Holy Spirit The Greater Promise by Pastor Sugi Hendric An Encounter Through Time by Sean Bong
E D I T O R’ S N O T E
Being Infilled with the Holy Spirit
Welcome back to another Genesis issue. If you are new to our church, this newsletter will keep you up to speed on what is being a part of this community all about. In recent months, we have been talking about the Holy Spirit and that is what this issue is all about. Quick sharing, I had once thought that the GE NE S I S Q 3 19
goal and reason of God giving us the Holy Spirit is to be able to speak in tongues. Since I grew up in a Christian family, my parents often held prayer meetings in our home and the first time I heard the grown ups speaking in tongues I was completely enthralled (and a teeny tiny bit scared ha!). I wanted to master it, thinking that it was one of the indications that I am a mature, righteous follower of Christ. But being infilled with the Holy Spirit is not just about speaking in tongues. It is about continually communing with Him and letting Him change us from the inside out–that is the goal. He is our Advocate (John 14:26) and will guide us whether or not we can speak in tongues. Do you know about the Holy Spirit? Let’s find out more about Him in the next few pages! We’re also celebrating a few brothers and sisters who have joined a ministry and got baptized last semester. Yay! Cheers, Jes
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U P D AT E S
New Ministers 01
Praise & Worship
Go to
tinyurl.com/ heretoserve
Audrey Pangemanan Samuel Hendric Nicola Siahaan
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to join a ministry!
Usher Priscilla Kwok Karen Kimas Felicia Fatrijanto Felika Aileen Marco Angjaya
Upcoming Events
S EP TEMBER 7TH
OC TOB E R 12T H
Parenting is a Heart Work
Volunteer Day & Picnic
Yuly’s Home
2600 Barbers Point Road, Alameda, CA
An eight-series parenting workshop led
We’re going to volunteer in a garden
by Pastor Sugi and Jen Hendric, designed
to help the homeless community. More
for families and young married couples.
details coming soon!
E D I TO R ’ S N OT E & C H U R C H U P DAT E S
Audrey Simandjaja
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F RO M PA S T O R’ S D E S K
The Greater Promise The Holy Spirit in Our Lives
It is easy and convenient when Christians hear the word ‘greater promise’ and to interpret it as a greater financial future, a more fulfilled life when a lover comes along, or for a student, a greater career after graduation. It would be almost an offense to tell them that greater promise means greater spiritual fulfillment, something that is unfamiliar, and different than the
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standard of our world is used to nowadays. Yet that is exactly what God has promised to those who sincerely and expectantly waits for the fulfilment of that promise, and the blessings that the fulfillment brings to one’s life. Instead of getting less, we are going to experience life in abundance more than we can ever think or even imagine. The Spirit in us helps us to grow in holiness, strengthened us in times of needs, and motivate us to do God’s perfect will. This, indeed, is very exciting and a better way to live our lives. Before Jesus was crucified, He promised His disciples that He would gift them with the Holy Spirit. John 14:26, says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” With this, we can understand that the Holy Spirit is a Person. He is not a feeling, nor a vibe, nor knowledge. The Holy Spirit has the ability to speak to us, give us His wisdom, and align our desires to His. The Holy Spirit speaks the Word of God to us–the truth. He gives us wisdom as we live our lives as we dwell and devote ourselves to Him every day. Now, what does being ‘holy’ mean? To be holy means to be different than the ordinary, but more than that, it means to be “God-like”. Holiness is a result of our devotion to God rather than from the isolation from the world. 4
God calls us to be in the world but not of it (John 17:14-15). As we draw close to God through our devotion with Christ, the Spirit transforms us inside out to be more like God. To be holy does not mean going to a lonely place and to live an ascetic life. It simply means allowing our lives to be guided by the Spirit. There is vibrancy in life and excitement to do God’s will.
what to say and what to pray for. Mark 13:11 says, “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but
PAS TOR ’S DE S K
How does the Holy Spirit comfort us? He speaks to us, and teaches us
the Holy Spirit.” Here Jesus was warning His disciples that as they spread the Gospel to all nations and standing against false teachings, they would be questioned by the governors and kings or even lost their lives for it. Similarly, as we devote ourselves to God, we may face trials, temptations, and questions that threaten our faith and belief in His promise. But Jesus said we shall not worry because the Holy Spirit that is in us will give us wisdom necessary for the situations. I pray that you will devote your lives to pursue the Spirit’s will. There is no other way that is more satisfying, more abundant and more fruitful other than letting ourselves be led by the Holy Spirit. I am in for this journey. Will you join me?
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T E S T I M O N Y BY S E A N B O N G
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An Encounter Through Time
Have you ever heard the Spirit of God? Better yet, have you ever seen, smelled, tasted or even touched by the Spirit of God? Having trained as a methodological engineer, I would have characterized my experience with the Holy Spirit by what my five senses dictates. Thus, if you are like me, one of the millions (or billions) of humans on this Earth who never had a physical encounter with the Spirit of God, you are left in bewilderment of how you would ever harness this gift from God. With research, you will uncover the countless ways of coming in contact with the Spirit of God; reading the Bible, fasting, baptism, praying, worshipping, gratitude, etc. Ultimately, everyone will find a unique experience and timing towards their first encounter with the Spirit, and with His grace, I am able to share mine. My initial awareness of the Holy Spirit was through looking back at my past and realizing His presence through my life. It was an eventful afternoon, early September 2015, when I received a call that I was offered a job at Apple. The journey that led to this momentous and joyous call was long and arduous, having applied for multiple positions spanning 6 years through my college and career years, with at least failing 7 phone interviews, and 3 on-site interviews. Yet I vividly recalled the particular moments that the Holy Spirit has guided me to this happy ending.
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Flashing back to the moment right after my graduation in January 2013, I acquired a job at a small diesel engine company, only to be fired 5 days after starting the work. I told the company that I wanted to get a feel for the company before getting a visa sponsorship, and naively wanted to save the company the visa application cost, should I decide to return to Indonesia prematurely. Days later, they terminated my employment with reasons that they were looking for a confident commitment from their employees, someone who will be in for the long haul. I fell into a great depression, lamented and questioned God: “Why are you doing this to me Lord, even when I acted in good faith?� Unbeknownst to me, the Holy Spirit was already at work. A month later, I was blessed with two job offers simultaneously; one at a well-known company with higher pay, another at a smaller company with lesser pay. At their face value, the option to choose a better named and higher pay company seemed obvious, yet I was somehow allured by the alternate option. Interestingly, I felt an unexpected peace with my decision of taking the second option, and again, the Holy Spirit was quietly working in me. Fast forward to the night after I received a joboffer call from Apple, as I recollected memories of my career, it came to me like an epiphany. Had I not chosen the smaller company with the lesser pay, I would not have the job experience required for my position at Apple. Furthermore,
I realized that this path that I had tread upon was beyond my plan or imagination, and looking at how all events fall into place so flawlessly, there can be no explanation other than a faithful, supernatural power that has been guiding and leading me.
AN E NC O U NTE R TH R O U GH TI M E
had I not been fired from my previous job, I would be clueless to where my life would have taken me. Only through having this job from Apple, I was able to support my family through tough financial times. I realized that this path that I had tread upon was beyond my plan or imagination, and looking at how all events fall into place so flawlessly, there can be no explanation other than a faithful, supernatural power that has been guiding and leading me. From that night onwards, I realized that through every crossroads I encountered, through every simple or difficult decision I made in my life, the Holy Spirit was with me. Even when I strayed from my path, like a lost sheep, I held on to the faith that my shepherd would search and find me, and the Holy Spirit would guide me back to my destination. Above all, I have developed a relationship, a dependence and an acceptance towards the Holy Spirit, through the simple act of reminiscence and gratitude. Steve Jobs shared his philosophy in the 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech, which still strongly resonates with me: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”
And I trust in Jesus Christ, who has given me His Holy Spirit, and in accordance to Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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Church Services TRI-VALLEY CAMPUS (10:30 AM)
PINOLE VALLEY CAMPUS (2:15PM)
Bollinger Canyon School
Pinole Valley Community Church
2300 Talavera Dr
2885 Pinole Valley Road
San Ramon, CA 94583
Pinole, CA 94564
Caregroups P LEASANT HI L L
BERKELEY
H AY WA RD ( P RO)
M I LP I TA S ( P RO)
Priscilla Kwok
Amos Indranada
Maria Wahono
Antony Setiawan
415.926.1151
510.710.9103
206.354.8096
408.685.1540
RIC H MOND (P R O )
PINOLE
T RI - VA LLEY ( FA M I LY )
EA S T B AY ( FA M ILY)
Yosia Urip
Samuel Hendric
Yuly Oentario
Wenny Chandrawinata
206.459.7566
510.407.9469
510.759.2633
408.307.6377
Ministries HOSPITALITY
P R A I SE & WO RS H I P
C H I LD REN
P U B L I C AT I O N
Renaldi
Michelle Handoyo
Wenny Chandrawinata
Jessica Tjahjady
510.710.6316
408.874.5098
408.307.6377
925.399.9055
P RAYER
Tinus Masbrata 510.673.7334
ifgfpinole.org
IFGF Pinole
IFGF Pinole
925.609.4343
@ifgfpinole
home@ifgfpinole.org