I was
invited to preach in a local Indonesian congregation in Vancouver at the
end of April 2014. I love this church especially when it come to the area of
worship and prayer. I mentioned to members of this church that every
time I sing praise and worship in this church somehow my heart is so
excited, my relationship with God is refreshed, and my spirit is
uplifted. After I finished sharing the sermon, a young lady stood up,
moved forward and led the congregation in intercessory prayers. She
prayed for four items. First, she led the congregation to pray for me
(as a guest speaker) and my family. Then she and the congregation
continued to pray for their pastor and his family. Third, she prayed for
Indonesia. Then finally, she prayed for Canada.
When she
prayed for Indonesia, I felt something different. This young lady was
crying and lamenting for the nation. I remember she spent time
considerably crying out to God for leaders and future leaders of
Indonesia. I assume she understood that Indonesians have been in the
midst of general and presidential election these days. I was aware of
the issue, and with her also cried out to God for his protection and
blessing for this country.
Few days
before the incident, I mentioned to a good friend of mine that I had
been feeling strange lately, especially when I pray for Indonesia. My
hands and my body often were trembling, and tears voluntarily dropped.
My heart is far from peace.
Yet, as I
prayed in that church, it seemed that God revealed to me some
encouraging messages. First of all, not only me, but many people are
crying out to God for Indonesia. In this church, the young lady is the
example. I remember some twenty years ago facilitating hundreds of young
students to repent and to pray for Indonesia. They prayed
extraordinarily: crying, kneeling, fasting, worshiping God in an
unexplainable way. I knew the Holy Spirit was there - it was not human
made. We were all young and inexperience, but God moved among us.
Second, who the next leader of the country is is not the most crucial
issue. From which party she or he is is also less significant. Religion,
gender, ethnic and academic backgrounds are again not the foremost
concerns. The primary and ultimate question is Gods victorious and
mighty hands. If God`s hand is with this person, then she or he will do
God`s will for Indonesia - and that is more than enough.
One of
the presidential candidates is told to be too young, `ndeso` and
inexperience. Well, God`s hands are powerful enough to guide the
inexperience young people to accomplish God`s will. At the same time,
his rival is told to be actively involved in kidnapping and killing
pro-democracy activists in the past. People however often forget that
God`s hands are powerful enough to change people. Were we better than him when Jesus died for us?
(See: Rome 5.1-11). Thus it is less important to me who (name or party)
will be the next leader of Indonesia. I believe in the mighty hands of
God and trust my country into those powerful hands. God has elected his servant to lead the country, and God`s hand will be with his chosen one.
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