The Call And Foundation To Unity & Reconciliation

LOOK around and see...the increasing move of the Holy Spirit bringing about unity in the Body of Christ. In John 17 (our Lord's passionate prayer to His Father) Jesus prayed that we may be one, as He and the Father are one, so the world would believe that the Father sent Jesus for them. Since our Father in Heaven is utmost mindful of showing the world that He sent His Son, we must also be as passionately mindful for the same. Scripture says we should put away all that would cause division and love one another with sincerity of heart. What joy this would be to our Lord. Therefore, let us join with the Holy Spirit of Truth to help bring this about

1- PRAY John 17 and live to eliminate anything in our lives that would hinder our Lord's prayer for unity, sp the world will know Jesus!
2- PRAY with your church or prayer group for Unity and Reconciliation.
3- SHARE your ideas and love with others to increase unity.

In order to have broader vision from God, we must have unity. We have to serve together as the servants of God. Of course there is a risk faced by us when we serve together in unity - when we have to leave our individual interest and give priority to group interest. We must also have a commitment. A big work requires a big place. A big thing can happen if the small or separated things are gathered. Reconciliation between churches is needed to have unity.

Reflection:
Do you want to be His agent of transformation and shaped according to His will?

Commitment:
Just as Isaiah said, “Here I am, send me”, let Your will happen in my life. Be willing to pay the price to live as an agent of transformation.

Taken from the book “Transformation Journey”
By Dr. Ir. Niko Njotorahardjo & Iman Santoso Ph.D

City Transformation & Church's Repentance

'Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent.' Revelation 2:5

Transformation is always marked with three things: [1] repentance [2] decreased crime rate and [3] increased welfare.

If revival only happens in one church denomination, it is not a transformation. It is a transformation, though, if revival happens in one city and the crime rate decreases.
The key to transformation is the church’s repentance. We have to know that a nation’s restoration is God’s work. When we unite, a restoration will happen, because that is the time when God comes to restore us. (2 Chronicles 7:14) - God will be there and fight for us. No one is able to restore a nation other than God.

If churches are not united, we can’t change a nation. The churches which have understood this concept will respond to this call. It’s our duty to enlighten churches which have not understood this concept. We have to enlighten the churches: from one city to other cities, from one church to other churches, so that repentance can happen and the denomination which considers itself as the best denomination will be able to unite with the body of Christ.

The most effective tool to unite the churches is prayer. Through prayer, God will lead the churches to forgive and pray for each other – and as a result reconciliation and repentance will happen. So prayer is the tool that binds us.

Church’s repentance is marked by a paradigm change: that churches are not just the buildings.
There are two points for the unity of the body of Christ for the glory of Christ. First, the servants of God are willing to sit together and humble themselves and pray and fast so that God will visit them and make all the leaders and congregation turn from their wicked ways. Second, when we pray to seek God’s face (the phase when God listens our prayers) and forgive each other, restoration will happen. What does it mean? It means transformation will happen if there are unity, humility, prayer & fasting.

If churches unite, God will be there. If God is there, He will restore. It means that transformation will be followed by souls’ repentance. It means there will be great harvest. We have to prepare the barns and the harvesters as many as possible.

Human programs will enable a church to grow, even though it will not be a healthy way. According to data, transformation happens not because of a program, but because of God’s visitation.

The period before year 2000 was the era of local church. After year 2000 is the era of the Kingdom of God. We can’t have a feeling that our church is the best church. We have to repent from this kind of feeling. These days we are entering the Kingdom of God’s era. If we understand this concept, we will see other brothers and sisters from different churches with different perspective.

If we are talking about the growth of local church, the measurement is the number of congregation in the church. Sometimes we make a mistake in applying God’s will. If we are talking about the growth of perfect Kingdom of God, the measurement is community’s transformation, city’s transformation and nation’s transformation.

If churches want to please God and be blessed, they need to enter and stay focused on transformation inside the era of the Kingdom of God. The movement era in God’s church nowadays is “super team” where churches can’t work alone – God is moving his servants from many denominations to become a solid team who can be used as transformers. Churches will be prepared as transformers who will transform the nations and become a blessing for many nations.

Essence:
If churches are not united, they can’t change a nation.
Points to achieve the unity of the body for Christ’s glory are:
1. God’s servants want to sit together, humble themselves and fast so that God’s visitation will happen and the leaders and congregation will turn away from their wicked ways.
2. We pray to God to seek His face [this is the phase when God listens to our prayers] and then forgive others. Restoration will happen afterwards.
In order to make transformation happen, there must be unity, humility and fasting and prayer.

Reflection:
How is our relationship with other churches in the city? Is it good and close? Is there any distrust and jealousy?

Commitment:
To make transformation happens in my nation; I will build a relationship, work and unite with other body of Christ.

Taken from the book “Transformation Journey” By Dr. Ir. Niko Njotorahardjo & Iman Santoso Ph.D(From the Transform World Movement See: http://transform-world.net/