Get Plugged In by Ps. Jimmy Oentoro

The power of the Holy Spirit has been one truth that many no longer yearn for in life. Oftentimes we forget that the Holy Spirit is a Person that God has given us as our Comforter. It is time for us to invite this Person back into our lives. In Acts 1:1-8, Jesus asked His disciples to wait upon the Holy Spirit before they went ahead to do the Great Commission commanded upon them. After receiving the touch of the Holy Spirit, the lives of these disciples were changed! They became filled with authority and wisdom.

Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit who is our powerful source of strength, is often neglected and not involved in our daily walk. People tend nowadays to resort into the foretelling of the future instead to look for what is to come.

The Holy Spirit is the wonderful Person of God Himself. He created the universe (Genesis 1) and He knows everything. He led every author of the Books of the Bible to write about what Jesus had said. In the Old Testament, only the specifically-called would receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But in this New Testament time, Joel has actually prophesied in his Book that the Holy Spirit would be poured upon every one of us believers. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:28). This prophecy has been fulfilled from the time of Jesus’ disciples after He was taken up to Heaven until today.

We need to get plugged in to the Holy Spirit, to the point that we can feel what He feels, hear what He whispers, and allow Him to dwell in our lives. The significant leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives will bring us to salvation, will seal our future in God our Father, will give us the godly ability and power to create, and He will be our business partner in Christ.

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Kuasa Roh Kudus menjadi suatu kebenaran yang ditinggalkan dalam kehidupan kita dan seringkali kita tidak menyadari bahwa Roh Kudus adalah Pribadi yang Tuhan berikan sebagai penghibur didalam setiap kehidupan kita. Waktunya kita membawa kembali Pribadi yang luar biasa ini kedalam hidup kita.Dalam Kis. 1:1-8, Yesus meminta kepada murid-muridnya untukmenantikan Roh Kudussebelum menjalankan Amanat Agung  yang telah diberikan!Setelah menerima curahan Roh Kudus, para rasul menjadi berbeda, mereka penuh dengan kuasa dan hikmat.

Sayangnya, saat ini Roh Kudus yang adalah kekuatan luar biasa bagi kita, jarang sekali kita libatkan dalam hidup kita dan malah ditinggalkan. Orang-orang cenderung pergi mencar iramalan-ramalan untuk mengetahui sesuatu.

Padahal, Roh Kudus adalah Pribadi Allah yang luar biasa, Pribadi yang menciptakan alam semesta, (Kejadian 1) dan Pribadi yang mengetahui segala sesuatu. Ia yang menuntun setiap penulis Alkitab untuk menuangkan apa yang Yesus katakan. Di dalam Perjanjian Lama, hanya orang-orang tertentu saja yang diurapi oleh Roh Kudus melalui panggilan mereka yang khusus. Tetapi dalam masa Perjanjian Baru sekarang, Yoel telah menubuatkan dalam kitabnya bahwa Roh Kudus akan turun atas setiap kita orang percaya. Kemudian dari pada itu akan terjadi, bahwa Aku akan mencurahkan Roh-Ku  ke atas semua manusia, maka anak-anakmu laki-laki dan perempuan akan bernubuat; orang-orangmu yang tua akan mendapat mimpi, teruna-terunamu akan mendapat penglihatan-penglihatan. (Yoel 2:28). Nubuatan ini tergenapi pada masa murid-murid Yesus setelah Yesus naik ke surga sampai pada masa sekarang.

Mari kita mulai melekat erat dengan Roh Kudus (Get Plugged In)sampai kita dapat merasakan apa yang Iarasakan, apa yang Ia bisikan, dan membiarkan Ia tinggal di dalam hidup kita. Peran Roh Kudus yang besar akan memimpin kita dalam keselamatan, memeteraikan kehidupan kita di dalam Allah Bapa, memberikan  kita kemampuan Ilahi serta kuasa untuk menciptakan, dan Dia akan menjadi mitra dalam bisnis kita semua bersama Tuhan.

A Day with God by Ps. Daniel Hanafi

We must let go of good to gain the best. Sometimes that path seems disappointing, but the fact is that God’s ways are always better. In Psalm, David utters the beauty of being in God’s presence. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (Psa. 84: 1-2, 10)

Together with God, our days are certain to be better than when we are not, because we can be freed from the bondage of sin, have overflowing joy, obtain the peace of God, and understand the Godly calling and purpose of our lives.

When we make time to meet God, His eyes are toward us. Through His power, He will give us security and provide everything for the ones close to Him according to His riches and glory.

How can we experience a day with God? Seek God at the start of our day through quiet time and declare that day as the day of the Lord’s. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col. 3:17)

There are three habits we can develop to become close with our God:

1. Always communicate with God through prayer at every moment (1 Thess. 5:16-17)
2. Always submit to God’s will (Gal. 5:25)
3. Always be thirsty for God’s presence (Psa. 34:8)

We are sure to be more aware of His presence when we make these habits our regular portion.

God bless you.

Kingdom Builder by Ps. Budi Hidajat

When we talk about the lifestyle of a believer, it always relates back to what he or she possesses and needs. But what happens if that lifestyle causes one to “BE IN DEBT”? This kind of lifestyle will become a stumbling block in our ministry to Christ, and definitely this doesn’t demonstrate the Kingdom’s lifestyle.

In 1 Tim 6:8-10 it is said, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Every believer is called to be a “Kingdom Builder”. A Kingdom Builder must manage his assets and finances well, so that he can achieve financial freedom. Having the financial freedom doesn’t necessarily always mean becoming super rich; however, it means that one has the freedom to choose what he wants to do with his money and wealth. This way, we can manage and make our budget planning in ways that will bring glory to God’s name.

Living Sacrifice by Ps. Christopher Chan

His Word in Romans 12:1 says
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV)
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (Msg)

When we think of a pen, we can think of its many creative uses. Among them are:

1. Pressing tiny little reset buttons
2. Opening plastic packets
3. An object for throwing in anger
4. Scratching an itch
5. Being chopsticks
6. Stirring drinks
7. As a weapon, like for stabbing someone
8. As a hair-accessory
9. To point at people when you are angry so they will know you are REALLY angry!
10. As top pocket decoration

But actually, a pen is originally designed for the uses of writing and drawing. Likewise, we were created for a special purpose!

 1.     We are designed to worship Him

• But worship is more than singing praise songs to Him.
• Worship is the undivided allegiance of our hearts to God. Worship is obedience to the Lord in everything. Worship involves our whole life – offered as a living sacrifice.

 2.     No matter how attractive this PEN is, it’s useless unless it will write

• Likewise, no matter how great we look, we are useless unless we “present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to serve the Lord.”
  • “If we don’t serve God, we go against the very reason why we are born.”
  • “Serving God means taking on the spirit of a servant – bondservant,” one subject to the will and is at the full disposal of another.

 3.     This PEN leaves a mark

• As I move it across a piece paper it will leave a mark. Likewise, we do the same.
• What kind of a mark do we leave with people we come in contact with on a daily basis?
• Will people leave us as better people as a result of the Love of God we show them?

 4.     The pen was purchased with a price

• Just as this pen was purchased at a price, a price was paid for you and me.
• We were purchased through the blood of a sinless Savior.
• For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Pet 1:18)

5.     The PEN has a trademark that distinguishes it from all other Companies. Mine is made by Mont Blanc

• Likewise, there are things that mark us as Christians that show that we are possessions of our Lord Jesus Christ. These marks include LOVE, COMMITMENT, dan HOLINESS.

 Like a Pen, we are created for a purpose.

We are created to serve God with our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him.

 

Press On by Ps. Jimmy Oentoro

What are we looking for in life? Is it the Creator or His creations?

Paul left everything he had gained in the past before he knew Christ, so he could run closer to the Creator and His will. Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

It is because of this conviction that Paul was able to press on, doing Christ’s will and the Godly purpose in his life, even though he had to go through much suffering. Paul knew and believed that it is Christ that brings life and that He is the source of all hope. Paul continually involved Christ in the life journey he embarked on.

 Like Paul, are we able to leave every worldly garbage in our lives and say, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”? (Philippians 3:10).

Confidence in Christ by Ps. Jimmy Oentoro

A Christian must be bold in stepping into a lifestyle that calls for the road less taken, so that the journey of his life will not remain just a routine. Paul says that every believer in Christ must put his confidence only in Him. In Philippians 3, our confidence in Christ is demonstrated through how we value the gains in our personal life. Paul was someone with an amazing background, as could be seen from Philippians 3:1-6. But none of those things he gained in the past he considered valuable any longer once he came to know Christ. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ(Phil. 3:7-8).

Oftentimes we put our confidence and hope in the things of the world, such as money, position, success, etc. But there are bigger and more valuable things in life we can gain when we have our full conviction in Christ.

Attitude of Submission by Ps. Jimmy Oentoro

An attitude is the inner state of a man that drives him to conduct a certain act and to feel a certain way toward a particular situation or circumstance. And it is our attitude that will determine whether we will succeed or fail, whether we will have good relationships or bad relationships with others, and also whether or not we can turn curses into blessings.

God gives every believer a choice whether to choose to put on a Christ-like attitude or not. But Paul in his letter to the Ephesians believers commends that they be changed and renewed in their spiritual mind and to adopt godliness in their lives. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

It takes an attitude of submission to God’s will, thoughts, and desires, like Jesus had, to be able to witness the fullness of life according to His road map.

Being Nothing by Ps. Jimmy Oentoro

In our walk of life, we often have to face the road “less” or even perhaps “never” taken. This new path may frighten us. The inconveniences experienced may make us doubtful in our walk with God. But we know that we don’t have to be afraid because He who started a good work in us will carry it out to completion till the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6). God uses the road less taken to bring us to a higher level in our lives.

We will be able to walk this kind of road if the center of our lives is Christ Himself. During his imprisonment, Paul wrote a short text to the congregation in Philippi. It went like this:

 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:1-8)

 Through this letter, Paul teaches us two things:

1.     Pride must be removed from our lives

Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” While living in a world that teaches us to always possess better and bigger things than others, we as children of God must realize that we are actually nothing. Otherwise, the things of above cannot dwell in our lives.

2.     Learn to always put others above ourselves & learn to submit

Again, the world teaches the opposite. But dare we live without receiving recognition from others? Dare we willingly submit to one another, putting ourselves below others and obeying them?

We want to learn from a political figure in Myanmar, AngSuuKyi. She is a female warrior of her time in Myanmar, who by her humility and submission to the government in power at the time, led her people in a non-violent struggle for democracy & human rights. Never retreating, she persisted forward doing what was the purpose of her life. She, in the end, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

As God’s children, we need to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, so that we can “empty” ourselves, become nothing, and are able to run forward & achieve the Godly purpose of our lives.

Leadership within You for Every Believer by Pastor Fendy Hutomo

The SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP will usher in a big change in your life and bring you to a bright future in whatever you choose to do. When someone is called to lead, actually what he is doing is that he begins to bring God’s fulfillment into his life and into his own world. He will have a new & different world to establish.

Let’s read Matthew 5:14-15 and think about these:

1. God has predestined every believer to be a leader in this world.

a. You are the Light of Directions and Salt of Preservation (Matt. 5:14-15).

i.  Therefore, do not ever hide your ability.

ii. And know that if you are not responding to the call and place of

leadership, you will be trampled underfoot.

b.  The five-fold ministry will equip every saint for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-16).

c.  Jesus leads us into salvation, so we can in turn lead others (Rom. 8:29).

2. You must find your destiny in the leadership and follow these 5 steps:

a. See yourself as God sees you (Gen. 1:24-26; Luke 4:18; Rom. 1:17; Phil. 2:13;

4:13, 19; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 4:4).

b. Be willing to renew your mind and to be transformed (Rom. 12:1-2; Matt. 4:19).

c. Be a part of the body of a local church (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:12-18, 28).

d. Serve where you have opportunity (1 King 19:19-21; Acts 6:2-8; Acts 8:5).

e. Be faithful in the “little” things (Luke 16:10; Matt. 25:14-30).

3. The fulfillment of being a Christian (believer) comes through leadership (John 13:3-17).

a. You are created in God’s image, thus, serving and leading are in your nature as it is

also God’s nature (Gen. 1:26; Rom. 8:29).

b.  Those who walk with Jesus will naturally desire to live (LEAD) as He did (Luke 9:1-2, 6; Luke 10:1-2, 17; Acts 8:4).

c.  Heavenly rewards are gained through the serving and leading of people to God.

 

May we all be enabled to start filling our lives with His Divine Purpose. God bless you!

The Road Less Taken by Pastor Jimmy Oentoro

God’s desire is to take us through an extraordinary path, which may be filled with challenges. But He promises to guide us, so that we will lead a life that is fruitful. The Road Less Taken is the path that may be difficult to go through. But as Jesus’ disciples, this Road may be unavoidable as He takes us higher and higher into the next level of our lives.

Philippians 1:20-26

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

We learned from this passage what Paul taught his disciples in Philippi:

1. The Philosophy of Life and Death

When Paul was in prison, he changed not only physically, but also psychologically. In hard conditions, Paul exerted a statement that implied that dying was something he was ready to face. He was eager to be with Jesus Christ eternally in Heaven. However, it also implies that he was ready to live fully for the purposes of Christ while on earth. For if we were not ready to die, how could we be ready to live for Him? Paul took the Road Less Taken filled with many challenges to bear many fruits for the Kingdom of God.

2. Allowing Christ to Work in Our Lives

Jabez was an example of someone who relied on God to work in his life. He was born rejected and thought of as a cause of pain in his family. He had no future. But like Paul, he believed that God was the source of all things. So, Jabez prayed out of great faith and found God bringing him into a great victory in his life. Despite the challenges he faced, Jabez chose the Road Less Taken by believing in His God. He made the choice of inviting God into his life and trusting Him, not others or himself, for blessings he was to receive.

3. Having a Godly Purpose in Life

Every man of God was created for a divine purpose, a purpose that will leave a mark in this generation and leave a lasting legacy for the world. By taking the Road Less Taken, we may serve in this world like Mother Theresa did for example, whose fruits of ministry can still be felt to this day. What matters is not what we have while we are in the world, but what we can give to it and leave for its people after we die.

Remember that life is short! Now is the time to take every opportunity to choose a path of fruitfulness in Christ that will remain forever and will take us to the Next Level. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). God bless you.