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Rabu, 08 Mei 2013

Eagles Nest Ministries



 
EAGLES NEST MINISTRIES
Jawaban bagi Indonesia
Indonesia dikenal sebagai sebuah negara kepulauan yang memiliki keragaman suku, budaya dan bahasa daerah. Mayoritas penduduk Indonesia merupakan orang non Kristen dan merupakan negara Muslim terbesar di dunia. Masih ada sekitar 129 suku dari 23 rumpun suku di Indonesia yang sama sekali belum pernah mendengar berita Injil. Gereja Tuhan di Indonesia mungkin telah berupaya memberitakan Injil dalam masyarakatnya namun hasilnya belum optimal. Begitu banyak orang yang menolak berita sukacita tersebut karena menganggap berita tersebut sebagai “kepercayaan asing”. Sebab dibagikan dalam kemasan yang kebarat-baratan, yang mungkin tidak cocok dengan budaya setempat dari masyarakat yang hendak dijangkau. Ada banyak suku yang siap dan terbuka seandainya kita memberitakan berita keselamatan itu dengan menyajikannya sesuai kebiasaan, adat istiadat serta budaya mereka.
Eagles Nest Ministries berdiri 1 Juli 2007 di kota Bandung, salah satunya untuk menjawab tantangan ini. Pelayanan ini dirintis oleh suami istri Dave Broos dan Novie Durant yang merindukan umat Tuhan meresponi Amanat Agung Tuhan (Mat 28:19-20, Karena itu pergilah, jadikanlah semua bangsa muridKu dan baptislah mereka dalam nama Bapa dan Anak dan Roh Kudus, dan ajarlah mereka melakukan segala sesuatu yang telah Kuperintahkan kepadamu. Dan ketahuilah, Aku menyertai kamu senantiasa sampai kepada akhir zaman) untuk menjadi murid dan menjadikan segala bangsa murid Tuhan hingga kerajaan Tuhan diperluas, suatu umat yang bukan “sekedar beragama Kristen” tetapi mengetahui panggilan Tuhan atas hidupnya dan membawa dampak bagi komunitasnya. Dave Broos merupakan hamba Tuhan yang ditahbiskan oleh United Christian Faith Ministries dari Amerika Serikat, ditunjuk sebagai regional director dari Shadow of the Cross di Indonesia (sebuah pelayanan bagi sub kultur di perkotaan), pendoa syafaat Global Prayer Network – Johan Maasbach Wereld Zending dan utusan Injil dari Gereja Oikos Indonesia jemaat Surabaya.
Visi Eagles Nest Ministries adalah “MEMBERITAKAN KABAR BAIK, MEMURIDKAN & MENGUTUS SETIAP ANAK TUHAN UNTUK “MENJADI” GEREJA DIMANA PUN MEREKA BERADA”. Kerinduan kami adalah bekerja bersama dan memperlengkapi semua denominasi gereja, persekutuan, pelayanan Kristen lainnya dalam menyelesaikan amanat agung. Pelayanan ini berjejaring dengan pergerakan pemuridan dan penanaman gereja dunia Zoe Ministries, LK10 dan Outreach Fellowship International.
Missi kami adalah:
  • MEMPERKENALKAN PENGHARAPAN & KASIH BAPA SURGAWI PADA DUNIA TERHILANG
  • MEMULIHKAN & MEMURIDKAN MEREKA YANG BERKOMITMEN UNTUK BERTUMBUH DALAM KRISTUS
  • MELATIH DAN MENGUTUS MURID KRISTUS SEBAGAI AGEN PERUBAHAN KE SELURUH DUNIA
  • MELIHAT TERANG TUHAN BERSINAR DIMANA-MANA MENERANGI DUNIA SAMPAI TUHAN DATANG KEMBALI

Kami menyadari bahwa kami tidak bisa bekerja sendiri tetapi diperlukan kebersamaan dan kesadaran bersama akan kehendak Tuhan. Diperlukan sebuah kesehatian dan kesatuan (meski kita berbeda organisasi tapi satu dalam Tuhan Yesus) agar kita dapat berfungsi sebagai tubuh Kristus yang menjadi berkat dan dampak bagi mereka yang belum mengenal Tuhan.
Bagaimana Anda dapat menjadi rekan kami?
Keberhasilan pelayanan ini berarti juga keberhasilan umat Tuhan di Indonesia. Roma 10:13-15,”Sebab barangsiapa yang berseru kepada nama Tuhan, akan diselamatkan. Tetapi bagaimana mereka dapat berseru kepadaNya, jika mereka tidak percaya kepada Dia? Bagaimana mereka dapat percaya kepada Dia, jika mereka tidak mendengar tentang Dia? Bagaimana mereka mendengar tentang Dia jika tidak ada yang memberitakanNya? Dan bagaimana mereka dapat memberitakanNya, jika mereka tidak diutus? Seperti ada tertulis:”Betapa indahnya kedatangan mereka yang membawa kabar baik!” Kami mengajak Anda untuk dapat terlibat bersama dalam menjangkau jiwa terhilang melalui 3D
DIRI
Bagi mereka yang mau terlibat dalam mewartakan Injil, pemuridan, penanaman dan pengembangan gereja. Kami memberi diri untuk memperlengkapi baik seorang pribadi maupun gereja atau persekutuan yang hendak bermultiplikasi atau menanggapi amanat agung. Bukan jumlah orang tetapi kesediaan menanggapi panggilan Tuhan adalah tujuan kami. Kami memiliki bahan-bahan pemuridan yang dapat digunakan baik untuk pribadi, persekutuan maupun gereja yang hendak bertumbuh.
DOA
Anda dapat berdoa syafaat keluarga kami dalam memenuhi panggilan Tuhan dalam kehidupan kami. Kami juga menyediakan blog yang berisi berita dan pokok doa bagi suku-suku terabaikan baik di Indonesia maupun mancanegara.
DANA
Bagi mereka yang mau mendukung kami agar kami bisa pergi memperlengkapi umat Tuhan maupun gereja Tuhan di daerah terpencil atau tak mampu hingga kami dapat memperlengkapi dan mengutus lebih banyak lagi anak Tuhan dalam pemuridan dan perintisan gereja. Bagi yang terbeban dapat menghubungi kami lebih lanjut.
Saya percaya Anda dapat menanggapi salah satu atau bahkan ketiga hal tersebut sebagai anggota tubuh Kristus yang telah mengalami kasih karunia dan anugerah keselamatan. Anda dapat merenungkan dan mendoakan ke tiga hal tersebut demi menjangkau mereka yang berseru,”Menyeberanglah kemari dan tolonglah kami.” (Kis 16:9). Dapatkah Anda mendengar seruan mereka yang terhilang? Tuhan menunggu partisipasi dan pengabdian Anda kepadaNya.
Salam dan doa,
Dave Broos
Kontak kami dapat melalui inbox Facebook atau direct message Twitter, email: davebroos@yahoo.co.uk , telpon 022-92050322 atau SMS 087832744286.

Selasa, 30 April 2013

Trying to Save Saeed

Trying to Save Saeed

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

BOISE, IDAHO (ANS) -- Saeed Abedini is in a battle for his life.
Saeed Abedini and his family
According to an article by Katy Moeller for the Idaho Statesman, the 32-year-old has languished in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for more than 200 days. He was convicted of "threatening the national security of Iran" for his involvement in Christian home churches from 2000 to 2005.His parents are allowed to visit him weekly, and they say he's enduring beatings and other torture. He has suffered internal bleeding and needs medical treatment, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.
Tiffany N. Barrans, international legal director for the nonprofit advocacy center, said it has petitioned to have the Red Cross come in as a third party to treat him.
"That has not been granted by the Iranian authorities," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said.
Saeed, a Boise resident with his wife and two children since 2006, was in Iran doing humanitarian work when he was imprisoned in September. In January, he was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Idaho Statesman said Saeed has told authorities that if he is freed, he will leave Iran and never return, Barrans said. That didn't help his case.
As hopeless as the situation appears, Barrans said there's reason to be optimistic about his release. A decision on Saeed's appeal is pending.
"It gives the Iranian government an out, to save face," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said of the possibility that his sentence will be overturned. "They want to look like a country that is following the rule of law."
It's important to get Saeed released before Iran's elections in June.
"During and around those elections, the Iranian government is not going to want to release anyone who is seen as oppositional," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said.
Barrans said the key to Saeed's safe release is pressure from other countries - particularly those that have ties to Iran, including Qatar, Italy, Argentina and Brazil.
The Idaho Statesman said the American Center for Law and Justice is seeking support from those nations, and the group hopes the U.S. State D epartment is doing the same behind the scenes.
One positive new development, Barrans said, is that human rights groups within Iran haven taken up Saeed's cause.
"If there is enough stir in Iran - in their media and social media - it may cause unrest," Barrans said. "They may decide it's not worth the unrest during their elections, if this one man's case could disrupt that peace."
Keeping the Pressure On
The Idaho Statesman said more than half a million people have signed an online petition calling for Saeed's release.
Friends at his church in Boise are doing what they can to help.
"We have a constant flow of letters going to Iran, so they know he's not forgotten," said Rhett Allen, assistant director of children's ministry at Boise's Calvary Chapel.
Some of those letters have been written by children from the church, he said. The church is selling neon yellow "Save Saeed" T-shirts for $20 at its bookstore.
"We're exercising every resource that w e have," the Idaho Statesman reported Allen said. "We serve a good God, and we know he can do miracles."
Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, is doing a lot of public speaking, hoping to keep her husband's plight in the public eye.
The Idaho Statesman said a regular on Fox News, she tries to limit travel outside the state to just once a month so that she's not away from the couple's two children, ages 6 and 5.
Naghmeh said most of the money raised on her family's behalf has gone to others who need it more. She said she's sent it to a group of Christian families - associated with her husband - who fled from Iran to Turkey.
"I feel responsible for them," she said.
Raised in Idaho, Married in Iran
Naghmeh (Panahi) Abedini, 36, was born in Iran but grew up in the Treasure Valley.
The Idaho Statesman said her family fled during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Today, her father runs a user-interface manufacturing company called PKG User Interface Solutions in Meridian.& nbsp;
Naghmeh graduated from Centennial High School in 1995, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound. She had her sights set on medical school.
Through Calvary Chapel, the Idaho Statesman said, she did some missionary work in her 20s, including a trip to India, and felt God calling her to do the same in her native Iran.
Her parents were stunned at her decision.
"They felt I was going backward. 'We brought you here so you could flourish as a woman and be a doctor,'" she recalled.
The Idaho Statesman said she comes from a well-educated, high-achieving family. Her twin brother earned a doctorate in quantum physics from the University of Chicago.
Naghmeh went to Iran in late 2001 and met Saeed at a Christian gathering in 2002. They had a Christian wedding in Iran in 2004.
The Idaho Statesman said persecution of Christians intensified after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president, and they decided in 2005 that it was time to move to Idaho. Naghmeh was pregnant with th eir first child.
The couple live at Naghmeh's parents' house in West Boise. An ordained pastor, Saeed participated in Christian ministry in Iran via Skype.
In 2009, the Idaho Statesman said, Saeed and his family visited Iran. He was detained at the airport on their way home. He was interrogated every day for two months about his activities with the home churches.
The Idaho Statesman said Iranian officials warned him to stop his involvement with the home churches. However, they said he could do nonreligious humanitarian work and continue to travel back and forth between Iran and the U.S., Naghmeh said.
From 2009 to 2012, Naghmeh said, Saeed complied with the Iranian government's demands. Last summer, he was in Iran to build an orphanage on family land in the city of Rasht near the Caspian Sea.
"It was a big surprise when he was arrested," the Idaho statesman reported Naghmeh said.
Wife Warned Not to Go to Iran
Until he was imprisoned, Saeed was able to talk to his wife and children via Skype and telephone.
The Idaho Statesman reported Naghmeh said her first instinct was to go to Iran to be there for her husband. Officials warned her in-laws against that.
"They said, 'If she sets foot in this airport, she's going straight to prison,'" the Idaho Statesman reported Naghmeh said.
That's because she's a Muslim who converted to Christianity and was involved in Christian house churches in Iran with her husband years ago, she said.

Kamis, 25 April 2013

Missionary Homes Lost in Latest Round of Nigerian Attacks

Missionary Homes Lost in Latest Round of Nigerian Attacks


April 19, 2013
Terrorists set fire Friday to the homes/mission bases of three missionary families working with Christian Aid-supported Missionary Crusaders Ministries in Nigeria. Ministry leader, Gabriel Barau, sent this urgent report:
“One of our fields was attacked. I do not have all of the details, but some of our buildings were set on fire, leaving our missionaries without accommodation. We have to move them now to safer villages and build some kind of shelter for them.”
“In as much as our missionaries remain committed to sharing Christ with the unreached, we need your prayers and support. The attack occurred at a new field, and we do not want our missionaries to get discouraged. They made a number of converts there whom they were discipling.”
A mission base burned by Christian persecutors, representative of recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria. (Christian Aid file photo)
Barau asks for resources to move the three affected missionary families, now homeless, to a safer location. Each simple home, which doubles as a place for cell group meetings and discipleship of new converts, costs $3,500. The need is especially urgent now as the rainy season is about to begin and will halt construction.
The missionary families have been temporarily moved to the ministry’s school of missions until shelters can be built for them.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the fires, the militant Islamist group Boko Haram is suspected of involvement. Isolated attacks against Christians and law enforcement have continued despite the declaration of a ceasefire in January.
Since 1983, Barau has trained and sent out missionaries to share Christ with the unreached of Nigeria. Today, 183 workers are planting churches and discipling converts. Many of their mission fields are located in the country’s Muslim northern region, where the majority of Boko Haram attacks have occurred.
One of the ministry’s ongoing needs has been a new headquarters office in a safe location. The current office, which the ministry has rented for 20 years, is located in a very dangerous region that has experienced a high frequency of Boko Haram attacks.
With help from Christian Aid, the new headquarters is now partly completed. An amount of $30,000 will provide roofing, plumbing, and electrical work. The ministry plans to move into this office as soon as the roofing is completed.
Prayer requests:
  • For protection for believers in Nigeria as they courageously share their faith in the midst of opposition and hostility
  • For wisdom for Gabriel Barau as he leads the work of Missionary Crusaders Ministries
  • That terrorized Nigerians will experience a return to peace in their homeland
Use the form below to support indigenous ministries in Nigeria. Or call us at 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 550MCM. Thank you!
Help rebuild missionary homes/mission bases
Help finish construction on the new headquarters office for MCM
Support a MCM missionary in Nigeria

Attack in Nigeria that Killed 18 Christians, Caps Two Years of Islamic Aggression

Attack in Nigeria that Killed 18 Christians, Caps Two Years of Islamic Aggression
Muslim Fulani herdsmen suspected in another deadly assault in the area

By Dan Wooding, who was born in Nigeria
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
MILE BAKWAI, NIGERIA (ANS) -- Morning Star News (http://morningstarnews.org) is reporting that an attack in Nigeria that killed 18 Christians has capped two years of Islamic aggression. It says that Muslim Fulani herdsmen are suspected in another deadly assault in the area.
Farmer Hosea Mashaf rushed from a neighboring village to aid Christians under attack
(Morning Star News photo)
The news agency's Nigeria correspondent wrote that Hosea Mashaf was resting in his village of Chirang Mangor, Nigeria, when area Christian youths told him that armed, Muslim Fulani herdsmen were attacking the Christian village of Mile Bakwai. The 45-year-old farmer and other Christians rushed to Mile Bakwai, three kilometers away in the Bokkos Local Council Area of Plateau State, the night of March 27 to see how they might aid the Christians there, he told Morning Star News.
"When we got there, the gunmen had already retreated," Mashaf said. "I saw dead bodies scattered all over the village. I counted the dead bodies we recovered, and in all we had 18 Christians who were killed by the Muslim attackers."
They found five of those bodies in a minibus, he said.
"They were travelling in a bus back to our village when they ran into the attack going on at Mile Bakwai village," Mashaf said. "They were killed by the attackers when they shot at the bus, which crashed into a building, but the attackers went to the place where the bus was and shot the occupants. Five of them were killed, while two others were injured."
Fulani herdsmen on the rampage
Dead were Geofrey Mafuyai, 35; Mahana Jamok, 50; Arandon Yusuf, 18; Dung Dalyop, 38; and, Mbata Machif, 36. Maju Mahana, 25, and Nanle Enoch, 18 were wounded and received treatment at the ECWA Evangel Hospital in Jos, he said. The 18 slain were members of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Christ Apostolic Church and Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) congregations, sources said. The Rev. James Danladi Mahwash of the Bishara Baptist Church in Mile Bakwai village said five of his church members were killed, including the financial secretary of the Men's Missionary Union of his church, 25-year-old Jamle Benjamin Sunday.
"At about 8 p.m. the attackers, all Muslim Fulani herdsmen, came into this village in two separate groups, attacking us from two different directions, and shooting down anyone they saw," he said. "They came from the northwestern end of the village, and then separated into two groups with one of the groups attacking from the western end, while the second group attacked from the eastern end."
The Rev. James Danladi Mahwash baptizing Jamle Benjamin Sunday, who was killed in the attack in Mile Bakwai, Nigeria
(Morning Star News photo)
The Morning Star Nigerian correspondent continued by saying that besides Sunday, Mahwash said, among those killed were Kokiwo Malo, 65; Maren Galadima, 18; Gambo Geofrey Mafuyai, 45; Adamu Maren, 55; Zoron Adamu, 10; Maren Garba, 20; Danladi Mangar, 20; Joel Peter, 20; Boaz Masara, 20; Oge Emeka, 5; and one identified only as Jang from the neighboring village of Kunet. The assailants also burned the houses of three Christians - Malo Kabu, Marion Bitrus and Mapu Daniel - in Mile Bakwai, "Seventh Mile" in the Hausa language as it is about seven miles from the main mining camp at Tenti village. Mile Bakwai is a former mining camp in the rocky hills of the Jos Plateau, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Jos.
In several previous attacks, the herdsmen robbed the 150-member church of about 211,000 naira (US$1315), Mahwash added.
"We believe that our attackers are Muslim Fulani herdsmen," he said. "We know they have been attacking Christian communities in rural areas across central Nigerian states. We are not happy about this and feel that the Nigerian government has to do something urgently to curtail these attacks in order to save lives and restore peace in the northern part of this country."
More Than 100 Slain
The correspondent went on to say that ethnic Fulani Muslims are believed to have the backing of Islamic extremist groups in attacks on Christian areas in central and northern Nigeria. The Rev. Barnabas Kebang, chairman of the Bokkos Regional Church Council of COCIN, said the attack on Mile Bakwai was one of numerous assaults against Christians in the area.
"Since the year 2011, over 100 Christians have been killed here," he said.
Grave for 15 of the victims of the assault
in Mile Bakwai
(Morning Star News photo)
Christian communities attacked include those in the villages of Mushu, Tsohon Mushu, Marish, Ruboi, Wumat, Magi, Gada Biyu, Batish, Butura Gida, Pyakmalu, Mper, Ruwi, Chenget, Njukkudel and Washen, Kebang said. Kebang, who as chair of the regional church council over 46 COCIN pastors oversees about 11,000 church members, was blunt about the identity of the culprits.
"Muslim Fulani herdsmen are responsible for these attacks," he said.
After attacking Christian communities, Fulani herders "usually go out there to dish out false information to the world through their Islamic backers in the Middle East, using the Western press," Kebang said. As result, he said, international press tend to misrepresent Muslim aggression as "sectarian conflict," especially when Christians try to defend themselves.
Security agencies reported arresting six of the dozens of Muslims who attacked Mile Bakwai, but said five of those were killed during gun-battle during between the assailants and law enforcement forces, Kebang said. Reports he received from the Special Task Force created to stem violence indicated one of the Muslim attackers said 46 attackers participated in the assault on Mile Bakwai.
Kebang said the attack displaced nearly 500 Christians.
"We have about 140 of our church members displaced in this particular attack, and you can see them right here in the church premises," Kebang said from his office in Bokkos in mid-April. "About 300 other Christians displaced in the attack are right now at the St. Thomas Catholic Church here in Bokkos, and another group of about 13 are camped at the Christ Apostolic Church also here in Bokkos town."
Sultan Unheeded
The Morning Star News Nigeria correspondent stated that besides hit-and-run attacks by Fulani Muslims, the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group has targeted Christians in Nigeria in its effort to destabilize the government and impose sharia (Islamic law) nationwide. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar II, considered the leader of Nigeria's Muslims, has called for a halt to attacks on Christians, but Kebang said area Muslims either deny or don't know of the directive.
"In different forums where we have met to dialogue with Muslim leaders here in Plateau state, we have heard Muslim and Fulani leaders saying bluntly that they will not listen to anyone or act in a peaceful manner until the Sultan of Sokoto directs," he said.
Sokoto is the base of the Caliphate, a Fulani oligarchy established centuries ago.
The sultan also recently called on the Nigerian government to grant amnesty to Boko Haram, but the Islamic extremist sect's leader, Abubakar Shekau, has rejected the idea, claiming the group has not committed any crime warranting amnesty.
"Christians make up 51.3 percent of Nigeria's population of 158.2 million and live mainly in the south, while Muslims account for 45 percent and reside primarily in the north, according to Operation World," concluded the correspondent.

Jumat, 01 Juni 2012

A White Afrikaner Doctor Stuns Audience When He Apologizes To Black Doctors of Africa for the Racism of His People in South Africa

Dr. Frans J. Cronje made his request for forgiveness during a medical conference in Nairobi, Kenya By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries NAIROBI, KENYA (ANS) -- Dr. Frans J. Cronje, a white Afrikaner doctor stunned an audience in Nairobi, Kenya, recently when, during a keynote session at a Christian medical conference, he apologized to the hundreds of black doctors for the racism of his people in South Africa. Dr. Frans J. Cronje making his apology during the WCDN conference Speaking on the topic of "Spiritual Roots of Disease", Dr. Cronje said, "I was born in London. I have a British birth certificate. I also have a Dutch, French, and German ancestral heritage. And, I am an Afrikaner. So, I represent the African colonial empires and a white South African male. I am a symbol of generational racism.generational iniquity... "We have all had to learn that racism is contrary to God's word - that is sin - and I have had to learn to think differently. We have behaved contrary to what we know God's Word says - that is transgression -- and I have had to repent before God for my disobedience. "Indeed, I also want to repent to you, today: I repent for the way my ancestors and I have oppressed you out of greed and have dishonored you out of fear... But I also need to overcome the stain of this generational iniquity by demonstrating that I want to change; that I want to become my brother's keeper again; and that I have had a change of heart. Another picture of Dr. Frans J. Cronje "Therefore, I would like to deposit something into Africa today that may help to restore the health and dignity our generational iniquity has stolen from you... That is how you overcome iniquity. That is how love covers a multitude of sins - it does so by demonstrating a desire to represent God's nature again." He went on to say, "Unfortunately, this is not the way we minister on issues of health. As a result, we complain that God does not answer our prayers and we continue relying only on the methods of man to overcome our persistent violations of His instruction, His laws, and His sovereignty. We need to change and to show that we want to!" Some 500 doctors, scientists and medical professionals from 37 countries came to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi for the 9th International Christian Medical Conference held May 25-26, 2012, to explore whether miracles still happen today and, if they do, to provide medical data to prove them. After making his request for forgiveness; Dr. Cronje received thunderous applause from the attendees for his brave statement. One doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo told me, "It was very courageous of Dr. Cronje to make this apology to us and, of course, we accept it. After all, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to forgive. He is the first Afrikaner that I have heard make a statement like this, and it is deeply appreciated by all of us from the continent of Africa." Dr. Cronje is a medical doctor who specializes in diving, hyperbaric and aerospace medicine, and received both his medical degree and a Master's of Science degree in Aerospace Medicine from the University of Pretoria cum laude in 1991 and 1997 respectively. He completed the full medical licensing exams to practice medicine in the United States and subsequently completed a clinical Fellowship in Diving, Hyperbaric and Underwater Medicine at Duke University, Durham, NC, USA in 2003. He is considered the pioneer of modern hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Southern Africa and has dedicated 17 years of his professional career to introduce and expand this scientific, therapeutic modality in South Africa. African doctors praying during the conference Dr. Cronje also went on to say, "This brings me to an important understanding: all unrighteousness is not biologically equal. 'All fall short of the glory of God' and, yes, 'the wages of sin is death'. So the eternal consequences are indeed the same. However they are not the same biologically: stealing your pen is not the same as murdering you even though both actions are unrighteous. "God himself makes the distinction in Exodus 34:6-7: Here He declares His own nature and says that He forgives iniquity, transgression and sin. Jesus uses this same distinction when He says that the thief comes but to steal to kill and to destroy. Please do not leave here today without getting this from my message: sin represents ignorance of God's principles. It robs you of God's blessings and reduces your quality-of-life. "The first example of this progression in Scripture comes from the life of Cain. He displays ignorance by bringing the fruit of his own labors as a sacrifice to God instead of the shed blood of lambs - our works do not atone for our sins; we have to follow God's instructions. His sacrifice is rejected, but God instructs him, tells him not to sulk, encourages him to do what is right, and warns him not to entertain anger because sin is lurking at his door. "God covers his sin. However, Cain disobeys this instruction, goes into the field and murders his brother in a deliberate violation of God's instruction. So transgression reduces life itself and leads to premature death. I encourage you to explore the Scriptures and you will find this consistently: transgression leads to death. There is another level, though: After murdering his brother, Cain is confronted by God who asks him where his brother is. Cain responds by saying: 'am I my brother's keeper'. The very meaning of brother in Hebrew is a 'strong fence' or 'strong keeper'. So in this simple statement Cain is challenging God's right as sovereign lawmaker. Dan Wooding with some of the Maasai dancers who performed during the WCDN conference "This is iniquity; the point where we determine right and wrong for ourselves rather than accepting God's absolutes. At the end of this initial confrontation, Cain expresses these profound words: my iniquity is more than I can lift off. The English translation is misleading. It reads 'my punishment is more than I can bear'. This is not about punishment primarily; this is about the consequence of violating God's sovereignty. It is Cain's iniquity that brings on a generational effect. Cain is now marked". He added, "In an effort to limit the damage, he is instructed by God not to concentrate in cities. However, he disobeys this instruction again and it leads ultimately to the destruction of the entire World except for eight people! Iniquity destroys. Steal, kill, destroy.Iniquity is also transferred from generation to generation until someone is willing to take it on. It is the basis of inherited sin, inherited mental illness, and inherited the biological disease. Like Cain, this is the point where people have the greatest problem with their understanding of God. "They interpret their suffering as punishment and accuse God of His lack of mercy. What they fail to realize, is that God is actually expressing His greatest mercy in that He does not destroy the person who became twisted immediately. Rather, God's appreciation of life is so great, and his willingness to demonstrate patience towards us is so vast, that He allows the person to live, to see the impact of his iniquity, in the hope that Ezekiel 18 will be fulfilled: That a father will look at his son and cry out: 'God what must I do'. Or a son will look at his father and say: 'I want to change'. This is the point where the restoration that comes by God's own sacrifice - through His Son's atoning death - can be appropriated. "Yes, Jesus died for our sins, but we must appropriate the fullness thereof by becoming willing to learn God's ways; by repenting of our disobedience; and by showing our change of heart as we choose to manifest His love." Dr. Cronje also said, "With few exceptions, the Bible attributes sickness to sin. However, with the discovery of microorganisms four centuries ago, the emphasis gradually shifted towards a more material and biological understanding of the cause of disease. "Today there is nearly a complete dissociation between the original Biblical understanding of man and the modern practice of medicine and psychiatry. Yet, for all the advances of science, nearly 70% of the population of most Western countries are on chronic medication whereas 40% have a mental health diagnosis; elsewhere, poverty and disease abound. Our modern biological and chemical approaches are not solving our present health problems. "Evidence from psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinology (PNIE), epigenetic research and functional medicine all suggest that 75 to 85% of chronic and incurable disease have associated emotional root causes. These root causes are strikingly similar to those first described in Genesis 3 - fear, guilt and shame." In his presentation, the doctor offered a practical framework in which the links between spiritual roots and biological problems may be reconciled and understood from both a Scriptural and a scientific perspective. "The ultimate goal is the pursuit of wholeness and sanctification of spirit, soul and body," he added. Note: In South Africa, an Afrikaner minority party, the National Party, came to power in 1948 and enacted a series of segregationist laws favoring whites known as Apartheid (literally "apartness"). These laws allowed the systematic persecution of opposition leaders and attempted to enforce general white supremacy by classifying all South African inhabitants into racial groups. Non-white political participation was outlawed, black citizenship revoked, and the entire public sphere, including education, residential areas, medical care and common areas such as public transportation, beaches and sidewalks, was segregated. Apartheid was officially ended in 1990 after significant internal resistance and a long embargo against South Africa. The factual end to apartheid, however, is widely regarded as the election of 1994. After a long series of negotiations between President Frederik Willem de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, a democratic, multi-racial election was held, transitioning power from the National Party to the black African National Congress. Attendees wave farewell at the end of the medical gathering Dr. David Nico, PhD, CWC, from the United States was another speaker and he presented a "Deliverance Case Study - Demon Possession." The doctor described himself as a "Healthpreneur & Wellness Expert," and is an educator, researcher, and spokesperson for DR. HEALTHNUTT which inspires people to live an active, healthy and exciting lifestyle by taking personal responsibility for their health. He is the Founder and CEO of NICO VENTURES®, a health consulting, promotion, and seed stage investment company. He has also appeared as a guest on television and radio programs and is a speaker at conferences and seminars. At the end of the conference, it was announced that the 10th World Christian Doctors Network International Conference will take place in Mexico City, Mexico, next year at a date yet to be announced. Dan Wooding, 71, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. Dan has recently received two top media awards -- the "Passion for the Persecuted" award from Open Doors US, and one of the top "Newsmakers of 2011" from Plain Truth magazine. He is the author of some 44 books, the latest of which is "Caped Crusader: Rick Wakeman in the 1970s." To order a copy, go to: http://www.amazon.com/CAPED-CRUSADER-Rick-Wakeman-1970s/dp/1908728302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335474883&sr=1-1 . Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel "Red Dagger" which is available this link.

PRAY FOR NOSU, TIANBA OF CHINA

Pray for Nosu, Tianba of China Violent conflict, inter-tribal and inter-clan warfare, and the taking of slaves were commonplace among the various branches of the Nosu until recently. The War songs were equally awe inspiring: "We are the famous Black Nosu! We are the tigers who eat up human flesh! We are the butchers who skin people alive! We are the supermen!'" The Tianba Nosu have been influenced by Chinese culture more than the other Nosu groups in Sichuan, although they still retain their traditional dress and most of their ceremonies and customs. Ministry Obstacles These people may have little concept of a loving, forgiving creator God. Outreach Ideas Sustained, focused prayer is needed to prepare these people to receive the good news of Christ. Pray for the followers of Christ There may be no followers of Christ among the Tianba Nosu today, but pray for those that will soon emerge from this group. Pray they will be kind and compassionate to one another. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Tianba Nosu may overcome their history of violence, and increasingly hunger to know the Prince of peace. Scripture Focus "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest?' Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest." John 4:35 People Name: Nosu, Tianba Country: China 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 101,000 World Population: 101,000 Language: Nuosu Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: New Testament Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Senin, 21 Mei 2012

The Muslim soldier who became the 'Apostle to the Pygmies'

Edited and adapted by Mark Ellis He was a Muslim soldier who fought against Christians until a Scripture verse stopped him in his tracks and set him on a new path in life. Waswa Munubi grew up in Uganda. During his youth, he was an avid marijuana smoker. In military service, he fought against Christians until he came under the influence of Alexander Mackay, a Scottish missionary with the Church Missionary Society. Challenged to read the New Testament, one verse in the Sermon on the Mount grabbed his heart in an unexpected way. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13) After he read that passage, Munubi surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and was born again. At his baptism, he took the name “Apolo,” after the eloquent Alexandrian Jewish believer who “was fervent in spirit, spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” (Acts 18:25). Apolo left military service and began his discipleship training under the Anglican Church. He almost married, but his fiancée died unexpectedly before their wedding. After her death, Apolo decided to take the Apostle Paul’s advice in 1 Cor. 7:32, so he stayed single, and committed himself to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and completely. He was the first to volunteer as a missionary to the neighboring region of Toro. After that, he was sent to Boga, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To get to Boga, Apolo walked over the Rwenzori Mountains, then he traveled another 50 miles through the forest. He only took his Bible and his hoe on the arduous journey. The Bible fed him spiritually; the hoe allowed him to find work along the way. When he arrived at Boga, Apolo began to boldly proclaim the gospel. However, many were offended by his preaching, because he spoke against traditional practices and behavior, such as sorcery, polygamy, and drunkenness. He even offended Chief Tabaro, who gave the order that no one should give Apolo any food, in the hope that Apolo would die of hunger or leave his village. Undeterred, Apolo remained steadfast and loyal to the Lord’s calling on his life and continued his ministry. Against all odds, he watched in amazement as the Lord provided for all of his needs. Then a strange incident happened. Chief Tabaro’s sister died by accidently falling onto a spear that was carelessly left in the tall grasses at a building site. Apolo was blamed for her death, imprisoned and beaten, then sent back to Uganda where he was placed on trial for murder. One night in the prison, Apolo had a life-changing dream. “I saw Jesus shining like the sun, He said to me, ‘Take heart, for I am with you,’” Apolo recalled later. At the same time he had this powerful dream, God miraculously changed Chief Tabaro’s heart. Inexplicably, the chief requested that Apolo be released from prison and returned to his village. Through Apolo’s influence, the chief became a believer himself and the two men became close friends. After these dramatic events, Apolo’s heart was revived and encouraged. Full of the Holy Spirit, he began to preach with even greater boldness. Wherever he spoke, people gave up their old customs, repented, and began to follow Jesus. Apolo declared the year 1921 as “the year of the Gospel.” God began to touch his heart about reaching the pygmy tribes who inhabited forested areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Faithful to God’s call, he went to live among the Walese, Wanyali, and Wambuti as a friend. When he preached, he often told them about another unusual encounter with Jesus: “Christ appeared before me as a man. It was like seeing a man who was my brother. He said to me, ‘Go, preach in the forest, because I am with you. I Am who I Am–this is my Name.’” Due to the Lord’s favor and an anointing propelled by the Spirit, Apolo became known as “the Apostle to the Pygmies” for his work among the Bambuti people of the Ituri forest in the eastern part of the country. He died in 1933 at Boga, his mission field. Contrary to local customs, he was buried with his head toward the west (not the east) at his request. This signaled his desire that the Gospel should go to the western part of the country. Others, inspired by his example, continued his work throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This article, edited and adapted by permission of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography, was originally researched and written by Rev. Yossa Way, Project Luke Fellow and Professor of Theology at the Institut Supérieur Théologique Anglican in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Chris Wilkinson assisted Mark Ellis in editing this article.

Senin, 07 Mei 2012

Pray for Arab, Saudi - Hijazi of saudi Arabia

Arab, Saudi - Hijazi of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia once had a large Christian population, but they were expelled when Islam gained control 1300 years ago. Saudi Arabs see themselves as preservers of the Islamic faith, and the Wahabi fundamentalists were formed here. The Hijazi Arabs speak one of the variants of the Arabic language. Ministry Obstacles Any overt expression of the Christian faith is likely to bring strong negative response. Outreach Ideas Satellite TV and evangelistic websites are only two of the ways that the Gospel message can be communicated to these people. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray fervently for the few believers among the Arabs of Saudi Arabia, for their protection, and for their growth in the faith. Pray they will be courageous yet very tactful. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Saudi Arabs, that their religious zeal will soon be directed toward serving Jesus the Son of God. Scripture Focus "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples." Psalm 96:3 People Name: Arab, Saudi - Hijazi Country: Saudi Arabia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 8,782,000 World Population: 9,005,000 Language: Arabic, Hijazi Spoken Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Rabu, 11 April 2012

Mali: Christians flee imposition of Sharia


- plus Nigeria update (Kaduna Easter bombing)

By Elizabeth Kendal
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB) 154
Special to ASSIST News Service

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Having seized the capitals of the three main northern provinces in three days -- Kidal, on 30 March, Gao on 31 March and Timbuktu on 1 April -- the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (NMLA) declared it had achieved its military goal. (NMLA is the ethnic Tuareg rebel group that has seized control of northern Mali.) Consequently, on Thursday 5 April the NMLA announced a ceasefire. Whilst the NMLA has been fighting for political ends -- specifically for autonomy in their homeland -- they have been aided by Islamic jihadists who have been fighting for religious ends, specifically an Islamic state where Sharia (Islamic) Law is enforced. No sooner had the NMLA achieved its goal, the jihadists of Ansar Dine hoisted the black flag of al-Qaeda and announced the imposition of Sharia. Some 100 Nigerian Boko Haram militants who assisted in the capture of Gao have also established a presence there. Sources advise there are four distinct flags flying in Goa: the NMLA, Boko Haram, Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). However, it is the jihadists calling the shots, not the professedly secular NMLA.

The Tuareg rebellion has left northern Mali devastated. There have been reports of pack rapes as well as massive destruction and looting. The UN's office of humanitarian affairs reports: 'Malians in the northern towns of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu are hiding in their homes in fear following the weekend takeover by rebel groups, during which hospitals, health clinics, government buildings, and most NGO and UN offices and warehouses were looted, and in some cases destroyed, leaving the bulk of humanitarian operations suspended.' (IRIN, 3 April.) Head of the Malian office of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Julia McDade, told IRIN: 'Everyone [in Gao] is in hiding, everyone's vehicles have been stolen . every single office has been ransacked.' Caritas Mali reported that its local office in Gao was destroyed along with the local church which served Gao's 200-strong Catholic community.

Reportedly, Ansar Dine has distributed leaflets containing a contact number saying that anyone who feels threatened or endangered should call Ansar Dine for assistance. One resident reports being on a bus of families fleeing Gao that was ambushed by Tuareg militants who were robbing everyone. People called the Ansar Dine 'hotline' and jihadists were quickly on the scene. The passengers then watched in horror as the jihadists slit the throat of one of the Tuareg militants to cries of 'Allahu Akbar'.

The shocking violence and destruction, but especially the Islamist threat, has forced virtually the entire Christian population of northern Mali to flee for their lives. The Guardian received an unconfirmed report that the Christian prefect of the town of Bourem had been executed along with his whole family. More than 90 percent of Timbuktu's approximately 300 Christians have fled according to Baptist Pastor Nock Ag Info Yattara, whose congregation has worshipped in Timbuktu since the 1950s. He added that not one of its 205 people is left. In Timbuktu, Ansar Dine is controlling the city and its military base, while the NMLA is camped out at the airport. 'What I deplore,' laments Ou smane Halle, the mayor of Timbuktu, 'is the departure of the Christian community . . . I cannot guarantee their safety. And these are people that have lived side by side with us for centuries.'

For full report see:
MALI: Christians flee as jihadists sieze control of north
Religious Liberty Monitoring, 11 April 2012

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL --

* guarantee the safety of his displaced and threatened people and supply all their needs: spiritual, emotional and physical (food, medical supplies and refuge).

* 'frustrate' (NIV) / 'thwart' (NASB) the way of the wicked (Psalm 146:9c) so that northern Mali will not become an Islamic state and al-Qaeda sanctuary; may he intervene to restore democracy and liberty to northern Mali so that the light of Christ might shine there openly.

* redeem the present sufferings for his own ends, turning the schemes of the wicked 'upside down' (Psalm 146:9c KJV), so that falsehood might be exposed and rejected, truth might be illuminated and lifted up and doors long closed might be opened for gospel ministry.

'The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.' (Psalm 146:9 ESV)

SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MALI CHRISTIANS FLEE IMPOSITION OF SHARIA

Ethnic Tuareg rebels have seized control of northern Mali. Whilst the main rebel group, the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad, is professedly secular, its ally, a jihadist faction known as Ansar Dine, has wrested contr ol, hoisted the black flag of al-Qaeda and announced the imposition of Sharia Law. The Tuareg rebellion has devastated northern Mali. There have been reports of pack rapes and violence, whilst the massive destruction and widespread looting has left the humanitarian aid sector totally crippled. Christian charities and churches have been destroyed. With Christians being targeted, virtually the entire Christian population of northern Mali has been forced to flee. Please pray for the Church in Mali.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NIGERIA: GIVE THANKS AND KEEP PRAYING

On Easter Sunday a Boko Haram bomber attempted to get access to the 1st Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on Gwari Road, Kaduna. However, his car was turned away at the barricades despite his having a military uniform folded on the back seat. As he drove away, the massive bomb exploded outside a hotel opposite the church. So far 39 people have died, most of whom were Okada (motor-cyc le taxi) drivers parked at the hotel. The massive explosion damaged the ECWA Good News Church and the nearby All Nations Christian Assembly Church, blowing in the windows and destroying fans and roofing. However, the churchgoers worshipping at Easter services inside were protected. Thank the Lord while continuing to pray that he will protect his people (Psalm 125:2) and frustrate the schemes of the wicked (Psalm 146:9).

PEPERANGAN ROHANI



0BULETIN DOA -- Peperangan Rohani
Edisi April 2012, Vol.04 No.52

DAFTAR ISI
ARTIKEL DOA 1: SENJATA KITA DALAM PEPERANGAN
ARTIKEL DOA 2: PERANG ROHANI
STOP PRESS: GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR NORTH KOREA

Shalom,

Ketika kita berdoa syafaat, sebenarnya kita sedang memasuki sebuah peperangan yang sengit dengan kuasa-kuasa di udara. Karena itu, seharusnya kita bersiap sedia dengan segala baju zirah yang sudah dipersiapkan oleh Allah untuk kita pakai. Dalam edisi e-Doa kali ini, kami mengajak Anda menyimak artikel mengenai senjata yang kita pakai dan apa yang kita lakukan dalam peperangan rohani. Kiranya, artikel-artikel yang kami sajikan ini memperlengkapi Anda. Tuhan Yesus memberkati!

Redaksi Tamu e-Doa,
Yosua Setyo Yudo
< http://doa.sabda.org >


ARTIKEL DOA 1: SENJATA KITA DALAM PEPERANGAN

Orang beriman harus senantiasa diperlengkapi dengan sejumlah jenis senjata. Efesus 6:10-11 berkata, "Akhirnya, hendaklah kamu kuat di dalam Tuhan, di dalam kekuatan kuasa-Nya. Kenakanlah seluruh perlengkapan senjata Allah, supaya kamu dapat bertahan melawan tipu muslihat Iblis." Orang semacam ini adalah orang yang siap menghadapi musuh. Iblis akan melakukan segala upaya untuk mencegah, jangan sampai Anda memiliki ilmu pengetahuan dari Allah. Sekalipun Anda berhasil memiliki senjata itu, ia akan berusaha merebutnya. Anda akan mengalami ujian dalam hal ini, dan ada beberapa orang yang tidak lulus dalam ujian tersebut. Iblis akan menyatakan bahwa Anda tidak memerlukan senjata itu. Sebaiknya senjata itu dibuang saja, sebab senjata itu tidak bermanfaat bagi Anda.

Pada suatu saat, saya didatangi seorang laki-laki di dalam suatu kebaktian, tatkala saya sedang menyinggung masalah ini di dalam khotbah saya. Ia mengatakan bahwa senjata itu tidak mempan baginya. Saya katakan kepadanya apabila senjata Allah itu tidak mempan, maka ia dapat menyebut Tuhan itu pembohong. Kalau firman Allah itu sebagai senjata tidak mempan dalam hidup Anda, maka hal itu disebabkan oleh karena Anda menggunakannya secara tidak benar.

Allah tidak pernah gagal dalam melaksanakan kebenaran. Memang musuh dengan gigih menolak Anda masuk ke dalam kawasan yang pernah ia kuasai karena ia senang menjalankan kekuasaan gelap yang penuh dengan roh jahat di udara. Ia ingin terus melanjutkan kekuasaannya atas diri umat manusia. Ia sangat menyesalkan adanya campur tangan Tuhan dalam hal ini. Ia akan memusatkan segala kekuatan dan tenaganya untuk merintangi Anda melalui suatu peperangan yang dahsyat. Kalau serangan-serangannya berhasil Anda patahkan dan ia tidak berhasil menguasai jalan pikiran Anda, maka ia akan mencoba mengusik Anda melalui jiwa Anda, keadaan tubuh Anda, keadaan keluarga Anda, atau kondisi kehidupan Anda. Oleh sebab itu, hendaklah Anda siap sedia senantiasa menghadapi segala gangguan iblis itu, karena ia pasti tidak akan tinggal diam. Gangguan itu akan terus datang merongrong.

Tempat yang tadinya merupakan anugerah yang istimewa bagi Anda, kini menjadi tempat yang luar biasa berbahaya. Tidak ada kebenaran yang lebih tangguh dalam melawan musuh, kecuali kewibawaan iman pada orang yang percaya. Roh Tuhan berdoa melalui rasul Paulus, kiranya mata sidang jemaat boleh terbuka lebar, agar mereka bisa menyadari sepenuhnya perlengkapan senjata yang ampuh, yang telah diperuntukkan untuk menjaga keamanan diri mereka. Saya pernah menyaksikan sejumlah orang yang berhasil dijungkirbalikkan oleh iblis. Banyak pula orang yang berusaha dengan tekun untuk menguasai kebenaran Allah, atau telah memperoleh pelajaran tentang kebenaran Allah itu. Mereka telah berusaha dengan sekuat tenaga, untuk dapat melaksanakan dengan baik apa yang diajarkan oleh firman Allah. Sering kali, mereka berhasil ditaklukkan iblis dari segi kelemahan jasmaniah mereka, sebab mereka tidak bisa lagi ditaklukkan melalui kekuatan benteng iman rohani mereka. Iblis senantiasa berusaha mengalahkan mereka melalui segala cara, apa saja yang ia sanggupi. Namun, kepada setiap orang, telah disediakan perlengkapan senjata, yang bisa menjamin keamanan diri mereka itu. Apabila manusia itu berhasil memanfaatkan senjata dari Allah itu dengan tepat, maka ia pasti berhasil mengalahkan iblis.

Seorang yang beriman haruslah senantiasa diperlengkapi dengan senjata. Efesus 6:10-17 berkata, "Akhirnya, hendaklah kamu kuat di dalam Tuhan, di dalam kekuatan kuasa-Nya. Kenakanlah seluruh perlengkapan senjata Allah, supaya kamu dapat bertahan melawan tipu muslihat Iblis. Karena perjuangan kita bukanlah melawan darah dan daging, tetapi melawan pemerintah-pemerintah, melawan penguasa-penguasa, melawan penghulu-penghulu dunia yang gelap itu, melawan roh-roh jahat di udara. Sebab itu ambillah seluruh perlengkapan senjata Allah, supaya kamu dapat mengadakan perlawanan pada hari yang jahat itu dan tetap berdiri sesudah kamu menyelesaikan segala sesuatu. Jadi berdirilah tegap, berikat pinggangkan kebenaran dan berbaju zirahkan keadilan, kakimu berkasutkan kerelaan untuk memberitakan Injil damai sejahtera, dalam segala keadaan pergunakanlah perisai iman, sebab dengan perisai itu kamu akan dapat memadamkan semua panah api dari si jahat, dan terimalah ketopong keselamatan dan pedang Roh, yaitu firman Allah." Berbagai macam bagian senjata yang disebutkan di sini, melambangkan sikap kehidupan rohani tertentu, yang harus dipertahankan oleh orang beriman. Dengan mengenakan senjata rohani ini, maka seorang yang beriman akan terlindung dari bahaya musuh, dan tidak terhalang dalam melaksanakan tugas pelayanannya. Yang ia perlukan hanyalah bagaimana caranya ia terus-menerus bisa bertahan, agar senjatanya itu tetap cemerlang dan dapat dimanfaatkan bagi kepentingannya dengan mantap.

Ikat pinggang kebenaran merupakan lambang dari pemahaman yang mendalam terhadap isi firman Allah. Seperti halnya fungsi ikat pinggang bagi seorang tentara sebagai tempat kaitan segala macam senjata lain baginya, agar tetap bisa bertahan pada tempatnya masing-masing, maka ikat pinggang kebenaran berfungsi demikian juga.

Tameng dada yang terbuat dari logam merupakan lambang keadilan. Hal ini memunyai dua macam penerapan. Pertama, Yesus adalah lambang dari segala keadilan. Itulah sebabnya, kita tempatkan Dia sebagai pelindung keadilan yang utama. Kedua, lukisan dari sikap ketaatan kita terhadap firman Tuhan, bahwa kaki kita harus beralaskan sepatu yang siap sedia untuk menyebarkan Kabar Baik bagi umat manusia. Hal ini merupakan tugas kepeloporan dalam menyampaikan firman Tuhan kepada manusia, yang patut dilaksanakan dengan setia.

Tameng kepercayaan. Tameng itu merupakan senjata pelindung bagi seluruh tubuh kita. Hal ini merupakan lambang tentang keamanan diri kita selengkapnya, dan merupakan tempat pengungsian yang aman di bawah darah yang telah ditumpahkan di atas bukit Kalvari, di mana tidak ada satu kekuatan musuh apa pun juga yang bisa berhasil menembusnya.

Ketopong keselamatan, seperti yang disinggung dalam 1 Tesalonika 5:8, yang merupakan harapan terhadap keselamatan itu. Harapan akan keselamatan itu merupakan satu-satunya topi pengaman yang mampu melindungi bagian kepala kita dalam masa-masa penuh kepicikan, sehingga janganlah kepala kita jadi bingung atau pecah, sehingga kita berpaling dari sesuatu yang mengandung kebenaran.

Pedang Roh, yang tiada lain adalah firman Tuhan itu sendiri. Bagi kita, hal ini harus kita tafsirkan bahwa firman Allah itu, hendaklah kita gunakan secara aktif sebagai senjata. Senjata-senjata yang lainnya itu tergolong jenis senjata yang dapat kita pakai dalam corak membela diri atau mempertahankan diri semata-mata.

Selanjutnya Efesus 6:18 menyatakan, "Dalam segala doa dan permohonan. Berdoalah setiap waktu di dalam Roh dan berjaga-jagalah di dalam doamu itu dengan permohonan yang tak putus-putusnya untuk segala orang kudus." Nah, kini kita telah siap siaga untuk melakukan peperangan melawan musuh, karena kita sudah diperlengkapi sepenuhnya dengan senjata yang ampuh. Oleh sebab itu, apabila kita berdoa di dalam Roh, maka kita pun dapat melaksanakan tugas perjuangan kita dengan gilang-gemilang.

Diambil dan disunting seperlunya dari:
Judul asli buku: Authority of the Believer
Judul buku: Kewibawaan Orang Beriman
Penulis: Kenneth E. Hagin
Penerjemah: Wimanjaya K. Liotohe
Penerbit: Yayasan Pekabaran Injil "IMMANUEL", Jakarta 1981
Halaman: 36 -- 38


ARTIKEL DOA 2: PERANG ROHANI

Keberadaan Iblis dan Roh-Roh Jahat

Beda dari yang dikesankan oleh film-film hantu Hong Kong yang jenaka, film-film misterius X-files yang mencampuradukkan data, fiksi, kebenaran, dan kesesatan, atau film-film hantu serial beberapa televisi Indonesia yang banyak mengundang asosiasi binal pemirsa; Alkitab menelanjangi taktik-taktik mematikan dan strategi-strategi busuk iblis dan roh-roh jahat. Alkitab menegaskan bahwa iblis adalah kepala dari para malaikat Tuhan yang jatuh. Iblis "diabolos" berarti musuh, sebab ia memang memusuhi Allah (1 Tawarikh 21:1; Ayub 1-2; Zakharia 3:1-2) dan menyerang umat Allah (Wahyu 12:9-10). Ia menjadi ilah dunia ini dengan memimpin orang-orang yang bergaya hidup duniawi, yaitu tidak tunduk terhadap kehendak Allah (Yohanes 12:31; 2 Korintus 4:4; Efesus 2:2; 1 Yohanes 5:9).

Iblis bersama dengan semua makhluk rohani lain yang jatuh, yaitu para roh jahat dan manusia yang tidak mau taat terhadap Injil Yesus Kristus, adalah calon penghuni neraka. Mereka telah berkeras hati untuk menentang kebaikan, kebenaran, kehendak, dan kerajaan Kristus. Sementara masa penantian ini, mereka benar-benar memiliki kuasa untuk melakukan berbagai kejahatan yang intinya ditujukan kepada Allah, tetapi sasarannya sering kali ditembakkan kepada orang beriman. Calvin menggambarkan mereka bergentayangan ke sana ke mari mencari mangsa, namun sambil menyeret-nyeret rantai pengikat, sebab mereka telah ditaklukkan Kristus dan tidak mungkin mereka dapat mengalahkan Allah.

Strategi dan Kegiatan Roh-Roh Jahat

Dalam Perjanjian Lama, Iblis mencobai Hawa dan Adam karena manusia pertama itu memberi perhatian bagi tipu dayanya. Iblis dan roh-roh jahat mendapatkan peluang besar untuk merusak peradaban manusia. Kuasa kejahatan membelenggu hati dan tindakan manusia. Namun demikian, baru di Perjanjian Baru, ketika penyataan Allah hadir nyata dalam diri Yesus Kristus, perbuatan-perbuatan jahat iblis ditelanjangi. Selain mencobai Tuhan Yesus, di balik berbagai penyakit dan kemalangan tertentu ada kegiatan roh-roh jahat (Markus 5:1-15; 9:17-18; Lukas 1:14). Iblis ditelanjangi tipu dayanya dengan disebut sebagai malaikat terang (2 Korintus 11:14), singa yang mengaum-ngaum (1 Petrus 5:8), naga atau ular tua (Wahyu 12:9), pembunuh dan bapak pendusta (Yohanes 8:44). Dia berusaha mempertahankan manusia dalam dosa, menggelapkan pikiran mereka hingga tidak dapat menerima kebenaran Injil Kristus (2 Korintus 4:4), membuat para cerdik cendekia duniawi menganggap hikmat Allah sebagai suatu kebodohan (1 Korintus 1:18-25), dan menawan pikiran mereka dalam benteng kejahatannya (2 Korintus 10:5).

Kemenangan Kristus

Iblis dan roh-roh jahat hanyalah makhluk ciptaan Allah. Mereka berkuasa, tetapi tidak mahakuasa. Mereka lebih tinggi dan hebat dari manusia. Karena itu, kita tidak boleh bermain-main dengannya atau memberi peluang apa pun kepadanya. Namun, mereka tetap makhluk yang tunduk, tergantung eksistensi, dan ruang geraknya pada keputusan Allah yang berdaulat. Ketika mengutus para murid-Nya, Kristus memberi mereka kuasa untuk mengusir roh-roh jahat (Lukas 9:10; 10:17). Iblis dan roh-roh jahat takut dan tunduk kepada Yesus (Markus 1:25; 3:11-12; 9:25). Meski sudah dihancurkan Kristus di dalam peperangan dahsyat di salib, iblis dan roh-roh jahat masih diberi sisa kekuatan dan kesempatan. Namun, dengan mengandalkan kuasa dan wibawa serta perlengkapan perang rohani yang Kristus berikan, kita dapat mengalahkannya (Markus 16:15-18; Efesus 6:10-18). Itu sebabnya dalam kondisi dan keadaan bagaimanapun, iblis dan roh-roh jahat harus dipandang dan diperlakukan sebagai musuh yang sudah dikalahkan (Kolose 2:15).

Mana yang dari Iblis, Mana yang Kelemahan Kita?

Perlu kita sadari bahwa tidak semua masalah adalah ulah iblis dan antek-anteknya. Bisa juga (dan sangat besar kemungkinannya) masalah itu adalah akibat kelemahan kita sendiri. Masalahnya, kita sulit membedakan mana konflik dan masalah yang bersumber pada diri manusia sendiri, mana yang berasal dari kuasa kegelapan.

Bernard menyebut itu sebagai masalah "inter morsum serpentis et mortum mentis" (antara sengat iblis dan pikiran yang sakit terkena sengat). Bedanya, pertama, masalah yang datang dari hati kita sendiri tumbuh perlahan dan berangsur, sedangkan yang datang dari roh jahat adalah serangan dan bersifat mendadak. Kedua, ide atau kesalahan dari kita tidak begitu mengerikan seperti yang datang dari iblis dan roh jahat. Bukankah kita tidak takut melihat anak kita sendiri? Tetapi, ide yang datang dari iblis sangat menakutkan, misalnya, ide untuk menghujat dan dorongan untuk bunuh diri. Ketiga, hal yang berasal dari iblis dan dilemparkan ke dalam pikiran kita akan kita tanggapi dengan keengganan penolakan, pengelakan. Tak seorang pun dengan senang hati menyambut roh jahat bila ia menyerang, baik berupa ide maupun penampakan diri. Lebih dari semuanya, Roh Kudus akan memberi kita kemampuan membedakan roh, dengan mengajar hati kita berbagai prinsip kebenaran firman tentang hal-hal tersebut.

Perang Rohani Kita

Jadi, ada tiga kemungkinan dari apa yang kita sebut "perang rohani". Pertama, perang rohani dalam arti melawan kelemahan dosa diri sendiri. Kedua, perang rohani dalam arti melawan godaan keduniawian. Ketiga, perang rohani karena diserang roh-roh jahat. Dua yang pertama tidak perlu diartikan sebagai perang melawan kuasa-kuasa roh jahat. Di dalam Kristus, yaitu bila dalam pertolongan Roh Kudus kita bersatu dengan Kristus dalam kematian dan kebangkitan-Nya, kita dapat mengatasi sifat dosa kita dan godaan dunia ini. Tetapi, bila kita tidak bersekutu dengan-Nya, bisa jadi kelemahan dan kegagalan kita dimanfaatkan iblis dan roh-roh jahat untuk kepentingan kejahatan mereka. Hanya konflik ketigalah yang patut kita golongkan sebagai perang melawan kuasa-kuasa jahat di angkasa. Bila itu terjadi, Tuhan tidak meninggalkan kita sebagai piatu. Pastikan bahwa tidak ada peluang di pihak kita yang menjadi sebab roh-roh jahat itu beroleh kesempatan menyerang kita. Arahkan usaha iman dan harap kita ke kuasa dan janji Tuhan Yesus. Dalam pertumbuhan, hidup sehari-hari, dan pelayanan, pasti tiga jenis perang rohani itu akan kita hadapi. Ingatlah: aku yang lama telah mati bersama Kristus. Dunia kehilangan daya tariknya bila keindahan Kristus terpampang jelas dalam hati sanubari kita. Roh-roh jahat sudah dilucuti kuasanya oleh Tuhan Yesus di salib-Nya. Itulah rahasia kemenangan Kristen.

Diambil dari:
Judul buku: Menerbangi Terowongan Cahaya
Penulis: Paul Hidayat
Penerbit: Yayasan Persekutuan Pembaca Alkitab, Jakarta 2002
Halaman: 74 -- 77


STOP PRESS: GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR NORTH KOREA

Open Doors International akan mengadakan gerakan doa "Global Day of Prayer and Fasting for North Korea" pada tanggal 15 April 2012. Open Doors Indonesia mengajak Anda -- umat Kristen diseluruh Indonesia, untuk ikut terlibat berdoa bagi Korea Utara. Untuk mendapatkan pokok-pokok doa dan informasi tentang umat Kristen Korea Utara, silakan kunjungi website Open Doors Indonesia di . Selain itu, kami juga menyediakan pokok-pokok doa dan video kesaksian dalam bentuk CD. Bagi Anda yang berminat mendapatkan CD ini, Anda dapat menghubungi Open Doors Indonesia melalui email di (cantumkan data diri dan alamat lengkap Anda).

Kami juga mengajak Anda bergabung dalam komunitas Facebook Open Doors Indonesia di dan Twitter di <@ODIndonesia>. Khusus tanggal 15 April 2012, Anda bisa memposting doa-doa Anda di Facebook kami –- kutiplah ayat-ayat dari kitab Mazmur sesuai dengan permintaan tubuh Kristus di Korea Utara.


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Rekening: BCA Pasar Legi Solo;
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a.n. Yulia Oeniyati
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