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Christian worship activities in Balaraja, Tangerang, Indonesia were disbanded by Muslim residents. The activity has been running for more than 2 years. Previously, he had asked permission from local Islamic religious leaders. However, on March 17 2024, the RT head and local residents protested the Christian activities and forced the activities to stop. The reason their residents feel disturbed. When asked what the problem was, they didn't answer. When asked for information, the police revealed that "Christians without coercion stopped their activities forever". In Indonesia, there are many areas where building churches is made difficult by both the local government and local Muslim residents. There are even areas where just by praying and singing at home, Muslims will come and ban them. Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4nUOcFRViF/?igsh=MTJjMWlpaDV1ZDNoeg== https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DdMi6HPAmk&pp=ygUPaWJhZGFoIGJhbGFyYWph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tziFspb-c4&pp=ygUPaWJhZGFoIGJhbGFyYWph

Gereja Kristen Kemah Daun Kelurahan Rajabasa Jaya, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia disallow to build their church even though they have fulfill the qualification to build the church. The village authorities (Kelurahan) have not given permission for various reasons. Bandar Lampung is one of the regions in Indonesia. Indonesia is a Muslim majority country. Even though Indonesia guarantees freedom of religion and worship in its legal provisions. In practice, much of the persecution is carried out by governments dominated by Muslim officials and among Muslim communities. In general, minorities such as Christians, Buddhists or Hindus find it difficult to build places of worship even when worshiping with their families in their own homes. There are always Muslims who protest and get angry when they worship in their own homes in several places. Source: Instagram (@KabarSejuk)

Even though they had approved and given permission for the construction of the Gamaliel Christian School, the regional government of Parepare City, South Sulawesi, through the Parepare DPRD actually recommended stopping construction of the school after receiving rejection from a group of demonstrators because the school was being built in a community with a majority Muslim population. Executive Director of Setara Institute, Halili Hasan, stated that the incident of rejection of Christian schools in Parepare indicated that even the lowest level of tolerance had not been met in that area and should not be tolerated by the local government. A demonstration against the construction of the Gamaliel Christian School in Parepare City took place on Friday (06/10). The masses who came to demonstrate came from a group of residents and Islamic mass organizations. Chairman of the Gamaliel Christian Education Foundation, Djuanda Alfonsius, said that his party was surprised by the demonstration against this. This is because the foundation has also followed all the rules so as to obtain permission or approval for the school building (PBG). Source: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/ceqe56j738no

Christian employees of an oil palm plantation owned by PT Incasi Raya in the south of Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra are prohibited from worshiping by the company.This company's employees use tarpaulin for Christian worship. The company argued that traditional institutions in West Sumatra which are managed by Muslims prohibit worship for non-Muslims in the area of plantation. Source: https://langgam.id/sulitnya-jemaat-kristiani-beribadah-di-perkebunan-sawit-sumbar/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CyqTIEuyoH4/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Muslim residents in Deli Serdang, Indonesia dispersed church congregations who were worshiping in a shophouse in the Tanjung Morawa area. In many areas in Indonesia, minorities such as Christians, Buddhists and others find it difficult to worship even in their own homes. Usually the perpetrators who prohibit worship are local Muslim residents. Source: https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-6984878/detik-detik-jemaat-kerja-di-deli-serdang-dibubarkan-warga-saat-beribadah

"Then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied." - Deuteronomy 11:14-15 Many of us have recently undergone an intense time with a lot of warfare and opposition. However, even amidst the very opposition we may have experienced, the Lord was strengthening us. We will be found coming up out of our wilderness season, leaning on our Beloved (see Song of Songs 8:5). His desire during that time was to prepare and establish us for the new oil and abundance that He is getting ready to pour out. PREPARED FOR THE NEW The Lord does not waste our pain. Through the stretching and trials we have endured, we have been made stronger. We are now prepared for the "new" that He is ready to entrust us with. Mark 2:22 says that, "No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins." We are becoming new wineskins in this very hour in order that we may be able to contain the new, fresh wine and steward the increase well. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life" - Proverbs 13:12. The Lord is reviving weary hearts back to life, and He is healing hope deferred. The hardness of the previous season has lifted, and we entering into a time of singing and rejoicing! "See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, My darling; My beautiful one, come with Me" - Song of Songs 2:11-13. The Lord sends rains that will wash away the pain, weariness, and heartache from the previous seasons that you've experienced. "You gave abundant showers, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from Your bounty, God, You provided for the poor" - Psalm 68:9-10. "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." - Isaiah 58:8 Many have continued to stand and contend for God's promises even in the midst of great, personal pain and misunderstanding. "Lift your eyes, O weary ones, for your redemption, draws near" - Luke 21:28b. Not for a moment has the Lord left your side or forsaken you. The Lord is our burden bearer, and even now, He is breaking chains that have sought to keep us bound. Our Father is removing those heavy burdens that have weighed down His children. Be encouraged! Our Savior has seen every tear that you have ever cried, and He is rushing on the scene like a mighty warrior. "Yahweh is a warrior, Yahweh is His Name" Exodus 15:3. The Lord is strong and mighty in battle. He is bringing His beloved Bride into a season of rest, peace, and great refreshing. For where you were previously not able to let down because of the consistent battle, now you will be able to rest and drink deeply of the Lord's abundant peace. He, Himself, is fighting for you! REFINED BY FIRE, REFRESHED BY RAINS You have come through the fire of the last season, forged and refined like the gold, and you are about ready to see and experience the Lord's goodness like never before! What He is about ready to release in your life will bring you such joy and restoration that you will say, "How could I have doubted the Lord's great goodness and love for me, even for a moment?" After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before (see Job 42:10). "Those who have sown in tears are about to reap much joy" - Psalm 126:5. "And Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain'" - 1 Kings 18:41. The Lord is sending the sweet, rains of abundance. Listen closely, do you hear it? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "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 from the Lord, the Spirit." WE ARE TO BE TRANSFORMED "FROM GLORY TO GLORY." THIS INDICATES AN UNFOLDING PROCESS TO CHANGE US INTO HIS IMAGE. THIS IS NOT A PROCESS THAT WE CAN ENGINEER OR CONTROL, BUT IT IS "FROM THE LORD, THE SPIRIT." WE SUBMIT TO IT BY "BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD." AS WE BEHOLD HIS GLORY, WE WILL BE CHANGED INTO HIS IMAGE. WHEN WE FALL INTO THE TRAP OF TRYING TO CHANGE OURSELVES, IT RESULTS IN LOOKING AT OURSELVES INSTEAD OF HIM. THIS WILL INEVITABLY LEAD TO THE BLACK HOLE OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS. EVEN AFTER WE ARE BORN AGAIN INTO THE LORD TRANSFORMATION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR LIVES. AS WE KEEP OUR ATTENTION ON HIM, WE WILL CHANGE, EVEN IF WE ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF IT. Matthew 22:29 - "You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor God's power." In this passage, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their ignorance of the scriptures and God's power. What was the cause? They didn't allow the scriptures to lead them to God. They didn't understand......not really understand. The word "know" in this passage speaks of "personal experience." They tried to learn apart from such an experience. Their study didn't lead them to an encounter with God. It became an end in itself. Christianity is not a philosophy; it is a relationship. It's the "God encounter" that makes the concepts powerful. We must require this of ourselves. How? We must seek until we find. We must be moved with the love of God to the point that we seek His face until we are "clothed with power from on high!" Luke 11:10 - "For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door will be opened." AMP Psalm 141:3 - "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Affirmation: THE WORLD IS LIKE A RUSHING RIVER, PULLING AT ME, TRYING TO GET ME TO FLOW WITH IT. I MAKE THE DECISION TODAY TO PADDLE UPSTREAM AGAINST THE CURRENT BY SPEAKING GOD'S WORD INTO MY LIFE. Proverbs 4:20 - "My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

"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 from the Lord, the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18 We are born into this world into an earthly realm. We are not born into the realm of God's Spirit; that's why through Jesus we need to be born AGAIN into the spiritual realm. When you were born again, you were given the "Rite of passage" to enter from one dimension to another. From the natural into the eternal. The Bible talks about the realms of glory. We are changed "from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). So there are realms of glory, not just one realm. When people are born again they begin to develop a hunger for the spiritual realm? They begin to get a feeling that there is more: there is more to this life; there is more to this place called earth. That is because the spirit now in them doesn't belong here; the spirit in them comes from above and from another realm – a heavenly place. That's why you will never be content in an earthbound realm. You were created for another environment. ANOTHER REALM When Jesus died and rose again, He purchased our salvation. But salvation includes so much more than we first think. Jesus redeemed us from the law and the repercussions of being under the law and failing to meet its demands. "We have all come short..." the apostle Paul said (Romans 3:23). Jesus redeemed us from death. He took the keys of Hell and released us from the power of the evil one. God gave us power to transit into another realm. This other realm is His realm; it's the realm where God dwells and His angels, and it's the realm of the heavenly city and of the spiritual elements of God and His Kingdom. He made us joint heirs with Christ. It's not just when we finally get to Heaven, it's here now. His Kingdom has come among us and in us and He wants it to flow through us and affect those around us. We receive by faith the things He has provided and made available through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It's a new and living way and we should walk in it. RITE OF PASSAGE He gave you a new nature to transplant you or translate you into another realm and into the realm of eternity. This is the realm of Heaven where the presence of God dwells continually day and night. Jesus purchased you the RITE OF PASSAGE with His Blood. So that now you are not restricted or limited to the natural realm. The supernatural realm, the realm of miracles and wonders, is yours if you will receive it. You have to believe what God says about you. You are a son and daughter of the Almighty God, an heir of His Kingdom. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."- Ezekiel 37:3 NASB God is always standing by, ready to breathe new life into anything lifeless when we ask. He is there in our spiritual springtime and in the cold, winter months. And He is even closer, hovering nearby in our darkest hours, according to Psalm 34:18 where it says: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." This scripture asks the question, "...can these bones become living people again?" The word living does not only mean to come back to life after being physically dead, it also applies to brokenness, a dying dream, a losing struggle, and times of hopelessness and despair in any area of our lives. To live means to be refreshed, rejuvenated, revived, or to be given the promise of life. It also means to be restored or renewed—or simply to be made whole again. Just as the wind breathed new life into the dry bones from the Ezekiel passage, God wants to resurrect our spirits as well. He wants to welcome us into His living presence and impart that same resurrection life to us, breathing new life into the dead places in our lives. And while some may come along and say, "God can't use us," God is saying otherwise, and His is the last word on the subject! "Therefore, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel." - Ezek. 37:12 Romans 8:29 - "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." Affirmation: AS I REACH FOR CHRISTLIKENESS, MY LOVE FOR GOD BECOMES RICHER, MY WITNESS TO SINNERS MORE POWERFUL, AND MY SECRET LIFE HOLY. "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." - Psalm 62:5 When things are going a different direction, we have to know that our identity is -- to fellowship with the Living God. Where are you with Him this day? Are you in the fold of His arms? Are you where His hand can rest upon your head, and give you right thinking and right understanding? Are you so close that He needs only to whisper, and you feel His breath, and know exactly what He is sending you to do, and the message He will send you to carry? Let the distance cause you to come closer and closer and closer. Learn to run into His arms. Learn to acknowledge His presence in every hour of the day, until you become so aware that you too cannot escape His presence, just like David. Because if you too were locked in the pits of Hell, He would come and get you, for you are His property. "O God, you are my God; early will I seek you: my soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;" - Psalm 63:1 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Here is an article to consider on this topic, it would be interesting to hear others thoughts. ==== I recently watched a short documentary on the sad events of the December 26, 2004, tsunami that hit Indonesia and caused almost a quarter of a million deaths. It is well known as the Boxing Day Tsunami. The video showed the Tsunami spreading to different regions, hitting the shores of heavily populated areas. What struck me was the complacency of the people in the different areas, even the amusement of it all. At one beach they see a white crescent on the distant horizon spreading across the entire large bay. People watch mesmerized as this white crescent comes nearer and nearer. When the wave swallows up two ships in the bay some of the watchers realize the magnitude of the event that is about to strike but for most it is too late. In another shoreline people smile and laugh in amusement as the entire bay is emptied of water and ships are beached. It begins as a spectacle that is full of fun and amusement as people take pictures. As the water came back in they considered it something fun to watch. When the wave struck that shoreline, many were caught unawares; their running was in vain and multitudes were screaming as they were swallowed in the waves and dragged back out to sea, never to return. As I watched the video a great sobriety came over me—not just over the deaths of so many people—of what is about to come upon the Christians of the world, with some of us not being aware of the times we are living in. Many of us do not believe this could be the end of time. Just as the tsunami came without warning, so will the end times persecution come upon many Christians unawares. I am not arguing for any type of position of the rapture of the church, whether pre or post, in this short article. Yet I believe firmly that we will all feel like we are in the great tribulation when this end time persecution wave hits the Church. The birth pains will become worse and worse, and many of those that have believed in a pre-tribulation rapture that would have them escape from all suffering will be 100% unprepared for what is going to come upon them. Persecution of Christians has not diminished, but has been increasing yearly world wide. *** removed link ***