Great Quotes

More GREAT QUOTES
-(Mostly) Sermonindex.net

"Many have an idyllic and sweet idea of revival. And they pray to
this end. But our prayer should be to expose sin and lies, first in
our own hearts and then in the churches. To pray for a great
conviction of sin and that man would crumble and surrender at the
terrifying presence of a Holy God. Then they would find the sweet,
rapturous joy of being at peace with their God!... Do you still want
revival? We must pray and PREACH to this end. If we are silent,
or silenced, many in the churches will perish." - Jeri Woods.

“To the church, a revival means humiliation, a bitter knowledge of
unworthiness and an open and humiliating confession of sin on
the part of her ministers and people. It is not the easy and glorious
thing many think it to be, who imagine it fills pews and reinstates
the church in power and authority.... It comes to scorch before it
heals; it comes to condemn ministers and people for their unfaithful
witness, for their selfish living, for their neglect of the cross, and
to call them to daily renunciation, to an evangelical poverty and to
a deep and daily consecration….Because it says nothing to them
of power such as they have learned to love, or of ease, or of
success; it accuses them of sin, it tells them they are dead, it
calls them to awake, to renounce the world and to follow Christ.”
- James Burns in his 1909 book 'Revival, Their Laws and Leaders'.

"Some people become tired at the end of ten minutes or half an
hour of prayer. What will they do when they have to spend Eternity
in the presence of God? We must begin the habit here and
become used to being with God." - Sundar Singh

"Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all
that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm
the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even
ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God."
- Andrew Murray

"Continuing instant in prayer (Rom. 12:12). The Greek is a
metaphor taken from hunting dogs that never give over the game
till they have their prey." - Thomas Brooks

"There is no power like that of prevailing prayer, of Abraham
pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night,
Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow,
David heartbroken with remorse and grief, Jesus in sweat of blood.
Add to this list from the records of the church your personal
observation and experience, and always there is the cost of
passion unto blood. Such prayer prevails. It turns ordinary mortals
into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It
brings life. It brings God." - Samuel Chadwick

"To strive in prayer means to struggle through those hindrances
which would restrain or even prevent us entirely from continuing in
persevering prayer. It means to be so watchful at all times that we
can notice when we become slothful in prayer and that we go to
the Spirit of prayer to have this remedied. In this struggle, too, the
decisive factor is the Spirit of prayer." - O. Hallesby

"How hard is it sometimes to get leave of hearts to seek God!
Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the
throne of grace." - Thomas Watson

"Oh brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer;
rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast,
dinner, tea, and supper - and sleep too - than not pray. And we
must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The
Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber."
- Andrew A. Bonar

"No erudition, no purity of diction, no width of mental outlook, no
flowers of eloquence, no grace of person can atone for lack of fire.
Prayer ascends by fire. Flame gives prayer access as well as
wings, acceptance as well as energy. There is no incense without
fire; no prayer without flame." - E. M. Bounds

"A man can not lead others where he is not willing to go himself.
Therefore, beware of the prayerless church leader who no longer
readily admits his own need for more of the person and power of
Jesus Christ. Only a seeking, praying heart can truly encourage
spiritual HUNGER in others!" – David Smithers

"I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach."
- J. H. Jowett

DIRIMU ADALAH GEREJA

DIRIMU ADALAH GEREJA

Banyak orang Kristen hidup seolah orang yang memiliki kepribadian ganda. Mengapa? Sebab di dalam gereja (tempat ibadah) nampak suci namun setelah keluar dari tempat ibadah dan kembali ke keluarga atau masyarakat, hidupnya berbeda lagi.

Pertama-tama, kita perlu menyadari bahwa setelah kita menyerahkan diri padaNya, dan mengakui Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruselamat kita, lebih lagi sebagai Raja di atas segala raja. Kita diangkat sebagai keluarga (anak Tuhan) sekaligus warga Kerajaan Tuhan (dimana kita harus tunduk pada nilai, hukum dan cara hidupNya sebagai hambaNya) dan kita diberi Amanat Agung untuk melakukan tujuan hidup kita di muka bumi di dalam rangka memperlebar Kerajaan Bapa dengan memuridkan bangsa-bangsa.
Ingatlah selalu setelah ditebus, tubuh kita telah disucikan oleh darahNya dan Ia bertahta atas hidup kita (1 Kor 6:19-20, 2 Kor 6:16b-7:1)

Kedua, pikul salib setiap hari (Luk 9:23) dan perbaharui pola pikir kita (Rm 12:1-2, 2 Kor 10:5, 1 Yoh 2:6,15-16)

Ketiga, selalu penuh dan dipimpin Roh Kudus untuk mencapai destiny Tuhan (Kis 1:8, Ef 5:18)

Kita harus memiliki integritas dalam hidup kita. Dimanapun hidup kita/ kita berada, kualitas kita tidak berubah.

Takut akan Tuhan harus:

1.Dimulai di rumah dan kualitas rohanimu teruji di rumah (1 Tim 3:2-5,12)
2.Memiliki kualitas di tempat kerja dan masyarakat (1 Tim 3:7, Kis 6:3, 9:36-39)
3.Menjadi berkat dalam komunitas Kristen/gereja (Kis 2:42-47)

Anda bisa melayani “di gereja” namun hidup keluargamu berantakan, tetapi keluarga atau pribadi yang takut akan Tuhan dan “mempraktekkan hidup Kristus” pasti bukan hanya melayani keluarganya namun juga masyarakat dan saudara seimannya/gereja.

APAKAH ATAU SIAPAKAH GEREJA?

APAKAH ATAU SIAPAKAH GEREJA?

Apakah gereja?:
- Sebuah gedung suci atau tempat kudus?
- SEbuah denominasi?
- Atau apa?

Kita telah menghidupi “system gereja” atau agama selama 16 abad (Kis 6:13-15, 7:44-50)

What is church? (1 Kor 6:19-20) US. Gereja dalam Perjanjian Baru dapat digambarkan seperti ini = emerging church, church in homes, liquid church, organic church.

Gereja seharusnya memiliki fleksibilitas tinggi (Mat 11:29-30)
• Nubuat Yesus tentang Bait Allah (Mat 24:1-2)
• Apa yang terjadi, Roma dipimpin oleh Titus pada tahun 70 M menyerang Yerusalem dan menghancurkan bait Allah.
• INGAT: Saat Yesus mati di atas kayu salib apa yang terjadi dalam bait Allah? (Mat 27:51)
• Semenjak kematian Kristus dan kebangkitanNya, Tuhan bertahta di hati kita, setiap orang percaya.
• Tuhan menghendaki kita sebagai gerejanya menjadi church in action (1 Ptr 2:5, 9-10)
• Tuhan menghendaki kita kembali pada rancangan aslinya bagi kita, yaitu kita sebagai imam dan raja di muka bumi. Adanya jabatan Imam diakibatkan bangsa Israel yang enggan untuk datang pada Tuhan secara langsung, sedang jabatan Raja disebabkan keengganan bangsa ini menjadikan Tuhan sebagai Raja mereka, mereka ingin memiliki raja seperti bangsa lainnya yang ada di sekitar mereka.
• Dunia tidak akan pernah “terguncang” oleh monument atau denominasi gereja. Dunia terguncang ketika gereja bertindak/church in action. Siapakah church in action itu? KITA.

Holy Ground atau tanah kudus, adalah tempat “biasa” saja/umum, yang menjadi kudus diakibatkan oleh kehadiran Tuhan (Mat 17:2-6, perhatikan ayat 4). Tuhan tidak tinggal di gedung gereja atau sebuah rumah tetapi Ia tinggal di hati setiap orang percaya (mat 18:20)

Apa yang hendak kita capai dalam bergereja?
- Menjadi agamawi? (Religion Kills)
- Terjebak dalam ritual-ritual agamawi?
- Melakukan apa yang orang lain/gereja lain kerjakan?

INGAT: Yesus tidak datang membawa religion/agama tetapi memulihkan relation/hubungan antara kita dengan BAPA (Kel 19:5-9)
Sayangnya manusia lebih suka “religion/agamawi” (Kel 20:18-21, perhatikan ayat 19)

Sekarang apa yang akan kita lakukan mnghidupi religion atau relation dengan Tuhan?

Gereja yang hidup memiliki relationship dengan Tuhan, sedang religion mematikan hubungan sebab bersandar pada hukum.
Anak dan Bapa dalam sebuah keluarga berhubungan berdasarkan relation atau hubungan kekeluargaan. Namun hubungan Hamba dan Tuan berbeda, mereka berhubungan sesuai dengan aturan perjanjian kerja.

- Gereja yang hidup bertumbuh di dalam Kristus, melalui pembelajaran dalam kehidupan (pemuridan yang berlangsung seumur hidup) dan pengaplikasian Firman Tuhan dalam kehidupan, hidup dalam sebuah komunitas atau keluarga rohani dimana penatua-penatua menjadi orangtua rohani.
- Gereja yang hidup adalah seperti sebuah keluarga yang sehat atau normal dimana mereka bereproduksi menjadi sebuah keluarga besar tanpa semangat “menara babel”. Gereja seharusnya menggambarkan keragaman dalam sebuah keluarga, seperti perihal gender, usia, bentuk tubuh, starta pendidikan, penghasilan dll. Kita sebagai keluarga akan menerima apapun perbedaan yang ada. Sedang “spirit menara babel” adalah denominasi/ denomination yang juga berarti satuan pecahan atau denom juga berarti the name, memiliki nama. Spirit menara babel adalah keseragaman dan bukan keragaman. Kej 11:3-4 sangat bertentangan dengan Amanat Agung Tuhan dalam Mat 28:19-20) dan pesan Tuhan melalui Rasul Paulus dalam 1 Kor 12)


Komunitas Gereja seperti Apa yang Tuhan kehendaki? (Kis 2:41-47)
- Saat seseorang bertobat dan menerima Yesus sebagai Tuhan dan Raja dalam segala aspek hidupnya maka ia langsung dibaptis. Tidak ada altar call, yang baru diperkenalkan pada kita pada sekitar abad 18.
- Semua bertekun dalam pengajaran Para Rasul, yang didasari dari Khotbah Yesus di bukit (Mat 5-7) dan diteguhkan di dalam Mat 28:20. inilah yang disebut sebagai Gospel of the Kingdom, Injil Kerajaan.

Praktek gereja mula-mula:
- Ada fellowship dan makan bersama (perjamuan makan). Dalam budaya Yahudi bila anda makan semeja berarti anda dianggap “satu keluarga”, satu paham, sehati. Di atas meja makan “ayah” mengajarkan Taurat pada anggota keluarganya.
- Berdoa bersama.
- Adanya mujizat dan tanda-tanda.
- Share and care one another.
- Tekun dan sehati.
- Makan = perjamuan, dimana kita membereskan masalah satu dengan yang lain sebelum “makan bersama”/kita mengenalnya “perjamuan kudus” , ini dilakukan setiap hari.
- Gembira dan tulus hati.
- Worship/penyembahan as a lifestyle bukan hanya “menyanyi lagu rohani.
- Jumlah yang diselamatkan bertambah.

Gereja ditugaskan untuk menjadikan semua bangsa murid (Mat 28:18-20)

Doa Yesus pada saat sebelum kematianNya adalah bagi para muridNya, ini menunjukkan bahwa murid-murid merupakan prioritasNya. Ini merupakan “laporan terakhir pelayananNya di muka bumi” pada BAPA. (Yoh 17:9-10, 14-19, 20-23)

Gereja yang hidup adalah gereja yang memuridkan. INGAT: pemuridan tidak sama dengan kelas SOM/ bahkan kuliah theologia.

Pemuridan:
- Pengajaran
- Teladan hidup
- Mentoring/pembapaan
- Pengutusan
- Fellowship/relationship

Jadi siapakah gereja? Church is us in Christ

“WE ARE THE CHURCH IN ACTION”!

Church is every day life

Sikap terhadap yang masih percaya kekristenan sebagai agama/religion (Rm 14:1-6,8)

Suara Tuhan dan gaya hidup Tuhan harus terdengar, terlihat dan dirasakan dampaknya oleh dunia.

Church must be a community shaker, a city shaker, a nation shaker, shakers of the nations.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year 2009

Merry Christmas and a happy new Year 2009. Harapan kami di malam Natal kita sekali lagi berjumpa secara pribadi dengan KRISTUS. Doa kami sekeluarga ada penghiburan dan kekuatan yang baru di malam Natal ini.

We that love and care for you,

Dave and Novie

The Call to Forsake All

THE CALL to FORSAKE ALL
by Michael Carl.

"As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his
brother Andrew casting a net into the sea?for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fish for
people.' And immediately they left their nets and followed him."

What did it mean when Jesus strolled the shore of Lake Galilee
and call those men to serve Him without reservation? Well, in
one way or another, it meant a complete surrender to Jesus.
When they heard Him say, "'If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me'"
(Mark 8.34), they eventually learned that He meant it.

For most of them, it meant dying for the Lord. We all know from
Foxe's Book of Martyrs that all of the original Apostles, second
edition (with Matthias), except John went to a martyr's death.
Thomas, not realising the full impact of what he was saying, said
it correctly when he said in John chapter eleven, "'Let's go back
to Judea so we may die with Him.'"

Yet, we have to ask today, what does it mean when Jesus says,
"'Follow me and I will make you fish for people'"? Is there any
real meaning behind Jesus' own words, "'If any want to become
my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow Me'" for us today? Do we really believe this or have
Christ's own words simply become a romanticised exercise in a
formulaic religious contemplation for today's 21st Century North
American Christian?

In truth, we have to come to terms with the reality that if we don't
really believe He means what He says in these Mark passages,
then in fact we are denying the truth and efficacy of God's Word.
As one of my teachers along the way said, “We’re professing
believers; but in fact, we’re practical atheists.”

The good professor was blunt, but brutally true. When it comes
to obeying the Word of God, we don’t do too well with the
passages requiring personal sacrifice.

Folks, this must change. If we're ever to realise the depth and
beauty of a vital relationship with our Lord, we have to let go and
be willing to trust Him with ALL of His Words.

Are we willing to do that?

If not, then our practical doubts are going to rob us of the very
meat and meaning for which we deeply long.

Let us resolve this day that we're not going to be spectators;
we're going to take a step from the shore, wade in and fully
become "a fisherman".

PESAN TUHAN MELALUI PARA MENTOR KAMI

PESAN TUHAN MELALUI PARA MENTOR

20-4-2007
Samuel Saputra :
Takut akan Tuhan melepaskan iman, harapan dan anugerah TUhan yang datang karena penyerahan dan kerendahan hatimu, kuatir adalah kesombongan, bagi Tuhan tahu langkah berikutmu, jadi fokus pada pengenalan akan Tuhan dan melangkah keluar dari perahumu dan melompat pada “ketidakmengertian”/the unknown. Just trust and obey, Tuhan senantiasa disana bagimu dan menyediakan semua kebutuhanmu, Filipi 4:4-8, rejoice, give thanks, pray always, and thinks His mind. Luv U I am with u.

13-5-2007
Joseph Selva :
Though d fig tree does not bud n there r none grapes on d vines, though d olive crop fails n d fields produce no food, yet I will REJOICE IN D LORD, I WILL B JOYFULL IN GOD MY SAVIOR IN JESUS NAME. U R DOING A GOOD JOB 4 OUR LORD JESUS.

21-5-2007
Joseph Selva :
The Lord says,” I will give u back what u lost 2 d stripping locusts, d cutting locusts, d swarming locusts, d hopping locusts.” Joel 2:25

22-5-2007
Paulus Djumani :
Saya bersyukur kpd Tuhan dan senang sekali diminta utk mendoakan Dave PASTI saya doakan dan saya yakin TUHAN menyertai Dave, Mat 28:19-20 dan Roma 8:26-28

26-5-2007
Joseph Selva :
Dave please read now Isaiah 41:17-20. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, n springs within d valleys, I will turn d deserts into pools of water, n d parched ground into springs. That’s U.

28-5-2007
Christopher Krisnasamy
Proverbs 3:5-6

8-6-2007
Christopher Krisnasamy:
He will provide

11-6-2007
Christopher Krisnasamy:
Step by step every step a step of faith

13-6-2007
Joseph Selva:
Dave…The Almighty God says,” I’m your provider n I meet all your needs in Matt 6:31-33. My plans for your future has always been filled with hope as in Jer 29:11 n the reason in Jer 31:3 .

13-6-2007
Samuel Saputra :
Be strong. Yosua 1:5-12

13-6-2007
Christopher Krisnasamy:
God has many good things in store for U.

14-6-2007
Joseph Selva :
Dave…Deuteronomy 31:6-8. D Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be discouraged.

17-6-2007
Joseph Selva :
Dave…Proverbs 16:1-2. The Plans of man belong to him but God weights the MOTIVE, INTENTION, ATTITUDE, THOUGHT AND THE SPIRIT. Please keep up the good work for our Lord Jesus.

17-6-2007
Christopher Krisnasamy:
Happy Father’s Day. Pour Out the life you have received from the Great Father into the next generation and rise up a Godly generation. A generation who will walk with God.

22-6-2007
Miri (Joseph Selva’s wife):
Dave….Matt 6:19-20. “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and wood worms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where both moth and wood worms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

6-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave, the Lord God will feed you and His flock like a shepherd, He will gather you and the lambs with His arm, and carry you and them in His bosom. Amen, and gently lead you. Isaiah 40:10-11.

7-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave, I’m able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesus 3:20.Amen. I’m on your side. Rom 8:31.PTL.

9-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave….I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jer 32:41. Amen. God is doing a new thing in your life. Receive it by faith.

10-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave…commit and trust them wholly to Him, He will cause your thougts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and succed. Proverbs 16:3.

11-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave…you may not know me, but I know everything bout you. Psalm 139:1. You are doing a good job for our Lord Jesus Christ.

13-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave…be joyful, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of Christ Jesus for you and me. 1 Thess 5:16-24

15-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave…Jer 1:4-5, I knew you even before you were conceived. Psalm 139:3, I’m familiar with all your ways.

16-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave… Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, n He hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. Ps 55:17-18

21-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave… His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps. Job 34:21. We see in parts; God’ sees the whole.

31-7-2007
Joseph Selva
Dave… For I’m your greatest encourager. 2 Thess 2:16-17. I’m also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Cor 1:3-4.

13-8-2007
Joseph Selva
Naked I came from my mother’s womb naked I shall return again. Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken back. Blessed be the name of Yahweh. Job 1 :21

20-8-2007
Joseph Selva
We put our traust in you Lord Jesus, not on horses or chariots, men or demonds. When I look up to the hills where does my help comes from, it comes from you Lord Jesus.Mzm 20:7 and Mzm 121:1-8

25-8-2007
Joseph Selva
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Ps 139:1. Speak to the dry bones now. Ezekiel 37:11-14

2-9-2007
Joseph Selva
Thy plotted evil against you. But God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what has happened on your life, you have nothing to fear. I will take care of you and your children. Genesis 50:20-21

3-9-2007
Ps. Christopher K
Dear Dave,
thanks for the encouraging words. I our life we do have to face many mountains -some we speak to them and some we have to climb it. God will give you the strength to climb them and conquer them. If you fall down just get up and walk again and learn the lessons from the fall. and also warn others. I am proud of you. You have chosen the best that is to follow our Lord Jesus and to serve Him wholeheartedly. That is very encouraging. Keep on pressing on.
 
love you
 
Chris and Vijaya.K.


4-9-2007
Joseph Selva
I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:3-6. You are walking with God.

5-9-2007
Joseph Selva
Remember me for this. Oh my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services. Neh 13:12-14

Robert Fitts
 VISION, VALLEY, FULFILLMENT
 
Everything starts with vision! Somebody, somewhere saw something and pursued their vision. Now we all see, because they did not give up while in the valley phase of the process. Before anything is seen with the natural eye, it is first seen with the eye of vision. This is true in the natural realm as well as in the spiritual realm. Without visionaries, we would not have electric lights, the computer, the automobile, and every other invention of the past centuries.
 
God gives vision. Every great movement of God had its beginning in the heart of some child of God intent upon hearing from God and doing his will.
 
It came into the heart of MOSES to deliver the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage. JOSEPH had dreams of being used of God as a deliverer. DAVID was anointed to be king of all Israel when he was just a shepherd boy. In his old age ABRAHAM heard the voice of God giving promise of a son through whom a nation would come forth.
 
In all four lives mentioned above there was a fulfillment of the vision, BUT . . . there was a big, long, dark, ugly valley between the vision and the fulfillment. Abraham was in the valley for 25 years before Isaac, the son of promise, arrived. David waited 13 years to see his prophecy fulfilled, Joseph
walked through a 17 year valley, and Moses endured a 40 year valley on the backside of the desert.
 
All of these men had a vision as to how God was going to use them in life and they kept that vision alive in their hearts through a long and painful trial of their faith.
 
Has God spoken a word of promise to you about how he wants to use you? Have the years come and gone without any sign of fulfillment? Have you been sorely tempted to give it all up as a silly, selfish dream or an "off the wall" prophecy? DON'T GIVE UP TOO EASILY! YOU MIGHT BE IN A VALLEY THAT IS THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD! It is in the valley where od forms the man and purifies the vision.
 
Between every vision and its fulfillment lies a long period of preparation, testing, molding, discipline, purifying, teaching, purging, scalding, scourging, beating, blasting, breaking, healing, peeling, adjusting, correcting, grooming, tearing, ripping, humbling, stumbling, moaning, groaning, crying, screaming, screeching, sobbing, sighing, agonizing, praying, wailing and weeping that is called...THE VALLEY!
 
 Are you in the valley? The duration and severity of the valley is usually an indication of the significance and importance of the job the Lord has called you to accomplish. The greater the task, the longer and more difficult the valley.
 
It is in the valley where God prepares his instrument. The vision can come in a period of a few minutes or even seconds, but the fulfillment of the vision may require years or even decades.
 
Have you noticed something else about these four men? They were all called to be a deliver. Moses delivered Israel from slavery. Joseph delivered Israel from starvation. David delivered Israel from the heel of the enemy and into their inheritance, and Abraham was called to bring forth a nation through which the GREAT DELIVERER would come.
 
If you have a vision that exalts self and self interest, BEWARE! While God may give a man or woman unusual favor in the eyes of people at times, they are raised up to accomplish a work of great deliverance, not to be greatly admired.
 
The Lord gave me a vision 36 years ago that is just beginning to come to pass. In 1969 the Lord put in my heart a vision to make disciples in every country in the world. I knew that could only be done through multiplying disciples and I knew it would take a long time to see it come to pass, but I didn't know it would be 30 long years of stretching and stripping before it would even get started!
 
I was looking at the project, but God was looking at the instrument he had to work with to accomplish the project. I am glad he chooses the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak things to confound the mighty, and base things, and things which are despised, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are. Thank God, I qualify on all counts! My! Those words have a sweet ring to them! "foolish, weak, base, despised." I'm glad God likes to use little things. Aren't you?
 
What do you do while in the middle of the valley? Don’t doubt in the dark what God gave you in the light. Keep on plodding! Keep your eye on the vision and remember that in every case cited above these men did nothing to create or manufacture the fulfillment of the vision. In fact every time they tried to help God out, it only landed them in a mess!
 
Moses tried to bring deliverance to Israel before God's timing and failed miserably. Abraham tried to speed up the process and produced an Ishmael that caused nothing but problems. David and Joseph waited patiently and God brought forth the fulfillment of their vision in his own way and time.
 
So just wait in faith. Obey God moment by moment and know that he is working. He is always on time. He who gave you the VISION will also bring the FULFILLMENT when he is through forming you in the VALLEY.

11 September 2007
Joseph Selva
Dave..life is about waking up each day to discover something new…meeting old people but making new conversations….walking thru old roads but still feeling nice about it….realizing that you have grown a day older but still feeling young at heart…..meeting busy schedules but still finding time to smile….being nostalgic about gone days but looking forward to better days to come. John 15:1-10
14 September 2007
Edo Lantang
My son, give attention to my words incline your ears to my sayings. Don’t let them depart from your eyes keep them in the midst of your heart. Prov 4:20-21
27 Oktober 2007
Joseph Selva
Dave when God leads you to the edge oh the cliff, trust Him fully. Only to things will happen: either He will catch us when we fall or He will teach us how to fly….No matter what the enemy may say, or the situation seems to be difficult, we are in God’s saving arms. Pro 3:5-8
15 November 2007
Joseph Selva
Dave Heb 6:12, Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith n then get everything promised to them. Amen. You are on the right side/Jesus side.

18 November 2007
Joseph Selva
Dave these 3 remain faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13. Amen. You are God’s love
19 November 2007
Joseph Selva
Dave for God is working in you. Giving you desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. Phil 2:13. Amen. You are the person that God has chosen.
21 November 2007
Christopher K
There is a future and a destiny for you who trust in God.
8 Januari 2008
Joseph Selva
D….Behold, I will make to you be a new sharp, threshing instrument which has teeth, you shall tresh d mountains n beat them small , n shall make d hills like chaff. Isa 41:15. Amen. U R the chosen instrument of God. 
30 April 2008
Joseph Selva
Ams 22:4 Ganjaran kerendahan hati dan takut akan Tuhan adalah kekayaan, kehormatan dan kehidupan.
14 Mei 2008
Joseph Selva
D…What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss foe Christ (Fil 3:7) V all should regard D thinga of this life S rubbish n live our lifes so that they will count 4 eternity. Only one life, that will be soon B past, only whats done 4 Christ will past.
15 Mei 2008
Joseph Selva
D.. great peace have those who love ur law, N nothing causes them 2 stumble. Ps 119:165. Gos is on your side.
16 Mei 2008
Joseph Selva
D…trust in Him at all times, u people; pour out ur heart b4 Him; God is a refuge 4 us. Ps 62:8. Ps 60:12 says; Thru God v will do valiantly, 4 it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
19 Mei 2008
Joseph selva
D….Rut 2:12 Tuhan kiranya membalas perbuatanmu itu, dan kepadamu kiranya dikaruniakan upahmu sepenuhnya o Tuhan, Allah Israel, yang dibawah sayapNya engkau datang berlindung.
22 Mei 2008
Joseph Selva
D…But d Lord said 2 Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, 4 I have rejected him. D Lord does not look at D things man look at. Man looks at D outward appearance but D Lord looks at D heart. 1 Sam 16:7. God watches your heart.

The End of the Struggle

THE END OF THE STRUGGLE
by Robert Fitts
 
"They do not know God's righteousness, and all the time they are
going about trying to prove their own righteousness, they have the
wrong attitude to receive His. For Christ means the end of the struggle
for righteousness-by-the-law for everyone who believes in Him." (Romans
10:2-4, J. B. Phillips)
 
"If you try to be justified by the law you automatically cut
yourselves off from the power of Christ. You put yourself outside the
range of His grace." (Galatians 5:4 - J. B. Phillips)
 
If deception were easy to detect, it would not be deception. Satan
is the master deceiver, for he disguises his voice to sound just like
the voice of the Lord. He appears as an angel of light and tells you
something that is right and good, and yet it is calculated to land you in a
prison house of despair.
 
 Many years ago I
thought I heard the voice of the Lord telling me that I should fast.
This was to be a fast in preparation for launching out into a new phase
of my ministry, as well as to heal me of a number of physical problems.
It was to be a complete fast of forty days.
 
How many times I have tried to comply with that "word," I
cannot tell. But each time I tried, I failed. Then I would be faced
with periods of condemnation and depression. Somehow, as time
went on, the thought settled over me that I would never be healed or
never be anointed for a powerful ministry if I didn't complete
that long fast. And furthermore, I was willing to accept that
thought! I felt I deserved the pain of a long fast because I believed
my physical problems were related to years of intemperance, and I had
read how men and women of God had been launched into
powerful deliverance ministries immediately after a long fast. So I
was willing to suffer through a long fast in order to pay the price
for spiritual power and to be healed of some long-standing ailments.
 
However, as the months rolled on into years, and my struggle
to achieve this fast became more intense, I began to question the
source of this guidance. At times I was sure it was God, but at times I
was not so sure. What I did not realize was that slowly but surely, the
basis of my trust was being shifted away from Jesus to another
foundation. I found myself able to believe and perform when
I was fasting but crippled in my faith when I was not fasting.
 
I can remember many times during this long struggle that I cried
out in bitterness, "0 God, I wish I had never heard of fasting!"
Fasting had become my only hope. It had taken the place of Jesus as my
Savior, and much of the t ime I was not enjoying my Christian life in the least. Yet I struggled on. "Lord, I failed that time, but I'll try again!"
 
The Devil fortified his hold on me by quoting scriptures,
"Remember Naaman, the leper? He didn't get his healing until he obeyed
the word of God through the prophet to go and dip seven times in the
Jordan. Your word is to fast 40 days, then you will be healed and your will be anointed to heal."
 
Of course, I would receive that scripture as the Word of the Lord to me as the
solution to my problem. The Devil is good at quoting scripture.
 
Once I fasted 14 days and was helped physically but the killing element
was in the fact that it was a growing, death-dealing legalism that
was not only strangling my own spiritual life, but was being poured out
on the people to whom I would minister.
 
I had fallen into the same error into which the Galatians fell, that of
having begun in the spirit, I was now seeking to be made perfect by the
flesh. I had made my religious observances my Savior. Jesus had become
secondary. He was there to help me, but I must do the work. If I could
perform, I would be blessed. If I could fast, I would be healed,
anointed, cleansed, blessed, and mightily used of God to bring life to the
people I ministered to. It had come to the point that everything in my whole
life depended on my ability to do this complete fast.
 
The enemy kept bombarding me with scriptures: "The Spirit drove
[a strong word of compulsion] Jesus into the wilderness to fast." Then
Satan would say, "The reason you feel so strongly about this fast is
because you, too, are being driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to
fast. And just as Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit, so will you be
able to release the captives like Jesus did."
 
Not only did my foundation shift, but my focus shifted as well. I now
had my eyes on the fast, or rather on myself. If I could do it . . . if I
could only do it . . . then my whole world would be brighter and happier.
I began to suffer pain at night, with long hours of sleeplessness, as
I fought off thoughts of self condemnation. Even when I slept, I would
dream dreams of being exposed as a hypocrite, or see myself rejected
as ineffective and powerless as a man of God. The words of Job so clearly
expressed my plight:
 
"I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery
have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, 'How long before I
get up? The night drags on and I toss 'til dawn . . . when I think my
bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you
frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions."
 
One morning after I had walked my daughter Judy to her school bus
stop, I decided to take a longer walk. It was such a beautiful morning, and
yet I was still under this struggle inwardly, feeling like an enemy of God
rather than a friend—much less a beloved son. For though my root problem
was a struggle for righteousness-by-the-law, I knew I had failed God on
many counts and I was not altogether without blame.
 
As I walked along, the words of an old hymn we used to sing in my
youth back in Texas began to rise up in my heart and I started to sing it. As
I sang, the tears began to flow and I began to feel a sweet release.
 
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
 
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
 
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
 
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the Vail.
 
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand."
 
Oh, how I needed to hear and receive those words ! How
desperately I needed my foundation restored. It was Jesus and not
fasting, not prayer, not gifts, anointing, or any other thing. He was
indeed the end of the struggle for righteousness, peace, power, healing,
anointing, guidance, fulfillment, and everything else. The struggle was all a
subtle snare. I had been caught up in self-effort. I was no less a Pharisee
than Saul of Tarsus, whose fanatical religious zeal for God took him to the
extremes of murdering those who called upon the name of Jesus.
 
Praise God, the struggle is over! I have a Savior again. His name is
Jesus. He is for me, not against me. He is my Healer. He is my perfect
fast! It is the power of His Spirit whose anointing abides upon me. Fasting
has its place and temperance in all things, yes! But it is JESUS, JESUS,
JESUS, who is The Fountainhead, The Vine, The Rock from whence we
are hewn. All else must be an outflow from the life of Jesus within.
That which issues out of a framework of law or legalism promotes
death. That which proceeds forth from a framework of grace ministers
life and peace.
 
I again received Christ Jesus as my Savior, my Lord, my life, my strength, my
healer, my health, my authority to heal, my power to minister, and . . . I
have in faith received Him as my forty day fast! The Lord reminded me
that not only was his death accredited to my account, but his life also.
Everything he did has been accredited to my account, and that includes his
forty day fast. In Christ I have fasted forty days which brings to me all the
benefits of that fast! He will surely take the struggle out of my walk with
him and in my service to others.
 
"For I can testify about them (the Jews) that they are zealous for
God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know
the righteousness that comes from God, and sought to establish their
own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of
the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."
(Romans 10:2-4)
 
The most subtle deception of all is when the Devil urges us to do a
perfectly good thing at the wrong time or with the wrong motive. It is
simply being out of step with God that makes life a mess of confusion
whether you are a Christian or not. It is all important that we live life
daily with a deep and abiding certainty of God's loving acceptance, and
not with a fear of condemnation.
 
The Devil does not usually move against us with one decisive
stroke. He plans his moves ahead. I am sure he would make a great chess
player. As I look back on the experience I have related above, I can
see that it took him years to maneuver me into a position where I
would be vulnerable to bite on his bait and swallow a ton of legalism
concerning fasting. He has intricate plans to devastate us and take
away our joy and effectiveness. But by the grace of God we shall resist
him steadfast in the faith!