Home 2018 January

Month: January 2018

Partnership With Prison Fellowship Cambodia

Many pastors in the Third World countries, volunteering with Prison Fellowship International in rolling out the various programs, are poor.  They supplement their income with farming.  By the grace of God and His provision,  JC’s Manifesto is able to fully subsidize the training cost of the self sustaining agricultural enterprise program in support of the work of Prison Fellowship International in Asia.  God willing, we will also acquire a piece of land here to duplicate the same success in Alfa Omega Ministries.

After having trained two pastors from Myanmar and one from Philippines in a pilot program in early 2017, JC’s Manifesto is glad to kick off this year by sponsoring another 2 pastors from Cambodia to be trained in this program held at Alfa Omega Ministry, Indonesia.

The training will start after the pastoral conference of the Body of Christ Fellowship currently being held in Batam from 24 to 26 January 2018.   Some 300 pastors came from Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines,  Cambodia, South Korea and Europe to join fellow pastors from Indonesia in this yearly fellowship conference.

 

Testing The Spirits

1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

It is actually not that difficult to test the spirits.  Here are some major tests :

1. Does the spirit exalt Christ ?

John 16:14.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

2. Does the spirit guide to all truth of our Lord Jesus Christ ?

John 16:13-15.   When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come…he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

3. Does the spirit promote loving God and men more than gifts ?

1 Cor 13:1-2.  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

4. Does the spirit oppose worldliness ?

Gal 5:17.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

If you see any minister who exalt the Holy Spirit over our Lord Jesus (though the Spirit of God deserves the same worship but as stated in John 16:14, His ministry is to exalt Jesus.); elevate experience as authoritative over Scripture; and embrace worldliness; thereby diminishes the glory and deity of Jesus and undermines the true saving gospel on the contrary, we can safely say that he or she belongs to another spirit other than of the Holy Spirit.

A Different Jesus Doctrine By The NAR False Prophets

The NAR prophets are proliferating a very dangerous teaching known as the Kenosis doctrine.  Such doctrine is not merely academic disagreement on certain interpretation of Scripture but it actually denies most essential doctrines.  By either diminishing the deity of Christ or undermining the union of the two fully-God and fully-man natures in one Person, this Kenosis doctrine has presented a doctrine of a different Jesus.  Marking themselves as false prophets through this Kenosis doctrine and many more,  it is not surprising to see more fruit of strange and bizarre teaching of pagan shamanistic-like practices from them.

(2 Cor 11:4.  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.)

The Kenosis doctrine teaches that the Messiah, in order to assume the form of a servant and become incarnate (into human flesh), had to give up some, several, or even all the powers and attributes of God and “live as a mere man.”  The logic is that since Jesus left His powers and attributes behind and lived as a mere man, we born-again believers are just as much an Incarnation of God as Jesus was.   So if Jesus did all His miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit, born again believers could do likewise and even more.

This Kenosis doctrine is extremely dangerous as it denies most essential doctrines, especially Christology.

  1. It destroys the integrity of the atonement.   

The Blood that redeemed the church has to be the blood of God.  Acts 20:28.  If He was not God, then His blood sacrifice was not INFINITELY powerful to redeem all who believe in every age.  In other words, if Jesus was not fully divine, then His atoning work would not be sufficient to atone for the sins of the world.  God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Col 1:19-20.

  1. It destroys the Christian view of the incarnation.

Sovereignty is an attribute of God. According to Don Fortner it means ruling “all things, everywhere, at all times absolutely.”  If, by becoming man, Christ gave up the use of His divine attributes in any way, then He was not sovereign. If Jesus was not sovereign during His earthly ministry, then He was not God. If He was not God, the Word that was God (Jn.1:1) never became flesh – only part of the Word did. And the name “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (NAS Mtt. 1:23), is a lie, and God’s Word is not true.

  1. It denies the immutability of God.

In order for the God the Son to abandon His sovereignty in any way, He would have to change His character or being. This, God would never do. “IAM WHO I AM” (NAS Ex. 3:14). “But Thou art the same, And Thy years will not come to an end.” (NAS Ps. 102:27). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” (NAS Heb. 13:8). According to R.C. Sproul, “If God laid aside one of His attributes, the immutable undergoes a mutation, the infinite suddenly stops being infinite; it would be the end of the universe.”

  1. It undermines the monotheistic distinctive of the Christian faith.

The only way to limit the use of attributes of one Person without limiting the attributes of all three members of the Godhead is to divide God into three divine Beings for each of the three Persons. Jesus could then suspend His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, etc., while the Father and Holy Spirit would continue to exercise sovereign dominion over the universe. This view of the Trinity, however, is polytheistic, not Christian. The Christian faith is monotheistic. We believe there is only one God. “Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29). The Creed of Athanasius  affirms this truth: “The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, but there are not three gods, but one God…The Father is omnipotent, the Son is omnipotent and the Holy Spirit is omnipotent, but there are not three omnipotent Beings, but one omnipotent Being …We distinguish among the Persons, but we do not divide the Substance.”

(Article is extracted from www.kenosis.info and re-phrased.)

 

Evangelistic Outreach Through Solar Lamp Project

One of my given missions is to share the gospel both in word and in deeds  in galvanizing churches in the region to meet the basic needs of the community and gain a hearing of the gospel as a result.   Over the years of feasibility study by the grace of God,  JC’s Manifesto has narrowed down to 3 evangelistic outreach projects as the most effective approaches – the farming aids, technology to rear poultry, the bio-sand water filter and the solar lamps.

JC’s Manifesto had participated in relief effort by supplying solar lamps to the typhoon victims in Tacloban, Philippines before.  We have also given these lamps to some Nepalese pastors in enabling them to gain a hearing of the gospel in the border towns with India.

In late 2016,  Bishop Martin of the National Chaplains of Philippines had gone to share the gospel in the mountainous regions in northern Luzon enabling the people there to have bible study in the evening using the solar lamp as there is no electrical grid in these regions.

So far, the missions to use the solar lamp as a bridge to evangelism have been relatively successful.

Praise the Lord !

Christian Liberty

1 Cor 10:23-33

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Although Paul talked extensively about food offered to idols, the issue regarding Christian liberty is not limited to just food and drink but whatever we do.  1 Cor 10:31.

On one extreme, we have believers that believe they have the right to do anything which may deteriorate to license.  On the other, we have believers with weak conscience which may also lead to legalism.

On talking specifically about the issue of food offered to idols, Paul cited two examples of such situations in which believers might eat such food : the public meat market where food was purchased for home consumption and private meals in a non-believer’s home.  And he continued to explain the issue was not the food itself but the situation in which it was eaten.

Likewise regarding Christmas celebration for an example, we should not focus on the apparent inappropriateness of the background or arbitrary chosen date, but on the situation it is celebrated.

In situation where Scripture is silent on matter of conscience, this saying regarding biblical response is true :

Essentials (matter of truth),  unity;

Non-essentials (matter of conscience);  liberty;

All things, charity.

(On Scripture being “silent” on matter of conscience, I mean Scripture does not mention that it is specifically forbidden and I believe one has the liberty to act or not to act on the matter of conscience.  Allow me to illustrate.  For some countries, if there is no U-turn sign, the cars are not allowed to make U turn.  But in most western countries,  if there is no “No U-turn allowed” sign,  the cars are free to make the U-turn.  It is the latter situation to which I am referring.)

Whether to celebrate or not is up to each believer according to his conscience.  If one chooses to celebrate, he shall do it for the glory of God and shall not stumble a brother with a weaker conscience.  But he will be taking a wrong turn to judge others on whether to celebrate or not.

When the angel announced the birth of our Lord to the shepherds, he said,”…I bring you Good News that will cause great joy for all the people…” I celebrate because it is Good News. And I express my great joy through celebration.

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. – Colossians 2:16

1 Cor 10:29b-32a summarizes the biblical response for matter of conscience :

For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or WHATEVER YOU DO, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…

Holy Are You, O Mighty God

Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord

Holy are You, O Mighty God                                         (2x)

Glory, Glory, Glory,  All glory to You, Lord

Glorious are You, O Mighty God                                 (2x)

Worthy, Worthy, Worthy, Worthy are You, Lord

Worthy are You, O Mighty God                                   (2x)

 

The Blessing Of Religious Freedom

When God graciously opened the door for me for the first time in 2011 to start the mission of galvanizing churches to prepare for the end times,  I was invited to share a message in a nationwide pastoral conference held in Medan, Indonesia.

I was pleasantly surprised over the religious freedom there.   Vans were allowed to ply the streets with loudspeakers blaring about the event and the local main newspaper even reported on the event.   The whole event was broadcast on radio reaching out to millions of listeners in all corners of North Sumatra.

Utmost thanks and glory to God our Father and Jesus our Lord for the tremendous blessing of the availability of media like newspaper and radio in enabling the gospel to be shared so freely there.

Following is the translation of that newspaper report (translated by Google) :

“Thousands of pastors and congregations and various denominations of Church and Service Institution attend Seminars & Fellowship at once the PA & KKR services of the Body Building Team of Christ at the Pearl Building of Suara Nafiri Convention Hall.

Seminar & Fellowship sekligus worship that has been going on since Monday and ends today, Wednesday and open to the public from all walks of life. Church leaders, pastors and even church activists and Christian youth organizations come from various regions, such as from Batam, Pekan Baru, Jakarta, Surabaya including North Sumatra and even abroad Brazil, Singapore and Korea.

The keynote speaker at the seminar was Rev. DR Jhonston Silitonga (Batam) and testimony of the word from Ev Jhonny Pardede (Medan) and Pastor Antonio from Singapore. This Seminar & Fellowship is “The Hope Is Not Disappointing Because God’s Love Has Been Shed Inside Our Hearts By The Holy Spirit Who Has Granted Us (Rom. 5: 5).

The seminar and fellowship activities as well as the worship of PA & KKR itself are self-funded by all churches who are members of the Community Guild of Christ surrounding Medan in cooperation with the Radio Narwastu 97.9 FW Voice of truth that all activities are broadcasted directly to the listeners so that the congregation can be heard almost in all corners of North Sumatra.

The participants were very enthusiastic about following this activity, even the servants of God feel grateful to attend seminar & fellowship with the presence of Rev. DR Jhonston, Ev Jhonny Pardede and Pastor Antonio.”