JERUSALEM, THE CITY OF GOD

Jos 15:63

"But the people of Judah were not able to drive out the Jebusites, who lived in Jerusalem. The Jebusites still live there with the people of Judah."

In Old Testament we know that Jerusalem was struggled from Jebusite, then this city was by turns dominated by several nations till up late now Jerusalem is controlled by Israel and become a capital for the country although not be admitted by some nations in the world.

Jerusalem city now becomes a Holy City for three religion communities in the world. Israel for the Temple of God (which is now only the wall remained) and the Holy Bible says that this city is the City of God. Moslems consider this city as the Third Most Holy City with their Al Aqsa Mosque. And Christian with Jesus Christ and same with Moslem consider this city as God's City.

The problem is God Himself had chosen this city become His Chosen City, although historically God often punished this city because of the choice of the people to worship idols than God. And refer to the Bible God will comes and dwells in Jerusalem on His second coming forever.

How should we be attitude as Christian towards this city: there are 3 attitudes that we could do as Christian.

First, support the existence of this city as the Holy City of Christian.

Second, be unconcerned because we have no relation with it.

Third, reject the existence of this city as the Holy City of Christian and only consider it as a historical city because of the amount of Christian history archaeological remains inside.

To know Jerusalem city status towards Christian, we have to go back to basic i.e.: back to the Bible which guide our live in this world. In the Bible, since the beginning God had determined this city as His belonging, His Chosen City.

About the reason why God chose this city it is His own 'Prerogative Right'. Maybe we can ask Him later in heaven about his reason of choosing Jerusalem city. The verses in the Bible which say that Jerusalem is God's City are in the Old Testament:

1 King 11:36
" but I will let Solomon's son keep one tribe, so that I will always have a descendant
of my servant David ruling in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as the place
where I am worshiped".

Psalm 137:5
" May I never be able to play the harp again if I forget you, Jerusalem! "

Isa 62:2
Jerusalem, the nations will see you victorious! All their kings will see your glory. You will be called by a new name, A name given by the LORD himself.

Isa 62:12
You will be called "God's Holy People," "The People the LORD Has Saved." Jerusalem will be called "The City That God Loves," "The City That God Did Not Forsake."

Isa 2:3
"and their people will say, "Let us go up the hill of the LORD, to the Temple of Israel's God. He will teach us what he wants us to do; we will walk in the paths he has chosen. For the LORD's teaching comes from Jerusalem; from Zion he speaks to his people."

Jesus Himself cried for Jerusalem because of the obstinacy of the citizen.

Mat 23:37
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!"

And God Had spoken that He will lives forever in Jerusalem, although the place where will become God's City is not Jerusalem city at present. Because Jerusalem which is existed now will be destroyed because of the Day End War

And God Had spoken that He will lives forever in Jerusalem,
God will send down a New Jerusalem from Heaven where His Holy people stay at the city. And God will dwells in, but must be remembered the New Jerusalem will be at Jerusalem city right now. The supporting verses:

Isa 65:19
"I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help."

Rev 21:2
And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband.

Rev 21:10
The Spirit took control of me, and the angel carried me to the top of a very high mountain. He showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, coming down out of heaven from God

So how we should be attitude? There are several things that we can do:
- We pray for the peaceful of this city
- If we have money we could visit this sacred place:

Psalm 122:1-9
Psa 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the LORD's house."

Psa 122:2 And now we are here, standing inside the gates of Jerusalem!

Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper.

Psa 122:7 May there be peace inside your walls and safety in your palaces."

Psa 122:8 For the sake of my relatives and friends I say to Jerusalem, "Peace be with you!"

Psa 122:9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God I pray for your prosperity.

We pray for Jerusalem not for the purpose that Israel keep occupied that city, not because we support Israel. We pray Jerusalem because it is the City of God. And God of the universe will dwells with His members/ people inside.

Jesus will lives in Jerusalem forever

Article in Indonesia

THE RELATION BETWEEN CHRISTIAN AND ISRAEL

Exo 19::5-6

Exo 19:5 Now, if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be my chosen people,

Exo 19:6 a people dedicated to me alone, and
you will serve me as priests."

Lately there are two points of view about Israel among Christian in the world.
1. They who curse Israel for what they have done along the time,
especially when they attacked Lebanon.

2. They that support Israel to act blindly although in fact Israel kills so many civilians.

Generally Christian in the world feels tied with Israel. It is because the God of Christian that is Jesus Christ comes from Israel, and the Holy Bible (Old Testament) same with the Israelite's Holy Bible. More over the prophets, even the ancestor are acknowledged come from Israel.

Actually if we look at the history of Israelite in the Bible, many times God said that this nation is a stubborn nation. Israel is a nation, which always leaves YHWH and worship to other nation's gods. Many times God punished this nation and the last this nation finally scattered over the earth.

The question is, has God who always fulfil His promise & fulfil
His Word leaves Israel? Has YHWH cancel His choice upon this nation?

No. God never withdraws His Words about Israel. That this nation is the 'chosen nation' looks at
God never replaces Israelites with other nation in this world. They are God's chosen nation still, even God presence in this earth and incarnated become human which was born among Israelites.

For God's anger is so deep, so this nation become the most suffering nation on this earth. Since long time ago they had been chased, exiled and even been killed by other nations. But what the other nations did was God's arm lengthen to punish His chosen nation.

When we read from the Bible, we see that God used other nations to punish Israel, but God also used His strong hands to punish the nations who trouble Israel. Even the coming back of Israel from the North and the independence of Israel had been written in the Bible.

More Paul affirmed that Israel is God's chosen race/ nation still.

Rom 11:1
" I ask, then: Did God reject his own people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite,
a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.'

And be continued in Rom 11:28 - 29
Rom 11:28 Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors.

Rom 11:29 For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.

For the Gospel They are God's enemy because of you, but for about a choice they are God's beloved because of their ancestor. For God doesn't regret His grace and His calling. God never cancel His choice upon Israel and if God never cancel His choice do we dare to curse God's chosen race? Do we better than Israel?

God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses

Don't our daily life behaviour just same with Israelite behaviour? Although God has helped us several times, we are still grumbling when the help or something that we are expected doesn't appear/ come.

Although God had shown miraculous things several times in our life, but we are still keep grumbling, we often forget to thank God & thank for all of His blesses that had been given to us. We always ask more bless to God?

So what is the difference between us and the Israelites? OK, we feel better than them because we have Jesus who they don't admit in. Then, is our daily lives reflect the life as Jesus follower?

With the same religion/ Christian fellows we often quarrelling, let alone with people with different religion. Is that the life that Jesus had taught to us? Remember Jesus said " Many are called less are chosen ".

Bro, let see you. Do we better than the Israelites? The author doesn't want to defend the Israelite. The author doesn't like how the Israelite overcome their problems i.e. by bombing to act blindly instead. But the author knows that this nation is God's chosen race. They have God to whom we worship too.

And their God which is also our God is not a dead or deaf God, NO!! Our God is the Living God. He always pays attention to this nation. So, do we deserve to act representing God and curse His chosen nation? By doing that means that we want to say that we are greater then God,

We want to say that God is dead already and does nothing to Israel............how great is your mind. Have you observed your own life/ behaviour? Do you have a proper life before the God of Israel?

The author sees among Christian in Indonesia recently become a 'later in day-heroes', because they are afraid to be tortured/ threatened by the 'daughter of the slave woman'.

They always a follower to curse Israel, whereas they shut up their mouth when their own brother in faith or Indonesian fellow who live near them, their church been burnt, closed, the community been oppressed even more been killed.

HI! YOU WHO CURSE ISRAEL, YOUR BROTHER IN NATION BEEN OPRESSED YOU JUST KEEP SILENT. HOW POSSIBLE YOU LOVE OTHER NATION THAT YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE,

WHILE YOUR OWN NATION, YOUR BROTHER IN FAITH, YOU DO NOT DEFEND THEM AT ALL....... OR YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE NOT INDONESIAN ANYMORE? GO FAR AWAY FROM THIS COUNTRY YOU BOOTLICKERS!!!

In my opinion we don't need to take sides or curse the Israelites. Let God works. Remember, HE is God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Even there are some blogs and Christian sites blame the Bible by declaring that the people who defend Israelite usually bring Rome verses, well ...... if it so you do bring what kind of Bible?

Are you realizing what the Word say we should do it? Is there verse in the Bible says to curse Israel? Cursing Israel? We may not curse people instead (That's why we become 'a cursed nation' because we love to curse and curse).

Brothers, don't try to tease God's chosen nation, let's pray Israel will not attack any nation to act blindly, we pray to God to ask FATHER to handle His obstinate son. If it’s needed we pray and fast to God to change the heart of Israel's leaders. In my opinion, we don't need to take sides or curse Israel. Let God works. Remember Him, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The most important thing is putting your brother in faith first, your nation fellows, country fellows, and stay in earth Indonesia fellow. We don't need to curse other nations which we don't know well.

Amen

Exodus 3:6
I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
So Moses covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Our Lord Jesus is an Israelite

Article in Indonesia

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Mathew 6:9-13

Mat 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored;

INDONESIA: Karena itu berdoalah demikian: Bapa kami yang di sorga, Dikuduskanlah nama-Mu,

YUNANI : πατερ ημων ο εν τοις ουρανοις αγιασθητω το ονομα σου
HOUTÔS OUN PROSEUKHESTHE HUMEIS PATER HÊMÔN HO EN TOIS OURANOIS HAGIASTHÊTÔ TO ONOMA SOU

IBRANI : VE'ATEM KOH TITPALALÛ 'ÂVÎNÛ SYEBASYÂMAYIM YITQADASY SYEMEKHA.

The Orthodox Jewish Brit Chadasha (ORTHJBC), "Therefore, when you offer tefillos, daven like this: 'AVINU SH'BASHOMAYIM YITKADASH SHMECHA."

Mat 6:10 may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

INDONESIA: datanglah Kerajaan-Mu, jadilah kehendak-Mu di bumi seperti di sorga.

YUNANI : ελθετω η βασιλεια σου γενηθητω το θελημα σου ως εν ουρανω και επι της γης
ELTHETÔ HÊ BASILEIA SOU GENÊTHÊTÔ TO THELÊMA SOU HÔS EN OURANÔ KAI EPI TÊS GÊS

IBRANI : TÂVO' MALKHÛTEKHA YÊ'ÂSEH RETSÔNEKHA BÂ'ÂRETS KA'ASYER NA'ASÂT BASYÂMÂYIM.

ORTHJBC : "TAVO MALCHUTECHAH YE'ASEH R'TZONECHAH K'MOH VASHOMAYIM KEN BA'ARETZ."

Mat 6:11 Give us today the food we need.

INDONESIA: Berikanlah kami pada hari ini makanan kami yang secukupnya

YUNANI : τον αρτον ημων τον επιουσιον δος ημιν σημερον
TON ARTON HÊMÔN TON EPIOUSION DOS HÊMIN SÊMERON

IBRANI : TEN-LÂNÛ HAYÔM LEKHEM KHUQÊNÛ.

ORTHJBC: "'ES LECHEM CHUKEINU TEN LANU HAYOM."

Mat 6:12 Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us

INDONESIA: dan ampunilah kami akan kesalahan kami, seperti kami juga mengampuni orang yang bersalah kepada kami;

YUNANI : και αφες ημιν τα οφειληματα ημων ως και ημεις αφιεμεν τοις οφειλεταις ημων
KAI APHES HÊMIN TA OPHEILÊMATA HÊMÔN HÔS KAI HÊMEIS APHIEMEN TOIS OPHEILETAIS HÊMÔN

IBRANI : ÛSELÂKH-LÂNÛ 'ET-'ASYEMÂTÊNÛ KA'ASYER SOLEKHÎM 'ANAKHNÛ LA'ASYER 'ÂSYEMÛ LÂNÛ.

ORTHJBC: "U-S'LACH LANU ES CHOVOTEINU KA'ASHER SALACHNU GAM ANACHNU LACHAYAVEINU."

Mat 6:13 Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.'

INDONESIA: dan janganlah membawa kami ke dalam pencobaan, tetapi lepaskanlah kami dari pada yang jahat. (Karena Engkaulah yang empunya Kerajaan dan kuasa dan kemuliaan sampai selama-lamanya. Amin.)

YUNANI : και μη εισενεγκης ημας εις πειρασμον αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου οτι σου εστιν η βασιλεια και η δυναμις και η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην

KAI MÊ EISENEGKÊS HÊMAS EIS PEIRASMON ALLA RHUSAI HÊMAS APO TOU PONÊROU HOTI SOU ESTIN HÊ BASILEIA KAI HÊ DUNAMIS KAI HÊ DOXA EIS TOUS AIÔNAS AMÊN

IBRANI : VE'AL-TAVÎ'ÊNÛ LÎDÊY MASÂH KÎ 'IM-HATSÎNÛ MIN-HÂRÂ' KÎ LEKHA HAMAMLÂKHÂH VEHAGVÛRÂT VEHATIF'ERET LE'ÔLMÊY 'ÔLÂMÎM 'ÂMÊN.

ORTHJBC: "V'AL T'VIEINU LIDEY NISAYON KI IM CHALTZEINU MIN HARAH. KI L'CHAH HAMAMLACHAH V'HAGVURAH V'HATIFERET L'OLMEY OLAMIM. 'OMEIN."

We can see The Lord's Prayer in many versions of languages. The author will not discuss about The Lord's Prayer because most Christian know about this prayer. The author wants to review: Do we need doing this prayer?

In some traditional church Lord's Prayer still pronounced in Sunday worship. But in Pentecost & charismatic church this prayer is rare to be heard, even more no one know it at all. The problem is: this prayer was taught by Jesus to His disciples when He was asked how to pray.

We are all known that Jesus’ disciples are not stupid in praying. Since they were young they had been taught even since their ancestor existed, such as: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Josef, David, Salomo, Elijah, Elisha etc, and their God heard their pray.

So on their religious life Jesus’ disciples know a lot about prayer, but why they still asked God how to pray?

When Jesus answered His disciples He didn't say:
*God looks into hearts. So just pray anyway or He says

*You should pray in a closed room, because your Father in Heaven
will hears your prays if you pray in a closed room or

*Before you speak God has heard. And before you pray He had known
you’re pray because He is omniscient.

*Well, many prayer examples in the Bible such as Yabez Prayer,
the most powerful prayer.... what do you ask how to pray for?
Are there someone using those reasons above? Or use other reason?

No, He says if you pray, pray like this: Our Father,
which art in Heaven......................................

Ooh Jesus taught a new prayer to His disciples. That's strange. There are so many prayer examples on their Bible. It is right that before He taught Lord's Prayer He gave some examples about the attitude on praying, such as:

- Don't pray with needlessly long sentences
- In a hidden room
- give alms quietly etc, at the last He said pray like this (Mat 6:1-13)

Now let's get back to our era. If we want to be changed/ reformed alike Jesus why don't we pray like He does or Our Father Prayer is out of date?

I see the real reason which is weighed on Christian people's mind, particularly from the community who likes to get a blessing abundance. That is the word in Lord's Prayer ...

' Give us this day our daily bread ' ..... Or give me fortune’.

Well, of course I must live in abundance just like Jesus said in:

John 10:10.
The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order
that you might have life---life in all its fullness.

That is the false reason of one of my friend. I asked him why Pentecost and charismatic churches never pronounce Lord's Prayer.

The other reason is 'How can I get 30, 60 even 100 times multiplied if I pray 'Give me enough food'. That is an old era prayer in Jesus era. Now our needs are bigger, if we asked 'enough' how can we withstand/ survive?'

There is someone else says : Ooo .... I may not pray in another way? More over the Lord's Prayer is an old fashion prayer. We can pray ask to the Holy Spirit, we don't need Our Father Prayer anymore.

Wow...... human makes so many reasons. God never forbids us to be rich. Who doesn't want to be rich? I am personally wanted to be rich, too. But the question is: if we are rich to whom is that for?

We use it for our own stomach? Or for God's Glory? God knows we deserve to be rich or not. Because usually when people has been blessed a lot they will forget God.

In my opinion, we must keep praying theLord's Prayer minimum 1 times a day, if you like. But if you don't like it's all right. There's no rule in the Bible about it. But Jesus taught us so

Our Father in heaven..........

Well kids, how did Jesus teach us to pray? (This is when we we 're in Sunday school).

Jesus also prays: Our Father who art in heaven......................

Article in Indonesia