this article was written in 19 April 2008, but I knew this problem on my first Birthday with Jesus (15 April 2008).
Imagine, He gave me this problem on my frist birthday anniversary with Him. What a gift!! I really thank Him for this. Because of this, I can now stand in front of you, boldly speaking, God is real, Jesus is Son of God. He is so faithful. Halleluya. Praise the Lord
Indonesian version: http://alvinsu.multiply.com/journal/item/4/
My friend, are you right now facing so many problems, difficulties, your life seems going to dead end, no hope? I have also big problem and am facing it right now, but I always believe that God will open a way for me, even though I see nothing or no one can help me.
If you had just broken up with your boy/girlfriend and already so depressed, wanna die or somehing, or if just because you failed one of your exams and already felt terrible, or your work seem unfruitful,, please look at my problem. I hope you stop grumbling and start to bring your matter onto God. I want to share my big problem with you.
My father was a bank manager, who has worked for 32 years. His career was built only in that bank, never has he worked for other company in his whole life, he is so loyal. Even before he met my mother and married, have 4 children, he had already worked there. He started from clergy position, then slowly but sure, God raised him up. He provided his family with his tiredless work. He built his career from zero.
He spent almost 20 years working in another city, Garut, 1.5 hours from our home because it was necessary for him to get better position. He sacrificed his happiness to always gather together with his family for that bank. He went every Monday morning to that bank, and Friday evening he went home to be together with us. Once, he had car accident, which almost took his life. His car front tyre was broken when was driving with high speed, then the car was out from the road. The car was in terrible condition, but he sound fine and healthy, God still sustained his life. My father sacrificed a lot for his bank and his family. He is my great father, I am proud of him, I want to be like him.
But the higher the tree, the stronger the wind. The higher my father position, the more the people who tried to harm him. Maybe up until that day, my father already think that he was something, he was strong, he thought that God is always with him, no evil can harm him. That's true but only for those who are really faithful and righteous before God's eyes. If you are really close to God, even the most venomous snakes can't kill you, or even if you drank poison, you will not die. But that's not true for those who only church-goers.
My father goes to church as diligent as the pastor, even more dilligent. He never missed any Sunday Service at all. He prayed before he ate, before he went for work and when he had problems. He reads his daily bread, he is even in one of the elders in the church. Can you be more 'christian' than him? But, the same like Pharisee and Scribe who know all things literally, pray a long prayer, but lack of Spirit, something practical. Just as the Pharisee and the Scribe, he just knew physical things but none of spiritual things. That was my father in my perspective. I don't judge my father, but as the one who has been born again, I have been in that position, I know very well what kind of living sacrifice God demands from his children. I feel so much different in this one year since I have known Him personally. I feel God is so real. It can't be compared with my 23 years of pagan life (my pharisee's lifestyle).
For 23 years of my past, I went to the church with a mask. People saw me as christian, brought my Bible every Sunday, memorized many Bible verses, stories of God's people, and I many would agree with me when I said 'if I died at that time, I will be in heaven because I am children of God'. But, deep down in my heart, I knew, I was lying. I was sure that if I died at that moment, I will be in hell, I was serving 2 masters, I can't choose between God and Mammon. I did my christian life, but I also did what my flesh demanded: watch porn movies, masturbation, talked rubbish, negative thinking, gossip, etc. And now I knew very well right that my past really makes God sad, I made Him upset for 23 years. Imagine!! He still wait for me to be back to Him. He is passionate God, He still remember me. I love you, Jesus.
I made Jesus sad by going to church every Sunday, but my heart was not there. For me, Sunday service just obligation, I thought it can lead me to heaven, it can make my parents happy, it can make others think that I am a good christian. But all of those things I considered rubbish now. I know for sure the difference between people who are already born again and people who just fake christian. I was a fake christian before. And I know very well that in the churches right now, there are more fake Christians than genuine born again Christian. Are you also fake or genuine, my friends? I even called my father 'fake' christian, pharisee. How about you?
I don't know what sins that my father did and I don't want to talk about it, it is just between my father and God. Bible says, all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. That's including my father, you, and me. All of us. But I know for sure, that my father is like I was, resounding brass, tinkling cymbal, doesn't have Holy Spirit inside him, He was just righteous in front men's eyes, but not God. And once Satan has planned something bad for him, no matter how great, how big he is, he will surely fall. And that's what my family experiencing right now.
My father was asked for his responsibility for the lost in his bank around $400.000, which he knew nothing about. He is just a good person, who trust so much on his vice-manager, because they have worked together for a long time. This person is the one who corrupted the bank behind my father's back. My father was doing much outdoor job, surveying, talk with clients, etc. For office work, he trusted his vice manager to do that. They have worked together for more than 10 years.
Maybe it seemed unfamiliar with most of you, but back in my country, Indonesia, black magic is very common. People go to the medium or supranatural to harm people. My father behaved as if he was blinded but those evil spirit. I do believe that there are evil spirits, but for me, that ones are in lowly ranks. The most devilish thing is something inside everybody's heart. What I see is not about spirit agents, but I see that devil can harm anybody who has no Spirit of God inside them.
I tell you the truth, bear with me. If my father stole that money, let me, as his son, take all of the guilt instead of him. I am very sure, as sure as my small house, which I lived in since I was 4 years old. A small house that full of joy, love, but just normal, nothing special. We started from the little beginning until it become lively home. When I did my Bachelor, I always went with my motorcycle, even my sister went by public transport everyday.
This was our home, 192 m2 for six people live there. Quite small but full of love
If we had that money, I will never go to pursuit my dream in Germany and work here to sustain my life. I just need to pick up my phone and ask my father to send me sums of money. The reason I chose to study Master in Germany was because I was tired of this life, my life was so unfortunate, when I wanted something, I need to wait, and most of the case, I will never get it. I always need to use my own ability, not like my other friends..They are rich people, have all things they want. When they go enjoy their life, drive their own car, drink in the expensive cafe, etc, I just with my motorcycle and drink nothing. Yes, I was like that before until I met Jesus, He changes everything in my life.
I know what it takes to afford that life I lived. It took my father's sweat, blood, and love. He works hard for us. Though my family is not rich family, but for my father, education is a must. If he can't change his family's fortune, he will make sure that his children have all the best education. For him, education is his investment. That's why when I decided to study Master in Germany, he mortgaged our own house to his bank. He put his trust in me. If I failed, all of us suffered, If I succeed, it doesn't necessarily mean that we will not suffer as well.
But, when Satan see the chance to get in and do his work, he will instantly take that opportunity and make everything scattered. Our family which was nice and fine, within one day, we lost everything, our house, car, deposit were taken by the bank for something that we never done. Satan has started his work and God let it happen because I can tell you that my father wasn't genuine born again.
He lost his job since November 2007 and started from that time, we suffered so much. I tell you the truth, I knew this problem 4 days ago, they were hiding this problem from me more than 6 months, everytime I called my home, they said everything was ok. They didn't want to disturb my concentration here.
My father must go to Central Bank in Jakarta often, even though we lack of resources. Firstly, his car for work (owned by bank) was taken back. In the morning, he drove to Jakarta from Bandung (2 hours on the road by private car), but then, the people there treated him like a scum of the earth. They let my father wait from the morning till night for just giving the car's key back. He then must went back home with bus, public transport, which he never accustomed for long time. And because he was tired, he slept and when the driver said 'Cikopo, Cikopo', he thought that he already back in the station near our home, where my mother has waited him, named 'Kopo'. At 2 am, he went out from that bus and then he realized that it wasn't yet home. He then waited outside with his old body, 54 years old. cold and alone until the next bus passed by, can you imagine? It was already late, the bus would come seldomly, and my mother back in Kopo waited for him worrily. They got home in the morning, when the sun has risen brightly.
His Big Boss in Jakarta forced my father to admit something he didn't do, but he insisted him, he even compared him with his vice manager and his other worker for the people involve in this matter is not just one). He said to my father, 'Look at your subordinates, they are gentlemen, they admited what they did, but you? O my God...forgive them because they didn't know what they did.
They took the phonebook and start hitting my father, they even threatening him to burn our home, harm his family, even kill him, as long as the money hasn't come back. They accuse something that my father never done, because of that threat, my father signed a letter that tells lies. He signed everything offered to him. His family is everything, he chose to blame himself, instead of us.
They kept calling my father to Jakarta intentionally, just to break his mental down. They asked my father to come exactly at 11 am, and because now we need to go by public transport, at 5 am, he woke up, drove motorcycle, three of them (my father, my little 2 brothers who need to go to school). I just can't imagine, my little brothers also need to suffer, their school start at 6.30 am but since 5.15, both of them already waited in their classes, that was still dawn.
My father arrived in Jakarta at 10.30, but then, once again, he was asked to wait till unknown time, they suddenly had meeting. At 3 pm, he met them, and he arrived at home very late in the night. Once, he was again called to go to Jakarta, but while he was on the road, a text came to his handphone, said that the meeting was canceled, go home and wait for another day. But, it was not private car, he tthen need to finish his destination to Jakarta first then take the same travel agent back to Bandung, wasting money. Don't they really think that our family need that money for living? We had lost everything, even our deposit, but still, they want to take whatever we had for something we didn't do. My father has worked for 32 years in that bank, he is senior, they should know how to treat elder, they are much younger than my father, but they already think they are something. Don't they know that this matter hasn't been settled, there is no strong proof for that?
The reason they do this is because that $400.000 was gone. My father's vice manager (VM) put them on some projects, but those projects were unprofitable, he lost everything there, and when the big boss asked him, where was the money, he just can say, 'Here is my life, do as you please.'
In his distress, my father came to the point to do suicide. For him, it is better that he is alone who take all the blame, rather all the family will be mocked by others. What a terrible things to be done. Once when he was with his VM went to Jakarta together, His VM was the one who drove the car, my father sat next to him. He had in his mind to take the steer and hit at whatever (big tree, big truck) that can make them die instantly. Satan has almost done his final blow to win my father's soul, but I thanks God, He still care about my father. GOD INTERVENE in this matter. He sustained my father's life, he has no courage any longer to do that. For me, all the wealth is nothing compare to my father's life. I want my father, I want him to live long, see me become a man, a man of God. And in his old time, he would play with his grandchildren.
The problems did not stop there. Satan also did harm to my mother. She and my siblings was really hate my father so much. Imagine, within one day, just because he was not careful, our home, our car, everything we had were gone. Then bad thought about him arose, coming from our relative, neighbour, etc. Satan is really father of lies, he orchestras so many lies to bring division in our family. The thought like: does my father has another wife in Garut (because it is very possible for man who only go home on Friday night and back on Monday morning to do that)? Does he have another children? Is he really involved in this matter?
But, once again, God is faithful, He already prepared my mother for this matter. Two weeks before that, my mother had some kind of women retreat program with topic 'How to be a wise wife, for her husband and her children?' God really strenghtened her in that retreat. She never had doubt to my father, she threw away those thought. She is my mother, she is the wise wife for my father, and wise mother for us, her children. I love you, mom. Satan, I command you in Jesus' name, move away from her.
One more thing, before the problem happened, God has given a warning to me. Exactly the same time when he is preparing my mother as well. When I had prayer meeting on Friday night with my pastor, he suddenly utterly something, he asked me to pray more about my family. At first, I didn't understand what he meant, but I kept it in my heart. The next day, I called my home to tell the warning to them, but my mother was on the retreat. Then, some days later, I called again. My mother picked the phone and said everything was fine. Yes, everything was fine, but then 2 weeks later, we lost everything.
Problems started arising in every aspects. Once when my mother was sleeping, suddenly in our roof, there was a great sound (only my mother who heard that) BRAK!!! It looked like a heavy stone fell upon our roof. In the morning, she checked that, but nothing seen, she wondered, where did the sound come from. I must be not from cat since our roof was sealed. Then one day, she saw snake, a real snake and mosquitos appeared so many, my little brother can grasp them with his hand, so many mosquito, we find no difficulties to kill them, which usually very difficult. If you go to Indonesia, you will know that what I said it true. Here in Germany, I find that the insects here are much slower and more stupid, but back in Indonesia, you can try, my friends. I would praise you if you can kill many mosquitos there.
Again, Satan started his another plans, my relative, neighbour came again, giving advice to go to some wellknown medium, supranatural agent (it is common in Indonesia). They asked my mother to bring the soil in from of our home to that medium, so that he will take care of our problem. But God really gave grace to my mother. Even though, the problem was so much, she could stand before God, and boldly say that she will never do that, she will always put her faith onto God. My friends, do you know that if you have made covenant with devil, through soil, blood or whatever, Satan would have now open access to harm you more. And because of so much pressure, my mother's health was depleted. she had bleeding in her menstruation period and her knee had some itching, it looked like the beginning phase of osteoporosis, but I knew that it was because she was really stress. Even Satan also wants to take her life.
In her great agony, when she was driving car, she cried out as much as she can. She wept and wept while the car still move on, until she didn't realize that she went into one way road oppositely, which is possible for any car to hit her anytime. But again, GOD INTERVENE, there was a police who try to stop her, but my mother didn't realize about it. Being ignored, the police then started to run as much as he can to stop my mother's car. Then she came back to herself, talked with the police. The police asked her to step down from the car, and because of stressful moment, she just step out without turn the hand brake up, then the car start to move by itself (for the road quite steep). The police really worry about my mother's condition. God loves my family. Before the new rules implemented, it was common to bribe the police. And because my mother didn't want to have more problem, she tried to bribe him. But he rejected it, he gave my mother a fine. I really believe that God used this good police to intervene. He is man of God indeed.
And Satan has also planned for my brothers and sister. To my lovely sister, Cindy, this matter happened one day before her final presentation for the Bachelor thesis. She was depressed as well. She can't prepare well. She lost her focus, her concentration on her subject. But she kept trying to fulfill it. But then, on the day of presentation, she came late, and she was declared as failed. GOD INTERVENE again. When she was sitting in the chair sadly, God touched her supervisor's heart. He began to have pity for my sister and instead of failed her, he postponed the presentation for next couple of days, without asking anymore questions, this really unnormal, the rules are the rules. She usually need to wait another 2 months for that.
And on her presentation day (it was the last day we were able to use our own private car), she can pass it with good grade. She is now already working. Imagine!! If our car was taken even one day before, she needed to worry a lot, not only her presentation, but also her transportation, it would affect her. But thank God, everything works according to His mighty work for our goodness. At that time, we still had one car and one motorcycle which was used by my two brothers to go to school. If the car was taken before, and the motorcycle was used, how can she went to her final presentation? God is marvelous, my friends.
Cindy, my beloved sister, I am proud of you. She is the one which I am really sure her faith, she is born again Christian, though our mother also quite strong. She helped strenghtening our mother a lot (especially) and our family (in general). She is anointed by God, God uses her to serve Him as Sunday School teacher, Worship leader in the church, etc. She can speak in tongues which up till now I can't have it. I pray to God to allow me experience to speak in that heavenly language, I want to pour out my heart which human language can't express. That's my wish.
On her graduation day, my parents were in distress again, because we didn't have car anymore, they (my parents and Cindy) can't rode the motorcycle by three, and it would be very sad, if after she was beautifully make up for her unforgetable moment in her life, she was fulled of dust and smoke from the air pollution. That made my mother's heart sad. Cindy is my only sister and the only daughter of my parents, she is so precious for us.
My mother began to fit herself in Cindy's position and she began to weep again, she can't hide that she just finished crying when she attended women fellowship. Then, God touched again one of the member's heart there. Like God used Artaxerxes King when he saw Nehemiah in distress about the ruins of Israel (when God put vision in Nehemiah to rebuilt Jerusalem), the same thing happen to my mother. One of the member agree to lend us her car without say anything. My mother never asked for that. God is so wonderful, isn't He?
My little brothers, because of this problems, they were also in great distress. They are still too young for this. They are 18 and 13 years old. Everytime they came back from the school, they always afraid that the house will have been taken by the bank. And he doesn't have enough pocket money, because my father didn't work and the deposit was taken up. Even my father's pension (32 years) will not be given to him. How can we live? But God's grace are everywhere. My brother, Jeffry, he is teaching his juniors in private, he earned his own pocket money now, he also serve God by playing music in the church. And my youngest brother, Adrian, because of this problem, his grade was very dropped. His teacher already gave my mother a warning that it would be difficult for him to go to the next level, most probably he will stay there (he had 9 subject below average, out of 12).
Then, we cried out to the Lord. Lord, how long you allow Satan to make us scatter like this? Show yourself strong, my God, my Savior!! My friends, no matter what Satan did, God is faithful to us, He always open a way out.
My house supposed to be taken by the bank at the end of March, because of the Manager in our home region was really strict to my family, always tried to force us out, but somehow, he had his own personal problem with the bank and resigned, replaced by my father's friend. Because of that, we can still live in that house until end of May.
And for our living expenses, we can boldly say that we never begging for money, even a small penny, never. God kept His promise that none of His Children will go begging.
My father had a share in a land bought by him and his friends (3 of them). That land was never able to be sold. No one want to buy it, and when somebody wanted to buy it, my father's friends always rejected the deal. And because 2 against 1, my father can do nothing. It lasted for more that 3 years. He considered it as frozen asset, not liquid. He bought that land for about $6000, but not long after that problem, some people came and bought it for $20000. Though the money was shared by three, but it was enough to sustain our life at this moment. Can you imagine that? Since 3 years ago, God has prepared His work through His foresight to help us move forth from the evil days.
My father also never lack of support from people around him. His employee back in Garut, one by one shared their salary for my father. If my father really a corruptor, would they do that? One of them testified, 'Sir, I don't know what happened with me, but since yesterday, my heart always disturbed me, it always tells me to help you. Sir, this is only small money, please don't look at its quantity, but please take it as our care for you.' He is a moslem and he then gathered money from his collegues for my father. My father never asked for that. First, he refused to accept it, but because they insisted, they said it is for our family. I bless all of you, my father's friends. God will reward you. Jesus said in
Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disiple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.
Though many of my father's friends despised him, looked at him like nothing, but there are also many people who really care about him. God, we thank you because of this matter, now we know who is real friend and who is trading partner, friend only when happiness comes.
Now, it has been 5-6 month, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. We are now in unity, husband and wife relationship has never like this before, so strong that only death can set our parents apart. Parents and children are openly talk each other. God bring great revival in our family. He changed all of us, toward each others and most of all, toward Him. God used bad things from the devil to bring the best out of it. My father has started to read Bible, pray into God, have fellowship. I am very sure that God is still working till this time, He will surely recover our family.
We realize that Satan is the architect behind all of this, we hated satan till its root. He tried to take my parents soul, happiness and joy in my family. This is the reason, that make me commit myself, to bring people out from Satan captive, in the name of Jesus. If I saw people walking straight to the hell, as God intervene devil's work in my family, I will intervene their way to hell and make them turn back to God. He is real, my friends.
Here I want to challenge you. I don't care your background, Christian, Catholic, Islam, Hindu, Budha, etc, but I would boldly say before God finished His work in my family that He will do something great for my family. I would not behave like other Christian, who experience first then start praising God. I would start praising God and put my faith in Him, I know for sure that He cares for me and my family.
If I must experience first then tell you, you would say that our family testimony is one of mervelous miracles happened in this world, it would never happen to you. So, my friends, let me talk boldly, in short time, God will recover my family to the position more than before, as He recover Job more than before, He will recover my family as well. And if He can do that to my family, He can do that to your problems as well, no matter what and how great your problems are, He is God, there is nothing to difficult for Him, all things are possible for Him.
I want you to see what will God do in my family, 1000 times devil tried to make us down, but 1001 times Jesus intervene. I would declare, this family, my family, is family with Jesus as the head. We are blessed by God. And because of this matter, let the name of God be glorified more.
My friends, do you have problem as big as mine or even more? Don't worry, take heart. Jesus will surely help you. What do you need now just one things. You need Jesus, you need Him to help you, surrender onto Him, my friends, He is able to help you.
My friends, we would like to ask you to pray for us, because on 1 May 2008, we have to move out, and for my little brother, for God to help him to go to the next grade. I believe that nothing is impossible with God. We don't want to be arrogant, though we don't have any money, we would believe and boast God' promise that His children will never go begging. He will always intervene in His wonderful time, we would never be forsaken by Him, He is faithful God.
I, personally want to challenge you, my friends, if you see something great happened to my family soon, will you believe in my God, Jesus? I talked to you in advanced, before anything happened, so you will never accuse me bad. If you see God's faithfulness in our family, would you believe in Him, my friends? My God is Living God, God who never felt asleep, blind or deaf. He would listen to anybody who cried out His name.
Hope this testimony can bring you back to Christ, never let Satan use any chance because you have something opened for sins to get into your life and do terrible things, or even worse, to take your life, to make you commit suicide, as he almost did to my family.
Commit suicide is the most stupid decision you can make. Because devil gives you temptation only to ruin your life, to make you slave of him, you will go to cigarette, drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, spirit medium, supranatural, meditation, and the worst cases, curse God and commit suicide. Once you do that, you are finished, my friends. You will end up in hell. You are taken into his traps. Go back and repent, surrender into Him always for He will keep you safe. He will surely honor His Word
Matthew 11:28-30
the next chapter of our life can be read (sorry still in Indonesian)
http://alvinsu.multiply.com/journal/item/104/Pindahan_Rumah.
What God has put in my heart
http://alvinsu.multiply.com/journal/item/107/Housemoving_English_Version.
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