TRINITAS

Usaha Awal untuk Menjelaskan mengenai TRINITAS

oleh David Elsafan



Masalah penjelasan dan penjabaran Trinitas memang bukanlah masalah yang seharusnya menjadi konsumsi ukuran pikiran manusia, karena kita sebagai ciptaan bukanlah dirancang untuk dapat melakukan bedah ilmiah mengenai zat dan misteri ke-Allahan. Tetapi tidak salah jika kita menelaah, mempelajari, mengimani apa yang telah dinyatakan kepada kita. Apabila kita renungkan, maka sangatlah sulit bagi sebuah boneka kayu mencoba menerangkan zat, fungsi sel, otak, fungsi tubuh, serta pikiran manusia pembuatnya. Padahal apabila dibandingkan jarak antara boneka kayu dan pembuatnya, kemudian dibandingkan dengan jarak antara ciptaan dan Pencipta, maka masih lebih jauh jarak antara ciptaan dan Pencipta, karena manusia masih tidak bisa menciptakan kayu, hanya bisa membuat boneka, sedangkan Khalik kita menciptakan sesuatu dari yang tidak ada. Dan dalam kehinaan sebuah ciptaan, dan kemuliaan Pencipta inilah yang harus kita sadari, bahwa ilmu pengetahuan manusia itu sangat terbatas dibandingkan dengan kebijaksanaan Pencipta.

Mengingat hal ini, maka tulisan saya akan saya bagi menjadi tiga bagian:

1. Landasan Kepercayaan Kekristenan atas Trinitas.

2. Ulasan Sehubungan Dengan Apa Yang Saya Percayai Mengenai Trinitas

3. Meninjau beberapa ajaran yang bertentangan dengan Trinitas yang telah muncul di gereja kita di Indonesia.

Dengan demikian maka ulasan saya hanyalah sebuah usaha seekor (seorang manusia) yang tidak dalam posisi untuk menguraikan Penciptanya, tetapi membagikan kebahagiaan sebagai ciptaan yang beriman kepada Trinitas.

Tuhan adalah jauh lebih besar daripada yang kita dapat pikirkan, manusia tidak dapat menjangkau pikiran-pikiran Tuhan, tetapi beriman berdasarkan apa yang dinyatakan saja. (Ula 29:29).

Ayub 11:7,8 "Apakah engkau dapat menyelami alam pikiran dan maksud-maksud Allah yang dalam? Apakah dengan penyelidikanmu engkau dapat mengetahui segala-galanya tentang Yang Mahakuasa? (8) Alam pikiran Allah jauh lebih tinggi daripada langit, sedangkan engkau ini siapa? —Jauh lebih dalam daripada dunia orang mati. Apakah yang dapat kauketahui? (FAYH * lihat catatan)

Ayub 37:23 Kita tidak dapat mengerti kehebatan Allah Yang Mahakuasa, tetapi demikian adil serta penuh rahmat dan tidak menindas kita. (FAYH)

Rom 11:33-36 Oh, alangkah menakjubkannya Allah kita! Betapa besar kebijaksanaan, pengetahuan, dan kekayaan-Nya. Betapa tidak terpahami keputusan-keputusan dan cara-cara-Nya! (34) Sebab siapa di antara kita yang dapat mengetahui pikiran Tuhan? Siapa yang sedemikian dalam pengetahuannya, sehingga dapat menjadi penasihat dan pembimbing-Nya? (35) Dan siapakah yang pernah dapat memberikan cukup banyak kepada Tuhan, sehingga dapat menuntut sesuatu dari Dia? (36) Sebab segala sesuatu berasal dari Allah. Segala sesuatu hidup oleh kuasa-Nya dan segala sesuatu itu untuk kemuliaan-Nya. Bagi Dialah kemuliaan untuk selama-lamanya. (FAYH)

*(Catatan: FAYH adalah Firman Allah Yang Hidup, yaitu Alkitab dalam bahasa Indonesia sehari-hari terbitan Kalam Kudus)

Membahas mengenai hal ini adalah hal yang mulia, dan kita semua perlu bergumul dalam doa, sebagaimana Ny. White menulis sehubungan pendekatan pada saat kita mempelajari misteri Ke-Allahan dan juga Yesus yang menjadi manusia.

Inilah kutipan Ny. White sehubungan dengan ruang lingkup yang sangat mulia ini.

When we approach the subject of Christ's divinity clothed with the garb of humanity, we may appropriately heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." We must come to the study of this subject with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, and will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth (MS 67, 1898). {7BC 904.11}.



BAGIAN I

1. LANDASAN KEPERCAYAAN KEKRISTENAN ATAS TRINITAS



Kata Trinitas sendiri tidak pernah disebut dalam Alkitab dan tulisan Ny. White, tetapi pengertian dan pengalaman murid-murid atau umat Tuhan menunjukkan adanya Trinitas.

Definisi teologi dari Trinitas: Term for the Orthodox Christian conception of God as one being in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (The Dictionary of Religious Terms, Donald T. Kauffman, ed., Fleming H. Revell Co., 1967).

Doktrin Trinitas adalah hasil dari iman orang Kristen atas apa yang dinyatakan Alkitab, sehubungan dengan Ke-Allahan.



1. FAKTA YANG PERTAMA: Alkitab menyatakan bahwa Allah itu hanya satu, yang namanya disebut YHWH – (Kemudian ada yang menambahkan huruf hidup diantaranya menjadi Yahweh atau Jehovah, dan ada yang menyebut Yehuwa.)

Ayat-ayatnya: Kel 8:10; 9:14; Ula 4:35; 6:4; 1 Raj 8:60; Maz 83:18; 86:10; 97:9; Yes 42:8; 45:5,6,14,18,21,22; 48:11; Zak 14:9; Mar 12:29-32; Yoh 17:3; 1 Kor 8:4,6; Efe 4:6; 1 Tim 2:5.

Ayat yang terkenal yang selalu dipakai adalah Ula 6:4.

“Dengarlah, hai orang Israel: TUHAN itu Allah kita, TUHAN itu esa!”

(shema Yisrael, Yehovah Eloheinu, Yehovah achad.)

(Syema Ysrael, Adonai Elohenu, Adonay Ehad".)

"Hai umat Israel, dengarkanlah: Yahweh, TUHAN Allah kita, adalah TUHAN yang esa” (FAYH)

Jadi fakta yang ada di Alkitab, bahwa Tuhan (YHWH) adalah Esa, dan kata yang dipakai adalah Achad (tunggal) bukan Yachad (jamak).

2. FAKTA YANG KEDUA: Di Alkitab Allah berbicara mengenai Diri-Nya dalam bentuk jamak – Kej 1:26; 3:22; 11:7.



Apabila kita teliti, maka dari ayat-ayat pertama dalam Alkitab sudah disebutkan adanya:

Allah sang Pencipta, dan pada saat menciptakan sudah menyatakan kejamakannya.

Kej 1:1 Pada mulanya Allah menciptakan langit dan bumi.

Kej 1:2 Bumi belum berbentuk dan kosong; gelap gulita menutupi samudera raya, dan Roh Allah melayang-layang di atas permukaan air.

Kej 1:26 Berfirmanlah Allah: "Baiklah Kita menjadikan manusia menurut gambar dan rupa Kita, supaya mereka berkuasa atas ikan-ikan di laut dan burung-burung di udara dan atas ternak dan atas seluruh bumi dan atas segala binatang melata yang merayap di bumi."

Jadi ada Allah, ada Roh Allah, dan jelas jamak karena menyebut Kita. (di Alquran juga jamak Kami).

Apakah Tuhan tidak mengerti perbedaan Tunggal dan Jamak sehingga membingungkan manusia, atau memang Tuhan sangat mengerti dan menyatakan diri-Nya dalam bentuk satu Kesatuan yang terdiri dari beberapa pribadi (yaitu tiga).

Kemudian dari pernyataan Alkitab, dan Bapa sendiri, ada oknum lain yang berhak memakai kata Allah, yaitu Anak-Nya. (sudah begitu banyak ayat-ayatnya, dan pernah saya kirimkan dalam satu bentuk makalah).



3. Alkitab menyatakan sifat-sifat Ilahi (Ke – Allahan):

KEKAL (tidak berawal dan berakhir): Kel 3:14; Maz 90:2; 102:24-27; Ibr 1:2; Wah 1:8

MAHA HADIR: 1 Raj 8:27; Max 139:7-12; Jer 23:23,24; Amos 9:2 Ibr 4:13

MAHA TAHU: Maz 139:2-4; 147:4,5; Dan 2:7,8; Yes 40:28; Rom 11:33

MAHA KUASA: Yer 32:17; Maz 107:25-29; Dan 4;17,25,35; Ayub 42:2

TIDAK BERUBAH: 1 Sam 15:29; Maz 33:11; Yes 46:10,11; Ibr 1:12; Yak 1:17

SIFAT (MORAL): Suci, Benar, Penuh Rahmat, Murah Hati, Kasih, Kebenaran, Murni dan sifat-sifat lainnya yang memang menjadi bagian dari alam-Nya)



4. Alkitab menyatakan bahwa Yesus mempunyai sifat-sifat Ke-Allahan (dibawah saya lampirkan sifat-sifat Tuhan yang saya ambil daripelajaran Trinitas karangan Frank Breaden yang sudah diterjemahkan ke bahasa Indonesia – Saya kutip dari Milis atas terjemahan saudara kita)

Yesus disebut Yehovah: (YHWH) Yes 6:5 -- Yoh 12:41; Yes 41:4; 44:6; 48”12’ Wah 1:17; 22:13

5. Alkitab menyatakan bahwa Roh Allah (Roh Kudus, Roh Suci) mempunyai sifat-sifat Ke-Allahan (lihat lampiran)



Roh Kudus juga disebut Yehovah (YHWH): Ibr 3:7 yang merujuk pada peristiwa pengalaman di padang belantara yaitu Maz 95:6-9; (banyak ayat-ayat di Perjanjian Lama yang menyatakan firman Allah, yang disebut sebagai firman Roh Kudus di Perjanjian Baru)

Gambar penjelasan tentang kesamaan Bapa, Anak dan Roh Kudus

TABIAT ALLAH

	MAHA KUASA	MAHA TAHU	MAHA HADIR	KEKEKALAN
BAPA	Why 19 : 6	Ibr 4 : 13	Ef 4 : 6	I Tim 1 : 17
ANAK	Ibr 1 : 3	Kol 2 : 3	Mat 18 : 20	Ibr 1 : 8
ROH KUDUS	Luk 1 : 35	I Kor 2 : 10, 11	Kis 8 : 29, 39	Ibr 9 : 14

GELAR ALLAH

­	TUHAN	ALLAH	JURUSELAMAT	KEBENARAN & HIDUP
BAPA	Kis 7: 24	Ibr 1:1	Tit 3:4	Ibr 6: 18; Yoh 5: 26
ANAK	Kis 10 : 36	I Yoh 5 : 20	Tit 2 : 13	Yoh 14: 6; I Yoh 5 : 11, 12
ROH KUDUS	II Kor 3 : 17	Kis 5 : 3,4	Tit 3 : 5	1 Yoh 5: 6, Rm 8 : 10

PERBUATAN ALLAH

	PENCIPTAAN	PENCIPTAAN KEMBALI	TERANG ATAS BIMBANG	TEMPAT TINGGAL (BERTAKHTA)
BAPA	Kis 4 : 24	Ef 4 : 24	1 Yoh 1 ; 5	II Kor 6 : 16
ANAK	Yoh 1 : 3	II Kor 5 : 17	Yoh 8 : 12	Ef 3: 17
ROH KUDUS	Yoh 6: 63	Tit 3 : 5	Yoh 16 ; 13	Rom 8 : 9,11

PENYEMBAHAN DAN PENURUTAN, SEPERTI KEPADA ALLAH

BAPA MENERIMA	Ef 3: 14; Why 5: 8, 12,13; 11 : 16; 19 : 4
ANAK MENERIMA	Ibr 1 : 6; Fil 1 : 10, 11; Yoh 5 : 23; 20: 28; why 5: 8, 12, 13
ROH KUDUS MENERIMA	Ef 6: 18; Yudas 20; Kis 2 : 1-4; 13 : 2; 16: 6, 7; 15 : 28; Why 1 : 4; Ef 2 : 16

6. KESIMPULAN

Dari pernyataan Alkitab atau fakta-fakta itulah Umat Kristen mempercayai Trinitas, yaitu dari pernyataan Allah mengenai diri-Nya, dan bukan usaha untuk menguraikan Konsep Trinitas menurut logika. Kepercayaan mutlak adalah bahwa pernyataan Tuhan itulah yang kita imani, kalau Tuhan menyatakan bahwa dia Esa, dan ke-Esaannya dalam bentuk jamak, maka kita terima seperti itu, maka muncullah istilah Trinitas, oleh sebab itu doktrin tersebut sulit untuk dijabarkan, tetapi bisa dinyatakan faktanya sebagai berikut:

1. Kita percaya bahwa Allah itu satu, yang kekal, Maha Hadir, Maha Tahu, Maha Kuasa, Tidak berubah dan sangat tinggi moral-Nya.

2. Satu Allah ini adalah jamak sesuai dengan pernyataan Tuhan sendiri, yang terdiri dari Bapa, Anak dan Roh Kudus.

3. Ketiganya ini adalah sama dalam alamiahnya, Ketiganya mempunyai alamiah yang sama.

4. Ketiga Oknum ini mempunyai kepribadian dan tugas masing-masing (Anak berbicara kepada Bapa, dan mengutus Roh Kudus).

The oneness existing between the Father and the Son does not affect the distinct personality of each. And though believers are to be one with Christ, their identity and personality are recognized through the whole of this prayer. {14MR 220.4}

No Destruction of Personality.--Christ is one with the Father, but Christ and God are two distinct personages. Read the prayer of Christ in the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will find this point clearly brought out. How earnestly the Saviour prayed that His disciples might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. But the unity that is to exist between Christ and His followers does not destroy the personality of either. They are to be one with Him as He is one with the Father (RH June 1, 1905). {5BC 1148.2}

5. Ketiga Oknum ini sama di dalam hal usia, alamiah, kuasa dan kepribadian.

6. Ketiga Oknum ini satu dalam kehendak, rencana, tujuan (mereka selalu bersatu, bersatu dalam menciptakan manusia, bersatu dalam menebus manusia)

7. Ketiga Oknum ini tidak sama dalam urutan atau jenjang Jabatan (karena Tuhan adalah Tuhan yang teratur dan saling menghargai – Anak menurut Bapa, Roh Kudus menurut Bapa dan Yesus, dan Bapa adalah yang tertinggi dalam jenjang jabatan)

7. Dengan demikian apabila seorang Kristen berbicara mengenai Allah, maka hal inilah yang menjadi dasar pengertian mereka:

1. Apabila kita berdoa, maka doa kita dibawa kepada Bapa oleh Anak-Nya dibawah pengaruh Roh Kudus. Berdoa kepada salah satu, berarti berdoa kepada semuanya.

2. Apabila kita berkata bahwa Allah menciptakan langit dan bumi, maka hal ini berarti diciptakan oleh Bapa melalui Anak-Nya dengan kuasa Roh Kudus.

Jadi untuk bagian pertama ini, kesimpulan akhir adalah: Trinitas adalah istilah yang dibuat untuk merangkumkan apa yang dinyatakan oleh Alkitab, tetapi bukan istilahnya yang kita imani, tetapi kenyataan dari pernyataan Tuhan mengenai diri-Nya itulah yang kita imani.

Artinya kalau Tuhan menyatakan bahwa ada Bapa, dan Bapa menyatakan Anak-Nya, dan Alkitab juga menyatakan ada Roh Allah, serta dalam nama (bukan nama-nama), Bapa, Anak dan Roh Kudus kita membaptiskan manusia, maka kita harus imani hal ini,

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:8, 9

People are determined to have to do something to win God's favor. In Romans chapter four where God shows us what Abraham's faith was not in, He shows us what people do put their faith in. Study it carefully. They put their faith in: their own merit or good works; religious ceremony (circumcision) or affiliation; and in their keeping the Law or some other rule. It's a faith in a human work of some kind. The problem is not faith. It's what the faith is in! God says man's faith will be put into his account for righteousness if he puts it in the right place or person (Rom. 4:5).

On the one hand, you have a salvation attempted on a works basis. It's received by works through faith. On the other hand, we see God offering today salvation on a grace basis. Grace can't be earned nor bought! It's not only more than what we deserve, it's just the opposite! In the early chapters of Romans, you have every man deserving the wrath of God, being offered the righteousness of God - BY GOD'S GRACE! God's grace is the BASIS for His offer. How is this offer received? By faith, and faith alone!


In the book of Romans we see "the righteousness of God," "justification," and "eternal life" are synonymous terms and are God's gift to those deserving His eternal wrath (Rom. 3:21, 24; 5:1, 17; 6:23). The same is true as we come to Ephesians chapter 2. The same ones who are dead in trespasses and sins and who are headed for the wrath of God (vrs. 1-3) can be saved by God's marvelous grace. God says: "For by grace --you have been saved -- through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (2:8,9). He is saying: the gift of God is eternal life; God's grace is the basis for His offer; and man's faith alone is means of receiving God's gift. God holds man accountable to believe and receive His gift (II Thess. 2:10;12)


By DICK WARE
AMEN

The Lord Will Show You Great and Mighty Things

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

The scripture tells us to call unto the Lord; the word used for 'call' in many place is also translated as 'cry'. So this calling does not mean just opening our mouth and saying 'Lord I call unto You'. This call needs to come from our spirit, deep within us.

The Lord assures us if we call we will receive an answer. Like a legal document so also in the scripture the answer is not assured immediate and completely on the spot. The word specifies a gradual so much so that it may not even be noticed sometimes. But we are assured over a period of time something unimaginable.

I can stand by this for I have received many, many times unimaginable things not only material things but precious spiritual things more precious then diamonds.

I would like you all to be rich in all areas and experience our mighty God and His glory, so cry out unto Him.

AMEN

Scriptures For Needs

Mt 6:8......... ......your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Ps 34:10....... .....those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Ps 24:1........ ......The earth is the Lord's, and all it's fullness,...

Ps 50:10....... .....every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

Gen 18:14....... ...Is anything to hard for the Lord?

Mt 7:7......... .......Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Rom 8:32........ ...He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?

Ps 37:5........ .....Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Luke 6:38........ ..Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.

Eph 3:20........ ...(God) is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...

Phil 4:19........ ....And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2Pet 1:3......... ...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him...

Jer 32:27....... ....Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything to hard for Me?

Mt 11:28....... ....Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Heb 13:5........ ...For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Phil 4:6......... ....Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let you requests be made known to God; ...

Ps. 20:4........ ..may He grant you according to your hearts desire, and fulfill all of your purpose.

Eph 1:3......... ...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

AMEN

If You Seek God You'll Find Him

7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.[a]
17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22 “ The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;[b]
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “ Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.

AMEN

Scriptures for Healing

Hos 4:6......... ....My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Gal 3:13........ ....Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us...

1Pet 2:24........ ..(Jesus) bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed.

Isa 53:5........ .....He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Mt 8:17........ .....He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.

Ps 107:20...... ...He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Prov 3:7......... ...Do not be wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Prov 3:8......... ...It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Ex 15:26....... .....I am the Lord who heals you.

Ps 103:3....... ....Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases...

Ex 23:25....... ....serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

Prov 16:24....... ..Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Isa 58:8........ .....your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Ps 118:17...... ....I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

Ps 147:3....... ....He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Prov 17:22....... ..A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

3John 2........... ..Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Mk 16:17....... ....these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ...they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Jas 5:15........ ....the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Jas 5:16........ ...Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

Mt 8:13........ ....Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.


AMEN

Want your desires fulfilled?

Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalms 37:3-6

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

The word 'delight' used here is a very tone down translation of the Hebrew word 'anag' it means to dedicate or to make habit of, other than to make merry.

Just making merry in the Lord will not get us the desires of our heart. For this we need to first trust in God be good and make God a habit or dedicate ourselves to Him. This understanding goes well with the other scriptures.

Having a habit is getting into something so much that without knowing we still do it. It is something that goes beyond your mind into our spirit. So we need to make the Lord a part of us not only when we think of Him but even when we are not mentally alert of Him. This can happen only when we make God the top priority in our lives.

AMEN

GRACE AND MERCY

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

If and when the trial comes, you will find Him waiting there.

"We should always be prepared for circumstances that will arise, and for blessings that are to come, without foreseeing what these circumstances and blessings will be. This preparation consists in attention to present responsibility, and acceptance of present discipline.

"If day by day we first seek divine direction, and then follow it, we shall be ready, when new circumstances arise, for the new blessings which will be offered. Today should be preparation for tomorrow. The only proof that we shall be equal to tomorrow's test is that we are meeting today's test believingly and courageously. The only evidence that we shall be willing for God's will tomorrow is that we are subject to His will today." -W.G.S.

"Our Lord has special reserves of grace for special needs. If ever you feel that you could not go through a certain trial, that if you had to face that, you just could not go through with it, you are taking on something that you have no right to take on.

"If the Lord calls you to go through fire or water, He has a special reserve of grace for you in that. And that grace will be from the throne of grace. It is the throne above, mediating grace for need and suffering as it is required." -T.A-S.

"Let us... come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

GRACE AND MERCY
By Miles Stanford

DESERTS vs GRACE

It is an interesting fact that in this day of godlessness and lawlessness so much is being said about what we all deserve! Ads in the newspapers and commercials on radio and TV ask:

"Don’t you deserve the very finest automobile?"

"Don’t your children deserve the best?"

"Doesn’t your baby deserve Pampers?"

And even, "Doesn’t your dog deserve Alpo?"

Well, do you really deserve the finest car? Please don’t answer that! Do your children deserve the best -- always? If so you surely have model children -- not at all like their parents! And does your baby deserve Pampers? That’s funny! And does your dog deserve Alpo? That’s ridiculous! Dogs do not "love" or obey you from any moral consideration, nor, for that matter, does your baby, lovable as the darling is. And as to you and your children -- including the baby, the Bible has something to say on this subject.

The Bible says that "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that ALL have sinned [i.e., in Adam]" (Rom. 5:12). You and I were "in Adam" when he sinned. When he sinned, we sinned. Deny this and you might as well agree with the murderer who argued: "My feet and legs didn’t do it; my ears and nose didn’t do it; only my one hand and one or two other parts of my body did it, so the rest should go free."

We believers in Christ should thank God that our blessed Lord took upon Him our just deserts when He died for our sins at Calvary. This is why God’s Word says:

"We declare, I say, at this time, His righteousness for the remission of sins... that [God] might be just, and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded" (Rom. 3:25-27).

by C. R. Stam
AMEN

WOULD YOU REJECT THE OFFER?

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12).

The story was told of a presiding judge who was hearing the case of his own son. The son was convicted of the crime he was accused of. According to the law, the son had to be sentenced to five years of imprisonment with hard labour or pay a fine of certain amount. The father, the judge, pronounced the judgement, but he did not want his son to go to the prison. Therefore, he offered to pay the fine. However, surprisingly, the son rejected the offer!

One would blame this seditious son for rejecting the offer of payment of the fine by his father and for deciding to go to the prison instead. On the other hand, the father had acted justly in sentencing him to prison though he, the father, did not want the son to go to prison. Likewise, our heavenly Father is just for sentencing anyone who does not accept His offer of salvation to eternal damnation. Apostle Paul explained, “For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. And now in these days also he can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins. But isn't this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for he does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins” (Romans 3:25-26).

Have you accepted this offer of salvation? Alternatively, would you reject the offer? The writer of the book of the Hebrews warned, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him” (Hebrews 2:1-3 NIV). Accept Jesus Christ today as your personal Saviour and Lord. Would you be like that rebellious son? Would you reject the offer?

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)
AMEN

FROM DEATH INTO LIFE

Scripture Reading: Galatians 2:20-21

From death unto life: what a strange and marvelous process! We die, that we might live. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

The greatest moment in the sacrificial work of our Lord He shared with His own: we are crucified with Him! We are baptized into His death: "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death ... For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom. 6: 4, 5).

Meanwhile, as we await that which is to come, it is His life that we now live in the flesh. Our anticipation is greater than the greatest of man's most exaggerated dreams. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18). "For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself" (Phil. 3:20-21).

This present life-this present world-this age of pain and rejection are difficult. But they are not unbearable. For while suffering the slings and arrows of the ungodly, we are "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2: 13).

In the total expanse of human life there is not a square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, "That is mine!"


AMEN
By Pastor Robert Hanna

Be A Testimony

Today's Psalm: 32:10 "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about."

By remaining faithful to God and His Word, you will be a good testimony and in a position to help others when the Lord calls on you to serve Him. We learn of two more judges who were chosen to guide the Israelites after the death of Abimelech. " And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon." (Judges 10:1-5). Once again the Israelites went back to their wicked ways, then cried to God to save them, but this time God did not come to their aid. "And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. " (10:11-14). There comes a time when God will only take so much before he stops answering our cries. However, once the Israelites realized that God was not going to save them they put away their strange gods and started serving Him. "And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." (10:16). Sometimes God will allow us to suffer so that we can get right with Him. Many people do not understand how much God really does love us, He is our father so of course He is going to get angry when we continuously live sin knowing well that it is the wrong thing to do. He is no different from an earthly father when he makes us suffer the consequences of our own actions. When we take responsibility for them and change our ways then we get his respect and assistance. Jephthah was a godly man, but because he was an illegitimate child to a harlot he was forced to leave Gilead. "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman." (11:1-2). The Israelites found out quickly though that Jephthah was needed. "And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." (11:8). Like Jephthah, many Christians are alienated even by other Christians because of their background or past and it usually takes a tragedy before they realize their mistake. It is important that we never judge a person by how they were brought up nor their past. We are all sinners and all who accept Jesus as their Savior are saved and no matter what we have done we are saved. God gives us all an opportunity to be a testimony of how we turned from being a worthless sinner to being a righteous servant. By the way, all Christians will experience many tests in life. This is the way that God prepares us for the work He has called us to do. By the grace of God, accept with gratitude all the sorrows that come into your life whether it be through friend or enemy, failures or humiliations because they create the foundation of a wonderful Christ filled life. AMEN

Facing Challenges

Today's Psalm: 40:10 "I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. "

We are faced with challenges in order to develop our godly character and teach us to put our complete faith in God to see us through them. When Saul was a young man, his character seemed to reveal that he was truly humble. After he won his first battle, he humbly professed that salvation came from the Lord, but that humbleness quickly changed to pride as he gained more power. Often many Christians fall into that same pattern, they begin their walk with Christ humbled and eager to please God only to exalt themselves the more successful they become. Saul became a jealous and proud man, wanting all the glory for himself, he was challenged once again when David was anointed to eventually take his place as king. During Saul's reign, the giant warrior Goliath had challenged the Israelite army to send a man to fight him and let the outcome of that fight decide who will serve the other. "And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span........ ...And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us." (I Samuel 17:3-4,8-9). Not one of these men stood up to the challenge, fearing for their lives. Often, we too stand at the sidelines looking at the challenges we face with fear instead of trusting in God to help us through them. Then David came into the Israelite camp, we he saw that they were afraid he offered to fight Goliath. "And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.. ......... ...And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.. ......... ..Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." (17:32,40,45- 46). David put his complete trust in God, knowing that as long as He was with him that he would be able to defeat this giant. David defeated Goliath with a little stone, "And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled." (17:49-51). Following this spectacular victory over Goliath and the Philistines, David was welcomed into the palace of King Saul and was made his trusted captain of the guard. David's rising popularity was too much for Saul. When Saul heard women singing praises about him, he became exceedingly jealous and attempted to kill David by throwing a javelin at him as he was playing his harp. "And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul." (18:8-12). Saul's pride and jealousy controlled him and eventually he became determined to either murder David or cause him to be killed. Like David, we are put through these challenges to see if we will remain faithful and prove worthy of our high calling. The difficulties, handicaps, and suffering in life we face are permitted by God to develop our godly character and allow us to accomplish His will in our lives. We are each accountable for our disposition when handling the challenges that come our way. We can choose to become bitter and resentful, blaming God and others for our troubles or we can choose to put our complete trust in God to lead us to victory. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5).

AMEN