More Than Enough

Pastor Steve's message, "sometimes in order to be victorious, you need to be willing to do something that looks ridiculous", kept resounding in my head for quite a while.

What kind of victory does God actually want us to achieve? Especially that requires us to look ridiculous.
The fact is, sometimes you know, sometimes you don't
One thing for sure, God always knows

So the question is, without having a clear grasp of this "victory", are you still willing- to look ridiculous- for God's sake?
I can handle the stress of keeping on IF I can see the purpose, but without the reason or the purpose, to constantly remind myself about, I just can't.

That's what I thought.

When God Doesn't Make Sense
In the past years, every single time I surrendered my will to be in sync with God's, I felt as if God then led me to some random-unknown-and-unpreferred paths to walk.

I wrote this before, but what I didn't write was that:
There were times- even until recently- I kept running away from God just because of this.

It is a simple matter, maybe something like God asked me to pray for certain things, to wait on Him, and be still.

While for other aspects my pastors and mentors affirmed my availability in serving God, I know deep within, I'm not wholly available for God.

Well, not on this matter.

Until the beginning of this year, I decided to respect God as how He deserves, especially as my King.
Truth be told, as a King, He doesn't need to consult with me about what He wants me to do, He speaks and I am to obey. 

So how dare I show such insolent attitude by refusing to pray for what He wants me to pray?

I braced myself to face what God wants me to do, again.
As I had expected, it was still painful, it was still confusing and sometimes I still thought "I had better skipped this request, I was so fine before this"
Although...
There was one difference, I did not lose my faith as I had done years ago.

I'm secure in my identity in Jesus, I guess God used my last experience to teach me really well.


My Grace is Sufficient
I, then asked God one more time, "What is the real message hidden in the midst of this unexplainable process? Maybe I had missed it out the first and second time, created stories and endings as how I (not He) saw fit. But not this time, I'm letting You write Your story in my life. Here I am, Lord, I'mma find it to understand what You want to teach me."

I got to the bottom of my frustration to look for it,
go through the same painful thing, again, to see what God wants me to learn,
be still in His presence right in the face of the storms and raging sea,
until I finally came to know Him as an El-Shaddai, not only God Almighty but also The All-Sufficient God, God that is more than enough.

Apostle Paul experienced worse than I (we ever) do, he pleaded to God three (different) times, yet instead of granting His trusted servant's request, God let it be and said "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9)

Why so cold, God?
I believe it's really not hard for God to do as what Paul asked, after all it might boost Paul's performance so he would be able to work more efficiently, don't you think?

Pastor Craig Groeschel mentioned "The meaning of Charis (undeserved favor, grace) is: God freely extends Himself, leaning and reaching to us because He is disposed to bless and be near to us. He wants to say, "I'm here for you! I'm not gonna answer this one (Paul's prayer), because this time it's Me all you need.""

He concluded:
1. True prayer isn't about getting our way, but surrendering our will

2. Prayer reminds us that we're not in control and keeps us close to the One who is

3. Prayer isn't just asking, but trusting

I believe that is the true meaning of "God that is more than enough", El-Shaddai means the All-Sufficient God, He will indeed supply and provide all we need, I get that, but what if it means God Himself is more than enough, even without His blessings, without His provision, but His presence? Even if He doesn't answer your prayer as you have dearly prayed for?  Even if He does nothing to your situation, will you still believe that God is ALL you need every moment of your life?

When my soul was embittered,

when I was pricked in heart,

I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.

- Psalm 73:21-23

Maybe this is it.

Maybe this is what God had been trying to convey to me.

Maybe this is what I did not see when I was running away.

Even when my soul was embittered, even when I was pricked in heart,

I should open my own heart to see, I am CONTINUALLY with Him,

as He holds my right hand.

He wants- even when you don't understand anything, even when it's hurting you here and there, even when it is open-ended, even when you had pleaded to God to take it away countless times and yet He did nothing about it, especially when God doesn't make sense- you confide in and depend on Him as the God who is more than enough.

Confident in God's Purpose

It took me 3 years, through my deepest valley, to experience myself this meaning of El-Shaddai, and this way, He showed Himself faithful to me, along with His sustaining power, peace and presence.
It's not like I had not met some different situations that brought me to my knees, but from this process, I had a chance to go up to a higher level of revelation in my journey with God.

I admit, before recently, my obedience is not unconditional.
(I mean, "if I do this, God please fill my drawer in heaven with my favorite Jordan shoes."
Okay, just kidding)

For one or two thing, I have my own conditions.

What I hoped "I do my obedience, God, please do Your outcome. It isn't necessarily the outcome I once thought it should be, but after all these years, please God, outcome."

The thing is, although He has the power to do anything and everything, He did nothing.

Oh, I think it's normal and totally understandable to have these conditions, but it's just not what God wants.

Unconditional obedience while knowing He alone, is more than enough is the IT I've been looking for.

If anything, I'm taking this process as my another season of pruning.

What if after all these stuffs I had gone through, God suddenly asked me to change direction, to pray for something or someone else?

I don't know, but I'mma still fully obey,

His purpose never fails

What strengthens me this year, is that I have the privilege to see God's purpose being revealed in my life. I should have told the 3 years ago me (and the future me) that,
"Not only obedience, but your obedience AND God's time will position yourself to receive God's purpose. Don't you be impatient to understand God's purpose. Surrender your will and trade it for God's, because in His time, He will show to you as long as you obey. So, hello from the other side!"

I do still care about the outcome, what is God's will for my life, and stuffs, it's just that I admit those things are never in my department to begin with. 

Obedience, is the one within mine.

Additionally, as long as I can see I'm walking with God while He's pruning me according to His purpose, I'm content.

Pastor Steve said:
"The key to persevering through a season of pruning is remaining CONFIDENT in God’s PURPOSE."

I delight in my persecutions, because I trust in God's presence,

I trust that God knows what's best for me,

and that Jesus is all I need.

And, hey! This is only the first month of 2016 and I can feel God's moving tremendously!

What has been my stumbling blocks all this time will become my stepping stones,

I'm coming out with something!

I'm over it!

Untitled

I love You, God, with all my heart, all my soul and all my life.

I love...
Every time You show up, just like that, and silence all my doubts and fears,
every time You teach me Your holy and perfect way,
every time You touch my heart and see me in my most vulnerable state.

I love...
The way You correct me and encourage me to get up over and over again,
the way You teach me how to love You and Your people,
the way You do miracles in Your time.

I'm learning...
To love You according to Your way, not mine,
to obey and trust in You in the wilderness,
to love all the seasons You lead me through

I love You, the righteous and faithful God.
Your law is my desire,
Your justice I long for,
Your mercy I need,
and Your love is greater than life itself.

"My hope secure, Your promise sure, Your love endures, always"
I love You for who You are

Even If

December is not my favourite month, I think, yet it might symbolically represent the "month of completion" for me as much as January represent the "month of new beginning" (okay, it's just me)

I and my sister felt so happy to come home (it's such a rare occurence, y'know).
I'd finished my exams, completed my projects for the semester (FYP 1, Katam-Ciyu's Wedding, FGCC Sunday Services) and even delegated my tasks and vision-mission to my successors in Fresh Ministry: Jansen and Claudys.
Basically, I had accomplished almost all of my works in Malaysia, so I guess that's why I was really looking forward to this holiday period.

I had made this to-do list that I would do during holiday, some are doable, some are prayable, and the others are laughable:
1. Learn how to play guitar (oke, gitar si dedek ketuker sama gitar Deo, n lagi stay di Jakarta)
2. Finish the books that I brought: Blink (Malcolm Gladwell), Limitless (Nick Vujicic), Lead Like Jesus (Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges)
3. Do some futsal coaching (dannn... temen2 gua sudah jarang maen futsal ya)
4. Get enough sleep (biar makin tinggi, tapi kayaknya ini tinggal angan2)
5. Come up with Fresh Ministry hoodie design
6. Understand and play with the Arduino language for the further development of my Final Year Project next semester
7. Gain some weight (pffft)

These activities were postponed somehow, as we went to Jakarta two days after I and my sisters arrived in Palembang for my dad's reunion and my friend's wedding (at where I received the weirdest question of all possible questions for me, "kapan nyusul, dra?" Gua next year baru 22 taun, saudara2)

Back to December, sorry I got a bit lost just now.
For me personally, I would like to call it as the month of transition.
As next semester will be my last semester in Monash, I've started planning what I'm going to do right after I graduate. I listed some possible options, consulted with my parents, mentors and close friends, and finally came up with a particular solution.

Nevertheless, the sense of worries and doubts started crippling.
I;mma tell you why.

1. What's the purpose, God?
Ever since I was born again (can't remember when to be exact), I prayed that I would live a Spirit-led life. Giving my best, serving God and the people while praying the same.
Yet in this last year of study, after all these things, I think, I barely see any progress.
There are some people grow up as what I ministered from God to them, this blesses me a lot, but many don't.
It's not "many" like legion or something like that, but the numbers are just devastating and even discouraging for me to keep on keeping on.

This brought me to ask God again "Did You really call me? Did You really call me to do this? I ain't hearing wrongly, am I?"
In the past several months, I'd been crashing this chatterbox over and over again (referring to Steven Furtick's latest book) while serving God.

"Will it be any use anyway? What's the purpose of doing this while many people don't even support you?"
were the questions that constantly came into my mind.

I opened my eyes, I saw people I care for compromise with their sins, that they told me that they wouldn't want to actually.
I opened my social medias, I got hot because of their posts (which is why I fasted from some of my medias for months).
I typed something and it hurt people (they said), is my short message that menacing or people are just getting further away from the truth and has trapped in their own compromise?

Ironically, I was worried of typing or saying even anything because of this fear.
I researched on Dale Partridge's blog, Ray Comfort's , and even Pastor Steven's to find out how they respond to such oppositions.
Still, it's scary how negative people can be towards these people.

2. What will I become?
I guess, because my last semester is coming, I asked this frequently.
I've mentioned about this struggle from academic side, but in fact, I'm experiencing in my aspects, including spiritual aspect.

After I 'graduate' from FGCC, what church will I join? What kind of church? What area of ministry? Will I be able to serve like how I serve in FGCC in China?
to the question such as:
Will I be able to play futsal in same or higher level?

I'm starting to see that I have kind of settled down in FGCC, in Malaysia. With all my achievement (I know they are not that great actually, but still they are not instant), how am I going to "level up" in another place?

Simply put, I indirectly questioned about God's ability to put all things together for my good.
This took me days before I realized it.
During my flight to Jakarta, Spirit of God spoke to me in while I was thinking all these lesser priority stuffs, "Why are you making it sound as if you are going to face your life all alone?"

I worried whether or not I would serve God again in leading worship at my church (wherever it is), I worried whether or not I would have the chance to learn to be a preacher, I worried whether or not my style of preaching is acceptable at that church, I worried and I worried that I forgot the One who had called me here.

I thank God for people that helped me to see from different perspectives regarding this "next church" matter, Ricky Hadap, kak Tama n ci Yuyu, Jansen Karim, Brian Adam and Hao2. You guys might not realize it, but your simple messages were really helping me in the time of doubts.

I asked myself, "does it really matter if I would serve like how I expected to be? Doesn't what matter most is that I do whatever God calls me to do?"
Ps. Philip Mantofa said in his sermon "God is not done with you yet".
So why... are you worried, Indra?

For my number one question, I rewatched Ps. Steven Furtick's "Don't Stop On 6" Hillsong Conference 2014 version (love you Pastor Steve, thanks) and was reminded of how obedience is in our department and outcome is in God's, I remembered how Pastor Steven emphasized on standing strong even when nobody supported him or when many people seemed to turn against him even when he did what God told him to do.
Why... are you scared?

I wrote in my previous post of how some things do not make sense even until now.
Again, as if God asked me "if you were given a chance to go back to the past, would you do the same thing?"
Oh yeah, sure, I'd do it again because I know who had called me to do so.
Even if I'm feeling like crap because of that,
even if I'm constantly in doubt because everything doesn't seem to make any sense,
even if I had been disrespectful to God because I experienced what wasn't caused by what I did.
I would do it, again, because God told me to.

I asked myself, "isn't this resolution enough for you to believe God's heart when you can't see His hands?"
I once asked "how to have an 'even if' relationship with God when God had given His love before we even started to love Him?"
and God had led me to have this story where I need to keep my faith, to love God EVEN IF what God's doing doesn't seem to make any sense.

Will you still love God even if He disappoints your expectations?

I love this quote, so I'mma write it again:
“When I realize that everything that is happening to me, is to make me more Christ-like it solves a great deal of anxiety.”- A.W. Tozer

Jesus Told Me To

Honestly, this post was inspired by a certain event happened today between me and rambutan, so I wanted to name this post "Indra and Rambutan", but it just doesn't sound right.

2 weeks ago, my parents came to Sunway and brought me some fruits (orange, rambutan and kiwi). I think because they really concern about their malnutrition-look-like son :|

And yea, they treated me to dinner (because I had to work with morning-evening shift) of which I didn't waste my chance to have Sushi Zanmai dinner worth of 80 RM MYSELF

After some time, I just left the fruits in my refrigerator. Trying to believe that even after some weeks, these fruits will still be ok to consume (silly me, really). Then today without knowing why, I felt that I really wanted to eat rambutan, then I opened my refrigerator, but my expectation fell short. They got rotten (of course, come on man, it's been two weeks) and now I'm afraid of writing this post in Indonesian that my parents might accidentally read this post  (and understand! that's the scariest part)

The lesson was that sometimes we underestimate things too much, that we don't take them seriously until they are gone. Don't waste your chance, do what you are supposed to do right now!

Okay, that's my introduction

Yesterday I watched this sermon clip of "Jesus Told Me To" by Steven Furtick

You can watch it if you want (surely you don't wanna miss your chance, after you have read my message above) *evillaugh

Short story, it's about holding on to God's instruction, with the solid reason called "Jesus Told Me To"

I was thinking how sometimes God asks me to do "His" things in my life, that I often do willingly or unwillingly. Not that I'm that faithful to do His command, but I just can't run away from Him (and I'm pretty sure I don't want to be the second Jonah).

Even until now, I sometimes did things He asked me to do unwillingly.

Having my sense of justice or even dignity being trampled over and over again, He still asked me to do ridiculous stuffs as if He doesn't consider my feeling at all.

You know what, sometimes you felt like it's useless to do what God asked you to do.

Certainly devil would agree with my point

Why bother helping someone that rejects your help?

Why bother forgiving someone that doesn't realize their mistakes? You are the wrong one in their eyes anyway.

Why bother praying for something that seems impossible?

Why bother praying for someone who doesn't even deserve for it?

Why bother sharing your time, life and energy for someone who just sucks life out of you?

Why bother loving someone that no matter how precious it is, they can't understand it anyway?
Why bother doing God's word? You will get misunderstood anyway

You know, you'd been walking around your Jericho wall, you stretched out your staff, you struck the water, you dug many ditches in your life, you obeyed His Word. But nothing happened, don't you look stupid?

Furthermore, it's wasting energy, ain't it?

I'm unable to explain my calling to anyone else, so often times I can only answered "I don't know, God told me to."

And even now, I have this unwavering confidence that "God told me to".

Although I don't understand why He did that. I've learnt from my lesson, I wasted my 4 years circling around and around just because I was sticking to this very question of mine: Why?

I don't know what's waiting for me in the future, really, I don't know, sometimes I can see the brightness of hope in my future, sometimes I just can't see anything but dark cloud colouring my sky.

Through my daily devotion, God comforted me: "taat aja". (yes, thank You, really helpful :|)

But it didn't end like that, through the sermon I've mentioned previously, I received these messages:

"Sometimes in order to be victorious you have to be willing to do something ridiculous"

and that as long as I do what Jesus told me to do, no matter how weird it is, He will lead me to His blessings.

"Outcome is God's responsibilities, obedience is yours"

I better fail when living my faith, than not stepping out because of my own reason (ego, fear, reasonings). God's instruction might sound silly, mundane, insignificant but I don't want to miss His blessing just because I underestimate it.

"Cry if you have to cry, but just don't leave" - Steven Furtick

Don't leave God's presence, don't leave out your calling, you can feel like you lose your hope in doing His will, but just don't leave. God wants to do something in you and through you

Well, I'm not saying this with knowing what awaits for me, I'm just trusting that God is faithful and He is powerful.

Hebrew 10:36 says: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Yes, AFTER you've done God's will, you need to perservere. Perservere for what? I don't know (seriously), I just don't want to miss my rambutan.
Look at the devil that always says to you "why bother", answer him confidently: "Because Jesus told me to"


ps: I hope you don't get the wrong idea of excusing your mind/feeling by saying "Jesus told me to" hahaha

Blessed are the PURE in heart

Hey, guys, it's been a while
So I decided to do some writings in the midst of all my business and activities

Well, writing is fun

Anyway, here we go, Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God - Matthew 5:8

As you can see, the word 'pure' here (katharos) has this meaning:
clean, pure
physically
purified by fire
in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit
in a levitical sense
clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness
ethically
free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt
free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine
blameless, innocent
unstained with the guilt of anything

Such an interesting definition: Purified by fire

My first question was: What is this purificating fire? Process? Certain (religious) activities? Meditating?
While the fact is:
"The heart of man is naturally unclean; nor is it in the power of man to make it clean, or to be pure from his sin; nor is any man in this life, in such sense, so pure in heart, as to be entirely free from sin." - Gills Exposition

There must be something to be done in order to purify our unclean state!

Bear with me, we'll continue reading other verses
1 John 1:7 clearly states:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Ephesians 1:13-14

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Hebrew 12:29

For our God is a consuming fire.

John Wesley stated: For our God is a consuming fire - in the strictness of his justice, and purity of his holiness.

See what I mean?

Through Jesus, something is done to us!

This very concept of Jesus' sacrifice as the Lamb of God explains a LOT about the concept of grace God's given us (eternal salvation).
Despite being naturally unclean and failing to do God's justice, by accepting Jesus, we are purified by God's spirit (fire) and hence we become clean (katharos)

Next: "For they shall see God"

See (Horao):
to see with the eyes
to see with the mind, to perceive, know
to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience
to see, to look to
to take heed, beware
to care for, pay heed to
I was seen, showed myself, appeared

Of course we still remember how Esther was struggling in order to see the King Ahasyweros:

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." - Esther 4:16

There's consequency in seeing the King without permission, not a pleasant one for sure. (Moreoever seeing the King of all kings)

And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. - Esther 5:2

It's even possible that we (she) did not win favour in King's sight and therefore got banished/killed

Seeing the king's face is a Hebrew expression:

2 Kings 1:19,"Those that stood in the king's presence;" in the Hebrew, those that saw the face of the king; that is, who were his favorites and friends. So here, to see God, means to be his friends and favorites, and to dwell with him in his kingdom. - Barne's Notes

John Gills added to Mat 5:8

(see the God) In this life, enjoying communion with him, both in private and public, in the several duties of religion, in the house and ordinances of God; where they often behold his beauty, see his power and his glory, and taste, and know, that he is good and gracious: and in the other world, where they shall see God in Christ, with the eyes of their understanding; and God incarnate, with the eyes of their bodies, after the resurrection; which sight of Christ, and God in Christ, will be unspeakably glorious, desirable, delightful, and satisfying; it will be free from all darkness and error, and from all interruption; it will be an appropriating and transforming one, and will last for ever - Gills Exposition

My last question: Are you friends of God (pure in heart)?

The Transformer Generation

The words "Transforming" and "Fighting" echoed in my head lately

We are the fighting generation, transformer generation

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12

We have to fight in this era, to create better generation.

Perhaps, many of our parents have 'wordly teachings' (their life, lifestyle and teachings imparted to the children that are according to the world)
However, who on earth is righteous since their born day?
Clearly shown by Colossians 1:21

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

We are fighting to break the chain
What chain?

CURSE (idolatry, child's sacrifice to gods, occultism)
HATRED (violence, trauma, vengeance)
... You name it

To put it simple: Chain of SIN

Fighting this kind of chain can not be done by hating, it needs LOVE. Whose? GOD
Hating your previous generation (parents, leaders, seniors) will never solve the problems, you'll be trapped in this chain of sin instead, slowly but sure you'll take resemblance with people you hate (at heart)

God said:

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." - Exodus 20:12

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
- Proverbs 1:8-9

I know many of you have known these verses, but knowing it and living it are not the same thing.

As the transformer generation, we ought to create better generation starting from us to the next generation. It's a textbook thing to say 'this generation should be better than previous, and so on", yet we often forget about it, we live like we have no responsibility at all, we live only for ourselves.

Here's the thing, maybe nothing seems wrong by living according to your heart, but there's no guarantee that you'll create better future and generation (moreover, if you are teaching them to live just according to their own way, without a MANUAL).

Be strong and stay faithful, friends

How to break the chain and create better generation?

Do what GOD told us to do, some verses above have answered that

But it's hard to do so, you don't know about my parents, my life... ...

No, I don't

Every person has their own kind of struggle in their life according to their own capacity

But God does

God has His own reason in giving His commands

I can't promise you anything for I'm a mere human, except to show you God's promise to those who's faithful to Him.

How can I believe that?

Because God is faithful

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13

Do not repeat bad history, we have that choice to transform the generation, starting from ourselves.

This task is not for some of us, but all of us.

Believe me, the next generations need our efforts today

Fight for our generation and be different (living what God, and not human said) as the transformer generation

Born Again?

Born again!
A familiar phrase known by many believers
Ada yang bilang lahir baru or lahir kembali

Ceritanya: I registered myself to the Men's Conference, held by GMS Lighthouse Palembang and I'm blessed so much.
Maybe I have understood the points of the workshop. But, hey! With a truly humble heart, I'm equipped with even much much greater things

I've promised my beloved Fresh-Com mates to do a short summary about this workshop, so I'll get it done ASAP :D

There were 2 speakers: Ps. Maxi Eduard Lonta and Ps. Arman Harijanto
Ps. Maxi is the senior pastor in GMS Lighthouse, while Ps. Arman is an often-invited speaker by GMS.
Their messages are powerful, I'm thankful for joining this conference.

Ps. Arman sometimes mentioned about his service age, 11/12 years in CMN etc etc.
I wonder, but then I remembered Sidney Mohede's project to celebrate his 20th year of being born again in Christ (Solo Concert: Louder Than Life)
Then today, my friend, Irawan Chandra tagged me on his own note. Sorry haven't read it all, bro haha.
I saw his writing about his past experience of being born again in 2010 and Silvia Sugianto's comment: First love with God is unforgettable

I told myself,"Mak, gua ga pernah ingat kapan gua lahir baru. Padahal banyak orang bilang 'pengalaman pertama' itu sulit dilupakan". Padahal pengen kan tuh, bisa mengingat n merayakan berapa tahun bersama2 dengan Tuhan (jadi momen yang berharga untuk diingat misalnya), dll dll hahaha
As long as I can remember, I've surrendered myself to God personally since I was in elementary school (Kelas 1 SD, BPK Cirebon) or even earlier, I'm not sure.

Being a rationalist, I remember that I said: I never want to believe something (God) just because my parents believe in it (Him).
Mengesampingkan fakta bahwa gua lupa kapan gua lahir baru (haha), I'm grateful that God Himself leads me and my family step by step, slowly but sure, in knowing Him more!

And that's God's Grace!
Mentioned by Ps. Arman today, seringkali kita bingung untuk bebas dari dosa ini itu ini itu, inget bahwa itu bagiannya Tuhan! We just have to let Him live in us and us in Him, itu kuncinya.
Banyak orang Kristen merasa cukup setelah 'Yesus hidup di dalam kita', sayang sekali Yoh 15:5 berkata lain
Akulah pokok anggur dan kamulah ranting-rantingnya. Barangsiapa tinggal di dalam Aku DAN Aku di dalam dia, ia berbuah banyak, sebab di luar Aku kamu tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa.

Banyak yang lupa untuk tinggal di dalam Tuhan.

My point is:
Ga peduli kapan engkau mulai mengenal Tuhan, jangan pernah lepas dari Pokok Anggur yang benar!
Mau baru percaya kek, mau sudah lama ikut Tuhan kek, mau baru melayani, atau sudah tua dalam pelayanan, God's grace is enough to refresh and strengthen your everyday life. Bahkan, without God's grace, we are actually nothing!
Pengalaman hidup bersama2 Tuhan bukanlah pedoman yang credible untuk dijadikan sebagai pengganti Firman Tuhan, never has and never will.

Gua bersyukur, meskipun gua ga pernah mengingat kapan tanggal exact gua dilahirkan kembali ataupun bagaimana manisnya awal cinta gua sama Tuhan, Tuhan tetap mengajarkan gua tentang hal tersebut bahkan manisnya cinta Tuhan itu gua alami lebih dan lebih. Hidup gua saat ini is the sweetest and closest moment with Jesus as long as I live, YET FOR NOW

I don't know why I wanted to write this kind of random post
I merely hope we can rejoice in Him every single day far from feeling bored or living life as routinity.
Caranya mudah: Biarkan Tuhan hidup di dalam kita DAN (yes, it is an AND expression, not OR) kita di dalam Tuhan
Happy sunday!

Reading YOUR Bible

Unexpected development today, from a simple twit about a Bible verse, I was led to another deeper study about this topic (maafkan gua, Angel. Kalo menumpahkan isi pikiran ke lu, tapi ga terlalu berat kan? kan? :P)

First of all, I found article about BIBLE's CONTRADICTION with the explanation from Answers in Genesis (you click on it if you want, but it's long, dan tolong jangan tanya apa isinya gua lagi males menulis kesimpulan *memelas)

HOW to read your Bible?
When I was younger *ceilee, I was taught this 'Inductive' way of reading (OIA):
ps: Praying to ask for God's guidance and wisdom before reading Bible is a MUST *end of story*.

1. Observation
What, Who, Where, When, Why + How and Conclusion

2. Interpretation
What's writers want us to understand from their writings?

You can (should) check and compare each writings using the facilities:
Another Bible translation: KJV, NAS, ESV etc
Bible Dictionary
Bible Maps
Commentaries (written by Theologians)
Concordances

To read Bible verse in parallel, most of the time I use: http://bible.cc/
(just type out your desired verse, and WOOSH, it'll give you almost all versions of Bible translations).
Ah yes, with Commentaries!!

For concordance, I use http://www.biblestudytools.com/
Choose KJV or NAS as your Bible translation, type out the verse, and check the 'Strongs Numbers' box on right side below 'version' box)

Bible.cc provides us the same facility of Strongs Concordance Numbers, but well, I've gotten used to Biblestudytools (thank you for asking)

3. Application
Know + Relate + Meditate + Practise
Yes, PRACTISE
Don't let your understanding be in vain because you are not practising it

You can find the full information HERE

WHY is this kind of "How to read Bible" important?
In short words: So that we are not translating it RANDOMLY or even according to what we 'think'.
Practise EXEGESIS, NOT EISEGESIS (I hope some readers understand these terms :P)

By understanding what the writers meant, we can understand more about God (because He inspired the writers). Bible is about God, God's Stories, God's Laws, God's Loves for us, while He is the main actor.
That's why I'm not the protagonist there (if you understand what I mean)

The most crucial point is: Understanding and reading your Bible in the right way is important (read: IMPORTANT), but don't forget to DO what the Bible says

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. - James 2:26

Let's become the DOERS of God's Words (starting with understanding the Words in the right way)

Daily Devotion 9/12/12 Part 2

I almost forgot to continue this post
However, I'm reminded to fulfill our Fresh Com's (newly found) motto: We finish what we have started (by Pendy Anggoro) huahaha
So, here we go, Part 2

Ephesians 3:14-15
14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 

'is named' is an expression derived from the custom in a family, where they bear the name of the Head of the family.
That's why, in God, we are one big family :)

16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man

Do we still pay attention in taking care of our inner man ?
Do we train our inner man routinely and give the 'proper food' (God's Words)?
It will be granted by His Spirit, so seeking Him with all our might is the key to strengthen our inner man

17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Does Christ dwell in your heart?
Does His love flow through your life?

18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 
21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Knowing Jesus and His love that exceeds knowledge is a process, a continuous yet life fulfilling process

The point is that our ultimate goal is to know the personality of Jesus Christ

If you need after something like, His anointing, blessing, guidance, grace, favour , you are not exactly wrong, but above all, do you need Him Himself?

Ko Rizaldi Putra described it to us through this story about a couple.

The wife asked for a new car, granted by her husband.
New house, granted
Jewelries, granted
Getting their children into proper education, granted
etc etc

And then he said:
If I were her husband, I would wonder and ask "Do you ever ask for me? Do you need me?"

Same goes to us, we sometimes feel that we know God. But, DO WE?

Ask this directly to Him, let it be our prayer.

Jesus is all we need, He is sufficient for us

Daily Devotion 9/12/12 Part 1

I have been meditating on Ephesians 3 for 2-3 days
Let me share what I got, I'll try to make it simpler

Ephesians 3:1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Gentiles: Ethnos (1484) refer to the people or foreign nations of which in OT not worshipping the true GOD
It needs to be differed from Ethnikos (1483), which most probably was derived from Ethnos: like the Gentiles, which used on Galatians 2:12-14

12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles (1483), and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Short story, Paul reproved Peter because Peter lives like the Gentiles (Gentiles before saved).

In Indonesian it might be easier to understand: 1484 usually translated as 'orang2 yang tidak mengenal Allah', 1483 however is translated as 'secara kafir'

Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

We, who are not Jews were saved through Christ. Even though, in the past, the written God's Laws were only given to Israelites, not Indonesian, not Malaysian, not English etc etc.
Yes, Christ' sacrifice is a UNIVERSAL Salvation

Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Indicated that in OT people did not understand this 'universal salvation' plan, but from the beginning, God had planned everything to save all human, He who created all things. Too bad many people do not accept this until now or some people think they are the only one who will be saved due to having God's Law.

Ephesians 3:10-13

10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.13Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

God wants this plan be known to all people, salvation plan through Jesus Christ

Verse 12 intrigued me. In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him

Boldness: Parrhesia (3954): 

freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech

1. openly, frankly, i.e without concealment
2. free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance

Access: Prosagoge (4318):
the act of bringing to, a moving to
to God, i.e. that relationship with God whereby we are acceptable to him and have assurance that he is favourably disposed towards him

WOW, we have BOLDNESS and ACCESS in Him with confidence
Once we were the enemy of God and now we have all of these.
Let us see from this perspective: To meet our President, it needs some procedures, it still even needs an 'assurance' to be able to meet him freely (of which not everyone has).
Come on, what a privilege God has given to us!

Jesus has done amazing thing by His sacrifice at the cross

WotM First Trip 06/12/2012

Yahoooo....
This is the first trip being held by our WotM class.
Too bad some people could not join us.
Pray that we can join and commit ourselves in this activity, afterall it should be the lifestyle of ours :).

Sooo, for today's journey to the Bukit Bintang, the members were:
Kak Dicky Sudrajad, Irawan Chandra, Ce Ratna Dewi Salim, Maria Lawono, Zeruya Pangalila, Caesari Putri, Brian Adam and the writer *uhuk... me.

This is exciting!!!
Since the very first class, I struggled a lot to do this.
But I promised God to do whatever He wants me to, and being faithful in this 'Way of the Master' program is one of them.

I think, this trip is our 'another step of faith', to get out from our comfort zone and start reaching out :)
Moreover it is Jesus' will , Great Commission for ALL OF US.

Starting with praying after everything that might be our challenge (physically and spiritually), we split up and started to share the Words, two persons in a group.

People's responses were various indeed
Some welcomed us cheerfully, some did not
Some even promoted tracts to their friends and ask how to contact us
Some were interested with the Words which showed their longing to find out the truth
Some gave us unpredictable response
It's AMAAZZIIING (read: ehhhmeeejiingg)

This blog won't have enough space to describe amazing things we've been going through with God, as a team. So you can ask my friends (okay, and me) about the story ;).

Short story, we felt no regret, grateful instead, because we have begun another step of faith to do what He wants slowly but surely.

Anywayyy, I bought another pair of futsal shoes during this trip at Pavilion

I've been saving money to buy an ASICS futsal shoes (indoor futsal shoes).

Why ASICS? Because Sunesia's ex captain Mario Satya promoted it hahaha and after some researches, I found that ASICS were used by Japanese players since a long time ago.
Why did I buy a new one? Because my flat (and first) futsal shoes were broken, so it left me with my 2 pairs of turf futsal shoes :P.
Why blue? One of my favourite colours #justsaying

What's this INDOOR and TURF stuff?

God bless you, everyone :)

Peneguhan dan Peneguran

Sesuai judul, belakangan saya mendapatkan peneguhan dan peneguran yang lumayan mengena

Ada beberapa kali ketika saya mempertanyakan kembali 'panggilan' yang saya peroleh (which I told to many people) dan beberapa kali pula saya 'diintimidasi' dengan pertanyaan2 yang membuat saya benar2 ragu atau bahkan dengan 'nasihat baik' yang tidak saya saring dengan hikmat Tuhan.

I'm sure that nothing's wrong with people who told me not to focus on something I haven't understood yet and nothing's wrong with the advice to 'be doer of God's Word' (that's what I've been telling to my friends anyway)

But satan used this sentence so that it would sound like this to me in my Bible reading time: 

If you don't understand some verses, just skip them. Why do you need to be that serious, using many resources like websites or whatsoever? People from your previous generation didn't use them but they were able to understand God's Word, so you'll be fine not doing that. Don't stick on your only way of reading the Bible. Afterall, your focus is to be doer of God's Word, try to understand what you 'might' be able to.

Saat mengecap (indahnya) liburan Monash, 1-3 minggu pertama, mezbah pribadi saya lumayan berantakan. Makanya saya mencoba untuk 'membenahi kembali pelan2', tapi tidak disangka, ada celah2 untuk diserang. Kalimat2 di atas baik dan bijak, tapi kalau tidak diterima dengan menggunakan filter yang tepat, akan bisa menjadi senjata buat iblis untuk menjatuhkan kita.

Lambat laun, saya merasakan there's something missing in me (oke, ini bukan galau tentang pasangan hidup ya haha). Sabtu kemarin, 1/12/12, saya mencoba untuk mengambil komitmen membaca Alkitab dengan cara yang dulu selalu saya pakai, where I tried to chew verse by verse, sentence by sentence realllyyyy slowly, while reading some explanations, another translations or even using the Strong's concordance numbers.

Sunday morning, before service, I did this again and I began to realize: Hey, this is what I've been missing all this time. This is my way to enjoy my quality time with God, to enjoy His Word.

Memang benar bahwa kita ga bisa terpaku hanya pada satu cara saja dalam membaca Firman Tuhan, namun bukan berarti kita harus menanggalkan 'cara terbaik' kita dalam melakukannya. Setiap orang punya cara dan waktu pribadi yang UNIK, yang bervariasi, yang mungkin berbeda2 dalam menikmati Firman Tuhan. (ps: membaca dengan mengandalkan hikmat Tuhan adalah harga mati)

Sorenya, saya sampaikan hal ini kepada Kak Tama dan message yang dia bagikan menegur dan meneguhkan saya kembali, bahwa: 

Setiap orang punya panggilan yang berbeda2, perkataan2 yang muncul untuk mengintimidasi saya berasal dari si jahat (yang berwarna merah :P), jaga hati terutama dalam menghadapi perkataan2 yang terngiang-ngiang di pikiran dan selalu ingat untuk menjadi PELAKU Firman Allah.

I think, that's my recent update

And here's what I currently read and study for my daily devotion: KEMURTADAN

S'bab Hanya Tuhan yang Membuat Sukacitaku Penuh

I and my friends, (because they are my faithful and hardworking friends in God, I'm gonna write their names one by one haha ;D): Brian Adam, Ko Kevin Giovani, Kevin CJ, Praust Pratama, Angelia Margaretha have been preparing for FGCC Doa Malam Ceria until 1 am
ps: I wrote this at 3 am on Friday morning and I was preparing myself before DMC

Then another PW Team members: Karissa Aprilia, Ce Yuriko Kesuma, Harry Rurianto, Yoel Febrian, Gloria Gracia, dan Yohanes Setiawan.
Keyboardist yang tiba2 muncul: Adi Pranata :P
Pemain Drama: Brian Adam (lagi), Ce Karina Novi, Caesari Putri dan Ce Yuriko Kesuma (juga lagi)
Preacher+Tim Acara: Kak Tama Eka, Ce Ratna Dewi, Ce Sarashwaty, Ruben Kartiko dan Natalia Giovani
Last but not least, the faithful Mr. FGCC Office: Ko Sandy Ijaya

I got so many wonderful people around me that're working together tirelessly. Thank you everyone for arranging, preparing and supporting this event :)

This one song stuck in my head (like veeeryy stuck haha): Sungai Sukacita, that's why I used part of it as my title. Reminded that His river of joy will flow through unstoppably.
During holiday, my fight to keep my faith has been through another up and down journeys. Gratefully, He grabbed my hands and strongly 'woke' me up to keep guarding my heart and life, moreoever relationship with Him.

This time, I planned to make a short post just for an update and share some news about my life recently (berasa artis) so I might take a look at my 2012 life trip in the end of the year and do some evaluation :D

Last thing, another daily devotion, a great message from 1 Timothy 4, with a title "The Great Apostasy" (NKJV)
You can read it by yourselves, but whay I want to highlight is the fact that Paul encouraged Timothy to "exercise yourself toward godliness" (verse 7), because "bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (verse 8)

Never fail to remind me over and over again

Last thing, 1 Tim 4:16
¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (NIV)

Personally, it's another great encouragement to keep guarding my life, to test and examine what I teach or share to other people (impartation) and also to persevere in them.

Related with 1 Corinthians 9:27
 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Disqualified: adokimos (96) has the idea of 'not standing the test' or 'not approved' (in Paul's letters: by Christ)

Let's be prepared in season and out of season, so that we are not refused by God after we do the works. Small things matter :)

Daily Devotion 2012/09/26

Actually, I rareeely post my daily devotion
However my current study on 1 Peter does interest me so much

Here we go, 1 Peter 2:19

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Thankworthy/ Grace (charis) : Grace, of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
Conscience (suneidesis): the consciousness of anything
Endure (hupophero): to bear patiently
Grief (lupe): sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction
Suffering (pascho): in a bad sense, to suffer sadly, be in a bad plight
Wrongfully (adikos): unjustly, undeserved, without fault

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For this is thank-worthy - Margin, "thank." Greek, "This is grace," (χάρις charis). Doddridge renders the expression, "This is graceful indeed." Various interpretations of this expression have been proposed; but the meaning evidently is, that it is acceptable to God, (see 1 Peter 2:20, "this is acceptable to God" - χάρις παρὰ Θεῷ charis para Theō;) that is, this will be regarded by him with favor. 

It's such a grace if someone, with their own consciousness towards GOD, they bear anything that hurts, causes pain and sorrow, due to something unjust

Judgement is not in human's hands, it's in God's
Never be a judge
Endure affliction because of God
Nothing ever slip aways from His eyes, so maintain your integrity under pressure

Daily Devotion

A short devotion of mine today was studied from 1 Peter 1:17

And remember that the heavenly Father (Pater) to whom you pray (epikaleomai) has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do (ergon) . So you must live in reverent fear (phobos) of him during your time (chronos) as "foreigners in the land." 

Address/pray (epikaleomai): to cry out upon, as witness.

Father (Pater): Male ancestor. 

Fear (phobos): sense of awe. 

Work (ergon): any thing accomplished by hand

I posted this on my facebook today and here's an additional points :D

According to this verse, Peter stated clearly that the GOD is called Father (denying any possibility of God the Mother)

I personally take an interest in word 'epikaleomai', in simple english it means 'to address'.

Do you usually address God daily? No? You should start doing it 

Yes? How do you address Him?

Many people address God without understanding the real deep meaning of the word being used here.

Epikaleomai (1941) means:

to put a name upon, to surname
to permit one's self to be surnamed
to be named after someone
to call something to one
to cry out upon or against one
to charge something to one as a crime or reproach
to summon one on any charge, prosecute one for a crime
to blame one for, accuse one of
to invoke
to call upon for one's self, in one's behalf
any one as a helper
as my witness
as my judge
to appeal unto
to call upon by pronouncing the name of Jehovah
an expression finding its explanation in the fact that prayers addressed to God ordinarily began with an invocation of the divine name
To invoke God, as MY witness/judge

You are permitted to having conversation with Him, to complain about anything, spending a quality Father-Son/Daughter time.

But let me guide you to this point: While you're addressing Him, you're actually inviting Him to be your witness of your whole life

Can you be confident in Him like David? He asks God to help him solve his problems, to defeat his enemies in such a confident way, because David always asks God to test his life beforehand.

Even he is prepared to bear the consequences of living wrongly in front of God

Moreover, when you're calling for Him, are you still in awe?
Are you finding that to address Him is joyless? You (we) should check our life, thinking, and asking God for more help

Afterall, living 'according to your own thinking' is not possible in God, you are responsible for what you do (ergon) during your time on earth (chronos).

Are you with Him or are you not? No neutral zone