Wednesday 29 October 2008

Test the spirits: Purpose of Life driven by God

Since last year I found my purpose of living in this planet. I believe that every child of God has his own task for God created us with divine purpose, we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.

My friends, do you know the reason why you are here? Do you know the purpose of your life? Please don't read book for 40 days to find your purpose of life. Pray, kneel down before God, humble yourself and start asking Him, "Father God, please tell me why I am alive, what is the purpose of my life?" He is the One who designed you, nobody can tell you what your future will look like, nobody can help you to define your future, except God.

Please tell me, my friends. Are you created by God or by Rick Warren? Do you test the spirits? Can Rick Warren know your purpose of life? Do you know that many Christian books teach error if you check it with Bible? Think by yourself.

Why don't you ask God about purpose of your life? Should you put Daily Bread, Purpose of Driven Life, etc as primary book (to guide you daily) and Bible as secondary, or vice versa? I used to read one page daily, then if I still have time after finish reading it, I read the "Bible reading section", if don't have time, I thought I have spent 15 minutes for God, it was enough for God, the rest of the day are mine. I used to do like that until I realized that I put God in the box. God is more creative than you can imagine, He wants to speak to us directly. What we need to do is just pray and ready to listen to Him, open our Bible and read. He has something to tell you today, then now you can make your own Bible study daily. You can write a very beautiful poem, beatiful writing, wonderful teaching, blessing for others because you allow God to use you to share His message to others. Let God rule over you, not you rule over God.

And also please don't read book that teach about the secret how to have valuable life because there is no secret with God. Even though we live in dark, fallen world but still His Light can be seen by all people brightly, no secret at all. No man who has light put their light in secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick that they which come in may see the light (Luke 11:33). God will speak directly to you, things that you will be able to understand fully, no confusion, no error, no lie. Jesus said that when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).

What about "Da Vinci Code", "Narnia", "Gospel of Judas Iscariot", "Gospel of Barnabas", "Left Behind", etc? Many people said that those are "Christian books", but is that true? I just want to warn you "Be careful, those books contain poison that if you never read Bible, you will be lost." It would be good if you read and understand the Bible first until you are saturated with Word of God, then start to enrich yourselves by reading books written by men of God, by people who have Jesus in their life so that you can learn from their experiences with God and grow higher in the Lord. Don't read books without testing the spirits. And stop reading it when you find it teach lies.

So, my friends, if you always put Christian books first, Bible second, you will never be able to discern the spirits. Your Christian books will always be right, you will "eat" everything blindly until your mind is poisoned bit by bit and you become confuse then you will start thinking that there are a lot of contradiction in the Bible. Finally you will try to use your own wisdom to understand Bible...you lost your track already. You need somebody to rebuke you and bring you back. If you refuse to listen, I am so sorry for that. God has sent you strong delusion so that you will believe the lie. Repent and get everything right with God before it is too late for you.

Hebrews 6:4-6

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Do you know that there are many Bible commentaries, Bible study books teach error too, e.g: Scofield Bible Commentaries? Why don't you just ask God to teach you? Bible said that if you have His Holy Spirit, His Anointing, you don't need any man to teach you. Are not those books, commentaries written by men. Do you know the author's fruits, testimonies, life?

1 John 2:27

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

I don't want to discourage you, or even worse to make you forsake your pastors or your teachers. Far from me. I just want you to be very very careful. Study your Bible by your Holy Spirit, ask God if you don't understand, and share your knowledge with your brethrens, have fellowship together for as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17). I want everybody of us to have father in the Lord, as Paul to Timothy. But still, test every spirits. Don't "eat" everything he gave you blindly. Even though you trust them a lot, but still, we are all human, sometimes our flesh pop-up. The same thing happen here. Always test what I said, and rebuke me if I out of track. I would be very grateful for that.

But, if I were you, I will not listen to people who even though they are genius, have many followers, but they killed other people, rule with dictatorship like John Calvin or Pope. Why you follow men, not God? But if you see Jesus inside everyone of us, follow Jesus in him and obey, and if it is not Jesus, but their "self" that pop-up, bring two or three witnesses and rebuke him, if he still refuse, bring him to the elder of the church, if still refuse, bring him to the church and let them judge him publicly. Simple, is it not?

Don't easily kick them out of your circle. But try to win them back to their track. The strong help the weak, the rich help the poor, the eyes that see help the blind, the ones who have Fire share with those whose Fire almost gone or even already gone. Love each other, exhort each others, encourage each others, but also be a watchman for others. Rebuke, reproof, correct with the Word of God and with love and gentleness.

If I were you, I will not think that those mega-churches, those famous preachers with thousands of people are absolutely correct. Instead, I would be more careful because the Bible said otherwise. Bible said that we will be persecuted, will be hated because of name of Jesus. The world will not accept you as their own because you are different, they can't stand our light for they still live in darkness and they ashame if their sinful life are exposed. So, if I see people flock to the churches, I raise question in my heart: Does this church have God's Spirit inside it so that people come and flock the church or does this church teach worldly things, things that their itching ears want to listen, so that even Hollywood, harlot, thief, murder, homosex, liar, and all of them are already "born again" and "heaven" is in their hands. I tell you the truth, without repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, you are still children of darkness, you are still in your imaginary heaven, heaven that never exist. Repent and get everything right with God.

If I were you, I will not look down to the newly born again or to man younger than me, for God can also use little children to rebuke you, or even an ass to rebuke Balaam. If people used their seniority in Christ, their "experience" in Christ to boast about themselves, no humility at all, you need to be careful with such a person. For the Bible said "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen (Matthew 20:16).

If I were you, I will always ask first their testimony of their conversion, their process of born again, their renewal of mind, their new creation. Their past and their present. What has God done in their life? Nobody is born as child of God in the first place, we are all sinners, we are all natural man in the beginning, full of flesh and sinful life and to be child of God, to be called by God, we need to be born again, we need Jesus. Born again is the first step to start having mind like Jesus. So, if some people who never been born again but try to teach you something about Word of God, without doubt, they are false prophets. They can understand a lot about Bible but they also boast a lot about their understanding, about their flesh, about their false humility. How can they teach you about Jesus if Jesus is not in them?

Ask their testimony first and if they said, "My past was not so bad, I come from strict family, I was taught about Jesus since I was child, so there is no drastic change in my life, no regeneration. But I can share my testimony of how God appear to me in many dreams, I can share that a lot to you." Those people are liars, everybody has his own dark secrets. They can't tell us because they still living in it. And those people don't know that Satan can masquerade himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Ask to them, which Jesus they see? Blonde or black hair, 6 feet or 5 feet, blue eyes or black eyes, etc? During Jesus' time, there is no camera and I believe that there is no time machine. We, children of God, can see Jesus with our spiritual eyes just like Paul saw a very bright light and he knew that it was Jesus but then, after he saw Jesus there was a regeneration in his life. Regeneration is a MUST.

So, my friends.. always ask their testimonies and be careful for it is easy to make up some stories, to tell you that they are born again, that they have received Baptism of Holy Ghost, that they can speaking in tonque, that they have Spiritual gifts, etc. You need to see also from their fruits. Humility, self-control, love, not easily angered, patient, etc. Because Bible said that many of those who called Lord, Lord, who prophecied in Jesus' name, who cast out devils, who did many wonderful works are not known by God, they are children of darkness, wolves under sheepskin.

Matthew 7:21-23

Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

Again, you should always check this guy who writing this article. Does he write based on Bible or not? Does he show fruits of Spirits or not? And if you see something wrong, please don't leave me without giving correction to me. I want to be rebuked, to be taught.

If I were you, I will not listen to preachers who have problems with their family. They married more than once while their first husband/wife still alive. Their children created a lot of trouble. No love between husband and wife and between parents and children. If they can't manage their own family which is small in number, how can they manage congregation with a lot of people? Will they teach about divorce if they themselves divorced? Will they teach about immorality if they themselves do immorality, watch porn, adultery, have affair, etc? Will they teach that love of money is root of all kinds of evil if they themselves a hungry for wealth, for fame?

If I were you, I will not listen to preachers who love worldly things (gold, jewellry, Gucci, Prada, Mercedes, and any other expensive accesories, or even private jets). Maybe you think God bless them, but I think they do fraud. Even if they are really blessed by God; are there not poor, orphans, homeless people in the street facing hunger and cold? Why don't they choose to wear ordinary cloth, ordinary watch, ordinary glasses, travel with ordinary car or public flight and give some to the poor? Bible said, "Do not love the world or anything in the world".

Do you think Jesus is not God? Do you think Paul was not blessed by God? Jesus needed to ask his disciples to go fishing for a piece of money to pay the temple tax (Matthew 17:27). Jesus was so poor physically, nobody acknowledge Him as King, though He is our King. He said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Paul needed to work for himself. Paul had a lot of hardship: imprisonments, riots, sleepless nights and hunger, etc. Do you see Jesus or Paul in those big, fat, famous, prosper super-apostles who teach prosperity gospel and sell spiritual gifts for 75$ (Gift of Anointing, Gift of Healing, Gift of Deliverance)? Have you read in the Bible where Peter rebuked Simon the Sorcerer because he wanted to buy the Gift of Holy Spirit (Acts 8:20)? Bible teach us: Freely get, freely give. Is not their God in their belly? They are enemy of Christ (Philippians 3:18-19).

What if those men make books to gain wealth? What if those men teach error purposely to mislead you? Don't you know that Satan infilterate the churches through those false teachers and false prophets? Please read your Bible, my friends. Bible is Word of God, let God speak to you directly. Some people want to make name for themselves. They want to be called "Bible scholar", to be called "apostles", "pastors", "teachers", "evangelists", "workers".

As Pharisees and Scribe sat on Moses' seat, though God never called them, they teach people, they behave as if they are the most correct ones in handle the Word of God. Do you know what they do? They killed God's prophets, they even killed Jesus Christ, they condemn the very Word of God. They call bad as good, wrong as right and vice versa. I tell you the truth, there are a lot of pharisees, scribes, hypocrites among us, at least I found some in this MP. I want you to be careful with any article you read.

Again, you need to check this man's writing too. Does Alvin give you poison or not?

But I thank God because I am just a newly convert, I was born again 1.5 years ago. I don't have position to rebuke other with my own words, with my own seniority, and I always ask God to keep me humble, now and forever, I can only rebuke with Word of God. I bring mirror to them, to let them see their wrong, and if I can win them back, praise God, if I can't, I ask God to open their eyes and bring them back and I also warn the people who gathered around them to be careful of false prophets, wolves under sheepskin.

These false prophets, false teachers teach men to follow them, not God. If they really love you and want you to go to heaven, they will help you by showing you the way how to get it, not ordering you, ruling you, e.g: "You have to read this", "You have listen to me", "You are wrong", "You are newly convert, you need to learn from me". Sometimes I get irritated when I see people do that.

I always ask myself: Do those people really care about salvation of this newly convert or they want to make him as their followers, so that they are able to rule over him? Do they love this newly convert more than God? If they think that God love His children more than anybody else, they should think that God wants to speak to His child directly How? By letting them to read Bible by themselves. Do you know that God still speaks to people?

If you depend so much on preachers or brothers or sisters in the Lord, not God. Their error will become your error, and your error will become other's error. Then you miss your track, then you become self-righteous, then you start having itching ears and gather for yourselves teachers that are agree with you and kick others that not agree with you. That's how error started. That's why we have a lot of denominations. They can say that all denominations are wrong, but they make their own denomination by doing that. And it would be very very difficult to bring them back. God allow heresies among us, so that those who have his approval will be made manifest (1 Corinthians 11:19). There is nothing "just pass" to enter heaven, we must prepare ourselves, diligently study the Scripture, humbly ourselves before God, persevere and pursuit holiness, for wihout holiness no man will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

I find that we are in the messed world. Our time is so wicked. Since we are born and went to school, we are taught about evolution, big bang, peace of the world, interreligion tolerance, and once we were in teens, worldly musics, sexual desire, loneliness, emptiness, career problem make us depress. And also there are a lot of "Christian" who behaves as stumbling block for others. How can somebody get saved if the situation is so messed up like this?

This is my first task from God: to make you stop being dependent to men (pastors, teachers, elders), books, or other materials, but God alone. For His grace is sufficient. Please listen to God, learn from Him. If you don't know how. Repent and invite Him to be your Saviour, Lord and King. To give you His Holy Spirit. When you are children of God, you are now become God's interest, He is the one who will help you to understand the Truth. Believe me, living Christian life will full of noise, you will be hated, persecuted, but again, His grace is sufficient.

God bless you

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Conversation with God (28 October 2007)

Today, 28 October, is my wedding anniversary with Christ. After I was born again on 15 April 2007, I have been accepted by God to be His faithful bride on 28 October 2007. On that day, I received my Holy Ghost Baptism. Nobody told me how it look like, how to receive it, etc. And I was newly converted, but God Himself showed me the Way.

I was in Christian retreat when the message from the preacher touched my heart deeply. I can't stand his words. Even though I was already born again, but I saw myself still far from God and I began to weep and weep. I poured out my heart to God. I told Him that I want to commit my life fully for Him. I don't like this body of sins, I want to be holy like He is holy but I can't. I was just a sinner saved by grace. I cried out to Him, "Help me, God!!!"

That was the very first time I cried like a baby, for I always believed that men don't cry. I began to understand the feeling of the sinful woman who wet Jesus' feet with her tears and wipe it with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. That's exactly what happened to me. My tears run down from my eyes like heavy rain. I was really a sinner saved by grace. I can't perceive why He chose me among 6.6 billion of people to be His child. Who am I, God?

I was standing tall when I listened to the preaching and start crying, and suddenly a great power, so majestic poured down upon me. I was still full of pride at that time, I will never bow down before any men or even before God. But no matter how my pride arouse, I couldn't resist Him. From standing tall, God made me kneel down humbly before Him and I bowed down my head gladly. Then suddenly something happened inside my belly like electricity, so warm, so comfortable, so glorious filled my whole body, River of Living Water that satisfied my thirsty.

For those who think that I am too proud of myself, you can stop reading this article, but for those who are willing to grow deeper in the Lord, I want to share you my personal experience. Not teaching of men, but my real experience with God. You can also have the same experience, even greater than mine.

For the very first time, I can feel His Presence, joy leaped from my heart. I wanted to be in that mood forever. I said to God, "God, it is so wonderful. I want to be like this forever. Don't leave me, God. Let me build a tent here, one for You and one for me." It happened for couple of minutes until His Presence gone. Then I was afraid, "God, did I provoke you? Did I offend you? Why did you leave me, God?" I was crying and crying again. Then suddenly, the vision of my own nation started to appear in my mind. Indonesia...Indonesia...I don't know why, but it always disturbed me and I said "God, please save Indonesia". He kept silent. Then I realized that He wanted me to do that.

I said to Him, "God, you must be kidding me, right? I came to Germany to be rich, to be a Master, to have a good job, comfort life, to be far for persecution in Indonesia. I am afraid of being persecuted, God. I don't want to come back to Indonesia. In Germany, I can get 2000€ per month, in Indonesia I just be paid 200€. I am still young, God. Nobody will listen to me. I also want to have my own family, my future. God, you know better than me. I am Chinese-Indo and Christian. I am minority of minority. It is too much for me, God."

He became so quiet, it was silent. Dilemma started waging war in my heart. I don't want to lose His Presence, His glory, His love, but I also don't want to be persecuted, to lose my future, to lose many friends, to create disturbance to "peace". I know very sure that once I preach the Gospel to muslims, buddhist, hindus, even christians or catholics...many of them will dislike me or even worse, they will mock and persecute me.

He became so quiet, silent. "Ooo..God, why me? Please, please, please, God. I will go anywhere, except Indonesia." No answer. I became so worry. "God, are you there? Why you hide Yourself from me?" No answer. I said to myself, "I am a stubborn man, but God is more stubborn than me." Then I said, "Ok, God. You bought me for a price, you bought me by your precious blood. I should be your slave of righteousness, I should just follow and obey anything You command me, even though they put me in prison, persecuted me, handcuffed my hands, or even beheaded me. Is that what You want, God?" I continued, "If You really want me to do that, give me my task and I need your promise that You will always be with me." He is stubborn God. He never give up on me. Praise the Lord...I am so thankful for His stubborness, so that I can stand firm in this faith and share to you my testimonies.

Then I said, "God, let's make a deal. I will open my Bible. One part from Old Testament, one part from New Testament. The very first chapter I see from the left hand side of the page that I open randomly, means that it is Your will and Your promise to me." He said, "Ok, that's the deal". Then He gave me 1 Chronicles 16:7-43 David's Psalm of Thanks and Ephesian 5:22-33 Wives and Husbands.

He gave me assurance about my fear, my worries, my future. He said to me, "I am the Lord your God, My judgments are in all the earth. I remember my covenant forever, the word I commanded, for thousand generations, the covenant I made with Abraham, the oath I swore to Isaac. I confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant; To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit (1 Chronicles 16:14-18)" He answered my worries about future, about career in Indonesia with that verses. He made me remember His covenant with Abraham, He will bless those who bless him, and curse those who curse him. He promised me that He will bless me and give me promising Land, my heaven.

Then He continued speaking, "I allowed no man to oppress you, for your sake I rebuked kings, "Do not touch my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm (1 Chronicles 16:21-22)" He answered my fear of persecutions in Indonesia. He said that He will protect me. "Do not fear for I am with you. Be still and see that I am God, your Father."

Then He continued speaking, "Sing to Me, all the earth, proclaim My salvation day after day. Declare My glory among the nations, My marvelous deeds among all peoples." God gave me this task, to proclaim His salvation and His glory among nation day after day.

I just amazed. "Wow..God, You are so great. You answered all my questions in this verses." "Ok, God. Today, I made covenant with You. I trust You, Lord Jesus with all my heart. But, God, can You a little be more specific? I want to really know what should I do in Indonesia. Please tell me, Jesus."

Then He showed me Ephesians 5:26-27. He said to me "I want you to make her (churches) holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

"Who is this churches, God?" Then He made me think. I saw that there are a lot of denominations, more than 30000, and each day there are new doctrines out to public. There your food, Alvin. Deal with them, with those church-goers, with those "Christian". Many of them are not My children and on the other hands, many of My children scatter in other places, you go and gather them to Me. "How, God?" "Do you see your past life, Alvin?" "Yes, Lord" "Can you differenciate between your past and your present, between your carnal man and your spiritual man?" "Yes, Lord". "So, the same thing that I have shown you, you go and show them that many of them are still in their imaginary heaven, heaven that never exist, heaven that created because of their wishful thinking of their itching ears".

"Make them holy and blameless, without stain and wrinkle and any other blemish, Alvin! I prayed for them, so that they will be one, may them be brought to complete unity to let the world know that I, your God, sent Jesus and I, your God loves them, as I love my Son, Jesus Christ." There is no unity right now, people are biting each others. Go with your sword and fight the enemies with them, rebuke, reproof, correct them, but Alvin, I warn you. Do not mislead, My children for I will judge you more strictly."

"Ooo, God. That's so difficult. I am sure I will be hated and persecuted. Do you really mean that, God? "Yes, I mean it" "Ok, God. But give me one more thing, you know that I came to Germany because of my father's labor, he worked hard to send me here, allow me to finish my Master first so that people that I will interact with, will not have any chance to think that I am a failure, and began to say that because I can't pursue Master Degree in Chemical Engineering then I because preacher who teach Prosperity gospel to get easy money."

"And God, while I am doing that, You can do anything You like to me, God. Deal very hard if You think it is necessary, I am ready to be taught by You. But I have another thing, God. I don't want to worship you in vain, I don't want to go in the wrong way and mislead people far from you, I just want to be taught by You. Give me the head like the hardest stone like You gave to Ezekiel, so I will never be yielded to wrong doctrines." Then finally, He said "Ok, Alvin. Just be prepared, I have something for you."

And during this 1 year, God dealt with me greatly. He gave me family's problem, He made me lose my previous ambition (to be rich, to be comfy, to be famous, etc). He scattered everything that I used to depend on. My father's position, my house, my car, my girlfriend, my computer, my everything. He started anew from little beginning. Now what I see is just vanities of vanities. Life without Jesus is meaningless. I have nothing to lose. Actually, I was humbled by God till the lowest level.

Have you been in the position where your father almost commited suicide and God saved him? Have you been in the position where you parents almost divorced but God intervened? Have you been in the position where your mother almost die in car accident? Have you experienced God changed your brain, from having many bad marks and almost stuck for another year, but God made it sound and fine without any bad mark left (He did this to my brother)? Have you ever imagined how a young man whose father has just enough to live able to study in Germany? Have you ever experienced being taken care by God miraculously, I tell you the truth, God provides everything I need in Germany. My parents can only sustain me for 1 year, but now I am in Germany for more than 2 years. Have you ever been in traffic accidents where your both hands broken, your front teeth lost. I happened to me.

My friends, I am really talking like a fool. I wish you didn't see me as "Alvin", but you see that Jesus is able to sustain "Alvin" in many things he does. It is all about God, not me. You can have the same experience like me, even greater. I would always want to encourage you to grow deeper in Christ. Jesus alone is more than enough, His grace is sufficient. He is our Father. Trust in Him, commit yourself to Him fully. Let's work for Christ. See the harvest? It is already reap, but the workers are few. Do you want to go to heaven alone? Don't you care about your family, neighbours, friends, relatives, or even your enemies? Can't you see that He will come soon?

If you really want to be used greatly by God, tell Him. But please, do not joke with Him, do think carefully first. Being disciplined by God is painful moment, but it is for our own good. But, please... if you claimed that you are Christian, but you don't want to preach, at least don't be a stumbling block for others. Be salt and light of the world. Is that too difficult? I don't think so. But if you really want to have close relationship with God, please start to be faithful in few things, and He will give you trust for many things.

My friends, I can boast that if I died, I go to heaven which are the better place than this falling world, and if I continue living, I can make Him smile and say to me "Well done, My child. There you are, My big boy. I am proud of you" And then I can say to my Father, "Dad, you gave me 5 talents, now I bring you 10. I hope You are happy. I hope I can at least repay my debt to You for saving me from mud of sins, from eating with pigs. I have assurance for that and I believe that any children of God will have the same assurance. This is not merely mental conviction, or because of the mood of circumstances. It comes with Power, with Holy Spirit, with deep conviction. You know it by yourself.

If you still don't have this assurance, if your prayers still stuck on the roof, if your fellowship seem so boring, if you can't pray more than 20 words, if you are lazy to read the Bible. You are still in your imaginary heaven. Repent and get everything right with God. I don't know if I communicated with you. But please, if you claim you are a Christian, don't make the name of Jesus blasphemed among the Gentiles. He is my Saviour, my Lord, my King. I love you, Father, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday 27 October 2008

Conversation with my muslim neighbour

Since beginning of this month, I have a new neighbour. He come from Turkey. He was in US for about 4 months before he decided to continue his program in Germany. In US, he enjoyed the life, and he admits that he has changed a lot. I wonder how the circumstances can change a young man drastically, now he always talked about girls, sex, porn, party, hot "chicks", "nice ass, nice rack", dirty jokes, foul words, drink, etc. He said to me that once he was in Turkey, he prayed 5 times, fasted during Ramadhan, he read Quran daily, went to mosque, etc. I can tell that he was a devoted moslem, even when he talked with me, he can recite many verses from Quran, but I can see hatred in him toward US, Europe, Jews, westerners, and Christians.

His parents are very strong moslems, they have gone to Mecca. I can see his zeal for God and how he tried to understand God. But because of liberalization and freedom in US, he lost his zeal, he become the people of the world. Freedom has brought many temptations to him. He is still young, 21 years old, but he has lost already.

Then I asked God, "God help me, I want to talk to him about You. I don't care from which religion he is, I just want to preach the Good News and make him got saved". Then God helped me.

While I was cooking, he came and asked, "Where do you come from?" I answered "Indonesia", he continued "Are you a muslim?" I answered, "No, I am Christian". Suddenly, he became silent and I asked "What wrong if I am a Christian?" Then we had a good conversation about Bible and Quran. I can tell that he wanted to convert me to be a muslim like him.

He told the story from Abraham, Moses, Jesus (Isa) until Muhammad. He said that he has read the Bible and he was pretty sure that the Bible was corrupted by the churches in the Middle Ages. He said that in 1611 King James forced scholars to rewrite the new Bible, then he also wonder why Christians have a lot of different version of Bible now. He believed that Muhammad was the last prophet, even Jesus Himself talked about him.

He explained that according to Quran, Muhammad was the Counselor that was promised by Jesus, not Holy Spirit. He also talked that Mecca is the most sacred place and center of the earth, not Jerusalem. He seemed trying hard to convert me. He also said that God has no Son, and it was not Jesus who was crucified, but Judas Iscariot. He said that God changed miraculously the face of Judas into Jesus' face and Judas died instead of Jesus.

He raised a lot of arguments. He said that Christians are wicked. He asked me to look at the US, look at the Jews, look at European countries. They promote war, they live a very good life. Have you ever seen people in Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, India, China, Indonesia? He told me how many innocent people were killed in Iran, Iraq, Afganistan, Pakistan by US troops. He said that what I saw in the TV was not the real events that happened there. CNN, CBS, BBC always picture Arab world as terrorists. They just take some snapshot about children who were put into military camps, women with their hijab or muslims with long beard died on the bus or public transportation by suicide bombs. He poured out his anger and hatred toward me. I just keep my mouth shut and let him finished talking for the Bible teach me so. Everyone should quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20)

This is how Western world, so called "Christian world" teach the world about Arab world

My Christian friends, what he said is absolutely correct. It is true that US and EU control all the media. If it talks about other countries, they will always show us the bad side of Africa, Asia, Middle East, etc, like famine, great distress, uncivilized people, uneducated people, etc but for their own countries, they always show the best of them. You should also ask yourself, did US soldiers not kill innocent people in those countries? They killed a lot, they raped the girls, they treated the people like animals. US, EU, Israel troops are no better than muslim militants, You have to open your mind. I am really agree with him in this point, because it also like that with my country, Indonesia. They never show the best side of Indonesia, always about terrorism, biggest muslim country, dangerous place to live, corruption, bombs, etc.

The citizen of US, Europe, etc should know what their rulers, their government do in many countries around the world. I know most of you can't do anything against Bush's policy or US senate, etc. But, for Christians, for Bible-believers, please don't see Arabians as terrorists, etc. They are human like us, we have blood and flesh. We are created by God, we shouldn't kill each others. Have you ever thought that muslims are people too? They are innocent, they shed their tears too, they desperate too, they want to live in peace too. Did Jesus teach us to kill our neighbour? Did He not teach us to love our enemy?

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Both of Arab world and western world have been deceived by New World Order and One World Religion under Roman Catholic Church. Their purpose is to rule the world within one government with martial law under New World Order and to reduce the world population from 6.6 billion to just about 1 billion only because they think our food supply and oil supply just enough to support that amount of people. That's why we have United Nation, European Union, African Union, ASEAN, Arab Leagues, NATO, and soon we will have North America Union (US, Canada, and Mexico).

Please see this picture carefully and begin to think what it is all about? How can Bush and Ahmadinejad make the same hand sign? If I were you, I will ask myself, if Ahmadinejad really enemy of the states of US, why it is possible for him to travel continually from Iran to US and made speeches. At least during this year period, he has been in US twice. Is that possible if he is really an enemy? Or maybe he is just a doll-pawn? Just a controlled opposition?

From my study, I am convinced that these people work for the same master, the Pope and Jesuit Order. You can google and browse by yourself by typing "Illuminati, Bush, Ahmadinejad, Castro, Arafat, New World Order". Don't be surprise if you find out that Castro and Arafat are Jesuit Order under the Pope. They just play an act as "controlled opposition" to maintain power. They don't care about their own people. Bush allowed 9/11 to happen, it is because it is government conspiracy, they kill their own people and send their young citizen to go for wars. For what? For their country? For oils and power, of course.

Don't be such a fool, you are an adult now. None of us really has that kind of patriotism, all of us will think it is better to run for our life than to die in the desert of Middle East, am I right? Those people who are sent to Arab world are those who has nothing to do in their country so they take this risk in hope that they can mark their name in history book or those young people who just after finished their study don't know what to do and register to be a troop in hope that the world will be in peace. But for their surprise, they were sent to wars and they can't take their registration back. They MUST go otherwise they will be put in prison. They are forced to do that. I pity them.

And the same things happen in Arab world, their Presidents, syekhs really don't care about people, they just want money from oils. Can you see that Arab world is the most corrupt countries in the world. The syekh live like a pig, eating and having pleasure. So for what you kill each other? For their own benefit, not yours, my friends.

These elite people use religion as powerful killing machine. So that now they have power and also succeed to reduce the populations. You know what CNN do know? Read the breaking news message below. Christian persecution, Terrorism, bla bla bla. They want to stir hatred between Christian and Muslim. Christian persecution is not a new thing, since first century, the early church had been persecuted. So, let me ask you again: Should we declare war with our enemies? Do you know how many innocent people die during wars? Should Christians become soldiers? Should Christians kill other people? I think Quran also teach the same things.

So I told my muslim neighbour, "Let's shake hand, my brother. We have the same opinion. I am absolutely agree with you in this point." I continued talking to him "We have a lot of similarity between Quran and Bible. I am agree with all your opinion about the "Christian world". I also don't like them. The name of Jesus is blasphemed among Gentiles because of them. But now, let's talk about Jesus and Muhammad, about Bible and Quran; for we have the same prophets, and almost the same story."

So I asked him, "Do you know that Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jonah, John, even Jesus that all of them were Jews?" He answered me, "Yes, they were Jews". So then "Why Mohammad, the Arabian, joined them as "prophet"? He was the only one who are not Jews, was he not? And why you believe in him so much?"

He then become a bit angry. He said that Bible was corrupted, they removed many Arabians prophets, that's why Bible never talked about them. Ok. I asked another questions, "Do you believe that God is omnipresent, that He is everywhere?". He answered, "Absolutely". Then I asked him, "So why when you are praying, you must face the Kaaba? Is not God everywhere? Or God only dwell in Kaaba? Which one is true?" He now become silent and become more angry but also helpless.

And I asked another question, "Do you think killing people can lead you to heaven?" Is not God Himself who told us "You shall not kill", but why people do Jihad and even the imams teach them that they will enter heaven if they commit Jihad?" He said, "Jihad is to defend ourselves, not to attack people. If we are in danger, and the only option is to kill in order to protect ourselves, God will allow us." Then I asked "So what happened in London bomb? Bali bomb? Jakarta bomb? Are those Jihad? They were not under threat. Will they really enter heaven, even after they killed a lot of innocent people?" He said, "No, you are right, Alvin. We shouldn't kill others. But I can justify them, it happened because US armies killed us first, we are also innocent, but they came from nowhere and declare war with us and killed a lot of women and children. Because they killed us first, that's why we killed them."

I continued ask him, "Do you think you can make excuse to God, and said to Him when you are judged on Judgment Day, "Hallo God, during my lifetime I killed a lot of people to defend your Name. I did that for you alone. Are you happy, God?" My friends, do you know what will He say "Depart from me, I don't know you. I am Holy God, and your hands full of blood. Who is God here? You or I? If you think that I am God and you are merely human, how dare you used my Name to take somebody's life before his time. Am I not God who gives them lives? Do you think that I can't defend myself? Do you think that I need your help? Are you not my creation? Are those people who blaspheme against me not made by me? Who are you, O man to talk back to your God?"

This is the picture of Christian woman killed beheaded by muslim in Indonesia, my country

And this is the picture of how evil the extremist muslims in my country toward their neighbour

And this is the picture of one from thousands of churches destroyed in Indonesia. How can you justify that Islam is religion of Peace. My muslim friends, as I opened to you and really agree that "Christian world" is not good, could you be opened as well and think that "Islam world" is also the same? I am like CNN who always pro-western world. But let our eyes be opened.

Ok, maybe something wrong with your Quran. I asked him again, 'Do you believe that God knows everything?" He answered "Absolutely". Then I asked him, "So, if God knows everything, will He do mistake when He sent His angel to tell Mohammad "Read it!"? Even the angel repeated again "Read it" when Muhammad said, "I am illiterate". God can't do any mistake like that, my friends. How can He ask illiterate person to read?

Then he said, "Because Muhammad is illiterate then we can be sure, that Quran was from God. It is miracle of Allah. Muhammad can recite all the verses and his uncle wrote all for him, so that Quran can be read now." I asked him again, "Why if Muhammad was prophet of God, why God didn't tell him that the Earth is round, not flat." Please read your own Quran carefully.

Soorah al-Ghaashiyyah, Aayah 20

And (do they not look) at the Earth, how it was made flat (Sutihat)

If Quran really the Word of God, it shouldn't have any mistake. For this is what Bible said through Isaiah about 740 BC (more than 1000 years before Muhammad was born, more than 2000 years before Copernicus proved that the Bible is Word of God)

Isaiah 40:22

It is he that sits on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in

For your information, Muhammad lived 570-632 AD, and the Earth was flat was believed until Copernicus in 1543 proved that the earth is round. Do you still persistent that Quran from God? It was normal during Muhammad's era to think that world is flat, but this fact proved us that Muhammad was just merely human being, he used his own understanding while he "wrote" the Quran, not divine revelation from God, he also need salvation from God.

My friends, please do remember, Muhammad was the only major prophet who was Arabian, other were Jews. If I were you, I will think twice to believe in person who use sword to convert others (tyrant), who illiterate but can recite all the verses (uneducated), who married with 9 years old little girl (phedophile), who had a lot of wives (adulterous), who taught that heaven looks like a brothel where man's sex will awesome and they will have 72 virgins (sex maniac). Sorry for making you angry, but I hope you can think clearly about what I said.

Have you ever thought that: What if Muhammad just merely a man who claimed himself to be a prophet and deceived you to believe in the wrong god? What if Muhammad also was deceived by his first wife, Siti Khadijah and her cousin, Waraquah, who were devoted Roman Catholic believers to make Arabians to be a great killing machine to capture Jerusalem. You should know that because of Siti Khadijah (devoted RCC), Muhammad grew rapidly in wisdom, which in fact, she taught him everything necessary to become a "prophet". She was the one who should be the "prophet", not Muhammad.

Do you know the one who said to Muhammad's uncle "Take your brother's son back to his country and guard him against the Jews, for by god, if they see him and know of him that which I know, they will construe evil against him. Great things are in store for this brother's son of yours?" Was he not Roman Catholic monk?

Have you ever heard the story of foolish king who walked naked? He was deceived by his own councelors. He was said that the material for his cloth can only be seen by wise people. So, even though he looked on the mirror naked, he acted as if he was clothed with beautiful dress. He didn't want to be called "unwise king". And because of his great power, his citizens were all afraid and acted as if he was dressed in very beautiful dress, until one innocent child point out to him.

Can you imagine the same situation happened to Muhammad (the foolish king)? His wife, and his wife' cousin, the monk who talked to his uncle (his councelors) were they all not Roman Catholic? And the Arab world, including you (his citizens) are their victims. They converted to Islam not because of the teaching of Muhammad, but because of sword (his great power). You know the history of Islam more than me, you know that Muhammad conquered Arab world by sword, but still claimed himself to be prophet of peace, Islam is religion of peace. What kind of peace is that? Don't be deceived, my muslim friends.

In Islam there is no peace. No peace to others since you called them "kafir / infidel" and by using God's name "Allahu Akbar" you kill them, you called Jews and Christian "swine / pig" and also the most important thing, you have no peace in your heart. Islam never teach you anything about forgiveness of God. Islam never teach you that God is merciful God, loving Father, that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for you, to cleanse you, to bring you back home, to His holy throne. My brothers and sisters, you are loved by God, you don't need to worship God in vain. Praying 5 times, fasting, collecting the point, what for? Do you really have personal relationship with God? Do you see God as a Father or a Tyrant? God is love. He loves His own creation. You are fearfully and wonderfully made my Him, you are so precious in His eye.

My muslims friends, for your information: Roman Catholic Church is Antichrist Church, they have nothing to do with Christianity, with Jesus Christ. They preach another gospel, they are the one who kill Christian the most, not muslim. And to camouflage their wrongdoing, they need to be in Jerusalem where Jesus died. but since early centuries, they couldn't get it because of the Jews and Christians there, even until now. That's why they tried to stirred up hatred in Arab world towards the Jews and Christians. If you want to understand how Islam was created, you can read here. They ruin the image of Christianity. They are not the church of Christ. If you see Crusade, Imperialism, Inquisition, Holocaust, World War I and II, all caused by Roman Catholic Church, not Christian.

They teached Mary worship, the same thing teach in Quran, does it not? Do you know the reason why you have Soorah of Mariam? And why Muhammad adored her so much? And why Fatima (Muhammad's daugther) become one of Mary Apparition in Portugal? Can't you still see the connection between Muhammad and Catholic councelors, between Islam and Roman Catholic church?

And do you know what will happen in short future? We, the muslim and Christian and also the Jews who believe in monotheist, one God will be persecuted because RCC through its Ecumenical Movement now is trying to bring all religion under RCC. They will never tolerate those who hold strongly to their belief, because they think that religion is the root of conflict. So, they will put devoted muslims and Bible believers Christian in prison or even death sentence. They think that those people who can't accept other religions are public enemies. Bible believers will never accept that kind of teaching, and I believe the devoted muslims will never too. Both of us will be forced to believe in Virgin Mary, in Pope, in catholic saints, etc. Roman Catholic church worship idols. Can you see not their churches, full of statues and pictures?

Then I continue asked him, how to be saved according to Quran. He had no answer. He said, "Just follow what Allah said". But, I felt sorry for him. He has a lot of zealous, he defended his belief so much. Then I said to him, "Just think about what if Quran was the one which was corrupted, what if Muhammad was not a prophet, what if Jesus was really Son of God and He really died on the cross for you and for me. Whosoever believe in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." I told him the assurance that I have that if I die right now, I will be in heaven with my Father and His Son, Jesus Christ."

I said, "If you have no answer for all your questions about God, try Jesus. He has answers for you. Just pray a simple prayer and say "Jesus, if you are really Son of God, please let me know. I don't want to go to hell. I am deeply confused, please God help me. Show me your path. Amen". I believe that the true God will never let your thirsty heart go unsatisfied. Just think about it.

I also said to him, "My brother, if you want to borrow my Bible, just come and ask. I will lend you mine." And for my surprise, he wants to read my Bible, even though he still convinced that Bible is corrupted. So without hesitation, I gave him my own Bible, the Bible that full of my mark, my tears. I believe that God will touch him. I thank God for that. I have done my part, God will do the rest. Maybe because of this conversation, because I gave him my precious Bible, he will be a great man of God who turn the whole Turkey for Jesus. This is my prayer.

God bless you all

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And for those who are angry and want my life, come and take it. I don't care. Don't worry, if you are in Indonesia, you will have the chance for I am the one who will come to you and bring you to Christ. If I died, I will immediately hug my Lord in heaven, and if I still alive, I will never be silent. I have been bought for a precious price by my Lord my Saviour, Jesus Christ. I have no right again about my life, I can't complain if people put me in prison, handcuffed my hands, or even beheaded me. I am sure that I will not die until my mission on earth been fulfilled. So, I am not afraid of you who want my life. But please, before you do that, think about it carefully.

Sunday 26 October 2008

My most fearful moment

I just want to share to you about my most fearful experience. There is nothing in this world that I am so afraid of, except deliberately sinning. I am not perfect, I stumble in many ways, I still make a lot of mistakes, even after I was born again, there are a lot of sinful behaviour in me that need to be cut off. I am trying my best to present myself as a living sacrifices, holy and blameless.

When I was born again, God opened my eyes so I can see how dirty I am and it is a painful experience being disciplined by God. I need to make a lot of sacrifices and commitments that I was not able to do before. Because my Spirit has now been quickened through His resurrection power, I am able to defeat my flesh. For the Spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). And because I am pursuiting godly life, holiness, people around me can't stand the heat. One by one they reject me. I wonder if you want to do that too. But in fact, the more you want to be like Jesus, the more the world doesn't like you, but the more you are like the world, the more you become God's enemy for He said, "Do not love the world and anything in the world".

2 Timothy 3:12

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

I found that inside me, there are 2 laws waging war against each other: in my inner being I delight in God's law, but another law also work in my body, law of my mind. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I agree that law is good, but I can't do it. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

By God's grace, now I can go more and more into perfection and holiness, though it is still far away from being Christ-like, but I always ask Him to kill "Alvin" inside me, my ego, my pride, my self, let the people see me not as "Alvin", but as Jesus inside me. Not as carnal man, but as spiritual man. I learned and learned to be like Jesus daily. I want Jesus to fill my cup fully, and He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).

In many cases, especially when my relationship with God is disturbed through problems and troubles. I was defeated by satan, but still, the Holy Spirit inside me acts like a hook from heaven that captive me, no matter how I tried to go with my own, in the end, I always find out that I did terrible mistakes, that I need to find my way back to God, to get everything right with Him. God allows me to go on my own way, He knows me best. Learning by doing is my best method of understanding. So, He allow me to learn by myself like He allowed Peter to walk on water, but He keeps staying in alert to help me when I am in trouble, like He helped Peter when He got drown because of the worry and fear.

For the first time, I easily got tempted and fell away, but the more I learn o be dependent on His grace, I become more and more aware, my sense of danger become sharper. I know if my faith is weak, my heart is in despair, I will hide myself from the people, I will not write or share any message to others and I will lock my room and pray until I get right with God for I have experienced that if I keep acting that everything is fine, I will just hurt people around me, or teach false teaching, doctrine of men. "Alvin" in me will become active again, my lust, my sinful behaviour will start to arouse and I begin to put God on my box. And you know what will happen?

I will fall like lightning from the height I should be. I will be a stumbling block, I will easily tempered, I lack of self-control, etc. This is how God teach me, little by little He open my eyes of understanding, and by doing so, my closeness with Him is getting closer and closer. And the closer I am with God, the more I become aware of His Presence, and the more I see His glorious, majestic Power. The more I tremble before Him. I can feel His abundant love, but I can feel also His mighty holy Presence.

With godly fear, I am afraid of Him. I don't want to joke with Him. It is dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. But at the same time, I can feel His compassion toward me. He is like Father to me. When I go astray, He will rebuke and discipline me, but it is for my good. He is just and also full of love. Perfect Deity.

As the shepherd will break the leg of any sheep that go astray and after that He will put it on His back until it become recovered and healed, He will do that to me too. You know what will happen with that sheep afterward? He will never go astray anymore, he will listen to his Shepherd's voice, he will love his Shepherd more because the relationship start to develop closer and closer. For He takes care of his sheep daily and the Shepherd can hear the beat of the sheep' heart. When the sheep is under threat of wolves, He stand in front of his sheep and ready to lay down His life. The sheep knows his Shepherd's mind, and the Shepherd knows His sheep's need.

Everytime I think about this, I always ask Him, "Who am I that You really care of me? Who am I that you chose to die for me?" I just can't find any answer beside, "No matter who you are, I, your God, your Father, will always love you."

Because I have experienced being close with Him, the moment I gone astray, the moment I deliberately sins --> I become short-sighted, my senses of God went off, I am lost, God hide Himself, I can't find Him. I try to read my Bible but nothing touch my heart, I try to pray but I can't speak at all, I try to listen to His Word, but He didn't speak to me, just totally blank-out until I ask His forgiveness. But it didn't stop until that, He still very difficult to be reached, and based on my personal experience, He will show Himself again after I make commitment not to sin that kind of sins any longer.

I understand exaltly the feeling of a woman who possessed by 7 evil spirits, once she met Jesus and Jesus casted the demons out of her and made her whole. She followed Jesus everywhere He went, even she followed Him to the Golgota and cried. She saw her Saviour died on the cross and suddenly she felt hopeless, fear, agony, despair. She was afraid that she will come back to her past life, possessed again by evil spirits. She cried and cried and early in the morning of the third day, she visited Jesus' tomb. And for her surprise, she didn't Jesus there. She was panic and wept, as if her world totally gone, her hope diluted.

She thought that the Romans had taken her Lord away. Even when Jesus presented Himself to her, she couldn't recognize Him. She totally lost in sadness. "Woman," Jesus said "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" She thought that he was just a gardener and answered, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him." Jesus said to her, "Mary" and she turned toward Him and cried out "Rabboni! Master!" Suddenly joy, hope arise again. She found her peace again in Jesus Christ.

This young woman has been saved and made whole by God, God forgive her sins and cleanse her. Then suddenly she found that she can't interact with Him again for she thought that her Saviour was died. My friends, everytime I commit sins, I always put myself on her shoe. My hope, my light, my joy suddenly gone. I wept and cried, ask His forgiveness and make commitments, ask His help for I can't do it alone, I am weak, I always need His grace. Increase my faith, Lord Jesus. And suddenly He appears again to me, I found my life, my hope, my peace, my joy again. I can't live without Jesus. I can't bear to deliberately sinning before God for I know that God will hide Himself from me. In His holy Presence, even though He loves me, but He hates my sins, He is light, in Him there is no darkness at all.

I did masturbation, watched porn even after I already become child of God until one day He totally hid Himself, and Holy Spirit condemned me, I can't find peace, I can't settle down, everything I did went wrong until I asked His forgiveness and His grace to help me out of this disease, and He healed me. I can now overcome my sinful life. Praise the Lord. It really needs His grace and my personal commitment to be like Jesus. He said, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (Luke 13:24). For it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Living Christian life is simple but also difficult or even impossible if you struggle alone. Doing God's commandment is not burdensome. His grace is sufficient. As long as you want to be taught by Him, as long as you allow God to discipline you, as long as you see yourself as sinner saved by grace, not because of your might, your works, but simply because God loves you. And if you now realize how great His love to you even until He chose to give His life for you. Can you still not be able to love Him, to love your neighbour, your enemies? If they sins against you, remember that you also sinned before God and He forgives you always.

Don't be like the King's servant who his debt of 10000 talents (millions of dollar) was canceled, but when that person went out and found his fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii (a few dollar), he began to choke him and demand payment from him. So, my friends, if your death penalty has been forgiven by God, why it is difficult for you to forgive your own fellows? Love your God and love your neighbour as you love yourself.

Hebrews 10:26-27

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

God bless you

Saturday 25 October 2008

Sinner saved by Grace

15 April 2007 is the day when I commited my life to Jesus fully. Since that day, I found peace in my heart, no more condemnation, no more guilt, no more being enemy of God, but I became child of God. Since that day, God put His Spirit upon me, everything around me totally changed. My thought, my mind, my attitude, my reasoning, and especially my life. I am a new creation, there was radical change in my life. People could feel it, there is a regeneration happened in my life.

I am no more prodigal son, lived in the mud of sins and ate with pigs. I am now child of Living God, King of kings, Lord of lords, but on the other hand, I submit to Him, I now become slave to righteousness. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Based on my experience, to be children of God is the easiest thing people in the world can do. You don't need to be rich, clever, famous, good looking to be His children. God doesn't care about that, He sees our heart, not appearance. It is so easy that even the person who lives in the jungle or illiterate can also be children of God. It is free for anybody, it is Gift of God, no matter how great is your sins, God is merciful. He said, "Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isaiah 1:18).

He is universal God, He shows no favoritism, He is not respecter of persons. You can be European, American, Australian, Asian, African, or whatever you are, female or male, bond or free, circumcision nor uncircumcision, but Christ is all, and in all (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). He will accept you whoever you are, in fact He will arrange a feast in heaven and angels will blow their trumpets if sinner got saved.

You now become God's interest. If during this time, you lived far from Him, now you are so close to Him, no more barrier of sins. He gives you the purpose of your life, specially designed for you. He know and give everything you need before you ask. He hold your hands when you are weak, He stand beside you when you fear and worry and said "Be still, my child, for I am with you". You are not alone anymore, you have the Creator of this universe as your Father, your Friend. Who can stand against you? He is the only person in this life that faithful and never tell lies. He is full of compassion and love. What a privilege to be children of God. He is the One who will change you from sinner to winner, from nothing to His precious creation, you are after His heart.

But on the other side, it is the most difficult thing to do. You have to surrender ALL, you have to make commitment, you have to renounce your sinful life, you have to leave your past and any entaglements that you know inside your heart that it is wrong but brings a lot of pleasure to your flesh. Is it difficult, my friends? The answer is: YES, it is very very difficult.

  • If during this time, you live in sin with your sinful partner, so-called boy/girl-friend, you need to ask his/her forgiveness and start refresh with godly life, or probably you need to leave him/her if he/she reject you.
  • If during this time, you have affair with your "second" wife or husband, you have to leave her/him and go back to your family. Ask forgiveness from them.
  • If during this time, you manipulate taxes or gain money with evil business, e.g: fraud, money-laundry, cheating people, etc, you need to give up all of them and even more, you need to give retribution to those people you cheated, you probably go bankrupt, mocked, etc. You should learn from Zacchaeus' case where he gave half of his possesions to the poor and paid back four times the amount.
  • If during this time, you live in peace with unbelievers, you will now find a lot of noise. They will forsake you. Your best friends with whom you always speaks idle, foul words, dirty jokes will now can't stand the heat you bring. One by one they will leave you, even your own family. Your husband, your wife, your parents, your children, or those who can't stand the heat, will forsake you. You will find that you are now different, you are children of light and they still live in their sins, they are still children of darkness.
  • Once you have a lot of idols, e.g: football players, football club, beautiful singers, good actresses, etc, but now you see them differently. You see them as the ones who need Christ, you don't "worship" them any longer, but pity them. They have everything, but something is still missing in their lives, they need Jesus.
  • Once you were full of yourself, but now you are bought by God through His precious blood. He can do anything He wants to you, you don't have any right of yourself. If people put you in prison, if your hands are handcuffed, if people mocked you, if people hated you because of Jesus, you have to carry your own cross. You will face persecution and as I said before, your life will become full of noise.

You begin to think like Jesus, to be Christ-like and Apostle Paul is the best example for it. You will find that you walk in the same path as Jesus walked, according to your faithfulness. If you only can bear for 2 talents, He will give you 2 talents, if you can bear 5, He will give you 5. The more you have, the more He demand something for you, and the more His grace fall upon you. He knows the best for you. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

Only a few people who can stand till the end. Many people have tried to enter this narrow gate, but they can't stand the heat too. This path is so narrow, you must carefully observe His word daily, speak to Him daily, ask His guidance daily so you will find a way to enter His Kingdom.

Maybe at this moment, you seem so happy to be called Children of God. I rejoice with you. But on the same time, I want to tell you the parable of the sower. I know that right now you heard His calling, you are happy and accepted it, but how long can you stand? What if trouble and persecution come, will your faith not last only a short time because you have no root? What if worries of this life and the deceitfulness a wealth choke you, will you still stand firm in the faith?

I am so sad to see Christians today. Many of them don't understand the cost of following Jesus. Many of them trample the Son of God under foot, many of them treated the blood of Jesus as an unholy thing many of them insulted the Spirit of grace. They do not know that it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. Many of them are joking with God, deliberately keep on sinning. Commited sins, repent, commit again, repent again, commit again, repent again for the same sins for their whole life. Woe to you, don't call yourself Christian if you do that! You have no right to be called Christian, you are children of darkness! Repent and get everything right with God. God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, you are stumbling block for others. It is better for you to put on yourself milestone and throw yourself into the sea.

If you want to be Christian, if you really love Jesus, if you really want to be saved, do according to His commandment, His command is not burdensome if you walked with Jesus. But it would be very difficult and impossible if you want to do it alone. You need His grace, you need His power, You need His blessing. You are saved because of grace through faith. It is gift of God. Do you know what "gift" means? Think about it yourselves.

If you try your best without God's help. I believe you will fail. What you need to do is always listen to Him, ask His guidance, read His Word and follow Him. Holy Spirit inside you will help, so if you are Christian, but never read Bible, never pray, never have fellowship with believers, stop calling yourself as Christian. You are not. You still a sinner, you need Jesus. Repent and have faith in Jesus Christ.

Again, based on experience and other people' testimonies. Giving your life to Christ is the best thing in the world people can have. You will be satisfied fully. You will have purpose of living. Emptiness inside your heart are filled. You have everything you need for God will provide you. He knows the best for you. I will offer you my head if you can find the genuine born again Christians who say that they regret accepting Jesus in their lives. I mean it, my friends.

Do you want to be saved and have peace with God? Do you want to be His child? Do you want to know the purpose of your life?

If you really mean it with all your heart, you don't need to read book, to plan your life for 40 days or so, to go to sacred place or even worse, go to priest or pastor. Who are they? Are they God? Can they forgive your sins? So, my friends, if you really want to settle things and make everything right with God, just pray a "sinner prayer". There is no rule or beautiful words that you need to follow. Just pray with your heart. He will listen.

The moment before I was born again, I just prayed a "sinner prayer" with all my heart, without any objection toward God, just have faith like a child. admitted my sins and my incapability to fight alone. I believed that Jesus, the Son of God, is able to do that. I believe that He has died for me on the cross and His resurrection power give me hope of eternal life, death is no longer overpower me. And in the end, I said "Do according to your will for I am yours". And I become Children of God since that day.

Honestly, I have done this more than 3 times in my life, but still I was overcome by devil since I just wanted to be saved, not subjected to God. I know that there are a lot of people like that, they want to be saved, but refuse to be ruled. Do you think God will give His Spirit to such a person? The answer is NO. I can prove it with my life. I was no difference with unbelievers, even worse. I still serve 2 masters and can't do what is right. It happened because I just want to be saved. At that moment Jesus is my Saviour, but not my King. But thanks be to God, He still called me back home. If you are in the same position like that, I am sorry to say straightly to you, "You are a sinner, you will go to hell, you are not children of God yet".

God is waiting for you. Today is your turn. But remember, it is the easiest thing to do but also the hardest thing to face. If you need time to think, think about it carefully. It is the point that decide to where your next destination afterlife be: heaven or hell, children of God or children of darkness, eternal life or eternal damnation. If you want to go to heaven, sooner or later you need to face it, you need to make this commitment.

There is a story in the Bible, where the Roman noble named Festus and Agrippa listened to Paul's powerful preaching. It talked about salvation and commit their life to Jesus. And in that decision point, Festus stopped him and said, "You are out of your mind, Paul, your great learning is driving you insane". And king Agrippa also said, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

Both of them were convinced by the Spirit of God, but their high position, stature, their ego prevented them. They were not ready to give their life for Christ even until they died. They went to hell straightly. How about you? Sooner or later you have to face it and if you think you want to enjoy a bit for some more time first. I can see that you are people who lack of ambition, why enjoy a bit, not fully? For the Jesus said, "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole (Luke 8:50). Why don't you eager to have your life made whole in Jesus Christ?

God bless you