Iccc newsletter juli 2015

From the desk of National President

ICCC (INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) ADALAH MIMBAR DIMANA PESAN KRISTUS BAGI KITA DI ZAMAN INI DIJABARKAN, DIBAGIKAN DAN DINYATAKAN TERHADAP DUNIA BISNIS

NEW NATIONAL BOARD National President Umbu Pekuwali Vice Presidents:  Admin/Secretary Nona Roa 

Finance/Treasurer: Johanis S. Najoan

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Membership/Mentoring/ Network Simon Aditan

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Teaching / Training Benjamin B. Juwono

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Business Development/ Micro-Enterprise Abraham Setiabudi

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Intercessors Mohan U. Vasandani

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Young Professionals Maria Sitorus

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Arbitrase Tonny Sutjoadi

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Counseling & Mission Acts Rev. Dr. Hosea LItaniwan

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Publication Manimbul L. Sitorus

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BOARD OF ADVISORS (Mrs) Mieno L. Menayang Eliezer H. Hardjo

Kantor Nasional ICCC Indonesia: Website: www.iccc-indonesia.com Pertokoan Pulo Mas Blok B I / 8, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan. Jakarta 13260 Telp (021) 4890211, fax: (021) 4722274.

E-mail: iccc.indonesia@yahoo.com

Mitra Tuhan dimarket place Salam jumpa di Newsletter ICCC-Indonesia edisi bulan Juli 2015.

Sebelum saya memulai, dan mewakili National Board dan Members of ICCC-Indonesia, kami mengucapkan selamat menunaikan ibadah puasa bagi saudara-saudari Muslim sebangsa dan setanah air Indonesia.

Hampir setiap hari, saya mendapatkan kabar dari bank secara pribadi di ponsel dan email saya yang umumnya kurang baik mengenai situasi ekonomi global yang terus melesu yang dipicu oleh kekuatiran pelaku bisnis dunia kepada negara federal Amerika menaikkan suku bunga (yang tidak kunjung pasti realisasinya), situasi Yunani yang sedang menegang dengan IMF dan kemungkinan gagalnya negara ini membayar cicilannya pada tanggal 29 Juni 2015 yang akan membawa Yunani ke jurang kejatuhan secara ekonomi, pertumbuhan ekonomi China yang konsisten melambat juga ketegangan hubungan Rusia dan Eropa dan Amerika karena Ukraina dan masalah-masalah sosial lainnya seperti meningkatnya imigran gelap dari Timur-Tengah (karena konflik di negara-negara mereka) ke beberapa negara-negara Eropa, Sementara situasi ekonomi bangsa kitaIndonesia yang kurang lebih sama, hampir semua sektor usaha lesu, saya dikagetkan dengan laporan keuangan CIMB-NIAGA year on year yang keuntungannya merosot 92% (Kompas-Red), meningkatnya kredit macet dimana-mana, pembayaran dari pihak buyer kepada suplier atau vendor yang dire-schedulle, begitu banyak kabar yang kurang baik tetang situasi terkini yang sedang kita dengar hari-hari ini!

Apapun yang sedang kita alami, terlepas dari analisa logika/pengetahuan kita, ijinkan saya mengingatkan saudara/i berilah waktu untuk mendengarkan suara Tuhan dan ambilah keputusan! Ingatlah salah satu dari values of ICCC, “Listening coming before doing”.

Tuhan Yesus menyampaikan ini dengan sangat jelas dalam Yohanes 10:27, Dombadomba-Ku mendengar suara-Ku dan Aku mengenal mereka dan mereka mengikuti Aku. Ini adalah kepastian!.

Sayangnya, begitu banyak domba-domba yang mengalami gangguan pendengaran, Pemilik bisnis, profesional dan pekerja banyak menghabiskan waktu mereka mencari pekerjaan, bisnis, industri tanpa mengetahui secara pasti apakah itu dalam rencana Tuhan. Bahkan mereka yang tampaknya memiliki bisnis impian, karyawan-karyawan, karir yang bagus hanya menggertakkan gigi mereka, menghabiskan begitu banyak waktu dalam kesibukan, dan dalam krisis global serta apa yang sedang dialami bangsa kita saat ini kita menjadi cemas dan ketakutan.

Tidak!. Saudara-saudari, Tuhan ingin kita hidup berlimpah, penuh dengan tujuan ilahi, dalam kegoncangan ini, kita tetap hidup berkemenangan setiap hari, Dia ingin berbicara kepada kita secara langsung untuk menunjukkan kepada kita apa yang harus menjadi perhatian dan prioritas kita. Jika kita tidak mendengarkan Tuhan dalam keseharian bisnis dan profesi atau pekerjaan dan terhadap pilihan-pilihan hidup kita sudah bukan lagi itu berarti kehidupan kekristenan kita menjadi tidak berguna, dan kegoncangan akan Tuhan terus ijinkan sampai saudara dan saya memilih, apakah Tuhan atau Mamon yang menjadi tuan kita. Tuhan sanggup menjadikan anda jawaban atas situasi ekonomi di bangsa dan global yang terjadi, menjadikan anda berkemenangan dan berkelimpahan untuk menegakkan kerajaanNYA diatas muka bumi.

Mitra Tuhan di market place yang luar biasa, sebelum saya mengakhiri sambutan utk ICCC indonesia news letter edisi bulan Juli 2015 ini, mewakili seluruh national board, kami menyampaikan terimakasih untuk seluruh doa, donasi dan partisipasi anda untuk ICCC-Indonesia Saya mengajak anda memperhatikan lembaran-lemabaran berikutnya edisi bulan Juli yang menarik ini. Sampai jumpa di edisi bulan depan dan Tuhan Yesus memberkati anda sekeluarga.

Umbu Pekuwali National President ICCC Indonesia www.iccc-indonesia.com

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MEMBERSHIP FEE

Bagi anda yang ingin bergabung dan member yang akan memperpanjang kartu keanggotaan anda untuk tahun 2015 agar segera menghubung Simon Aditan – V.P. Membership Domain (HP: +62816974647 atau email: simonaditan@yahoo.com Annual Membership Fee untuk tahun 2015 kategori Developing Nation menjadi Rp. 750.000 (tujuh ratus limapuluh ribu rupiah) dimana US$ 50 dikirim ke Kantor Pusat di Swedia sebagai syarat dan kewajiban International Membership

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7 Habits of a Successful Leader

By Ron Edmondson

Membership Fee dapat ditransfer ke rekening ICCC Indonesia atau FORUKIN dibawah ini, dan mengirimkan bukti transfernya dengan fax ke alamat yang tercantum pada halamn pertama kiri bawah dari Newsletter ini: Rekening Bank: CIMB NIAGA BANK Cabang Senen - Jakarta No. 200-01-00012-00-0 a/n : Forum Komunikasi Usahawan Kristen Indonesia (FORUKIN)

I’m a student of leadership. I am consistently talking to, interviewing and learning from leaders I believe have been successful—regardless of their vocational field. If they have honorable intentions (which I believe is necessary to be considered successful anyway), then I can learn from them.

I’ve observed a few common habits that successful leaders have that may, in my opinion, separate them from less successful leaders. I’m not sure you can eliminate any of them completely. Just a theory—I don’t know if I know any leaders I’d consider successful—or who I’d want to learn from—who wouldn’t have at least five or more of these habits.

Here are seven habits of successful leaders: Prioritizing each day—Every day we are flooded with opportunities. Some are good. Some are bad.

Some are best. You often won’t know until you try on some of them, but successful leaders strive every day to identify and do that which is the best

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use of their time. That means they learn to say “no” often.

Yielding to experience—Successful leaders know they must seek the input from others for continued success. There will always be someone with more experience in a subject. Many times that person will be someone the leader is supposed to be leading. Successful leaders surround themselves with people smarter than they are—especially in areas of their weaknesses. They are never afraid to ask, “Can you help me?” Pretending to have all the answers can destroy a leader. When a leader is willing to humble him or herself and solicit input, the team feels validated and the best answer is discovered.

Networking—Iron sharpens iron. The most successful leaders I know have a network of other successful leaders around them. They glean from each other, share war stories and help each other when needed. The sheltered leader will seldom reach his or her full potential. I’ve observed the best leaders I know having people they trust, whom they can call quickly and seek input.

Continuous learning—Successful leaders are sponges for new information. They are continually reading, taking notes and exploring different ways of doing things. They aren’t afraid to take a risk on something new.

Maintaining health—Successful leaders learn to balance the demands on them by remaining healthy physically, mentally, spiritually and relationally— as much as it depends on them. No one can escape sudden tragedy or the trials of life, but successful leaders weather those storms by being as prepared as possible before they arrive. That requires discipline. To eat—at least—moderately well. To exercise. To rest. To pray.

Willing to make hard decisions—Successful leaders don’t allow fear, intimidation or friendship to keep them from making the right decisions for the organization they lead. Leading doesn’t always Page 3

make a person popular, but successful leaders care more about the greater purpose than their personal advancement. They have courage.

Commitment to a higher purpose—Successful leaders are striving for something bigger than themselves—bigger than the reality of today. For me personally, this is my passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but successful leaders are willing to endure the loneliness of leadership, the stress of leading and the pressure to perform at higher levels because they believe in something worth the fight.

Os Hillman Let me pose a question to you. I want you to think for a moment about the most significant Christians who have impacted the world for Christ in the last 100 years. Write them down. Name four or five off the top of your head. Don’t read on until you do this for me. Then come back.

Now, look at the list. How many of those were full-time vocational ministry workers and how many were workplace Christians? My guess is your list is made up of mostly vocational ministry workers. People like Billy Graham, Rees Howells, George Mueller, Bill Bright, D.L. Moody or even Mother Theresa.

My point is, where are the men and women of faith impacting the world from the workplace?

Why aren’t we seeing them in the list? Absent are men like Jeremiah Lanphier (NY City revivals of 1857), RG LeTourneau (construction business who impacted many for Christ), William Wilberforce (England’s statesman who demolished slavery) or Arthur Guinness, an

entrepreneur who changed the society in Ireland and England at the turn of the century.

Ed Silvoso has provided a thoughtful look at four types of Christians in the workplace in his book Anointed for Business. He cites the following four categories: 1. Christian who is simply trying to survive.

2. Christian who is living by Christian principles.

3. Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. Christian who is transforming their workplace for Christ.

The Christian who is simply trying to survive Our first category is best described as a person who has no purpose or zeal for their work or life.

They have not seen the power or presence of God in their work life. Solomon describes this person: So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. (Eccl 2:20-23).

This person most likely has a segmented life.

Their faith like is segmented from their work life.

The lack purpose and meaning and have little direction. They go to work to collect a paycheck and most likely their work is reduced to collecting a paycheck at the end of the week. They have never heard the voice of God in their life and would never consider praying during or for a workplace related issue. They go to church, but they see church as another place to do something for God. In the final analysis, this person is a defeated Christian simply trying to survive.

The world is full of surviving Christians. They are waiting for the lifeboat of salvation to take them off this “evil planet.” In fact, George Barna says that in America we have 35 -40% of the population who claim to be born again. However, Page 4

if you had forty percent of market share of your industry how much influence would you have over that industry? Coca-Cola has a 40% market share in the soft drink industry. Do you think they carry a lot of clout? You bet they do.

In a survey done by the Gallup organization in 1983 they measured the work habits of church going people compared to non-church going people. What they found was no significant difference between the morality and ethics of nonbelievers and Christians. Christians were as likely to steal company supplies, cheat on taxes and call in sick as the non-Christian. Category 1 is a large segment of the Christian population.

The Christian who is living by Christian principles But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law (Gal 5:18).

The second type of Christian in the workplace is the Christian who is living by Christian principles. America is a society that loves programs and systems to do things. We find 12step programs and books that claim 7 steps to loose weight or 10 Ways to a Better Marriage as guaranteed formulas to achieve our goals. For some, this type programmed teaching is helpful. It gives them a track to run on. Christian authors use acrostics to help their audiences grasp key concepts. Let’s face it, if the whole world lived on Christian principles we would definitely have a better world.

The Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father" (Rom 8:14-16).

The key characteristic of a Level 3 Christian is best exemplified as one who has a heart toward God that hears the voice of God in every aspect of their life. They have moved past the Greek system and operate in the Hebraic model as the early church did. They understand that their life in Christ is a result of the love of God born in their

hearts. They understand the grace of God and relate to God in loving obedience. Level 3 Christians know the importance of developing a heart toward God through prayer, study of the Word of God and obedience. They realise these are the three core ingredients to experiencing the power of God in their lives.

The Christian who is transforming their workplace for Christ The Level 4 Christian is one who is transforming their workplace for Christ. Level 4 Christianity is a byproduct or fruit of Level 3. You can only transform your workplace if you are moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Rarely did he speak of salvation as much as the Kingdom of God. Certainly, salvation was included in the Kingdom of God, but it included much more. Jesus mentioned the Kingdom of God 70 times in the New Testament (NKJV).

"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven� (Matt 6:9-10).

When we talk of transformation we are talking about bringing the Kingdom of God upon the workplace and society. The early disciples understood this.

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (Mark 16:17-18).

"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done- by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit". (Rom 15:18-19).

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You see the supernatural was part of the normal Christian life. Here are some examples of individuals who are transforming their workplaces for Christ.

Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman in New York City who asked God to do something significant in his life in 1857. In a small darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome" that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this businessman to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He began a businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, 1857. The meetings began slowly, but within a few months, 20 noonday meetings were convening daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the New York Herald issued articles of revival. It had become the city's biggest news. Now a full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York.

By spring of 1858, 2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in Philadelphia, the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent meeting. Meetings were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one man stepped out. Annus Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun. This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long considered the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had started on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin.

R.G. LeTourneau, a businessman from the United States, wrestled with the secular versus full-time Christian work idea. LeTourneau was a successful businessman in the early 1900s that

recounts the turning point in his understanding of how God desires to use business for His glory. His pastor one day said to him, "You know, brother LeTourneau, God needs businessmen as well as preachers and missionaries." "Those were the words that guided my life ever since," said LeTourneau. "I repeat them in public at every opportunity because I have discovered that many men have the same mistaken idea I had of what it means to serve the Lord. My idea was if a man was going all out for God, he would have to be a preacher, or evangelist, or a missionary, or what we call a full-time Christian worker. I didn't realize that a layman could serve the Lord as well as a preacher. I left the parsonage in sort of a daze.

If God needed businessmen, he could certainly find a lot better material than a dirt-mover with a lot of debts piled up in the garage business. But I said, 'All right, if that is what God wants me to be, I'll try to be His businessman.'" LeTourneau later became known for his generosity for giving 90% of his income to Christian causes.

Hotel Owner Transforms His Workplace. Ed Silvoso, author of Anointed for Business, tells the story of a Philipino business man who owned a hotel chain. God saved this man and began an amazing transformation that led to a major transformation in his large scale hotel. This man owned a 1600 room hotel in three buildings. The hotel had become a haven for prostitution with the rooms being used as many as five times a day.

The 2,000 employees had a primary clientele of prostitutes. There were more than 3,000 prostitutes. One of Silvoso's associates shared with the owner a formula for winning the lost. So, the owner of the hotel went out and hired 40 pastors and told them to follow these instructions.

Speak peace to the wolves. Bless those who curse you.

Eat and drink with the sinners. Become their friends.

Pray for them and their needs.

These were the strict orders. They were not to share the gospel until these three requirements were met for two years. The net result of Page 6

following these three rules was that all 2,000 employees got saved and the hotel was upgraded to executive level which removed the prostitution because the rates became too high. A prayer chapel was added with 24/7 prayer for anyone by dialing 7 on the telephone. Two years later 10,000 guests had received the Lord on this property.

Now that is transformation!

Start asking God to help you see how to transform your workplace today.

VISI DAN TUJUAN

ICCC International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) lahir dari kepatuhan terhadap visi yang diberikan selama kurun waktu enam tahun kepada seorang usahawan Swedia J. Gunnar Olson, yang diteguhkan dengan nubuatan dan terbukanya pintu kesempatan disekitarnya yang sebelumnya tertutup.

ICCC merupakan panggilan yang serius dan menantang bagi pengusaha Kristen untuk mengenali jaman yang sedang kita masuki dan dengan terang dari pengenalan itu memasuki dimensi iman yang baru yang disediakan bagi mereka yang …” takut akan TUHAN … berbicara satu sama lain … dan menghormati namaNya.” (Maleakhi 3: 16) Visi ini memanggil para pengusaha dan kaum profesi di seluruh dunia yang terbeban untuk saling berhubungan, bertukar pendapat, memperdagang-kan barang dan menyediakan jasa, saling mendukung dan menguatkan secara rohani dan materi. Berdasarkan eksistensi dari visi itu sendiri memproklamirkan otoritas Kristus yang mutlak diseluruh dunia.

Pada intinya ICCC adalah kehendak TUHAN untuk memperluas tali kasih-Nya, melalui gereja-Nya, didalam dunia usaha. Hal ini menuntut para pelaku bisnis mencari terlebih dahulu Kerajaan-Nya dan segala Kebenaran-Nya. Urapan tersedia bagi mereka yang dengan mata melihat dan telinga mendengar panggilan jaman.

Sebagaimana halnya Raja Daud yang menerima urapan untuk menjadi raja, jauh sebelum dia menjadi Raja, yang keadaan pada saat urapan diberikan sama sekali tidak mungkin bagi Daud untuk menjadi Raja, demikianlah ICCC memanggil para pengusaha Kristen sebelum peristiwanya terjadi untuk mengalami kebebasan masuk ke dalam dimensi baru, dimana sasaran, strategi dan perencanaan bersama-sma diwujud-nyatakan sesuai dengan iman di dalam Kristus.

ICCC mencanangkan panggilan itu sejalan dengan rencana TUHAN bagi jaman ini sebagai kunci memperoleh berkat dan pertumbuhan dan agar dapat bangkit berkemenangan diatas gelombang ombak yang mengancam.

Panggilan ICCC: “Mereka akan menjadi milik kesayanganKu sendiri, firman TUHAN semesta Alam pada hari yang Kusiapkan. Aku akan mengasihi mereka sama seperti seseorang menyayangi anaknya yang melayani dia.

Maka kamu akan melihat kembali perbedaan antara orang benar dan orang fasik, antara orang yang beribadah kepada TUHAN dan orang yang tidak beribadah kepadaNya.” (Maleakhi 3: 17-18)

KEYAKINAN IMAN ICCC: 

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Satu-satunya TUHAN pencipta segala sesuatu dalam kesatuan Trinitas: Bapa, Anak, dan Roh Kudus.

Keilahian TUHAN Yesus Kristus. Kelahiran-Nya dari rahim seorang Perawan. Karya penebusan dosa manusia melalui kematian-Nya diatas kayu salib. Kebangkitan-Nya. Hak otoriatas diri-Nya atas dunia dan Kedatangan-Nya yang kedua kali dalam Kuasa dan Kemuliaan-Nya.

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Alkitab, sepenuhnya sebagai Firman TUHAN yang mem8berikan inspirasi dan berbagai peraturan bagi kehidupan yang dilandasi iman.

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Keselamatan pribadi orang berdosa dan kebutuhannya untuk mengalami proses regenerasi melalui8 karya Roh Kudus dalam menuju menjadikannya sebagai manusia yang dikehendaki oleh TUHAN, seutuhnya.

Transformed Working Life (TWL) adalah Pelatihan resmi dari Kantor Internasional bagi anggota ICCC dalam memperlengkapi anggota dengan pengetahuan dan pemahaman latar belakang, tujuan dan penerapan prinsip-prinsip Kerajaan TUHAN bagi dunia bisnis dan profesi.

TWL diperuntukkan bagi anggota dan dapat diikuti secara Cuma-Cuma, namun terbuka juga bagi siap2a saja yang berminat untuk mengikutinya.

TWL

diselenggarakan dalam bahasa Indonesia dan dilengkapi dengan buku panduannya, yang telah diterjemahkan kedalam Bahasa Indonesia juga, sehingga para peserta betul-betul akan memperoleh manfa’at yang besar dan mengalami transformasi dalam kehidupan pribadi maupun bisnisnya.

TWL difasilitasi oleh anggota National Board yang terlatih dan dikoordinir oleh V.P. Teaching: Benjamin B. Juwono bersama dengan Teaching Team: Johanis S. Najoan dan Eliezer H. Hardjo Transformed Working Life (TWL) akan ditayangkan dalam salah satu channel di Indonesia agar dapat dimanfaatkan oleh para pebisnis & profesional Kristiani di Indonesia bagaimana menerapkan prinsip-prinsip Kerajaan Tuhan dalam kehidupan berbisnis dan bekerja mereka.

TWL bagi members secara rutin diadakan pada hari Sabtu ke 2 setiap bulan dan terbuka dan dianjurkan bagi semua member untuk mengikutinya sebagai pembekalan wajib.

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where He is telling the, how to go to these towns to prepare His ministry there. But look at verses 17 - 20 where they return…

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

“Be Still and Know” Mike Harris As I write this, the temperatures are starting to drop, at least in this area.

Summer has been ferocious, intense heat.

There is one heat that never seems to wear off though, and that is the heat of spiritual battle for the Lord. How often we forget that when God starts using us, Satan’s hatred towards us becomes greater and he tries more and more to bring us down.

Let’s look at Luke chapter 10 for a minute. Jesus is about to go out to visit several different towns and sends 72 of His disciples to go ahead of Him. The first part of this chapter, up to chapter 17 is Page 8

Here, Jesus gives them a check-up. A true reality check about what has been going on and what they have been experiencing. Imagine what they are going through. They are ecstatic and overjoyed in the fact that even demons submit to them in His name. I can imagine that they were full of adrenaline as you and I both would be. But notice in the last two verses, Jesus points them right back to that power, and authority…Jesus Christ Himself, who is God in the flesh.

Most all of us at some point in our Christian walk have tried to witness to others about Jesus Christ, and lots of awesome things come out of that. So good are these things, we are amazed…but sometimes, something gets right in the middle of that conversation that just blows us out of the water and we are left wondering what in the world happened.

Sometimes people simply don’t want to hear it, sometimes they get downright rude and obstinate… even cursing at us or trying to cause physical harm to us. Think about

those situations and how, for the most part, that fleshly side of us wants to strike back and say or do whatever, taking it in our own hands and totally mess things up. When we stop letting Christ lead us, we’re lost when we try to do it on our own…exactly the point He made in those last two verses above. It can become one step forward, and two steps back and we can destroy every bit of testimony we have given if we choose to not let “Jesus take the wheel”.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that He can use us for, but just not “flying a jet for Christ”. Instead, we might find we are better suited to help the pilot in the plane until we get back on track and put Christ first. All is not lost when we get in this situation, He still loves us and still has plans for us, we just have to submit, and give Him the time in prayer, study of His word, and spiritual feeding through our Christian brother and sisters. Remember these verses…

Jet pilots in our armed forces aren’t sent right back in combat if they've been out of training for a couple weeks for whatever reason. There is a lot of intensity and precision in their training, and if their skills are dulled even slightly, if they become numb to it at all, it can mean the difference between life and death. They have to stay in an exact, particular and precise training regimen to do their jobs effectively.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

That’s no different than us. We have to be sharp. We have to know where the REAL spiritual authority comes from that enables us to do our work. If we fall out of our training, and become less in tune with Jesus Christ’s guidance for us, His authority over us, and haven’t kept His desires for us in our lives….we’re going out to battle without the full armor of God. Maybe we haven’t been getting spiritually fed at church like we ought to. Maybe we haven’t been in prayer talking to Him and asking for guidance and direction. Maybe we haven’t been in His word, studying it like that pilot studies textbooks. It is then that we won’t be focused enough to do the tasks Christ really intends for us…and that should be our ultimate goal. He laid down His life for us….we use our lives for Him. Page 9

John 5:15 15The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

If we always remember that He is our strength and that only through Him we are made whole, those difficult tasks won’t be so difficult. Holding your tongue won’t be so hard. Love will come easier that hate.

Fear will not have a place in you. As soon as we think we can rely on our own strength and wisdom to figure things out and what He is doing…we set ourselves up for failure. No matter how hard things get, if we keep Him as our only hope, it all falls in to place how HE wants it to, and a lot of times, it’s not how we thought things would end up! Let’s shut our mouths, open our ears, and fill our heart and soul with Jesus.

Things won’t come to us on our time if we truly want His will. Part of the waiting period is the WANTING to wait in order that His will is done. Keep Him first, above all other things. Be still and know.

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