Category: Missions

Proverbs 11:25

“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. ”

—Proverbs 11:25

Show me a church that doesn’t have a flow of new believers coming in, and I will show you a church that is stagnating. New believers help older believers stay on their feet spiritually. New believers are the lifeblood of the church.

The Great Commission not only involves going out and preaching the gospel. It also includes making disciples of all nations (see Matthew 28:19–20).

This means that to the best of our ability, we seek to lead people to Christ and help them grow spiritually. New believers will ask you questions about things you’ve forgotten. They’ll motivate you to study your Bible as never before.

And, of course, newer believers need older believers to temper them, keep them strong, and help them develop a good foundation in their faith.

I have found that as I give out to others, God replenishes me. When you think of someone else, when you share the Word of God with them and encourage them, you will find that God refreshes you in the process.

The first-century church understood this. It was an evangelistic church. As people watched these believers learning, caring, worshipping, and praying, it drew them in. The Bible tells us that “each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47 NLT). And they helped young Christians grow in the faith.

There was continual evangelism in the early church, and there was no apology for it. This is the church that turned their world upside down.

Yet it seems to me that nowadays, the world is turning the church upside down. It seems to me that the world impacts us more than we impact the world because we are ashamed to be the church.

Let’s be what we are without apology: thankful that God has called us to be a part of it.

Source :[https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid022LAinpxqLnU7tKGk6Rmb482U3G3vk8FcCRHtWNdn89zG2PBTMeUxBA6xsbGBE5v5l&id=100044237508865&mibextid=Nif5oz]

Multiplying God’s Grace

Grace can be multiplied in our life. James says, “But He gives us more and more grace” (James 4:6, AMP).

2 Peter 1:2 ►

Berean Literal Bible
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.Word Day 329.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Pet. 1:2-4).

Grace can be multiplied in our life. James says, “But He gives us more and more grace” (James 4:6, AMP). It’s by grace we can do anything of worth in the kingdom. This ability is multiplied in knowing God intimately.

This is why every believer should spend quality time with God. We should pray, read the Scripture, read inspired books, listen to anointed messages, all the while looking and listening to the Holy Spirit for His revelation. As we do this, grace is multiplied in our lives, which gives us the ability to do more.

I’ve discovered that the more intimately I come to know Him and His ways, the more effective I become. If I possess an ax that has a very dull blade, chopping a tree down may take all day.

However, if I sharpen it, I can chop five trees down in one day using the same energy. This is what happens when grace is multiplied in our lives. We labor with greater efficiency.

I recall an evangelistic outreach we had several years ago in a city called Jyväskylä in Finland, it was at the city centre, we got there set up our equipment and had some time to pray, as we finished praying, I heard the Holy Spirit said to me stay at the same spot and pray in the spirit, I think I did for about an hour plus after which I was directed to two young ladies, told them about the salvation of their soul and they were convicted by the Holy Spirit and gave their lives to Jesus on the spot. That is the grace that flow through intimacy, amazingly it was my first time of being led in that direction and the result was amazing.

He led me to people and gave me the words to speak. The words were sinking in, and two ladies gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Looking to the Holy Spirit and listening to His spoken word in my heart multiplied my efforts.

I’ve seen this in all areas of life. As I’ve grown in the Word of God, I’ve had the ability to do more in less time. I’ve discovered paths of truth that saved me hours, days, and even months of time. Prayers become more powerful, God’s presence stronger, the impact on lives more efficient.

Scripture promises this: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life” (Prov. 9:10-11, NLT).

Two things are promised: more years, which means a longer life, and multiplied days are promised as well. The ability to accomplish more in the same amount of time.

It is described in another place as length of days. “For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you” (Prov. 3:2).

The writer speaks of adhering to the Word of God, as Peter discussed above. Notice not only long life is given, but length of days: God’s grace multiplies our time and our effectiveness for Him. Receive grace today for increase in the knowledge and understanding of the truth in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Author:Joseph Sodeinden

Source:[https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02omFZBtxdn61cZR6L6ExLhWTviB37LdK2BL7FPCjeFh96jzzteAi5UsMheSJ6tiufl&id=675899079&mibextid=Nif5oz]

Is He Really Lord Of My Life?

“…so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 20: 24

Joy means the perfect fulfilment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing. The joy Our Lord had lay in doing what the Father sent Him to do, and He says – “As My Father hath sent Me, even so am I sending you.” Have I received a ministry (your ministry is your service to your God in the form of your Spiritual Gifts and obeying “The Great Commission”) from the Lord? If so, I have to be loyal to it, to count my life precious only for the fulfilling of that ministry. Think of the satisfaction it will be to hear Jesus say – “Well done, good and faithful servant”; to know that you have done what He sent you to do. We have all to find our niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive our ministry from the Lord. In order to do this we must have companied with Jesus; we must know Him as more than a personal Savior. “I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My sake.”

“Lovest thou Me?” Then – “Feed My sheep.” There is no choice of service, only absolute loyalty to Our Lord’s commission; loyalty to what you discern when you are in closest contact with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is never the call: the need is the opportunity. The call is loyalty to the ministry you received when you were in real touch with Him. This does not imply that there is a campaign of service marked out for you, but it does mean that you will have to ignore the demands for service along other lines.

Source:[https://www.facebook.com/groups/123755984449068/permalink/2433986483425995/?mibextid=Nif5oz]

PESAN TUHAN DAN PENGLIHATAN UNTUK ASIA TENGGARA

WORLD PRAYER ASSEMBLY 2022
DAY 1
SELASA 17 MEI 2022
SESSION ASIA TENGGARA

PS RICK RIDING

Sewaktu WPA 2012 di Indonesia saya mendapatkan Penglihatan Untuk :

Negara Korea Seperti Kuda. Kuda Mempunyai Kecepatan Yang sangat tinggi, mempunyai mata yang bisa melihat keadaan disekeliling, untuk hewat darat ia mempunyai mata yang besar terletak di sebelah kanan dan kiri.

Negara China Seperti Unta. Unta adalah Hewan yang tahan terhadap panas di Padang Gurun, Unta tidak mudah haus karena memiliki cadangan air di punuk. Negara China adalah Negara Yang Anak-anak Tuhan mengalami aniaya berpuluh-puluh tahun, mereka kuat menderita.

Negara Indonesia seperti Gajah. Saya bertanya kepada Tuhan kenapa Gajah melambangkan Indonesia. Indonesia memiliki kekuatan yang sangat besar. Gajah memiliki belalai, dengan belalai gajah bisa mengeluarkan suara. Indonesia seperti Peniup Shofar, Umat Tuhan meniup Shofar dan Mempunyai Kekuatan besar untuk menghancurkan semua benteng-benteng dan kekuatan musuh

Tuhan katakan Dari Indonesia : Middle East mengalami Breakthrough dan Greatest Harvest dan Greatest Revival.

Selamat Datang Tuhan di negara-negara Middle East, Yerusalem, Korea, China, Indonesia.

Tuhan Yesus memberikan High Calling Kepada Umat Tuhan di Indonesia. Kami Siap Menerima Lawatan Tuhan dan Great Revival.

PESAN TUHAN UNTUK ASIA TENGGARA

Greatest Awakening, Greatest Harvest, Greatest Revival For Indo China, Malaysia, Filipina, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Kamboja, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapura.

BRUNEI DARRUSALAM

Gereja-gereja di Brunei Darussalam keluar dari Zona nyaman.

Anak-Anak Muda di Brunei Darussalam Bangkit

THAILAND
Gereja Tuhan Menginjak Ular dan Kalajengking

MYANMAR

Spirit Idol Worship Dihancurkan
Hutang Darah yang dilakukan oleh Militer Myanmar. Ada Pendamaian dan Hutang Darah dihapuskan.
Roh Kekacauan Menyingkir dari Myanmar

MALAYSIA

Keterpurukan Ekonomi di Malaysia. Generasi Muda yang bekerja di Singapura.
Hujan Awal dan Hujan Akhir Turun Atas Malaysia
Lawatan Tuhan turun atas Malaysia

PHILIPINA

SEMBUHKAN RAKYAT DAN BANGSA PHILIPPINES.
PHILIPPINES Berdiri Diatas Hukum dan Kebenaran Tuhan
Generasi Muda dibangkitkan Tuhan menjadi Generasi Muda Yang Mengasihi Tuhan
Spirit Rekonsiliasi dan Restorasi Memenuhi Philippines.
Great Awakening Di Philiipines.

SINGAPURA
Menjadi Negara Domba dan Kota Singa Yehuda. Api Kebangunan Rohani Menyala Kembali di Singapura.
Mighty Army dibangkitkan dari Timur ke Barat

Ditulis oleh Joshua Ivan Sudrajat

Saat ini kita memasuki semester 2 Tahun 2022, sudahkah kita memiliki paradigma yang baru?

selesaikanamanatagung
excellentspirit
kingdomvalue

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0koNNc5stnEJgewgi1JfUcpBZjvRV1hcHVbLcBHT6cVCdvPTaX44xGuxJkc9aKXrRl&id=100039435722577

“Arise Warrior Bride”

Christ Love Centered – Spirit Driven- Mission Minded
Jesus said to him, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. John 14:6

“Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Psalms 50:5

It was on March 1-3, 2018 during the prophetic dance camp “Arise Warrior Bride” hosted by Ps.Rowina Anna Pang at Lanna Palace Hotel, Prayer Tower in Chiang Mai, Thailand that Ps.Sharron Joy from KL,Malaysia confirmation to a elephant vision given to Rick Ridings of Succat Hallel, a 24/7 Jerusalem House Of Prayer.

Ps. Sharron Joy said: “I see a vision of an elephant. The elephant is Thailand’s national animal. We find elephants in Indonesia. We can find elephants in India, Malaysia, and Africa too. Then, I kept seeing a picture of an elephant stampede with such might and death blow to the enemy. Such a stomping stampede that has the power to destroy the enemy with one blow because of the many elephants stomping, running at a mad speed. The Lord said my army has to be like these elephants, united to do one thing … likened to this stampede, striking a death blow to the devil. Then, I heard the Lord say, “Study the characteristics of the elephant and learn from them.” I keep hearing the sound of the elephant when it is ready to charge, when it lifts up the tusk. I see that God is speaking to Thailand to arise, a land of elephants. The Thai people are very loyal in the serving industries likened to the characteristics of an elephant. It shows that the elephants are very trainable and God wants His Warrior’s Bride to have this characteristic as well. Elephants are made for war. … They also have a good memory, which reminds us that God remembers … all the words He has spoken. God also wants His people to have such ‘elephant’ memory to remember what He has spoken … to them. Then, I see the Words: INDIA, SRI LANKA, INDONESIA, THAILAND, MALAYSIA, and AFRICA. [These] are the Elephant Nations and they must work together to destroy the works of darkness in the region in the East. These are the lands that have a great number of elephants and God is saying to these nations to ARISE with a strength like the elephants”.

The Bile telling us that on the “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” (2 Corinthians 13:1, Deut 19:15)

The third person who got the same vision about the elephants was my friend Timothy Gordon (Canadian missionary to China). Tim said” Many years ago when I was living and my way to Thailand for a visit. I asked people, and where did they come from? I saw a vision of people who look like Thai’s, some wearing hats, and so many of them riding on the backs of elephants. They were moving from the land which is now in southern China’s Yunnan province, around and from what is now Xishuangbanna. They were moving south on the backs of elephants, many in a long row, elephant after elephant in a parade. I know they were the first to settle the land that is now Thailand and would one day become Thai people”.

Therefore since camp, our aim was to gathering elephants nations together for the time of prophetic worship and intercession. What we discovered is a powerful dynamic movement that is impacting lives, community’s and nations under the very heavy weight of revival “like elephant” of intense fire and glory which caused life transformation.

Source -http://www.jesuschristeagles.org/east-asia-elephant-vision.html

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel

”For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…for it is the Power of GOD for Salvation to them that believe. Romans 1:16

Only believe!!!

There are many in our lives that are believing but they are not believing the Word of God! They are walking in weakness and not the strength of the Lord. They are believing from the word of “Good Advice!” rather than “The Word of God!” Good advice even from a believer does not bring transformation! Romans 1:17 says “for in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Friend, because of the Finished Work of Christ Jesus…we who believe on Him are made Righteous! How can I know if I’m hearing the True Gospel or just good advice?

Good advice says you better love God or He won’t love you…. the Gospel says He already loves you more than you could ever comprehend! Good advice says God can forgive you…the Gospel says He already has! Good advice says you are a bad person and points to your badness…the Gospel reveals the abundant Goodness and Grace of a loving Father God!

Good advice says God can….the Gospel says God will and God has!!! Good advice will tell you God is the One that gives you depression and sickness to teach you a lesson…. the Gospel says He has healed us of all of our sicknesses and diseases!!! Believer…step out of the realm of the old man of “good advice” and rest in the Good News…” The Gospel of Jesus Christ!”
Stand firm on the Truths of Father God’s Promises in Christ Jesus!

Learn to walk in the things of God…in your excellent spirit! Learn to live in His TRIUMPHANT GRACE……His Name is JESUS! In Christ Jesus…we are “STRONGER THAN WE THINK!”

Be Encouraged!

Pastor D
TBN Network Pastor
Source:https://m.facebook.com/TBN/photos/a.184716081564929/4416057418430753/?type=3

Large Groups VS Smaller Groups

They met in large groups in the great open spaces of the Temple courtyard. And they met in smaller groups in homes. We people of God enjoy immensity in one and intimacy the other. We would do well to cultivate both.

Multiplication meant cultural integration and some conflict came with it. If you want a problem free ministry, you need ministry empty of people.

“Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.” (Proverbs 14:4, NKJV)

The church will always have problems to overcome and peace to administer. Wisdom from above helps us to do both. The Apostles, like Moses, delegate responsibility. Growth demands it. The Apostles are well prioritized. They maintain their first work: the Word and prayer. They solve the problem with seven wise deacons—one is named Stephen. These were full of the Holy Spirit and ordained by the laying on of hands for the work of their part in the ministry. This means they are publicly recognized and approved by leadership. It is done, as everything must be in God’s church, in a spirit of prayer. The church sees even more multiplication and progress. Even some priests are new converts. Some critics charge him with blasphemy.

Progress is always met with satanic opposition. Every step you make in Jesus Christ enrages the devil.

You will not find an example in the Bible of a person that God used greatly who did not meet with the resistance of our ancient enemy. The Devil doesn’t like to lose his property. “We are in the devil’s territory”, an old man once said, “and he thinks we are trespassing”.

Brothers and Sisters, if you are going to live and do something for Jesus, you are going to have a fight on your hands.

The more filled you are, and the more mission-minded you are—the more Satan will oppose you. Stephen takes the brunt of opposition from some slanderers and Jesus haters. He is filled with Spirit and so he is filled with the wisdom. They could not successfully argue with him, because He had the power of Scripture and aid of the Holy Spirit.

As he preached Christ, he reflected Christ. Even his face was like an angel.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:18–4:1)


Source- https://www.facebook.com/113735405313697/posts/4304849339535595/

1 Raja-raja 5:1-18 – Untuk menyenangkan hati-Nya


e-Santapan Harian

Ayat SH: 1 Raja-raja 5:1-18

Judul: Untuk menyenangkan hati-Nya

Seorang anak biasanya berkeinginan untuk menyenangkan hati orang tuanya. Banyak anak yang rela mengorbankan keinginan dirinya demi membuat hati orang tuanya senang.

Salomo tahu bahwa ayahnya Daud berkerinduan untuk dapat mendirikan rumah bagi Allah. Daud ingin agar umat Israel tidak lagi beribadah di kemah suci, yang sampai dengan masa Salomo masih digunakan untuk menyembah Allah. Namun sayang, Allah tidak mengizinkan Daud mendirikan rumah bagi-Nya. Sebaliknya Allah berjanji mendirikan rumah (baca: keluarga) bagi Daud untuk selamanya (2Sam. 7:12-16).
Kelak, putra Daudlah yang diperkenan Allah mendirikan rumah bagi-Nya.

Setelah bangsanya dikaruniai keamanan dan kemakmuran, Salomo tahu bahwa Allah berkenan kepadanya. Maka, ia pun memberanikan diri untuk mewujudkan apa yang dahulu tidak dapat dilakukan oleh ayahnya, yaitu mendirikan rumah bagi Allah. Sayangnya kitab 2 Samuel tidak mencatat bagaimana Daud mempersiapkan hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan pembangunan bait Allah bila putranya sudah naik takhta. Namun, bila melihat catatan di kitab 1 Tawarikh pasal 22-29, kita tahu bahwa Daud telah mempersiapkan pembangunan yang harus dikerjakan Salomo dengan begitu detail.Bahkan ia juga mempersiapkan para pelayan Tuhan yang akan melayani di rumah Tuhan kelak.

Langkah pertama Salomo ialah menghubungi Hiram, raja Tirus, sahabat Daud untuk mendapatkan kayu-kayu aras dan sanobar yang berasal dari hutan Libanon. Langkah ini mendapat sambutan hangat dari Hiram, yang menunjukkan bahwa Daud rupanya sudah pernah menceritakan hal itu.

Kita memang harus menghormati dan menyenangkan hati orang tua kita.
Namun, yang terutama harus kita senangkan dengan bakti dan hormat kita adalah Allah Bapa kita. Untuk mewujudkannya, maka kita harus
terlebih dahulu mengetahui apa yang Allah ingin kita lakukan.Setelah itu, lakukanlah dengan penuh ketaatan dan dengan kerinduan
untuk memuliakan nama-Nya.

e-SH versi web: http://www.sabda.org/publikasi/sh/2015/06/30/

Ayat Alkitab: http://alkitab.sabda.org/?1+Raja-raja+5:1-18
Mobile: http://alkitab.mobi/tb/passage/1+Raja-raja+5:1-18

1 Raja-raja 5:1-18

1 Hiram, raja Tirus, mengutus pegawai-pegawainya kepada Salomo,karena didengarnya, bahwa Salomo telah diurapi menjadi raja menggantikan ayahnya, sebab Hiram senantiasa bersahabat dengan
Daud.
2 Lalu Salomo mengutus orang kepada Hiram dengan pesan:
3 “Engkau tahu bahwa Daud, ayahku, tidak dapat mendirikan sebuah rumah bagi nama TUHAN, Allahnya, oleh karena musuh-musuhnya memerangi dia dari segala jurusan, sampai TUHAN menyerahkan mereka
ke bawah telapak kakinya.
4 Tetapi sekarang, TUHAN, Allahku, telah mengaruniakan keamanan kepadaku di mana-mana, tidak ada lagi lawan dan tidak ada lagi malapetaka menimpa.
5 Dan ketahuilah, aku berpikir-pikir hendak mendirikan sebuah rumah bagi nama TUHAN, Allahku, seperti yang dijanjikan TUHAN kepada Daud, ayahku, demikian: Anakmu yang hendak Kududukkan nanti di atas takhtamu menggantikan engkau, dialah yang akan mendirikan rumah itu bagi nama-Ku.
6 Oleh sebab itu, perintahkanlah orang menebang bagiku pohon-pohon aras dari gunung Libanon, dan biarlah hamba-hambaku membantu hamba-hambamu, dan upah hamba-hambamu akan kubayar kepadamuseberapa juga kauminta, sebab engkau tahu, bahwa di antara kami tidak ada seorangpun yang pandai menebang pohon sama seperti orang Sidon.”
7 Maka segera sesudah Hiram mendengar pesan dari Salomo itu, ia sangat bersukacita serta berkata: “Terpujilah TUHAN pada hari ini,karena Ia telah memberikan kepada Daud seorang anak yang bijaksana untuk mengepalai bangsa yang besar ini.”
8 Lalu Hiram mengutus orang kepada Salomo mengatakan: “Aku telah mendengar pesan yang kausuruh sampaikan kepadaku. Tentang kayu aras dan kayu sanobar aku akan melakukan segala yang kaukehendaki.
9 Hamba-hambaku akan membawanya turun dari gunung Libanon ke laut dan aku akan mengikatnya menjadi rakit-rakit di laut untuk dibawa sampai ke tempat yang akan kautunjukkan kepadaku; kemudian akan kusuruh bongkar semuanya di sana, sehingga engkau dapat mengangkutnya. Sementara itu engkau hendaknya menyediakan makanan bagi seisi istanaku seberapa yang kukehendaki.”
10 Demikianlah Hiram memberikan kayu aras dan kayu sanobar kepada Salomo seberapa yang dikehendakinya.
11 Lalu Salomo memberikan kepada Hiram dua puluh ribu kor gandum,bahan makanan bagi seisi istananya dan dua puluh kor minyak tumbuk; demikianlah diberikan Salomo kepada Hiram tahun demi
tahun.
12 Dan TUHAN memberikan hikmat kepada Salomo seperti yang dijanjikan-Nya kepadanya; maka damaipun ada antara Hiram dan Salomo, lalu mereka berdua mengadakan perjanjian.
13 Raja Salomo mengerahkan orang rodi dari antara seluruh Israel,maka orang rodi itu ada tiga puluh ribu orang.
14 Ia menyuruh mereka ke gunung Libanon, sepuluh ribu orang dalam sebulan berganti-ganti: selama sebulan mereka ada di Libanon,
selama dua bulan di rumah. Adoniram menjadi kepala rodi.
15 Lagipula Salomo mempunyai tujuh puluh ribu kuli dan delapan puluh ribu tukang pahat di pegunungan,
16 belum terhitung para mandur kepala Salomo yang mengepalai pekerjaan itu, yakni tiga ribu tiga ratus orang banyaknya, yang mengawasi rakyat yang mengerjakan pekerjaan itu.
17 Dan raja memerintahkan supaya mereka melinggis batu yang besar,batu yang mahal-mahal untuk membuat dasar rumah itu dari batu pahat.
18 Maka tukang-tukang Salomo dan tukang-tukang Hiram serta orang-orang Gebal memahat dan menyediakan kayu dan batu untuk mendirikan rumah itu.

http://renungan.stefanussusanto.org/2015/06/e-sh-30-juni-1-raja-raja-51-18-untuk.html?m=1

Membangun Kembali

Baca: Nehemia 2:11-18

2:11 Maka tibalah aku di Yerusalem. Sesudah tiga hari aku di sana,
2:12 bangunlah aku pada malam hari bersama-sama beberapa orang saja yang menyertai aku. Aku tidak beritahukan kepada siapapun rencana yang akan kulakukan untuk Yerusalem, yang diberikan Allahku dalam hatiku. Juga tak ada lain binatang kepadaku kecuali yang kutunggangi.
 
2:13 Demikian pada malam hari aku keluar melalui pintu gerbang Lebak, ke jurusan mata air Ular Naga dan pintu gerbang Sampah. Aku menyelidiki dengan seksama tembok-tembok Yerusalem yang telah terbongkar dan pintu-pintu gerbangnya yang habis dimakan api.
 
2:14 Lalu aku meneruskan perjalananku ke pintu gerbang Mata Air dan ke kolam Raja. Karena binatang yang kutunggangi tidak dapat lalu di tempat itu,
 
2:15 aku naik ke atas melalui wadi pada malam hari dan menyelidiki dengan seksama tembok itu. Kemudian aku kembali, lalu masuk melalui pintu gerbang Lebak. Demikianlah aku pulang.
 
2:16 Para penguasa tidak tahu ke mana aku telah pergi dan apa yang telah kulakukan, karena sampai kini aku belum memberitahukan apa-apa kepada orang Yahudi, baik kepada para imam, maupun kepada para pemuka, kepada para penguasa dan para petugas lainnya.
 
2:17 Berkatalah aku kepada mereka: “Kamu lihat kemalangan yang kita alami, yakni Yerusalem telah menjadi reruntuhan dan pintu-pintu gerbangnya telah terbakar. Mari, kita bangun kembali tembok Yerusalem, supaya kita tidak lagi dicela.”
 
2:18 Ketika kuberitahukan kepada mereka, betapa murahnya tangan Allahku yang melindungi aku dan juga apa yang dikatakan raja kepadaku, berkatalah mereka: “Kami siap untuk membangun!” Dan dengan sekuat tenaga mereka mulai melakukan pekerjaan yang baik itu.
 
Dikutip dari Alkitab Terjemahan Baru Indonesia (c) LAI 1974
 
Berkatalah mereka: “Kami siap untuk membangun!” Dan dengan sekuat tenaga mereka mulai melakukan pekerjaan yang baik itu.—Nehemia 2:18
 
 
Pada larut malam itu, sang pemimpin berangkat menunggang kuda untuk memeriksa pekerjaan yang masih harus dilakukan. Saat berkeliling, ia melihat tembok kota telah menjadi reruntuhan dan pintu-pintu gerbang habis terbakar. Di beberapa tempat, puing-puing menumpuk tinggi hingga tidak dapat dilewati oleh kudanya. Karena sangat sedih, ia pun berbalik dan pulang.
 
Ketika menyampaikan laporannya tentang kehancuran yang dilihatnya kepada para penguasa kota, ia berkata, “Kamu lihat kemalangan yang kita alami” (Neh. 2:17). Ia menyampaikan kabar bahwa kotanya telah menjadi puing-puing, dan tembok-tembok pelindung kota tidak lagi berfungsi.
Namun kemudian, ia menyampaikan suatu pernyataan yang kembali menyemangati penduduk kota yang gelisah: “Kuberitahukan kepada mereka, betapa murahnya tangan Allahku yang melindungi aku.” Mereka semua langsung menjawab, “Kami siap untuk membangun!” (ay.18).
Mereka benar-benar melakukan apa yang mereka ucapkan.
Dengan iman kepada Allah dan segenap daya upaya, meski harus menghadapi perlawanan musuh dan situasi yang tampaknya mustahil, para penduduk yang dipimpin Nehemia dapat membangun kembali tembok kota hanya dalam kurun waktu lima puluh dua hari (6:15).
Dalam keadaanmu sekarang, adakah sesuatu yang kelihatannya sulit tetapi kamu tahu itulah yang Tuhan ingin kamu lakukan? Dosa yang sulit untuk kamu tinggalkan? Perselisihan yang tidak sehat dengan orang lain? Atau tugas dari-Nya yang tampaknya terlalu sulit untuk dikerjakan?
Minta tuntunan Allah (2:4-5), pelajari masalahnya (ay.11-15), dan akui campur tangan-Nya (ay.18). Kemudian, mulailah membangun kembali.—DAVE BRANON
WAWASAN
Tidak seperti sebagian besar isi Perjanjian Lama, cerita dalam kitab Nehemia tidak disajikan oleh seorang narator. Hal itu menjadi jelas ketika Nehemia mengatakan, “Ketika itu aku ini juru minuman raja” (1:11)—sebuah pernyataan yang bukan saja menyingkapkan bentuk kitab itu sebagai autobiografi, tetapi juga memberikan gambaran sekilas kepada kita tentang kehidupannya. Nehemia adalah orang Yahudi yang dibuang ke Babel dan bekerja sebagai juru minuman raja. Dalam peran tersebut, ia pasti sangat dipercaya, karena racun merupakan sarana membunuh utama di zaman lampau. —Bill Crowder
“Reruntuhan” apa yang sedang menyulitkanmu? Bagaimana dengan berdoa sungguh-sungguh meminta pertolongan dan penyertaan Allah dapat membantumu membangun kembali?
Ya Allah, tolonglah aku yang tidak sanggup memperbaiki masalahku seorang diri. Tolong aku memahami situasi dan mencari pertolongan serta tuntunan-Mu untuk menyelesaikan tantangan yang ada.
Bacaan Alkitab Setahun: Nehemia 1–3; Kisah Para Rasul 2:1-21
SUMBER:  Membangun Kembali