ICCC NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2010

BERITA ICCC INDONESIA 2010 Edisi Nopember Untuk kalangan sendiri

BERITA INTERN UNTUK ANGGOTA DAN KOMUNIKASI BAGI KALANGAN DUNIA BISNIS DAN PROFESI KRISTEN

ICCC ADALAH MIMBAR DIMANA PESAN KRISTUS BAGI KITA DI ZAMAN INI DIJABARKAN, DIBAGIKAN DAN DINYATAKAN TERHADAP DUNIA BISNIS

NATIONAL BOARD Spiritual Counselor Pdm. Bunan Djambek National President Benjamin B. Juwono Vice Presidents:  Admin/Secretary Tonny Soetjoadi 

Finance/Treasurer: Manimbul L. Sitorus

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Membership/Mentoring/ Network Simon Aditan

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Teaching / Training Eliezer H. Hardjo Johanis S. Najoan Ridwan Naftali

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Business Development/ Micro-Enterprise Kristanta Dewara Rudolf A.S. Sinaga Johny Rempas Michael Albinus Agus Susanto Markus Christianto

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Intercessors Eddy S. Kristiawan Mohan U. Vasandani (Mrs.) Suzanna Suadi (Mrs.) Josephine S. Sitorus (Ms.) Hermina M. Usmany Paul Tapilatu

Kantor National 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. Email: js.najoan@gmail.com arfia@cbn.net.id, ehardjo@gmail.com

Saudara-saudara, Shalom ,selamat berjumpa kembali dalam Berita ICCC-Indonesia 2010.

Indonesia kembali berduka dengan serentetan bencana ,baik kecelakaan lalulintas, yaitu tabrakan kereta api Argo Bromo dan Senja Utama, kemudian meletusnya Gunung Merapi dan tsunami di Mentawai akhir Oktober yang lalu.

Selain itu, cuaca ekstrem yang sedang kita alami akan berdampak cukup banyak di sektor pertanian dan perikanan. Para ahli pertanian meramalkan bahwa di tahun depan,harga-harga bahan pangan akan meningkat dikarenakan supply yang menurun cukup banyak yang disebabkan gagal panen di sektor pertanian dan berkurangnya tangkapan ikan.

Dunia kita sedang diperhadapkan dengan krisis pangan seiring dengan meningkatnya jumlah manusia di bumi ini. Apakah kita sedang menuju kepada suatu keadaan seperti yang disebut dalam kitab Wahyu 6 : 6 ....secupak gandum sedinar,dan tiga cupak jelai sedinar ?

Dunia yang kita tinggali ini akan penuh sesak dengan manusia yang merambah dan berebut sumber daya alam secara tidak bijaksana.

Oleh karena dosa yang ada di dalamnya, manusia gagal menjadi pengelola bumi yang Tuhan ciptakan untuk kita. Manusia menjadi rakus, egois dan mengambil lebih banyak dari ukuran yang cukup.

Namun kita anak-anak Tuhan, seharusnya mengambil posisi yang berbeda dengan dunia ini. Lanjutan ayat Wahyu 6:6 tadi adalah ”.......tetapi janganlah rusakkan minyak dan anggur...” Minyak dan anggur melambangkan kuasa urapan Roh Kudus dan hadirat Tuhan. Minyak (zaitun) dan anggur selalu ada/tersedia di rumah orang Israel .

Jika kita senantiasa memperhatikan dan menjaga ”minyak dan anggur” dalam kehidupan kita masing-masing, niscaya kita akan senantiasa dicukupi oleh Bapa kita .

Kita harus mempercayai bahwa di waktu-waktu terakhir ini ,anak-anak Tuhan akan berperan sebagai pengelola lumbung-lumbungnya Tuhan untuk memberi makan banyak orang.

Untuk itu saya mengajak kita semuanya memahami dan memaknai waktu sekarang ini di mana kita hidup. Mari kita menjaga hidup kita, agar senantiasa berkenan kepadaNya . Hati adalah sumber kehidupan kita dan menjaga sikap hati adalah kunci keberhasilan hidup kita, sehingga apapun yang kita perbuat,kita perbuat dengan segenap hati kita seperti untuk Tuhan,bukan untuk manusia. (Kolose 3:23) Amin.

Tuhan Yesus memberkati.

Benjamin Bambang Juwono National President ICCC INDONESIA www.iccc-indonesia.com

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Psalm 128:

INTERNATIONAL Pada saat Berita ICCC Indonesia ini tiba di inbox anda, International General Conference (IGC) tahun ini yang bertepatan dengan hari jadi ICCC yang ke-25 dan IGM (International General Meeting), baru saja usai diadakan di Alicante, Spanyol yang baerlangsung dari tanggal 27 sampai dengan 30 Oktober 2010.

1, A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

2, For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3, Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4, Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5, The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6, Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Kami masih menunggu berita dari International Office dengan adanya perubahan struktur International Board yang baru dan akan kami laporkan kepada anda dalam edisi bulan Desember; bulan depan.

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FORUM ANGGOTA 

Sharing the Joy

Brother Mohan U. Vasandani sending the editor the following SMS: By the grace of the Lord, Nita and Sagar blessed with Baby Girl ... 48 cm ... 3.07 kg on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 6.42 a.m.. Grandpa Mohan Congratulation to you, the happiest Grandpa, and also to Nita and Sagar in welcoming Sophia, the baby princess, your newest member of family.

MEMBERSHIP FEE

Bagi anda yang akan memperpanjang kartu keanggotaan anda untuk tahun 2010 agar segera menghubungi Simon Aditan V.P. Membership melalui HP: 0816974647 atau email (simonaditan@yahoo.com)

Annual Membership Fee untuk tahun 2010 mengikuti peraturan International dalam kategori Developing Nation menjadi Rp. 600.000 dimana US$ 50 dikirim ke Kantor Pusat di Swedia sebagai syarat dan kewajiban International Membership Membership Fee dapat ditransfer ke rekening ICCC Indonesia atau FORUKIN dibawah ini, dan mengirimkan bukti transfernya dengan fax ke alamat yang tercantum paling bawah dari setiap halaman Newsletter ini: Rekening Bank: CIMB NIAGA BANK Cabang Senen - Jakarta No. 200-01-00012-00-0 a/n : Forum Komunikasi Usahawan Kristen Indonesia (FORUKIN).

Sophia, the baby princess and radiant face of happiest Grandpa Mohan with the first three grandprinces from his two sons.

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KONTAK BISNIS 1. Surya Delapan Mas Tonny Soetjoadi – Director Offices: 1. HWI Lindeteves 4th Floor, Block B No. 7 Jalan Hayam Wuruk Jakarta (Barat) 11180 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 6259625 Fax: 062 (21) 6259561 2. Taman Berdikari Santosa Block M No. 16 Jalan Pemuda Jakarta (Timur) 13220 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 4712821 & 91282388 Fax: 062 (21) 4718293 Line of Business: Distribution of Chladianpast Corrugated Roof & Flat sheet for Jakarta Metro & Outer Java and International market

Business Opportunity: Looking for bona-fide Sub-distributors all-over Indonesia as well as outside of Indonesia, preferably having vast networks & experiences in distribution of building materials.

Serious inquiry can be directed to Tonny Soetjoadi, Director (tonnystd@indo.net.id or mobile: +62811193202 2. HeavenSpring Consulting & Agencies Co. Eliezer Hernawan Hardjo Ph.D., CM Jalan Pegangsaan Indah Barat B I / 8 Pondok Gading Utama Jakarta 14250 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 4521141 Fax: 062 (21) 4533070 Mobile: (062) 815-13203415 E-mail: heavenspring.consulting@gmail.com, eliezer@heavenspring.com, ehardjo@gmail.com

Partners: 1. Institute of Certified Professional Managers – James Madison University, VA, USA 2. Corporate Turnaround Center Pte. Ltd., Singapore Line of Business: Business & Management Consulting (Seminar, Training & Consulting) Bagi member yang berminat untuk dicantumkan dalam kolom ini (free of charge) dimohon untuk meng-update data dan mengirim ke e-mail: ehardjo@gmail.com seperti contoh diatas  Nama Perusahaan  Person in Charge dan Contact person  Alamat lengkap termasuk no. telepon/fax dan email  Line of business  Specific products yang ingin ditawarkan (dengan foto kalau ada – yang di-compressed) (Kirimkan kutipan, artikel, kata-kata mutiara atau kisah pengalaman anda yang dapat memperkuat iman pembaca Newsletter ini kepada TUHAN baik itu berupa pengalaman pribadi maupun orang lain dengan ciri utama bisnis dan rohani)

The Joseph Principle: Flourish During Times of Famine Steve Scalici, CFP (r) Recently, I read the book of Genesis with my daughter, Hannah. I have been trying to read the book through my daughter's eyes.

Since she is eight (and a girl), it is a bit of stretch for me. Recently, we read about Joseph, the son of Jacob, and

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learned some valuable lessons. One lesson, in particular, was the importance of saving. I often call the discipline of saving "The Joseph Principle." If you do not know the story of Joseph, I highly recommend you read it beginning in Genesis 37. After a series of bad events, Joseph was ultimately put in command of Egypt.

So, Joseph knew Egypt was in the midst of an economic boom (part of the economic cycle).

Joseph told Pharaoh that for the next seven years they should save one-fifth (20%) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. This way, when the famine came, they would have enough food to survive the coming famine. The plan worked to perfection.

The reason Pharaoh placed Joseph in command of Egypt was because of the wisdom he displayed when Pharaoh needed to have his dreams interpreted. You see, as we see in Genesis 41:17-24, Pharaoh was having some odd dreams:

I cannot help but think about our own economy and how it parallels this story. We just came out of a time of great abundance, and now we are in a tougher time. Those that stored up provisionally during the boom time are not really affected by what's going on right now. They are barely affected by any economic slowdown. Those that did not have the foresight to store up for the coming famine are faring much worse.

So Pharaoh told him the dream. "I was standing on the bank of the Nile River," he said.

"Suddenly, seven fat, healthy-looking cows came up out of the river and began grazing along its bank. But then seven other cows came up from the river. They were very thin and gaunt-in fact.

I've never seen such ugly animals in all the land of Egypt. These thin, ugly cows ate up the seven fat ones that had come out of the river first, but afterward they were still as ugly and gaunt as before! Then I woke up. A little later I had another dream. This time there were seven heads of grain on one stalk, and all seven heads were plump and full. Then out of the same stalk came seven withered heads, shrivel led by the east wind. And the withered heads swallowed up the plump ones! I told these dreams to my magicians, but not one of them could tell me what they mean."

Pharaoh asked everyone but God to help him interpret the dreams. No one could help, until Joseph came as an agent for God and could interpret Pharaoh's dreams.

Joseph told Pharaoh the seven healthy cows (think Angus beef) represented seven years of harvest. The seven gaunt cows (probably the kind of cows they use to make Steak) represented seven years of famine.

This is a great reminder that economic cycles have been going on for thousands of years and are actually normal. Economies go up and they go down. We have seen this here in the United States. In the past 70 years, the US has had 12 recessions averaging about 10 months each. In the past 70 years, there have been 840 months.

About 120 of those months were spent in recession. In the other 720 months, the economy grew.

So what practical wisdom can we glean from all this?

First, it's always best to rely on God. Joseph always relied on God. Even during his toughest time, he always depended on God. His faith never wavered. When you think of the "heroes of the faith" we often think of Paul, Moses, Abraham, Mary, and Martha among others.

However, it's rare that we think of Joseph. I think this is a mistake. Joseph was a man of incredible faith. He was sold by his brothers into slavery, wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit, and forgotten by his friend.

However, he never lost his faith. As a result, he was eventually rewarded by Pharaoh. Pharaoh put him in command of Egypt, gave him his special ring and even put him in robes of fine linen (paraphrased Genesis chapter 41 and 42) Second, we need to leverage what we have for God and for others.

God doesn't bless us because of our worthiness or for our benefit alone. Pursuant to Joseph's obedience to God's wisdom, Egypt could produce enough grain for itself and for its neighbouring countries. In his book, the Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn says "God prospers from me not to increase my standard of living, but rather my standard of giving."

Finally, Biblical wisdom is timeless. Even though Joseph lived about 3,500 years ago, his advice works as well today as it did during his time. This is because his wisdom was given to

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him by God, the creator of everything. Joseph understood that all good advice comes from God. In the end, we can all learn from Joseph and make it a habit to depend on God and seek his wisdom during both times of prosperity and famine.

servanthood begins with a secure leader (John 13:3). Jesus knew His position and was willing not to flaunt it. He knew His calling, and was willing to be faithful to it. He knew His future and was willing to submit to it. He had nothing to prove, nothing to lose and nothing to hide. He was into towels not titles.

Steve Scalici is a Certified Financial PlannerTM with Treasure Coast Financial. He is co-host of God's Money, which can be heard on the internet at www.oneplace.com . You can contact Steve at steve@tcfin.com .

2. Let your purpose prioritize your life.

(Luke 19:10, Matthew 6:33)

The Top Ten Leadership Principles of Jesus

“Father, I have glorified you on earth, having accomplished the purpose you have given Me to do (John 17:4).”

In many ways, the entire life and ministry of Jesus was about setting priorities and living by them.

When He said, “Let the dead bury their own dead,” Jesus spoke to the need to not be distracted from the real and most important goal, even those emergency situations that claim our attention (Matthew 8:22). When His friend Lazarus died, he stayed focused on what He was doing, and didn’t leave to visit him for two days. He was a man on a mission (Luke 9:51).

Leadership must be driven, not by the whims of people but by your God-given purpose.

3. Live the life before you lead others.

(Luke 7:22, John 14:11)

Jesus is the ultimate leader. During His life on earth, he turned three years of ministry into a worldwide movement that changed history. Today, more people follow Him than any other leader in the world. As a model leader, Jesus practiced the most vital principles of leadership—and he provides an example for us to imitate. Here are some observations…

1. Leadership is servanthood.

(Mark 8:35, Matthew 20:25) “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) At the last supper, Jesus modeled servanthood by washing His disciples feet—including Judas Iscariot, the one who would betray Him! He showed us that

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good, the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings for what is evil” (Matthew 12:35) Jesus taught us to put “being” before “doing.” At one point, John the Baptist sent a question to Jesus: “Are You the coming One, or do we look for another?”

Jesus could have answered indignantly. Instead, He said, “Go, and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear and the gospel is preached to the poor (Luke 7:22).” Jesus let His actions speak for Him. He knew that people do what people see, not necessarily what they hear.

4. Impact comes from relationships not positions. (John 4:5-30, 8:1-11) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(John 13:34-35)

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Jesus knew the importance of relationships. He did not set up a throne in the middle of each city and say, “This is my palace. This is the only place you can see Me.” He went to the marketplace. He went to the boats of fishermen. He went to the synagogue. He went to the homes of people. He went everywhere. He “went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere (Luke 9:6).”

5. Leaders must replenish themselves.

(Mark 3:7-10, Luke 4:42-43) “Come yourselves out apart into a desert place, and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) Life is demanding. People are demanding. The more you succeed, the more you lead, and the more people will demand of you. Replenishing yourself requires your attention. Many times, Jesus would leave a crowd of people—the very people He was sent to serve—and depart into a place of solitude. He knew that times of solitude with His Father in heaven would enable Him to regain perspective and refuel Himself for what was to come. If Jesus needed to replenish Himself, how much more do we need to as well!

6. Great leaders call for great commitment.

(John 6:53, Matthew 16:24) “And He summoned the multitude with the disciples and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up His cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save His life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it (Mark 8:3435).”

Jesus had the greatest product on earth: salvation.

He offered the human race an opportunity to have a relationship with God. He spoke of heaven and angels, joy and peace, and mansions in glory. But, He never painted a distorted picture. He warned His disciples of persecution. (Matthew 10:17) He cautioned them about afflictions. (Matthew 24:9) He spoke of loneliness. (Matthew 8:20) Jesus continually prepared His followers for the tough times.

7. Leaders show security and strength when handling tough issues.

(Luke 20:20-26, Matthew 22:23-46)

a third time… Then, He came to the disciples, and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand! (Matthew 26:44-46) Jesus handled tough issues, by…     

Rising early and gaining perspective.

Remaining calm during difficult times.

Agreeing with His adversary quickly.

Handling wrongdoing immediately.

Finishing what He started.

8. Great leaders lead on a higher level.

(John 16:33, Matthew 16:24) “In the world the Gentiles lord it over one another, but it shall not be so among you…” (Matthew 20:25) Jesus led on a higher level than others, and called for a higher commitment from His followers. Jesus demonstrated leadership that was never satisfied with mediocrity.

Leaders do not merely get by, and maintain what has already been.

Jesus knew credibility comes from solving problems. His leadership surpassed normal expectations. Despite His own lowly beginnings, He led people to a life they could never achieve on their own.

9. Leaders choose and develop their key people. (Luke 10:1, Matt. 10:1) “Jesus chose the twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14) Effective leaders know their success is impacted by those who are closest to them. They do not leave this issue to chance. They select who will be on their team, and pay close attention to who will play crucial roles on that team. Jesus never took a vote; He made deliberate choices about everything, and even stayed up all night praying before He chose His disciples. He consistently challenged people to take deeper steps on commitment to the cause of the Kingdom.

Principles of Jesus’ plan of team building included selection, impartation, delegation, supervision and reproduction.

“And He left them again, and went away and prayed

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10.

Great leaders know that there is no success without a successor. (Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21-22) “The works that I do, you shall do, and greater works, because I go to the Father…” (John 14:12) Almost from the first day He was with them, Jesus told His followers that he would be with them only a short time. From time to time they argued with Him about the limited tenure He described, but He continued to reiterate that it was right for Him to go. From the beginning, He prepared them for life when He was gone. He modeled how to depend on the Holy Spirit and impact others.

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: Eliezer H. Hardjo bersama dengan Teaching Team: Johanis S. Najoan dan Ridwan Naftali

Apa itu ICCC?

Jesus IDEA of mentoring: I – Instruction in a life related context. He taught them with his words.

D – Demonstration in a life related context. He taught them by His example.

E – Experience in a life related context. He taught them with their own experience.

A – Assessment in a life related context. He taught them through evaluating their growth.

“Jesus said, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Forum dimana pesan Kristus untuk zaman ini dijabarkan, disampaikan dan dinyatakan kepada Dunia Bisnis

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 siapa saja yang berminat untuk mengikutinya.

ICCC adalah badan yang independen dan inter-denominasi, bukan menjadi bagian dari suatu gereja tertentu namun ikut melayani gereja yang membutuhkan pelayanan ICCC. ICCC berkantor Pusat di Orebrö Swedia dan saat ini telah berada di sekitar 65 negara di lima benua.

ICCC Indonesia melakukan berbagai kegiatan dan pelayanan baik terhadap anggota, maupun terhadap dunia bisnis khususnya dalam lingkungan Kristiani.

Undanglah kami untuk memberikan presentasi mengenai visi, misi dan tujuan ICCC bagi dunia bisnis dan profesi

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VISI, MISI 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 gerejaNya, didalam dunia usaha. Hal ini menuntut para pelaku bisnis mencari terlebih dahulu KerajaanNya dan segala Kebenaran-Nya.

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 kepada-Nya.” (Maleakhi 3: 17-18)

KEYAKINAN IMAN ICCC: 

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

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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 memberikan inspirasi dan berbagai peraturan bagi kehidupan yang dilandasi iman.

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

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 diwujudnyatakan 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.

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God's Word says it and that settles it regardless of your belief system! And that irrepressible law of reciprocity is one such case. It operates whichever direction you turn.

The Law of Sowing and Reaping

Since this principle can never be outsmarted or overruled, we should learn how to live in such a way to make it work for our advantage. And it can work for our advantage. The law of sowing and reaping doesn't just operate to warn or correct us it operates in many positive ways.

Galatians 6:7-10 (Transition) That means we can and should learn how to implement the law of reciprocity for our benefit. That's what I want to spend the majority of our time investigating in this message—how to implement the law of sowing and reaping positively. As we'll discover in point one, To positively incorporate the law of reciprocity we must sow righteous seeds.

By Robert D. Pace

I. To Positively Incorporate the Law of Reciprocity You Must Sow Righteous Seeds

(Illustration) Years ago a mother and daughter were planting a flower garden in the backyard.

The mother carefully buried the seeds in a neatly configured pattern until the phone rang. As she ran inside to answer it her little daughter carefully continued the tedious process of lining up the seeds. That is, until she spilled the tray of seeds. She was afraid of what her mother would say when she saw the mess she created so the little girl quickly covered the seeds with dirt and continued as if nothing had happened. When the mother returned she noticed the seeding proceeded unusually fast so she asked if the directions were followed. The daughter assured mom they were. But when Spring arrived it flourished with another answer.

The Bible sets forth an irrevocable law that we cannot ignore. It doesn't matter if you're nine or ninety-nine. That law is found in our text in Galatians 6 that says: "whatever is sown is reaped!"

You've heard the adage, "If God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!" That's a good faithbuilding maxim, but, there are times when

Everybody constantly gives. Whether it's voluntarily or compulsory, properly or improperly, everyone gives and the seed planting process never ends. The art to mastering life involves what type of seed we will plant.

Listen to our text once again: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (8) The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (GAL 6:7-8).

That Scripture is both dreadful and wonderful.

When you apply the law of reciprocity positively it brings beneficial results; when you apply it negatively it brings detrimental consequences. What's really frightening is, as free moral agents, God often lets us sow seeds without interfering: He stood back and watched Adam and Eve partake of the forbidden tree. And death instantly attacked them.

He permitted Moses to disobey and strike the rock twice. And Moses didn't enter Canaan.

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He willingly let King Saul ignore Samuel's warning and offer the sacrifice. And Saul lost his kingdom.

He didn't interfere when David disobediently transported the Ark of the Covenant. And a priest was struck dead trying to steady the falling Ark. (Example) God doesn't always intrude upon our planting, but He always orders the consequences. You can leap from a sixty story skyscraper and halfway down ask God's forgiveness. You may get pardon but you won't get a parachute. The law of gravity working with the law of sowing and reaping is inescapable.

When we understand this law is fixed and nonnegotiable we have to determine something.

How will we let this law effect us? We can't amend this unalterable law so our recourse should be simple: employ it to our benefit. And that's done by sowing seeds of righteousness.

We should plant with spiritual seeds that have God's life pulsating within them. That's why God said in Hosea 10:12 "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love" (NIV).

Sometime back Pastor Jack Hayford shared some valuable insight about giving. He explained five ways we can give: Hayford said we should: give up, give in, give over, give to, and forgive. (The Key To Everything, Jack Hayford, Creation House, 1993, page 29.) Giving is the secret to living.

There are times to give up, not in resignation or despair, but surrendering to pride and self-righteousness.

There are times to give in and recognize Christ's lordship and submit to His kingdom principles.

There are times to give over to God and let His presence and power handle the situation.

There are times to give to and assist another's welfare.

There are times to forgive and release animosity or a festering grudge or the anger that's been seething within.

That type giving will always produce a harvest of righteousness. We'll know what it means to live the "abundant life" Jesus spoke of.

But here's our fear: We think obeying God's command to give means reducing our tangible worth, diminishing our social welfare, and in short, possessing less in life. Nothing could stray further from God's revelation.

We give up pride and self-centeredness to receive Christ's image.

We give in to God incomparable plan.

to receive

His

We give over to God to receive His delivering, sea-splitting, fire-quenching, mountain-moving intervention.

We give to His purposes to receive His blessing multiplied back many-fold.

We forgive others of their offenses to receive God's unconditional forgiveness toward us.

(Transition) When we sow seeds of righteousness two things occur: One, we establish Christ's Lordship in our life and, two, we increase our capacity to receive.

II. Giving Recognizes Christ's Lordship and Increases Our Capacity to Receive God's command to give isn't designed to strip away our resources. And that's precisely what Satan wants us misunderstanding. Everything about Satan's strategy aims at usurping Christ's lordship and limiting your capacity to receive from God's bounty. That was his intention in the Garden of Eden.

God told Adam and Eve they could eat anything they wanted except from the tree of "the knowledge of good and evil." Think about it.

God wasn't depriving them of prosperity. The entire world was theirs. The core issue was this: God wanted Adam and Eve understanding they were answerable to Him and recognize His supreme lordship over all creation. And all they had to do was treat one tree as sacrosanct and untouchable! If they submitted to His command they would govern the rest of the world. That's a pretty good tradeoff!

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This is not some obsolete principle that applied to Adam and Eve, it's a powerful and eternal principle that applies to everyone here. God wants people today to recognize His sovereignty and lordship. He want them to understand He has set boundaries that shouldn't be crossed!

There are "thou shall nots" to be observed.

There are dead-end and even deathly roads of this world that should be avoided.

There are destructive behavioral traits that should not be part of our character.

And when people persist in breaking Scripture's "thou shall nots," and speeding down forbidden paths, and in practicing immorality, lying, drunkenness, outbursts of anger, arguing, and the like it only leads to ruin! There is never a pleasant surprise or good ending when we live outside the boundaries God has placed for us.

God doesn't set boundaries for us to suppress us into a place of misery. His commandments always have a two-fold purpose. They teach us to recognize His lordship and they bring us into a place to receive His blessing.

Jesus wants us to understand something about our sowing and giving. Giving enlarges our capacity to receive. The harvest of one seed is always many times greater than the seed.

There's a message God wants to get across when He encourages us to sow seeds of righteousness. It's this: God's grace and goodness and blessings are often returned in direct proportion to your sowing. That's what Jesus said in Luke 6:38: "by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Frugal sowing produces a frugal harvest.

Abundant sowing produces an abundant harvest.

Maybe you've been wondering when I would get to this passage of Scripture. Well, let's turn to Malachi 3 and read: Malachi 3:6-9 If you interpret that from a legalistic, "God just wants your money" perspective you'll miss that He's again trying to (1) establish His lordship and (2) expand your capacity to

receive. Here's what God means when He says: "you have robbed Me by withholding your tithes and offerings": Like those holy, forbidden-to-touch trees in the Garden of Eden there's a tenth of your earning that is "holy" and belongs strictly to God. We shouldn't touch it! When we neglect His command to give we repudiate His lordship, submit to Satan's, and accept the lie that says: "You can't survive without keeping everything."

But it goes beyond that. When we squander our tithes and offerings it not only repudiates God's lordship it robs Him of the opportunity of tangibly blessing us.

Look at verse ten again: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (11) I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. (12) Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land."

When God asks for your tithes and offerings in this passage He's begging you not to rob Him of the privilege to rebuke the devourer, supply a bumper crop, and manifest His blessing evident enough for others to see! Again, our giving enlarges our capacity to receive!

And this leads us to another aspect of the law of reciprocity. We should plant, sow, and give with the goal of reaping! Perhaps that sounds carnal but give me an opportunity to explain because I'm not trying to reduce one of God's principles to a "get rich quick" scheme.

(Example) Every farmer has three intentions when he plants. First, he anticipates a harvest.

(Plowing and planting is difficult work and the farmer wants his labors rewarded.) Second, he anticipates a specific type of harvest. (If he wants corn he plants corn seed; if wants wheat he plants wheat seed, etc.) And third, he anticipates a specific size harvest. And the magnitude of the harvest abounds in proportion to the amount of seed that's planted.

So in short, the key to farmers reaping their

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desired harvest depends on (1) planting, (2) planting a specific type seed, and (3) planting the correct measure of seed.

There is one constant expectation at each of these three stages of farming. The farmer never stops believing that his labors will be rewarded. From the beginning he anticipates a harvest.

even after germinated!

thousands

of

years,

they

Please hear me. We must not accept the false and fatal notion that insists life is unaffected by human behavior. Don't you dare adopt that as your philosophy! We should have enough spiritual knowledge to know the Bible says there are consequences to every action.

And that's how we should live. We should always be ready to receive God's blessing when we obey His Word and sow ourselves or our service or our resources toward His purposes.

It's alright to release your faith to receive what God promises!

The problem with America is we've abandoned our founding father's moral compass—the Bible. And our great country is quickly eroding because the law of sowing and reaping is responding to the seeds of rebellion.

(Example) Have you ever notice how God measures our giving to Him with His giving toward us in Luke 6:38? Jesus talked about us giving only once but He mentioned us receiving from Him four times. Here's what Jesus said: "Give [that's the one time He spoke of our giving to Him] and it will be given to you. A [1] good measure, [2] pressed down, [3] shaken together and [4] running over, will be poured into you lap."

(Quote) Listen to this quote from Jim Morrison, a Presidential advisor of the Clinton administration. "I have always been attracted to those ideas that were about revolt against authority . . . I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos—especially activity that seems to have no meaning. It seem to me to be the road to freedom." (The Things That Matter Most, Cal Thomas, Harper Collins/Zondervan, 1993, page 6.)

You see, it's alright to release your faith to receive what God promises! It's not being humble to reject what God promises to do in response to your sowing. God wants to honor obedience to His Word because it ultimately honors His name.

No wonder America is in the shape it's in. And if God wouldn't let His chosen people, Israel, escape the consequences of her sowing to the wind He won't permit America to escape her's!

(Transition) Third, let's mention the inexorable nature of sowing and reaping. In other words, as dogmatically as the apostle Paul could state it he said in our text: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (8) The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (GAL 6:7-8).

III. The Inexorable Nature Of Sowing And Reaping God never plays favorites with the law of sowing and reaping. Nobody is special enough to elude its dreadful consequences. And that's why we should carefully choose which type seeds we will plant.

(Example) Awhile back excavators discovered seeds, thousands of years old, in Egypt's mummy tombs. And when they were planted,

I know America has a great legacy. No nation has eclipsed America's efforts for spreading the Gospel. No nation has done more to alleviate the pain of the poor and weak. But the testimony of Scripture clearly chronicles the consequences of violating God's commands. Noah's generation was destroyed by a flood. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire. The Canaanites, Babylon, and Jerusalem are all reminders of the comeback effect.

(Example) There are irrevocable consequences to our actions. Just think back to the "radical ‘60's" when we dismissed conventional Judeo-Christian values and enshrined social anarchy and free thinking.

Have there been consequences to the unbridled expression of drugs, sex, and reason? A generation later we're enduring a million and a half abortions annually; unbridled spread of sexual diseases; same-sex marriage contracts; 20,000 Americans murdered yearly; and the most morally divided nation in our 230 year history.

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(Example) Think about the sacred place the Hebrew Temple held with Israel. It symbolically represented everything about worshiping God. David had intricately plotted the Temple's architecture by the Spirit's inspiration (1CH 28:11) and then contributed over a billion dollars toward its construction. It contained hundreds of thousands of pounds of gold and silver. There was no monument more sacred to God than this Temple and its furnishings. Yet Jesus said the consequences of Israel's rebellion would result in its total destruction. And in 70 A.D. the Roman emperor Titus attacked Jerusalem, torched the Temple, and completely leveled it—not leaving one stone upon another.

I don't like to admit it. No, I hate to admit it.

But America will answer to God for the seeds of anarchy that have been sown. And I shudder to consider those consequences!

America desperately needs to return to the precepts of righteousness that were sown by the Pilgrims.

Terimakasih anda telah meluangkan waktu membaca Berita ICCC Indonesia ini dan silahkan mem-forward-nya ke rekan bisnis anda agar memperoleh berkat rohani yang sama.

Redaksi

Conclusion As I close this message I want to exhort this local body. I'm seriously concerned about today's church. I'm thankful for the move of God that is taking place in many American congregations, but I'm profoundly concerned about the general condition of the Church.

That's because many within the church assume they are exempt from reaping what they've sown; that there are no consequences to their actions. I can understand that the world doesn't understand this but not Christians!

Let us understand that God has ordained a standard by which we should live. As we submit to His lordship, His name will be honored and we will be blessed. But when we violate His commands, as surely as the sun rises, we will face the consequences of our actions.

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