Comprehending Christ

“Be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height.”
EPHESIANS 3:16-18

We have to come to know the breadth, length, depth, and height of HIM, and may I say that we will never come to the end of Him. But we do not search for anything as if we do not have it, nor do we hope to gain some new thing, for what we call “new” is simply that which has been seen for the first time. Thus, revelation is critical, for it unveils what we already have. Having the Son, we have All.

Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

My Treasures Await You

My Treasures Await You

My child, I have given you the ability to succeed in all that you do. There is nothing in this world that can stop you from succeeding in what you have set your mind to do. I have given you every tool and key necessary to defeat the enemy and to triumph continually over him.

Do not get tired of pouring out in love or stepping out in faith, again and again. It may seem that at times the breakthrough that you are looking for is not coming. However, if you push through, you will see the very thing that you have expected.

If you persevere, you will get to the prize that I have laid out ahead of you. You will reach the finish line that I told you that you will reach. You will walk into the Promised Land and you will gain the treasures that await you, says the Lord.

No Going Back

“If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
GALATIANS 5:18,25

In the wilderness you don’t follow your feelings. It says the children of Israel were led by a column of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the cloud moved then they moved. When the cloud stayed still then they stayed still. I mean it’s really as simple as that.

Walk in the Spirit. If you begin to be led by your feelings then you’ll make the wrong decision every time. Most of the time, the right decision doesn’t feel good. Doing the right thing is usually difficult. The easiest thing to do is to quit, to give up, to go back to Egypt. But I’m telling you, get to the place where going back is no longer an option – then going back is no longer a temptation.

Source: The Church in the Wilderness by Chip Brogden

Recognize My Love

Recognize My Love

How do you see My love for you? Yes, I am there for you when you are lost, discouraged or weary. I am your source of strength and encouragement, your strong tower and your refuge. My arms are always open to you. However, my love also allows you to encounter unexpected challenges or obstacles in order to strengthen your spiritual muscles, stretch your faith, and challenge your love.

My child, I love you too much to let you remain in comfort, but my love also desires you to fulfil the call that I have given you. You are a treasure and a gift, and one that is not meant to be hidden. So look at each one of your circumstances with knowledge that I am giving you an opportunity for you to shed the grave clothes of the old man, to put on the robes of a new creation.

Rejoice that as you embrace every challenge and overcome each obstacle, you are becoming more the image of Christ in each passing day.

An Anointed Head

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”
PSALM 23:1,5

An anointed head and a cup that runs over – this is the hallmark of the Christian. An anointed head exudes a heavenly fragrance that sets us apart from the world, even though we walk about in it daily. It is bearing the Testimony of Jesus that witnesses of a heavenly reality that is quite distinct from the earthly fact. The cup that runs over means we have an ample supply of the Life of the Lord. If we can contain ourselves then we have yet to touch the Lord. For once we have indeed touched the Lord we will overflow. We will not be able to contain Him.

All who walk with the Shepherd should experience Infinite Supply: a never-ending flow of the Life, Light, and Love of the Lord Jesus Himself. This is the normal Christian life, and it is God’s provision for every disciple.

Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

Unmerited Grace

Unmerited Grace

Just as Jacob wrestled with the angel, perhaps you sometimes wrestle within your own heart and mind before you see that no matter how much you fail or succeed, how good or bad you are, I have given you what you have, simply by my grace.

It was not when Jacob won the battle with the angel that he was blessed, but when he realized, even after being defeated, that he needed to hold on and not give up to receive my blessing that he finally received the blessing.

My child, it is not in your ability to win, to be the best or to prove your greatness to me that you will walk in my blessing. It is when you simply hold onto my promise of blessing to you and know that no matter what, by my unmerited grace and mercy, I will bestow my blessing upon you, says the Lord.

Two Made One

“Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
1 CORINTHIANS 6:16,17

One theme that constantly appears in Scripture is the believer’s spiritual union with Christ. This joining together is perfectly pictured in the illustration of the Ekklesia as the Bride of Christ. When Paul wished to encourage the Corinthians to “flee fornication,” he made a similar analogy but from a very different perspective.

The physical joining together of man and woman, whether in marriage or outside of marriage, has the effect of making them one flesh. Spiritually speaking, the Bride of Christ is joined to the Lord and is now one spirit with Him. This is an admittedly difficult point to get across – even Paul said this is a great mystery, and you do not usually find him to be at a loss for words when it comes to explaining something.

Source: The Irresistible Kingdom by Chip Brogden

His Yoke is Easy

“My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
MATTHEW 11:30

The Law of Life is more powerful and active than anything generated or maintained by self-effort. With self-effort I am always at the mercy of how I feel. If I feel spiritual then I can pray for hours at a time. But if I do not feel spiritual then I cannot even pray for five minutes.

This is why so many believers live their lives like a roller-coaster. They do not live according to principle, according to the Law of Life. Thinking it is up to them to become Christ-like, they turn an easy yoke and a light burden into a difficult yoke and a heavy burden – difficult and heavy for themselves, and for those who must live and work around them. The one who rests in Christ will produce more fruit than the one who strives with self-effort.

Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

Rest in My Strength

Rest in My Strength

Do you know that it is in the areas of weakness, that you actually see My strength in your life? So do not be afraid of the places that you are unsure, or you think is a weakness. Let yourself go to those places, and then let My strength fill you with the wisdom, and ability that can only come from Me. Trust that in any area that you think you cannot do, I can. Rest in the knowledge that with My strength, there is no mountain you cannot climb or obstacle you cannot overcome. Have confidence that as you allow Me to provide, that everyone will not see your weakness, but My strength through you!

Will He Find Faith?

By Chip Brogden

“When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
LUKE 18:8

This is perhaps one of the most intriguing questions Jesus ever put forth – from a human perspective it almost sounds as if He wonders about it Himself. There is no doubt that He will perform what He has promised to us; but will we perform what we have promised to Him? Can we patiently wait for Him to fulfill His Word, no matter how long it takes?

Rest assured that, “Now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). Two thousand years after His promise we are even closer to its fulfillment.

I Have not Come to Condemn

I Have not Come to Condemn

When you love the least among you, you have loved me, says the Lord. When you have poured out in love to those that seem the least deserving, you have shown my heart of grace to them.

It is not very hard to show my face and to reveal my nature to those around you. You simply need to give those around you my unconditional love and grace.

Cover a multitude of their sins. Tell them that I have forgiven them and that there is no more judgment or condemnation that is being passed upon them. For I have taken their sin upon myself and the judgment and punishment for it. Now, each one can receive my cleansing by faith and walk in righteousness as they believe in me.

In this, they will see my love for them and they will see that I indeed have not come to condemn them nor this world, but to save it, says the Lord.

Tuhan Selalu Ada Bagimu

Tuhan Selalu Ada Bagimu

Kita tahu sekarang, bahwa Allah turut bekerja dalam segala sesuatu untuk mendatangkan kebaikan bagi mereka yang mengasihi Dia (Roma 8:28)

Perjalanan hidup kita mungkin tidak selalu mudah, kita mengalami kehidupan yang naik turun bak roda yang berputar. Ada kalanya di atas tapi ada kalanya di bawah. Saat kita mengalami masa berada “di bawah” janganlah hal itu membuat kita menjadi depresi dan bahkan jatuh ke dalam berbagai kebiasaan buruk akibat mencoba lari dari kenyataan. Sebab kebiasaan buruk bukan saja dapat berdampak negatif bagimu tetapi juga keluargamu. Bila ada masalah datang berpalinglah pada Tuhan. Kesulitan hidup dapat menjadi tempat Tuhan mengajarkan kita suatu pembelajaran dalam kehidupan.

Dalam Ulangan 8:1-18 kita melihat bagaimana Bangsa Israel mendapatkan pelajaran rohani dari Tuhan. Di saat mereka mengalami dilemma mengenai masa depan mereka, mereka merasakan ketidakpastian, tidak memiliki tempat tinggal dan mengalami berbagai bahaya dalam perjalanan menuju Tanah Perjanjian. Namun kesulitan hidup yang mereka alami mengajarkan mereka untuk tetap rendah hati dan belajar mengandalkan Tuhan setiap waktu.

Saat mereka lapar maupun haus, mereka belajar untuk percaya bahwa Tuhan akan menyediakan bagi mereka meskipun dihadapan mereka hanya terdapat padang gurun yang luas. Tentunya sejauh mata memandang saat itu mereka merasa tidak ada pengharapan sama sekali. Empat puluh tahun Tuhan memimpin mereka melintasi padang gurun dan IA senantiasa mencukupkan kebutuhan mereka. Tuhan lebih dari mampu untuk memberkati kita di tengah masa yang sulit sekalipun.

Bagaimana keadaanmu saat ini? Bila hari ini kau mengalami keputusasaan ingatlah selalu bahwa Tuhan selalu ada bagimu. Setiap masalah yang Tuhan izinkan terjadi atas hidup kita bukanlah suatu kebetulan belaka tetapi di balik itu semua IA mau mengajarkan sesuatu pada kita. “TUhan turut bekerja dalam segala hal untuk mendatangkan kebaikan bagi kita dan demi kemuliaanNya”.

Doa: Tuhan berikan iman padaku untuk percaya padaMU senantiasa meski banyak masalah menghadang tetapi Tuhan selalu ada bersamaku. Amien

Bacaan Firman Tuhan: Ulangan 8:1-18

Tuhan Pemurah

Tuhan Pemurah

(TUhan) dapat melakukan jauh lebih banyak daripada yang kita doakan atau pikirkan (Efesus 3:20)

Bandung merupakan kota yang memiliki keunggulan wisata, salah satunya adalah wisata kuliner yang terkenal. Ada beragam jenis kuliner yang ditawarkan hingga memanjakan baik para wisatawan maupun penduduk kota Bandung. Ada begitu banyak restoran, café, pujasera dan kawasan kuliner lainnya yang menawarkan masakan-masakan lezat yang memanjakan lidah kita.

 Saya dan anak-anak menyukai beef steak, setiap kali memakan steak saya selalu teringat Oma tercinta. Saya ingat masa-masa yang indah dalam kebersamaan kami. Oma merupakan pemasak yang handal dan beliau paling tahu membuat sang cucu bahagia melalui aneka masakannya yang nikmat dan berlimpah. Melalui masakannya Oma mencurahkan kasih dan perhatiannya.

Bapa Surgawi kita pun mencurahkan kasih dan perhatianNya pada kita. Tuhan mampu melakukan hal-hal yang terbaik bagi kita melampaui pemikiran dan apa yang telah kita doakan. Saya bersyukur bahwa Tuhan kita adalah Tuhan yang Pemurah dan bukan TUhan yang pelit. TUhan yang selalu ingin memberikan yang terbaik bagi anak-anakNYA. DIA bukan saja Tuhan tetapi juga BAPA bagi kita, BAPA yang penuh kasih dan perhatian.

Seringkali kita berpikir bahwa Tuhan belum cukup memenuhi apa yang kita inginkan. Ingatlah selalu bahwa Tuhan adalah Pencipta kita, IA telah memberikan PuteraNYA untuk menebus dosa kita hingga kita mendapatkan jaminan memperoleh hidup yang kekal. KIta seharusnya binasa selamanya tetapi kini beroleh hidup kekal bersama DIA. Bagaimana pun kehidupan kita saat ini ingatlah selalu bahwa kita memiliki Tuhan yang hidup dan IA telah menunjukkan kasih karuniaNYA dengan limpah. Bersukacitalah senantiasa di dalam Tuhan yang penuh kemurahan.

Doa: Tuhan ingatkan selalu pada diriku bahwa Kau adalah Tuhan yang murah hati hingga aku pun dapat bermurah hati terhadap sesama. Amin

Firman TUhan: Efesus 3:14-21

Terimakasih Oma

Terimakasih Oma 

Doa orang yang benar, bila dengan yakin didoakan, sangat besar kuasanya. (Yakobus 5:16b)

Saya dibesarkan oleh seorang “orangtua tunggal”, saat Ibu saya bekerja maka saya akan berada di rumah bersama Oma saya. Meski saya mengalami krisis kasih dari figur seorang Ayah tapi semuanya tertutupi melalui kasih dua wanita hebat dalam kehidupan saya, Mama dan Oma. Saat saya mulai bertumbuh remaja, Oma saya mengambil keputusan untuk tinggal di negeri seberang dan saya sedih karena harus berpisah jauh dengan beliau.

Namun meski pun kami dipisahkan lautan luas tetapi kasih dan perhatiannya begitu luar biasa. Beberapa tahun terakhir Oma semakin tua dan lemah secara fisik hingga tak dapat pergi menemui kami di Indonesia. Meski kami tak dapat berjumpa namun ia sangat perhatian pada diri saya dan juga keluarga saya. Kami selalu saling mendoakan dan juga berbincang melalui telpon.

Ada masanya, saat saya menempuh jalan yang salah dan beliau selalu berdoa pada Tuhan agar saya kembali padaNya. Saat saya membuat malu nama keluarga, beliau tidak pernah menolak saya bahkan percaya bahwa saya dapat berubah. Saat keluarga lain melihat tidak mungkin saya berubah, beliau percaya dan beriman pada Tuhan. Dan beliau bersukacita saat melihat saya kembali ke dalam pelukan Bapa Surgawi. Terimakasih Oma untuk senantiasa berdoa bagi saya tanpa pernah meragukan Tuhan.

Kini saya pun percaya dan beriman bahwa Tuhan sanggup mengubahkan orang yang dianggap sampah masyarakat sekali pun Tuhan sanggup mengubahnya. Adakah pasangan Anda, anak-anak, keluarga atau sahabat Anda yang jauh dari Tuhan? Tuhan masih mendengar dan menjawab doa.

Doa: Tuhan kami berdoa untuk mereka yang masih jauh dariMu, kiranya Kau jamah hati mereka saat ini.  

Firman Tuhan: Yakobus 5:13-19