Thou Shalt Not Worry

Dear friend,

Listen to these two commandments of scripture:

“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34a).

There are two wonderful things in these exhortations. First, God Almighty is ordering you not to be a worrier! It is not the will of God for his children to go through life full of dread, fear, and anxious uncertainty about their circumstances. He wants you to be free from this burden. Second, since God is the one doing the ordering, you can rest assured that you need not worry. He knows all your needs and is able to meet each one according to his soverign plan. Even when things are most difficult, the Lord assures us “all things are working together for our good.”

Through faith in Christ Jesus, the biggest problem you will ever face is solved. When you trust Jesus, your sin is gone and you are made righteous and acceptable in God’s sight. In fact, you become his adopted child. If you are trusting God with your soul for all eternity, it should be an easy thing to trust him with the challenges of your life today. So take that anxiety and worry and give it to him in prayer. He is commanding you to cast it all on him!

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

JIBC Bank Account Information

Beneficiary Name:	Jakarta International Baptist Church
Bank	City/Country	Account No.	Code			Currency	Offering
CIMB Niaga	Jakarta, Indonesia	917 01 01246 000	Swift	:	BNIAIDJA	IDR	General
CIMB Niaga		917 01 01245 004				IDR	Designated
CIMB Niaga		917 02 01357 002				USD	General
CIMB Niaga		917 02 01356 006				USD	Designated
Citibank N.A.	Jakarta, Indonesia	1100044694	Swift	:	CITIIDJX	IDR	General
Citibank N.A.		1150018600				USD
Citibank N.A., USA	NY, USA	9937526926	Swift	:	CITIUS33	USD	General
			ABA	:	021000089
			Branch	:	465

Announcements for the Week of November 8

Men’s Bible Study (lunch edition) will be this Wednesday at 12 PM. We will meet at Outback Steakhouse in Ratu Plaza Come for fellowship and Bible Study

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

Starting this month, Mr. Tony Setiadi will be serving in the JIBC Finance ministry as Deputy Finance Director.  Please be in prayer for Tony, for our Finance Director John Suwardi, and the deacons as they work together managing the church finances.  If you have any questions about the JIBC budget, financial policy, or the positive results of the independent audit from last year, then please speak with John Suwardi or any of the deacons.

Friday Youth Fellowship will meet November 13 from 6:00 - 9:00 in the church office. All youth ages 11 - 16 are invited for food, fellowship and Bible study!

Young Adult Fellowship will meet on November 14 at 6:00 at Edna Romulo’s home. All young adults over 16 are invited to attend for food and Bible study! For directions, please ask Edna Romulo, and for more information on the meeting, contact Jill Sharp.

There will be a Church Ministry Council meeting on Nov.16 at 7 PM. 

JIBC Youth will have an all day event on Friday, November 27 helping to restore mangrove habitat. For more information, please contact Jill Sharp or Edna Romulo.

Mission Moment Next Sunday, we will have a Mission Moment presentation from Gereja Baptist-Binong Tangrang.

“Psalty’s Christmas Calamity” On Dec.6th.  the Kids Club II Sunday Scholl class will be performing a Christmas musical for the congregation. Be sure to attend, and invite friends and family!

Financial donation for second phase of Pandang Earthquake, JIBC will help Baptist Church in Padang. If you would like to help, you can transfer your donation through church.

Making a Difference

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25).

If we are to make a difference in this world, then we must learn from these words of Jesus!

1. We must shoulder our responsibility.
2. We must shine our light.
3. We must share our gifts.

Click below for sermon audio:
Mark 4:21-25

Proposed Ammendments to the JIBC Statement of Faith

Proposed Amendments to the JIBC Statement of Faith

Dear members of JIBC,

As part of our Annual Business Meeting on December 13, 2009, church members will be asked to vote on two items, which will amend the JIBC Statement of Faith. This packet is intended to inform you of the changes suggested in each item. The items will be presented in two motions for an up or down vote. You will be either accepting or rejecting all the suggested changes in each of the two items.
Please review the items below prior to the meeting on December 13. If you have any questions, please contact any of the JIBC elders.

Thanks and may the Lord be glorified!

Your servant,
Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

Item #1: Proposed Changes to the JIBC Statement of Faith, Chapter 20.

Rationale for proposed changes: To strengthen the statement’s affirmation on the Biblical teaching of evangelism and missions with the goal of reminding the church that it is our duty and joy to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.

Changes to Chapter 20 are below in bold:

Chapter 20
THE GOSPEL AND ITS GRACIOUS EXTENT TO ALL THE WORLD

20.1 As the covenant of works was broken by sin and was unable to confer life, God was pleased to promise Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect and bringing to life within them faith and repentance. In this promise the substance of the Gospel was revealed as the effectual means for the conversion and salvation of sinners.1 This promised grace assumes the creation truth that mankind bears of the divine image and is thus made for the love and praise of God. God’s purpose, therefore, of restoring an elect people to His favor through Christ and reinstating Himself as the sole source and object of their praise and worship does not exclude any of fallen humanity from the duty to pursue the ends of the Gospel

(1) Gen 3:15 with Eph 2:12; Gal 4:4; Heb 11:13; Luk 2:25,38; 23:51; Rom 4:13-16; Gal 3:15-22 (2) Ephesians 1:9-12; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:8-11, 15-17.

20.2 This promise of Christ and of salvation by him, is revealed in the Word of God alone.1 Neither the works of creation and providence, nor the light of nature, reveal Christ or grace through him, not even in a general or obscure way.2 How much less, therefore, can people who are devoid of the revelation of Christ by the promise or the Gospel, be enabled [by the light of nature] to attain to saving faith or repentance.3 God provides, therefore, by command and providence, that proclamation of the full counsel of God be made to all men as sinners. This reality most forcefully implies that Christ’s Gospel be proclaimed to all fallen humanity. The decree of salvation for the elect of every tongue, tribe, nation, involves of necessity the proclamation of both the Gospel and the accompanying duties of repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus to all men everywhere.

(1) Act 4:12; Rom 10:13-15
(2) Psa 19; Rom 1:18-23
(3) Rom 2:12a; Mat 28:18-20; Luk 24:46-47 with Act 17:29-30; Rom 3:9-20 (3) Revelation 5:12-14; 7; Act 17:24-31; 1 Timothy 1:12-16

20.3 The revelation of the Gospel to sinners has been given at various times and in a variety of places, together with the promises and precepts concerning the obedience required by it. As to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, this is solely according to the sovereign will and good pleasure of God.1 It has never been granted to them by virtue of their promising to improve their natural abilities on the grounds of common light received without the Gospel—no one has ever made such a promise, nor can anyone do so. Therefore, in all ages, the preaching of the Gospel has been granted to persons and nations, whether to a great extent or limited extent, in greatly varying measures, according to the counsel of the will of God. His secret will and good pleasure in this wise providence, however, is not the rule of our action; but rather his church must be governed by his commission of the gospel to all nations as the means of their calling. The apostolic work of careful dissemination, defense, and confirmation of the Gospel among all nations bore fruit only by virtue of the sovereign, inscrutable, and insuperable work of the Spirit embedding the preached word with vital power, and at the same time inspiring the apostolic understanding of his command to make disciples.

(1) Mat 11:20 (2) Act 13:48; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15; 2 Timothy 2:8-10; James 1:17, 18; 1 Peter 1:22-25

20.4 We, therefore, affirm and have joyful confidence in these indivisible truths: the gospel is the only external means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and as such is totally sufficient for this purpose.1 Yet if people who are dead in trespasses are to be born again, brought to life or regenerated, an effectual, irresistible work of the Holy Spirit upon every part of the soul is necessary to produce in them a new spiritual life. Without this no other means will bring about their conversion to God.2 The substance of all missionary and evangelistic labors, therefore, must be the proclamation of the Gospel. Apart from this message we may not expect God’s Spirit to honor our efforts with the reclaiming of the lost. In the context of such labors one may always hope that the Spirit will lead the lost to Christ.

(1) Rom 1:16-17
(2) Joh 6:44; 1Co 1:22-24; 2:14; 2Co 4:4,6

Item #2: Proposed Miscellaneous Changes to the JIBC Statement of Faith.

Rationale for proposed changes: These changes are to improve the style of writing, remove archaic language, and clarify the Statement of Faith.

Changes are shown below in bold, deletions with a strikethrough line.
_________________
6.1 God created Adam upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which secured life for him while he kept it, but threatened death if he broke it. Yet Adam did not live long in this position of honour.1 Satan used the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, she seduced Adam, and Adam (without any compulsion) willfully transgressed the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit.2 God permitted this act, according to his wise and holy counsel, as it was his purpose to direct it toward his own glory.3

(1) Ecc 7:29; Rom 5:12a,14-15; Gen 2:17; 4:25-5:3
(2) Gen 3:1-7; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14
(3) Rom 11:32-34; 2Sa 24:1; 1Ch 21:1; 1Ki 22:22-23; 2Sa 16:10; Act 2:23; 4:27-28

_________________
10.4 Those who are not elected, even though they may be called by the ministry of the Word and may experience some common operations of the Spirit,1 cannot be saved because they are not effectually drawn by the Father, therefore they will not and cannot truly come to Christ. Much less can Those who do not profess the Christian religion are not saved,2 no matter how diligently they order their lives according to the light of nature and the teachings of the religion they profess.3

(2) Joh 6:44-45,64-66; 8:24
(3) Act 4:12; Joh 4:22; 17:3

__________________
22.7 As it is the law of nature that a portion of time by God’s appointment should be set apart for the worship of God, so in his Word he has given a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all people in all ages. In particular he has appointed one day in seven as a day to be kept holy to him.1 From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ this was the last day of the week, but from the resurrection of Christ Christians have worshipped on the first day of the week which is called the Lord’s Day, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.2

(1) Gen 2:3; Exo 20:8-11; Mar 2:27-28; Rev 1:10
(2) Joh 20:1; Act 2:1; 20:7; 1Co 16:1; Rev 1:10; Col 2:16-17

22.8 People keep the Lord’s Day holy when (after appropriate preparation of their hearts) they observe a day of rest,1 of worship, and to carrying out duties of necessity and mercy.2

(1) Exo 20:8-11; Neh 13:15-22; Isa 58:13-14; Rev 1:10
(2) Mat 12:1-13; Mar 2:27-28

________________________
26.4 The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church. In him is vested, by the appointment of the Father in a supreme and sovereign manner, all authority for the calling, institution, order and government of the church.1 The Pope of Rome cannot in any sense be the head of the church.

(1) Col 1:18; Eph 4:11-16; 1:20-23; 5:23-32; 1Co 12:27-28; Joh 17:1-3; Mat 28:18-20; Act 5:31; Joh 10:14-16
_________________________
26.8 A local1 Church, gathered and organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members. The officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church are bishops or elders and deacons. They are appointed particularly to oversee what the Lord has ordained, and to execute the powers and duties, which the Lord has entrusted to them or to which he calls them. This pattern is to be continued to the end of the world.2

(1) Original, particular
(2) Phi 1:1; 1Ti 3:1-13; Act 20:17,28; Tit 1:5-7; 1Pe 5:2

26.9 The way appointed by Christ for calling any person qualified and gifted by the Holy Spirit1 for the office of bishop or elder, is that he is to be chosen by the communal vote of the church itself.2 He shall be solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with the laying on of hands by the elders of the church (if there are any previously appointed bishops or elders).3 Similarly, a deacon is also to be chosen by vote of the church and set apart by prayer, with the laying on of hands.4

(1) Eph 4:11; 1Ti 3:1-13
(2) Act 6:1-7; 14:23 with Mat 18:17-20; 1Co 5:1-13
(3) 1Ti 4:14; 5:22
(4) Act 6:1-7

26.11 Although the elders, of the churches are obliged to regularly preach the Word as part of their office, yet the work of preaching the Word is not exclusively confined to them. Others who are also gifted and qualified by the Holy Spirit for the task, and who are approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.1

_______________________
30.2 In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor is any real sacrifice made for remission of sin of the living or the dead. It is only a memorial of that one offering up of Christ by himself upon the cross once for all.1 It is also a spiritual offering of all possible praise to God for [Christ's work].2 So the Roman Catholic sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is utterly abominable and defamatory of Christ’s own sacrifice which is the only propitiation for all the sins of the elect.

(1) Joh 19:30; Heb 9:25-28; 10:10-14; Luk 22:19; 1Co 11:24-25
(2) Mat 26:26-27,30 with Heb 13:10-16

30.6 Any doctrine, which maintains that the substance of bread and wine is changed into the substance of Christ’s body and blood when consecrated, is repugnant not only to Scripture,1 but even to common sense and reason. It overthrows the nature of the ordinance, and has been and is the cause of numerous superstitions and gross idolatries.

(1) Mat 26:26-29; Luk 24:36-43,50-51; Joh 1:14; 20:26-29; Act 1:9-11; 3:21; 1Co 11:24-26; Luk 12:1; Rev 1:20; Gen 17:10-11; Eze 37:11; Gen 41:26-27

Christians find Joy in Christ!

Dear friend,

The greatest happiness in the universe can be found in God. Far from being an always-angry character whose primary purpose is to spoil the fun of humankind, the God of the Bible is intent on bringing perfect joy to his people.

The scripture does not command the world to be mournful, but rather says, “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth!” (Ps. 100:1). Even obedience to God’s commandments is intended for the joy of those who obey. Jesus himself, after commanding obedience from his disciples, says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11) and the psalmist says the rules of the Lord give “joy to the heart” (Ps. 19:8).

Nowhere is joy experienced more fully than in a right relationship with God which comes through faith in Christ Jesus. King David writes of the “joy of salvation” (Ps. 51:12) and the Philippian Christian’s found their “joy in Christ” (Phil. 1:6). The treasures and pleasures of this present world pale in comparison to the promise of God to fill the Christian with joy as he or she enjoys a relationship with the Almighty and looks forward to a perfect heavenly home.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11).

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

Growing in Christ

1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3″Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”
9Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that,

” ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

13Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” (Mark 4:1-20).

Because the Lord has given us the gift of the gospel, we must grow. How will we grow into who Christ wants us to be?

1. We must avoid those things that hinder our growth.
a. Unbelief
b. The devil
c. Shallowness
d. Worldliness
c. Discouragement

2. We must cultivate those things which increase spiritual growth.
a. Worship
b. Christian teaching
c. Fellowship with Christ and his people
d. Good works
e. Grace and love

Click the link below to listen:
Mark 4:1-20

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