The Warlike Mercy of Jesus

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. (Mark 5:1-20)

We must tell others about the powerful mercy of Jesus!

1. The devil enslaves.
2. Jesus saves.
3. We tell others of His ways.

Click the link below for Sermon Audio:
Mark 5:1-20

C.H. Spurgeon on Psalm 103:9

Because our family will be observing the American Thanksgiving Holiday this weekend, I am sending out this guest edition of the Weekly Words from C.H. Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook. For more about Spurgeon click here.

“He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.” (Psalm 103:9)

He will chide sometimes, or He would not be a wise Father for such poor, erring children as we are. His chiding is very painful to those who are true, because they feel how sadly they deserve it and how wrong it is on their part to grieve Him. We know what this chiding means, and we bow before the Lord, mourning that we should cause Him to be angry with us.

But what a comfort we find in these lines! “Not always” will He chide. If we repent and turn to Him with hearts broken for sin and broken from sin, He will smile upon us at once. It is no pleasure to Him to turn a frowning face toward those whom He loves with all His heart: it is His joy that our joy should be full.

Come, let us seek His face. There is no reason for despair, nor even for despondency. Let us love a chiding God, and before long we shall sing, “Thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me.” Be gone, ye dark forebodings, ye ravens of the soul! Come in, ye humble hopes and grateful memories, ye doves of the heart! He who pardoned us long ago as a judge will again forgive us as a father, and we shall rejoice in His sweet, unchanging love.

Trusting Jesus in the Storm

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41).

If we get in the boat with Jesus, we should be prepared for the ride of our lives!

1. We must be prepared for problems.
2. We must be prepared to pray.
3. We must be prepared to praise.

Click below for sermon audio:
Mark 1:35-41

Announcements for the Week of November 22

The Mangrove Trip for the JIBC Youth Group will be on Friday, November 27 (a public holiday). Anyone ages 11-16 is invited to join. Permission slips and further information is on the welcome table. Please turn in those permission slips today, or at the very least let Edna Romulo or Jill Sharp know you plan to attend 9and bring your permission slip later this week). There will be a fee of IDR 100,000 for any non-Youth Group members of the congregation attending (those over 16). We gladly invite parents and other adults to join, but the youth budget will not cover the cost of entry and mangrove tree seed.

Psalty’s Christmas Calamity, a Christmas Musical Production, will be preformed by the Kids Club II sunday school class on December 6. Invite friends and family for this special service!

Join us for the baptism service today at Pastor Stephen and Jennifer’s house. The service is at 2:30 and is followed by a time of fellowship. Maps to the house are available on the welcome table.

The next RBI course, Systematic Theology II is open for enrollment. You do not need the first course to join this one, so start today. Men and women are welcome to apply. For more information, pick up the flyer on the welcome table.

Lord’s Supper Next week. August 30 we will have the Lord’s Supper.

Our Annual Business Meeting will be on Sunday, December 13. Among other items, we will be voting on some proposed changes to our JIBC Statement of Faith. The proposed changes are available for you to review on the welcome table and online at www.theJIBC.org

Obeying God is Loving God

Dear friend,

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked [Jesus] a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:35-38).

Here is the greatest instruction ever given on law keeping. Obeying God is first and foremost about loving Him! And the only proper way to love Him is to believe in the good news of Christ! If you do not have Christ, your love and obedience can never be acceptable to God. However, if you do have Jesus as the One who rescues you from your sin and shame, then the good works of your heart, soul, and mind will be pleasing in His sight.

Jesus also reminds us that obeying God includes love for others. Our love for the Lord (which is sealed in Christ) is the motivating power behind our love for people in the world. The loved, forgiven, justified, adopted state of being in Christ Jesus, prompts us to relate to others with love, forgiveness, patience, and a desire for strong, positive relationships.

Want more specifics? God gives them in the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20; Dt. 5).

The Christian loves God when he or she: has no other gods; has no idols; does not misuse God’s name; and remembers the Sabbath day in worship.

The Christian loves others when he or she: honors parents; does not murder; does not commit adultery; does not steal; does not lie; and does not covet what others have.

Let us obey the law because we love our Savior Jesus!

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

The Sower, Episode 2

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything (Mark 4:26-34).

God makes His Kingdom Grow!

1. He loves to start small.
2. He does impossible things.
3. He uses His people.

Click the link below for sermon audio:
Marl 4:26-34

Announcements for the Week of November 15

Men’s Bible Fellowship (evening edition) will be this Wednesday at 7 PM in the JIBC Office. Come for some good food, fellowship, and Bible Study.

There is a ministry council meeting tomorrow evening at 7 PM.  This meeting will be held at the Beech’s home.  Please be in prayer for this meeting of our elders, deacons, ministry directors, and church staff as the meet to “communicate and coordinate.”

There will be a baptism service next Sunday at 2:30 PM.  This service will be held at the pastor’s residence and will be followed by a time of fellowship.  The anticipated schedule is 2:00-2:30 Baptism; 2:30-3:30 fellowship with snacks.  Maps will be available on the welcome table next Sunday.  There are at least four people who will be baptized.  Please plan to support and encourage these Christian friends at this important event!

Our Annual Business Meeting will be on Sunday, December 13.  Among other items, we will be voting on some proposed changes to our JIBC Statement of Faith.  The proposed changes are available for you to review on the welcome table and online at www.theJIBC.org

Youth Sunday is November 22! Musicians and Praise Team have been practicing, but it’s never too late to get involved. If you are 11 - 16 years old, please talk with Jill Sharp, Edna Romulo, or another member of the Youth Group about what you can do to help. There’s something for everyone! 

A Day of Adventure is planned for the JIBC Youth on Friday, November 27 (a red letter day). We will be taking an all day trip to North Jakarta to help restore lost mangrove habitat in Taman Wisata Alam. Please check out the welcome table for permission slips and further information! Jill Sharp or Edna Romulo need to know you are planning on attending by November 22! 

Picture Day! If you haven’t yet had your family’s picture taken for the directory, there’s still time! Please come today to the Kids Club II Sunday School class room directly after the service (behind the red curtain near the restroom). There will be a photographer available for 15 - 20 minutes after the service. If you cannot make it this Sunday, please plan for next Sunday! Not members only–regular attendees and new comers also! Be certain you also ask about a directory form if you have not yet filled one out. 

 

Psalty’s Christmas Calamity will be preformed by the Kids Club II Sunday School class on December 6. Please be sure to attend this Christmas musical, and invite friends and family!

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