Bahan Saat Teduh 13May2011

“Maka janganlah mayatnya dibiarkan semalam-malaman pada tiang itu, tetapi haruslah engkau menguburkan dia pada hari itu juga, sebab seorang yang digantung terkutuk oleh Allah." (Keluaran 21:23)

Semua orang Yahudi mengenal hukum Taurat itu, dari ketika mereka melihat Yesus tergantung pada kayu salib itu, mereka pun tahu bahwa Ia telah dijadikan suatu kutuk. Syukur kepada Allah bahwa Ia menjadikan Yesus sebagai kutuk, demi untuk melepaskan kita dari kutuk tersebut.

Perhatikan proses penukaran yang telah dilaksanakan secara tuntas, Kematian Kristus pada kayu salib sebagai korban penebusan merupakan pelunasan harga yang telah dibayarkan, dan segala kutuk yang seharusnya menimpa kita semua telah ditanggung oleh Kristus. Dengan cara demikiansegala berkat yang telah diberikan kepada-Nya juga tersedia untuk kita semua.

Ketika dunia tidak memberi harapan/jalan keluar untuk masalah kita, Yesus memberikan kepastian harapan, melalui kematian-Nya pada kayu salib. Itulah cara dan sarana Allah untuk memenuhi segala kebutuhan umat manusia, termasuk kebutuhan  terlepas dari kutuk ini.

Yesus telah menderita, supaya kita dapat disembuhkan. Ia telah mati agar kita memperoleh kehidupan. Ia telah dijadikan dosa, supaya kita dapat dijadikan benar. Ia telah dibuang, supaya kita diterima oleh Allah. Ia dijadikan kutuk, agar kita dapat memperoleh berkat. 

Baca dan renungkanlah ayat-ayat di bawah ini.
1.    Bagaimana cara Kristus menebus kita? (Galatia 3:13)
2.    Apa yg Kristus telah lakukan bagi kita? (Kolose 1:13-14)
3.    Mengapa Yesus harus mati menggantikan kita? (Yesaya 53:3-5)


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SECRET OF KILLING GIANT - PART 6

......Continue

Secret #5

Have you brought any Giants down yet?

Maybe you're just stalking your Giant in anticipation of the battle?

Well, get ready ... your Giant is coming down!

S - SPIRITUAL

We've suited up with God's power on the inside of us. We "unzipped" and let the awesome power of Heaven invade our personal lives. We've let God take control of our hearts and minds.

We've allowed God's Spirit and power to fit us for battle.

T - TRUSTING

We've realized that trusting our own abilities and talents will NEVER result in a defeated Giant.

We've learned that TRUST in God is built layer upon layer, step by step. David started with "baby steps." He killed the lion, then the bear. Only then was he ready for Goliath.

O - OUTSPOKEN

David could not hold inside what he knew would happen. Neither can we. Our mouths WILL speak whatever fills our hearts (good or bad; faith or failure). We WILL communicate what we believe!

Have you found a faith-filled friend you can share your future victory with?

N - NATURAL

David would not use Saul's armor because it was not his NATURAL way of fighting. He would lose dressed up in someone else's armor. We will, too!

God has a battle-plan for each of us. It may be completely unique to our situation. If we sit before Him and learn, He'll show us His strategy for our Giant!

Has He revealed His strategy to you yet?

Now for the final "Secret"

E - EXCITED

David was not shy about his victory. We've seen that in his announcement to his brother, to the army, to Saul, and even to Goliath. He never stopped repeating ... "I am going to win!"

So it makes sense that, when he approached the Giant for close combat, he would be EXCITED about his imminent victory!

He was much more than "optimistic" about winning. He was EXCITED -- Not giddy or silly - EXCITED! David knew there was danger ahead. But he also knew WHO would protect him and WHO would give the Giant into his hands.

David "approached the Giant" (1 Samuel 17:40 filled with faith and EXCITEment. Actually "excitement" is part of "faith."

Faith anticipates as FACT what has not yet happened. (Example: If you knew for a FACT that you would be a millionaire next week, would you be excited today?)

David has already made his announcement to Goliath that he would soon be bird-food (1 Samuel 17:45-46). He was thrilled at what God was about to do.

Then David reveals WHY he was so excited.

Was it because he would be a national hero? He was, you know.

Was it because Saul's daughter would become his wife, making him part of the "royal family?" It happened, you know.

No .... David was EXCITED at the results his victory would bring :

RESULT # 1 - "The whole earth will know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Sam 17:46c)

If the "world" was looking at Israel, there was no way they could see God at work in them.

Israel wanted to be "just like the other nations," so they chose an earthly King, Saul. (1 Sam. 8:5)

The Israelite army suited up for battle, but were afraid to attack the enemy. (1 Sam. 17:20-21)

In Bible days, it was very simple -- the "god" who was the strongest was the "god" who WON the battle. "If you win, your god is better than my god. If you lose, my god is better than your god." Do you get the picture?

David was excited -- he was about to SHOW THE WORLD whose God was the strongest!

RESULT # 2 - "...and that this assembly may know" (v 47)

Now this is sad. Not only did the "world" not know that "there was a God in Israel" - Israel didn't even know it!

The Army of Israel had no idea that God was leading them into battle to WIN. There was no faith. There was no excitement ... until a young, humble shepherd boy came along with a heart full of God!

RESULT # 3 - "(Israel would know) ...that the battle is the Lord's" (v 47)

David knew it wasn't his skill that would accomplish this great victory. It wasn't his military polish and ability. It was "the Lord" who would bring about his triumph.

If you don't understand this, read again the different methods God used to defeat Israel's foes in various battles she fought. (see Giant-Killing Secret # 4)

It's God who fought for David, and it's God who fights for us - when we get out of the way and let Him.

It's amazing how an Old Testament story can paint such a modern picture. (Actually, the Bible tells us the Old Testament was written, in part, as examples for us and for our instruction.-- 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11)

Does "the world" know that there is a God in the church today? Or do they see the same sort of stuff that goes on in any other "organization?"

Do we know there is a "God" in the church? (The word "assembly" in v 47 can be interpreted "church") Do we actively seek and use His abilities to overcome the evil one - and the Giants he sends our way?

If not, there's no wonder we're not EXCITED!

When we pass from this life and stand on the other side, we'll be amazed at the Heavenly resources that were available but unused by us.

That can change ... for us today.

The awesome power of God sits in a Heavenly storage room -- waiting for someone who will reach through the invisible portal (through prayer) and grab hold of God's promises through faith!

Are you EXCITED yet?

The End


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Bahan Saat Teduh 11May2011

Aku akan memberkati orang-orang yang memberkati engkau, dan mengutuk orang-orang yang mengutuk engkau, dan olehmu semua kaum di muka bumi akan mendapat berkat." (Kejadian 12:3)

Perhatikan Kejadian 12:1-3, panggilan Abraham itu terdiri dari tujuh bagian.
a. Aku akan membuat engkau menjadi bangsa yang besar;
b. Dan memberkati engkau
c. Serta membuat namamu masyhur;
d. Dan engkau akan menjadi berkat.
e. Aku akan memberkati orang-orang yang memberkati engkau,
f.  Dan mengutuk orang-orang yang mengutuk engkau,
g. Dan olehmu semua kaum di muka bumi akan mendapat berkat.”

Perhatikan poin keenam yang disebutkan adalah kutuk bagi siapa yang berani mengutuk Abraham. Hal ini berlaku bukan hanya bagi Abraham, tetapi juga bagi keturunan Abraham. Dalam perjanjian Allah yang baru, kita adalah keturunan Abraham.

Apabila Allah memanggil seseorang untuk melaksanakan suatu tugas tertentu,sudah pasti orang itu menjadi sasaran kebencian iblis yang luar biasa. Oleh karena itulah Allah memberikan suatu perlindungan khusus kepada Abraham dan kita, keturunannya menurut perjanjian yang telah diperbarui oleh Allah.

Baca dan renungkanlah Galatia 3:7-29
1.Siapakah anak-anak Abraham? (ayat 7)

2.Apakah Injil yang diberitakan kepada Abraham? (ayat 8-9)

3.Siapakah keturunan Abraham? (ayat 16)

4.Mengapa janji Allah itu tidak dapat hilang kekuatannya oleh syariat agama/Taurat? (ayat 17)

5.Mengapa kita berhak menerima janji Allah itu? (ayat 29)


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SECRET OF KILLING GIANT - PART 5

......Continue

Secret #4

As you stand in front of your GIANT, what response will you give?

Desert -- Run away in fear
Defect -- Give up on your spiritual walk and go back to your old life
Détente -- Let's Make A Deal - I won't bother you, if you won't bother me
Defend -- Stand your ground until your last breath

Or, will you ...

Defeat -- Take up your spiritual weapons and fight ... and WIN the battle!
David is our GIANT-KILLING Mentor. He faced the toughest challenge of his life when he stood face-to-face with the behemoth, Goliath.

But David had an arsenal of weapons that Goliath had no knowledge of. David had "five smooth stones" (1 Sam. 17:40) that he put in his shepherd's pouch.

We're using the word S.T.O.N.E. to describe 5 essential elements that David possessed that guaranteed his victory.

In previous we've seen GIANT-KILLING Secrets #1, #2 and #3:

S = Spiritual

David was spirit-empowered. He was filled with Heaven's resources. He did NOT go into battle alone. He had an UNSEEN PARTNER in his future victory.

T = Trusting

David relied on that UNSEEN PARTNER. He TRUSTED God to make a difference! He had seen God's deliverance in the past, and he KNEW God would deliver him again.

O = Outspoken

David could NOT keep quiet about his victory! Two lessons here. IF you TRUST God & BELIEVE you'll be victorious, you will:

a) Tell someone! You won't keep it to yourself.
b) TALK victory rather than defeat. Our words reveal what we really believe... good or bad. We will speak out of what fills our heart - faith or failure.

Now for GIANT-KILLING SECRET #4

N = Natural

King Saul was eager for someone else to fight the Giant. He certainly didn't want to do it himself -- even though he should have, being:
a) The King, and
b) The biggest man in Israel ("head and shoulders taller than anyone else")
Saul knew how HE would fight Goliath, and tried to impose that on David.

So he suited David up with his Kingly armor (1 Samuel 17:38). He was "trying to help" David.

Can you imagine how this young, small teenager looked in a suit of armor tailored for a 6' 6" man? Imagine a 5' 5" tall young man putting on a professional football player's "suit of armor" - his uniform and padding. He would look ridiculous, wouldn't he?

David clanged around for a couple of minutes and finally said, "I can't go out and fight with these, for I have not tested them." (v39) And David took them off.

Why? It was the best armor money could buy ... Kingly armor! Why wouldn't David use it?
Because it was too big? Well, that's certainly one reason. But not the main reason.

Saul's armor, or anyone's armor would never have suited David because it wasn't NATURAL to him.

"I have not tested them" meant, "This is not how I fight. I have a track record of victory (remember the lion and the bear) and it didn't come by wearing armor of any kind."

David was NATURAL - that is, he used in battle what he KNEW would work for him.

Vs 40 says David took into battle three things: Stick, Stones, and a Sling

Not very intimidating was it? Imagine walking up to a 10' tall giant with a stick, some stones, and a flimsy, homemade sling. (Not a "slingshot" like we can buy today - this was two leathercords tied to a small leather pouch)

But that's exactly what David did. Why? Because that was NATURAL for him. He was VERY GOOD with a sling!

The Bible says that warriors skilled with a sling could "sling stones at a hair breadth, and not miss." (Judges 20:16)

I don't know what a hair's breath is, but it sounds really small doesn't it?

The point is, David was GOOD with his weapons! He was SKILLED with a sling and stone! He knew what he was doing. He would fight HIS WAY, not someone else's way (Saul).

David would fight NATURALLY.

How often do we look for victory by asking others, "What would YOU do?" What if David had asked Saul that question, and followed his advice?

I hesitate even writing a series entitled, "GIANT-KILLING SECRETS" - because there is NO FORMULA that, when followed, guarantees victory.

These are principles worth knowing, and many have testified to that fact. But, your victory and my victory may be fought differently. For example:

In Exodus 4:2, God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" The Staff that Moses carried would bring deliverance to the Hebrew slaves.

Joshua instructed his warriors to shout and blow their trumpets. (Joshua 6)

Hezekiah SLEPT through his victory when an angel slew 185,000 of his enemy in one night! (2 Kings 19:35)

Jehoshaphat was confronted with three armies dedicated to destroying him. How did he fight? He sent the "praise & worship band and choir" to the front lines and just PRAISED GOD! What happened? God caused the other three armies to fight and kill each other! (2 Chronicles 19-20)

The point is ... God has always used a variety of means to accomplish His purpose!

There is NO FORMULA...
NO RECIPE ...
NO BLUEPRINT...
NO PRESCRIPTION...

What do you have in YOUR hand? What has God called YOU to do? What are YOUR spiritual gifts? HOW has God called YOU to wage war against YOUR Giant?

I think you can see why S, T, and O are so important. They build upon each other so that we can HEAR GOD for ourselves.

YES, "wise counsel" is important. But what is God saying to each of us -- for OUR particular fight?

Be NATURAL ("Be super-NATURAL"). Utilize the spiritual-gifts and spiritual-abilities that you have already been blessed with.

Now, it's time to APPROACH THE GIANT...

will be continued.......


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Bahan Saat Teduh 10May2011

“Oleh keturunanmu semua bangsa di bumi akan mendapat berkat, karena engkau mendengar firman-Ku.” (Kejadian 22:18)

Alkitab memberikan beberapa contoh mengenai berkat. Contoh yang pertama terdapat dalam Kejadian pasal 22 yang menceritakan tentang ketaatan Abraham ketika Tuhan menyuruhnya mempersembahkan Ishak, anaknya itu sebagai korban sembelihan. Pada akhirnya, Tuhan pun menyediakan seeokor domba jantan yang harus dipersembahkan sebagai ganti Ishak.

Penting sekali untuk diperhatikan, apa sebabnya berkat itu diturunkan. Abraham mendengarkan (artinya, menaati) suara Allah. Memang itulah kunci untuk mendapatkan berkat dari Allah, yaitu Ketaatan.

Selanjutnya, kalau kita baca kejadian pasal 27, bagaimana Ishak pada gilirannya memberkati Yakub, anaknya. Pada saat itu Ishak sebenarnya menyangka bahwa ia sedang memberkati Esau, anak sulungnya.Padahal saat itu Esau sedang berburu rusa di hutan untuk menyiapkan makanan yang dipesan ayahnya. Ternyata yang mendapat berkat adalah Yakub, yang menyamar sebagai Esau.

Baca dan renungkanlah Kejadian 22:1-18
1.Apa firman Tuhan kepada Abraham? (ayat 2)

2.Apa respon Abraham? (ayat 3)

3.Berkat apa yg Tuhan sediakan begai Abraham setelah dia taat? (ayat 17-18)


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Persahabatan dan Kasih

Dalam Alkitab, persahabatan merupakan tingkat hubungan yang tertinggi. Abraham mendapat sebuah kehormatan dengan disebut sebagai "Sahabat Allah" (Yakobus 2:23b). Selain itu, Daud dikatakan sebagai seorang yang berkenan di hati Allah (1 Samuel 13:14), ini adalah salah satu cara mengatakan bahwa Daud adalah seorang sahabatNya.

Yesus menyebut murid-murid-Nya adalah sahabatNya, "Aku tidak menyebut kamu lagi hamba, sebab hamba tidak tahu, apa yang diperbuat oleh tuannya, tetapi Aku menyebut kamu sahabat, karena Aku telah memberitahukan kepada kamu segala sesuatu yang telah Kudengar dari Bapa-Ku." (Yohanes 15:15).

Banyak hubungan suami istri tidak mencapai hingga hubungan yang sejati, karena mereka tidak bisa menjadi seorang sahabat. Hubungan persahabatan lebih dari hubungan asmara. Karena hanya melihat hubungan suami istri sebagai sebuah hubungan asmaraa akibatnya mereka hanya membangun hubungannya sampai di permukaan saja.

Pernikahan adalah perjalanan seumur hidup menuju keintiman, tetapi juga menuju persahabatan. Seorang suami istri harus bisa menjadi sahabat baik satu sama lain. Siapakah yang lebih mengenal diri kita selain sahabat kita? Terkadang seorang sahabat akan berbagi banyak hal yang tidak pernah dibicarakan dengan keluarganya. Untuk itulah suami istri harus menjadi sahabat, karena mereka tidak boleh merahasiakan sesuatu satu sama lain.

Seorang sahabat menerima satu sama lain, baik dengan kelebihannya maupun kekurangannya. Mereka saling berbagi, baik di hari-hari yang indah maupun saat-saat duka. Kualitas inilah yang memisahkan seorang teman biasa dan seorang sahabat.
Banyak pasangan suami istri sulit menjadi seorang sahabat bagi satu sama lain, mereka lebih mudah menjadi seorang "hamba" dari pada seorang sahabat. Bahkan terkadang, mereka lebih mirip kakak dan adik dari pada seorang sahabat.

Dalam Alkitab, persahabatan dan kasih adalah dua hal yang tak terpisahkan. "Seorang sahabat menaruh kasih setiap waktu, dan menjadi seorang saudara dalam kesukaran" (Amsal 17:17). Persahabatan adalah sebuah alat untuk melebur pasangan suami istri menjadi satu kesatuan yang indah. Tidak ada hubungan lain di bumi ini yang sedekat dengan gambaran pernikahan, karena pernikahan adalah gambaran yang ideal yang Allah inginkan sebagai hubungan antara diriNya dengan manusia. Untuk itu, persahabatan adalah sebuah hal yang penting untuk membuat sebuah pernikahan berhasil. Jadilah seorang sahabat sejati bagi pasangan Anda, dan ijinkan dunia melihat bahwa Allah hadir dalam pernikahan kalian.

TUHAN YESUS memberkati


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SECRET OF KILLING GIANT - PART 4

......Continue

Secret #3

There are two types of people in the world:

a) Those who have SOMETHING TO SAY

b) Those who have to SAY SOMETHING

We're spelling the word STONE as an acronym to learn how to defeat the Giants in our path: Giants of FEAR, DOUBT, DEPRESSION, POVERTY, SICKNESS, BITTERNESS, ANGER, OBESITY ... you name the problem, and it can become a Giant in our lives!

So far, we've looked at two secrets:

Giant-Killing Secret #1
S = Spiritual

What an incredible thought: The God of Heaven has made it possible for Him to take up residence inside us! When we "unzip" and let Jesus Christ live inside us, all of the Giant-Killing resources of Heaven are at our disposal.

That's part of what a "covenant" is -- God is saying to us, and we are saying to Him -- "Your friends are now MY friends, and your enemies are now MY enemies!"

Don't overlook Secret #1 -- "The Holy Spirit came upon David mightily from that day forward." (1 Samuel 16:13)

Giant-Killing Secret #2
T = Trusting

David's TRUST (or faith) had been built up over the years. He was faithful in the small things so when a BIG thing came at him, he was ready.

David killed the lion and the bear when they attacked his father's sheep. Now, when a Giant attacked his Heavenly Father's Sheep (Israel), he was ready. His TRUST-LEVEL had been raised to Giant proportions!

Don't forget this principle -- After the LARGE problem falls, then the LESSER problems will fall much more easily. If Goliath was defeated, then every (normal-sized) Philistine would be defeated as well.

Giant-Killing Secret #3
O = Outspoken

My twin brother wrote a great song several years ago (inspired by these "Secrets" by the way).

=========================
IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?

When David drew near, all he could hear

Was the Giant calling him to fight.

"Give me your best, I'll put him to the test,"

He called to them day and night.

David said, "Who is this man that he should stand and defy the army of the Living God?

Just give me a STONE, I'll give the birds his bones," And as he ran forward, he cried --

"Is there not a cause, is there not a fight,

Is there not a battle to win?

Is there not a plan, or should we not stand

And bring the victory home to Him?

Is there not a cause?"

The message is clear, if you listen, you'll hear the same old challenge today.

We've got to choose, do we win, do we lose?

Either way, there's a price to be paid.

We must take the land placed within our hands;

There's a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on!

We don't stand alone, so let's choose our STONE, Proclaiming as our battle cry --

"Is there not a cause, is there not a fight,

Is there not a battle to win?

Is there not a plan, or should we not stand

And bring the victory home to Him?Is there not a cause?"

=========================

Amen!

David was OUTSPOKEN about his victory! He TRUSTED God for victory, and he spoke those words of faith to anyone who would listen.

1 Samuel 17

He was OUTSPOKEN to those standing near him. David said, "What will be done for the one who kills this Philistine and takes this reproach away from Israel. For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the Living God?" (v 26, 30)

He was OUTSPOKEN to his brothers. (Often the hardest persons for us to be OUTSPOKEN with and to share our pre-victory comments with are our own families.) His brothers said, "Who do you think you are ... boasting like that?" David said, "Is there not a cause?" (v 28-30 KJV)

David was OUTSPOKEN to King Saul. He said, "Let no man's heart be fearful on account of Goliath; For your servant will go and fight and win!" When Saul questioned his ability, David was OUTSPOKEN again. "The Lord who delivered the lion and the bear into my hands WILL DELIVER this Giant as well." (v 31-37)

He was even OUTSPOKEN to Goliath! Later, as David drew near, he boldly proclaimed, "You come to me with a spear and sword, but I come to you in the name of the God whose army you've taunted." (v 45)

Then he delivered the (literal) punch-line to Goliath -- "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands. I will strike you down. I will remove your head from your shoulders. And I will give the dead bodies of you and your army to the birds of the air." (v 46)

We all have a "FAITH-DETECTOR." What I mean is that there is a way to KNOW for certain whether we really are TRUSTING God for victory.

It's a simple test: What comes out of your mouth?

You see, we cannot TRUST God and have OUTSPOKEN DOUBT coming from our lips! We can't have FAITH for victory and verbalize doubt.

Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." The book of Proverbs is filled with wise-warnings about our words.

We'll never win if we are OUTSPOKEN saying,

It's really bad.It couldn't be worse.

Nothing can help me now.

I'll never get over this.

I could never forgive _______.

I'll never get out of debt.

I'm just worthless.

Etc......

It's like the song we heard years ago:

Gloom, despair and agony on me,

Deep dark depression, excessive misery;

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.

Gloom despair and agony on me.

Sure, it's funny, but it's true. Too many of us feel that way. Rather than standing firm in the Lord and boldly proclaiming victory, we are too often OUTSPOKEN about our defeat!

BUT understand this -- the reason we're talking failure is because we are BELIEVING failure!

I'm not talking about "NAME IT, AND CLAIM IT." Or, "BLAB IT, AND GRAB IT" (as some put it). I'm referring to what Jesus and Paul said. We believe with our heart. And what fills our heart, will fill our mouth! We WILL be OUTSPOKEN about what we believe...good or bad.

Listen again to David's words, "The Lord WILL deliver me...I WILL defeat...I WILL take your head off..."

There is NO DOUBT that there was NO DOUBT in David's heart!

He was OUTSPOKEN about his victory. What words are you speaking? Many of us don't even realize that our words betray our heart. We say, "I've got the Victory," but turn right around and say, "Woe is me."

In reality, we THINK victory, but BELIEVE failure. The Apostle Paul said, "With the HEART (not head) man believes." (Romans 10:10)

Two quick lessons :

a) We WILL speak what fills our heart (faith or fear)

b) We MUST speak when faith fills our heart.

If David had kept quiet, he never would have been brought before King Saul and never would have stood before the Giant.

You can't keep a good man/woman down, and you can't keep a TRUSTING man/woman quiet!

We can take it a step further. Jesus also said, "According to your faith be it unto you." What we BELIEVE will happen ... WILL happen.

How do we know WHAT we believe?

Our words are the FAITH-DETECTOR.

When we honestly listen to our own words, we will hear our own heart. It's that simple

will be continued.......


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