Minggu, 30 Agustus 2009

Pray For Hunger


Pray For Hunger

by Francis Frangipane www.frangipane.org

Today many Christians have lost their hunger for God. Instead of coming into the Lord's presence hungry for more of His fullness, our thoughts are gathered to worldly concerns and fleshly distractions. At best, we are merely curious about spiritual realities, but not truly hungry.
Let me tell you a story that illustrates what I mean. We have a little a little dog named Sophie. Sophie loves people food. To her, eating people food is the culinary equivalent of entering the Kingdom of God. She loves our food. She even has a Bible verse that she claims in faith: "Even the dogs get the crumbs" (Matt 15:27).
When my wife and I share a meal, Sophie will sit at our feet, squint her eyes, and stare at us (she thinks squinting makes her cuter). Any food that falls to the floor instantly vanishes into her mouth. (We haven’t had to sweep the kitchen floor in eight years.) Frankly, she is always hungry for our food.
We also have a small fenced-in yard outside our porch where Sophie plays. The fence surrounds the area, but there are gaps where the wood pickets don't quite reach to the ground. If Sophie wanted, she actually could squeeze under the fence and get out, but she normally has no reason to try. Occasionally she will get curious and go as far as the gate, but she doesn't leave the yard.
One day, though, my wife decided to feed a few slices of stale bread to the birds, which happen to nest on a tree on the other side of the fence. When Sophie went out an hour later, she immediately noticed a human food smell in the air, which she tracked to the bread. In less than a heartbeat she found a little gap under the picket fence, squeezed herself to the ground, and then shimmied through the fence to the bread on the other side. It was gone in less than a minute.
My point is this: hunger will take you where mere curiosity would never go.
My friend, God is looking for hungry people. He is seeking people who are seeking Him. Indeed, He has bread from Heaven for us, and it is eternally satisfying. We cannot afford to settle into the routine of a fenced-in life, not when God has magnificent realities awaiting. Let us, therefore, follow our hunger into the presence of God.

Kamis, 27 Agustus 2009

The Secret of Spiritual Power


The Secret of Spiritual Power
by Chip Brogden
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:6b,7).
There is a principle at work in our life and walk with the Lord, and it is the principle of strength out of weakness. “The meek are blessed, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). If we want the blessing of the Lord then we must learn what it is to be meek, for the proud will not inherit anything from Him.
The way of the world says that in order to be stronger, we must build ourselves up and seek strength and dominance over others. Christians everywhere are keenly interested in how to be increased, how to be stronger, how to take authority, how to rise up, how to get more. They look for methods, formulas, and techniques for becoming bigger and better. The results have been disappointing. Many mistakes have been made and many people have been hurt and disillusioned.
The Lord has a different approach for us to take. He invites us to accept weakness in order to be strengthened. We do not become strong by embracing strength, but by embracing weakness! This is the secret of all spiritual power. When Paul learned this secret he was able to say, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (II Corinthians 12:10b). This makes no sense to the natural man. I do not remember ever hearing anyone begin a teaching on spiritual warfare with this verse. It is no wonder, then, that these teachings never seem to produce any lasting fruit.
This passage of Scripture from James gives us further insight into why the strong are weak, and why the weak are strong. Our study of this verse may be divided into four distinct sections. Let us look at each one individually.
GOD RESISTS THE PROUD
Christians are full of many plans, many pursuits, many thoughts, many words, many things. It is impossible to say just how much of the flesh is involved in the things we undertake in the Name of Jesus. We know they cannot be purely spiritual works because often there is little fruit to be found. We labor and toil and work but it seems as if we make little or no progress. It seems as if something is always blocking our way and preventing us.
The automatic assumption is that anything which resists us or hinders us is of satanic origin. That is, if we encounter difficulty in our spiritual walk, our first reaction is to rebuke the devil, or ask the saints to pray for us to have a clear way. Certainly the devil will attempt to hinder us from anything we undertake that glorifies God and threatens the darkness. Yet we learn from James 4:6 that there is Someone else who can resist us. There is Another Who carefully watches what we do, and frequently hinders us from making progress.
It comes as a shock and surprise to some Christians to see one day that God, not the devil, is resisting them. The Lord Himself resists us, closes doors, causes things to be unfruitful, and spoils all our plans. How so? Because “God resists the proud.” This resistance from God is insurmountable. It is a fearful thing to fight the Lord. We spend most of our lives wrestling with God instead of cooperating with God, and in the end we have nothing to show for it. So much time and effort is wasted because we proceed in our own, stubborn way. We attribute all difficulties to the devil, or to other people, or our circumstances, or our environment, and fail to recognize that the Lord Himself is resisting us.
God resists the proud. This is an active resistance that will block our path like a huge rock or a great chasm. All who walk in pride are in league with the devil himself, and will receive the same judgment (cf. I Timothy 3:6). Brothers and sisters, this is a serious matter. If we harbor the least bit of pride then we will find ourselves on the wrong side of the Lord, but if we are humble before God and man then we cannot be defeated because…
GOD GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE
The single requirement for grace is humility. But what is grace? Grace is more than just a theological term used to describe how we are saved. Grace is the power of God at work in my life to do what cannot be done in my own strength. Grace is energizing and proactive. When I have reached the end of myself then Grace Himself takes over and does what I am unable to do. In the first place, what I cannot do is save myself, and so I trust in the Grace of God, Jesus Christ, to save me. But Grace will not only bring me through the Gate; He will bring me down the Path. Grace does not just get me started in the right direction, but goes along with me every step of the way. For Grace is a Man!
It should be obvious that God will not give us grace while we are still proud. Why? Because He will allow no flesh to glory in His presence. He desires us to be thoroughly emptied of ourselves. When we cease doing what we cannot do then He begins to do what we cannot. The problem is that we still think we can do so many things. We must learn sooner, rather than later, that “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b). Nothing! But it is human nature to try and do it ourselves. This human nature is the flesh. It prevents us from entering into Grace. God cannot save someone who is still trying to save themselves. Similarly, God cannot do what we are still trying to do. He will wait - weeks, months, or years - until we have exhausted our strength. When our strength is completely gone and we finally go to Him in weakness, He becomes our strength and we find Grace is there to do the impossible. Then we know it was not us, but the Lord. All praise goes to Him, and we retain nothing for ourselves.
See how many times the disciples tried to correct the Lord. See how many times they argued with the Lord. See how many time their thoughts contradicted the Master. See how many times they urged Him to take action. And the Lord, ever patient, would correct them. In every case we see that He is the Lord, and they are the disciples. The roles must never be confused. He is the Master, and we are His servants. We do not command Him, but He commands us. We do not direct Him, but He directs us. We do not lead Him, but He leads us. He was not created for us, but we were created for Him. He does not serve us according to our pleasure, but we serve Him according to His pleasure. So we must be adjusted to Him, and not the other way around. The Lord will never apologize to us and say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. We’ll do it your way.” How laughable! How absurd! But we often live as if we expect Him to do that very thing. We have not humbled ourselves.
All those who want power with God must see that His power is released through our weakness (cf. II Corinthians 12:9). Do realize that you are weak whether you admit it or not, but the power of humility is in recognizing and agreeing before God that we really can do nothing of our own selves. God’s power is not for those with natural charisma, talent, leadership skills, education, training, or “connections”. God is not looking for volunteers to serve at their own convenience as their schedule permits, but calls for disciples who will lay down their lives. The flesh counts for nothing in spiritual matters. God’s power is not revealed to us when we are proud, but when we are humble. Any demonstration of “power” manifesting itself through a proud man or a proud woman is, quite simply, not from God and cannot be trusted. Spiritual gifts may be counterfeited, but spiritual fruit cannot be faked. We will know the false from the true by their fruit, not their gifts (Matthew 7:20). Meekness is an essential quality of spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:23). Gifts may accompany fruit, but gifts may never substitute for fruit.
The secret, then, is to…
SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD
Do we need the power of God today? Do we seek the Life of the Lord today? Do we desire Him to have the preeminence in our lives today? Do we long for Him today? Then now is the time for us to be unconditionally and wholeheartedly surrendered to Him. We need not drag the process out for several days and weeks, months and years. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Do it today, do it now. If we must daily take up the cross anyway, let us bow our head and give up the ghost instead of struggling to stay alive, which only prolongs our agony. The secret to overcoming is dying daily.
If God gives Grace to the humble, then we should live a surrendered life so we can tap into grace. Die to Self, die to effort, die to trying, die to scheming. Stop wrestling, stop fighting, stop squirming, stop arguing, stop reasoning, stop bargaining, stop all that and just surrender, yield, give up, and lay down before Him! Humility is not some outward show, but a heart attitude that says in effect, “I will not resist the dealings of God. I will not argue with the Lord. I will not insist upon my own way. I recognize and admit that apart from Him I can do nothing. I am finished. Lord, I look to You to do in me and through me what I cannot do.” Friends, if we truly mean that when we say it then we will naturally spend more time praying, more time in the Word, more time ministering to God, because we will realize we do not know anything and we can not do anything without hearing from Him. If Christ is to have the preeminence in all things right HERE is where it begins. Humility is offering no resistance to the dealings of the Lord with us.
When we are submitted to the Lord, we find Grace. We find peace. We find rest. All things are in His hands, and He does all things well. We need not fear what any devil or any man can do to us. To be submitted to the Lord is to be under His care, under His guidance, under His power, under His protection. Whom shall I fear? What can man do to me? What can the devil do to me? If I have humbled myself beneath the mighty hand of God then He will exalt me in due season; He will justify me; He will defend me; He will fight for me. If our submission to God is complete, if our surrender to the Lord is total, then victory is assured. We will…
RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE
So many times we try to resist, but we are defeated. Why? Simply because we attempt to resist the devil before we have first submitted ourselves to God. There is a proper order that must be observed without fail. First, we must understand the principle of God resisting the proud but giving grace to the humble. This is the foundation of everything we do. Second, the word “therefore” signifies that those who learn this principle will act upon it accordingly. If they understand the truth just stated, they will submit “therefore” to God. Third, as a result of their submitting to God, they will find the devil flees whenever and wherever they offer him resistance. The word “flee” means “to run away in terror”. How wonderful! How delicious to see the devil running from us in terror, instead of the other way around! That should be the normal experience of all Christians. That is the normal Christian life, a life that overcomes.
The whole object of satan is to bring us down from the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6) and entangle us into some kind of earthly, fleshly thing that saps us of our strength and diminishes spiritual authority. Knowing this, the Lord has us to pray daily, “Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13ff). That is to say, “Deliver us from the earthly, the fleshly, the worldly, the carnal, the selfish, the natural, the human, where satan has influence to work evil against us. Deliver us from all that hinders and distracts us, and bring us into the Kingdom of Your dear Son, that we may walk in Spirit and Truth, in the heavenly places, demonstrating your preeminence over all things Below.” Brothers and sisters, praying in this way is what it means to resist the devil. He cannot stand before us when we take the high ground and maintain the Lord’s Testimony.
If we grow impatient and fall into the flesh then we become weaker. To react in the flesh diminishes spiritual authority, and this must be avoided at all costs. Allowing the flesh to have its way for only a moment guarantees defeat against a spiritual adversary. “We worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). To lose all confidence in the flesh is to take the higher ground of the Spirit. To meet flesh with flesh means the victory will go to the strongest, and there is always someone stronger than you according to the flesh. Instead, if people come against you in the flesh, let them come against you. If they wish to rail and argue with you according to the flesh, do not respond in kind. If they attack you without cause, let them attack, because the fleshly, the carnal, the natural cannot defeat the spiritual. The one who is submitted to the Lord has authority over those who remain unsubmitted to Him. Flesh is overruled by Spirit. Hate is overruled by Love. Darkness is overruled by Light. Death is overruled by Life. Earth is overruled by Heaven. “He that comes from above is above all” (John 3:31ff).
We offer no resistance, no defense, no argument, no justification to people who mean us harm. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12a). We resist satan, not the person. We stand against the devil, taking no action against the instruments the devil uses. We submit to God, we offer no resistance to man, but we stand firm against the spiritual adversary. Outwardly, before others, we appear weak. But inwardly, before God, we are strong. “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (II Corinthians 10:3,4). If we war after the flesh then we are emptied of spiritual strength. If we war after the Spirit then we are emptied of fleshly strength. Which will you have, spiritual authority, or fleshly power? You can have either one you want, but you cannot have both.
We face perilous, dangerous times. The secret of spiritual power to see us through these times is humility. The arm of the flesh will fail us. Brothers and sisters, since we cannot avoid weakness, we may as well make the best possible use of it. Let us accept the dealings of the Holy Spirit with us and offer no resistance to Him. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Amen.

Selasa, 25 Agustus 2009

Revelation Is Sufficient


Revelation Is Sufficient
by Chip Brogden
One characteristic of the last days is people will run to and fro and knowledge will be increased (Daniel 12:4). They will be ever learning, but in spite of this abundance of knowledge they will never come to a realization of the truth (II Timothy 3:7). The accumulation of knowledge in the Information Age is highly sought after and prized, yet it is possible to know all the right answers and still not come into an experiential knowledge of Truth.
Please note that when Simon Peter confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Jesus did not congratulate him for figuring this out through intense study and research, as if THAT would have made any difference. Instead, the Lord tells Peter that he is blessed: not just for knowing Who He is, but for the WAY in which he came to know Who He is. How did Peter know that Jesus is the Son of God? Because it was revealed to him by the Heavenly Father.
Here, Jesus contrasts “flesh and blood” knowledge with Truth which is revealed by God (and of course, Jesus is Truth [John 14:6]). The two are as different as night and day. In the matter of flesh and blood knowledge obtained from human, earthly sources we may have reason to boast in our ability to study, investigate, reason, and decide. This is the Tree of Knowledge. In the case of revelation, we have definitely no room to boast, for revelation is simply that which is revealed to us from heaven by the Lord. We cannot work to obtain it nor do we merit it. Additionally, no man may give it to us. Its source is God working in us through His Holy Spirit. This is the Tree of Life.
If in our quest for spiritual growth our idea is only to learn a few facts about the Bible, glean tidbits of information from this preacher and that teacher, fill our brains with facts and fill our libraries with more books and magazines, we run the risk of fooling ourselves into thinking that we know and understand God - when it could be that we are ever learning “truths” without knowing the Truth. Have you met someone like this? They seem to have all the right answers, but they have the wrong spirit. They tenaciously cling to their minute opinions and cannot be persuaded otherwise. Their knowledge has not changed them, except to make them worse: for now they are puffed up in the vanity of their own mind (I Corinthians 8:1,2). True spiritual growth is characterized by grace (not works) and an increased knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). And, we maintain that this knowledge of Jesus Christ cannot be obtained by study, but is only granted by way of revelation.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
What do we mean by revelation? We affirm that there is really only one revelation, and that is The Revelation of Jesus Christ. People use the term “revelation” rather loosely and flagrantly, flippantly categorizing every new thing, random thought, impression, leading, feeling, teaching, vision, voice, or dream as “revelation”. They consider every notion that flashes across their brain to be “revelation”. Not only is this fraught with danger, it is extra-biblical.
We simply say that Jesus Christ is the only thing God reveals to us. “In [Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).” It is not that God gives us revelation into five, ten, one hundred, or one thousand things. None of these “things” by themselves really matter. Rather, He has placed all those “things” within Christ, and reveals Christ to us. He will not reveal anything to us apart from the Revelation of Jesus Christ. To possess the Son is to possess all that pertains to the Son, for the Scriptures declare, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)?” Christ is the sum of all spiritual things, the fullness of God in a bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Again, it is not that God desires to give us revelation into these many things, but for us to have the Revelation of Jesus Christ. By apprehending Him we will subsequently gain insight in those “things”. To seek revelation into the “things” apart from the Revelation of Christ fails to give Christ the preeminence. We dare not circumvent the knowledge of Him in the pursuit of “things”, even spiritual things, for they are all summed up into Him.
Jesus Christ is the Mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations, but is now made manifest to the saints (Colossians 1:26, 27). The Old Testament proclaims the Mystery and prepares the way for the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is full of types, shadows, and symbology. The New Testament reveals that which was previously hidden. It explains the types and shadows of the Mystery and gives us the Revelation as substance and reality.
Nevertheless, the Lord will not manifest or reveal Himself to the world at large because the world in general will not love or receive Him (John 14:21-23). So, He establishes the Ecclesia, the called-out-of-the-world assembly of those who have been given the Revelation of Jesus, that they may translate it into the Testimony of Jesus by bearing witness to what they have seen and heard. Indeed, God has purposely hidden the knowledge of Jesus Christ and will only grant it to individuals by way of revelation once they have humbled themselves as children. This fact is so foundational to our understanding that we will quote it here:
“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast HID these things from the wise and prudent, and hast REVEALED them unto BABES: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to Me of my Father: and no man [through human, flesh and blood knowledge] knoweth Who the Son is, BUT THE FATHER [Who He has chosen to reveal it only unto babes]; and Who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him. And He turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them (Luke 10:21-24, emphasis and bracketed comments mine).”
Although we are using many words to explain this, in actual experience it is neither complicated nor difficult. It actually takes longer to explain it than it does to comprehend and participate in it. Basically, the difference is between “learning” and “seeing”. Not, “blessed are the minds that have studied and learned” but “blessed are the eyes that SEE.”
The whole purpose of prophetic speaking and writing is to bring further revelation of Jesus to the Church and to the world. We refer to this as the Testimony of Jesus. “It is the truth concerning JESUS that inspires ALL prophecy (Revelation 19:10, Knox, emphasis mine).” A majority of what is called “prophetic” today is merely eschatological, that is, inspired by the study of end time events, but not necessarily inspired by the Spirit to bring us into a further revealing of Jesus Christ. We do a disservice to the Church if we muddy the waters between that which is prophetic and that which is eschatological: for the Church is not established upon her understanding of end time events, but upon her revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Even the Book of Revelation itself is not primarily the revelation of what the end of the world will be like (although we do learn that), but the Revelation and Testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1,2). We are immediately confronted with a vision of Jesus Christ standing in the midst of the Ecclesia: it is quite different from the image of the suffering Messiah, despised and rejected of men. So, this is a further unveiling or revealing of the Lord Jesus and is genuinely prophetic. The rest of the book, its symbols, and its meaning may be unclear, and we may disagree with the interpretations thereof, but the main gist of the book, the revealing of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, is beyond dispute.
THE FOUNDATION OF THE ECCLESIA
Why is it vital that we have this Revelation of Christ? Because the Church that Jesus is building, the Ecclesia, consists of all those who have this Revelation. Without the Revelation we cannot know the Way to the Father, and thus can have no membership in the Ecclesia, for Jesus is the Way (John 14:6). How can we know what the Church is apart from knowing Jesus Christ? How can we apprehend the Body if we do not apprehend the Head? The Church is not built upon Peter the individual, but upon all those who know Jesus Christ by revelation (Matthew 16:17,18). Apart from this we cannot be numbered among the Ecclesia. This IS the Church: those to whom the Father has revealed the Son by the Spirit.
Whereas Peter was a good Jew but a plain fellow, Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a self-proclaimed “Pharisee of the Pharisees”, religious, devout, learned, and righteous according to the law of Moses, zealous for the things of God and the traditions of the Jews. Yet, we find him to be persecuting the Church of Jesus Christ, erroneously thinking that God was pleased with him. How is it that Saul, with all his learning, did not understand Who Jesus Christ was? Simply because it had not been revealed to him by the Heavenly Father. Indeed, it was the Pharisees and other religious leaders and teachers who rejected the Lord and had Him crucified. They lacked the Revelation. They had the written Word memorized, but there stands the Word made flesh and all they see is “the carpenter’s son”, a demon-possessed man, a blasphemer, a magician. This demonstrates how worthless religious flesh and blood knowledge is.
One day the grace of God determined to grant Saul the Revelation of Jesus. That is to say, Saul was not seeking revelation, he believed he had it already. He and his peers had concluded that Jesus was not the Son of God. So Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest the followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. How zealous he was for “truth”! Without warning a bright light appeared to him, casting him to the ground, and a Voice called to him saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul asked, “Who are you?” And the Voice replied, “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting!”
All it takes is a millisecond of time for the Revelation to strike you down. I recall when I first received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I had had many religious and spiritual experiences up to that point, more than the average person. I had been a pastor and teacher for many years. I thought I really knew the Lord. But one day God revealed His Son IN me. I was sitting in the backyard reading the Word and without warning, in my heart of hearts, I “saw” (not with my eyes, but inwardly) Jesus seated at God’s right hand, and I saw myself raised and seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). That day was like walking out of one room and into another, closing the door behind me. I got a glimpse into another world. I finally knew what before I had only talked about. Though not as outwardly dramatic as Paul’s experience, inwardly a massive earthquake had taken place and my foundations were ripped to shreds. It was the beginning of the end of my career as a preacher for Organized Religion. I saw the real Jesus and realized He was nothing like flesh and blood had said. Hallelujah!
When Saul met the Lord, Jesus didn’t say, “Why are you persecuting My people?” With the simple words, “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” Paul received revelation into the Person of Jesus Christ as well as the Church. To persecute the followers of Jesus is to persecute Jesus Himself. Why? Because Christ and the Church are one! It would be a few years before Paul was able to pen the beautiful passages of Scripture describing the Body of Christ, but it all began with this initial Revelation of Jesus Christ there on the dusty road to Damascus. The Revelation of Jesus is the foundation of the Church.
BEING A “CHRISTIAN” VERSUS KNOWING THE LORD
How did Paul learn the Gospel? Who taught it to him? “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11,12).” What a glorious statement! Five words uttered by revelation are worth more than ten thousand words obtained through flesh and blood. Dear friend, do you really know the Lord? Is this knowledge based on revelation, or is it merely your idea, or what you’ve been taught by flesh and blood? Now is the time to examine your foundation and discover if you have been building on rock or on sand. We now know how it is possible for one to do many mighty works in Jesus’ Name, yet not know the Lord: revelation is the difference between religious activity and true knowing (Matthew 7:23).
It is quite possible that we have been “Christians” for many years and not known the Lord. I used to find that hard to believe but not anymore. I can truthfully say that I have been a “Christian” all my life, but I have only KNOWN the Lord a few years. Calling yourself a Christian these days is almost the same as calling yourself a Republican or Democrat. It has become more of a label for social convenience sake than a true testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, dwelling within me.
A. W. Tozer wrote: “I see and hear of things that Christian people are doing. As I watch them operate within the profession of Christianity I do raise the question of whether they have been truly converted.”
In the 1980’s I used to go out with other brothers and sisters knocking on doors and passing out tracts. We would ask, “Are you born again? Are you saved? Are you a Christian?” But these terms in recent years have become so watered-down and vague that most everyone who has ever attended a steeple house on Christmas or Easter claims to be a born again Christian - but they don’t have the Revelation of Christ! That the potential exists for us to do things in the name of Jesus without truly knowing and being known of Him ought to put us on our face before the Lord, praying for experiential knowledge of Him by way of revelation. There’s no other way to truly know Him. God has made sure of that.
How much of what we hear being preached and peddled around the world in the Name of Jesus is but the regurgitations and ramblings of people who can only repeat what everyone else is saying? Where is the Revelation of Jesus Christ? Who is the man or the woman that refuses to confer with flesh and blood, but only speaks according to what they have seen and heard by revelation through the Spirit? Most teachers are teaching what was taught to them, and their teachers learned it from their teachers, and so on it goes until we no longer have Spirit-birthed revelation, we have third and fourth-generational head-knowledge, yesterday’s manna and hand-me-down flesh and blood doctrines. As one of my brothers puts it: there are many echoes in the land, but few voices. There is an ocean of difference between repeating what you have heard and speaking of what you have experienced! Is it any wonder that there is much learning, but no experiential knowledge of Truth? If we speak of ourselves then we can only impart knowledge. But, if we resolve to only speak by revelation, we can impart Life. Only revelation can change a person.
Immediately upon hearing this message some may be tempted to ask, “What do I have to do to get this revelation?” The answer is nothing, because it is all of grace. Along with Paul, we may certainly pray for “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of our understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17,18).” Beyond that, we need only trust that the Spirit will indeed reveal the Lord to us if we humble ourselves as children as ask. Once we realize that revelation is all that matters, and God is the only one who can give it, we will stop trying to impress people with our knowledge, powerful speaking, or title. Instead, we will humble ourselves and ask the Father to reveal His Son in us.
THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS MEANS THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS
What about Paul’s commission to preach the Gospel? He did not seek credentials, ordination, or affiliation with a human organization. He did not wait for anyone to confirm the call on his life. He did not seek for hands to be laid on him. But “when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus (Galatians 1:15-17).” Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ was renegade enough, but to preach the gospel to the Gentiles was a departure from the norm for even the Church at that time. It would later prove to be quite controversial and divisive. Prudence would dictate that it would be better to check with the other apostles and get their opinion and feedback before striking out in a new direction. Yet, Paul says once he obtained revelation he had no need to confer with flesh and blood. Why, because he was a maverick, an independent spirit, a rebel? No, it is only because the Revelation of Jesus is sufficient guidance. Flesh and blood cannot add to or take away from the Revelation.
Paul’s testimony before Agrippa expounds upon this initial conversation with the Lord. He says the Lord told him, “I have shown Myself to you for a reason - you are chosen to be my servant and a witness of those revelations of Me that you have already had, and of those in which I shall yet appear to you (Acts 26:16,17, 20th Century NT).” This was Paul’s commission - to testify as to what he has seen, not what he has theorized about, and not what he has heard someone else say. He was to bring the Revelation of Jesus to the world. And so he did. How rich was his understanding! How profound his writings! And oh how great his sufferings!
And what of all that Paul learned as a devout student of Gamaliel? What about his former rank and influence among the religious elite of his day? “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (Philippians 3:7,8).” When a person has the Revelation of Christ they will gladly and with great joy suffer the loss of all things. A person who has the Revelation will willingly lay down their life for what they have seen (Revelation 6:9;12:11).
The Revelation of Jesus Christ will be the stone of stumbling and the rock of offense to Organized Religion (I Peter 2:8). When Stephen was called to give an account to the religious leaders his testimony convicted them so that they ground their teeth in anger. With face shining as an angel, being full of the Holy Ghost, he lifted up his eyes and saw Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:54-56). What a blessed, holy moment; what a vision! - but just look and see what the revelation cost Stephen. They dragged him outside and stoned him to death.
To be sure, when you really and truly meet Jesus of Nazareth, when you “see” Him for the first time, when He reveals Himself to you, it will immediately put you at enmity with those who claim to see but do not see: mostly, the religious and “spiritual” ones, the denominations and Towers of Babel which dot the landscape of Christendom, the scribes and Pharisees of Organized Religion.
How blessed are they which do see and hear the Lord! Many are seeking power, anointing, spiritual gifts, title, office, position, and audience. But revelation is sufficient. If we have the Revelation of Jesus Christ we don’t need anything else. And if we don’t have the Revelation, nothing else will make any difference.

Selasa, 18 Agustus 2009

The Spirit to Overcome


The Spirit to Overcome

By Paul Keith Davis www.whitedoveministries.org


One of the great encouragements for this day is the grace being granted to fulfill Biblical promises related to the unfolding and demonstration of God's Kingdom dimension and His Kingly authority. There are candid and profound prophetic promises identified in the blueprint and strategy of Heaven foreseen by the prophets and foretold in Scripture. Many generations of prophets and seers employed their revelatory gifting to forecast a day identified with the "promise" of God being fully manifested through a body of consecrated people.
Throughout the Church Ages, there have been admonitions and promises given to those who overcome the "spirit of the age" and personal adversity to be sealed into the Kingdom and rewarded with significant spiritual blessings. "To those who overcome" is a noteworthy identification directing the destiny of a body of people who are victorious in the struggle with our adversary, who often counterfeits God's plans and purposes.
Therefore, this incredibly important issue of "overcoming" is not as obvious as one may think. There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is destruction. The Lord clearly warned in Matthew 24 that a form of religion would emerge that was so close to the authentic that it would deceive the very elect, if it were possible.
There is a counterfeit anointing stemming from a subtle form of deception that is linked to the fifth "I will" of satan and his misguided desire to be "like the Most High!" (see Isaiah 14). This is his attempt to emulate as closely as possible through zealous religious activity and natural beauty, a form of religion that relates his wayward aspiration to steal the very life of God promised to His people.
Historically, this has been the case in each expression of revival and spiritual outpouring throughout the Church Ages. However, a day has now arrived in which the rewards of the "overcomers" will be delegated and experientially apprehended by those who are victorious in this struggle and clearly recognize the misleading attempt of the enemy to steal "the birthright" of God's people.
Hidden Manna
One thing that has always been of particular significance to me personally is the promise made to the "overcomers" of the Pergamum Church.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.—Revelation 2:17
There is something intriguing and inviting about receiving a new name and partaking of hidden secrets. They are only hidden from the wise and prudent but freely revealed to the Lord's friends as He promised in John 15:15.
In Scripture, each time a new name was given to God's people, it always represented a change of their character and an impartation of Heavenly virtue for a specific task. Likewise, "hidden manna" is set apart and reserved to spiritually nourish a body of people who are willing to access this privilege.
Qualifying as an Overcomer
One of the great revelations to emerge in this generation is the qualification to be identified as an "overcomer." There is a message of truth that has been delegated to each of the Church Ages since the Day of Pentecost. It has been the Bread of Life for that generation coming from the Spirit of Truth to be embraced and experientially apprehended.
During the days of Martin Luther the manna for that generation was the message of justification by faith. This was fresh and unprecedented truth to the masses because of the religious structure of the day mandating association with an institution rather than the Savior.
Following that generation there emerged the message of sanctification coming from John Wesley, George Whitefield and many others of that day. It was another Heavenly release of manna in the progressive restoration of the spiritual birthright of the Church. With the turn of the 20th century there came the restoration of the "Charismata" with the gifts of the Spirit, speaking in tongues and the experience of the infilling.
There has been the Bread of Life given to each generation with an incentive or reward to those who overcome the religious structures of the day to embrace that message. We discover these incentives in the seven letters to the Churches of Asia written by the Apostle John in his Heavenly experience. Those seven letters also depict a clear spiritual appreciation of the past 2000 years of Church history with the applicable corrections, encouragements and admonitions.
Manifesting Kingdom Reality
We are presently living in the transition from the Laodicean Church Age into the manifestation of Kingdom reality. There is a tremendous display of Truth coming as manna for this day to transform and prepare a body of people to fully engage the Kingdom realm of Heaven and manifest that reality in the earth.
Even during the dark ages when the written Word was inaccessible to the masses, the Living Word manifested Himself to those who were genuinely seeking Him from a pure heart with right motives. Many historical accounts are recorded to validate this reality.
The apostle Paul was granted a great privilege to be a messenger in his day to present the Bread of Life to his generation. As a reward for that place of leadership and sacrifice, he is given the honor of presenting the "overcomers" of his day to the Lord as a chaste virgin. 2 Corinthians 11:2 states:
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
That same privilege is given to the messengers of each generation charged with the commission and mandate to present the manna of the day to God's people. It will be the distinguished honor of God's anointed governmental leaders to prepare and present a body of people as chaste virgins to the Lord to whom He is espoused.
There are messengers sent to each age with a divine mandate and deposit of Truth that is like fire locked up in their bones that must be expressed and demonstrated. These are the stars in the hand of the Lord to present the revelation of Heaven to the Church. This present day has been identified with the promise of an unprecedented release of Heavenly manna through many messengers to groom a people to bear the Lord's likeness and nature. It will be a multiplication of the "light" given throughout the seven Church Ages. According to the Isaiah's prophecy:
The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.—Isaiah 30:26
Abraham's loyal servant, Eleazar, will typify these messengers of God. Eleazar was sent with a message and with gifts to secure a chaste virgin for Isaac, the one who was heir of the promise. This future bride could not be just an ordinary woman; she had to be of the same heritage and lineage as Isaac to become bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.
This is the perfect typical scenario to be executed in this day as well. There are "Eleazars" emerging as loyal and faithful servants and trustworthy stewards of God's mysteries and power to secure a radiant and passionate Bride for the Bridegroom. They will be a body of people who live as "overcomers" and enjoy the benefits promised in Scripture.

Minggu, 16 Agustus 2009

Redemptive Gift of Your City


Redemptive Gift of Your City
Alice Smith
 
The first consideration in discerning a city is to ask the Lord what the REDEMPTIVE GIFT of the city might be. A redemptive gift is a distinct characteristic about that city God can use to demonstrate his divine blessing and truth. What is true about the city in the natural will often be true in the Spirit. For instance, the first name given to Jerusalem was Salem. (See Genesis 14:18-20) Salem means "peace." Jerusalem means "habitation of peace." God’s redemptive plan is to see Jerusalem be a habitation of peace for all nations. Is it now? No. Will it be? Yes! In fact, all of Psalm 122 is dedicated to pray the truth about the city of Jerusalem. Until that time, Satan will focus on replacing the redemptive gift of the city with a destructive gift.
 
How do you decide what might be the redemptive gift for your city? What are the most outstanding features of your city? What is your city known for?
 
*Hospitals? *Waterways? *Trade? *Entertainment
*The people? *Manufacturing? *Agriculture? *Historical Landmarks *Mountains? *Climate?
 
Example:
Houston, our city, is known to have advanced Medical centers, and one of the best acclaimed Cancer treatment hospitals available anywhere in the nation. Houston is also known for the abundance of underground crude oil. As a result, some prophets believe our redemptive gift is to be a healing for the nations. Through our words, our prayers, our love, our unity, our serving the sick, we Houstonians can offer spiritual healing for the nations as well.
 
There are unique churches in every city. What does your church body have that other churches in your city do not have? Is your church exceptionally structured for missions? Do you know of some churches who have a powerful prayer ministry? Are some churches great at evangelism? How about those churches where they excel in their teaching and training methods? Each is unique and is a redemptive gift of God to your city. Instead of criticizing the city church, learn to appreciate the diversity and contribution each brings to the whole.
 
Discern the potential for spiritual breakthrough. Is there unity among the Pastors? Is there a beginning of denominational unity?
 
 Are there regular city prayer meetings?
 Do you see active reconciliation between Christian leaders and lay people?
 Are there intercessor prayer groups that faithfully meet?
 Are there indications that God is beginning to answer prayer (such as reduced crime, public apologies, increased salvations, cooperation among denominations, etc.
 
Find out who named your city? Learn the meaning of its name. Were they godly who named the city? Ungodly? What was the original purpose for which the city was established? More times than not, the redemptive gift of a city relates to its’ original root bondage. Regardless, all sins open the door to the enemy and those doors need to be closed. Ask the Lord to give you a genuine love for your city. Regardless if your city was built on an unholy foundation, be the one to pray for a clean and holy ground.
 
Realize the Lord cannot lay claim on your city, until he first lays claim on you.
 
Commit to fast and pray so the Lord will reveal to you both the redemptive and destructive aspects of your city. Then begin to believe God for victory.
 
Resources: http://www.prayerbookstore.com
FREE School of Prayer: http://www.TeachMeToPray.com
Donate securely online http://www.usprayercenter.org

Kamis, 13 Agustus 2009

GPN 08-12-2009


GPN 08-12-2009


“If you have Christ on the inside, you can stand up to a crisis on the outside” (1 John 4:4) God bless you, Roberto Wijnhof - GPN

Please Pray for my Friends: Raul, Octavio, Jose, Ceaser and Danny.

Pray for their Salvation, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Healing and Restoration. J.S.

Please pray for the Assyrian Christians of Iraq! With nearly 500,000 refugees both within and outside the country they feel abandoned and forgotten by the world. Please pray as we assist them in emergency needs as well as negotiations with Governments for an Assyrian Area. KJ Jr.

Let the door to my promotion open unto me today, in Jesus name. I shall not die before my time; I shall live to testify of Thy greatness. Lord, Please, heal my head, my right arm, my leg, my ears and nose. I receive my healing and favour in Jesus name. S.

Please pray that whatever is wrong with my nervous system and my brain will be immediately fixed. That so i will fall straight to sleep every night from now on when i go to bed. So I may have one continual unbroken uninterrupted sleep every night from now on. That God would immediately heal me of insomnia and whatever has been causing me to wake up continually when i am sleeping and have lack of constant uninterrupted sleep each night. Lord, please give me continual uninterrupted sleeps from this night on. If the enemy has been waking me up, pray that God will cause him to never be able to do this ever again. Pray that God’s salvation will come to my sleep pattern immediately.

Please pray for the safety of david, brian, rylea, kyla, kallie, as they do a "Daddy/Daughters" trip to the Monument Lake/Big Bear Lake area to camp out, Friday-Sunday. They plan to do a lot of fishing and have a great time together! Please pray for KELSEY who is at Camp Blue Haven in New Mexico for two weeks - that the Lord would move in her life in a special way and draw her closer to Him.

Alimujiang Yimiti is on trial this week on charges of ”revealing state secrets”, after being detained in January 2008. Alim’s family are not allowed to attend the trial but were told that he will not be released without charges. Alim was initially accused of carrying out illegal religious activities, but it is believed he is being targeted solely for his Christian faith. Please pray for his case, so he may be a free man in Jesus’ Name. Relay

Please continue to lift S. Up, as her husband has filed for divorce. She still has on-going health issues that are of major concern, and just needs for the Lord to touch her with complete and total healing: mind, body, soul, spirit, and emotions. Discouragement, disappointment, and depression are things that we can pray against, as well.

Unfortunately our brother K. W. had an accident with his bicycle and he should have a surgery in his leg. Please remember him in your praying.

When I offered to pray for C, she wasn't enthusiastic about it. In fact, she wasn't 'enthusiastic' about the 24-7 Prayer Room we’d set up in her school at all. She preferred to lean on her crutches in the entrance we'd constructed between rows of lockers, and watch her year-9 class-friends noisily explore the room. A horse had trodden on her foot a few days before that. I asked if I could pray for her foot also letting her know that I prayed for a few people in the past and they didn’t get healed, but that I was still prepared to believe God. Nothing happened that immediate moment, but I received this text message the next week from one of her teachers. "Hi Phil. Charly came to PE today. She said that the day after you prayed for her foot the pain had gone. When she went to the fracture clinic, the fracture was fixed, they have removed the plaster. She still has crutches but she said it is nearly better. One of her class mates asked if her knees could be prayed for! Thank God for touching this young lady’s life. Pray that these young people will come to know the character of God as they spend time in prayer.

Please pray for L., Continued healing from blood clots, lupus, neurological problems.

Hi my brothers and sisters are asking for a special prayer for Gods strength and provision this week. I hope to be going to Christian camp soon. God richly bless you . Br D.

Please pray for my continued healing after spending a week in the hospital: Atrial Fibrillation; High blood pressure; potential blood clots due to thick blood; heart working at only 60% capacity. I would appreciate your prayers that God would sovereignty heal me, for His glory, and I continue to stand, believing. Please pray for wisdom, discernment, strength, and God's mercy and grace during this time of healing and rest. I would also appreciate prayers for my finances, as I have had to cancel lots of my classes, and will not get paid for them. H.

Please pray for the following brothers and sisters:

Verna D who is a cancer patient. Azucena T., also a cancer patient. Josh so that he may have a business breakthrough. Lebca - better paying regular job in a company that can also pay its H1B visa. Dennis, that he may have a full recovery of his legs. Tinang, full recovery. Riska, for a good paying job with time for ministry. Revelation knowledge as to political prospects. Financial harvest for M. family. HT expansion to provinces

Minggu, 09 Agustus 2009

A House of Prayer For All Nations


A House of Prayer For All Nations
by Chip Brogden
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and He said unto them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you have made it a “den of thieves”‘(Matthew 21:12,13).”
Jesus makes reference to two passages of Scripture in this text. The first is Isaiah 56:7: “Them will I bring to My holy hill and give them joy in My house of prayer; their offerings and sacrifices shall be accepted on My altar there; My temple shall be called a house of prayer for every nation (Jerusalem Bible).”
Originally, the promise was for the nation of Israel, but ultimately, it was fulfilled in the Church. The temple of God in Jerusalem never allowed itself to be a house of prayer for “all nations”; only Jews were permitted to enter (Acts 21:28). Archeologists have found markers around the boundary of the Temple grounds bearing this inscription: “Any foreigner who ignores the warning and goes beyond this point shall have no one but himself to blame for the death which shall be his penalty.” So the passage in Isaiah was never fulfilled in Israel, but it is fulfilled in the Church, as a holy nation of priests (I Peter 2:9).
Jesus also alludes to Jeremiah 7:11: “Is this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?” The physical temple came to represent something other than the purpose for which it was created. Thus, the Lord Jesus, in word and in deed, demonstrates that He no longer considers the physical temple as His House, but calls it a “den of thieves”, thus establishing a new House, built upon the foundation of Himself (Matthew 16:18).
Today we know that the Body of Christ is the Temple of God (I Peter 2:5,6). As such, the Church stands on the earth before God and on behalf of men. One of its tasks is to be a house of prayer for all nations. This means the Church is a place where people of all nations may find fellowship with God, and it also means that the Church is a place where prayer is offered up to God on behalf of all nations. It is this second meaning that we want to focus our attention on.
THE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE OF THE CHURCH
Prayer is based on communion and fellowship with God. That is the foundation for all prayer, supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving. We cannot really pray if we do not have a relationship with God to base our praying on. This is what sets the Church apart from many religions that treat prayer as an impersonal formality which one must perform in a ceremonial, detached way. Our prayer is so much more than that, but at the same time, it goes beyond communion and fellowship. It includes communing with God, but also includes discerning what He wants, agreeing with it, calling it forth, and submitting ourselves to it (this is the key) IN ADVANCE of its fulfillment. In fact, being able to know what the Lord wants and what He is doing is one of the privileges of being a friend of God (John 15:15; Genesis 18:17; Exodus 33:11a).
God has decided that He will not act apart from the prayers of the saints. We know that apart from Him, we CAN DO NOTHING. We also need to know that apart from us, God WILL DO NOTHING. So He bids us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).” God is concerned for the earth, and calls upon the Church to join together with Him in bringing His Will to pass. Towards what end are we praying? That God’s Kingdom and God’s Will would be manifest in the earth. In heaven, God’s Will and God’s Kingdom are already established (Psalm 119:89). Even though God has placed everything beneath the feet of Jesus Christ, here, in the earth, we do not yet see all things submitted to Him (Hebrews 2:8). There is a chasm that exists between God’s stated purpose of “all things in Christ” and life on earth as we see it today.
Today, Scripture acknowledges, we do not YET see all things submitted to Him. I must say I find that word “YET” terribly exciting! That word “YET” means that something is in store for everything that remains unsubmitted to the Lord Jesus Christ. The presence of the word “YET” means its manifestation is inevitable, and the futility of resistance is illustrated for us in Psalm 2:
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people [nations] imagine a vain thing?” (v.1)
The “vain thing” is the mistaken belief that the nations of the world can somehow escape the inevitable fulfillment of “all things in Christ”. David clearly sees Christ as ruling the nations with a rod of iron. Again, this is a future fulfillment, but this sheds new light on what is means to “bridge the gap” in prayer. It is not merely bridging the gap between God and man. In a very real sense, the Church is the means through which the gap between God’s Will and Earth’s Reality is brought into alignment, until Christ has the manifest preeminence over all things (Colossians 1:15-18). In that day, WE WILL SEE all things submitted to Him. Can we begin to imagine what that will look like, and what it will take to bring the nations of the world to that point?
A word of caution: we should distance ourselves from the idea that this can be achieved simply by electing Christians to the highest offices of each nation. Such thinking is erroneous. The Church is not going to take over the earth, but will inherit the earth, by way of meekness and submission to Christ as All in All, and not by seizing earthly power or government (Psalm 37).
“We do not YET see all things submitted to Him; BUT we see Jesus.” We do not live by what we see, but we live by faith. It would be a mistake to assume that just because one does not YET see all things submitted to Christ that He then must not really be Lord of all. This costly mistake will be the undoing of the multitudes. We are not pretending to see something that does not really exist - yes, we agree that we do not YET see all things submitted to Him, things are bad, and will probably get worse; BUT we do see JESUS, and for the Christian who seeks first the Kingdom of God, that revelation is sufficient. You may see every fact to the contrary and argue against Him, but we see Who He is by revelation, and by revelation we know that what we see happening in the unsubmitted earth today will be set in order when Christ and His Kingdom are manifest in all of creation.
The Church is meant to represent to the earth what the preeminence of Christ means, and remains on the earth as the vehicle through which God may find expression for His Purpose. Hence, Christians are not immediately carried off to heaven when they are saved. Instead, we remain on the earth as salt and as light (Matthew 5:13,14), the salt being a preservative, and the light being a witness to the Truth. What Truth? That Jesus Christ is Lord, not just in heaven, but in earth, for:
“[God] raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and have Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:20-23).”
When we see this, when we order our prayers around this, and when we live our lives in such a way that shows we believe it and demonstrate the reality of it EVEN THOUGH WE DO NOT “YET” SEE IT, then we are properly bearing the Testimony of Jesus in the earth.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS TO BE MADE
Someone might ask if God wants His Kingdom to come and His Will to be done, why does He not just do it? Why do we have to pray for it to be done in order for it to happen?
There are many questions along these lines that could be asked. For example, the Lord says we should pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). But if the Lord loves us and promises to supply our needs, why must we ask Him every day for our bread? Again, the Lord says, “Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7).” We might wonder why, if God knows what we need already, is it necessary for us to ask Him? If He wants us to find something, why does He not just reveal it to us - why do we have to seek it? If it is His Will for a door to be opened, why do we have to knock?
The Lord tells His disciples, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2).” If the Lord knows that more workers are needed, why does He not just send in more workers? Why would He wait until we ask Him to do something before He does it?
We believe the answer to these questions is based upon the fact that God wishes to do nothing apart from the Church. This is in contrast to a kind of attitude that passively accepts whatever happens and just believes that everything will take care of itself. This sounds like faith, but it is really not. It is a subtle form of laziness. We cannot really have true faith until we have prayed, and prayer is active dependence, not passive dependence. Passive dependence will say, “We can never know or understand God’s mysterious ways, so we just leave it up to Him to do as He sees fit. Whatever will be, will be. We will just make the best of whatever happens.” This will open the door for all kinds of unnecessary satanic affliction. This is not faith.
A similar kind of passivity says, “If it is meant to be, it will be. If God means for me to do a certain thing, then everything will line up the way it should. And if God does not mean for me to do it, then no matter what I do, I will be unable to perform it. So there is no great need to pray.” If this were the case then daily bread would automatically come to us, and doors would automatically open, and workers would automatically go forth into the harvest. And If these things happened of their own accord, regardless of whether we prayed or not, then everything Jesus taught us about prayer is superfluous. Jesus taught us to always pray, and not quit (Luke 18:1).
The truth is that God HAS revealed His Will to us, the Spirit WILL make His Mind known to us if we ask, and we are thus instructed to cooperate with God by praying specifically for His Will and for His Kingdom to be accomplished. The fact that God has promised to provide us with daily bread, open doors, and workers for the harvest is intended to inspire us to ask for these things to be done and to give us a basis upon which we may reasonably expect God to bring it to pass. Prayer brings us to a place where we can know and trust God, and can become acquainted with His ways. It also enables us to learn what it means to overcome, and to share in His glory. He wants us to come to Him, to know Him, and to agree with Him through prayer so that He may perform His Will. Beloved, it takes more faith to pray than it does to remain passive.
Many things are left undone, not because God does not desire to do them, but because we have not joined with Him in cooperative prayer; hence, prayer is the most vital work of the Church, more important than preaching, witnessing, or gathering together. Apart from prayer, nothing happens, and if there is to be any measure of success or blessing in the Church it will be because someone, somewhere, has prayed. Concerning the critical nature of prayer, Watchman Nee says, “If anyone will rise up and devote himself to the work of prayer exclusively, how excellent that will be. God is waiting for such ones to work together with Him so as to enable Him to finish His work. Some Christians may ask why the Lord does not save more sinners, why He does not cause every believer to overcome. I sincerely believe that He would undoubtedly do such works if people would only pray.”
By the same principle, many things which should not be permitted are indeed permitted, not because God would necessarily want them to occur, but because the Church has allowed it to be so. We ask why God would allow such and such. We should ask ourselves why we would allow such and such, and why we have not prayed as we ought. We represent Heaven’s Will on earth, and if that Will is not executed, the reason lies with us. Now it is impossible to judge each particular thing and determine why it was permitted or why it was not permitted. We are not trying to blame anyone for anything. We do want to stress that it is the responsibility of the Church to bind and to loose what heaven would have bound or loosed (Matthew 18:18,19). Some things are unavoidable, but through prayer, the Church can lessen the negative impact such events would otherwise have. Many things ARE avoidable if we pray about them in advance.
THE WORK OF PRAYER
Before we can really be effectual in prayer there is a lot of preliminary work IN PRAYER to be done. Eventually one realizes that we literally have to pray about prayer. We have to fight just to secure a place and a time to be alone with God. We are not talking about communion and fellowship, for this can and should be done throughout the day as we attend to our responsibilities. But there is a specific time and place and appointment we must have with God that must, by its very nature, cancel out and override whatever else we may be doing at the moment. If we are not diligent to “pray about praying” then we will find ourselves going along for several days and then realizing that we have not really prayed in awhile.
Then we must pray about HOW to pray, and this represents another battle. All the praying in the world will do no good if we are not praying correctly, that is, according to the WORD, according to how Jesus TEACHES us to pray (Luke 11:1-4). If we are not praying according to His WILL, our prayers are in vain. I recently asked a sister what she wants, and she replied, “I do not know what I want, because I do not know what God wants.” This is very wise, and God will be sure to reveal His Will to a person with this perspective.
Thus, prayer is more than making requests to God, it is waiting before God to discover what requests ought to be made. This is what it means to “watch and pray.” In order to learn HOW to pray, it will take a few good seasons of learning how to watch, wait, and listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Who will help us pray according to the Mind of God (Romans 8:27). Watching and praying go together, and the one who cannot watch cannot pray.
Next, there is the battle to know, discern, perceive, intuit, and fathom God’s Will: His overriding, all-inclusive purpose for all creation; His desire and goal for the Church; and His individual direction for each one of us as individual disciples and followers of Jesus. That is quite a range of things, and we should not expect to understand it all in one day or in one week. But if we will seek Him and His Will in all things then He will begin to give us insight into them, because truly He works “all things together for good according to His Purpose.” And what exactly IS His purpose? The preeminence of Christ. And how does that factor in this matter, and that matter, this thing, and that thing? THAT is precisely what He wants to show us as we pray.
Finally, there is the struggle to submit one’s self to the revealed Will of God once we know what it is, and this is by far the most intense part of the battle. Everything hinges on this. David fasted and prayed for his child, laying upon the ground for seven days and nights. But once the child died, the Will of God was no longer a question mark over the matter, it was a period. How did David respond? Was he disappointed? Angry? Bitter? No - he was SUBMITTED. As soon as he heard the child was dead, he arose from the ground, bathed, changed his clothes, went into the house of God to WORSHIP, returned home and broke the fast by eating a meal (II Samuel 12:20). When questioned, his response was, in effect, when I did not know God’s Will, I prayed and fasted; but now that I know it, why should I keep pleading with God to do what is contrary to His Will?
When we reach this stage of prayer it is time for surrender, not striving. Then it is proper to say, “I will accept whatever happens now.” We cannot say that if we have not yet prayed, but if we HAVE prayed then there is nothing else TO say. I suggest that the greater part of David’s seven day fast was spent coming to terms with God’s Will. Only a man so surrendered could have remained so serene.
THE CROSS IS CENTRAL TO THE WORK OF PRAYER
Precisely how does a human being, with all their feelings and emotions, relegate his (or her) natural sense, ignore what his eyes and ears tell him, and really get into a place in God where he can pray in cooperation with God’s Will? What we have called “taking up the Cross” is now about to hit home for many of us who have held it as a mere doctrine, but not an experience. For only someone dead to himself can do it, and this is exactly what the Cross is meant to accomplish in the life of the Christian. The very struggle itself is necessary, not too unlike the baby bird which must struggle with its own shell before it can be free of it. We see this pointedly illustrated in the Garden of Gethsemane by Christ Himself, when He prayed:
“Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not My will, but Your Will be done (Matthew 26:39).”
His sweat mingled with His tears, and He wrestled with Himself three times before He could settle the issue, but once it was settled, He gave no resistance, and within a few hours everything was accomplished. Oh! That is where we are lacking today! How long will we kick and struggle against the pricks? How long will we argue and complain against God and resist His dealings with us? If we have to die in order to truly live, let us be about the business of dying! If we must be crucified in order to have Resurrection Life, then let us just submit to it and get it over with!
Some very telling features are found in this passage and in the ones related to it. We see at once that there is a thing called God’s Will, and there is a thing called My Will. If this was true of Jesus, believe me when I say it is abundantly true of us. Forget about the devil for a moment, this issue of God’s Will versus My Will is one hundred thousand times more intense than any fight with some devil or demon. God’s Will and My Will are not always in agreement, and that is going to be a problem for God and for me until it is resolved. How can I represent His Kingdom in the earth and talk about His preeminence over all creation if He does not have the preeminence in my own life?
HENCE THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER: to get aligned with the Mind, Will, Heart, Desire, Purpose, and Aim of God Himself. It is a fight and a struggle just to get to Gethsemane. It is a battle to get your brethren to stay awake with you for even one hour; and it is an all-out war to “pray thrice” or ten times or twenty times or one hundred times, as the case may be, until you have gotten the victory over yourself, and come away soaked with the blood, sweat, and tears of that early morning wrestling. But once the outcome is decided in God’s favor, what awesome power and Life one receives, to drink that Cup that looked so impossible before, and to go forth bearing the Cross in the strength and power of God Himself, to do whatever He requires!
Admittedly, the kind of prayer we are calling the Church to will require a great deal of self-denial and work, more work than most of us are accustomed to, and for that reason the majority of people who read this will give it up as too laborious. Like the disciples who fell asleep, some simply cannot stay awake (literally or figuratively) to watch and pray for any length of time. This is due in part to the “lazy man’s” way of praying that we have been taught and have followed for so long. Now we are not talking about how many hours per day you should spend in prayer. You can be effectual and fervent for twenty minutes per day, and you can be totally ineffectual and half-hearted for several hours straight. Which fulfills God’s purpose? We need to work on the quality of our intercessions first and foremost, and then we can work on the quantity of them.
Thus, a serious call to prayer and fasting involves something more than an occasional prayer meeting, an hour-long prayer vigil, or an occasional skipped meal or two. It is a call, not to the world in general, but to the Church, for it is the Call of the Cross all over again: to give no place to the flesh, even in prayer; to subjugate all that pertains to the natural man; to get aligned with something larger and bigger than myself; to get one’s own house in order; to bring a message of warning AND mercy to the unsubmitted earth; to prepare the way for the preeminence of Christ, and to demonstrate that preeminence to the rest of the world. Towards this End, we pray that the Lord will raise up more of the saints to represent His interests as the House of Prayer for All Nations.

Kamis, 06 Agustus 2009

DOA 40 HARI MENGSIHI BANGSA-BANGSA



DOA 40 HARI MENGSIHI BANGSA-BANGSA
Shalom tubuh Kristus,

Menjelang bulan suci umat Islam, Ramadhan, ada sebuah pergerakan doa sedunia dimana, kita menggalang para pendoa syafaat atau anak Tuhan yang terbeban dan mau berkomitmen untuk berdoa bagi kaum Muslim. Tujuan doa ini adalah agar saat kaum Muslim mencari Allah mereka pun dapat bertemu Isa Almasih atau Yesus Kristus.
Melalui gerakan doa yang telah dimulai di Indonesia kurang lebih sejak tahun 1995 ini, kami telah mendengar banyak kesaksian bagaimana kaum Kedar ini berbalik pada Tuhan Yesus dan mengalami God Encounter.
Kami mau mengajak setiap institusi gereja, yayasan, persekutuan doa maupun pribadi lepas pribadi untuk sama-sama ambil bagian dalam pergerakan doa ini.
DOA 40 HARI MENGSIHI BANGSA-BANGSA (KHUSUSNYA MENDOAKAN DUNIA ISLAM), dimulai 12 Agustus – 20 September 2009. Buku panduan doa 40 Hari versi dewasa dan anak dalam bahasa Indonesia @ Rp.8.000,- . Sedang buku ini juga tersedia dalam versi bahasa Inggris untuk dewasa seharga @ Rp.35.000,- dan untuk anak dalam bahasa Inggris seharga @ Rp.20.000,-.
Kami menyediakan Buku Panduan Doa selama satu bulan, yang akan memadukan doa syafaat kita dalam satu kesepakatan (doa korporat).
Bila anda tertarik untuk bergabung dalam pergerakan ini dan memesan buku doa, harap menghubungi Ibu Hermina di 081388070197 atau email pray40daysindo@yahoo.com .
God bless you, all.

Dave Broos
Global Prayer Network
http://globalprayernetwork.blogspot.com

Rabu, 05 Agustus 2009

POKOK DOA MISSI BULAN AGUSTUS 2009


Eropa
 Jerman (82,5 juta), Ibu kota Berlin (3,4 juta), agama: Kristen 33%, Katolik 33%, tanpa agama 28%. Diperkirakan bahwa di Jerman hidup 4 juta orang beragama Islam, biasanya imigran dari luar, tetapi sebagian sudah mempunyai paspor Jerman. Dari Amerika dikirim surat-surat kepada keluarga-keluarga Turki di Jerman, di dalam setiap surat ada satu tawaran tentang sebuah PB dan kursus Alkitab tertulis, informasi tentang program TV Turki yang bisa diterima lewat satelit, lewat internet penerima surat bisa berhubungan dengan orang Kristen Turki. Kel. Pdt. S. Obadja: Berdoa secara khusus un-tuk penjangkauan jiwa-jiwa dan pemuridan di pos-pos penanaman Misi GMI di Nürnberg, Hannover & Köln-Bonn. Informasi bisa dilihat di website gereja GMI: www.gereja-misi-indonesia.org.
Moldavia (3,8 juta,), Ibu kota Chisinau (0,6 juta), agama: Ortodoks 70,4%, Katolik 5,8%, Kristen 3,2%. Negara ini serba miskin. Satu juta orang bekerja di luar negeri, karena dalam negara tidak ada kerja. Bapak Butje L. dan Ibu Liuba (O.M. Indonesia) bertanggung jawab di keuangan dan IT. Mereka sekeluarga cuti di Indonesia sampai pertengahan Agustus 2009. Selama musim panas OM Moldavia menjangkaui banyak orang di negara ini. Karena selain team setempat ada 140 orang datang dari luar negeri untuk memberitakan Injil dalam berbagai usaha dan acara kepada penduduk Moldavia. Tolong doakan mereka yang lewat kampanya ini sudah mendengar kesaksian Injil. Satu badan P.I. mendapat kesempatan yang baik dan bisa mengajar etika di sekolah-sekolah umum, melalui ini lima Hamba TUHAN mendapat hubungan baik dengan murid dan mereka mengerti cara hidup dan baik. Literatur dalam tiga bahasa Rusia, Rumania dan Ukraina mempunyai peranan besar.
 Lithuania (3,5 juta), Ibu kota Vilnius (0,6 juta), agama: Katolik 80%, Ortodoks 5%, tidak beragama 13,4%, Kristen 1,1%. Krisis ekonomi mengakibatkan, bahwa makin banyak penduduk tidak bekerja lagi. Karena itu mereka juga jarang membeli buku Kristen. Sebenarnya harus diterbitkan lebih banyak buku dalam bahasa Lithuania, dan bahasa Rusia jauh lebih banyak diperlukan. Hanya modal kurang untuk mencetak lebih banyak buku. Majalah „Mata Air Yang Hidup“ bisa diedarkan luas.
Albania (3,1 juta), Ibukota Tirana (0,4 juta), agama: Islam 70%, Ortodoks 22%, Katolik 16%, Kristen 0,25% (20 000 orang). Kebebasan agama makin baik dan gereja-gereja bertumbuh dengan baik. Orang Kristen dilatih untuk membentuk kelompok PA di antara masyarakat umum.
 Kosovo (2,1 juta), Ibu kota Prishtina (0,2 juta), agama: Islam. Ortodoks, Katolik. Suku: Albania 92%, Serbia 5,3%, Turki 2,7%, Gorania, Roma, Ashkali, Bosniaka. Rekaman Injil mau merekam kedua ba-hasa Goran dan Kosovo (Albania), yang biasanya dipakai oleh penduduk yang beragama Islam.
 Belorusia (10 juta), Ibukota Minsk (1,7 juta), agama: Ortodoks 67%, Katolik 8%, Kristen 1%, Islam 0,7%, tanpa agama 22%. Gereja baru harus mendaftarkan diri, karena ada banyak persyaratan sering pendaftaran tidak diterima oleh yang berwajib. Karena jemaat tidak terdaftar, sering para pemimpin gereja didenda berat. Satu pendeta yang menjalankan satu perpustakaan yang meminjam buku-buku Kristen diperingati oleh yang berwajib. Kebebasan beragama sudah sangat dibatasi.
 Rusia (140 juta), Ibu kota Moskow (10,4 juta), agama: Ortodoks 41%, Katolik 1%, Kristen 0,7%, Is-lam 15%, Budhis 0,7%, Animis 1%, tanpa agama 31%. Secara umum semua orang Kristen yang bukan Ortodoks dinilai sebagai orang bidat, malah di media difitnah sebagai musuh negara dan mata-mata Amerika. Meskipun orang Injili ditekan dan difitnah mereka mempunyai rencana, bahwa jumlah orang Injili akan bertumbuh dari 0,7% menjadi 5%. Iman besar! Sudah dilatih beberapa orang Kristen setempat menjadi perekam, agar mereka bisa merekam cerita Injil dalam berbagai bahasa dari suku-suku di Siberia. Daerah Siberia luas betul, jalan hanya sedikit, musim dingin lama dan keras betul, jarak dari pemukiman satu yang lain selalu jauh. Salah satu suku di situ adalah Tchutcha (6000 orang), mereka menyembah akan roh-roh. Ada satu keluarga yang melayani di antara mereka, kalau musim dingin bisa menjadi dingin sampai –50° Celsius.
 Armenia, Kaukasus, (3 juta), Ibukota Jerevan (1,1 juta), agama: Ortodoks 78%, Katolik 5%, Kristen 2%, Islam 1,2%. Makin banyak orang Kristen dari negara ini pergi ke Rusia dan negara-negara ber-agama Islam untuk memberitakan Injil di situ.
Afrika
 Guinea-Bissau (1,7 juta), Ibu kota Bissau (0,4 juta), agama Islam 48%, Animis 42%, Katolik 7%, Kris-ten 2,5%. Bapak Pdt. Titus Dima, WEC, tetap mengajar setiap hari di Youth Center untuk menyiap-kan anak muda buat masa depannya. Pada bulan September seorang dari Amerika akan datang me-nolong selama setahun. Doakan semua persiapannya untuk masuk ke negara yang total berbeda dengan Amerika. Ibu Ritha M., WEC, sudah kembali di Guinea-Bissau. Ia melayani di antara orang Fulakunda, satu keluarga sebagai kawan pelayanan sudah dipanggil TUHAN dan belajar bahasa Pu-laar, bahasa orang Fulakunda. Ibu Salomi T., WEC, Beban pelayanan adalah orang Susu dan Nalu. Se-lama enam bulan ia membantu di pusat di kota Bissau sebagai bendahara dan mengurus tamu.
 Gambia (1,7 juta), Ibukota Banjul (0,5 juta), Agama: Islam 89%, Animis 6,3%, Katolik 2,6%, Kristen 1%. Sudah tersedia cukup banyak literatur dan kaset dalam berbagai bahasa lokal, tetapi belum ada satu koodinator yang bisa membawa media ini ke gereja, toko-toko buku dan masyarakat umum. Diperlukan seorang yang mempunyai satu dorongan mau membawa bahan ini kepada orang yang memerlukannya, agar mereka juga menjadi bagian dalam Kerajaan Allah.
 Nigeria (155 juta), Ibukota Abuja (0,5 juta), Agama: Islam 45%, Kristen 28%, Katolik 12%, bidat 11%. Di bahasa Kamwè sudah ada PB, sekarang ini juga ada bagian lain dari Alkitab. Orang Kristen sedang dilatih untuk mengadakan kelompok PA dengan bahan ini di antara masyarakat yang memakai ba-hasa ini. Dalam bahasa Mambila sedang disiapkan bahan PA. Yang menjadi Kristen di negara bagian di Utara sering harus melarikan diri, kalau tidak, mereka akan dibunuh oleh keluarga sendiri dan polisi tidak akan menolong yang dihantam. Kalau tidak dibunuh mereka diusir dari desa dan mereka harus meninggalkan semua harta benda mereka yang dirampas oleh penduduk setempat.
 Benin (9 juta), masih perlu rekaman Injil dalam bahasa-bahasa ini: Ede Nago; Fon-gbe: Kotafou; Fulbe-borgu; Fulfulde; Gbe, Gbesi; Ica ; Idaca; Kura; Kyenga; Lama: Kante; Waama: Tangamma.
 Somalia (8,3 juta), Ibukota Mogadishu (1,2 juta), agama Islam. Perang saudara di antara suku dan gerombolan pemberontak makin jadi. Sudah 1,3 juta orang menjadi pengungsi dalam negara sendiri. Menjadi seorang percaya akan Kristus sangat berbahaya, lewat radio ada beberapa petobat. Jemaat-jemaat kecil hidup sendirian dan tidak dapat pengajaran firman Tuhan, karena masalah keamanan. Berdoalah agar Tuhan memakai siaran radio Kristen untuk melayani mereka. Mereka memerlukan ketabahan, bulan Juni sudah tujuh orang Kristen di kota Baidoa dibunuh oleh orang fanatik.
 Djibouti (0,9 juta), agama utama Islam. Di dalam perpustakaan mahasiswa bahasa Inggris minta ditolong dalam pekerjaan rumah, ada banyak pembicaraan dengan para pengunjung.
 Tanzania: (33 juta), Ibu Kota Dodoma (0,3 juta), kota besar: Dar es Salaam (3 juta), agama: Islam 32%, Katolik 32%, Kristen 20%, Animis. Di kepulauan Zanzibar dan di pantai sebagian besar pen-duduk beragama Islam, di pedalaman Kristen, Katolik dan Animis. 160+ suku, bahasa-bahasa utama: Swahili dan Inggris. Di kepulauan Zanzibar ada satu gereja yang tidak bisa berbakti karena ancaman.
 Zimbabwe (12 juta), Ibukota Harare (1,3 juta). Situasi politik memulai makin stabil lagi. Badan P.I. bisa melatih orang Kristen untuk membina orang Kristen di kelompok PA.
 Afrika Selatan (47 juta), kota besar: Pretoria (2 juta), Cape Town (2,9 juta). Bapak & Ibu Pdt. N. Ra-jagukguk (WEC Indonesia): Bapak Nim melayani di antara kelompok target. Bapak Nim berterima kasih bahwa pemilu di AS di konsulat Indonesia di Cape Town berjalan dengan baik. Ibu Nur tetap mengunjungi orang target di RS. Doakan juga untuk pendidikan, kesehatan serta pertumbuhan iman anak-anak mereka, yaitu Stevi, Sony dan Rebecca. Doakan persiapan cuti mulai bulan November.
 Ethiopia (74,3 juta), Ibukota Addis Adeba (3 juta), agama: Ortodoks 57%, Islam 31%, Kristen 20%, Animism 3%. Petobat yang baru selalu ditekan. Akhirnya berulang kali ada pertikaian antara agama, orang Injili menderita, karena diserang oleh orang fanatik dari pihak Islam atau Ortodoks. Seorang wanita Kristen divonis dua tahun penjara dengan tuduhan, bahwa ia sudah menjelekkan nama agama lain, ini terjadi, meskipun dalam pengadilan tidak dimajukan satu bukti. Malah para pemim-pin daerah minta ia dihukum mati. Dalam situasi ini, gereja terus bertekad untuk menyebarkan Injil.
Timur Tengah dan Afrika Utara
 Lewat Radio, TV, dan Internet berita Injil disiarkan di daerah ini dalam bahasa Arab dan bahasa-bahasa lain yang dipakai penduduk dalam daerah ini. Berdoalah bahwa semua penduduk dalam re-gion ini akan sadar tentang pemberitaan ini dan dapat terima berita ini. Makin banyak orang sudah mengenal Kristus karena lewat media ini. Mereka memerlukan pelayanan ketindaklanjutan.
 Bapak kita di surga bekerja. Di salah satu tempat seorang dukun besar selalu mengirim anak-anak buahnya untuk mengganggu pertemuan Kristen dengan kuasa gelap. Pada satu hari anak perempu-annya sakit keras, ia tidak bisa menyembuhkannya, akhirnya orang Kristen dipanggil untuk men-doakan anak ini. Jesus menjawab doa itu, anak ini sembuh dan si dukun menaklukkan diri terhadap Kristus, lepaskan semua kuasa gelap, dan rumahnya menjadi tempat ibadah akan Yesus Kristus.
 Mauritania (3,1 juta), Penduduk: Suku Maur Hitam dan Putih 65%, orang Afrika Hitam 30%, Berber 5%. Agama hampir 100% Islam. Hanya sedikit orang Kristen, mereka memerlukan perlindungan, karena mereka hidup terisolasi dan kesepian. Mereka kesulitan untuk menghubungi keluarga-keluarga mereka, karena keluarga mereka tidak setuju, bahwa mereka sudah bertobat.
 Maroko (31 juta), Ibu kota Rabat (1,4 juta), agama 99% Islam, Katolik 0,3%. Di dalam negara ini ada l.k. 1000 orang percaya yang bertobat dari agama Islam yang berkumpul di 30-32 jemaat kecil. Meskipun penduduk negara ini tetap beragama Islam yang setia, tetapi semua atap rumah penuh dengan atena satelit untuk dapat terima siaran dari luar negeri. Tetapi agama Islam sekarang ini juga mempunyai program TV lewat satelit. Di negara ini tidak boleh mendirikan satu jemaat atau boleh mendirikan satu gedung untuk kebaktian, karena itu semua jemaat harus berkumpul di rumah orang. Kalau satu orang percaya akan Kristus, ini merupakan satu noda untuk seluruh keluarga.
 Mesir (77 juta), Ibukota Kairo (18 juta), agama: Islam 86%, Koptik 10%, Kristen 0,8%. Tekanan ter-hadap orang Kristen meningkat lagi, para pemimpin gereja menduga hal ini terjadi, karena makin banyak orang Muslim percaya akan Kristus, sesudah melihat satelit-TV Kristen atau mendengar pro-gram radio Kristen. Juga ada yang bertobat karena melihat hidup orang Kristen atau lewat mimpi.
 Sudan (39 juta), Ibu kota Khartoum (4,8 juta), agama: Islam 70%, Katolik 5%, Kristen 10%, Animis 15%. Di kota Chat sudah satu gedung gereja dengan tempat duduk 500 kursi dibakar orang fanatik, pada waktu ada kebaktian. Anggota jemaat bisa melarikan. Gedung dipakai oleh dua jemaat, seka-rang ini kedua jemaat harus berbakti di bawah kolong langit. Meskipun Injil sudah meluas, tetap di Sudan yang begitu luas masih ada daerah dan suku-suku yang belum pernah mendengar berita Injil. Rektor dari universitas mengizinkan kepada mahasiswa untuk membuka satu pameran Alkitab di kampus. Banyak mahasiswa datang. Tetapi langsung datang orang fanatik menghancurkan alat pameran dan membakar semua buah Alkitab. Orang Kristen protes di kantor rektor, dia hanya men-jawab, „Kamu salah sendiri, karena lewat pameran Alkitab kamu memprovokasi orang damai untuk menjadi kejam.” Di daerah Dafur orang Kristen dihantam oleh gerombolan berkuda. Orang Kristen di Ibu kota bisa membantu mereka dengan membawa bahan makanan kepada mereka.
 Israel (6 juta), agama: Yahudi 81,4%, Islam 14,5%, Druze 1,6%, Katolik 1,3%, Ortodoks 0,8%, Kristen 0,2%, suku: Yahudi 79%, Arab 20%. Jalur Gaza (1,3 juta), Palestina (3 juta, Islam 95+%, Kristen ber-bagai aliran 1-2%), di Jalur Gaza hidup tertinggal 2,500 orang Kristen (hampir semua orang Ortodoks, sedikit orang Injili), mereka takut, karena mereka tidak mengetahui, kapan mereka menjadi sasaran. Berdoalah bahwa untuk daerah ini diciptakan damai yang dirindukan oleh semua penduduk.
 Jordania (4,8 juta), Ibukota Amman (1,4 juta), agama: Islam 94%, Ortodoks 2,7%, Katolik 1,5%, Kris-ten 0,5%. Buat orang Kristen keturunan ada sedikit kebebasan agama, tetapi yang bertobat dari Islam menghadapi berbagai kesulitan, khususnya dari keluarga dan lingkungan mereka sendiri. Kadang-kadang tekanan begitu berat, bahwa mereka akan kembali kepada agama lama.
 Iraq (24,5 juta), Ibukota Baghdad (4,8 juta), orang Arab 75-80%, orang Kurdi 15-20%, orang Asyur dll 5%, agama Islam 97% (aliran Syiah 62%, aliran Sunni 35%), Katolik 1%, Ortodoks 0,5%, Kristen 0,05%. Tidak ada keamanan sama sekali buat orang Kristen dari aliran apa pun, mereka dibunuh, dirampasi, diancam, dipukuli, dan diusir. Pada tanggal 11/12 Juli selama 24 jam ada tujuh serangan terhadap orang Kristen dan fasilitas Kristen, lima orang dibunuh dan 35 orang luka, karena peledakan bom dan tembakan. Doakanlah mereka! Antara pengungsi Iraq yang tinggal dalam satu negara lain, Firman TUHAN diberitakan. Sekarang ini sudah 120 pengungsi Iraq yang secara berkala berkumpul untuk mempelajari Alkitab.
 Yaman, (20 juta), Ibu kota Sana’a (1,3 juta), agama Islam (62% Sunni, 37% Syiah), 200 orang Kristen, sebagian masih tersembunyi. Negara ini kurang aman, ada pemberontakan, pertikaian dan pencu-likan. Sebagian daerah di sebelah utara sudah dikuasai oleh gerombolan Huthi yang dipimpin oleh aliran Islam Zaidi, semacam aliran Syiah. Di mana-mana bisa melihat slogan mereka, khusus anak muda dihasut untuk membenci pemerintah, orang asing dan orang Kristen bersama orang Yahudi. Pada tanggal 13 Juni ada sembilan tenaga asing yang bekerja di salah satu rumah sakit diculik. Tiga wanita dibunuh oleh para penculik, yang lain nasib tidak diketahuinya. Berdoalah!
 Iran (69 juta), Ibukota Teheran (8 juta), agama Islam 98%, Ortodoks Armenia 0,2% (150,000), orang Kristen Injili lebih dari 250 ribu orang (ada orang yang mengirakan bahwa jumlah ini lebih tinggi lagi), jumlah ini meningkat terus. Cukup banyak orang Kristen ditangkap polisi dan sedang mende-rita dalam tahanan. Keluarganya memerlukan ketabahan. Pada tanggal 12 Juni presiden lama sudah dipilih kembali, berdoalah, karena ada banyak protes dalam negara, karena dirasakan bahwa hasil pemilihan ini sudah dipalsukan. Di negara ini bahaya kalau dibagikan literatur Kristen, apalagi Alki-tab, karena orang Kristen dituduh dengan cara ini mereka mengganggu ketertiban negara.
 Turki (74 juta), Ibukota Ankara (3 juta), kota besar Istanbul (10 juta), agama: Islam 99,8% berbagai aliran dan dicampuri dengan berbagai kepercayaan kebatinan, okultisme, dan tahyul. Orang Injili 3,500 orang Turki. Sudah ada anak muda Kristen generasi kedua, mereka memerlukan juga kelahiran baru seperti orang tua mereka. Doakanlah para pemimpin jemaat, karena mereka di tengah-tengah medan peperangan rohani. Ada TV Kristen baru dengan nama TURK-7 yang menyiarkan program Kristen lewat satelit dan internet - www.turk7.com. Di Turki disebarluaskan selebaran dengan infor-masi tentang penyiaran, agar makin banyak penduduk di Turki bisa menonton acara-acara ini. Berdoalah bahwa banyak orang Turki di Turki dan juga di luar negeri mau menonton program ini. Di media umum di Turki seperti di radio, TV, koran sering ada berita dusta tentang Kristen dan menghasut penduduk melawan Kristen, berdoa agar pemerintahan mau melarang berita dusta se-macam ini. Instansi agama di pemerintahan pusat mempunyai satu anggaran luar biasa besar, jauh lebih besar daripada instansi-instansi pemerintahan lain. Instansi ini bekerja keras, bahwa penduduk menjadi lebih giat dalam agama Islam mereka. Dua orang Kristen didenda, karena mereka terima persembahan untuk agama Kristen tanpa mempunyai izin dari pemerintahan untuk hal ini.
 Afghanistan (30 juta), Ibukota Kabul (3 juta). Agama Islam secara radikal, semua agama lain dila-rang keras. Baik pemerintahan maupun pemberontak dalam negara melawan kekristenan. Hanya pemerintah membiarkan orang Kristen berkumpul untuk berbakti secara diam-diam. Kalau pem-berontak bertemu Kristen, mereka mau membununh mereka. Tetap satu masalah besar di negara ini: 90% dari obat bius heroin yang diproduksi di dunia secara ilegal berasal dari negara ini, ini meru-pakan pemasukan utama untuk para pemberontak dan untuk para pemimpin daerah dan suku. Juga korupsi merajalela. Sebenarnya pemerintah pusat hanya menguasai kota Kabul, meskipun demikian, juga di situ terjadi kekerasan. Di luar kota Kabul berbagai kelompok, pemberontak dan pemimpin suku menguasai masing-masing daerah sendiri. Program-program radio Kristen sudah menjadi buat orang Kristen semacam gembala dan sekaligus sekolah Alkitab, karena mereka tidak dapat berkum-pul dalam satu jemaat, karena keamanan.
 Doakanlah Aljazair (33,7 juta), Tunisia (10,3 juta), Libia (5,7 juta), Lebanon, (4,5 juta), Suriah (19,5 juta), Arab Saudi (22 juta), Kuwait (2,7 juta), Uni Emirat Arab (3 juta), Bahrain (1 juta), Qatar (0,7 juta), Oman (3 juta), agar masyarakat di negara-negara ini dapat kesempatan hidup tenteram dan In-jil bisa diberitakan antara mereka dengan jelas, agar mereka bisa memperoleh pengetahuan akan kebenaran dan keselamatan, lihat 1 Timotius 2:1-8.
Asia Selatan dan Tenggara
Ada gerakan doa syafaat dari “Gerakan Ethnê ke Ethnê” buat suku-suku terabaikan di negara-
negara Asia Selatan pada bulan Agustus/September 09. Info: asianrd@sr21.com - www.ethne.net
 Pakistan (160 juta), Ibukota Islamabad (0,9 juta), agama: Islam 97%, Hindu 1,5%, Katolik 0,5%, Kris-ten 1%. Pemerintah dengan kuasa militer mau menghabisi kelompok pemberontak fanatik; pen-duduk sipil (dua juta orang) harus melarikan diri, agar tidak menjadi sasaran. Dari daerah Swat su-dah semua orang Kristen, kira-kira 500 orang sudah pindah ke tempat lebih aman. Orang Kristen tetap susah. Rekaman Injil berdoa, agar bisa merekam berita Injil ke dalam berbagai bahasa: Aer, Badeshi, Balochi, Bhaya, Brahui, Burushaski, Chilisso, Dameli, Dehwari, Dhatki, Domaaki, Ghera.
 India (1,2 milyard), Ibukota Delhi (11 juta), Agama: Hindu 81%, Islam 13%, Budhis 0,8%, Sikh 1,1%, Katolik 1%, Kristen 1,5%, dll. Jangan berhenti berseru kepada Bapak kita di surga, karena setiap hari ada orang Kristen yang diancam, ditahan dengan tuduhan yang tidak-tidak mengkristenkan orang Hindu, diserang, dipukuli, kadang-kadang juga dibunuh, kebaktian diganggu, rumah dan toko orang Kristen dibakar, fasilitas Kristen dirusak oleh orang yang mau membebaskan India dari ke-Kristenan. Seorang Kristen in negara bagian Chattisgarh sudah dituduh, bahwa ia dengan paksa mentobatkan empat orang Hindu menjadi Kristen. Ia sudah mengundang beberapa orang Hindu mengikuti kebaktian di rumah sakit, sesudah itu, berita fitnah diedarkan bahwa orang Kristen mau mengkristenkan orang Hindu. Banyak orang berkumpul di muka stasiun polisi dan minta orang Kristen itu ditangkap. Meskipun tidak ada bukti, polisi tangkap orang Kristen dan menuduh, bahwa ia membangkitkan permusuhan di antara kelompok agama. Para pemimpin Kristen berkata, di situ tidak terjadi kesalahan apa pun dari pihak Kristen, semua hanya hasutan saja. Orang Kristen memer-lukan dukungan doa kita. Orang Kristen bersyukur kepada TUHAN bahwa dalam pemilu baru-baru ini parpol-parpol radikal Hindu dikalahkan. Orang Kristen mengharap, bahwa tekanan terhadap mereka akan berkurang dengan pemerintahan yang baru dibentuk yang berdasakan sekuler.
Alkitab di India sudah diterbitkan dalam 60 bahasa, PB dalam 53 bahasa lain, sekarang ini dikerja-kan 99 projekt penerjemahan, di antaranya 54 bahasa untuk pertama kali. Masih ada suku-suku lain yang memakai 1,200 bahasa berlainan yang tidak memiliki cerita Injil dalam cetakan, kaset atau CD. Para perekam mau merekam semua bahasa ini. Ini merupakan satu tugas raksasa.
Friendship Center India yang dipimpin oleh Bapak & Ibu Pdt. J. & P. Gladstone, (YPPII), terlibat dalam perintisan jemaat baru di daerah kumuh di Mumbai dan di Pune, www.friendshipcentre.org.
 Maladewa (0,3 juta) (75 000 orang asing pekerja). Ibukota Male’, hanya agama Islam boleh, Kristen 30 orang (?). Orang Maladewi senang membaca, tetapi hanya ada kitab Kisah Para Rasul dan Lukas dalam bahasa Dhivehi (bahasa nasional). Perlu penerjemah yang bisa mengerjakan bagian-bagian lain. Presiden baru yang mau reformasi negara ini, tetapi agama Kristen tetap dilarang keras.
 Bhutan (0,8 juta), Ibu kota Tumbuh (31 000), agama: 73% Budhis-Lamais aliran Bon (biasanya suku Drukpa mengikutinya, orang Drukpa 68% dari penduduk negara ini), merupakan agama negara, 22% Hindu (biasanya suku Nepal), 4% Islam, 1,2% Kristen. Ada berita, Perdana Menteri Bhutan telah menunjukkan sikap positif terhadap hak-hak orang Kristen. Hal ini membawa benih pengharapan dalam hati saudara-saudari kita, yang selama bertahun-tahun beribadah secara sembunyi-sembunyi.
 Sri Langka (20,5 juta), Ibukota Colombo (1 juta), agama: Budhis 71%, Hindu 12%, Islam 8%, Katolik 5,5%, Kristen 1,5%. Suku-suku: Singalese, Tamil, Moor. Penduduk negara bersukaria, bahwa perang saudara sudah berhenti, hanya penderitaan akibat perang saudara belum reda. Ada berdukacita karena kehilangan anggota keluarga, banyak orang Tamil kehilangan harta bendanya. Tempat pengungsian lebih bersifat tahanan daripada tempat tinggal sementara. Mereka mau kembali ke rumah mereka di desa. Sekarang ini badan P.I. bisa mulai pelayanan di antara Tamil lagi. Di negara ini setiap minggu ada gedung gereja yang diserang dan pendeta bersama jemaatnya diancam oleh orang fanatik Budhis meninggalkan gereja. Hampir semua parpol mencari cara, bagaimana kebebasan agama bisa dikurangi lagi. Orang Kristen memerlukan ketabahan dalam situasi yang genting.
 Bangladesh (160 juta), Ibukota Dhaka (11 juta), agama: Islam 87%, Hindu 12%, Animis 0,6%, Budhis 0,6%, Kristen 0,3%, Katolik 0,2%. Kelompok fanatik menjadi sumber penganiayaan terhadap orang Kristen. Sebuah kelompok mendatangi rumah-rumah orang Kristen untuk memaksa mereka kembali ke iman lama. Berdoa agar umat Kristen tetap teguh dalam iman percayanya. Rekaman Injil ingin merekam berita Injil di berbagai bahasa: Anal, Assamese, Bengali: Rajshahi, dan Burmese: Bomang.
 Nepal: (24 juta), Ibu kota Kathmandu (0,6 juta), agama: Hindu 80%, Budhis 10%, Islam 4,5%, Kris-ten 1,9% (l.k. 500 ribu, musuh Injil berkata, sudah ada satu juta Kristen). Satu kelompok “Hindu fa-natik” mau membersihkan negara Nepal dari kekristenan, mereka sudah merencanakan pasang se-juta bom di gedung-gedung gereja, malah seorang militer memberi ancaman semua orang Kristen harus meninggalkan negara. Pada tanggal 23 Mei satu bom sudah meledak di muka gedung gereja Katolik dengan dua orang mati dan 14 orang luka berat. Dapat diamati bahwa tidak sedikit orang Nepal yang dijamah oleh Kristus secara langsung tanpa bantuan siapa pun. Ada yang mengamati kesaksian hidup Kristen, membaca langsung Alkitab, hadiri kebaktian atau hati yang digelisahkan saat mengalami suatu kejadian tertentu. Pelajarannya adalah bila memang sudah waktu Tuhan, maka tidak akan ada yang dapat menghambat pekerjaan Tuhan. Rekaman Injil ingin merekam berita Injil juga ke dalam berbagai bahasa: Bahing, Bantawa, Baragaunle, Belhariya, Bengali:Bhatiari, Chhintang, Chhulung, Chourase, Chukwa, dan Dhimal. Kel. Raastrako Jyoti, Navigator, membina mereka yang haus akan Firman TUHAN. Bulan ini mereka dipertemukan dengan teman-teman lama, pernah Bapak Iyoti datang di Nepal 10 tahun yang lalu. Mereka sekeluarga berkesempatan untuk berkunjung dan berkenalan dengan keluarga besar mereka. Doakan agar hubungan mereka semakin dalam.
 Myanmar (50 juta), Ibukota Naypyidaw, kota besar: Yangon (5 juta), agama: Budhis 83%, Kristen 7%, Katolik 1%, Islam 3,8%. Militer memerintah dengan tangan besi. Orang Kristen disiksa. Yang mau menyelamatkan diri ke Thailand dikirim kembali, kalau sudah kembali, laki-laki dibunuh, wani-ta diperkosa dan disiksa, anak-anak dipaksakan jalan di muka pasukan, supaya mereka dapat meledakkan ranjau dan prajurit aman, tetapi anak-anak mati. Masih perlu rekaman Injil dalam ba-hasa ini: Akha, Anu, Burman, Chaungtha, Chin, Danau, Hawa Naga, Hpon, Jingpho, Kado, Karen, Lama.
 Kamboja (15 juta), Ibukota Phnom Penh (1,5 juta), agama Budhis 85%, Animis 4,3%, Islam 3,9%, Kristen 400 000. Kel. Heryanto & Susie, Navigator, bersama tim MK menyiapkan satu sekolah bahasa Inggris buat orang Khmer. Rika, Navigator, bekerja di satu LSM, di samping mengajar bahasa Indo-nesia. Kel. Suyatno, Navigator, bisa memberitakan Injil di Waroeng Bengawan Solo.
 Vietnam (87 juta), Ibukota Hanoi (2,3 juta), Ho Chi Minh City (7 juta), tetap paham komunis. Agama Budhis 55%, Katolik 5%, Kristen 0,8 juta. Dalam negara ini ada 55 suku bangsa. Makin gereja-gereja bertumbuh makin pemerintah mau menghapus gereja-gereja. Khusus kebaktian-kebaktian di jemaat yang tidak didaftarkan diperhentikan secara paksa dan para pemimpin masuk penjara. Para pendeta di daerah pegunungan harus berjalan ke desa-desa berjauhan, di banyak desa ada orang Kristen. Ada banyak hambatan dalam pelayanan gerejani, tetapi 55,000 orang bisa mengikuti kursus Alkitab. Kel. P-M mau menjangkau suku-suku terabaikan, karena itu mereka tetap belajar bahasa V.
 Pilipina (90 juta), Ibukota Manila (1,7 juta), agama: Katolik 83%, Islam 8%, Protestant 7,5%, dll. Kel. Pdt. Mekkie Famdale, YPPII, memimpin GKI-P di Manila. Ibu Ria Zebua, OMF, tetap melayani di antara orang Manobo di Upper Langilan/Davao del Norte. Bck bersama tim dari Jakarta dan Papua melayani langsung di lapangan dan akan mengunjungi semua tempat SS selama 7 bulan.
 K.M. DOULOS mengunjungi Bangkok, Thailand, 29.7.-24.8., Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 29.8.-21.9., Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, 24.9.-7.10. Dari Indonesia menggabungkan diri dan membantu dalam semua tugas di atas kapal K.M. DOULOS Elly dari Manado dan Robert Cahyono dari Lampung
 Malaysia (27,5 juta), Ibukota Kuala Lumpur (2,2 juta), agama: Islam 55%, Budhis 29%, Hindu 7%, Kristen 4%, Katolik 3,5%. Doakan Kel. Sim yang memimpin dua jemaat. Doakan program Misi gereja SIB Petaling. Doakan gereja cabang yang baru berumur satu tahun. Kel. Pdt. Seken Bangun di Kota Sandakan/Malaysia Timur menjangkaui berbagai suku di Kota Sandakan.
Asia Tengah
 Pengedaran Alkitab dan buku-buku rohani semakin dipersulit di seluruh daerah. Banyak negara yang semakin memperketat pengawasan terhadap buku-buku rohani. Mereka yang membawa buku-buku rohani dalam bahasa setempat memerlukan hikmat dan perlindungan Tuhan.
 Azerbaijan (8,7 juta), Ibu kota Baku (2 juta). Agama Islam (sebagian besar Syiah) 80%, Kristen 0,1%. Sudah disahkan satu UU tentang agama. Semua gereja dan badan Kristani harus mendaftarkan diri kembali sebelum 1 Januari 2010. Dalam 20 tahun ini merupakan pendaftaran kembali kali ketiga. Banyak gereja dan badan agama takut mereka tidak dibolehkan mendaftarkan diri, karena sudah sekarang ini sulit untuk mendaftar satu gereja. Mengimport, mencetak, mengedarkan dan menjual literatur Kristen merupakan satu pidana, kalau tidak ada satu izin khusus. Pada musim panas ini diberikan kepada masyarakat umum buku kecil dan video dengan satu berita yang penting.
 Kirghizia (5,4 juta), Ibu kota Bishkek (0,9 juta), agama Islam 78%, Ortodoks 5%, tanpa agama 13%, Kristen 1%, orang Kirghiz asli yang Kristen sudah menjadi 10 000 orang. Sebuah undang-undang baru disahkan yang menyatakan bahwa organisasi keagamaan apa pun yang ingin memperoleh izin harus mempunyai paling sedikit dua ratus anggota jemaat dewasa, baru bisa mendaftarkan diri kembali. Kepada anak-anak tidak boleh diajari agama, orang asing tidak boleh berkhotbah, literatur tidak bo-leh dibagikan. Meskipun ada banyak halangan dan hambatan orang Kristen meneruskan dengan penginjilan dan terus-menerus ada orang yang bertobat dan terima Yesus Kristus. Selama musim panas diadakan kamp-kamp dengan ribuan peserta anak dan pemuda/i. Orang Kristen sudah me-majukan satu gugatan di pengadilan konstitusi untuk diperiksa, apakah UU ini sesuai UUD. Kel. P. Hengkesa, YPPII, membina enam anak asuh dan melayani dalam jemaat Logos dan di cabang-cabang jemaat Logos. Mereka telah mendapat perpanjangan visa untuk satu tahun, mereka akan cuti tahun ini dan sudah pesan tiket. Ibu Pdt. H-T, YPPII. Doakan urusan ijin tinggal, untuk mendapat visa permanen ada berbagai kesulitan. Doakan lagi pelayanannya bekerja sama jemaat Logos.
 Uzbekistan (27,3 juta), Ibu kota Tashkent (2,2 juta), agama: Islam Sunni 88%, Ortodoks 8%, Kristen 0,3%, yang suku Uzbeki, 10 ribu. Tetap berdoa untuk masalah ini: Semua kegiatan ibadah, perseku-tuan doa, PA, dan penginjilan yang tidak terdaftar oleh yang berwajib merupakan tindak kejahatan di mata pemerintah. Tetapi jemaat-jemaat yang mau mendaftarkan diri tidak diterima dari instansi tertentu. Para pemimpin gereja perlu hikmat dalam situasi ini, karena jemaat mereka sudah menjadi ilegal. Di propinsi otonom Karakalpakstan penganiayaan terhadap orang Kristen meningkat: Alkitab, buku nyanyian Kristen, Konkordans dan Film “Passion Christi” dilarang keras diedarkan dan di-pakai untuk mengajar orang lain. Hanya agama Islam dan satu jemaat Ortodoks diizinkan.
 Tajikistan (6.8 juta), Ibu kota Dushambe (0,6 juta). Agama Islam 89%, tanpa agama 9%, Ortodoks 1.2%. Kristen 0.03%. Undang-undang baru yang mengatur tentang “kebebasan beragama” telah disetu-jui dan menunggu ditandatangani presiden. Dengan undang-undang ini kebebasan beragama makin dikurangi. Di Dushambe jemaat gereja “Grace Sunmin Church” terpaksa harus meninggalkan gedungnya, karena pengadilan sudah memutuskan, bahwa jemaat ini tidak memiliki gedung ini. Ber-bakti di rumah orang merupakan satu kejahatan, izin untuk mendirikan jemaat tidak diberikan. Orang Kristen merasa takut dan bingung, untuk bertemu dan beribadah sangat sulit.
 Kazakhstan (16 juta), Ibukota Astana (0.7 juta), kota Almaty (1.2 juta), Agama Ortodoks 39 %, Islam 56%, Kristen 2%. Tetap ada berbagai kesusahan buat umat Kristen, mereka diserang dan diancam, karena pengedaran literatur dan karena Web-site badan P.I. Siapa yang percaya akan Kristus diang-gap seperti pengkhianat negara ini dan juga diperlakukan sedemikian rupa. Perkantas setempat mempunyai satu pelayanan luas di antara mahasiswa, meskipun ada berbagai tantangan.
Turkimenistan (4.9 juta), Ibu kota Ashkhabad (0.4 juta), Agama: Islam 92%, Ortodoks 2%, non-agama 5%, Kristen l.k. 700 orang, memakai bahasa Rusia, dilarang keras berbakti dalam bahasa Turkmen. Dalam UUD ada kebebasan agama, tetapi dalam kehidupan dalam negara ini sebenarnya kegiatan semua agama dibatasi, karena yang berwajib takut terhadap orang beragama fanatik.
Asia Utara & Pasifik
 Korea Utara (23 juta), Ibukota Pyongyang (2.7 juta). Agama: Non-agama 64.3%, yang lain 18%, Animisme 16%, Kristen (secara diam-diam) 1.7%. Pemerintah menganggap orang Kristen sebagai ba-haya buat negara, karena mereka yakin bahwa regime Komunis di Eropa Timur jatuh karena kekris-tenan. Mereka takut nanti terjadi di negara mereka juga. Kira-kira sudah 70 000 orang Kristen masuk ke dalam 30 kamp kerja paksa dan menderita luar biasa, mereka sering disiska oleh para pengawal, sebagian di antara mereka sudah meninggal. Son Jong Nam sudah melarikan diri ke China, tetapi di situ ditangkap polisi dan dikirim kembali ke Korea Utara. Ia divonis kerja paksa dan disiksa berat. Karena tekanan dari luar negeri ia dibebaskan, tetapi January 2006 lagi ditangkap dan divonis hukuman mati. Ia ditahan di penjara utama di Pjongjang, karena disiksa berulang kali ia sudah setengah mati. Doakan dia, bahwa ia dikuatkan oleh TUHAN kita dalam penderitaan yang luar biasa.
 Mongolia (2.6 juta), Ibukota Ulaanbaatar (0.8 juta), agama: 90% Aliran Bon dalam Budhis-Lamaisme dan Shamaisme l.k. 50%, Ateis 40%, Kristen 0.7%, (20 000+ orang). Dalam negara ini per-mintaan terhadap Alkitab meningkat, tetapi karena krisis ekonomi dan sekaligus ongkos cetakan meningkat permintaan ini tidak bisa dipenuhi lagi. Pemerintah sudah membuat satu daftar badan LSM yang tidak dimiliki oleh pemerintahan, apa lagi berhubungan dengan badan di luar negeri. Kalau dilihat bahwa badan LSM terlibat dalam pelayanan agama, ia akan ditutup.
RRC, (1,3 milyard), Ibukota Beijing (12 juta), Shanghai (13.4 juta), agama: ateis 59.1%, agama-agama tradisional 17%, Budhis 8% (bertambah terus), Animisme 2.4%, Islam 2.4%, Katolik 1%, Kristen 9+% (kira-kira 120 juta?). Tolong doakan pengedaran bahan sekolah minggu, agar anak-anak dapat pela-jaran sesuai umurnya, ini sangat penting, bahwa anak-anak di jemaat-jemaat dapat pengajaran yang tetap. Percetakan Alkitab Nanjing sudah mencetak Alkitab, PB, bagian-bagian Alkitab, dan selem-bar-selembar berisi Firman TUHAN, sebagian besar bahan yang dicetak adalah bagian Alkitab saja. Mereka juga mencetak Alkitab dalam bahasa-bahasa Afrika. Alkitab lengkap bahasa Mandarin yang dicetak kurang dari kebutuhan di China. 40 juta Kristen di perdesaan biasanya berkekurangan kitab Alkitab, karena itu mereka tidak bisa berakar dalam Firman-Nya semestinya. Syukurlah Alkitab bisa dibaca dalam Internet, juga ada dalam CD atau DVD. Tetapi bagaimanapun tetap ada kekurangan.
Seorang yang memiliki percetakan buku ditahan polisi, karena ia sudah mencetak Alkitab, doakanlah dia dan keluarganya, agar ia dalam waktu dekat dilepaskan lagi..
Karena krisis ekonomi banyak pekerja kehilangan pekerjaan dan pulang ke desa-desanya.
Suku-suku terabaikan yang hidup di propinsi otonom Xinjiang Uyghur (17,5 juta): Uighur 9.12 juta, Kazakhi 1.15 juta, suku-suku ini bagian dari rumpun Turkik. Suku Uighur (agama Islam, Kristen 1,000 orang) karena beragama Islam merasa dianaktirikan oleh pemerintahan, di propinsi mereka juga hidup orang China Han, orang Hui, orang Kasakhi dan suku-suku lain. Baru-baru ini banyak perti-kaian yang jatuh banyak korban. Dua orang Uyghur Kristen dipenjarakan dengan tuduhan yang ti-dak-tidak. Orang Kristen Uyghur ditekan oleh yang beragama Islam dan oleh pemerintahan.
Orang Islam di suku Hui mempunyai lebih banyak kebebasan agama daripada penduduk lain, misalnya mereka boleh mendidik anak-anak mereka di bawah umur 18 tahun dalam agama Islam.
Gk sedang belajar Bahasa Mandarin demi rencana pelayanan untuk masa depan.
Tibet (2.7 juta), Ibukota Lhasa (0.2 juta), Agama: Budhis-Lamaisme, 80%, Kristen 0.2%, Ateis. Golog (130,000) merupakan salah satu suku di antara rumpun Tibet. Karena mereka hidup dalam satu daerah yang susah kehidupan, karena tinggi pegunungan (dingin, angin keras, dan tanah tidak subur). Mereka beragama Budhis-Lamaisme campur dengan banyak kuasa gelap dan penyembahan berhala, hanya sedikit orang yang sudah menjadi Kristen. Bahasa mereka lain dengan bahasa Tibet.
Hong Kong (6.9 juta), Agama: agama China 67%, tanpa agama 18%, Kristen 10%, Moslem 1.5%. Kel. Pdt. Arys Illu, YPPII, GMKIH, pelayanan perintisan, penggembalaan dan penginjilan di Hong Kong, mereka sudah membuka jemaat baru Indonesian Hong Kong Love Mission Church. Kel. Pdt. Johan K., dan Kel. Murdianto, CTN, melayani Gereja Misi Indonesia Hong Kong (GMIH), Jemaat bertum-buh dan berkembang dengan baik. IMC Internet Radio dalam bahasa Indonesia: www.gmih.org.
Negara-negara lain
 Suriname: (450 000), Ibukota Paramaribo, Agama: Hindu 32%, Katolik 23%, Islam 20%, Kristen 19%, Animis. Pdt. Suryanto & Esther Tasman di jemaat PUAS (Paguyupan Urip Anyar Suriname).
KM LOGOS HOPE mengunjungi Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 30.07.-12.08., St Geor-ges, Grenada, 13.-25.08., Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, 26.8.-15.9., Port of Spain, Trinidad and To-bago, 16.9.-15.10. LOGOS HOPE memberi pengharapan kepada semua orang yang dikunjunginya.
USA: (300 juta), Ibukota Washington (0,6 juta), agama: Kristen 50%, Katolik 26%, Yahudi 2%, Islam 1.5%, Budhis 0.9%. Doakan GMII USA, Pdt. Ricky Lomban, agar sebagai gereja misi, GMII sungguh-sungguh dapat menjadi gereja yang misioner. Doakan agar gereja-gereja bahasa Indonesia di seluruh USA mau dengan senang hati mendukung pekabaran di Indonesia dan sampai ujung bumi.
 Timor Leste (1 juta), Ibukota Dili (50 ribu). Agama: Katolik 90%, Kristen 4%, Islam 1%. Sebagian besar orang Katolik lebih yakin dengan roh arwah daripada Allah. Hampir setiap rumah ada berhala. Di desa ada satu rumah berhala tertentu. Orang Katolik yang bertobat didesak dan didorong oleh sanak saudara dan tetangga untuk kembali ke agama sebelumnya. Ibu Thelly melayani di dalam Es-peranca Projekt di Dili bersama satu tim internasional. Ia sedang mengikuti satu kursus orientasi di Singapura untuk menyiapkan diri untuk pelayanan seterusnya.
 Fiji (0.9 juta), Ibukota Suva (80 ribu), agama: Kristen 43%, Katolik 11%, Hindu 38%, Islam (Sunni dan Syiah) 7.5%, bidat 2%. Tahun 1990 hanya ada satu mesjid di Fiji, sekarang ini sudah menjadi 200 buah, dahulu tidak pernah kelihatan orang memakai busana Islam, sekarang ini sekali-kali ada, perlu penginjilan, ada beberapa orang yang bertobat. Bahasa-bahasa resmi: Inggris, Fiji, Hindustani.
Seluruh dunia
Forum of Bible Agencies International sudah membuka satu web-site, di mana semua penerjemahan Alkitab ke dalam 3,000 bahasa dalam bentuk apapun didaftarkan, termasuk bagian-bagian Alkitab dan edisi-edisi dalam audio, lihat: http://www.forum-intl.net/find_a_bible/ .
 Dalam konperensi Call2All di Hongkong pada tanggal 1-5 Juni 2009, 3,000 peserta sudah memberanikan diri dalam iman mentargetkan mau menanam dua juta jemaat baru sampai tahun 2020.
 6 000+ suku terabaikan. Satu jejaring doa. Info: ethne@ethne.net, http://www.ethne.net/.
 Tolong mendoakan pelayanan di penjara-penjara di dunia ini. Di banyak negara orang Kristen pergi ke penjara setempat untuk memberitakan Injil antara penghuni, sering mereka sesudah itu mengikuti satu kursus Alkitab tertulis. Para pelayan memerlukan ketabahan, dan penghuni satu hati terbuka terhadap Injil. Di sekian tempat sudah ada jemaat penjara.
 INTERNET: Di seluruh dunia ada 1,6 milyard pemakai internet: Secara bahasa: Inggris – 464 juta, China – 322 juta, Espanol - 131 juta, Jepang - 94 juta, Perancis - 74 juta, Portuges - 73 juta, Jerman - 66 juta, Arab – 42 juta, Rusia – 38 juta, Korea – 37 juta, semua bahasa yang lain 260 juta.
 Web-site Etnopedia melukiskan suku-suku terabaikan di dalam dunia ini dalam berbagai bahasa, http://id.etnopedia.org/wiki/index.php/Halaman_Utama, bahasa Indonesia, web-site ini dalam perkembangan. Dalam bahasa Spanyol l.k. 2120+ halaman dengan suku-suku, dalam bahasa Jerman 950+ dan bahasa Inggris ada 1380+, bahasa Korea ada 150+, karangan tentang suku-suku disertai dengan gambar. Satu sumber yang baik untuk informasi tentang suku dan pokok doanya.
 Sumber buat doa syafaat lain ada kartu doa di http://www.joshuaproject.net/prayer-cards.php.
 Web-site bahasa Indonesia: Perbandingan Agama, dialog Isa dan Islam, khusus Siapakah Isa Al-Masih dan Penjelmaan Isa Al-Masih. http://www.isadanislamstudi.com/.
 In_Christ.net (bahasa Indonesia) ada satu web-site dengan bagian Misi, semua pembaca diajak saling berkalaborasi. Web-site ini penuh dengan artikel baik untuk diri sendiri, maupun diteruskan kepada orang lain. URLnya: http://www.in-christ.net/wiki/Kategori:Misi_Bagi_Bangsa, seluruhnya web-site bisa dibaca dengan URL: ,
Dukungan Misi dalam Negeri dan pokok-pokok doa
 Berdoalah, bahwa dari Indonesia jauh lebih banyak misionaris dipanggil dan bisa diutus; dan jumlah persekutuan doa misi meningkat yang didirikan khusus mendoakan perintisan di luar negeri antara suku-suku terabaikan dan para misionaris yang melayani di antara mereka. Berdasarkan Fir-man TUHAN kita sebagai orang Kristen wajib ikut menggumuli pelayanan sampai ke ujung bumi.
 Kel. Belman Sihombing sudah masuk tempat pelayanan dan belajar bahasa setempat.
 Semua berita, fakta, dan informasi dalam buletin ini merupakan pokok-pokok doa dan pokok syukur, meskipun hanya sekali-kali disebutkan berdoalah! Pakailah janji-janji Firman TUHAN dalam doa syafaat, karena Yesus sudah mati di kayu salib untuk semua manusia. IA sudah bangkit! Berdoa-lah dengan keyakinan. Letaknya Nama TUHAN atas negara-negaranya dan atas suku-suku bangsa, agar mereka diberkati Allah. Megahkan Darah Yesus atas orang yang masih dikuasai oleh kuasa ge-lap dan okultisme, agar mereka dilepaskan dari semua belenggu. Siapa memerlukan petunjuk ten-tang doa syafaat buat suku-suku terabaikan dapat menulis kepada PD Timotius.
 Tolong doakan mereka yang sudah dipanggil TUHAN, dan yang sudah siap menjadi misionaris di antara suku-suku terabaikan. Mereka sering menghadapi berbagai kesulitan dalam persiapan, mereka perlu ketabahan. Mintalah bahwa jemaat-jemaat mau mendukung (1 Tawarikh 29:9-14), men-doakan (Kolose 4:3), dan mengutus para misionaris (Kisah Para Rasul 13:1-3) dengan sukacita!
 O.M. Indonesia (Obor Mitra, Operation Mobilisation) tetap mencari orang yang siap diutus ke ladang TUHAN di dunia ini dan di kapal P.I.nya. Koordinator: Kel. Pdt. Bagus Surjantoro. Alamat surat: PO Box i-195 UKSW, Salatiga 50711A, Tel/Fax: 0298-322843, e-mail: bagus@linkmail.org.
 Badan Pengutus Lintas Budaya (BPLB) mengutus tenaga P.I. untuk perintisan baru di Asia Timur. Alamat: P.O. Box 2559, Jakarta 10025, Tel.: 021-426 4459, e-mail: .
 Deparment Evangelisasi dan Misi YPPII di Batu, e-mail: emppii_batu@yahoo.co.id
 Sending WEC INDONESIA siap mengutus para misionaris ke suku-suku terabaikan di negara-negara lain, supaya jemaat baru dapat dirintis. Majalah misi Terang Lintas Budaya diterbitkan dengan berita yang menarik dan informasi yang luas dari ladang penginjilan di luar negeri, untuk anak-anak ada majalah Tatik dan Totok. Di samping ini ada surat doa misi bahasa Indonesia, Inggris, dan Jerman dalam bentuk cetak dan e-mail. Majalah misi, kartu doa, brosur “Siapakah Sending WEC In-donesia”, dan surat-surat doa bisa dipesan di: Sending WEC Indonesia, Kotak Pos 217 WR, Sidoarjo 61256, Tel.: 031-8531343, HP: 0815-5511750, E-mail: indosb@linkmail.org; http://www.wec-indo.org. Doakan pemimpin Pdt. Max dan Pdt. Desta Ay, staf kantor, dan mereka yang mau menggabungkan diri dengan tim WEC dalam pelayanan perintisan jemaat baru di luar negeri.
K dan O mengikuti rapat kerja timnya pada permulaan bulan Agustus, sesudah itu mereka ke nega-ranya, di situ mereka akan pindah ke tempat pelayanan perintisan yang baru.
Ibu Pdt. Meli P sudah bisa mengunjungi berbagai tempat di pegunungan tinggi di daerahnya. Ia berterima kasih atas semua dukungan doa buat perintisan pelayanan yang ia adakan.
Ibu Yenny: Ibunya sudah dipanggil Bapak kita. Ibu Yenny berterima kasih atas semua dukungan doa selama ia mendampingi Ibunya. Dalam bulan-bulan ini ia mengunjungi timnya di negaranya.
Kel G. sedang cuti di Indonesia, Bapak G. sedang mengikuti kursus komputer di Malang untuk menyiapkan diri untuk pelayanannya seterusnya di negara pelayanannya.
Buletin Pokok Doa Timotius ini bisa dipesan di alamat PD Timotius, PO Box 12 IKIP, Malang 65145. Buletin edisi e-mail bisa dipesan: immanuel-d@web.de. Buletin ini boleh diphotocopy/diperbanyak, agar semua peserta Persekutuan Doa mendapat satu eksemplar, ini menolong dalam doa, kalau pokok doa ada secara tertulis di tangan para pendoa. Bahan ini boleh dikutip di warta gereja, di buletin doa lain dsbg, khusus buat pendoa lain. Juga boleh dikirim kepada pendoa lain, karena sering orang mau berdoa, tetapi bahan kurang. Kami menghargai semua dukungan doa buat kami.
Kiranya TUHAN menguatkan dan memberkati Bapak/Ibu/Saudara/i dalam semua tu-gas.
PD Timotius