Harta yang paling berharga di hadapan Tuhan adalah:
Kamis, 20 November 2008
Harta yang paling berharga di hadapan Tuhan
Jumat, 14 November 2008
5 Hari di Surga dan Neraka - Bernarda Fernandez
INILAH KESAKSIAN KUNJUNGAN PERTAMA
Karena sakit saya pagi itu, suamiku menolak meninggalkan saya sendirian dan pergi bekerja. Saya berkata saya tidak sendirian. Setelah kepergiannya, saya merasa sekarat. Sehingga kuputuskan menelepon teman, dan ibu mertua saya. ibu mertua menjawab: "Bernarda, Allah akan memberkatimu di hari ini, jangan takut". Jawaban yang sama diberikan oleh seorang saudara dalam Kristus yang kutelepon, tetapi ia menambahkan: "Bernarda bangun dari tempat tidurmu dan pujilah Tuhan, menangislah kepadaNya dan muliakanlah DIA".
Rabu, 12 November 2008
DELIVERANCE FROM DEMONS
| 1. | OUR BODY IS INTENDED TO BE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 1 Corinthians 6:19,?20) Plan of Satan to defile temple, e.g. sexual intercourse outside of marriage, perverted sex, smoking addiction, alcohol addiction. My first deliverance - spirit of abortion cast out of a Christian. Man aged 40 years curled up like foetus and screamed. Mother had tried to abort him when he was in the womb. Radio reporter had similar vision of angels around our home. Study became like a zoo. | |||
| 2. | SATAN SEEKS TO INVADE THE BODY OF THE BELIEVER AND THE UNBELIEVER (1) Can a Christian have a demon? Correct terminology: (a) Nothing in original Greek to justify putting the word “possessed” alongside the word “demons”. The correct translation is to have an unclean, evil spirit. (Matthew 11:18) (b) A Christian cannot be possessed by demons but can be under the influence of or have an evil spirit. Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:3) Example. (Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 20:30) I have prayed for a pentecostal pastor of 20 years experience who had breathing problems. He manifested demons before he was healed. (2) Satan is an intelligence who wants to stop us being a Christian or being an effective Christian. (Romans 6:6; Romans 6:11) (3) Satan has descending orders of authority in the heavens. (Ephesians 6:12) | |||
| 3. | JESUS HAS SPOILED SATAN’S AUTHORITY (Colossians 2:15) Note Daniel 10:13. (cf Singapore Cathedral, Vanuatu, Suva Cathedral) | |||
| 4. | THE STRONG MEN (Matthew 12:29) (1) Spirit of Jezebel which works with the spirit of Ahab in men. (1 Kings 16:29-33) Isaiah 47:8-10,12; Revelation 2:20-21 False prophets, sexual immorality. Things offered to idols. Origin: Disobedience to the commandment not to worship idols. (Exodus 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 6:5) (a) She established idolatry (1 Kings 16:30-33; 1 Kings 21:26) Spirit of Jezebel means mother-child religion. Double-mindedness (James 1:8) schizophrenia. Ahab was weak-minded (1 Kings 21:4), was the tool of his wife, Jezebel (1 Kings 21:7&25). Isaiah 47 - Senility (verse 6), drug abuse (verse 9), occult worship and witchcraft (verse 9), illicit sexual sins (verse 8), terror (verse 12 - NIV version), astrology (verse 13), Queen of kingdoms (Revelation 17:1-6; Revelation 17:15). (b) Fruits of Jezebel: Radical feminism (e.g. worship of Wicca), homosexuality, the occult. Sickness (Revelation 2:22-23). Strike her children dead. Divorce. (Revelation 2:20) (c) Children of Jezebel Child’s name “Terror”. Nimrod - Semerimus - Astaroth. Mother-child pattern - demonic Queen of Heaven, Venus, Diana, Astaroth, Semerimus, Nimrod. Masculine characteristics. Example of woman of 50 years of age who raised her skirts like a child of 5 as the demon of rebellion manifested. Spirits under the control of Jezebel Children (Isaiah 47:8) Addictions, adultery, arrogance, broken marriages, charms, deception, divination, domination, drugs, fear, radical feminism, filthiness (of the spirit and the flesh), fornication, free love, frigidity, hatred, harlotry, heresies, homosexuality, idolatry, incest and indecency (comes as result of a curse from a previous generation involved in idolatry), jealousy, lasciviousness, lust, unclean thoughts, masturbation, occultic things, perverted sexual acts, oral sex, false religion and heresies (e.g. Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Children of God), pride, sorcery, schizophrenia, spiritism, spiritual blindness (e.g. Freemasonry, Mormonism); spirit of religion, witchcraft, ie domination, lying, blasphemy, covetousness, humanism. The ruling spirit under Jezebel is DECEPTION. Note: Four downward steps: pride, rebellion, deception, perversion. (Cut cords into heavenlies) Note that Jezebel often lurks in the background, waiting to send its demonic power into a young child, either in the womb or after birth. The Jezebelic chain has often been established through the generations and the spirit is a familiar spirit, following the generations, but waiting for its chance to strike, e.g. at a time of trauma or shock or anger, rejection etc, it then enters the child and from then on the child will begin to exhibit Jezebelic tendencies. (Uncover her.) (2) Anti-Christ (1 John 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) Groupings of spirits (Galatians 5:20-21; Ephesians 5:4) Spirits of abortion, anger, bitterness, blasphemy, corrupt communications, curses, dissension, drunkenness, envy or hatred, fear, filthy language, frigidity, lack of faith, lying, malice, murder, nightmares, outbursts of wrath, poverty, rebellion, spirits of wretchedness, rejection, selfish ambitions, stealing, strife, torment, unbelief, unforgiveness. Manifestations: Sleepiness, yawning, various kinds of infirmity that respond slowly to prayer. (3) Death and Hell (Revelation 20:13-14) Spirit of Death and Hell Groupings of spirits: Curses such as frequent accidents, succession of deaths in families. Remember to reverse the curse, “Bless those who curse you, bless and curse not.” (Matthew 5:44) Sickness, pain, plagues on Christians, breathing problems, guilt, condemnation (e.g. Luke 13:11 - woman bound by spirit of infirmity). Results: (a) Guilt (b) Torment of hell (c) Prison (d) Physical infirmities (e) Spirit of stupor (f) Lung difficulties (g) Fear of death. (h) Sorrow, regrets, hopelessness, loneliness, darkness, depression and fear. (4) Unholy Trinity: Cast out Jezebel, then Antichrist, then Death and Hell. (Revelation 18:7&8; 19:20; 20:14) (5) Control Spirit: Many people have a control spirit which will deny the truth. The devil can bring peace as well as turmoil. Control spirits act to control the person and prevent deliverance. The function of the control spirit is two-fold: (a) To shield the human spirit from hurt. (b) To bring calmness. This demon frequently comes in during childhood as a result of a trauma, e.g. one day a child’s father says, “I am going away and will not come back.” Youngster may well take on the demon which eases the pain. | |||
| 5. | CASTING OUT OF DEMONS Jesus always commissioned His disciples to both preach the gospel and cast out demons. (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:14-15; Mark 16:15-18) | |||
| 6. | DESCRIPTION OF DEMONS Demons are spirits without bodies. Angels have bodies but demons usually do not. Demons have personalities. (1) They have a WILL (Matthew 12:44) (2) They have EMOTIONS (James 2:19) (3) They have KNOWLEDGE (Mark 1:23,24) (4) They have SELF-AWARENESS (Mark 5:9) Many times I have found demons will name themselves, giving such names as anger, hate, envy, jealousy and fear. Praying for a woman with long-standing condition in her stomach. Demon said, “I won’t go, this is my home, I will not leave her.” Asked the demon its name. It said, “Legion” and then disappeared and she was healed. (5) They have a CONSCIENCE too seared to respond (1 Timothy 4:2) (6) They have an ABILITY TO SPEAK (Mark 1:24) Sometimes voice is high-pitched and sometimes screams or gabbles. Will frequently speak out of people as we are casting demons out. | |||
| 7. | HOW DEMONS ACT (1) They ENTICE (James 1:14) (2) They DECEIVE - e.g. heresies. (Timothy 4:1&2) (3) They ENSLAVE (Romans 8:15) e.g. compulsive talking, eating, addictions to alcohol, smoking, masturbation. (4) They TORMENT and oppress (2 Timothy 1:7) Fear, condemnation, doubt. Many people feel lighter when they have been delivered. They say, “Something heavy has left me.” (5) They DRIVE AND COMPEL (Luke 8:29) e.g. lust, murder assault. (6) They DEFILE (Titus 1:15) e.g. rock festivals. (7) Their function is to HARASS. (8) They often work in groups, e.g. anger, fear, violence, defiling, rejection etc. | |||
| 8. | DEMONS FIGHT AGAINST OUR PEACE (1) Against our PERSONAL HARMONY (2) Against our PEACE OF MIND (3) Against our PHYSICAL WELL-BEING (4) They cause disruption with other people, especially those close to us. | |||
| 9. | THE GREAT DISTINCTIVE MARK IS RESTLESSNESS Demons drive, compel, torment and harass. Fight against inner harmony and cause disruption in relationships. Gifts of discernment of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). This is a thought, vision or impression or the audible voice from the Holy Spirit, given by God, which makes us realise that wrong spiritual forces can be effecting a person or even ourselves. | |||
| 10. | HOW THEY OPERATE (1) From OUTSIDE the body. (2) From WITHIN the body. If they are outside, we must resist them. (James 4:7) If they are within the body, we must expel them. (Mark 1:39) | |||
| 11. | THE AREAS IN WHICH THEY AFFECT US (1) Our emotions, attitudes, relationships, e.g. they cause resentment, hatred, fear or rebellion. Persistent, compulsive, bring fear. (2) The thoughts of the mind, e.g. doubt, unbelief, indecision, procrastination, compromise. (3) In the tongue, e.g. lying, cursing, gossip, blasphemy. Psychiatrists claim that people tell up to 200 lies a day without knowing it. Spirit of lying can rest on our tongue like a spirit of unclean talk and blasphemy. (4) In the sexual area, e.g. perversion, homosexuality and masturbation. (5) In addiction - alcohol, nicotine, gluttony, anorexia - food (root is often frustration). Following true repentance I place my hand on their nose and ask them to breathe in and out. (6) Physical infirmities (Luke 13:12-13) e.g. tumours, heart attacks, cancer, arthritis, allergies, cramps, asthma. | |||
| 12. | OTHER AREAS THEY ATTACK (1) Psychological areas, e.g. if we have recurrent evil and disruptive emotional attitudes which dominate us against our will, e.g. resentment, hatred, fear, envy, jealousy, pride. (2) We have moods which are unreasonable and extreme, e.g. we can become very talkative or we can change to taciturn depression. (3) Physical: There can be unnatural restlessness and talkativeness. Enslaving habits, e.g. gluttony, alcohol, nicotine, drugs, sexual immorality, perversion of all kinds, uncontrollable, unclean thoughts or looks, blasphemy, mockery, unclean language. (4) Persistent or violent opposition to the truth of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. (5) Unscriptural doctrine or prohibitions, unnatural asceticism, superstitions observances (e.g. charms, fortune-telling, astrology, mediums). Note: One of the foregoing symptoms alone would not necessarily be conclusive indication of demon present, but where several symptoms are found together, the probability of demon activity is extremely high. | |||
| 13. | HOW DEMONS ENTER (1) Through our own sin, e.g. idolatry, rebellion. (1 Samuel 15:23; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:16-21)) In Tonga, I prayed for a young homosexual who had a stunted leg. As he renounced homosexuality, his leg was totally healed. He was subsequently discipled as a Christian by the Prime Minister of Tonga. (2) Through the sin of our ancestors, e.g. idolatry. (Exodus 20:5) Examples: Rejection, spirits of grief, spirit of memories. Effect of hereditary bondages: I prayed for a boy who was born totally deaf. The word of knowledge was that it was the result of the mother’s extensive involvement in fortune telling. She repented and the boy was healed. (3) Domination of one person by another, e.g. spirit of Jezebel. (4) Through our mind - through our thought life - fantasy. (5) Touching dead bodies. (Numbers 19:11) (6) Shock (particularly at times of accident) (7) Grief (8) Accidents (9) Marriage breakdowns (10) Habits, e.g. masturbation, smoking, oral sex, bestiality. (11) Soul ties (12) Transference: (a) Moving with people who are not Christians. (b) Movies, television, music, magazines. (c) Alcoholism. (d) Transference of spirits in a church. (e) Scattered souls. (Proverbs 6:27) (f) Sexual intercourse, child molestation. (g) Satanically inspired music, e.g. some forms of rock music and dancing. Woman in Cook Islands renounced a spirit which had entered her while watching certain forms of dancing with sexual overtones in an island in the South Pacific. The spirit left her with a tremendous noise and she was finally set free - spirit of lust had entered through her eyes. Rock ‘n Roll, back masking, Jonathan Livingston Seagull (13) Entry of witchcraft through feet and womb. (14) Unforgiveness. (Matthew 18:34-35) e.g. man who was healed of arthritis in his hand in church at Eketahuna. (15) Rejection. Can occur at conception, in mother’s womb, baby not bonded, adopted child, hereditary rejection, practices in the family home, caused by peers, self-rejection. This causes problems in later life. (16) Spirits of tradition, pride and prejudice and religion. Encumbrances of tradition. Doctrinal obsessions, legalism, personal prejudices. (17) Occult. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) Familiar spirits affecting families. Influences of witchcraft: Abnormal fears, especially in the dark, disturbing dreams, hatred of being left alone, spirits of Antichrist. Testimony of woman healed from bleeding - spirit out of ear - went to fortune teller at age of 10. Results of involvement in the occult: Depression, suicidal thoughts, no desire for prayer and Bible study, inner resistance to the Word of God, no word of prayer coming to one’s lips, visions of ghostly forms, fear, blasphemous thoughts against God and Christ, manic fits, visions of people in past generations, religious delusions, inability to make decisions, feelings of anxiety, gripping feeling about the throat, voices that you cannot get rid of no matter how much you fight, fits of rage, melancholia, schizophrenia. (18) Ethnic traditions, culture and environment, e.g. Japanese ancestor worship, religious spirits. (19) False religions Teachings which deny John 10:9. (20) Heresies (1 Timothy 4:1-2) e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Freemasonry. Note curses pamphlet. (21) Curses: Self-imposed, relational, by witchdoctors etc, by unscriptural covenants. Example of man who saw father try to throttle his mother when he was 5. Hated his father. Was told for years later, “You are just like your father.” This became a spirit. (22) Watching people die, especially after nursing them. (23) Fire-walking, e.g. Fiji and India. (24) Charms and fetishes in our homes. (Deut. 7:25-26) (25) Yoga and martial arts Kung Fu, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Tai Chi, Judo (rooted in Taoism and Buddhism). (26) Transcendental Meditation, Extra Sensory Perception, Hypnosis. (27) Piercing the flesh (Leviticus 19:28, Leviticus 21:5, Deuteronomy 14:1, 1 Kings 18:28, Mark 5:5) | |||
| 14. | TO BE DELIVERED WE MUST: (1) Humble ourselves. (2) Be completely honest. (3) Confess our sins. (James 5:14-16) Examples of healings in meetings where people have confessed their sins. (4) Repent. (5) Forgive. (6) Call on the Name of the Lord. Acts 2:21. | |||
| 15. | MANIFESTATIONS Hissing (tongue goes in and out like a snake’s tongue), spitting, wriggling, sighing, coughing and gasping (smoking demons), shouting, lying down as though dead (spirit of coma, hypnosis), mucus (demons of sexual uncleanness - white foam), animal noises, yawning, sobbing, roaring (hate demons), screaming, eyes roll back and flutter - only white part visible - or operate independently, nostrils flare, lips purse, foul smelling fluids, twisting figures - often masturbation, blood from mouth, smell like sulphur. Sometimes nothing. Example of manifestation: Acts 8:7. Housekeeper - dog in house - boy on church floor barking like a dog at the moon - man rushing forward on his hands and knees, baring his teeth as he made his way towards the altar rail in our church during a deliverance - the spirit of lion has come out on occasions. | |||
| 16. | WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT DELIVERED (1) They do not repent. Note difference between repentance and remorse. (Matthew 27:3) (2) They fail to repent of their sins, especially adultery and abortion. (James 5:6) (3) They fail to forgive (Mark 11:25-26) (4) They fail to break with the occult (Acts 19:19) (5) They fail to resist the devil (James 4:7) (6) Failure to repent from pride. Note: Four downward steps: pride, rebellion, deception, perversion. | |||
| 17. | COUNSELLING (1) Listen carefully to what the person says about their problem so the Holy Spirit can give you guidance. (2) As you minister in deliverance, work with others. (3) Take rest periods during deliverance. (4) The agent of deliverance is the Holy Spirit. | |||
| 18. | THE ACTUAL DELIVERANCE THE CANDIDATE: (1) Total forgiveness required. (2) Honour and forgive parents. (3) Renounce any curse. (4) Renounce all forms of idolatry and false religions. (5) Confess all sin and unbelief. (6) Renounce sins of ancestors Galatians 3:13&14. (7) Take off any charms or demonic jewellery. (8) Cleanse house from idols, carvings etc. (9) Confess blood Scriptures (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7; Romans 5:9; Hebrews 13:12.) (10) Person should expel spirits by breathing out or coughing. (11) Must have absolute faith in Jesus Christ. (12) Total humility required - turning from all pride, rebellion, deception and perversion. (13) Sometimes fasting is required. (14) Call on the name of Jesus. (15) Person must assert will and resist devil. (1 John 4:4) (16) Use prayer cloth (1 Chronicles 13:14) (17) Praise God (many times). | |||
| 19. | THE MINISTER: (1) Remember your authority in Jesus Christ. (Mat. 28:18) (2) Know the anointing of the Holy Spirit. (3) Use your prayer language. (4) Command the person to look at you and tell demons to go. (5) You should be baptised in the Holy Spirit. (6) You should use the gifts of discernment of spirits and word of knowledge as you minister. (7) We can agree and bind and loose the spirit. (Matthew 18:18-19) (8) Allow others in group to bring forward any words of discernment or knowledge. (9) Don’t let the candidate use the name of Jesus or speak in tongues while deliverance is taking place. (10) Cut cords of Jezebel, Antichrist, Death and Hell and any other spiritual powers from person’s forehead etc. (11) Be aware of the children of Jezebel, e.g. child of Terror. (12) Find master of demon and cast out. (13) Cut ungodly soul-ties. (14) Remember the agent of deliverance is the Holy Spirit. (15) Listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying as to how you should pray. (16) Be persistent and by the word of knowledge follow through the network of demons to the principal strongman. (17) Fix your mind on Jesus Christ. (18) Have absolute belief in the power of the Word of God and use the Word of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9) Example at rock festival. (19) Anoint with oil. (20) Consecrate various parts of the body. (Romans 12:1-2). (20) Putting water on the person’s forehead as a reminder of their baptism and cutting off from the power of sin. (21) Laying on of hands. Ministering angels surround us. Hebrews 1:14: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Note R.E. Group Ministry - always have others present to help you. Ensure that the groups have pleaded the blood of Jesus before they commence practising deliverance. No certificates issued after deliverance. | |||
| 20. | TO KEEP OUR DELIVERANCE WE MUST: (1) Totally yield to Jesus Christ in every area of our life, making Him Lord of every area. (2) Be always filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) (3) Believe and live by the Word of God. (Matthew 4:4) (4) Put on the full armour of God. (Ephesians 6:14-18) (5) Stay with the right people and receive ongoing counsel from pastor. (6) Have the right relationships with people. (7) Make Jesus the centre of every part of our lives. We must die daily to our old self and reassert our position daily in Jesus Christ. (8) Possess the land. Deliverance can be progressive - people should be told to go away, read the Word, get on their knees before God, confess their sins and come into true repentance and be baptised with the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 23:28-33) | |||
| 21. | BINDING DEMONS WHEN THE PERSON IS NOT PRESENT (Matthew 18:18-20) Example of person in prayer meeting causing difficulty. Parents who have prayed for children who have disappeared - not heard from for a long time. Bound demon power affecting those children, prayed in belief and been full reconciliation. | |||
| 22. | SELF DELIVERANCE (James 4:7) Heavy oppression, suffocation, pain or sickness. | |||
| These notes can be used to accompany the five-hour teaching series, “Deliverance from Demons”, available on DVD, video, CD or audio cassettes. | ||||
| APPENDIX 1: OCCULT CHECK LIST | ||||
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| * Acts 19:19: “Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.” * Deuteronomy 7:25&26: “You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it; but you shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.” | ||||
| APPENDIX 2: NON CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS AND CULTS | ||||
| 1 Timothy 4:1 says: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...” | ||||
| Ananda Marga Yoga Society, Anthroposophical Society (Eurythmy, Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf Schools); Astara, Bubba Free John; Bahai; Buddhism; Children of God (Family of Love); Christadelphians; Christian Science; Church of the Living Word (John Robert Stevens “The Walk”); Church Universal and Triumphant (Elizabeth Clare Prophet); Confucianism; Divine Light Mission (Guru Maharaj Ji); Druids Lodge; Eckankar (Paul Twitchell); Enlightment (heightened awareness, nirvana, satori, transcendental bliss, god-realisation, expanded consciousness, altered perception of reality, cosmic consciousness etc); Esalen Institute (Michael Murphy); E.S.T. (Erhard Seminar Training); Foundation faith of the Millenium (Robert de Grimston); Foundation of Human Understanding (Roy Masters); Freemasonry; Gurdjieff/Subud/Renaissance (Esoteric Christianity); Hare Krishna; Hinduism (Karma, reincarnation, avatars, Bhagavad-Gita, Yoga, T.M.); Holy Order of MANS; Inner Peace Movement; International Community of the Christ/The Jamilans; Jehovah’s Witnesses (Dawn Bible Students); Krisnamurti Foundation of America; Meher Baba (Sufism Reorientated Inc); Mind Sciences; Mormons (Church of the Latter Day Saints); Mukatananda Paramahansa (Siddha Yoga Dham Centres); Neo-Gnosticism; New Age Movement; Nichiren Shoshu/Soka Gakkai (NSA Lotus Sutra); Rastafarianism; Ratanaism; Religious Science; Rev Ike (Frederick Eikeren Koetter); Rev Sun Myung Moon (Moonies, Unification Church); Rosecruicianism (AMORC); Sathya Sai Baba; Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard Dianetics); Self Realisation Fellowship; Sharmanism; Shintoism; Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship; Spiritualism/Spiritism; Sri Chimnoy; Swami Kriyananda; Swami Rami; Swami Vivekananda (Vedanta Society); Swedenborgianism; Taoism; Theosophy; Urantia; Unity School of Christianity (Charles Myrtle and Lowell Fillmore); Yogi Bhajan (Sikh Foundation/3HO Foundation); Zen. | ||||
| RECOMMENDED REFERENCE BOOKS: America: The Sorcerer’s New Apprentice (Dave Hunt, T.A. McMahan); Demons Defeated (Bill Subritzky); Healing at Any Price? (Samuel Pfeifer M.D.); Kingdom Living for the Family (Frank & Ida Mae Hammond); Larson’s Book of the Cults (Bob Larson); Pigs in the Parlour (Frank & Ida Mae Hammond); Psychic Forces and Occult Shock (Wilson & Weldon). | ||||
These notes can be used to accompany the five-hour teaching series “Deliverance from Demons” available on DVD, video, Compiled by Bill Subritzky and produced by: For an updated catalogue and pricelist, please write to: |
Senin, 10 November 2008
Dutiful Alarm
I had a wonderful weekend. I went to a retreat for women to break their soul and spirit ties. We went to a Catholic Center for a day and a half. The center was incredible. But, the greatest things about it was a room that was build, just for one reason. To find God.
This room had a restriction. No talking. I went to check it out and as soon as I opened the door, I experienced God. Some of the women found the experience so strong that they had trouble standing under the power. I decided that I would come back to the room when no one else was around.
I woke in the morning talking to God. I was discussing with Him the fact that I always have words for others and would like a word for myself this morning. I had been struggling with the usual doubt's about my own walk and needed encouragement. So, I set off for the quiet room.
It was six in the morning and yet there was a women, already, in the room. I found my way to a seat and waited on the Lord to speak to me. The silence was awesome, but I needed a word. I tried to empty my mind, but kept telling God.."I'm here".
Finally, I heard a word. "Dutiful". I was a bit surprised. "Is that a word?" I asked. I kept pondering on this when I heard another word. "Alarm". Ok. I thought. I am a dutiful alarm. What those that mean, I wondered.
Excited that I had heard from God for myself. I left the quiet room after praising God. I found some of the women up. I asked a teacher..."Is there such a word as dutiful". She said it was an old word, but, yes it is a word. I started looking for a dictionary. Finally, one was found.
Dutiful a derivative of Duty.
Duty- an action or task required by a person's position.
Dutiful- performing the duties expected or required of one
So, I am one who does what is required. Then I looked up Alarm.
Alarm- any sound, outcry, or information intended to warn of approaching danger.
There it is. I am a person of God, whom sounds the alarm of danger because it is required of me, by my God.
I was so excited. God had met me and blessed me. I am a dutiful alarm. It was a beautiful and fulfilling weekend. Praise be to the Living God.
Minggu, 09 November 2008
"Buta" karena Harta - "Melihat" karena Kasih Tuhan (Amat Paulus Tantoso)
Penghasilan yang diterimanya setiap bulan bisa mencapai miliaran rupiah, demikianlah sukses Amat Paulus Tantoso, pengusaha money changer dan toko emas asal Batam ini. Mengalami masa keemasannya pada tahun 2001, membuatnya meraih penghargaan Pengusaha Muda Terbaik.
"Waktu itu saya sudah mulai sombong, saya pikir saya hebat sekali," Ungkap Tantoso.
Memiliki dua toko emas dan 17 cabang money changer dengan penghasilan besar, tidak lantas membuat Tantoso merasa puas.
"Saya lihat teman-teman saya yang memiliki usaha sembako, kok bisa jadi hebat dan usahanya besar. Hal itu membuat saya timbul niat jahat, saya ingin memonopoli seluruh distribusi gula pasir di seluruh kepulauan Riau. Untuk itu siapa saja yang berusaha menghalang-halangi usaha saya, maka saya tidak segan-segan untuk menghancurkannya."
Kehebatan Kesuksesan yang didapat Tantoso ternyata hanyalah topeng. Dibalik semua kesuksesannya tersebut ada sebuah sisi gelap yang disembunyikan Tantoso.
"Dulu dari seluruh usaha saya, setiap bulan mendapatkan penghasilan satu miliar lebih. Namun kadangkala pengeluaran saya lebih besar dari penghasilan, karena saya selalu mengajak teman-teman saya untuk pesta narkoba, main perempuan dan pergi ke tempat hiburan malam. Satu malam saya bisa habis 40 hingga 50 juta."
Tidak hanya itu, hubungannya dengan istri sudah tidak harmonis lagi. Dihadapan orang-orang, pasangan ini terlihat sangat harmonis, namun Suti, istrinya seringkali dipukuli dan dianiaya olehnya. Tangisan dan rintihan istrinya tak pernah digubriskan. Rasa putus asa Suti membuatnya mengambil jalan pintas dengan mencoba bunuh diri.
Suatu saat Suti mendapatkan imformasi dari seorang teman dekat Tantoso bahwa suaminya berselingkuh. Suti tidak dapat mempercayai hal itu. Suti semakin sedih, kalut dan sakit hati sehingga dia meminta di ceraikan oleh Tantoso.
Diancam cerai oleh istrinya tidak mengubah tabiat Tantoso sama sekali, bahkan hal itu semakin membuat Tantoso membenci istrinya. Ketika kemarahannya memuncak, Tantoso sanggup melakukan hal yang sangat mengerikan.
"Saya pikir istri minta cerai tidak apa-apa. Saya punya uang, dengan itu saya bisa dapat istri lagi kok."
Hari itu Tantoso pulang dalam keadaan mabuk dan ditegur oleh istrinya. Hal tersebut membuat Tantoso naik pitam. Tantoso mengambil samurai hendak membunuh istri dan kedua anaknya. Namun saat samurai itu sudah terhunus, kilasan wajah anak keduanya membuatnya berhenti dan mengurungkan niatnya.
Anak kedua Tantoso dan Suti telah meninggal dunia sewaktu masih kecil. Demikian Tantoso menuturkan kisah kematian anaknya, "Pada hari kejadian, saya dan istri akan pergi ke rumah mertua saya. Karenanya anak kami itu kami tinggalkan di jaga oleh pembantu saya saat itu. Pada malam itu, ada acara joget di kampung kami, dan pembantu kami meninggalkan anak kami tersebut dirumah sendirian. Anak kami tersebut menangis hingga mati lemas."
Akibat kematian anak keduanya, Suti hampir saja gila. Itulah yang membuat Tantoso dan istirinya pindah ke Batam, supaya bisa melupakan kejadian yang memilukan itu.
Mengingat rasa kehilangan yang sangat besar akan anaknya yang kedua membuat Tantoso menyarungkan kembali samurai yang telah dihunusnya.
Sekalipun rumah tangganya diambang kehancuran, Tantoso tetap berjaya dalam usaha kotornya, sampai hukum menjeratnya.
"Pertama kali saya didakwa tentang penyeludupan uang atau money laundry, namun hal tersebut tidak terbukti. Dan selanjutnya didakwa lagi dengan korupsi uang perusahaan, saya menolak dakwaan tersebut dan saya buktikan bahwa perusahaan tersebut adalah milik saya sendiri. Pada akhirnya saya didakwa dengan kasus penggelapan pajak."
Perkiraan Tantoso hukumannya hanya satu tahun saja, karena kasusnya adalah kasus perdata. Namun perkiraan tersebut salah, Tantoso dituntut hukuman 4 tahun 6 bulan penjara dan denda belasan miliar rupiah. Merasa di khianati oleh rekan bisnisnya, hati Tantoso menjadi terbakar kebencian. Rasa sakit hatinya membuat Tantoso berniat melakukan sesuatu yang nekat.
"Saya merasa dendam sekali kepada orang-orang yang memasukkan saya ke penjara. Dalam pikiran saya, saya ingin menghancurkan mereka. Bahkan saya sempat mengorder orang untuk membunuh orang-orang itu."
Tetapi ancaman hukuman yang lebih berat lagi membuat Tantoso mengurungkan niatnya itu. Dipenjara itulah Tantoso merasakan kesengsaraan yang amat sangat, dia tidak bisa menerima keadaanya itu. Namun kesengsaraan itu tidak dialaminya sendiri, namun juga harus ditanggung oleh istri dan anak-anaknya. Satu per satu hartanya disita, dan dalam sekejab hutang perusahaan semakin membengkak.
"Anak-anak saya sangat drop sekali. Anak-anak malu ke sekolah, karena banyak orang menanyai mereka: bapak kamu yang dulu hebat, kenapa sekarang dipenjara?- "
Melihat penderitaan suami dan anak-anaknya, Suti berusaha dengan berbagai cara untuk mengeluarkan Tantoso dari penjara. Namun semua upayanya untuk melepaskan suaminya dari penderitaan sia-sia belaka. Nama dan reputasi Tantoso dalam sekejab hancur.
Tantoso merasa tertekan dan stress, hal itu membuatnya mengambil keputusan untuk mengakhiri semua penderitaan dengan cara bunuh diri.
"Saya masih ingat, hari itu hari Sabtu. Saya merasa stress dan tidak berharga lagi. Hidup ini seperti sampah yang sangat kotor, dan dibuang orang. Karenanya hari itu saya berniat untuk bunuh diri."
Pada saat Tantoso sedang memikirkan rencananya untuk bunuh diri, tiba-tiba seorang teman napi mengajaknya ke aula dimana sedang ada sebuah pertemuan.
"Waktu itu, saya pikir oke-oke saja. Karena disana ada nyanyi-nyanyian. Jadi saya ikut saja."
Dengan maksud mencari hiburan, Tantoso masuk ke dalam ruangan pertemuan itu. Disana dia mendengarkan seorang nenek yang sedang menceritakan tentang dirinya. Disitulah awal keajaiban terjadi dalam hidup Tantoso.
"Oma Magie hari itu bersaksi, beliau setiap hari membaca koran tentang kasus saya, dan beliau bersama suaminya selalu berdoa bagi saya setiap hari. Waktu itu saya berpikir, Tuhan Yesus memang baik. Hidup saya yang dipandang orang sudah tidak berguna, tapi Tuhan Yesus begitu baik, masih ada orang yang menyayangi saya. Dengan oma itu, saya tidak memiliki hubungan apa-apa. Saya bahkan tidak kenal dengan beliau, tapi mengapa dia mau mengasihi saya? Sebelumnya saya berharap kepada teman-teman pengusaha dan keluarga, namun mereka semua menjauhi saya. Tapi orang Kristen ini mengapa begitu mengasihi saya? Hal itulah yang membuat saya ingin tahu, apa itu Kristus." Hari itu Tantoso mengijinkan nenek Magie untuk mendoakannya.
Dalam kesendiriannya, Tantoso mulai datang pada Tuhan dan berdoa memohon ampunan dari-Nya.
"Saya pikir, saya ini orang yang sangat jahat dimata Tuhan. Saya merasa seperti sampah yang sangat kotor. Saya minta Tuhan Yesus ampuni dosa-dosa saya. Saya juga berdoa, kalau Engkau Tuhan yang dasyat maka Engkau akan menyelamatkan aku."
Diluar dugaan, saat vonis dijatuhkan, Tantoso hanya dikenakan hukuman dua tahun penjara.
"Pada saat saya di persidangan, saya tidak lagi menyembah yang lain-lain lagi. Saya hanya menyembah kepada Tuhan Yesus. Hati saya sangat bersukacita, karena Tuhan Yesus sudah menyelamatkan saya. Ternyata Tuhan sangat baik. Saya menjalani hukuman dengan senang, karena didalam firman Tuhan mengatakan, "Pencobaan-pencobaan yang kamu alami ialah pencobaan-pencobaan biasa, yang tidak melebihi kekuatan manusia. Sebab Allah setia dan karena itu Ia tidak akan membiarkan kamu dicobai melampaui kekuatanmu. Pada waktu kamu dicobai Ia akan memberikan kepadamu jalan ke luar, sehingga kamu dapat menanggungnya (1 Korintus 10:13). Disitulah saya pikir, hal itu benar juga. Dibandingkan orang lain, pencobaan yangs alami masih kecil"
Selama menjalani hukumannya, Tantoso menjalaninya dengan penuh sukacita dan pengharapan kepada Tuhan. Iapun mendapatkan remisi, sehingga pada tanggal 29 September 2005, Tantoso sudah bisa menghirup udara bebas.
"Saya bersyukur karena saya sudah bertobat. Sekiranya saya tidak diselamatkan oleh Tuhan Yesus, maut yang akan mengejar saya. Dan jika saya tidak masuk ke penjara, saya tidak akan mau bertobat."
"Saya bangga dengan Tuhan Yesus yang memberi saya kelegaan pada waktu saya putus asa dan merasa tidak berguna lagi. Tuhan Yesus datang memberikan keselamatan tepat pada waktunya. Saya sangat bersyukur, setelah saya bertobat saya baru merasakan hidup ini banyak keindahan. Semua itu karena Tuhan Yesus selalu menyertai kami."
