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Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord who always gives us the revelation of His Word. This Manna Magazine discusses Mark 6:53-56 about Jesus' coming out of the boat and anchoring in Gennesaret. It means He is revealing His Word for us. Let us have the opening of way in our service and ministry to God as well as daily life struggling until we get beautiful future life in its time through the revelation of the Word. The column “Roti Gandum” discusses about “New Man without Fear” and the Word preached in New Year Eve 2013 Service that 2013 is the year of glory and revival. In addition, there is column about the Word preached in Fellowship in Manokwari, Papua that is “God is love.” Let us bear witness through Manna magazine that is freely-given through all over our country and foreign ones, so the teaching Word can be spread. May you enjoy consuming the blessing of God's Word. Alleluia! [Editor] Menu List Salad (Editor Preface)............................................................... 1 Rumput Penggembalaan .......................................................... 2 (God's Word transcript taken from Youth Service) Roti Gandum (Shepherding Word transcript)............................ 17 Roti Keju (God's Word transcript taken from Fellowship)......... 30 Sate (God's Word transcript taken from Prayer Service).......... 36 Jamu (Testimony)...................................................................... 42 STMJ (Crossword Puzzle)........................................................ 47 MADU (Announcement)............................................................ 48 Editor of Manna Kristus Kasih Magazine at Simpang Borobudur 27, Malang, East Java, Indonesia, 65142. Phone +62341 496949 Advisor: Rev. Widjaja Hendra - Editorial Board: Mrs. Widjaja Hendra, Mr. Antanusa Editorial Staff: Josaf, Wenny, Shulamite, Untung – Treasurer: Mrs. Widjaja Hendra Edited : Mr. Misianto << Rumput Penggembalaan Mark 6:53-56 Fellowship with God’s Word Mark 6:53-54 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 6:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, Jesus is the Word. Jesus comes out of the boat means the secret of the Word is revealed. “Jesus anchors” means He longs for anchoring Himself in our life. He wants His Word to be put in our life. Hebrews 8:10-12 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 8:11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” God wants to write His Word in our whole life. The process is as follows: 1. God writes the Word in our mind. It happens when we hear the Word solemnly until we understand the Word. Job 32:8 32:8 Butthere is a spirit in man,And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. The Holy Spirit helps us to be able to hear the Word solemnly and understand the Word, and it becomes an understanding in our life. If we hear the Word by relying on our own ability but without the Holy Spirit, the Word will only become knowledge. 1 Corinthians 8:1 8:1. Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. Knowledge puffs up and makes one like to debate and argue the Word. 2. God writes the Word on our heart. It happens when we hear the Word and our heart is touched by it, so we can believe and have faith to the Word. If the Word becomes faith in our heart, we can live in righteousness. 3. God writes the Word on our hand. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 6:6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 6:8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. It happens when we hear the Word and obey it. We practice or do the Word. | 2| Rumput Penggembalaan >> The Word of God must be taught diligently. It is not to make us bored, but to give us opportunity to understand, believe and have faith to the Word, and practice it. Thus, the Word is written in our whole life. It equals to Jesus’ anchoring in our life. Mark 6:54 6:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, Hebrews 8:11 8:11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. We know Jesus in His two appearances as follows: 1. We know Jesus as the High Priest who sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. Hebrews 2:17-18 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. The tasks of the High Priest are as follows: a. Doing the ministry of propitiation. Jesus is merciful to make propitiation for the sins of the people, including us, the Gentiles. The practice of experiencing the ministry of propitiation is being touched by the Word when it is preached. Thus, we can realize, regret, and confess the sin to God and the others by the encouragement of the Word. At that time, Jesus as the High Priest is merciful to forgive our sin and erase it. He sets us free from sins, so we are in peace and joy. Hebrews 8:12 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. The example of a life who experiences the ministry of propitiation is Peter. Peter denies Jesus three times. Luke22:60-62 22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 22:62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly. The crow of the rooster denotes the Word preached repetitively. It equals to the shepherding Word that is preached faithfully. When Peter hears the crow of the rooster, he weeps bitterly. It means he can realize, regret, and confess his sin. Frequently, we weep bitterly in facing problems. But do we weep bitterly when we do sin? When the preached Word points to our sin, do we ever feel touched by the Word so we can realize, regret, and confess our sin? If we never experience this, it means we do not know God. We never experience the ministry of propitiation. Sometime, one even will deny God. | 3| << Rumput Penggembalaan b. He is merciful to help us from all problems on His time. Hebrews 2:18 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. If our sin has been reconciled, we will experience the help of the High Priest. Satan has tempted His body, spirit, and soul. The temptation to His body occurred when Satan requested Jesus to change the stone into bread when Jesus was hungry. If we are in needs now, He has been tempted so He can help us. The temptation to His soul occurred when Satan requested Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple of God. Frequently, we are also tempted, so we fall into sin. If we know God, He will hold our life so we will not fall. If we have already lived in sin, the mercy of God is able to help us. The temptation to His spirit occurred when Satan offered Jesus the influence of the world, but Jesus wins over the temptation, so He can help us from the influence of the world. 2. We know Jesus as the Heavenly Bridegroom and King of kings. Ephesians 5:25-27 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. The tasks of Jesus as the Heavenly Bridegroom are as follows: a. Sanctifying and cleansing us with the washing of water. It denotes the water baptism. The practice is we enter water baptism by the encouragement of the Word. 1 Peter 3:20-21 3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, The conscience of man tends to be disobedient. Through water baptism, we receive good conscience that is obedient. We are saved and receive the salvation of bride. During the days of Noah, there were only eight people – four couples - saved. They were Noah and his wife, Shem and his wife, Ham and his wife, and Japheth and his wife. Ezekiel 11:19-20 11:19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 11:20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. We become His people and He is our God. | 4| Rumput Penggembalaan >> Hebrews 8:10 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. b. Sanctifying and cleansing us with the Word. Ephesians 5:26 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, After being baptized in water baptism (being dived in water), we must dive in the Word (go deeply into the Word). We must enter the Bible Study Service. There, we experience sanctification and life renewal by the power of the Word. It equals to the cleansing of the leper through two times washing in water. Leviticus 14:8-9 14:8 He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days. 14:9 But on the seventh day he shall shave all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows—all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes and wash his body in water, and he shall be clean. We are sanctified or renewed from the sin of leprosy. Leprosy denotes the unclean sins, starting from the outward sins, namely unclean deeds, sights, way of clothing, and hearing, up to the inner sin that is unclean heart and mind. The leprosy also denotes the self-truth sin; it is white, but it is leprous, meaning sinful man gets the righteousness by blaming the others. This kind of life cannot be advised and warned. He always considers himself right. Let us know Jesus, so we can be washed two times to sanctify and renew us from the leprosy. Until sometime we become blameless. Ephesians 5:27 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. It equals to the perfection of bride. We become the bride of God. Revelation 21:1-3 21:1. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. c. Until we reach New Jerusalem or the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus will be our God (the Bridegroom of Heaven) and we become His people (the bride of Heaven). Wiping away every tear from our eyes until there shall be no more crying. Revelation 21:4 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” | 5| << Rumput Penggembalaan The cause of many tears is the leprosy that has not been washed, that is the self-truth. But, Jesus as the Bridegroom of Heaven will wipe away every tear from our eyes until there shall be no more crying. God blesses you. (taken from Youth Service, Saturday, April 1, 2006, preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) Mark 6:53-55 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 6:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 6:55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. “Jesus anchors” means He longs for anchoring Himself or writing His Word in our life. “Jesus comes out of the boat” means the secret of the Word is revealed. Thus, through the revelation of the secret of the Word, He is writing His Word in our life, that is in our heart, mind, and hand. If the Word is written in our life, Jesus will stay in us. The results are as follows: 1. [verse 54] We know Jesus. 2. [verse 55] We are active in ministry. We discuss the second result that is being active in ministry. During the preaching of the Word, it is written in our heart and mind. We can understand and believe the Word, meaning we eat the bread of the Word until we become full. Thus, the result is power or energy to minister to God. If the servant of God does not want to eat the Word, sooner or later he will be weak, sick, until spiritually dead. The sign of active life is running (not slowing down) and carrying sick people to Jesus to be healed. Now it means we are active to bring sinful lives to Him to be saved and perfected as the perfect body of Christ. It means we are active in the ministry of building the body of Christ. Be careful, if one is passive in the ministry of building the body of Christ, he will enter the ministry of building the body of Babylon, that is perfection in uncleanness. Let us eat the Word more so we can be active in the ministry of building the body of Christ. Luke 12:35-40 12:35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 12:36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 12:38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 12:39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 12:40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Being active in the ministry means being watchful or ready in the ministry, or being watchful or ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming. | 6| Rumput Penggembalaan >> The signs of being watchful or ready in the ministry are as follows: 1. Keeping our waist girded. Ephesians 6:14 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, That is using the gird of truth. John 17:17 17:17. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. Truth is something that sanctifies or purifies us. The truth equals to the Word. Thus, the truth is the Word, exactly the true teaching Word that sanctifies us. Jeremiah 23:29 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? The servant of God must experience sanctification done by the fire of the true teaching Word, so we can be used by God. For example, Moses must behold the fire first and then God uses him. Isaiah is also touched with the fire first, and then God uses him. The disciples at the attic of Jerusalem are also touched by the fire, and afterwards God sends them. Malachi 3:1-3 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,”Says the Lord of hosts. 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. Why must the servant of God experience the sanctification done by the flame of fire or the true teaching Word? a. To make the ministry please God. If we minister without the sanctification done by fire, God will reject the ministry. b. To make us endure the ministry until Jesus’s second coming. If we leave the ministry, we will be left on Jesus’ second coming. The sanctification done by fire results in the servant of God who is as pure as silver and gold. Proverbs 10:20 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. Pure silver is the righteous or honest tongue. It starts from saying no lies, slanders, dirty words, et cetera. Pure gold is the character of God. It starts from being obedient. The servant of God who is as pure as silver and gold is the one who girds his waist and experiences the sanctification until he becomes honest and obedient. This kind of life pleases God and will endure until Jesus’ second coming. 2. Keeping the lamp burning. Luke 12:35 12:35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; | 7| << Rumput Penggembalaan It means there is the fire of Holy Spirit or being anointed by the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:11 12:11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; The practice is being faithful and fervent in spirit, in service and ministry to God. If we are not faithful, the lamp will be quenched and we cannot pass through the darkness of this world in the last days. If one is faithful but not fervent in spirit, but he ministers just as a habit, the lamp will be almost quenched. If we are anointed by Holy Spirit, we can be faithful and fervent in spirit ministering to God. It means we have the burning lamp to pass through the world in the last days that is darkened by sins and difficulties. 3. Having the ambience of marriage supper (joy of Heaven), having the fire of the love of God. Luke 12:36 12:36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. We must minister with the fire of the love of God. Being fervent in spirit in our ministry to God, but not hearing the Word solemnly, we minister to God with the fire of the flesh emotion, not the fire of the love of God. If we minister with the fire of the love of God, there will be no more murmur or grumble but the joy of heaven. The love of God is able to give us the joy in the middle of suffering. If we minister God watchfully, we will become the ministers of God who are as a flame of fire. Hebrews 1:7 1:7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.” The eyes of God are like a flame of fire. Revelation 1:14 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; Thus, the servant of God who is as the flame of fire becomes the apple of God’s eye. The result is we will experience the marvelous lovingkindness of God. Psalm 17:7-8 17:7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, The usefulness of the marvelous lovingkindness of God is as follows: 1. To care and protect us marvelously in the middle of this world which is as the wilderness. This world is as the wilderness where it is difficult to sow and reap, but He is able to care us marvelously. For example, the Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years. They did not sow nor reap, but God sent the manna miraculously. | 8| Rumput Penggembalaan >> The problems in this world are as much as the sand in the wilderness. If we become the apple of God’s eye, He will protect us until a grain of sand cannot enter. Being unfaithful in ministry, we are inviting many problems to come to our life. We will be cared and protected up to the days of antichrist that will reign in this world for three years and a half. We will be cared by the Word and Holy Communion. Revelation 12:13-14 12:13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 2. To renew our life. This is the greatest miracle that cannot be imitated by Satan. We are renewed from flesh man to become spiritual one. The start of life renewal is water baptism. Being baptized of water means experiencing miracle and the lovingkindness of God. We will walk in newness of life. In water baptism, we are buried with Jesus. Romans 6:4 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Naaman has been buried in water. The thing renewed is his leprosy which is cleansed. 2 Kings 5:14 5:14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. The start of the life renewal is throwing away leprosy, namely self-truth that is got by blaming the others. It means we can confess our sin and do not blame the others. If we can confess our sin, we will experience the life renewal. We are renewed little by little until we are perfect on Jesus’ second coming. We are as glorious as He is. This is the greatest miracle. In the past, God was born as human. In the future, we will be the same as God and become His bride. John 12:26 12:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Where God is, there we will be also. It denotes the bride or husband and wife relation. If we experience spiritual miracle, that is being able to confess our sins and being renewed, we will also experience physical miracle. God will erase physical impossibilities. He will solve all impossible problems. God blesses you. (taken from Youth Service, Saturday, April 8, 2006, preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) | 9| << Rumput Penggembalaan Mark 6: 53-55 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 6:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 6:55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. “Jesus anchors there” means He longs for anchoring or dwelling in our life. Jesus is the God’s Word. Thus, He wants our life to be written by the Word, namely in our forehead, heart, and hands. The Word is written in our forehead so that we can understand it. Moreover, it is written in our heart that we can believe in it and our hand that we can practice it. “Jesus comes out of the boat” means the Word is revealed through a verse that explains other verses. Thus, God is writing His Word in our life through the revelation of His Word. Formerly, He wrote the Word on two tablets of stone, but now He wants to write it in our forehead, heart, and hand. The results of being written by the Word of God are as follows: 1. We can know Him Jesus [Mark 6:54]. 2. a. We can be active in the ministry of building the body of Christ. Mark 6:55 6:55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. If we can eat the bread of God’s Word, we will have strength to run. It means we can be active in our ministry to God. Not actively ministering to God, one must minister to Satan and sin. b. There is strength to run toward perfection. Philippians 3:12-14 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.. It means we can persevere in a spiritual race to get an eternal crown. Hebrews 12:1-3 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. The requirements of persevering in the spiritual race are as follows: 1. Laying aside every weight. The weight means every sin we have done, spoken, or thought. It refers to the past. We will be unable to run in the race if we keep the weight. | 10| Rumput Penggembalaan >> How can we lay aside the weight? Jesus has been willing to die on the cross to invite all people who labor and are heavy laden, especially because of the weight of sin. Matthew 11:28-30 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." The lowliness in Jesus’ heart is manifested on the cross because He, who has no sin, is willing to admit our sins. We must learn from His humbleness by confessing our sins we have done, spoken, and thought. The humbleness means an ability to confess sins to God, referring to vertical line, and other people, referring to horizontal line. 1 John 1:7, 9 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.. As a result, the blood of Jesus covers our sins or forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. It means we are delivered from the weight of sin. We lay aside the weight of sin on the cross, and then do not take nor repeat it anymore. 2. Being delivered from the sin which so easily ensnares us. Hebrews 12:1 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, We must be delivered from the sin which so easily ensnares us. It refers to the sin which is in front of us to make us stumble. We must be alert of it because Satan sets it on the way we often pass or the place to which we often go, such as school, office, our girlfriend or boyfriend, as well as service and ministry in church. We must learn the gentleness in the heart of Jesus who has died on the cross. The meanings of the gentleness in heart are as follows: a. Ability to receive the Word of God although it does not suit our flesh. James 1:21 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. We will not be able to release ourselves from the snare of sin. Therefore, we must be gentle in heart to receive the Word of God, which is able to save our souls. It means the Word of God is powerful to deliver us from the snare of sin. It is called the Word of God which is sharper than any twoedged sword or teaching Word. We must receive the solid teaching Word with gentleness in heart, so we will not be snared by sin. As a result, we will experience the sanctification done by the power of the teaching Word. | 11| << Rumput Penggembalaan b. Ability to forgive and forget the sin of other people. We have to be gentle in heart, so we do not stumble because of the sin of other people but forgive and forget it. For example, Jesus on the cross is willing to forgive the ones who have crucified Him. If we are lowly and gentle in heart, we will have relief and peace. 3. Our eyes look unto Jesus who sits at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2-3 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Jesus has died, risen, ascended to heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God in His glory as High Priest, King of all kings, and Heavenly Bridegroom. The practice of looking unto Jesus is worshiping and crying for His name. If we do not look unto Him, but to the left or the right, we will sin for sure. For example, Moses who looked this way and that way when He faced an Egyptian and a Hebrew who were fighting, and then he killed the Egyptian. Moreover, one who looks back will be the pillar of salt as Lot’s wife. Let us worship God much more, set our eyes toward Him to hope only in His mercy, and cry for His name. Through the worship, we are learning to persevere and become patient in order to face the suffering without any sin or the cross. The results are as follows: a. We get the grace or mercy that is able to bear or “suck” all our weights and weaknesses as well as solve all problems in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. b. We experience the grace or mercy of God that renews our life. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,. The life renewal begins from being of good courage and not easily being disappointed or desperate. Psalm 27: 14 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! | 12| Rumput Penggembalaan >> If we can be of good courage, not disappointed or desperate, we will be able to welcome Jesus’ second coming. We will be continually renewed until someday we become as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time. We wear the eternal crown or the crown of glory and become God’s Bride to welcome Jesus’ second coming and enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God to be with Him forever. God blesses you. (Taken from Youth Service, Saturday, April 15, 2006 preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) Chapters 6-8 of Mark refer to the Table of Showbread in Tabernacle teaching. It means a fellowship with the Word of God. Mark 6:53-56 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 6:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 6:55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 6:56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. “Jesus comes out of the boat” means the Word of God which is revealed. “Jesus anchors” means His longing to anchor on our life or the Word is written in our life. Thus, God is writing His Word in our life through the revelation of the Word in which a verse is explaining other verses. The process is as follows: 1. We seriously hear until understandthe Word. It means the Word is written on our forehead. 2. We believe in the Word; it is written on our heart. 3. We practice the Word, so it is written on our hand. If the Word is written in our life, we will get the results as follows: 1. [Mark 6:54] We know Jesus Himself. 2. [Mark 6:55] We actively minister to God for building the body of Christ. Hearing, understanding, and practicing the Word mean that we are consuming the bread of God’s Word. If we can eat and become full, there will be energy to actively minister to God for building the body of Christ without being requested by other people. 3. [Mark 6:56] We can touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. We will discuss the third result. Numbers 15:37-38 15:37 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 15:38 "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. . There is a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. It means the power of resurrection. Celebrating Passover means celebrating Jesus who has | 13| << Rumput Penggembalaan resurrected. Touching the hem of Jesus’ garment means we receive the power of Jesus’ resurrection through the preaching of the Word. The functions of the power of resurrection are as follows: 1. To preserve and protect the Church or the sons of God. Isaiah 6:1 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. The protection and preservation of God begin from now until the antichrist reigns over the world. Our diploma, riches, et cetera maybe can preserve and protect our life now, but it cannot do so when the antichrist reigns over the world. Revelation 12:14 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. The power of resurrection in the Word that is anointed by Holy Spirit will become two wings of a great eagle that are able to flee us to wilderness where we are preserved and protected by God for three years and six months. Moreover, the eyes of antichrist cannot see us. 2. To heal the sick in the marketplaces. Mark 6:56 6:56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. It means as follows: a. To sanctify us from sin disease. Numbers 15:39-40 15:39 "And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 15:40 "and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. The marketplace refers to the world where human can trade the sins. There is sin trade everywhere, both in city and village. In addition, the marketplace refers to the Church which is ruled by the spirit of sellingbuying or antichrist. The signs of such Church are as follows: • Marketing system, namely using any kinds of worldly way to attract people to come to church. Being interested only in the music, artist, et cetera, one only comes to the marketplace. On the contrary, one who is interested in the Word seriously comes to Jesus until he touches the hem of His garment to have fellowship with him. • Crowded situation. It means the amenities of flesh are prioritized. • All people seek for the cheap things. It means all people are allowed to minister to God although they do not serve or worship him. The pastor has a responsibility about that, whether he makes the church as marketplace or the house of prayer. | 14| Rumput Penggembalaan >> • Freedom, meaning one is not shepherded. It happens first to a pastor until the members of congregation are not shepherded also. • There is no sacrifice because all people only seek for flesh advantage. On the contrary, a true service to God is through sacrificing an offering until we can sacrifice our body. The false system causes many spiritual diseases in thehouse of God. Luke 13:10-11 13:10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 13:11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. The woman was in the synagogue but bent over. It means she cannot glorify God, but makes Him disgraced. Moreover, it means an anxiety. Proverbs 12:25a 12:25a Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, In addition, it also means flesh characteristics. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 3:2 For men will be (1) lovers of themselves, (2) lovers of money, (3) boasters, (4) proud, (5) blasphemers, (6) disobedient to parents, (7) unthankful, (8) unholy, 3:3 (9) unloving, (10) unforgiving, (11) slanderers, (12) without self–control, (13) brutal, (14) despisers of good, 3:4 (15) traitors, (16) headstrong, (17) haughty, (18) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! Such people are stamped with “666” by the antichrist. They are inside the church but ruled by the flesh characteristics. Matthew 21:12,15 21:12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 21:15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, There is the spiritual disease of indignation besides the anxiety. It is also the characteristic of antichrist. We must be sanctified from the anxiety, eighteen flesh characteristics, and indignation by the power of resurrection of the Word. We are continually sanctified until we are without blemish. b. To heal physical diseases or all problems, even the impossible ones. For example, a woman with the flowing of blood for twelve years. There are many efforts she has made through going to doctor, et cetera, but her condition gets worse. Maybe you have fought to make your bad economy or study good, but there is only solution you have to do, namely touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. It means you have to return to the Word with the power of resurrection. | 15| << Rumput Penggembalaan 3. To adorn or beautify our life and future. Numbers 15:39 15:39 "And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, To adorn means to change and renew our life. 1 Peter 3:3-6 3:3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward––arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel–– 3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 3:5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. It begins from the heart which is gentle, quiet, and submissive. Young people are the sons that must obey the parents. This is well pleasing to the Lord. It begins from gentleness, namely we do not do or say roughly or feel right in our own opinion. Being quiet means we do not like arguing. Finally, we are submissive. For example, Sarah who is submissive to her husband although he gives her to other man can finally get the pleading of God and the opening of the door of her womb. Colossians 3:20 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. If we are willing to be renewed until we are gentle, quiet, and submissive, our present and future life will be beautified. In addition, we get the opening of doors for our future life in the world and the door of heaven. Jeremiah 2:32 2:32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. Isaiah 11:5 11:5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. There must be a belt also, namely faithfulness and righteousness. If we are obedient and faithful, we will be continually adorned until we become the Bride of God, the most beautiful thing in our life. The Lord also gives the power of resurrection to beautify our life through His sacrifice. Isaiah 52:13-14 52:13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. 52:14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; Jesus is willing to be marred in order to give us beauty. The Word and Christ’s sacrifice will never fail. How bad our life is, the Lord provides the hem of His garment and Christ’ sacrifice for us. God blesses you. (Taken from Youth Passover Service, Saturday, April 22, 2006 preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) | 16| Roti Gandum>> New Man without any Fear Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole Matthew 28 refers to Shekinah Glory. There is a light of glory (Shekinah Glory), namely Jesus’ resurrection, behind the death experience. Matthew 28:1-10 is about Jesus’ resurrection. Matthew 28:1-2 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. The stone is rolled back by the angel, meaning the light of glory brightens the hard heart until there is life renewal from the hard flesh man to spiritual one who is as perfect as the angel or Jesus is. Being hard-hearted and keeping the rottenness of sins, one keeps on being fleshblood man who will perish forever. What must be renewed? 1. The renewal of countenance that is as the lightning, namely the renewal of the five senses to result in bright face. Matthew 28:3 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, … 2. The renewal of the clothing that is as white as snow. It means the renewal of our deeds. Matthew 28:3 28:3 … and his clothing as white as snow. 3. The new man has no fear anymore. Matthew 28:4-5 28:4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 28:5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. The theme of our Christmas tonight is the new man without any fear. In the past, the tiding “do not be afraid” is addressed to Mary and the country shepherds. Luke 1:30 1:30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. For example, Mary must be pregnant without a husband. It must be a great fear for a virgin. Such a fear refers to the fear of youth. The fear also befalls the shepherds that refer to oldpeople. | 17| << Roti Gandum Luke 2:8-9 2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Thus, the fear happens to human since the childhood, teens, adulthood, up to old age. Moreover, we must heed that the fear also happens to the pastors or the servants of God. Luke 21:25-26 21:25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 21:26 "men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken." The fear happens to all nations or countries in the world, not only to poor ones but also to the developing countries and developed ones. In addition, the fear causes bodily death through distress, diseases, et cetera. Revelation 21:8 21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The fear not only physically kills human but also brings spiritual death. Thus, the fear is the main killer in the last days, either physically or spiritually. It brings man to the perdition in hell. In the other words, the fear is the death that works to destroy man, including the children of God. Christmas is Jesus is born to the world to remove all fears or death. There are three kinds of the fear as follows: 1. The fear that happens at the Garden of Eden because Adam and Eve sin. Genesis 3:9-10 3:9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 3:10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." Thus, human can be afraid although being in the Garden of Eden, where all things are provided. So we can conclude that all riches and intelligence cannot guarantee the quietness in our life. The fear is determined by whether there is sin or not. Romans 3:23 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Actually, all have sinned and been naked in the threat of the death since Adam and Eve sin and they are cast into the world. All people are in fear, distress, heavy burden, and weariness continuing until they reach forever perdition. All things in the world such as intelligence, riches, good position, and success cannot save the sinners. Moreover, there is none in the world can reconcile the sin. All men have sinned, so they cannot save themselves. | 18| Roti Gandum>> The solution is in the Christmas. Jesus is born as the only human who does not sin. He must die on the cross to finish the sin of human with His holy blood as He has no sin. Matthew 11:28-30 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." As for us, we who are in fear, distress, heavy burden, and weariness now must learn to Jesus upon the cross. Being lowly in heart means there is ability to confess sins to God and other people. After being forgiven, we should not do the sin anymore. Sinning and then blaming other people, one adds his life with the heavy burden. It is hard to confess our sins, whether from the inferior to the superior and moreover from the superior to the inferior (the pastor to the congregation, the parents to the children), but we must learn from Jesus on the cross. Being gentle means there is ability to forgive the sins of other people and forget them. As a result, the blood of Jesus forgives and finishes all our sins, so we can live in righteousness in all aspects of our life. The righteousness comes together with the peace and quietness. Meaning we will experience the peace and quietness if we finish our sins and live in righteousness. Proverbs 12:26 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. Moreover, if we have been righteous and quiet, we must go to the righteous shepherding. We are shepherded to the true teaching Word as a branch that dwells in the one True Vine. We persevere in the sheepfold, namely the Holy Place with its three kinds of equipment as follows: o Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service or the fellowship with Holy Spirit as if we spiritually drink. o Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion or the fellowship with the Son of God in the Word and Holy Communion as if we spiritually eat. o Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service or the fellowship with Father God in His love as the breath of life. We must spiritually grow in the shepherding. It is a place to firm our righteousness and quietness. We must be firm in our being lowly in heart and gentle (we confess our sins and forgive more) as well as living in righteousness, being shepherded, and quiet.The results are as follows: o Our life becomes easy and light whatever condition we face. o We are blessed by God up to our descendants, even we can become blessings for other people. | 19| << Roti Gandum Psalm 37:25-26 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed. 2. The fear because of the wind and wave hitting the sea of the world. Mark 4:35-40 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 4:36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 4:37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 4:38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 4:40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Our life in the world is as crossing over the sea of the world to go to the harbor of peace, namely the beautiful meeting on glorious clouds or the marriage supper of the Lamb of God when Jesus comes a second time, then we enter the kingdom of peace a thousand years [Revelation 20] and New Jerusalem or the eternal heavenly kingdom [Revelation 21-22]. What we face is the wind and wave of death blown by Satan to fall our faith or drown our life so we cannot reach the harbor of peace. o The windstorm refers to the wind of false teaching causing us to fear of holding fast to the true teaching Word even to doubt and leave it.Our faith has fallen when we move to other teaching. For example, Eutychus sits in a window and falls down because of the wind outside the window, referring to the wind of false teaching. o The wave means temptations or impossible problems causing the sons of God not to believe in His power but to doubt and seek for their own ways that are not in line with the true teaching Word. Consequently, the faith falls and one is drowned. Everything physically and spiritually perishes.Being drowned also means being unable to reach the harbor of peace but one keeps on living in fear and distress until he is drowned in the sea of fire and brimstone or eternal hell. The solution is we must learn to be silent and quiet as Jesus sleeping in the stern, referring to Jesus who dies on the cross. He keeps on being silent without any reply when He is crucified and despised. Being silent means we check our life with the sharp true teaching Word. We must repent when we find sins in our life and we do not do them anymore. | 20| Roti Gandum>> Being quiet means we control ourselves in order not to hope in others but to fully hope in God. It also means we do not murmur, grumble, or say bad words to other people, especially to our parents, but we only cry and hope in God. We can pray to God with our being silent and quiet. I Peter 4:7 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. We can pray and cry the name of Jesus. Being silent and quiet means we lift up our two hands to God. The results are as follows: o The sea can be calm, meaning we feel the peace without any fear, heavy burden, or weariness. The hand of God is able to make the sea calm or to solve all our problems. o Our boat can go forward without sinking. Meaning the hand of God is able to provide us the beautiful future life. 3. The fear when seeing the second coming of Jesus. Revelation 6:15-17 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 6:16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 6:17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Because the earth and all its contents will be condemned by the fire coming from heaven and destroyed at that time. Why do men fear? Because they never see God in their lifetime now but become at His back or rebel the true teaching Word. Therefore, let us always see Jesus’ face from the Christmas Service tonight, before Jesus comes a second time. Seeing the face of other people, one must be at the back of Jesus. For example, Esau hunts fleshly things, so he becomes at the back of spiritual things. Matthew 5:8 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. The requirement of seeing Jesus’ face is the holy heart. It means that the whole life is also holy. Seeing Jesus’ face means worshiping Him. We are intensively sanctified in the shepherding through the work of the Word which is sharper than any two-edged sword. It begins from our heart that must be sanctified from seven hidden dark sins that make the “eye” of our heart dark and unable to worship God. Matthew 15:19 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed (1)evil thoughts, (2)murders, (3)adulteries, (4)fornications, (5)thefts, (6)false witness, (7)blasphemies. As a result, the “eye” of our heart is bright to see and worship God. We can give Him all praise and honor, even we can give and entrust our whole life to Him.If the “eye” of our heart is bright, all our deeds must be | 21| << Roti Gandum bright or holy. On the contrary, the deeds will be dark or unholy if the “eye” of heart is dark. Psalm 16:8 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. The sign of one who worships God is not being moved by anything. He is strong and of good courage. The shepherding is the place to see or worship God as well as to firm our being strong and of good courage. The three wise men worship Jesus after He is born in the sheepfold. Psalm 27:14 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! The meanings of being strong and of good courage are as follows: o We keep on holding fast to the one True Teaching Word. o We do not want to sin, whatever risk may come. o We are obedient, whatever risk we have to face. As a result, we are strong to welcome Jesus’ second coming.Meaning we keep on being faithful and fervent in spirit, in our service and ministry to God, so we can keep on being the shining stars. Revelation 1:20 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. The position of the stars is in the hand of God. The results are as follows. o We feel saved and comfortable and we are preserved forever. Psalm 16:11 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. We are firmer in the shepherding and God more tightly holds our life in His hand. o The right hand of God gives us victory over all enemies and temptations. Psalm 118:15-16 118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. o [Psalm 118:16]The right hand of God is able to exalt us and make all things successful and beautiful in its time. Being exalted means we are continually sanctified until we are perfect and exalted on the glorious clouds to welcome Jesus’ coming and enter the Future Paradise or the kingdom of peace a thousand years and the eternal heavenly kingdom. We can see Him face to face without any fear. God blesses us. (Taken from Christmas Service in Malang, Tuesday, December 25, 2012, preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) | 22| Roti Gandum>> Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole Matthew 28 points to shekinah glory or the light of glory. We can conclude that God brings us to enter the year of glory. 2013 is the year of glory for us. There is resurrection and glory behind the death or cross. Do not be afraid of the cross or suffering in the flesh together with Jesus. If we want to bear the cross together with Jesus, stop sinning, and suffer in the flesh because of serving and ministering to God, being slandered, et cetera, we will experience the light of the glory of God. There are three things we must heed facing the year of glory as follows: 1. [Matthew 28:1-10] Jesus’ resurrection means life renewal. Matthew 28:1-2 28:1. Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,and sat on it. The stone is rolled back means that the shekinah glory brightens the dark hard heart until it becomes meek. It means there is renewal from carnal man to spiritual one as the angel or Jesus is. Matthew 28:5,10 28:5. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” We must experience the renewal of our feelings. “Do not be afraid” means we must experience the renewal from physical fear to the fear of the Lord. We often fear of something in the world until there is no fear of the Lord but the rebellion to Him. The new man with the meek heart has the fear of the Lord. The facts found in the fear of the Lord are as follows: a. Hating sins, even lies. It means we live in righteousness and holiness. Proverbs 8:13 8:13.The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. b. Obeying the Word of God, whatever risk we have to face. Ecclesiastes 12:13 12:13.Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. | 23| << Roti Gandum The results are as follows: a. We get the wisdom of heaven that can deliver us from the grip of antichrist. Proverbs 9:10 9:10. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Revelation 13:18 13:18. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. b. The wisdom of God gives us success in the midst of crises in the world and our limitation. Ecclesiastes 10:10 10:10. If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. 2. The lie of the council means the spreading of the darkness or the heart that keeps hard. Matthew 28:11-15 28:11. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 28:12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 28:13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 28:14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The hard heart keeps the sins and lies, even enjoys in them. It is proven by the joy without any regret doing sins even living in them. The consequences are as follows. a. The sin expands to become the peak of sin, namely sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, being drunk, and drugs abuse, as well as marrying-being given in marriage, namely sexual sins with all its kinds, sexuality before marriage, sexual affairs, and remarriage. The leaven of sins will expand more and more if it is covered. b. The sin is engraved in heart and the horn of the altar. It means the sin cannot be forgiven forever. Jeremiah 17:1 17:1. " “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars, | 24| Roti Gandum>> There is Altar of Burnt Offering in the Tabernacle whose horns one may hold to make him not be condemned because of his sin. 1 Kings 1:50-53 1:50. Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 1:51 And it was told Solomon, saying, “Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 1:52 Then Solomon said, “If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 1:53 So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.” The sin is engraved on the horns of the altar means it cannot be forgiven anymore and one perishes forever. Hard-hearted person lives in the sin but there is no renewal, so he will be employed in the revival of the spreading of the darkness, namely false teaching, testimony, and news rejecting the death and resurrection of Jesus or the cross. The revival of the spreading of the darkness is encouraged by the power of money and lying spirit causing the sons of God to become antichrist with the mark 666 or fleshly body, soul, and spirit. Be alert because there will be many people receiving the false things more than those who receive the right ones. The facts found in the revival of the spreading of the darkness are as follows. a. Murmuring or dissatisfaction in physical matters, especially the spiritual ones, so one blames other people, pastor, the true teaching Word, even God. Acts 6:1 6:1. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. b. Provoking or producing strange voice that causes anger without any reason or dislike feelings to other people. Acts 6:11 6:11.Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." The strange voice can be in the form of false teaching and gossips that cannot be accounted for. c. Dividing, deceiving, and destroying the body of Christ. Acts 6:12 6:12. And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. | 25| << Roti Gandum Consequently, there is a millstone hung around the neck to be cast into the sea. Matthew 18:6 18:6. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. The one who divides the body of Christ will not have the beauty of life but the weariness and heavy burden. The neck is hung with the millstone means the falling in the sins of Babylon, namely sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage until being drowned in the sea of fire and brimstone. 3. [Matthew 28:16-20] The commandment to preach the Gospel means the spreading of the light of shekinah glory. The new man with the meek heart or the heart which fears the Lord hates sins and obeys God. He will be employed in the positive great revival. There are two kinds of positive great revival as follows: a. The revival of Holy Spirit at the early rain or the revival in the Gospel or Good Tidings. Matthew 28:18-19 28:18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, The term “Go” refers to a revival of God’s commandment. Ephesians 1:13 1:13. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, The Gospel of Salvation is the gospel preaching the first coming of Jesus to save the sinners. The proof of being saved is we believe in Jesus, repent, and have water and Holy Spirit baptism. As a result, we can live in righteousness. Righteousness equals to salvation. It means that one is not saved if there is no righteousness. b. The revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain or the revival in the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ or the teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword or Bride Tidings. Matthew 28:20 28:20. "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. | 26| Roti Gandum>> The Bride Tidings is the gospel preaching about the second coming of Jesus in glory as the King of kings or heavenly Bridegroom on glorious clouds to sanctify and perfect us until we are without blemish to become His bride. In the Old Testament, the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain is described as Joshua at the border of Canaan. He must cross the River Jordan to enter Canaan. The revival is led by the Ark of the Covenant, the equipment in the Most Holy Place of Tabernacle. The Ark of the Covenant consists of the mercy seat and the ark. The mercy seat is made of pure gold with two cherubim and the sprinkled blood. It refers to Father God, the Son of God, and Holy Spirit God, namely the Lord Jesus Christ as Heavenly Bridegroom. The ark is made of the wood overlaid with gold. It refers to perfect Church as the Bride of God. Thus, the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain is led by the Bride Tidings. Joshua 3:1-4 3:1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 3:2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3:3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” The distance between us and the Ark of the Covenant must be two thousand cubits. It refers to the measurement of the Holy Place, whose length is twenty cubits, width ten cubits, and height ten cubits. Thus, we must be well-shepherded in order to enter the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain. We must be shepherded by the true teaching Word through the perseverance in doing three kinds of main service to God as the three kinds of equipment in the Holy Place as follows. • Golden Candlestick, referring to the perseverance in doing General Service. • Table of Showbread, referring to the perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. • Golden Altar of Incense or the perseverance in doing Prayer Service. It is as a branch dwelling in the True Vine. | 27| << Roti Gandum We are at the border, from 2012 to 2013, tonight. We have to correct our life, have we been righteously shepherded? We are being sanctified intensively and continually in the shepherding until we are perfect or blameless. One who is as the branch dwelling in the True Vine will bear fruits and live in heavenly joy sooner or latter. Following the measurement of the two thousand cubits, we find a new way, namely the way without any stumbling-block. It also means there is solution of all problems through the revelation of the Word of God. We must see and follow the Ark of the Covenant, meaning all aspects of our life must be in line with the true teaching Word. In addition, we must bear the Ark of the Covenant, meaning we are responsible to obey and preach the Bride Tidings. We can humble our life to cooperate with other people. There is a miracle that is the water is divided when we are obedient. We must correct our relationship with God when we are at the border. The mercy seat cannot be moved from the ark. How is our ministry and private relationship with God? Proverbs 3:32 3:32. For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright. One who is close to God is honest, in confessing sins and all failures. 1 Chronicles 28:20 28:20. And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God––my God––will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. He is also strong and of good courage as follows: • Holding fast the true teaching Word and obeying it. • Not sinning, whatever reason he has. • Not being hopeless or disappointed whatever things must be faced. • Worshiping God and loving Him more than anything. | 28| Roti Gandum>> As a result, we become as John, the apostle, who leans on the bosom of Jesus. It is as the mercy seat cannot be moved from the ark. God will accompany us wherever we go [Matthew 28:20], care, and struggle together with us. The results are as follows: • The merciful hand of God embraces our life to determine our life and death. It means He does everything to be responsible for our life. • The merciful hand of God is able to solve all our problems, even the impossible one. 1 Chronicles 28:20 28:20. And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God–– my God––will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. • The merciful hand of God is able to sanctify and renew our life until we become the perfect body of Christ who is worthy of welcoming Jesus’ second coming on glorious clouds. God blesses you. (Taken from New Year Eve Service, Monday, December 31, 2012, preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) | 29| <<Roti Keju GOD IS LOVE Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:8 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. The theme is “God is love.” John completely shows God as follows: a. John 1:1 is about God as the Word. b. John 4:24 is about God as the Spirit. c. 1 John 4:8 is about God as the love. “God is love” means God shows Himself as the love. Why does God show Himself as the love? He shows Himself as the love because He wants to give us His love. Why does He have to give us His love? 1. Because flesh and blood men have no love, but flesh desires, lusts, emotion, and ambition that encourage them to sin up to the peak, namely sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse as well as marrying-being given in marriage, namely sexuality sin with all its kinds, sexuality deviation, and marriage destruction. Human without the love of God is despicable and not precious before other people and moreover before God. He becomes same as dog and swine that do not have any shame. Therefore, God gives us His love to cover our sins and nakedness, so we become precious before Him and other people. The preciousness of our life is not determined by riches but whether we sin or not. 2. Because all things are meaningless without the love of God. How great a man in the world is, all things he has are meaningless and useless. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Therefore, God gives us His love to make us useful before Him and other people. | 30| Roti Keju>> 3. Because the human will be in the death if he is without the love. It means he lives in suffering, distress, tears, up to everlasting perdition. 1 John 3:14 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Therefore, God wants to give His love to make the human joyful without any tears, but eternal life. Thus, the theme ‘God is love’ is the effort of God Himself to show His love to the sinners, so they can be precious and useful even have eternal life. How despicable a sinful man is, he can be precious and useful, even worthy of receiving the eternal life if he wants to receive the love of God. How can God give us His love? 1 John 4:9-10 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. He sends His only Son, namely Jesus, to the world in order to die on the cross as the propitiation for our sins. As a result, the sinners can be saved and have eternal life. It is the only way. All things in the world such as riches, intelligence, high position, et cetera cannot save the sinners. Moreover, all people in the world, including spiritual men, cannot save the sinners because all of them have sinned. Jesus is the only man who has no sin, so He can save the sinners through His sacrifice on the cross. He is our only Savior. Do not trade Him with anything in the world. How can we receive His love? The process of receiving His love is as follows: 1. Being reconciled to God and other people. Matthew 5:23-25 5:23 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 5:24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 5:25 "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Deliberately sinning means resisting God. Being reconciled to God refers to vertical line and being reconciled to other people refers to horizontal line. Both of them refer to the cross. Being reconciled means as follows: a. Honestly regretting and confessing our sin to God and other people with broken heart and tears. Being forgiven, we should not do the sin anymore. The confession of sin can be divided into two kinds, namely the confession of our sins and the confession because of bearing the sins of other people. | 31| <<Roti Keju Matthew 15:22, 25 15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon– possessed." 15:25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" The woman has a demon-possessed daughter, but she says “Have mercy on me, O Lord”. It means that her daughter is sick because of her fault. Likewise, pastor and parents must have great soul to bear their own faults as well as the faults of the congregation or sons. 1 Samuel 25:23-24 25:23 Now when Abigail saw David, she hastened to dismount from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. 25:24 So she fell at his feet and said: "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. b. Solemnly forgiving the sins of other people with broken heart and tears, and then forgetting them. Thus, being reconciled means being broken-hearted confessing our sins and forgiving the sins of other people to finish the sins. Do not keep the sins of other people or laugh in the sins. Moreover, do not hide the sin with self-truth, namely covering the sin by blaming other people, God, and the true Word as well as pretending to do good things. The results of being reconciled are as follows: The love of God is poured to make us prosperous, precious, useful, and joyful. Proverbs 28:13 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. We become the house of prayer; God answers our prayer and we have physical health in our economy, study, or other things, and spiritual one until we get eternal life. James 5:16 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. God will not answer our prayer if there is sin. 2. Obeying the commandment of God or His Word. John 14:15 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.. Acts 2:37 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" | 32| Roti Keju>> The process is as follows: a. Solemnly hearing the Word until we can understand. b. Believing in the Word until it becomes faith in our heart. It is called “the heart is cut.” Judas hears the Word many more but his heart is never cut. Finally, his entrails gush out because of keeping many sins. The cut heart encourages us to confess our sins. c. Obeying the Word, we will receive the love of God. The preaching of the gospel can be divided into two kinds as follows: a. The gospel of salvation. It is called milk or Good Tidings [Proverbs 25:25]. Ephesians 1:13 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, The gospel of salvation preaches the first coming of Jesus to the world that He has died on the cross to save the sinful people. The process of being saved is through believing in Jesus, repenting, and being baptized of water and Holy Spirit. As a result, we have salvation and life renewal, namely righteous life. Nevertheless, we must continue to the second kind of the preaching of the gospel. b. The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ or the true teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword. It is called solid food or Bride Tidings. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. It preaches about Jesus’ second coming in His glory as the King of all kings, Heavenly Bridegroom, or Head to sanctify the saved people until they are as perfect as He is. It also brings the saved people to enter the building of the perfect body of Christ and welcome Jesus’ second coming on glorious clouds. The Bible is started with physical marriage between Adam and Eve that is destroyed, but it is closed with spiritual marriage between Jesus as the last Adam and the perfect congregation [Revelation 19:9]. Therefore, we need the Bride Tidings to sanctify and perfect our life. 1 Peter 1:22 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, If we are obedient to the Word, we will be sanctified until there is sincere love. We can love one another in the body of Christ until we can repay good for evil. | 33| <<Roti Keju Ephesians 4:11-12 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, In addition, we will be given the ministry and gifts of Holy Spirit and employed for building the perfect body of Christ. The gift of Holy Spirit is more than intelligence, money, or anything. It is wonderful ability from Holy Spirit to make us able to do the ministry. One who is employed for building the body of Christ is called living stone. It means we live by the mercy of God. We can live anytime, anywhere, in any situation, until we can have eternal life. Our life does not rely on anything in the world, even a priest does not rely on the congregation. Our life only relies on the mercy of God. 3. Falling down at Jesus’ feet. It means we worship God with broken heart and tears to struggle together with Him. John 11:31-35 11:31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there." 11:32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." 11:33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 11:34 And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." 11:35 Jesus wept. Mary faces Lazarus who has been dead for four days. It refers to morality rottenness, sins, destruction in marriage, children, economy, study, and ministry as well as impossibility. Nevertheless, we have the love of God that visits us. There are two possible things for Mary facing the death of Lazarus as follows: a. Weeping with hopelessness and disappointment even blaming other people. b. Falling down at Jesus’ feet. Facing the destruction, do not blame other people, but fall down at Jesus’ feet. We confess that we are powerless, unworthy, and not precious clay. God is waiting for the clay He may help. Moreover, we confess that we only rely on the love and grace of God. As a result, Jesus will also weep. It means He understands and cares our life. He struggles with us and stretches His merciful hands to take the clay. There will be a miracle. The greatest miracle is our life renewal from carnal man to spiritual one as Jesus. | 34| Roti Keju>> The things that must be renewed are as follows: a) The heart must not be hard as the tombstone or Martha’s. John 11:39-40 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" It must believe and have faith only in Jesus. God’s miracle for us will be along with our faith. b) Being honest, not lying. Ephesians 4:25 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. The honesty is especially about the true teaching and godly matters. We must say 'yes' if 'yes', 'no' if 'no'. If we have the spiritual miracle through being honest and believing in God, the physical one will happen for sure. The impossible things can be made possible. Every step in our life is in miracle until we are renewed to become as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time. We are lifted up on glorious clouds. There is meeting between us, the Bride or Christ’s body, and Jesus, heavenly Bridegroom or the Head, to become one forever. God blesses you. (Taken from Fellowship in Manokwari I, Tuesday, March 19, 2013, preached by Rev. Widjaja Hendra) | 35| Thank you for the opportunity I get to bear witness via e-mail. There was one of my colleagues who worked in a bank in Malang who phoned me at day. In the end of our talking, he thanked me for the e-mail about the Shepherding Word I had sent to him. He said that he also had sent the e-mail to his colleagues in the same bank networking in Surabaya, Jogjakarta, Banyuwangi, and other cities. Their responses had been very good because many of them had given thanks and said that the Word had been easily understandable with the examples to be directly practiced in daily life. Hearing that, my tears ran down because the Word of God could be preached to become blessing for other people. In addition, I wept because I have not sent the Word of God via e-mail for a long time yet. Formerly, I used to send the transcript of the Word of God in every service, right after I had typed it, to all my friends and colleagues whose e-mails were in the contact lists of my e-mail. Nevertheless, I often doubted and feared of doing that thing. I was afraid of disturbing them because I was annoyed by receiving spiritual messages that could not be accounted for almost every day. Moreover, I had to send the transcript to my friends' office e-mail when I did not know their private e-mail. I worried if they thought that I mixed spiritual matter with job. In fact, it was only my false feelings because there had been a senior manager of a bank in Jakarta thanking me for the e-mail of the Word and asking me to send other e-mails if they were available. At that time, I answered in my heart that it must always be available, even every day, because Rev. Widjaja preaches the Word almost every day, but I was shy if I sent it too often. Nevertheless, I asked for the forgiveness of God after knowing what had happened that day because actually it did not take long time and much money to send the e-mail, but it was a matter of willingness to do that. I long to be used by God as His witness, so it is not useless that I am far away from Malang. I also ask for the prayer of Rev. Widjaja and his wife that I can be used to become true witness, beginning from little things. God blesses you. (by Untung Hr. –GPT Kristus Kasih Malang congregation who is shepherded via live streaming because of working in Samarinda) Peace and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to bear witness about God's love in my life; how He changes the impossible thing to become possible, even beautiful in its time. In the beginning of 2012, the choir of my university started preparing all things to join choir competition in Beijing, China in the second week of July, 2012. I was invited to join the team for the competition and then I decided to join it. In the beginning of March, I followed all process of the audition and finally I was received as the member of the team, so I started joining the rehearsal process. On the other side, I also actively followed the Mathematics Olympiad at university level. I followed it again in April, 2012 and God blessed me to reach national level and achieve “Honorable Mention” predicate, namely the twenty forth rank of the best twenty five. The twenty five participants had to follow the advance selection to be chosen as the member of Indonesian team that would be sent for following the International Mathematics Olympiad in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. In the midst of my activities of choir rehearsal, I had to prepare myself for the Indonesian team selection of the Mathematics Olympiad. The frequency of the choir rehearsal increased more and more, from four days in a week to six days in a week, six to eight hours a day. Consequently, I did not have enough time to study, so there was no maximal preparation for the Indonesian team selection of the Mathematics Olympiad. The selection lasted for two days. Finishing the test in the first day, I believed enough that it was impossible to pass, but I kept on surrendering to God's hand, studying, and trying as much as I could. I did not hope too much at night when the result was announced. I knew that my rivals were extraordinary with many experiences more than mine. Finally, I could pass the selection to become the member of Indonesian team of the Mathematics Olympiad because of the mercy of God. Only seven people had been chosen to become delegation from Indonesia in the former years, but there were eight people for this year. I did not know the reason. Moreover, my mark showed that I was at the eighth rank. I felt that God worked wonderfully that time because the seven people whose ranks were above me had their high ranks from the beginning while I who had been at the twenty fourth rank could rise to reach the eighth one. The work of God did not stop. As the team member, I had to be quarantined to get preparation for two weeks before the Olympiad in July, the same time as the choir competition. DIKTI, an institution that manages the matters of university, including the Olympiad, phoned me and I said that I could not completely follow the quarantine. Then, I was not allowed to be absent in the quarantine, so I was forced to choose whether I followed the choir competition or the Mathematics Olympiad because following the Mathematics Olympiad without being quarantined or preparation was considered as wasting the money of government. I was afraid and confused, even unable to choose because I would have to go to Beijing ten days before the Mathematics Olympiad. Letting the Olympiad go, I would make the hope of my study program chief and dean vanish because the Mathematics Faculty in my university was still new and not popular; having achievement to international level would help to increase the popularity of my faculty and leaving the Olympiad would make DIKTI say bad thing about my university and problems might come someday. In addition, following the International Mathematics Olympiad was my dream which maybe happened only once in my lifetime. On the other hand, it was impossible to let the choir competition go because I had rehearsed for a long time and none might replace my place in the choir only in ten days of rehearsal while the whole choir had rehearsed for many months. If I left the choir without any substitution, the whole choir could be disqualified because there was a rule about the minimum quantity of choir members. The quantity of my choir was the minimum one, thus it was impossible to leave it because it would make the hope of all members of the choir vanish and the expenditure of the money of university to prepare the choir competition useless. I had an idea to go home earlier from China to follows the quarantine, but DIKTI could not accept it. I was so confused. Moreover, I regretted my participation in the selection of the choir competition because it would be conducted at the same time and I had to make disadvantage to one side. There was one of my friends said “the Lord has brought you to this condition and you have confessed that actually it is impossible. It means God will not stop because He will do other miracles.” I only prayed and surrendered to God because I did not know what to do. It was very hard to choose. Finally, I decided to quit from the Olympiad and phoned DIKTI to ask for the forgiveness. On the next day, DIKTI staff phoned and well informed me to make effort for me, so I could follow both of the competitions. He said about my idea to go home earlier from China that had been previously rejected and forced me to follow the Olympiad. I felt that God wonderfully worked in all the process. Finally, I went to China and followed all the process of the choir competition and went home right after it was finished without following the tour and waiting for the announcement. In addition, I was in deep distress to study difficult materials in the quarantine among my friends whose intelligences were so extraordinary. I could only be silent in the class and shy to make a question because other friends seemed to understand and be able to interact with the lecturers while I had no understanding about the discussed materials. In the midst of activities in the quarantine, I could increase the time of my service to God. I could follow some services I had not been able to follow via live streaming when I was quarantined. Finishing the quarantine, I went to Bulgaria and followed the Olympiad. It was only because of the wisdom of God that I could do some questions. I could do a question which my friend could not do whereas formerly I had been the worst in doing any question. The result was announced and I got Third Prize in the Mathematics Olympiad. My choir got Bronze Medal for Mix Choir, Silver Medal for Male Choir, Gold Medal for Female Choir, and Peace and Friendship Award. All of them were because of the mercy of God, not the human strength. God blesses you. (by Yohanes - GPT Kristus Kasih Malang congregation who is shepherded via live streaming because of studying in Jakarta) | 46| MADU (Announcement) Service Schedule GPT Kristus Kasih, Simpang Borobudur 27, Malang, Indonesia Sunday, 07:15 am: General Service 10:30 am: Sunday School Service Tuesday, 05:15 pm: Prayer Service Thursday, 05:15 pm: Bible Study Service Friday, 05:15 pm: Woman and Girls Service Saturday, 05:15 pm: Youth Service Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 05:15 am: Morning Prayer Service GPT Kristus Kasih, WR. Supratman 4, Surabaya, Indonesia Sunday, 04:30 pm: Sunday School Service 05:45 pm: General Service Monday, 05:45 pm: Bible Study Service Wednesday, 05:30 pm: Prayer Service Saturday, 05:15 pm: Youth Service Follow the service via live streaming (with English translation) at http://radio.gptkk.org or http://radio.kabarmempelai.org Offering for Manna magazine: Mr. Sundoro & Family IDR 1.800.000,- Fellowship in 2013 Schedule April 23-25, 2013 Fellowship in Medan May 14-16, 2013 Fellowship in Singapore June 11-13, 2013 Fellowship in BaganBatu June 25-27, 2013 Fellowship in Mangkutana, Sulawesi July 16-18, 2013 Fellowship in Kartika Graha, Malang July 29-30; August 1, 2013 Fellowship in Medan August 28-30, 2013 Fellowship in Batam September 2013 Fellowship in Semarang October 2013 Fellowship in Medan November 2013 Fellowship in Sorong, West Papua December 3-5, 2013 Christmas Fellowship in Pekanbaru December 6, 2013 Christmas Fellowship in Medan