan kebenaran yg kita terima dari Firman Tuhan. Orang Kusta adalah orang yg menderita, kenapa?
Karena, di satu sisi, orang kusta adalah orang yg sakit. Tetapi, di sisi lain, yaitu secara kejiwaan, orang kusta adalah juga orang yg tertekan. Orang kusta tidak boleh tinggal dengan banyak orang. Karena, pada jaman itu penyakit kusta dianggap sebagai penyakit kutukan.
Mereka tidak diperbolehkan memotong rambut, mereka tidak boleh memakai baju yg baik, tetapi mereka harus memakai baju yg compang-camping. Dan, kemanapun mereka pergi mereka harus menutupi mukanya sambil berteriak,"najis, najis, najis!" Sehingga orang kusta adalah orang yg sangat menderita, karena selain tubuhnya sakit, jiwanyapun tertekan. Orang kusta tidak boleh mendatangi orang biasa. Karena, bila ada orang kusta yg ketahuan mendatangi orang biasa, maka ia akan ditarik ke luar kota dan dilempari batu sampai mati.
Tetapi, kita lihat pada ayat yg ke-4o,Seorang yang sakit kusta datang kepada Yesus, dan sambil berlutut di hadapan-Nya ia memohon bantuanNya, katanya:"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." Yesus bukan hanya menerima kehadirannnya, tetapi Yesus juga menyembuhkannya. Karena, Yesus tahu bahwa bila ada orang lain yg tahu bahwa orang kusta ini menghampirinya, maka ia pasti akan diseret ke luar kota dan dilempari batu sampai mati, taruhannya adalah nyawa. Dari sini kita bisa melihat, apa sebenarnya sumber segala mujijat:
1. Jangan batasi Kuasa Allah
Karena Tuhan, sejauh apa yg kita percaya. Bagaimana bila orang kusta itu banyak berpikir: "Bagaimana yah, kalau Yesus tidak menyembuhkannya?" "Bagaimana yah..kalau Yesus tidak menerimanya?" Inilah yg selalu setan mau bawa, yg selalu mau melemahkan pikiran-pikiran kita. Dan berkata," saya tidak akan disembuhkan, dosa-dosa saya terlalu banyak, keadaan saya terlalu parah. Tetapi Yesus KuasaNYA luar biasa, sehingga waktu kita tidak membatasi Kuasa Allah dan kita beriman dengan iman yg teguh, maka saat itulah kita meraih janji yg teguh.
Karena, yg menarik perhatian saya, biasanya kalau orang sakit datang ke dokter, biasanya dokter bertanya dengan 2 pertanyaan:
1. Seberapa parah sakit/penyakitnya?
2. Sudah berapa lama sakitnya?
Karena, sakit yg baru terjadi tadi siang, kemaren malam dan 3 bulan yg lalu, cara pengobatannya berbeda. Tetapi, Yesus tidak dibatasi 2 pertanyaan di atas. Yesus tidak tertarik dengan seberapa parah penyakitmu dan sudah berapa lama sakitmu?Yang Yesus tekankan adalah bila engkau percaya, maka engkau akan melihat kemuliaan Allah, jadi kita perlu imani dan percaya.
Janganlah terlalu percaya dengan keadaan,.."Oh..suami saya terlalu keras!" Atau..."Oh..kata dokter sudah tidak bisa disembuhkan!"...atau.."oh..penyakit saya sudah terlalu parah!" Atau "oh..masa silam saya terlalu gelap!" Atau.."dokter bilang bahwa saya mandul!" Tetapi sekali lagi saya tekankan, jangan batasi Kuasa Allah, keadaan boleh seburuk apapun, tetapi percaya bahwa Allah saya akan mengerjakan mujijatNYA dengan luar biasa, meskipun keadaan kita sesukar apapun.
2. Merendahkan diri dan sungguh-sungguh memohon kepada Tuhan
Kita lihat di ayat yg ke-40 "....dan sambil berlutut di hadapan-Nya ia memohon bantuanNya, katanya:"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, orang yg berlutut dan memohon, pada jaman itu sebenarnya ia merendahkan diri lebih daripada seorang hamba. Kadang kala pada saat kita berdoa dan memohon, sering kali kita memaksa Tuhan, sehingga seringkali doa kita tidak terkabul, sering kali kita marah,"kenapa Tuhan tidak buat mujijat?"
Nah, inilah seringkali kita tidak merendahkan diri kita. Merendahkan diri adalah berlutut dan memohon, meletakkan segala keegoan kita, meletakkan segala kepantasan kita. Kita berkata,"Tuhan, saya mau hanya bergantung sepenuhnya kepada Tuhan, tanpa Tuhan saya tidak bisa buat apa-apa, jadi sekali lagi, kita datang dengan merendahkan diri dan memohon.
3. Mempraktekan apa yg kita mengerti
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, orang Kusta ini mengerti bahwa Tuhan Yesus bisa mengerjakan mujijat. Ia mulai praktekan apa yg ia mengerti, dengan berkata,"Kalau Engkau mau, Engkau dapat mentahirkan aku." Tetapi, seringkali apa yg kita mengerti, kita tidak praktekan. Iman tanpa perbuatan, pada hakekatnya mati. Jadi, apa yg kita sudah dengar dan mengerti mengenai Firman Tuhan, kita mulai praktekan. Kita berjalan dengan teguh dan bersandar pada janji Allah.
Doa:
Di dalam Nama Yesus, apapun mujijat yg kita butuhkan, dengan iman dan keteguhan akan janji Allah, kita boleh meraihnya. Karena hari ini adalah mujijat dan kemenangan. Terima kasih Bapa, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!
In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord
In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord
"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
1 Peter 3:14-15, NIV
‘Jesus is Lord’ is the earliest Christian confession of faith. For those first century believers the saying was used as a contrast to the greeting among Roman citizens, ‘Caesar is Lord’. Despite threat to their lives they refused to swear allegiance to Caesar and the Roman Empire. In calling Jesus ‘Lord’ they were saying that He, and not Caesar, deserves honour. It was a public insult to Caesar that held the threat of death.
Peter exhorts his readers to make Jesus Christ Lord in their hearts. He is saying that when Jesus is truly Lord of the heart there will be no reason for fear, even in face of suffering. Lordship means obedience and to live in obedience is to trust Jesus every step of the way. Trust in Jesus is the antidote to fear, independent of circumstances.
Jesus has to be Lord in our hearts because in Scripture the heart is the centre of our being and from it spring emotions, thoughts, motives, courage, actions, attitudes, longings and character. The Bible warns us to guard our hearts – ‘Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). If Jesus reigns in our heart our words and actions will portray Him to the world. Jesus Himself said, ‘Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Matthew 12:34).
In the human heart there is a throne. The big question is who sits on the throne. It could be said that there are three different kinds of heart. Firstly there is the heart of the unbeliever, where self sits on the throne. Secondly there is the heart of the double-minded Christian who wants to be in control of his, or her, own life and wants to share the throne of their heart with Jesus. But it’s true that ‘If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all’. Thirdly there is the heart of the believer who truly loves Jesus and who owns Jesus as Lord, not simply in words, but in loving obedience to Him day by day. Not partial obedience – full obedience - the whole of one’s life surrendered to Him.
Identification with Jesus involves more than simply saying, ‘Lord, Lord’ (Matthew 7:21). ‘But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have’. The meaning of these words from 1 Peter 3:14-15 hasn’t changed with the centuries. To truly own Jesus as Lord is to be loyal to Him whatever the cost. ‘Jesus is Lord’ is an oath of obedience to Him. To truly mean what we say involves living for Him alone, dedicated to walking in His will and abandoned to Him so that our lives speak that confession to a lost world desperately in need of knowing Him.
At our last Church service in Lancaster (before we moved south) the final hymn was by Bishop Dudley Smith. The finishing verse was – ‘Lord, for ourselves, in living power re-make us, self on the cross and Christ upon the throne; Past put behind us, for the future take us, Lord of our lives to live for Christ alone’.
Prayer: Dear Father, search my heart and know me. By Your Holy Spirit bring to light the things hidden from me that keep me from abandonment to the Lordship of Jesus in my life. May the words of my lips and the reality of my heart be pleasing to You so that I am the same on the inside as the outside. 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.
"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
1 Peter 3:14-15, NIV
‘Jesus is Lord’ is the earliest Christian confession of faith. For those first century believers the saying was used as a contrast to the greeting among Roman citizens, ‘Caesar is Lord’. Despite threat to their lives they refused to swear allegiance to Caesar and the Roman Empire. In calling Jesus ‘Lord’ they were saying that He, and not Caesar, deserves honour. It was a public insult to Caesar that held the threat of death.
Peter exhorts his readers to make Jesus Christ Lord in their hearts. He is saying that when Jesus is truly Lord of the heart there will be no reason for fear, even in face of suffering. Lordship means obedience and to live in obedience is to trust Jesus every step of the way. Trust in Jesus is the antidote to fear, independent of circumstances.
Jesus has to be Lord in our hearts because in Scripture the heart is the centre of our being and from it spring emotions, thoughts, motives, courage, actions, attitudes, longings and character. The Bible warns us to guard our hearts – ‘Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). If Jesus reigns in our heart our words and actions will portray Him to the world. Jesus Himself said, ‘Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Matthew 12:34).
In the human heart there is a throne. The big question is who sits on the throne. It could be said that there are three different kinds of heart. Firstly there is the heart of the unbeliever, where self sits on the throne. Secondly there is the heart of the double-minded Christian who wants to be in control of his, or her, own life and wants to share the throne of their heart with Jesus. But it’s true that ‘If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all’. Thirdly there is the heart of the believer who truly loves Jesus and who owns Jesus as Lord, not simply in words, but in loving obedience to Him day by day. Not partial obedience – full obedience - the whole of one’s life surrendered to Him.
Identification with Jesus involves more than simply saying, ‘Lord, Lord’ (Matthew 7:21). ‘But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have’. The meaning of these words from 1 Peter 3:14-15 hasn’t changed with the centuries. To truly own Jesus as Lord is to be loyal to Him whatever the cost. ‘Jesus is Lord’ is an oath of obedience to Him. To truly mean what we say involves living for Him alone, dedicated to walking in His will and abandoned to Him so that our lives speak that confession to a lost world desperately in need of knowing Him.
At our last Church service in Lancaster (before we moved south) the final hymn was by Bishop Dudley Smith. The finishing verse was – ‘Lord, for ourselves, in living power re-make us, self on the cross and Christ upon the throne; Past put behind us, for the future take us, Lord of our lives to live for Christ alone’.
Prayer: Dear Father, search my heart and know me. By Your Holy Spirit bring to light the things hidden from me that keep me from abandonment to the Lordship of Jesus in my life. May the words of my lips and the reality of my heart be pleasing to You so that I am the same on the inside as the outside. 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.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
182.Yesus memberitakan injil - Markus 1:35-39
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus bisa mengajar dengan perbuatan-perbuatannya secara langsung. Yesus bisa mengajar dengan kuasa dimana orang sakit disembuhkan, orang-orang yg terikat dengan setan-setan dilepaskan. Yesus adalah Tuhan sendiri dan Ia tidak bisa dipisahkan dengan pemberitaan Injil. Kemanapun Ia pergi, Yesus selalu membawa kabar sukacita bagi setiap orang. Di dalam Markus 1:
35Pagi-pagi benar, waktu hari masih gelap, Ia bangun dan pergi ke luar. Ia pergi ke tempat yang sunyi dan berdoa di sana. 36Tetapi Simon dan kawan-kawannya menyusul Dia; 37waktu menemukan Dia mereka berkata: "Semua orang mencari Engkau." 38Jawab-Nya:"Marilah kita pergi ke tempat lain, ke kota-kota yang berdekatan, supaya di sana juga Aku memberitakan Injil karena untuk itu Aku telah datang." 39Lalu pergilah Ia ke seluruh Galilea dan memberitakan Injil dalam rumah-rumah ibadat mereka dan mengusir setan-setan.
Dari ayat-ayat di atas kita bisa melihat beberapa hal yg penting:
1. Pemberitaan Injil dan persekutuan pribadi tidak boleh dipisahkan
Kemanapun Yesus pergi, betul Yesus mengajar. Betul Yesus memberitakan Injil. Tetapi ada 1 hal yg tidak boleh dipisahkan. Ayat ke-35 dikatakan,"Pagi-pagi benar, waktu hari masih gelap, Ia bangun dan pergi ke luar. Ia pergi ke tempat yang sunyi dan berdoa di sana." Di sini kita bisa lihat bahwa sebelum Yesus memberitakan Injil, sebelum Yesus menyampaikan kabar sukacita, sebelum Yesus menyampaikan maksud-maksud Allah kepada setiap murid-muridNYA dan kepada setiap orang, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus bergumul terlebih dahulu bersama BapaNYA.
Karena itu, saya tekankan bahwa pemberitaan Injil dan persekutuan pribadi tidak dapat dipisahkan. Saya kuatir, bahwa di tengah dunia yg penuh dengan kesibukan ini, dan banyak orang yg menyebut dirinya sebagai hamba Tuhan, dan hal tersebut juga melanda orang-orang yg terlibat dalam kegiatan rohani. Saya kuatir bahwa banyak orang yg menyebut diriNYA hamba Tuhan dan terlibat banyak dengan kegiatan rohani, tetapi mereka kekurangan waktu untuk bersekutu secara pribadi dengan Tuhan.
Saya mau beritahu, bahwa bahaya terbesar dalam gereja, bukanlah saat gereja diancam, bukan pula saat gereja dibom atau ditutup. Karena, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, gerejanya bisa dibom, gedung gerejanya bisa ditutup, tetapi Kuasa Tuhan, pekerjaan Tuhan, akan tetap berjalan terus, haleluya! Karena itu saudara tidak perlu kuatir, saudara engga perlu membalas yg jahat dengan yg jahat, karena Allah tahu bagaimana mengerjakan mujijat bagi anak-anakNYA.
Karena itu saya bersyukur, karena Alkitab tidak pernah mencatat belalah agamamu. Alkitab tidak pernah mencatat belalah TuhanMU. Karena bukanlah agama / Tuhan kita yg perlu kita bela, karena kita sendiri yg perlu dibela oleh Tuhan Yesus Raja kita. Karena, selalu saya bilang,"bila agama saya harus saya bela, berarti agama saya lemah." Kalau Tuhan saya bela, berarti Tuhan saya lemah. Bahkan Tuhan sendiri menjelaskan bahwa oleh NamaKU, engkau akan dihujat. Oleh karena namaKU, engkau akan dicaci maki. Tetapi, Tuhan ingatkan bahwa kita harus tegar, jangan balaskan yg jahat dengan yg jahat, karena,"Aku akan menyertai engkau sampai kesudahan alam, haleluya!"
Itulah sebabnya, menjadi murid Kristus adalah suatu kebanggaan dan sukacita. Kembali saya ingatkan bahwa bahaya yg paling menakutkan dalam gereja adalah, ketika orang-orang yg terlibat dalam pelayanan, mereka kehilangan waktu pribadi bersama dengan Tuhan. Jika ada orang-orang yg disebut aktivis/hamba-hamba Tuhan, lalu dengan alasan kesibukan, mereka kehilangan waktu pribadiNYA bersama dengan Tuhan, saudaraku, bila kita kehilangan waktu pribadi kita dengan Tuhan, apa yg akan kita sampaikan kepada orang lain. Apakah kita akan melayani dengan kemampuan dan kekuatan kita sendiri? Mungkin saudara adalah guru sekolah minggu, mungkin saudara adalah anggota koor di gereja, atau saudara adalah pelatih koor di gereja.
Atau saudara terlibat dengan kegiatan-kegiatan lain di gereja saudara. Tetapi, jika saudara telah kehilangan waktu saudara dengan Tuhan, apalagi yg akan saudara bagikan. Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, orang tidak butuhkan kata-kata yg hebat/luar biasa. Yang orang butuhkan adalah urapan Allah yg mengalir dari kita, karena kita memiliki hubungan yg akrab dengan Tuhan.
2. Pemberitaan Injil harus disertai dengan belas Kasihan
Kita lihat pada ayat yg ke-36 Tetapi Simon dan kawan-kawannya menyusul Dia. Jadi, Yesus sedang berdoa sendiri, kemudian Yesus disusul oleh Simon dan teman-temanNYA. Kemudian ayat yg ke-37 dikatakan waktu menemukan Dia mereka berkata: "Semua orang mencari Engkau." Dengan lain kata, Simon berkata,"Guru, aku tahu Engkau letih, aku tahu Engkau sudah bangun pagi-pagi, tetapi ada banyak orang yg sedang mencari Engkau." Tetapi, Yesus tidak bilang,"aduh,...saya lelah, tunggulah sampai 2 jam lagi, sampai saya merasa siap. Tetapi di ayat yg ke-38 dikatakan,Jawab-Nya:"Marilah kita pergi ke tempat lain, ke kota-kota yang berdekatan, supaya di sana juga Aku memberitakan Injil karena untuk itu Aku telah datang."
Dengan lain kata, Yesus mau berkata kepada Petrus, "Petrus, sesibuk apapun, Aku akan tetap memiliki waktu dengan Bapa, Aku akan tetap memiliki waktu bagi setiap orang yg membutuhkan Aku, karena untuk itulah Aku disini. Bahkan bukan hanya di sini, tetapi kota-kota/desa-desa, Aku juga akan memberitakan injil di sana. Kenapa Yesus mau melayani mereka? Kenapa dari waktu hari masih gelap, dan sampai saat fajar menyingsing, Yesus masih harus terlibat dengan pelayanan. Jawaban saya sederhana, karena adanya belas kasihan.
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, saya kuatir ada banyak keributan di gereja hari-hari ini, atau perpecahan terjadi, karena apa? Karena mereka terlalu lelah di gereja. Banyak orang yg kehilangan istirahatnya bersama dengan Tuhan, sehingga mereka mudah kecewa, mudah marah. Baru kata-kata tidak enak sedikit, lalu pecah, lalu mereka bikin gereja sendiri.
3. Pemberitaan injil harus disertai dengan pengusiran setan-setan
Ayat ke-39 dikatakan,"Lalu pergilah Ia ke seluruh Galilea dan memberitakan Injil dalam rumah-rumah ibadat mereka dan mengusir setan-setan."SaudaraKU yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, dimanapun Injil diberitakan, Roh jahat coba menyerang. Saya tidak bilang bahwa kita harus selalu berteriak,"di dalam Nama Yesus, setan harus keluar!". Tetapi, kita harus ikat setiap kerja setan, sehingga setan tidak memiliki Kuasa lagi. Pemberitaan Injil adalah penghancuran kerajaan kegelapan. Biarlah kita memiliki kerinduan untuk memberitakan injil dimanapun kita berada.
Doa:
Bapa, hamba berdoa untuk setiap dari kami, agar kami semua dapat melihat mujijat Tuhan. Orang sakit boleh disembuhkan, orang boleh melihat kemuliaanMU, yg lemah Engkau kuatkan, yg rumah tangganya diambang perpecahan, Tuhan pulihkan, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!
35Pagi-pagi benar, waktu hari masih gelap, Ia bangun dan pergi ke luar. Ia pergi ke tempat yang sunyi dan berdoa di sana. 36Tetapi Simon dan kawan-kawannya menyusul Dia; 37waktu menemukan Dia mereka berkata: "Semua orang mencari Engkau." 38Jawab-Nya:"Marilah kita pergi ke tempat lain, ke kota-kota yang berdekatan, supaya di sana juga Aku memberitakan Injil karena untuk itu Aku telah datang." 39Lalu pergilah Ia ke seluruh Galilea dan memberitakan Injil dalam rumah-rumah ibadat mereka dan mengusir setan-setan.
Dari ayat-ayat di atas kita bisa melihat beberapa hal yg penting:
1. Pemberitaan Injil dan persekutuan pribadi tidak boleh dipisahkan
Kemanapun Yesus pergi, betul Yesus mengajar. Betul Yesus memberitakan Injil. Tetapi ada 1 hal yg tidak boleh dipisahkan. Ayat ke-35 dikatakan,"Pagi-pagi benar, waktu hari masih gelap, Ia bangun dan pergi ke luar. Ia pergi ke tempat yang sunyi dan berdoa di sana." Di sini kita bisa lihat bahwa sebelum Yesus memberitakan Injil, sebelum Yesus menyampaikan kabar sukacita, sebelum Yesus menyampaikan maksud-maksud Allah kepada setiap murid-muridNYA dan kepada setiap orang, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, Yesus bergumul terlebih dahulu bersama BapaNYA.
Karena itu, saya tekankan bahwa pemberitaan Injil dan persekutuan pribadi tidak dapat dipisahkan. Saya kuatir, bahwa di tengah dunia yg penuh dengan kesibukan ini, dan banyak orang yg menyebut dirinya sebagai hamba Tuhan, dan hal tersebut juga melanda orang-orang yg terlibat dalam kegiatan rohani. Saya kuatir bahwa banyak orang yg menyebut diriNYA hamba Tuhan dan terlibat banyak dengan kegiatan rohani, tetapi mereka kekurangan waktu untuk bersekutu secara pribadi dengan Tuhan.
Saya mau beritahu, bahwa bahaya terbesar dalam gereja, bukanlah saat gereja diancam, bukan pula saat gereja dibom atau ditutup. Karena, saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, gerejanya bisa dibom, gedung gerejanya bisa ditutup, tetapi Kuasa Tuhan, pekerjaan Tuhan, akan tetap berjalan terus, haleluya! Karena itu saudara tidak perlu kuatir, saudara engga perlu membalas yg jahat dengan yg jahat, karena Allah tahu bagaimana mengerjakan mujijat bagi anak-anakNYA.
Karena itu saya bersyukur, karena Alkitab tidak pernah mencatat belalah agamamu. Alkitab tidak pernah mencatat belalah TuhanMU. Karena bukanlah agama / Tuhan kita yg perlu kita bela, karena kita sendiri yg perlu dibela oleh Tuhan Yesus Raja kita. Karena, selalu saya bilang,"bila agama saya harus saya bela, berarti agama saya lemah." Kalau Tuhan saya bela, berarti Tuhan saya lemah. Bahkan Tuhan sendiri menjelaskan bahwa oleh NamaKU, engkau akan dihujat. Oleh karena namaKU, engkau akan dicaci maki. Tetapi, Tuhan ingatkan bahwa kita harus tegar, jangan balaskan yg jahat dengan yg jahat, karena,"Aku akan menyertai engkau sampai kesudahan alam, haleluya!"
Itulah sebabnya, menjadi murid Kristus adalah suatu kebanggaan dan sukacita. Kembali saya ingatkan bahwa bahaya yg paling menakutkan dalam gereja adalah, ketika orang-orang yg terlibat dalam pelayanan, mereka kehilangan waktu pribadi bersama dengan Tuhan. Jika ada orang-orang yg disebut aktivis/hamba-hamba Tuhan, lalu dengan alasan kesibukan, mereka kehilangan waktu pribadiNYA bersama dengan Tuhan, saudaraku, bila kita kehilangan waktu pribadi kita dengan Tuhan, apa yg akan kita sampaikan kepada orang lain. Apakah kita akan melayani dengan kemampuan dan kekuatan kita sendiri? Mungkin saudara adalah guru sekolah minggu, mungkin saudara adalah anggota koor di gereja, atau saudara adalah pelatih koor di gereja.
Atau saudara terlibat dengan kegiatan-kegiatan lain di gereja saudara. Tetapi, jika saudara telah kehilangan waktu saudara dengan Tuhan, apalagi yg akan saudara bagikan. Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, orang tidak butuhkan kata-kata yg hebat/luar biasa. Yang orang butuhkan adalah urapan Allah yg mengalir dari kita, karena kita memiliki hubungan yg akrab dengan Tuhan.
2. Pemberitaan Injil harus disertai dengan belas Kasihan
Kita lihat pada ayat yg ke-36 Tetapi Simon dan kawan-kawannya menyusul Dia. Jadi, Yesus sedang berdoa sendiri, kemudian Yesus disusul oleh Simon dan teman-temanNYA. Kemudian ayat yg ke-37 dikatakan waktu menemukan Dia mereka berkata: "Semua orang mencari Engkau." Dengan lain kata, Simon berkata,"Guru, aku tahu Engkau letih, aku tahu Engkau sudah bangun pagi-pagi, tetapi ada banyak orang yg sedang mencari Engkau." Tetapi, Yesus tidak bilang,"aduh,...saya lelah, tunggulah sampai 2 jam lagi, sampai saya merasa siap. Tetapi di ayat yg ke-38 dikatakan,Jawab-Nya:"Marilah kita pergi ke tempat lain, ke kota-kota yang berdekatan, supaya di sana juga Aku memberitakan Injil karena untuk itu Aku telah datang."
Dengan lain kata, Yesus mau berkata kepada Petrus, "Petrus, sesibuk apapun, Aku akan tetap memiliki waktu dengan Bapa, Aku akan tetap memiliki waktu bagi setiap orang yg membutuhkan Aku, karena untuk itulah Aku disini. Bahkan bukan hanya di sini, tetapi kota-kota/desa-desa, Aku juga akan memberitakan injil di sana. Kenapa Yesus mau melayani mereka? Kenapa dari waktu hari masih gelap, dan sampai saat fajar menyingsing, Yesus masih harus terlibat dengan pelayanan. Jawaban saya sederhana, karena adanya belas kasihan.
Saudaraku yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, saya kuatir ada banyak keributan di gereja hari-hari ini, atau perpecahan terjadi, karena apa? Karena mereka terlalu lelah di gereja. Banyak orang yg kehilangan istirahatnya bersama dengan Tuhan, sehingga mereka mudah kecewa, mudah marah. Baru kata-kata tidak enak sedikit, lalu pecah, lalu mereka bikin gereja sendiri.
3. Pemberitaan injil harus disertai dengan pengusiran setan-setan
Ayat ke-39 dikatakan,"Lalu pergilah Ia ke seluruh Galilea dan memberitakan Injil dalam rumah-rumah ibadat mereka dan mengusir setan-setan."SaudaraKU yg kekasih dalam Tuhan, dimanapun Injil diberitakan, Roh jahat coba menyerang. Saya tidak bilang bahwa kita harus selalu berteriak,"di dalam Nama Yesus, setan harus keluar!". Tetapi, kita harus ikat setiap kerja setan, sehingga setan tidak memiliki Kuasa lagi. Pemberitaan Injil adalah penghancuran kerajaan kegelapan. Biarlah kita memiliki kerinduan untuk memberitakan injil dimanapun kita berada.
Doa:
Bapa, hamba berdoa untuk setiap dari kami, agar kami semua dapat melihat mujijat Tuhan. Orang sakit boleh disembuhkan, orang boleh melihat kemuliaanMU, yg lemah Engkau kuatkan, yg rumah tangganya diambang perpecahan, Tuhan pulihkan, di dalam Nama Yesus kami berdoa, amin!
A Sweet Fragrance
A Sweet Fragrance
"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."
John 12:3, NIV
Mary gave – not just any perfume, but an ‘expensive perfume’ – the best she had as it was worth a whole year’s wages. She also didn’t just give it to Jesus; she emptied it out on His feet and then wiped His feet with her hair. What she did was no secret – it could be smelt throughout the whole house and the fragrance of what she had done remained with her even after she had left, as it clung to her hair.
As we come and give to Jesus our very best and are not hesitant to be poured out for Him, may it not only be a sweet fragrance to those closest to us – those in the house – but also to those we come in contact with in our daily walk – those at work, the one behind the till in the supermarket, the one in the queue at the bank, the petrol attendant, the child next door, the post man, the bus driver, the train conductor, the garbage collector, the street sweeper, the pastor, the leader, the business man, the manager, and our employer.
As we sit at Jesus’ feet and pour out everything we have, may the fragrance of His presence linger with us and be a constant reminder to us of His closeness – a very present help with those difficult situations that need to be resolved – those decisions that need to made – those people that need to faced.
As we come and spend time with Jesus, experiencing His love, forgiveness, acceptance (He accepted what Mary did for Him when others criticised and judged); as we experience His mercy and kindness, may we always be a sweet aroma of His love, care and compassion to those we pour out our lives for, and to those whom our lives touch on a daily basis.
Prayer: Lord, as I come each day and sit at Your feet, may the sweet aroma of Your presence so permeate my life that others may get hungry to get to know You too. Amen.
Today's Writer : Lindsay O’Reilly Lindsay O’Reilly has been married to Pat for 36 years and has 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She loves the Lord and has a deep desire to see people healed and restored and walking in their God-ordained destiny. Lindsay is part of the Ellel SA volunteer team where she assists in the ministry office.
"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."
John 12:3, NIV
Mary gave – not just any perfume, but an ‘expensive perfume’ – the best she had as it was worth a whole year’s wages. She also didn’t just give it to Jesus; she emptied it out on His feet and then wiped His feet with her hair. What she did was no secret – it could be smelt throughout the whole house and the fragrance of what she had done remained with her even after she had left, as it clung to her hair.
As we come and give to Jesus our very best and are not hesitant to be poured out for Him, may it not only be a sweet fragrance to those closest to us – those in the house – but also to those we come in contact with in our daily walk – those at work, the one behind the till in the supermarket, the one in the queue at the bank, the petrol attendant, the child next door, the post man, the bus driver, the train conductor, the garbage collector, the street sweeper, the pastor, the leader, the business man, the manager, and our employer.
As we sit at Jesus’ feet and pour out everything we have, may the fragrance of His presence linger with us and be a constant reminder to us of His closeness – a very present help with those difficult situations that need to be resolved – those decisions that need to made – those people that need to faced.
As we come and spend time with Jesus, experiencing His love, forgiveness, acceptance (He accepted what Mary did for Him when others criticised and judged); as we experience His mercy and kindness, may we always be a sweet aroma of His love, care and compassion to those we pour out our lives for, and to those whom our lives touch on a daily basis.
Prayer: Lord, as I come each day and sit at Your feet, may the sweet aroma of Your presence so permeate my life that others may get hungry to get to know You too. Amen.
Today's Writer : Lindsay O’Reilly Lindsay O’Reilly has been married to Pat for 36 years and has 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She loves the Lord and has a deep desire to see people healed and restored and walking in their God-ordained destiny. Lindsay is part of the Ellel SA volunteer team where she assists in the ministry office.
Believe and be Baptised
Believe and be Baptised
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20, NIV
At Ellel Grange last week we had the privilege of conducting a baptism in our indoor swimming pool. David Silvester, our team pastor, an ex Baptist pastor, explained the significance and symbolism of full immersion water baptism. We were all touched as the baptismal candidate gave her personal testimony, answered some basic questions and, on the profession of her faith in Jesus Christ, was submerged in the pool and raised up out of the water. She was, as it were, buried with Christ and rose to new life in Him as it says in the Bible - ‘buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead’ (Colossians 2:12). We then returned to the Meeting Room to celebrate Communion and a new life in Christ.
The occasion reminded me that for a number of years when I was working in London I used to meet with a friend who was a Messianic Jew. Each time we met for lunch he would challenge me and ask if I had been water baptised, reminding me that it was a command in the Bible. It took me a while to make the decision, but eventually I was baptised in the pool at Ellel Pierrepont in 2000. It was a very special moment for me, but I think the spiritual significance took time to sink in. If I have died with Christ and risen to new life in Him then who I am doesn’t really matter any more. The question is am I living in the resurrection power of Christ?
Some years ago I read the story of a missionary lady in Africa who walked every day along a stretch of road where people were often attacked and robbed, some had been killed. “Aren’t you afraid?”, asked a concerned friend, to which the missionary replied, “I have only a Bible that someone could steal and I have already ‘died’ so I have nothing to fear as they can do nothing to me” She had clearly ‘died to herself and her own desires’ and continued to walk that road unharmed for many years.
Romans 6:4 says ‘We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life’. And the Apostle Paul says, ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’.(Galatians 2:20) For me water baptism was an important start to dying to self and living a new life in Jesus.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the meaning of water baptism. Thank You that I can surrender my life to You and be re-born into everlasting life in You. May my life be hidden in You, Jesus, that day by day I should grow less and You become more. Help me to walk into the fullness of life that You purchased for me. Amen.
Today's Writer : Martin Knapp Martin Knapp Martin and Ginny have been married for 37 years and are blessed with 3 children and 2 grandchildren all living in London. They first met Ellel Ministries in 1990 and in April last year, after a number of years at Ellel Pierrepont, Martin became the centre director of Ellel Grange - the UK home of the 9-week Flagship programme of discipleship, equipping, healing and deliverance, held once a year starting at the end of April.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20, NIV
At Ellel Grange last week we had the privilege of conducting a baptism in our indoor swimming pool. David Silvester, our team pastor, an ex Baptist pastor, explained the significance and symbolism of full immersion water baptism. We were all touched as the baptismal candidate gave her personal testimony, answered some basic questions and, on the profession of her faith in Jesus Christ, was submerged in the pool and raised up out of the water. She was, as it were, buried with Christ and rose to new life in Him as it says in the Bible - ‘buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead’ (Colossians 2:12). We then returned to the Meeting Room to celebrate Communion and a new life in Christ.
The occasion reminded me that for a number of years when I was working in London I used to meet with a friend who was a Messianic Jew. Each time we met for lunch he would challenge me and ask if I had been water baptised, reminding me that it was a command in the Bible. It took me a while to make the decision, but eventually I was baptised in the pool at Ellel Pierrepont in 2000. It was a very special moment for me, but I think the spiritual significance took time to sink in. If I have died with Christ and risen to new life in Him then who I am doesn’t really matter any more. The question is am I living in the resurrection power of Christ?
Some years ago I read the story of a missionary lady in Africa who walked every day along a stretch of road where people were often attacked and robbed, some had been killed. “Aren’t you afraid?”, asked a concerned friend, to which the missionary replied, “I have only a Bible that someone could steal and I have already ‘died’ so I have nothing to fear as they can do nothing to me” She had clearly ‘died to herself and her own desires’ and continued to walk that road unharmed for many years.
Romans 6:4 says ‘We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life’. And the Apostle Paul says, ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’.(Galatians 2:20) For me water baptism was an important start to dying to self and living a new life in Jesus.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the meaning of water baptism. Thank You that I can surrender my life to You and be re-born into everlasting life in You. May my life be hidden in You, Jesus, that day by day I should grow less and You become more. Help me to walk into the fullness of life that You purchased for me. Amen.
Today's Writer : Martin Knapp Martin Knapp Martin and Ginny have been married for 37 years and are blessed with 3 children and 2 grandchildren all living in London. They first met Ellel Ministries in 1990 and in April last year, after a number of years at Ellel Pierrepont, Martin became the centre director of Ellel Grange - the UK home of the 9-week Flagship programme of discipleship, equipping, healing and deliverance, held once a year starting at the end of April.
Lost in the Dirt
Lost in the Dirt
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?’”
Luke 15:8, NIV
As I was recently cleaning my kitchen floor I moved a piece of furniture that, I must admit, I normally clean around. As I moved the furniture and the light poured into the darkness, I was amazed at the amount of dust and dirt that had collected under there, as well as an inordinate amount of small objects that had been lost for some time and almost forgotten about.
I was instantly reminded of the story in Luke 15, where a woman had lost a coin and had to search her house to find it. The coin obviously meant a lot to her, hence the reason she set about a cleaning spree to find it. I was intrigued by the difference in our reasons to clean the darker areas of our respective homes.
Whilst this lady was searching for something precious, I was cleaning because I had came to the point where I finally admitted to myself that there was a place in my kitchen that I had ignored for too long.
It seems as though it is similar as to how we approach the healing needs in our lives. Some of us know that there is a treasured part of our real self that has been lost in the dirt and grime and we long to find it again. For others of us, we acknowledge there is a place that has long been ignored and is in desperate need of cleaning; yet there is lost treasure there too!
Whilst we can work hard at keeping the visible areas of our lives neat and tidy, there are often areas that we ignore, thinking that since they are hidden, they are unimportant. One thing is clear – the lost treasure is in the dirt and the mess and it is through shining light into those areas and setting about cleaning the mess that the treasure is found once again.
It is a process, it takes time and it takes the courage to face what has been ignored for so long. All that said, you never know what you will find when you start cleaning – there may be more there than you expect!
Prayer: Father God, I recognise that there are areas of my life that are ignored and forgotten about but it is there that I hope to find some lost treasure. Please shine Your light into the ignored places so that Your cleansing may go deeper than I have allowed it before. Amen.
Today's Writer : Lindsey Hanekom Lindsey Hanekom has worked at all of our UK centres over the years and is now settled at Ellel Scotland with her husband, Johann and their young son, Kyle. She is part of the Ellel 365 Team as well as being responsible for the marketing and publicity for Blairmore. Alongside these roles, Lindsey is a valued teacher who has a real heart to see people move into the fullness of life and to discover their full and true identity in God.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?’”
Luke 15:8, NIV
As I was recently cleaning my kitchen floor I moved a piece of furniture that, I must admit, I normally clean around. As I moved the furniture and the light poured into the darkness, I was amazed at the amount of dust and dirt that had collected under there, as well as an inordinate amount of small objects that had been lost for some time and almost forgotten about.
I was instantly reminded of the story in Luke 15, where a woman had lost a coin and had to search her house to find it. The coin obviously meant a lot to her, hence the reason she set about a cleaning spree to find it. I was intrigued by the difference in our reasons to clean the darker areas of our respective homes.
Whilst this lady was searching for something precious, I was cleaning because I had came to the point where I finally admitted to myself that there was a place in my kitchen that I had ignored for too long.
It seems as though it is similar as to how we approach the healing needs in our lives. Some of us know that there is a treasured part of our real self that has been lost in the dirt and grime and we long to find it again. For others of us, we acknowledge there is a place that has long been ignored and is in desperate need of cleaning; yet there is lost treasure there too!
Whilst we can work hard at keeping the visible areas of our lives neat and tidy, there are often areas that we ignore, thinking that since they are hidden, they are unimportant. One thing is clear – the lost treasure is in the dirt and the mess and it is through shining light into those areas and setting about cleaning the mess that the treasure is found once again.
It is a process, it takes time and it takes the courage to face what has been ignored for so long. All that said, you never know what you will find when you start cleaning – there may be more there than you expect!
Prayer: Father God, I recognise that there are areas of my life that are ignored and forgotten about but it is there that I hope to find some lost treasure. Please shine Your light into the ignored places so that Your cleansing may go deeper than I have allowed it before. Amen.
Today's Writer : Lindsey Hanekom Lindsey Hanekom has worked at all of our UK centres over the years and is now settled at Ellel Scotland with her husband, Johann and their young son, Kyle. She is part of the Ellel 365 Team as well as being responsible for the marketing and publicity for Blairmore. Alongside these roles, Lindsey is a valued teacher who has a real heart to see people move into the fullness of life and to discover their full and true identity in God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
