Israel dan Tanah Perjanjian (Palestina)

Perlu diingat bahwa Tanah Perjanjian merupakan janji Allah sendiri bagi keturunan Abraham melalui Ishak dan Yakub.

Kejadian 17:8  Kepadamu dan kepada keturunanmu akan Kuberikan negeri ini yang kaudiami sebagai orang asing, yakni SELURUH tanah Kanaan akan Kuberikan menjadi milikmu untuk SELAMA LAMANYA; dan Aku akan menjadi Allah mereka." 

Israel memang membangkang pada Allah dan mereka berputar di padang gurun selama bertahun tahun sampai semua generasi tua mereka mati, meninggalkan generasi muda di bawah pimpinan Yosua dan Kaleb, mereka akhirnya memasuki tanah Perjanjian.

Ulangan 3:28  Dan berilah perintah kepada Yosua, kuatkan dan teguhkanlah hatinya, sebab dialah yang akan menyeberang di depan bangsa ini dan dialah yang akan memimpin mereka sampai mereka memiliki negeri yang akan kaulihat itu.

Alkitab sudah menubuatkan akan ada migrasi besar2an bangsa yahudi pulang ke tanahnya dan bangkitnya israel. (Ulangan 30:3; Yesaya 43:6; Yehezkiel 34:11-13; 36:24; 37:1-14).

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Have The Charismatic Gifts Ceased?

Have the Charismatic Gifts Ceased?
by Matt Slick

The issue of the whether or not the charismatic spiritual gifts are for today has caused much debate and division in the body of Christ. The extremes are amazing. There are groups that say that if you do speak in tongues, then you are under demonic control and are not saved. On the other hand, some say that if you do not speak in tongues, then you are not saved. What's more, both extremes use scripture to support their positions.

Fortunately for the Christian church, whether or not the spiritual gifts are for today is not a salvation issue. Therefore, we need to be gracious. Romans 14:5 says, "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind" (All Bible quotes are from the NASB). As you can see, the Bible leaves room for debate and differences of opinion on non-essential doctrines. The issue of whether or not the charismatic gifts are still around is a debatable issue, and charity needs to be granted from both sides of the argument. This is not an issue to divide over as many, unfortunately, have chosen to do.1

It is my opinion that the charismatic spiritual gifts are still in effect. I do not believe they ceased with the apostles or with the completion of the Bible. If you disagree, that is fine. But let me give you my reasons here.

For simplicity's sake, I will state a standard objection to the continuance of the spiritual gifts and then I will give what I believe is a basic but sufficient refutation for that argument. All the verses quoted are listed in full at the end of this paper.

Argument 1: Since we have the Bible, we do not need spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 13:8-13 is usually quoted as scriptural support for the position:

"Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Some vigorously maintain that the "perfect" is the completed Bible; and, therefore, the extraordinary gifts are no longer needed. But I do not think these verses can be used to support cessationism. This is why.

Verse 12 says, " . . . then we shall see face to face." The word "then" refers back to the phrase "when the perfect comes." Since the only infallible interpreter of Scripture is Scripture, a quick examination of the way God uses the term "face to face" should help us understand this passage better.

The phrase is used throughout the Bible and always means an encounter with a person. When God uses it in reference to Himself, it means a visual, personal encounter with Him (Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:11; Num. 12:8; Deut. 5:4; and Jer. 32:4). Likewise in the New Testament it is also used in speaking of personal encounter (2 Cor. 10:1; 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14, etc.). "When the perfect comes . . . then we shall see face to face" seems, most logically, to refer a personal encounter; at least, that seems to be how God uses the phrase.

If the position is taken that the "perfect" is the completed Bible, how then do we encounter God in the manner as the phrase suggests: an encounter with a person? Seeing Christ face-to-face occurs when He returns.

Another "then" is mentioned in verse 12: "then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." The word "then" again refers back to the phrase "when the perfect comes." Again, we need to look at how the Bible uses words. This time we'll look at the word "know." Scripture says that eternal life is to know God (John 17:3). Only the believer is known by Jesus (John 10:27; Gal. 4:8-9; Rom. 8:29). The unbeliever is not known by Jesus (Matt. 7:21-23). In every verse except for one, God says He only knows believers.2 This is a salvific knowing; that is, it is a kind of knowing that God does of the Christians. He knows them, and they are saved. The unbelievers are not known and are, therefore, not saved.3

It would seem most consistent with scripture to say that " . . . as I am fully known" would refer to a salvation relationship between Jesus and the Christian. At the return of Christ, we (the ones known) shall know fully; we shall see face-to-face the One who is our Savior.

Also, we don't "know" Jesus through the Scripture; we know about Him from the Scripture (John 5:39). Instead, we know Him by personal encounter (John 1:12; 1 Cor. 1:9) through the Holy Spirit's indwelling. We don't know in a full sense right now even though we have the Bible because we are still corrupted by our sin nature. In our fallen state we can only see Christ through sin-clouded eyes. We see a reflection of Christ in the Word. When Jesus returns, the reflection of the truth will pass to clear understanding (the way childish thoughts give way to mature ones) when we receive our resurrected bodies, no longer have to battle sinful flesh, and can see Him face-to-face because "we shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2) and then, " . . . we shall know fully." The context of 1 Cor. 13:8-13 seems, in my opinion, to show that the spiritual gifts will cease when Jesus returns.

Interestingly, 1 Cor. 1:7 may be consulted here as well. It says, "so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our lord Jesus Christ." The Greek word here for "revealed" is apokalupsis. It means the apocalypse, the return of Jesus. In both this verse and 1 Cor. 13:8-13 the gifts, which aren't differentiated as to kind, are connected to the return of Christ--not the completion of the Bible. One more thing, the word gift in the Greek is charisma. This is where we get the word 'charismatic.'

Argument 2: Present-day tongues are further revelation and must then be equal to Scripture and should be included in the Bible. But since the Bible is not to have anything added to it, the gift of tongues (and therefore, the rest of the spiritual gifts) must no longer be valid.

This is a faulty argument because the Scripture itself recognizes inspired revelation that is not to be added to the Bible: "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church" (1 Cor. 14:26). Here, in the Corinthian church, revelations were given that were not made part of the Bible. This shows that there were, for a lack of a better word, "different" kinds of revelation: one from the prophets and apostles meant for canonization and another through the Spirit to be used in the church for edification--not canonization. So, in my opinion, for someone to maintain that revelation today is a threat to the Canon does not consider 1 Cor. 14:26 and is not applying scripture properly.

Argument 3: There is such misuse of the gifts that they couldn't possibly be real.

First of all, misuse of the gifts implies their existence. They couldn't be misused if they did not exist. The only real position to be taken here would be that the use of the gifts really is no use but is only fakery and self-deception.

I do not deny that the gifts are misused. I have heard manifestations of tongues, interpretations of tongues, and prophecy that, in my opinion, were not genuine. But I do not discredit the gifts based upon those experiences anymore than I would say that the gift of preaching is gone because I have seen it misused. Experience does not make doctrine--the Bible does.

Second, it is not a sick child that needs discipline and correction; it is the active, energetic, exploring child that needs to be guided. This was so with the Corinthian church. They were using the gifts greatly but improperly and needed to be corrected on their proper use.

1 Cor. 13 is the main place where the cessationists (those who believe the gifts have ceased) go for their position. However, upon looking at the context, I believe 1 Cor. 13 teaches that the gifts will cease when Jesus returns.

God Bless You

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Israel dan Gaza

Ketika Israel menyerang jalur gaza, yang menewaskan ratusan rakyat sipil, segera seluruh dunia mengutuk tindakkan Israel yang "kejam" tersebut.
tanpa bermaksud membela Israel yang memang jelas-jelas salah, tetapi lewat tulisan ini saya mau membukakan pikiran kita bahwa hamas jauh lebih kejam dari pada Israel. mengapa saya katakan demikian?

Alasan saya mengatakan demikian adalah, demi mensukseskan ambisinya dia rela mengorbankan rakyat sipil yang adalah sebangsa dengan dirinya, yaitu rakyat palestina. rakyat sipil palestina menjadi tameng bagi pasukan hamas, sehingga selama ini Israel tidak mampu membalas serangan-serangan mereka. setiap melancarkan serangan, Hamas selalu meluncurkan roketnya dari tempat-tempat yang penuh dengan penduduk Palestina. saya menafsirkan tujuan tindakan Hamas ini adalah:

1. Agar Israel ragu-ragu membalas serangan mereka. karena banyak warga sipil di sekitar mereka.
2. Jika Isarel membalas, maka yang menjadi korban adalah warga sipil. ini menyebabkan Israel semakin dimusuhi warga dunia, terutama dunia Islam.
3. Israel jika akan membalas serangan mereka secara besar-besaran sehingga akan melumpuhkan mereka, segera akan dikecam warga dunia.

Skenario Hamas ini berhasil. terjadi demo di mana-mana yang menentang Israel. tetapi bagi saya demi memenuhi tujuan ini Hamas jauh lebih kejam dari pada Israel. kalau dicermati, seringkali serangan israel adalah merupakan serangan balasan, karena mereka diserang lebih dahulu.
ada lagi yang mengkritisi Israel dengan mengatakan balasan Israel terlalu berlebihan. apakah dalam peperangan ada istilah serangan balasan yang berlebihan? bukankah mereka diserang lebih dahulu? bukankah Hamas selalu menjadikan warga sipil palestina menjadi tameng mereka? Jelas ini semua adalah skenario Hamas. penderitaan pihak sipil warga palestina sudah ada dalam skenario hamas untuk menarik dukungan warga dunia, terutama negara-negara Islam.

Secara pribadi sayapun mengkritisi serangan Israel yang membabi buta. tetapi saya juga mengkritisi sikap hamas tersebut. jadi semestinya bukan hamya Israel yang dikutuki, tetapi juga Hamas.

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Visi Utama Gereja

Visi utama gereja adalah INJIL dan jiwa2! Bukan yang lainnya!
Yesus sendiri berkata :

"Karena itu pergilah, jadikanlah semua bangsa murid-Ku dan baptislah mereka dalam nama Bapa dan Anak dan Roh Kudus, dan ajarlah mereka melakukan segala sesuatu yang telah Kuperintahkan kepadamu. Dan ketahuilah, Aku menyertai kamu senantiasa sampai kepada akhir zaman."" (Matius 28:19-20).

Hati2 dgn pengajaran yg di luar injil! Banyak hamba2 Tuhan yang visinya beralih dari injil. Paulus dengan tegas memperingatkan :

"Tetapi sekalipun kami atau seorang malaikat dari sorga yang memberitakan kepada kamu suatu injil yang berbeda dengan Injil yang telah kami beritakan kepadamu, terkutuklah dia. Seperti yang telah kami katakan dahulu, sekarang kukatakan sekali lagi: jikalau ada orang yang memberitakan kepadamu suatu injil, yang berbeda dengan apa yang telah kamu terima, terkutuklah dia." (Galatia 1:8-9).

Semoga jadi bahan renungan kita semua. Tuhan berkati!

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A Cause For Sister Oky

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As many of you know that I’ve been doing an outreach ministry to the East Timorese people who are still in the refugee camp in Kupang, West Timor and I thank God that He has been faithful in providing for us for the past three years, and above all, I thank God that you also take part in helping those people be it spiritually and materially. Today I am not writing to you concerning the people in the camp, but a friend with cancer stadium 4. I feel like God wants me to have a broader view of what is happening around me to really care and do something for them. I never really write to people about anything else before but this time I feel like doing it just to share burden with some of you. I’ve been praying for a heart that loves people in need and I thank God that He has brought me to meet some of you who share the same vision. So, I’ve been having some talk and sharing with my cousin these days about my ministry for the needy and thank God that she also has the same vision. Long story short, she shared about a friend of hers from church who suffer from Cancer stadium 4. Most doctors have given up on her, but looking at her spirit and willingness to be healed, it moved our hearts to support her. Her name is Frouky Dimu. This precious sister is a mother of 4 little children. The oldest is just 8 years old and the youngest is only 1 year old. I met her husband yesterday to ask about the chronology of her sickness. Her husband looks strong eventhough I know he’s broken in the inside knowing that his beloved wife is struggling with death every single day. I could tell from his eyes when he was speaking to me. Think of how your world would change if you are faced with a situation where you can lose your wife, your husband, your parent, your child, or your sibling at anytime. Sadly, this family is facing this emotionally devastating reality, and they have no access to the help they need to cope and heal.

So we (Me, my cousin and some friends) are committed to help them out spiritually and financially for the operation. This precious sister was suggested to go Surabaya or Bali for further treatment but the family chose to not to go due to financial lack. We decide to start a community called “Youth Blessing Community” to raise fund for sister Frouky. We sell cakes to raise fund for her operation. She needs aproximatelly 50 million, IDR / $ 5000. We managed to raise 7 million so far and still in faith and effort for another 43 million. Some people say we’re wasting our time and energy doing this since she could die at anytime. But we have faith in God and we do not lose hope. The fact that she’s still around regardless of her weakness shows that God has not finished with her. I was reminded of the story of Lazarus in the bible (John 11). He was very sick that his sisters sent someone to meet Jesus to tell Him about Lazarus sickness. Long story short, Lazarus was dead for four days when Jesus finally came. But something interesting in verse 5 and 6. Jesus loved Martha, Marry and Lazarus so He stayed two more days. We cannot fully understand why would He delay but verse 5 gives us the reason why. Its because He LOVED them. We know the ending, Lazarus was raised from the dead, but many of us miss the point when facing this kind of hopelessness. We may feel like the Lord is slow to help, He’s delaying. But I believe in what the bible says, its because He loves us. I believe God loves sister Frouky the way He loved Lazarus. And the fact that we see delay in her healing is the evident of God’s love for her. I believe its not by accident that it took 4 days for Jesus to finally come and raised Lazarus from the dead. It is to show us that even death is no big deal for Jesus to manifest His love. Many are time we hear people say, there’s no hope. But I believe, if there’s hope for the dead Lazarus, there’s more hope for the living. If He could raise a four days dead, He is more than able to heal Frouky, our still breathing sister. I believe there is hope in Jesus! And this hope is the reason why we dont give up on her. So I invite you, to support sister Frouky be it spiritually or financially, and please share her story to your friends and relatives so that more people can pray for her. And if you are encouraged to support her financially, you can send your donation to the account bellow : Account No: 3489-01-028857-53-7 Bank: BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia) Name: Margaretha Banase Or you can send through my account ; Account No: 161-0000687140 Bank: Mandiri Branch : Kupang Name: Jacobus January Loloin Please do let me know if you do any donation so that we can do further follow up. My prayers and love for all of you in Jesus name. Thank you very much. Blessing, Jack Loloin

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The Beauty Of Colbano, INDONESIA

Sent from my ASUS Fonepad

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"I AM" in the streets of Singapore

Its been a week that i am here in Singapore. Learn a lot for the past few days. And tonight was a blessing. Got to go out doing street ministry with YwaM Singapore. Never thought there’s YWaM in Singapore. So, it all started a few days ago when uncle Jacob came over for lunch and shared about his life and ended up inviting me to join his Monday ministry with YWAM. We went out earlier tonight at 9 pm and gathered at YWAM base in Geylang where some other YWAM’ers and volunteers were preparing some food for the street ministry. We break up into small teams. I went with Lona, the leader. He’s a guy from Tonga, Nicole a Singaporean and pak Anwar from Surabaya. I was worried actually since tonight was going to be my first street ministry abroad. I didnt know what to do and above all, since we were going to minister to the homeless in Singapore (I didnt know there are homeless here), I was afraid that I would give food to the wrong people since I cant tell which ones are homeless which ones are not. Haha. :D So we went and I was shocked at the sight of those people. Back home in Indonesia this thing is normal. We have quite a lot of homeless, but here in Singapore... come on man, you gotta be kidding! Some of them are Malay, some of them are Chinese and some of them are Hindi. Long story short, we met many of them. Me and my team managed to minister to some Malay and Chinese. I was schocked upon knowing that some of them are actually from Indonesia. They migrated to Singapore many many years ago. The ones who I got to talk to were Ahmadi and Usman. Ahmadi seems to be the healthiest and stronger one among them so he look after his fellow homeless. When they are sick, he will be the one to share money or food with them. They are muslim but they were open for conversation with us. I was cut to the heart when looking at Usman who is sick and couldnt move his hands so my friend Nicole had to help him sit and feed him. I could really see love tonight. I remember the story of Moses when God appeared to him in the bush, he asked for God’s name and He said “I AM WHO I AM”. To me, that was a mysterious name. But now I really understand the meaning of I AM. HE is what He says HE is, HE is what we need HIM to be and above all, HE is where we want HIM to be. HIS nature is revealed in His name. He is not confined by time and space. In the bible we see God’s names reveal His very nature. Jehovah Rapha (The Healer), Jehovah Jireh (The Provider), Jehovah Nissi (The Banner of Salvation), Jehovah Shalom (God of peace), El Shaddai (The Almighty) And tonight I really see the great I AM on the streets of Singapore.

What an awesome God we serve. He is always present. I’m impressed with these YWAM’ers and the volunteers. How they love these people, they dont even hesitate to hug them. I’ve been learning that God is love but tonight I really see Him through the love of His servants. I was reminded of the scripture in John 13:34-35 that it is through our love that people will know we are Christ’s disciples.

Sometime we dont need to preach with our mouth, some people might just misinterpret it, but our action speaks louder than our words. Your life can be a living bible for people to read. When people cannot read the bible, they will read your life. How true !!! I was talking with Ahmadi, i didnt even share the gospel with him but then he asked me if I’m muslim or Christian and I said I am Christian. He said ; I knew it. Only Christians would do such thing to help poor people like us. And then he went on by saying ; I’m a muslim but I dont know how much longer will I become a muslim. I’m here everyday but none of my muslim fellows come and feed me like you guys do. Now that i wonder what to believe. If I change my mind one day I might wanna talk to you. Only Christians care. Wow ! what a statement. And again i’m reminded of the sermon on Sunday service yesterday, the topic was somewhat amazing “Life is not about duration but is about donation”. Many are times we spent too much time wasting every second thinking about our pleasure, how to get this, how to do that and on and on, we forget that we are here to for a purpose and that purpose is to shine His light and make Him known and making difference in other peoples life. God is so good. Today I see Him, the Great I AM moving in the street. And I thank God that I could take part in the ministry tonight. We usually have Singaporeans coming over to Kupang to help the poor and the homeless there, but tonight I was blessed to be able to bless those who are poor in Singapore. I pray for more opportunity like this. To end this, I encourage you guys to show your life as living bible to other people, and for my Singaporean friends, you guys might wanna visit YWAM base in Geylang and join their ministry every Monday and Wednesday. You’ll be blessed. YWAM Singapore

Nicole feeding Usman who is sick

Photos were taken secretly

Thank you very much, God bless.

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