Dari Iman dan Memimpin Kepada Iman.. Billy K

Apakah ini berarti kita mulai dari iman natural menuju kepada iman yang supernatural? Atau iman sederhana menuju kepada iman yang semakin lama semakin dalam?

Calvin mengatakan bahwa ketika iman kita mengalami kemajuan, maka kebenaran Allah juga bertambah dalam diri kita dan kepemilikan kita atas kebenaran itu semakin diteguhkan.

Penekanan Calvin disini bukanlah pada iman kita yang semakin lama semakin besar, namun pada fakta objektif bahwa kebenaran Allah menjadi semakin nyata dalam hidup kita.

Kita perlu berhati hati dengan kecenderungan spiritualitas yang menekankan pentingnya iman dan akhirnya bukan membawa orang kepada pemahaman akan Allah yang semakin besar, melainkan iman yang semakin besar.

Corrie ten Boom mengatakan kita bukan membutuhkan iman yang besar, melainkan iman kepada Allah yang Mahabesar. Kita tidak dipanggil untuk melihat kepada Tuhan Yesus. Kita tidak beriman kepada iman itu sendiri melainkan beriman kepada Allah. 

Iman hanyalah alat anugerah. Instrumen, yang melaluinya kita melihat kemahabesaran Allah yang sedang bekerja melalui kita.

Iman adalah percaya atas kesetiaan Allah. Kesetiaan Allah akan mendorong kita untuk tetap beriman (tetap setia kepada Allah).

Billy K., Aku, Diriku, dan Kebajikan.

Keselamatan Adalah Untuk Semua Orang.. Roma10

Sebab Kristus adalah kegenapan hukum Taurat, sehingga kebenaran diperoleh tiap-tiap orang yang percaya.

Sebab Musa menulis tentang kebenaran karena hukum Taurat: "Orang yang melakukannya, akan hidup karenanya."

Tetapi kebenaran karena iman berkata demikian: "Jangan katakan di dalam hatimu: Siapakah akan naik ke sorga?", yaitu: untuk membawa Yesus turun,

atau: "Siapakah akan turun ke jurang maut?", yaitu: untuk membawa Kristus naik dari antara orang mati.

Tetapi apakah katanya? Ini: "Firman itu dekat kepadamu, yakni di dalam mulutmu dan di dalam hatimu." Itulah firman iman, yang kami beritakan.

Sebab jika kamu mengaku dengan mulutmu, bahwa Yesus adalah Tuhan, dan percaya dalam hatimu, bahwa Allah telah membangkitkan Dia dari antara orang mati, maka kamu akan diselamatkan.

Karena dengan hati orang percaya dan dibenarkan, dan dengan mulut orang mengaku dan diselamatkan.

Karena Kitab Suci berkata: "Barangsiapa yang percaya kepada Dia, tidak akan dipermalukan."

Sebab tidak ada perbedaan antara orang Yahudi dan orang Yunani. Karena, Allah yang satu itu adalah Tuhan dari semua orang, kaya bagi semua orang yang berseru kepada-Nya.

Sebab, barangsiapa yang berseru kepada nama Tuhan, akan diselamatkan.

Tetapi bagaimana mereka dapat berseru kepada-Nya, jika mereka tidak percaya kepada Dia? Bagaimana mereka dapat percaya kepada Dia, jika mereka tidak mendengar tentang Dia. Bagaimana mereka mendengar tentang Dia, jika tidak ada yang memberitakan-Nya?

Dan bagaimana mereka dapat memberitakan-Nya, jika mereka tidak diutus? Seperti ada tertulis: "Betapa indahnya kedatangan mereka yang membawa kabar baik!"

unholy trinity offer Power & Miracles to capture the whole world.. Rev13

The dragon, the beast out of the sea, and the beast out of the earth--together, they form unholy trinity.
When satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness and was plan to rule the world through Jesus, but Jesus refused to do satan's bidding.
Thus, satan turns to the fearsome beasts described in Revelation. To the beast out of the sea satan gives political power. To the beast out of the earth satan gives power to do miracles. Both beasts work together to capture the control of the whole world.
This unholy trinity unite in a desperate attempt to overthrow God, but their effort are doomed to failure.
Because the beast, the antichrist, is a false messiah, he will be counterfeit of Christ and will even stage a false resurrection.
People will follow and worship him because they will be awed by his power and miracles. he will unite the world under his leadership, and will control the world economy. People are impressed by power and will follow those who display it forcefully or offer it to their followers.
But those who follow the beast will only be fooling themselves: he will use his power to manipulate others, to point to himself, and to promote evil plans. God, by contrast, use His infinitely greater power to love and to build up.
Dont misled by claims of great miracles or reports about a resurrection or reincarnation of someone claiming to be Christ. When Jesus returns, He will reveal Himself to everyone.

These people were so hard hearted that even plagues didnt drive them to God..Rev9

People dont usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly--they slip into it bit at a time until, hardly realizing what has happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. Any person who allows sin to take a root in his life will end up in this predicament.
Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, a habit the next day, then death and separation from God forever.
To think you could never become this evil is the first step toward a hard heart. Acknowledge your need to confess your sin before God.

The One who have the key of David.. Rev3

The key of David represents Christ's authority to open the door into His future kingdom.
After the door is opened, no one can close it--Salvation is assured.
Once it is closed, no one can open it--Judgment is certain

The Danger of false teachers 2.. Jude

False teachers claimed to possess secret knowledge that give them authority. Their 'knowledge' of God was esoteric (mystical & beyond human understanding).
The nature of God is beyond our understanding, but God in HIS Grace, has chosen to reveal himself to us ( in HIS Word & supremely in Jesus Christ). Therefore, we must seek to know all we can about what HE has reveald, even though we cannot fully comprehend God with our finite human minds.
Before of those who claim to have all the answers & who belittle what they dont undestand.

The Danger of false teachers.. Jude

Even some of our churches today have a false ("ungodly") teachers who have "wormed" their way in and are twisting the Bible's teachings to justify their own opinions, life style, or wrong behavior. In doing this, they may gain temporary freedom to do their wish.
But they will discover that in distorting Scripture they are playing with fire. God will judge them for excusing, tolerating, and promoting sin.
Many first-century false teachers were teaching thant Christian could do whatever they liked without fear of God's punishment. They had a light view of God's holiness and His justice.
Even today, some Christians minimize the sinfulness of sin, believing that how they live has little to do with their faith. But what a person trully believes will show up in how he acts.
Those who truly have faith will show it by their deep respect for God and their sincere desire to live according to the principles in His Word.

Faith in the Son of God.. 1John5

Some people hope that they will receive eternal life. John says we can know have it.our certainty is based on God's promise that He has given us eternal life through His Son. This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from Him.

Eternal life is not based on feelings but on facts. You can know that you have eternal life if you believe God's truth. If you arent sure that you are a Christian, ask yourself : have i honesty commited my life to Him as my Savior and Lord? If so, you know by faith that you indeed a child of God.

The emphasis here is on God's will, not our will. When we communicate with God, we dont demand what we want; rather we discuss with Him what He wants for us.

If we align our prayer to His will, He will listen; and we can be certain that if He listen, He will give us a definite answer.

Start praying with confidence!

Loving One Another.. 1John4

It is easy to say we love God when that love doesnt cost us anything more then attendance at religious service. But the real test of our love for God is how we treat the people right in front of us_our family members and fellow believers.
We cannot trully love God (whom we cannot see) while negecting to love those who are created in His image (whom we can see).

Discerning false prophets..1John4

Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see. If the spirit they have from God? Means that we shouldnt believe everything we hear just because someone says it is a message from God.
There are many ways to test it, one is to check to see if their words match what God says in the Bible, other test include their commitment to the body of believers, their life-styles, and the fruit of their ministries.
But the most important test of all, says John, is what they believe about Christ. Do they teach that Jesus is fully God and fully man? Our world is filled with voices claiming to speak fo God. Give them these test to see if they are indeed speaking  God's Truth.

(Whatever) We Ask_We Will receive if...1John3

If your conscience is clear, you can come to God without fear, confident that your requests will be heard. John reaffirms Jesus' promise that whatever we ask for will be given to us.
You will receive if you obey and do what pleases HIM because you will then be asking in line with God's will.
Of course this doesnt mean that you can have anything you want, like instant riches. If you are truly seeking God's will, there are some request you will not make.

Do not Love this World.. 1John2

Dont love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you dont have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.
These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Danger to growing Christians (false teachers).. 2Ptr2

The False teachers slandered the spiritual realities they dont understand, taking satans power lightly and claiming to have ability over the world. 

A person is a slave to whatever controls him. Many believe that freedom means doing anything we want. But no one is ever completely free in that sense. If we refuse to follow God, we will follow our own sinful desires and become enslaved to what our body wants.

If we submit our lives to Christ, HE will free us from slavery to sin. Christ free us to serve HIM, a freedom that results in our ultimate good.

To Pay back wrongs with a Blessing.. 1Ptr3

In our fallen world, it is often deemed acceptable by some to tear people down verbally or to get back at them if we feel hurt. Peter, remembering Jesus's teaching to turn the other cheek, encourages his readers to pay back wrongs with a blessing, such as praying for the offenders.
In God's Kingdom, revenge is unacceptable behavior, as is insulting a person, no matter how indirectly it is done. Rise above getting back at those who hurt you. Instead of reacting angrily to these people, Pray for them.

How can we know God is real?..1Ptr3

Where is God? Who says the Bible is any better than other holy books? To answer these question, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as living evidence. God also chose Peter and others to show what a difference true faith makes in the real world.
So here the once rash, belligerent, domineering, and arrogant Peter bears witness to a life of harmony, compassion, love and humility. What a difference God makes! You, too, are God witness to skeptical People.
Let your life be evidence of God's truth. Let your pride become humility and your insentivity give way to genuine affection for others.

The Hope of Eternal life.. 1Ptr1

How did God choose us? Dont we make our own choises? God alone originates and accomplishes our salvation because of His grace; we do nothing to earn it. Being chosen in no way removes the necessity gor people to choose to follow.
The fact that God knows all events and decisions beforehand, Doesnt mean that He forces the action of His creatures or leaves them with no choise. Instead, God's foreknowledge means that He took the initiative and chose people before they had done anything to deserve it.
God had intimate knowledge of these future believers; He knew who would believe, and He knew them personally. God isnt trapped in time, what He knows is from eternity past into eternity future. Believers are chosen, but not against their will. When time comes, they eccept the gospel message.

Drawing Close to God.. James4

The cure for evil desires is humility. Pride makes us self centered and leads us to conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. It creates greedy appetites for far more then we need. We can released from our self centered desires by humbling ourselves before God, realizing that all we really need is HIS approval. When the Holy Spirit fills us, we see that this world's seductive attractions are only cheap subtitutes for what God has to offer.

No one can tame the tounge.. James3

Satan uses the tounge to divide people and pit them against one another, idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build.
If no one can tame the tounge, why bother trying? Even though we maynot achieve perfect control of our tounges, the Holy Spirit will help us learn self control, so that when we are offended, the Spirit will remind us of God's love, and we wont react in a hateful manner. When we are criticized, the Spirit will heal the hurt and help us to not lash out.

Faith without Good Deeds is Dead.. James2

Only God in His mercy can forgive our sin. We cant earn forgiveness by forgiving others. But when we withhold forgiveness from others after having received it ourselves, we show we dont understand or appreciate God's mercy toward us.
When someone claims to have faith, what he may have is intellectual assent (agreement with a set of Christian teaching) and as such it would be incomplete faith. True faith transform our conduct as well as our thoughts. If our life remains unchanged, we dont trully believe the truth we claims to believe.

Listening and Doing.. James1

May all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Accept the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has power to save your souls. But dont just listen to God's word. You must do what its says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and dont obey, its like glancing at your face in the mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what its says and dont forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
If you claim tobe religious but dont control your tounge, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.