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Psalm 8 - Praise the Lord!

Let’s pray as God will speak to us through this passage! 

Let’s pray as God will speak to us through this passage!

Praise the Lord

SLIDE 1 - UN It’s almost half of the year 2019 and let’s try to look at the world population. The current world population is 7.7 billion as of May 2019 according to the most recent United Nations estimates elaborated by ourworldindata.org. And it just indicated that every day, human population is growing. It is getting so much crowded where ever you go.

Now, as we look at the expansion of humanity, did we ever know or try to find out why humans are existed in this planet? or even asking our self “who am I?” “who are we?” Is there a reason why humans continue to expand and grow?

Let’s go back to the very design, the main purpose of human being which God ordained. And I am talking about the God in the Bible who created us including all these creatures.

As we read Psalm 8, we could see that David clearly expressed his praises to God about the greatness of the Lord that He alone created all these things. We could see also that “us” human beings are created in His likeness to be the ultimate in-charge of His majestic and glorious creation.

But then as we look outside, the reality is that, there is something wrong, there is a problem that needs solution and we can see that later as we open this passage and allow God to speak in us.

1.    His Greatness Now, in verse 1 it says, “Oh LORD, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens!” – Let’s try to understand this first that from the very beginning of the text, the Psalmist David describe and addressed the LORD’s name how majestic – that word “majestic” means beautiful, powerful, great admiration, dignified, impressive which simply means He alone can do that, He is the source, and will give us a picture of his royalty - His Kingship alone. All the power and all the impossible things that we cannot do belongs to Him. And because of that, as David meditate, he could not hold on to it, he could not just keep it to himself, but David praises the Lord. David had that feeling and experienced to praise the Lord. What kind of experienced is that?

(illustration) For sure all of us could relate if it’s our first time to see a beautiful place, you can’t stop saying “wow” “so beautiful”… And the moment your eyes stack and captured to that scenery, the landscape you would not realize that your mouth keeps on saying, “look at that”, “wow”, “beautiful” and immediately you’ll take your smartphone and take pictures as long as you want because you were amazed, you were in awe of that very beautiful creation. The same with David, he expressed it by saying, “O Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth”

This pictures that I am going to show you are some famous tourist destinations in the Philippines. SLIDE 2 – PHIL. 3 PICTURES (illustration)

Therefore, in every creation, God’s name is glorified in all the earth.

That’s why in verse 2, “from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise” – even to these small, very weak and suckling baby God put that praises on their lips. What makes that interesting also is that David added, “because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger.” – yes, God could use these small children and infants so that He could appear His greatness and power. This is not about waiting or looking for special power to appear on these little children, that they will glow, run and fly, but the main point is that all the praises is due to our God, who is great!

So, in verse 3 David said, I consider your heavens, “I consider your heavens”, He acknowledged it to himself that he’s just a tiny creature in relationship to the things that he had seen and experienced. In other words, David put his perspective and look to God through the creation. SLIDE 3 - UNIVERSE And he described it as the “work of God’s fingers” - imagine that God crafted and put every stars and moon according to its place just by His fingers – it would bring to realize again that David is so small. Therefore, David started to praise God.

It seems so hard to praise God if we focus to much on our self, but instead consider the creation of God, consider the air the comes in and out from our nostrils so that can breath and give praise how great He is.

But then God did not just put all these things to its places, on the 6th day of creation, God created man. Why He created man? Why not just purely, animals, plants, body of water, mountains and skies? SLIDE 4 – MAN Let’s look at the Scripture why He made man. And through David’s question in verse 4 will help us to understand. In verse 4, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? This is not a question of regret, not a question of doubt, or questioning God’s power, but a question of nature - “what is man?”

2.    Created in His Image Now, in Genesis 1:26 then God said, “Let us make man in our image in our likeness (and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground”)

When God said that, it was not a coincidence nor just doing an experiment, not the product of accidental circumstances, it’s not a product of a series of chance, random chance through billions of years but even the psalmist David declares “You made him...” God made man according to His image and His likeness – therefore we came from Him and its intention is to rule over all the creation according to what should it be. God created us to represent exactly like Him.

Probably you’ll notice the statue of Queen Victoria installed at the main entrance of Victoria Park, along Causeway Road. SLIDE 5 - QUEEN But that statue in Kensington has replicas and could be seen in Europe of course, North America, in Africa, in India, and other parts of the world and telling the whole world – she’s the Queen, she has the power and authority to rule.

What I am saying is that God created us very special like Him and again to represent like Him. What makes us special?

In verse 5, God made us “a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” – what does it mean? He created us just “little lower” from the heavenly beings, it’s like we are number 2.

SLIDE 6 – WEDDING (illustration) When Immalyn and I were in the Philippines, we decided to have a beach wedding. Before our big day, we check the place and did some planning. As far as I remember, I tried to sit down on the seashore, looking on the other island, hearing the waves back and forth, feeling the cold breeze and watching fishermen rowing their boat and even throwing nets to catch fish. The longer I sit beside the seashore, I realize how vast the earth is. Looking above seeing the bright shining sun, I felt so small in relationship to the earth. But then I thought of the earth in relationship to the sun that had just set, and then the relationship to the earth to the stars that I saw coming out.

What is man that you are mindful of me?

And my answer was, Lord, here I am, a speck of dust down on this little planet, and yet, God thinks about me. Yes, we came from the dust. Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. And God made us so special to be a ruler over the works of His hands. And still at this very moment, God shared his authority to us in ruling and having dominion over His creation.

It is so clear and straight forward in verse 6, “You made him ruler over the works of your hands;” We have to rule, have dominion over the plants, over the animals, over the earth. And that ruling or dominion in the sense of dressing it, keeping it, taking care of it, developing it. It is not ruling in the sense that we can destroy it if we please, we can recklessly, carelessly destroy the natural resources if we please because we have dominion, because we rule. Not at all. We are made to love it, to serve it, to cultivate it, to bring its potential out!

But this is the sad reality now, either we accept it or not, human being destroyed the creation of God. Human being abused that power to rule and it results to its ugliness, extreme suffering and even to the point of death. How sad and disappointing it is?

SLIDE 7 – UN REPORT According to United Nations headline report as of 6th May 2019, nature’s dangerous decline unprecedented; species extinction rates accelerating and there are 1 million species threatened with extinction. So many illegal logging, so much pollution everywhere which the animals are losing their domestic homes, forest and oceans are slowly dying.

In fact, we should take care of this creation as  what God ordained at very beginning in Genesis 1:26 then God said, “Let us make man in our image in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground” Simply means we should be a good steward of this creation – but in the end we failed Him.

Why? What’s the reason behind of all these failures and ugliness? The answer is because of sin. SLIDE 8 - SIN Sin separate us from the perfection and beauty of God’s creation. Sin brings destruction and death. Sin corrupts the good and transformed into evil. And man sinned against God – that’s the truth. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Instead of giving praise and glory to the great Creator, we disobeyed and  turn to our own ways and start to worship our own self and completely forgotten that we are not Kings to set standard, forgotten that there is God above who sets and design the space, the planet, galaxies and universe, from the formation of atoms and even to the single cell that flows inside our body.

Not only that, because of sin - human acted the opposite way and that is the beginning of the problem. And this would have a negative ripple effect to its mankind. Abusing each other, treating one another badly, so many crimes that piled up every day, wars and jealousy, pride against pride, revenge and insults. Humanity lives in the world governed by sin and darkness. Romans 8:22 We know that whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Because of sin through this creation, we did not represent God and rule as it should be from the original design as His own image and His own likeness.

It is not new to us about hearing this legalizing on child abortion in the United States, recent bombing in Sri Lanka inside the church, killing people because of robbery and drugs instead of giving them a chance. Human against human, everyone is created in the image of God, and now everything is distorted.

But let’s go back to that question again in verse 4, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

3.     We have Salvation That question would reveal and give us an answer that only God can give. What’s really the purpose of man? In verse 5, “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor” – and it would remind us that we are unique from the rest of the creation. He is really mindful and care for us and the proof of that when our Father in heaven gave His one and only Son, He gave Jesus Christ just for you and me!

Even though humanity failed from the very beginning, but Jesus took it everything. Ephesians 1:22 “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” Because Jesus is the perfect fulfilment of all these things. SLIDE 9 – CROSS Jesus came, died on the cross and raised from the dead to forgive and redeemed us from all our sins and give us another chance a new hope and new life. Jesus did not died for the angels, not for those cute puppies, not for those expensive flowers, but He chose to die because of you and me. SLIDE 10 - VERSE Hebrews 2:5-9 “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified; “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” – meaning Jesus Christ came in this world born as little child, a 100% percent human so that He could relate to us, but also a 100% God. And now He is glorified sitting at the right hand of His Father. (Mk. 16:19)

And if God is mindful and caring on us, the same thing that we should do – it doesn’t pick or chose to whom we are going to love and care either this man is working in white- or blue-collar job, either a businessman or just a house cleaner, we should not treat our neighbor just like they do not have any value, less, thinking that I am better than you, I have all these achievements in life therefore I am above you. Let’s all remember all of us are created in the image of God.

In fact, we do not deserve his love and salvation, but because we are His image and His likeness, He is willing to give that to us freely, without any cost. And again, that should be reflected to be mindful and caring to others. The way we treat our neighbors is the same way we treat God – Matthew 25:40 “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”.

SLIDE 11 – BAYANIHAN (illustration) One of the Filipino cultures which I believe still practices today is what we called “Bayanihan” – is a Filipino custom derived from a Filipino word “bayan”, which means nation, town or community. The term bayanihan itself literally means “being in a bayan” which refers to the spirit of communal unity, work and cooperation to achieve a particular goal.

What I’m saying is that as a church, as a body of Jesus Christ we should reflect the true image of God, by being a good steward of this majestic creation of God, taking care and developing it for the goodness. And on the other hand, since we are also created by God let us be gracious and loving to one another, offer help to those who are in need, carrying each other’s burden and continue to pray one another. This should be our view why God created us!

All of us have a big chance and time as His image and His likeness in doing as a good steward of His creation. We may not see today everything in perfection, but we are encouraged this morning through this passage the attitude of giving praise the Lord, praising God because of His greatness, praising Him because He created us that we are in-charge of all these things. Let’s ask ourselves again, is this our view why He created me? What is the main reason why I am existed in this world? I hope and pray that this passage will help us to understand that God created us to be His ruler and be a good steward from the works of His hands!

SLIDE 12 – VERSE 9 In verse 9, “O LORD, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Let us pray!

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Hope in Christ Alone!

Let me begin with a question, Is there still a feeling of peace and hope and love in the coming next year?

Let us allow the Word of God to answer these questions tonight.

Few more minutes to go, around the globe, people are watching and excited to blow their firecrackers, play colorful fireworks up above and make some noise as to welcome the year 2019, and it’s the year of the pig based to the years corresponding zodiac signs. I am not going to talk about what will be our good luck tonight, yet so many beliefs that human being invented or created just to make sure that life will be protected against bad luck. As a matter of fact, it is completely blinded with sin which humanity trying to escape from do a lot of works to reach God, but it will always fall to failure, emptiness, disappointment and even leading to the point where most people would say there is no God because I do not have peace, everything is chaotic, everywhere you go so many troubles, I don’t see any hope anymore that even a single innocent child is dying and victim of war and even having a true love is not existing because not even a single man can give that to me. And I would say that is really happening and that is reality because of sin in this world. BUT in Romans 5:1-5 will give us a perspective on which peace hope and love are still existing and we will understand not just by our mind, but even to experience on it.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith…”

Let’s stop at that phrase first, “we have been justified through faith”

Paul mentioned these words to the believers inside Rome on which is to emphasize in proclaiming the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ by teaching doctrine and edify the believers who would receive his letter. Now, the Book of Romans will help us to see that we could not produce our own righteousness because we are separated from the Lord. Then, there’s a need of righteousness and God provided on it. Our righteousness is vindicated/justified and it needs to be applied.

The word ‘justified’ is not about human works but declared or made righteous in the sight of God. How? through our faith in Him. If we put our faith in Him, then God will forgive us, accept us, purify us and justify us from all our sins.

Why Paul telling us all these things because in the very beginning we are all enemies from God. In previous chapters, Paul talks about God’s wrath and judgment to all mankind for no now is righteous and yet mentioning Abraham from the old testament that he was justified because of his faith alone.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (verse 2) through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” - The very first thing that we could have is “peace with God”. What does it all about? This is not just having that everything will be okay while we are on this earth with perfect peace, no more war, no more sickness, no more problems, but having peace with God talks about the reconciliation of a sinner and God. The relationship of man and God is being restored. If you noticed this carol song, “hark the herald angel’s sing, glory to the newborn King, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled” and that is the ultimate peace with God.

The moment we completely follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior, allowing Him to be our Master over our lives, He will give us peace and it will dwell in us because He is the peace. Paul is not talking about having good sleep, then you have peace or having a stable financial status then you can have peace, it’s not all about that, but our spirituality will rest in Christ Jesus, our spirit will have peace of God. It will not wander and stay the same, but certainly will access to rest in the presence of God by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Let’s understand also that Paul mentions this word grace. If you observed every Paul’s letter grace and peace will always come together at the beginning of his letter, why is that? because Paul knew and understood that without the grace of God, we could no longer experience God’s peace. We could not stand nor saved by our own self without His grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace by you have been saved, through faith - this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”

The peace of God will assure us that we can come to Him freely and just simply put our faith in Him alone. When we come to Him is not counting all our failures and mistakes against on Him from our past, but He will give us peace, a true peace that the world could not give and taking us to eternal security without the guilt of sin and that is our hope.

Verse 2b, And we boast/rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. What does it mean? The hope of the glory of God is that God has given to us this living hope through Jesus Christ. If Jesus did not resurrect after three days from the grave, then everything is in vain and useless. Therefore, we rejoice because we have hope in Christ Jesus. Because we understand that Jesus will come back again and restore everything to a new heaven and a new earth. But it’s not that only, while waiting on Him, we have this hope His name is Jesus Christ who will sustain us and hold us until that very day. Why we are continuing to be His followers? Why we continue to seek and worship Him because we know that in Him we will spend eternity - that’s the hope we are looking forward. But then while we are on this world, which is so corrupt, we never lose peace and hope.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” And that is the hope which we are holding on, we anchor our faith to His promises and this is also our hope. We will never give up because we have a living hope and He already overcomes it.

My mom died when I was 20 years old due to a brain tumor. At first, I don’t understand because why of all the mother in the world, why my mom who always prayed for us and been a great example to me in the ministry. But God took her with a reason not for our own glory to announced her good deeds while she was still alive, but understanding the very reason that even to death of precious life is not a loose, but it’s again. “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21 And that is the reality of life. People in this world will try to escape from the reality of life. Reality would bring me to despair if I didn’t have the hope of Jesus Christ. Because I have a hope in Jesus Christ, I can face the reality of life, but still, rejoice in the hope because I know that when He comes we are going to live in a world of peace. I rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. I have tonight a living hope for the future. Not in man, but in Jesus Christ and God’s kingdom. Not only so, but this is also not all, Paul says.

(Verse 3) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, wait a moment, What kind of statement Paul saying? ‘We also glory in our sufferings? Yes, we do not want to suffer? No one wants to take suffering for his entire life? But suffering is a reality.

Why we glory in suffering? How is it that I can glory in suffering? I glory in suffering because I have learned that in every trial there is an opportunity for God to manifest Himself in my life, and to work in my life. I have learned when there is pressure when there are problems to just wait on the Lord. It took me a long time to learn that.

And because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. (Verse 5) And hope does not put us to shame (disappoint), because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

As we see the work of God completed, our hope gets stronger. So we have this glorious hope as God just pours out His love over our lives through the Holy Spirit. His love towards us is not questionable nor partial but it is given to us in the fullness through the Holy Spirit - and the very first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love in Galatians 5:22. We are going to love Him because He loves us first despite our weaknesses. He will continue to love us so that we could share also His love for others who are need of God’s love.

As we look at the world today, it is getting darker and darker! Satan is ruling over this planet, but let’s remind ourselves also that God is not yet done from His mighty and divine plan in rescuing His people and redeeming us from our sins. 2019 is almost coming. What could be the possibilities that will happen? Probably, we could predict somehow in our economics, upgrading our education, maneuver our finances, invent more technologies, but overall we do not know what will happen in the next days, but the great encouragement that we can 100% sure is that Jesus is our peace, He is our hope and will experience His love unconditionally. We might have plans for our kids, for our future, when we get old where will be staying, what kind of life is going to be in the future?

Let’s not give up on waiting upon the Lord. I do not know what’s in your heart and mind right now and only God could see that, but let’s continue to put our faith in Him for He is our peace, He is our hope and will always love us!

Let’s pray!

[arielblue]

True Humility In Jesus Christ!

John 13

As we look at Chapter 13, we can see the different scenario where Jesus started to reveal the road of his suffering going up to the cross as to obey the will of his Father and even fulfilling the Scripture itself. We can see that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, Jesus predicted that one of them will betray and thirdly Jesus warned about Peter’s denial. It was the night where Jesus gathered his disciples to prepare them on what will happen next for he knew that his hour to leave the world has come.

It could not be as comfortable and easy to tell the disciples that he is going to leave them and to suffer and die on the cross yet he needs to tell them the truth.

At this time, probably it was a good night for the disciples having meal together, fellowship and discuss about the people who shouts “hosanna” and the people who tried to stop as they entered Jerusalem in the previous chapter. But on the other hand, it was the night of where Jesus showed to them what is principle of true humility by a demonstration of washing the disciples’ feet.

Now, washing of feet in their culture is done by a slave where visitors came from a travel. Washing of the feet was the first act on entering the tent or house after a journey. The Orientals wore only sandals, and this washing was refreshing as well as cleanly. In the case of ordinary people, the host furnished the water, and the guests washed their own feet, but in the richer houses, the washing was done by a slave. It was looked upon as the lowliest of all services (1 Samuel 25:41).

It is so interesting to see how did Jesus showed it to them, but on that night also, he predicted the very unexpected happenings that will occur on the following day where the atmosphere of that room became so complex and entangled with suspicious and characterized with high moral.

There are two things that we could learn tonight on how true humility could be found in Christ Jesus.

Partner with Jesus

1.In verse 8b, Jesus answered to Peter, “unless I wash you, you have no part with me” – This was Jesus response to Peter’s resistance, “No, you shall never wash my feet” It is very obvious that Peter really look high to his master and teacher. Peter put the kind of earthly standard to Jesus as referring to their culture and practice. Peter felt so embarrassed why Jesus tried to wash his dirty and stinky feet. But Jesus spoke the very words of his love to Peter. “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” – Jesus knew that in the future his disciples will be his witnesses to proclaim about Him, to spread the Good News, to declare the love and mercy of God into the different parts of the world, but they could not make it by themselves alone without the help and part of Jesus. Because in the first place they are called to represent Jesus and to speak the truth to every people. Jesus did the lowliest service before Peter so that he may understand in the future why Jesus washed his feet.

In the same way for us, God called us to represent Jesus to others, to serve one another, to proclaim the Good News but we could not make it if it’s just by our own strength for we are limited and weak. We need His help, we need to be empowered by Him, we need Him always in everything that we do.

Another interesting to learn also is that Jesus did not pick or choose his favorite disciples to wash their feet, but all of them in spite that one of them will betray and deny him. Jesus continued to touch and wash everyone’s feet, soaking his hands from the dirty water so that their feet will be cleaned and drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. “He did not say, oh Peter I will not wash your feet for I know that you will just deny me for three times and its useless”, BUT still he washed Peter’s feet. Jesus loved them all so much, he did not ask anything from them, but he just simply serve out of love and humbleness.

We cannot serve one another if we are too much focus on ourselves, if we are just concern of what benefit we could earn and if we are not looking unto Jesus. It does not mean of, “if you will serve me then I will serve you, but if you will not then I will not too….” but by being partner with Jesus is completely opposite. In verses 14-15, “now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you”

It is not only for ourselves, but it is intended to share and do it also for others of what Jesus had done to us. Washing of the feet is just an illustration, but the very essence of this action is that Jesus willing to lay down his life, willing to do the lowliest service so that everyone might see and do it also to others without any kind expectations.

What was behind of this from Jesus? It is all about His love.

In verse 1, “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” - He loved them to the point that He was willing then to complete their redemption, which cost Him his own life.

And the second thing on how we could find true humility in Jesus is to;

Love One Another

In verses 34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another. It is not a choice, it is not an option for them, it’s not an idea, but new commandment to the disciples and they heard it from the mouth of Jesus. The new commandment is an all-inclusive kind of commandment because you don’t have to worry about.

“Thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not commit adultery.” And it was so clear that Jesus told his disciples that you don’t have to worry about all of those, if you obey this commandment. “Love one another, even as I have loved you”.

Now, that is supreme love. That is self-sacrificing love. That is giving love. And that’s the kind of love He wants us to have for each other. And by this sign will the world know that we are the truly disciples of Jesus Christ, when we have this kind of love.

Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we need to remind ourselves that our true humility is not based by personal capacity, but we allow Jesus to touch our sinful lives to be transformed according to His will and received his love so that we can minister each other. And at the same time, we have so many opportunities to show the love of Jesus to others as serving to one another in humility.

Again, after Jesus did the washing of their feet, predicting the betrayal and the denial of Peter, he did not used it to throw against them but instead he called them “My children” in verse 33. The disciples may not understand what is he talking all about like little children, but he called them “my children” a picture of dependency, to depend always in Jesus.

For all of us tonight, we just need to remind ourselves again that apart from Christ Jesus we can do nothing, we cannot stand alone if we do not truly understand the very essence of humility. It might be a struggle for some of us yet we need to follow on what Jesus commanded also to us because it is for his glory alone. Let us continue to love one another and acknowledge Jesus in every aspect of our lives through humility in Christ Jesus.

As I close let me allow to read Philippians 2:1-11

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,    being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself    by becoming obedient to death—        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place    and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,    in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,    to the glory of God the Father.

Let’s pray!

[arielblue]

His Kingdom!

2

 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

           God never stop reminding his people to remain humble and loving person towards others. It is easy to do the opposite for our nature is really sinful yet His grace never stops in filling in our failures. We are all in the process of flourishing our faith in Christ Jesus; keep on abiding in His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us to repent and waiting on His mighty works not my own strength and abilities. Seeking Him is the hardest thing to do if I am captured by the will of my flesh, holding to my own self-righteousness, He will always mess up my plans that I might see his face.

           It’s been 2 weeks since we arrived in HK, there are adjustments to be done such as the weather, the language, their culture, the travel everyday and of course my health to adopt the kind of lifestyle here. I am still experiencing dizzy because of the train/bus and elevator/escalator here and there. I’ve to travel 1 hour and 30 minutes just to be in the church office and do the different assigned task for the ministry. I am surrounded with different people, different personalities and up-bringing, but I am so overwhelmed on how they showed their care and love to me. They are so friendly inspite of our status that they came from the first world country and I am the only staff from the third world country yet you can feel the reality of true born again Christians. They were so excited and happy to see me to be part of the ministry. Suddenly, it comes up to my mind “thank you Jesus” that even though I do not have relatives in here, just me and my wife yet we have people that we can come and share our burdens and victories in life.

           July 2nd will be my official church beginning as the people will start to throw questions about my personal life together with my lovely wife on why choosing Hong Kong to serve. I already met some of the members of the church and they are also excited what God will do in my life to this ministry. Last Friday, June 30th, I attended the prayer meeting and this guy (can’t remember his name), he came from UK, businessmen in HK for 14 years, can speak Cantonese and gave me these words before we did our last prayer, he said, “God impressed in my heart that you were looking for this lost and maybe you are tired about it, but I do believed God will give you a broom to swept things that He wants you to do for his glory” and he quote the verse from Luke 15:8-10 the parable of the lost coin, I just smiled at him and that moment God touched my heart. I know that verse is all about rejoicing in heaven if someone will get saved and received Jesus. And as I sitting on the train going back home, God continue to speak in my heart that He will used me to preach the Gospel to these unhappy city. I have some excuses like Moses that I don’t know their language, but I just said in my mind, “Lord let your will be done in my life; you are the God of the impossible”. Hong Kong is not about being one of the best country for tourism, but to dig in people here are really hook-up with materialism. Unhappy because I believed they are not satisfied yet longing for something and only God can do that for them.

           It was a great challenge for me and my wife to obey the Lord, because we have different ministries to take and it is a great responsibility to do. Keep us always in your prayer as we tackle this wonderful ministry for God’s glory. My wife will continue in bringing Good News to different island and me more on church ministries. It’s a great privilege to serve the King - the great sustainers in everything and every aspect of our lives that we need. You are part of our journey and let God use us for his glory alone.

           Once again, continue to pray that we could be salt and light amidst pressure and that God will sustain us in reaching out OFWs that they may have hope in Christ alone. Our lives may have a great impact to the Chinese people in showing genuine love to them.

       Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be your instrument for your glory alone!

 Ariel & Immalyn                                                                               

[arielblue]

HK - His Kingdom!

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

We could not deny that worries are our part of our life because certainly we do not know the future. It might be worries in so many aspects that preoccupied in our minds and hearts. Human being are designed to survived in every risks and challenges in life that we need to face for we are heading what’s tomorrow not about yesterday. Jesus spoke these words in Chapter 6 were part of his sermon on the mount on which it emphasized the total dependency before the Lord who is the source of everything that we all need. Jesus taught the disciples about what should be our prayer to the Lord, simple and applicable instructions for us, giving us the illustrations that He cares for us and every single day of our lives has already been planned according to His perfect time.

It may be interesting to know for us (couple) that even me personally has no idea about coming here in HK and all I want is just to serve the Lord for I trully understand that it’s a privileged to serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords. When God moved according to his plan everything will work surprisingly and I could feel my heart pumping in nervous and excitement, but worries again will starts to whisper. Sometimes our worries push us to questioned the impossibility of God’s capacity - what if? maybe? but?....all those things really running over and over in my mind. But the moment we say “yes Lord” all works smoothly according to His perfect time - no rush! There’s no late and it’s not too early to understand his plan, but it’s a matter of trusting Him. Once again, God showed his grace in our lives because we are still struggling yet pursuing Him alone. Everything were provided from the smallest to the biggest amount, from the simplest to the hardest process, from comfy to uncomfortable situation, all I could say that God really exists!

I might experience culture shock for the meantime because I am totally a foreigner to this chink-eyed people, but all I know God put me on this kind of civilization for a purpose that I may glorify Him and share His unfailing love to them. This country is really surrounded by so called “materialistic/fashion” temptation. Small but all the world is looking at them on how they grow fast economically speaking. As we sat on this bench, facing Victoria Harbour, taking our rest for a while from a long walk and train travel from HK Immigration, I believed God reminded my heart that all those high rise buildings, all those high end cars and clothing, latest gadgets are still nothing and useless if they don’t know the creator and source of all these things. It lead me to silent for a while and tell Jesus in my mind, just used me to proclaim your good news to this lost people. And the first thing that I could share to this people without any words in my mouth is just the smile that I have. I will just wait for the Lord and let His will be done in our lives here in HK.

Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be your instrument for your glory alone

#hklife #allglorytoHim #moreupdatestocome

[arielblue]

Making Disciples Until He Comes!

Making Disciples to All Nations Until He Comes – Matthew 28

In this chapter we can see that Jesus disappeared from the tomb. He did not fail his disciples saying that He will be resurrected after 3 days and He’s going to meet them at Galilee.

Matthew 26:31-32 “Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Unya si Jesus miingon kanila, "Karong gabhiona kamong tanan managpanibog tungod kanako, kay nahisulat kini nga nagaingon, `Pagasamaran ko ang magbalantay, ug magakatibulaag ang mga karnero sa panon.` Apan tapus ako mabanhaw, mouna ako kaninyo sa pag-adto sa Galilea."

That previous conversation of Jesus towards His disciples was mentioned again through an angel.

Matthew 28:5-8 “But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

Apan ang manolunda miingon sa mga babaye, "Ayaw kamo kalisang; kay nasayud ako nga nangita kamo kang Jesus nga gilansang sa krus. Wala na siya dinhi; kay siya nabanhaw, sumala sa iyang giingon. Umari kamo, tan-awa ninyo ang dapit nga iyang nahimutangan. Ug dumali kamo pagpanglakaw ug suginli ninyo ang iyang mga tinun-an nga nabanhaw siya gikan sa mga patay, ug tan-awa, moadto siya nga magauna kaninyo sa Galilea; didto igakita ninyo siya. Tan-awa, gibalitaan ko na kamo." Ug sila midali pagpahawa sa lubnganan uban sa kahadlok ug dakung kalipay, ug nanalagan sila aron sa pagsugilon ngadto sa iyang mga tinun-an.

This is the very central point of Christianity that our person who died on the cross did not remain on the tomb, but He is risen and truly alive in fulfilling the will of His Father in heaven.

During at this time the disciples were very astonished of what they saw, Jesus who was with them for more than 3 years, appeared in their very naked eyes, not in bloody and wrapped with cloth like a walking zombies, but appeared to them in completeness, pure and its fullness of His glory;  and then they worship Him.

It is very interesting to understand for us, we are called believers and followers of Jesus Christ and we worship Him because He is alive. We worship Jesus because he is not still sleeping on the tomb, but was able to appear to the disciples. The God that we worship is not an “idea” or “imagination”, but He is real and exists. He is a very personal God that wants to have a relationship to us. That’s why Jesus appeared to them after he resurrected and before He ascended back to heaven because Jesus having this relationship to his followers.

Now, when the moment He will go back to His Father in heaven, he gave this very important commandment to his disciples.

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The point here is that even though Jesus is not with them anymore, it doesn’t mean that they will not do anything, but He gave them a command to do and that is to testify the whole nations about Him. That they will move according to what Jesus has said to them – “make disciples of all nations”

Discipleship is what Jesus did on his last 3 years on earth aside from fulfilling the will of His Father; and why he chose certain people to be with him wherever and whenever they would go and stay. His last command is our first concern.

What is really discipleship?

           1. Understanding the very heart of God.

If you were able to read the entire Bible, the designed itself, the very thematic that prevail is about REDEMPTION of MAN from ETERNAL DEATH. God used different kinds of people, raised from different positions and tribes from the Old Testament until it reaches to the New Testament and chooses 12 people, But God’s plan of redemption to man did not end to those few people only yet it reaches to the Gentile nations.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Even to this very common verse, let’s understand that the very heart of God, he loved all the people. He loves us so much. He loves you with an everlasting love. No human form of love that could replace the love of God that he has for you. The word discipleship is not just having followers, not just having a scheduled of lesson to teach, not just having all the theological knowledge imputing to the listeners, BUT discipleship is to discipline the surrendered heart according to the word of God; having the same heartbeat of Jesus. Why?    

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?  I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”

Ang kasingkasing malimbongon labaw sa tanang mga butang, ug hilabihan gayud pagkadautan: kinsay makasusi niini? Ako, si Jehova, magasusi sa hunahuna, ako magasulay sa kasingkasing, bisan pa ngani sa paghatag sa tagsatagsa ka tawo sumala sa iyang mga kagawian, sumala sa bunga sa iyang mga buhat.

Jesus would always test the heart of the disciples in every possible situation, if they would really understand why they are following Him. It is easy to identify what’s on the heart of a person when you are in pressured and stressed situation; therefore, Jesus allowed them to encounter trials so that they may learned of what Jesus intended for them to learn.

In making disciples is to understand the very heart of God. We cannot MAKE disciples if our heart is not yet made up. You cannot make another if you did not finish of what you are doing. You cannot proceed to the next level if you are not done from the fist level. Let us seek God continually to nurture our heart with the word of God, our heart must willing to accept discipline and correction, our heart must keep on humble and having a submissive spirit.

Because making discipleship is modelling yourself to others as you imitate Christ. Making discipleship is an issue of aligning one’s heart to God. There is a process going on, changing from old to a new one.

           Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

Tungod kay kamo mga hinigugma nga anak sa Dios, sundoga ninyo siya.

When we fully understand the very heart of God through His word, then it is not an issue anymore in obeying his commandment.

           2. Doing the will of God – Obedience

Now, in doing the will of God – our obedience to it will be exposed. Because the truly followers of Jesus Christ will be identified when you obey Him. Let’s read verse 20 –

“teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When in making discipleship it’s not only focus on what the doctrine about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, BUT teach them to OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU. There must be an involvement going on. Jesus did not stay only in one place and talk a lot about spiritual things for His entire ministry, BUT Jesus brought his disciples to what is reality in doing the will of God. Reality means tangible – you can touch it, you can see it, you can feel it, you can relate to it.

Jesus taught the disciples how to observe by showing compassion and love to the people by performing miracles – blind man could see, dead man resurrected, feeding thousands of people and care for the little children and widows.

Jesus taught the disciples how to observe by giving honor to God by having personal prayer with His Father in heaven, Jesus would separate himself from the group and would talk to His Father, correcting the Pharisees in the emphasis of the Law and even rebuking the disciples of their unbelief.

The same thing for us today, in making disciples is allowing the people to be involved in the ministry going on inside the church. Contributing what’s the best for the church not to destroy the church just because of personal/selfishness concern.

When Jesus said this commandment to the disciples, the work is not only intended for them, it’s not only the disciples could make it, but OF ALL NATIONS. Meaning, everyone has commanded to make disciples and it does not require any certification that you are a graduate of a specific course, but the main requirement is our heart that willing to obey God’s instruction for us.

We have a lot of excuses why cannot obey this commandment. I am old already I don’t have enough strength to make it, I am very busy in my work, I do not know how to share it, I am a shy person, I do not want to be in the front of many people, and I do not care! Really!?

Then let us review a little bit for those people whom God used and make the world upside-down. Noah was a drunkard, Abraham was too old, Moses had stuttering problem, David was adulterer and murderer, Jonah ran from God, and most of the disciples were uneducated and even Peter denied Christ. Look at this people we are just the same with them, we are all failures, nobody is perfect, we are weak, limited and sinners yet it’s not accident why you are here listening to this message because God wants you to hear that we are called to do for His glory alone. We are all forgiven of our sins, hold us back to hell because Jesus died for you and loves you so much. But then it does not end only to that case, not only knowing Christ in our head, yet it should be in action.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” it doesn’t mean that you read it alone but show it in action. The best way to start in a discipleship when you involved in children’s ministry because for you are teaching about Jesus in low level and allowing them to observed what had Jesus teach.

“BUT teach them to OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU” - We should have a teachable spirit so that we may able to observed / see what God wants us to do.

 My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are celebrating this church anniversary because God remained faithful and true to His promises. Let us be thankful to God that He continues to sustain this ministry for this is His ministry. We are all just his servants and stewards!

We are doing God’s work because certainly we know that we are called to do it for we understand the very heart of God and willing to obey His call.

Making disciples to all nations until He comes is a mandate for all of us here if you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray!

[arielblue]

Untroubled Heart!

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me”

The moment we born on this planet, grown up and been oriented and knitted to the cultures we live in, learning from different philosophies from intelligent secular people, indulge in colleges and universities to achieve degrees, finding jobs that will fit in the passion and dreams so that you may survive. And then as you see the cycle of man’s life there will be a time that you will start to think deeply and start to ask about life. Life is punctuated with questions “why” “what” “how” “where” “when” “who” but those questions would not be answered instantly. There must be an explanation that we need to understand that it will always go back and connect to the creator of all creation. In other words, if there is a creation then there must be a creator. If we have life then there must be someone greater than this life who is our life giver.

Col. 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

“kay pinaagi kaniya gibuhat ang tanang mga butang, diha sa langit ug dinhi sa yuta, makita ug dili makita, mga lingkoranan nga harianon o kagahum o pamunoan o pagbolut-an-- ang tanang mga butang gibuhat pinaagi kaniya ug alang kaniya.”

What we have right now material things or having friends, money to earn, families, good or bad situation, the intention is not to gather them all and build your own kingdom forever but all that we have is for God’s glory. Why? Again, all that we have in this world is all temporary but that temporary will help us to determine our faith in Him and knowing more about God’s will in our lives.

When we say that phrase “for all God’s glory” let us understand first that there is a God who orchestrated, who ordained everything according to His plan yet God gave us the freedom to chose. But it doesn’t mean that God’s plan will not work anymore, He is an all-knowing God still God’s will be done for He knows better than us.

Now, Jesus said these verses to his disciples as to comfort them because during at this scenario they were having the last supper and Jesus predicted from one of his disciples that will betray him

(John 13:21-22 “When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me. Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke)

and the denial of Peter

(In verse 38 “Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.).

This was the very uncomfortable supper for them. The atmosphere became thorny, fears and doubt starts to create on their mind because Jesus will be crucified and died but they have forgotten that He will be resurrected after 3 days. Those are some of the teachings that Jesus wanted them to learn yet it was really hard for them to comprehend. They thought that Jesus will leave them, thinking of what will happen to their future because in the very first place they leaved their comfort zone, they leave their way of living and their families, just to follow Christ.

This was the crucial point of making their own decisions of where to go and what should they do. But Jesus assured them in verses 2-3 “I go to prepare a place for you” “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Jesus gave these words of assurance so that they may remember that Jesus will never fail his promises for those who trust in Him.

It is so interesting to know that our hearts are also the same with the disciples. It is easy to get our hearts in trouble because we are focusing to our own limitation and capacity instead of asking God’s wisdom. If we are focused to ourselves in behalf of our troubles and problems then the very first result is having NO PEACE.

Problems/troubles in life are part of our Christian walk as we continue to follow Jesus, but it doesn’t mean that we do not have peace in our lives. If we have Jesus in our hearts then we can have peace in our mind and heart;

           John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”

Jesus commanded us to trust in Him. When we are in trouble then trust (believe) the Lord. God knows that our hearts are full of troubles even we do not talk about it. The troubles of the disciples at this time is that -

“What would happen if Jesus would not be around?”

“Who would defend and provide their needs?”

“Where would be their meeting place?”

“Why Jesus left them?”

And even Thomas asked Jesus in verse 5 “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” But Jesus answered Him “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I believe that there are a lot of questions playing on their minds. And probably the same questions that sometimes troubled our hearts. But God has an answer to all our questions; and we can find that answer through His word alone.

We as human beings, it is embedded in our body the survival ability skills that our body system will work together and do the necessary things just to survive, breath and live. I believe God designed that in our body so that we could see the beauty of human being not just on how to handle what to have a good life, but also for life risk cases – those who are in emergency rooms and ICU’s, those are suffering with terminal diseases like cancer and even natural death which does not pick specific age.

Now, when Jesus said to them “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” it is a command not to dwell to the things that will snatch out your peace in God.

Having peace from God is by believing, putting your trust that He can do it for you. Meaning, allow God to take control of every situation we encountered. The only solution that we can take in about our troubles in life is just to believe in God.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Itugyan ngadto kaniya ang inyong tanang kabalaka, kay siya may kahangawa man alang kaninyo.

The question is “are we satisfied of what we have right now?”

Because another thing that we can consider why we have troubled heart aside from unbelief (doubts before God) is unsatisfied (lack of satisfaction).

The disciples have the difficulty to trust in Jesus because of their unbelief, but he point out to them just even “at least to believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (John 14:11b) Next is their dissatisfaction, let us look at verse 8 “Philip said, “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough / sufficient for us.” If you read once again to Philip’s statement it is really obvious of not satisfying of what they have. Then Jesus replied to him ��Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Si Jesus mitubag kaniya, "Kadugay ko nang pagkig-uban kaninyo, ug wala ka pa diay makaila kanako, Felipe? Ang nakakita kanako nakakita sa Amahan. Naunsa bang miingon man ikaw, `Ipakita kanamo ang Amahan?"

Philip on his earthly mind wanted to see the Father of Jesus through his naked eye. But Jesus exposed here of being oneness of the Father and Jesus himself. There’s no need to show a proof about who really the Father of heaven is.

John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

Philip was clearly speaking from his own mind and feeling, but Jesus answered Philip beyond of his comprehension, it is a spiritual thing. That’s why in verse 7 it connect and go back who really Jesus is “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him”

“If you had known Me” – Jesus used that word “if” as an identifier to really test Philip of how much more of knowing Jesus. Because truly knowing Jesus is already enough to satisfy what may the flesh would desire.

For us also, truly knowing Jesus is already enough to satisfy us. Sometimes, we asked God for a sign, a scenario, an obvious situation that God is really God. It’s now wrong to ask that from the Lord because sometimes God will allow dreams to confirm his plan for us and even godly people will be used by God to speak for us, BUT in the very first place the word of God is already given to us to know His will for us, knowing His heart for his people, knowing his perfect plan for us yet we are not satisfied, still in doubt. Why, because we want to gratify our own flesh than to trust in the Lord and for all God’s glory.

It is enough for us to have salvation of our soul that we received by faith through His grace.

It is enough for us to receive his blessings everyday according to what we need not to what we want.

It is enough for us to see how God sustain us through the years from the time we know Him until this very moment.

It is enough for us to share others the love of Jesus for the lost.

The proof that we do not doubt God and being satisfied in Him when we starts to appreciate and give thanks to what God has done in our lives. It could be identified the way we talk to God through our prayers and the way we communicate to other people. A heart that truly known God will never stop to give praise, to give honor and glory whatever situation that he / she might have.

According to Charles Spurgeon “We cannot always trace God’s hand, but we always trust God’s heart”

We have the Holy Spirit that is upon us so that we may be guided in every decision we will take.

John 14:26 “Bu the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”

We are still in flesh struggles a lot, fighting against the work of the enemy but we have his grace that gives meaning to our struggles. Because God’s grace would be meaningless, nonsense at all if we do not pass through trials in life.

2 Corinthians 12:-11 “9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me”

  Let’s pray!

[arielblue]

Do Not Grow Weary!

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”

 What caused you to feel tired? This question is so general that could have an answer from different areas of our lives.

 Sometimes, it is a common expression for us filipino the word “kapoy” or to put stress on it “kapoya uy!” when somebody asked you “kumusta ka?” especially if you are working on something will feels you that it has no ending or the same issues going on and you think it has no solution at all.

 One of the emphases in the Book of Galatians is that the Spirit of God produces the righteousness while the Law could not and the Spirit enables believers not to yield to sinful desires.

 The purpose of God’s Law is to guide us to the Messiah- Jesus Christ who can only save our souls because the Law could not save human soul. It is like a mirror to help us to realize that we missed the mark. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

 In Chapter 5 & 6, Paul talks about having the ultimate freedom in Christ Jesus, meaning Jesus Christ saves us by His grace through our faith in Him, but that freedom in Christ Jesus that we have does not mean a license, permission, an excuse to continue in sinful life.

 Again, we cannot earn grace by human efforts but it’s a gift from the Lord.

Grace means we don’t deserved this blessings from God but even how sinful and wicked we are still God give it to us, in other words it is unmerited favour.

In Galatians 2:21, Paul said to them “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain.”

 Christ died on the cross not just because He obeyed his Father in heaven but it is the only way where he himself became the bridge so that we can approach God freely. He is our Holy Father, Holy = separated, far, sinless, but He is our Father = you can come and have that relationship.

We can call him “Our Father in heaven” if you we do not have that relationship in Him.

 Now in chapter 9:7-8, “it is a spiritual law of the natural world - reap what you sow”

 In verse 9 will help us to understand in a very practical term. Paul encouraged the Galatians to continue in doing good – that would consider pleasing God, walking in the Spirit, obedience of His Word and continue to be the blessings to others.

 Now Paul said “Let us not grow weary” -The word weary means feeling or showing of tiredness or causing you to feel tired.

The question is, “is it tiring to do good?” “kapoy ba ang pagbuhat ug maayo?”

 Now, this will matter or depend of our motivation behind of what we are doing.

(Magdepende kini sa motibo sa imong kasingkasing nga imong pagabuhaton)

 Paul exhorts the Galatians not to get tired because he knew that they were disturbed and destructed. In Chapter 1 Paul addressed immediately the issue of the churches in Galatia that someone was trying to confuse them in perverting the true gospel, the salvation that they had and even his apostleship.

When Paul said to them, “while doing good” there was a growing action of obedience to the Lord.

There was a process of their faith to become Christ likeness, to have that attitude of Jesus Christ. Why? Because in the first place we are not good, no one is good in this world, we cannot give pure goodness to others, and our very own nature is that we are all sinners, we have a sinful nature yet He remained good to us. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”

 Is it tiring to do good?

It will start and become tiring, if we try to please our flesh, but if our motivation is not for own glory and not to please the work of our flesh then it is not tiring yet it will bring us to grow our relationship in the Lord and it will produce Spiritual fruit as it was mention in Chapter 5:22.

 Probably we would say, I am weary, I am tired in this kind of life that I have because nothing good happens in my life. I’ve been persecuted with my family, problems in health, financial bankruptcy, broken relationship to your workmates and then this fear will starts to hold you and will guard by all these kinds of insecurities and lies in your heart and mind. And then you would conclude that there is such no God who cares for me.

 If you would go to the Western world you would hear them “if there is such a God” and if you would go to the Eastern world you will hear them “which gods do you refer”.

 It is also interesting to know about Paul, the writer of the Book of Galatians, he was born and a persecutor of the early church. (Acts 9) Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belong to the followers of Jesus Christ, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And that moment He knew that there is a real God who worship by this people.

 Paul was born as Hebrew, Roman in citizenship and learned with the Greek philosophy.

And it came and surpassed from the mind of Paul that the God of Hebrew “He is the Light of salvation” to the Roman “He is the Glory” and for the Greek “He is the Knowledge”

But then Paul summarize that in 1 Cor. 4:6 “ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

 The moment we think about it or even say it in our mouth that there’s no God who cares for me, we probably also forget His very precious promise in us - “For in due season we shall reap”.

 Paul used the illustration of a farmer on which he needs to wait for the right time to harvest of what he had sown.

 It is a picture of patience, waiting on the right and perfect timing from the Lord because it is easy to forget the goodness of God rather than our own pain and sufferings that would lead us in losing hope. It is easy to give up than to persevere and wait, it is easy for us listen from man’s opinion than to listen from God’s voice, who knows and holds our future. We care too much of our pain and suffering inside of us instead to delight on His Word and surrender it to the Lord.

 Every time we pray and lift up our issues and cares to the Lord, it is not ours anymore. Whatever we surrender to the Lord, leave it to the mighty hands of the Lord because He is the one who is in control of everything.

Mark 10:27 “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

He is a mighty God that directs us always to His will.

 This world has a lot of things to offer and will never stop to get us weary (tired) and to destroy us. Let us not be deceived by the things that our flesh will be gratified, but instead to focus to the things that concerns eternity.

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

 I am not saying that I did not experienced to be weary and tired. Physically yes, because I have duties and responsibilities to take care that God entrusted to me, therefore I need to be a good steward on it.

 But what I am saying is that my own soul bothered so much, there is no peace in my mind, lies of Satan always whispering in my ears because it was the moment that I put myself in the center and start to entertain and holding to the applause of men, I am simply sowing in my flesh, holding to my pride instead to humble my heart and give back all the glory to God.

 Doing the things for the Lord, is an honor to serve the King and Master of my life. It will not be weary and tiring if in the very first place, I sow/put in the Spirit. Doing things that would please God and to be a blessing to others.

 God gave us different gifts and talents to bless His name and to bless others.

Use your profession for God’s glory no matter our lives may experience difficulties because God has a promise to every one of us here. Let us not lose heart, do not lose hope instead allows God to stay in your life and change us according to His will.

 We are doing good because we give honor and glory to our good God.

We are doing good because we are not expecting of something, but God is our reward.

We are doing good because we are not losing heart but we have hope in Christ Jesus.

We are doing good because we want bless other people.

 Before I end up my devotion, allow me to read Galatians 5:16-26

It is where we would know and identify of our actions either we are sowing in the Spirit of God or sowing in our own flesh. Let’s asked ourselves and ask His forgiveness if really did these things against God.

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[c]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let us pray!

[arielblue]

The Cross that Offense and Christ that Defends!

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

In the Book of Galatians as Paul the writer of the book was strongly emphasized to the believers about the difference between the law and grace. He was able to addressed and confront the major problem that creates confusion to the mind and heart of the churches in Galatia. And that major problem had begun to question the true gospel, their salvation and even Paul’s apostleship.

Paul did not wait for a long time that these churches of Galatia would ask his help to solve the issues, but immediately when he heard that trouble, he sent his letter to rebuke and remind them that there is no other gospel to be accepted, that their salvation doesn’t base on good works, that his apostleship and authority is not made by own idea but rather he was called by God and even calling them “O foolish Galatians” in Chapter 3.

He was so disturbed because these churches started to listened and accepted the false gospel and they did not obey what is the truth! Paul, once again mention to them and give illustrations from the two covenants that explains the complicated issues about the son of the flesh and the son of the promise through Abraham.

Then he nailed it Galatians 2:16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ not by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified”

Meaning the basis for our relationship with God is His grace (unmerited favour). God wants us to trust Him for our salvation rather than rely on our own righteousness of faith.

 A. The Cross is Offensive –

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me”

The cross became offensive to our flesh because it touches to the very deepest heart of a single sinful man of how unpleasant, nasty, insulting and hateful we are. And it destroys our self-righteousness.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 Paul used his life as an example to the churches of Galatia that even himself have been died already, crucified with Christ hanging on the cross. He wanted them to realize that he is not the same Paul of what they’ve knew about him. His old life had been nailed already to the cross.

(Acts 9) Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belong to the followers of Jesus Christ, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And that moment He knew that there is a real God not just an “ideal god” who worship by this people that he had persecuted. That was the turning point of Paul when he met the Savior of humanity and is the one who control and direct his life until to the last breath, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that lives and changed him and became the great preacher and missionary of the gospel.

Philippians 3:8 “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ” (NIV)

 When Paul gave up his own life to the cross then he realized how wicked and evil he was. The cross offended his heart that full of darkness knowing that he was a sinner and fallen short of the glory of God.

It is also interesting to know about the life of Paul. He was born as Hebrew, Roman in citizenship and learned with Greek philosophy. And as God used him mightily it came and surpassed from the mind of Paul that the God of Hebrew “He is the Light of salvation” to the Roman “He is the Glory” and for the Greek “He is the Knowledge”

But then Paul summarize that in 1 Cor. 4:6 “ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me”

Jesus has been crucified already on the cross for more than 2,000 years ago, but when we start to acknowledge Jesus and come to our senses that He is the true God, we start to realize that we are nothing; we need a Saviour of our soul that will hold us back to the burning fire of hell. The moment that we met Jesus in our lives, it was the biggest event of a human kind-where God our Holy Father accept us, restored the broken and longing relationship of an empty lost soul. He is our Holy Father – Holy= separated, sinless, far distant yet a Father= we can come to him with.

Let us not dwell of our past life of how ignorant we are of the truth, living in darkness, a heart that has been blinded of sinful fleshly desires, but the cross offended us so much so that we will realized that we need a Savior. The person who died on the cross is not a politician so that we can have better governance, he is not a certified accountant so that we become rich, he is not a scientist to invent and discover how to prolong our life on this planet, but the person who died on the cross is a Savior because He is the only God that can save us from hell.

Sometimes, it is easy to be offended by the words of our enemy, but let us not also forget we are called followers of Jesus Christ, that we need to crucify our flesh, hang it to the cross so that we might live and worthy to be called Christians.

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

 B. Christ is My Defender

“the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The word “defender” means = “a person who defends someone or something” (protector, guard)

When you defend someone or something you need to be sure that you must win over against to the opponent. Christ became our defender because we are ultimately defenceless and we are weak. He defends us from the curse of humanity that was started from the Garden of Eden which is the disobedience of man, and that sin really push us to hell. There is no human religion, no human practice, even our money cannot save us and cannot defend us from hell.

Matthew 16: 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

 Paul was trying to remind them again that his present life is not based on what he had obtained, or on what he had received, but his life is now directed through the faith in the Son of God, putting his faith in Jesus Christ. Why? Because He knew it. Paul knows that God defend and protect his people. How did he know that God protect his people? Let’s go back to Acts 9, when Jesus stopped Paul on his way to Damascus and the first message that he heard “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And He caused Paul not to see, physically blinded for three days.

 Paul wanted the churches of Galatia to realize that Jesus Christ – love him so much and even to the point where Christ hanged on the cross. When the time that Paul live by faith in the Son of God he recognized also that someone who is greater, perfect, sinless and holy loved him very much and that love could not be replaced by any form of human love because Paul knew that God is love. It was the love of Jesus Christ that reached him and saved Paul. He knew that God loves also to the churches of Galatia and even Paul love them so much.

So, Paul tried to strike back and hit this problem to end that someone makes trouble to confuse their faith. His intention was to protect this group of believers in Galatia from false teaching and perverting the true gospel.

Paul became the defender of faith, the apologist on his entire missionary life. When God brought him to different places and stayed different houses he will not defend using of what he learned before he met Jesus, but after He encounter Jesus he would speak in public either in prison or in trial court telling the people with boldness without fear about the Messiah, the true gospel – that Jesus Christ the Saviour of human soul was clearly portrayed on the cross and was resurrected to give hope for the lost and pouring out His grace freely given to all.

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross became the bridge to save souls and His resurrection became our hope until now as long as you will accept Him as Lord and Savior.

It is Jesus, our soul defender, He is the lover of our soul; he gave himself for us so that we could have faith in Him. Now, what shall we do if we have this faith and this salvation?

In verse 21 “I do not ‘set aside’ (frustrate) the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain”

 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”

 As I close, let us not forget of what Jesus Christ did to us. He said “it is finished” – we have this access now to approach to our Holy Father in heaven. At this very point the cross remain offensive to those people who keep on sinning and denying that God is existing and even its own power because it convicts to every sinful and darkened hearts. For us followers of Jesus Christ, still we need to remind ourselves that we are already forgiven by His precious blood, we have his Holy Spirit working in our lives to change us not by the works that we have done.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 We share in His death, resurrection and life. Now we walk in the Spirit rather than in our corruption. Let us not forget that He continue to protect us and defend us from the work of the enemy because I believe that every one of us here have a special calling from the Lord to be part and to fulfil his divine and perfect plan, to share God’s love and forgiveness and preach the true gospel for those who are lost.

Let us not waste or frustrate the grace of God that has given to us. Let us not use grace to permit in compromising the things that does not please and glorify before the eyes of God. Instead, let us use the grace of God in loving and giving forgiveness to others especially for those who are not save yet that they may hear they have a loving Father in heaven.

 Our past has been already forgiven and finished. Only the enemy would try to take it back, but God loves us so much and He did it to the cross of Calvary. Even at this very moment the cross did not lose its power and it still defends us from eternal death while waiting on His second coming.

The question is; what is our response to the cross and the grace that God has given to us?

 I will end up this message from a quote; according to Isoble Kuhn, a missionary to China from 1901-1957, she said “Only one life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

“Naa ra tay usa ka kinabuhi nga mawala, ug unsay nahimo nato diha kang Kristo maoy magpabilin”

 Let’s pray!

[arielblue]

Self Examination!

You and your friends went to a supermarket and bought the things that you need. You lined up to the cashier and the total amount you need to pay is about P700. You gave a P1000 and the cashier gave you the change with a receipt without looking on it. While waiting for your friends you check your pocket and you found out that the change that you received is P400 instead of P300. What will you do with the extra change of P100?

Let’s see what the Bible says. Let’s us open our Bible in Philippians chapter 2:3-5.

Now, in chapter two as Paul wanted something to be happened in the church of Philippi. Paul emphasized what should be the behaviour, a manner or a conduct of a true follower of Jesus Christ because Paul wanted to show to them the difference between a genuine faith and false faith. And that faith would identify the foundation of it by being united and humbled in Christ.

Paul said, Chapter 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ...”

Our conduct is the evidence of our faith in Christ Jesus. (Ang atong pamatasan / panggawi-gawi  maoy ebidensya sa atong pagtoo diha kang Kristo Hesus)

In other words, the kind of lifestyle, the way we decide (thinking) (because God is given us the freedom to chose and He respected that), the way we respond around us (feeling) (because we have obligations and responsibilities to do), and the way we live (human being) (because we are alive and our life on this planet is very short) will generally conclude to our conduct as a true follower of Jesus Christ through the grace that he has given to us.

This morning I will share to you what God has continually teaching me also in my walk with Him every day. I am going to talk you about self-examination.

Self-examination would allow you to stop for a while and think deeply, the act of looking at something closely and carefully. It can be also called as self-meditation.

We can only examined our self through the word of God so that we can see if we are still doing the things for the Lord or doing it already for our self.

This so called self-examination really put me into a deep sense of humility. Meaning, if I did something good or if I sinned against God the Holy Spirit will help me to realize or to examine of what I’ve done either I am glorifying God or just because I am better than others.

I will share to you our present situation about me and my wife. We decided to obey the Lord in serving the ministry to a different country even if it is not our comfort zone anymore. This would challenge for us in so many ways; challenges in culture – people, the language, our health, our financial stability and some legal matters.

For everyone’s information I have few months remaining at CCBC. I love serving at the Bible College, it would be my second home already. I already built this good relationship with other staff and especially to the students. Probably, you would think that the people who graduated from a Bible College knew already everything about God, but it is not. A Bible College is just another medium where to be soaking and focusing on knowing about Jesus through the Scripture. We can know Jesus if we have relationship, a connection with Him.

At that point I started to evaluate or examine myself;

if I am a good steward in that ministry, - protecting the calling that God has given to me

if I am obedient to the instructions that were given to me, - willingness to follow

if I am honest in small and big things, - integrity

if I am a good example to others, - servant leadership

if I am growing in my relationship to the Lord, - acknowledging God always from the smallest detail of my life

if I am able to encourage one another, - mercy / sensitive to the needs of others

and if I was totally nothing and useless.

Let’s read again  Philippians 2:3-5 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

These verses help me to examine myself before the Lord.

LET nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit – everything that we are doing is for the Lord and should not be motivated by selfishness.

but in lowliness of mind LET each esteem others better than himself – we should be sensitive to value and to care the people around us no matter what kind of life condition they have.

LET each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others – we need to put into action of what the Lord has commanded and the things that we have learned.

LET this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus – “mind” – “attitude” (NIV) – we need to be like Jesus from inside to outside.

When we look back from the first day that we entered as a student and now having this kind of achievement, I believe it was not just an accident but it is part of God’s plan in our lives.

There was and will be more self-examination in our lives to check if we are still in line from God’s calling. From time to time we need to self-examine ourselves because often times we are too much focus on the things that could choke us instead to help us.

Yes, we are all in the process of sanctification (inner change), I am not a perfect person, I disappoint people, I offend people, I fail people and the same thing that I’ve experienced, I was disappointed, I was offended, I was failed but it’s a not reason that I will not see and experience the goodness and grace of God in my life. He is still changing me according to His perfect plan.

We came from different beginnings on how we met and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

We received this free salvation; not by our own good works, salvation comes through faith in Him by the grace that God poured out to us. We were united in the body of Christ and were forgiven of our sins through the blood that he shed on the cross, sealed by his Holy Spirit that God owned us and loved us so much. BUT it will not just end up on that point; there must be a fruit. That fruit will identify us if we abide in Christ Jesus.

In Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

And as we continue to live in Jesus, our attitude, our conduct would slowly change from inside to out and will reflect the attitude of Jesus Christ as long as we remained connected in Him.

We can show our love not just to the people we choose to love, but also to those who are unlovable because we are doing it for the Lord.

We can have joy and peace in our hearts and in our mind even how busy we are in our duties and even if we have personal problems in life because He is the source of true joy and peace. This world could not give us a real joy and peace.

Is it a need to examine our self? YES because God is testing us either we are still connected to Him or connected to this worldly things that are temporary only rather than seeking what is for eternity.

And God would allow such testing in our lives in order to polish our faith to be genuine. We cannot pretend that we have faith in God. Faith is not a feeling, faith does not base on our emotion. It should connect and base to the truth which is the word of God alone, just believe in Him.

Sometimes, God would allow us also to be in a pressured situation so that we will not rely on our strength but relying to God and seeing His hands moving and changing us according to his plan to be a better person not to be bitter and worst in the field that we are serving right now. God designed us to build up each other not to destroy one another.

There are situations that we cannot control, beyond of our head knowledge, could not be solved on a specific time that we want, hard to understand but on the very last moment that we can do is just simply saying “Lord, please help me!”

In other words, without God in our lives we are all nothing.

Our profession should not just bear what the title itself BUT there must be an impact to the people around us the way it should be because we are serving the people and most of all we are doing it for God’s glory not on us. This world could not give us perfect satisfaction if our service does not glorify to the Greatest Physician, - the author and perfecter of our faith.

We need to analyze the things that we have done either we are in times of work, in our house with our family and even in our friends so that we may able to see if I am honouring Christ and let us not be controlled by our own pride because it will just paralyze us.

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

For all of us here, I know and I believe that we have our own time in meditating God’s word, we have our own time to pray before we go to our different job assignment, let us not waste the time and the grace that God has given for us to examine and evaluate of what we have done before the Lord.

We have his Holy Spirit to discern the things that we need to do.

Let us have an honest self-examination because it will help us to live in true humility and our faith will be only examined through the lens of the word of God.

Let’s pray!

       D

[arielblue]

Know Jesus More!

Illustration

 I have an object here that I need to explain and convince you that I really know this thing and you must believe on it.

1. This is made of fresh ingredients.

2. We can use this in every meal.

3. Your food will be tastier.

4. It has vitamins.

5. You can have this in department store with an affordable price.

6. Limited stocks.

7. Hurry up and grab this item now!

 Are you convinced? No! Why?

Because it does not connect of what I am saying and the item here that I am trying to explain to you.

 What’s the problem here?

The problem is I do not see and I do not know this thing. I am just pretending in myself that I really knew this thing, but in fact I do not know!

 The solution is I need to remove this cover and set it aside so that I may know of what I am saying.

 What I am going to share this morning is what I had experienced and maybe you experienced also this before. How would they know that I am telling the true God?  

 1 John 3:1

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him”

 It is so interesting to know that the Father in heaven bestowed (grant/gave) his divine love and adopted us to be his child.

 It is through His love for us that considered us to be called children of God if we abide in Him and practice righteousness, does the things that please Him and according to what the Scripture says.

(v28-29)

God has called us because He has a greater purpose in our lives so that the world may know that there is a true God who created everything, only God that can save us from eternal death and give us eternal life. We could be part of His master plan in fulfilling his very ultimate desire for the entire humanity.

 No matter how dark our past lives and lives that was so broken into pieces, lives that we do not want anymore, but He found us , forgave and able to understood His very own grace and still God can use that to proved that He is the only One that can change a life, and there are so many things that confirmed that He is existing.

 When CC Guam team (Garrett & Dominic) had the opportunity to go to Oslob, Cebu for a whaleshark experienced I saw the excitement of Garrett & Dominic even though we wake up early so that we can come back early in cctc. They took pictures while riding the fastcraft and the pedicab going there because they want to post it in their SM (Social Media).

 While the two of them were busy looking outside, I tried to ask the driver, probably his age around 55-60 years old.

I asked him, “kami ba ang unang pasahero nimo kuya?” (Are we the first passenger as of today?)

He replied, “Oo, kamo jud dong? Taga-asa man diay mo?” (Yes, you do. Where do you come from?)

 I told him that we are from Dumaguete and I just tour my friends. But before going to that place I already told Garrett and Dominic not to talk so much because the pedicab driver will think they are balikbayan (daghan kwarta) because they seems look like Filipino and would probably charge us higher from the minimum payment .

 As the driver continue to tell his story, I observed that every time he spoke, his pointing finger of his left arm will always touched his neck and he sounds husky & rough.

“Kuya, naa ka ubo?” (Do you have cough?)

He replied, “No, I have a whole in my throat because I was shot in my neck during the time I worked in Manila as Brgy. Tanod”

 As he continued again telling about his sad story, it immediately prompted in my mind to pray for him. I could not explain the feeling inside in my heart at that time, but it always prompted in my mind to pray for this man, pray for this man, pray for this man.

 We hire him from going to Oslob and going back to the port.

Before I step out from the pedicab I quickly told Garrett and Dominic, guys let’s pray for Kuya!

Dominic went out and touch the driver’s shoulder and me and Garrett touched his arm. Then I started to pray in Cebuano language and as he closed his eyes I saw a tear coming out from his eyes.

 At that very moment, my heart felt stable and fulfilled. I knew and believe that it was the Spirit of God who spoke to us to pray for this old and suffering man. And I gave all glory to God.

 It is not about being proud because I am able to pray for this person. It is not about I am a good Christian because I pray in public, but it is a matter of obedience of the Holy Spirit. We are just his servant and his instrument for His glory.

 Instead of paying of what the minimum fare, we decided to double up the fare.

 How do this spiritually blinded people will know that the Father in heaven loves them if we are not sensitive of the work of the Holy Spirit and doesn’t care the very important need of this world which is salvation of souls?

 I was convicted at that time because I want to ignore it, yet the Holy Spirit started to speak at that time.

 In verse 17-18

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in Him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth”

I believe this verse would encourage us to continue to share the love of Jesus wherever we are in spite of our situation. God can use us in so many ways just to let this people know that He is real God.

This world is blinded, confused and doesn’t know from their very heart that we have a loving Father in heaven.

 For all of us here, STUDENTS do not make your studies to limit you but instead allow that God will speak to you through daily reading  and in charting and even in your class, take the most opportunity in here to know God because your time in here is very short, let us not just limit to the work assignment that we have, but if we have ministry or opportunity to share the love of Jesus then let us do that.

 I really appreciate those students who have time in sharing Jesus to others even they are busy in class and take every opportunity to do it.

 If we want to know God is to love him more and more everyday. We cannot pretend that we love Jesus through our words, because our action, every decision will prove and will confirm on it.

 “let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth”

 Before I end my devotion, I will leave you this question that only our self could answer.

 How far and deep we are in knowing and loving Jesus in our lives?

 “Unsa na kalayo ug kalalum ang atong pagpakahibalo ug paghigugma diha kang Hesus sa atong tagsa-tagsa ka kinabuhi?”

 Let’s pray!

��UCz�

[arielblue]

Reap What You Sow!

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”

 What caused you to feel tired?

This question is so general that could have an answer from different areas of our lives.

 Sometimes, it is a common expression for us Filipino the word “kapoy” or to put stress on it “kapoya uy!” when somebody asked you “kumusta ka?” especially if you are working on something that feels you it will never end or the same issues going on or it has no solution at all.

 Now, when we started to follow Jesus, we are not walking in our flesh but we need to walk in the Spirit.

 One of the emphases in the Book of Galatians is that the Spirit produces the righteousness while the Law could not and the Spirit enables believers not to yield to sinful desires.

 In Chapter 5 & 6, Paul talks about having freedom in Christ Jesus, meaning Christ saves us, but that freedom in Christ does not mean license to continue in sin.

If you look at verses 7-8, “it is a spiritual law of the natural world “reap what you sow”

 In verse 9 will help us to understand in a very practical terms. Paul encourage the Galatians to continue in doing good – that would consider pleasing God, walking in the Spirit, obedience of His Word and continue to be a blessings to others.

 Now Paul said “Let us not grow weary” -

 The word weary means feeling or showing of tiredness or causing you to feel tired.

The question is, “is it tiring to do good?” “kapoy ba ang pagbuhat ug maayo?”

 Now, this will matter or depend of our motivation behind of what we are doing.

(Magdepende kini sa nakatago nga motibo sa imong pagbuhat)

 Paul exhorts the Galatians not to get tired because he knew that they were disturbed and destructed.

When Paul said to them, “while doing good” there was a growing action of obedience to the Lord.

There was a process on which God is teaching them be like Him. Why? Because in the first place we are not good, no one is good, we cannot give goodness to others, and our very own nature is we are all sinners yet He remains good to us.

 Is it tiring to do good?

It will start and become tiring, if we try to please and sow in the flesh, but if our motivation is not for own glory and not to please the work of the flesh then it is not tiring yet it will bring us to grow our relationship in the Lord and it will produce Spiritual fruits and it is mention in Chapter 5:22.

 Probably we would say, I am weary, I am tired in this kind of life that I have because nothing good happens in my life. I’ve been persecuted with my family, problems in health, financial, broken relationship and fear started to hold on me.

 But the moment we think about it or even say it in our mouth, we probably also forget His very promise in us - “For in due season we shall reap”.

 It is a picture of patience, waiting on the right and perfect timing from the Lord because it is easy to forget the goodness of God rather than our own pain and sufferings that would lead us in losing heart.

We care too much of our pain and suffering inside of us instead to delight in His presence and surrender it to the Lord.

 Every time we pray and lift up our issues and cares to the Lord, it is not ours anymore. Whatever we surrender to the Lord, leave it to the mighty hands of the Lord because He is the one who is in control of everything.

Mark 10:27 “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

He is a mighty God that directs us always to His will.

 This world has a lot of things to offer and will never stop to get us weary (tired) and to destroy us. Let us not be deceived by the things that our flesh will be gratified, but instead to focus to the things that concerns eternity.

 I am not saying that I did not encounter to be weary and tired. Physically yes, because I have duties to handle it with care and God entrusted me this specific ministry therefore I need to be a good steward on it.

But what I am saying is that my own soul bothered so much, there is no peace in my mind, lies of Satan always whispering in my ears because it was the moment that I put myself in the center and start to entertain and holding to the applause of men, I am simply sowing in my flesh, holding to my pride instead to humble my heart and give back all the glory to God.

 Doing the things for the Lord, is an honor to serve the King and Master of my life. It will not be weary and tiring if in the very first place, I sow in the Spirit. Pleasing God and be a blessing to others.

 God gave us different gifts and talents to bless His name and to encourage one another.

Keep on using that for God’s glory no matter our lives may experience difficulties because God has a promise to every one of us here. Let us not lose heart instead allows the Holy Spirit to stay and change us.

 We are doing good because we give honor and glory to our good God.

We are doing good because we are not expecting of something, but God is our reward.

We are doing good because we are not losing but we have hope in Christ.

We are doing good because we want to bless other people.

 Before I end up my devotion, allow me to read Galatians 5:16-26

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[c]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 Let us pray!

��U]Ks�

[arielblue]

Productive Answer!

It’s better to be silent...

[arielblue]

just follow HIS instruction!

Anyone knows about Chef in Your Ear?

Chef in Your Ear is a Canadian cooking competition television series, that premiered on Food Network Canada on August 31, 2015.[1]

Hosted by Greg Komorowski,[2] each episode of the series features a competition between two professional chefs who must "compete without cooking", by providing remote direction to an absolutely clueless cook.[2] Using only a video monitor to watch the amateur's actions and a microphone to communicate direction into an earpiece, the chefs must guide the amateurs through the process of preparing a restaurant-quality meal in one hour.[2]

 I will talk about INSTRUCTION this morning. Now since this is a bible college and a training ground then it has a lot of instructions because we have staff / instructors. For the students before you start your assignment you should have first a hand-out instruction that we called syllabus. That is so important because it will guide you what are the things needed to do enable to make your assignment right and will enable you pass that specific subject and it is for your beneficial. For the staff at the same time we have daily instruction to do our specific task so that we may accomplish a job accordingly.

Now, this is not only instruction of what we are responsible to do, but all of us here have a higher instruction which I do believe that everyone should follow on it. And that instruction is above of what we are doing everyday, but it is a spiritual and personal instruction to everyone of us. We cannot have that instruction unless we know the instructor and there is no other person that can give us that perfect instruction for us so that we may able to do that pleases His name, who is Jesus Christ alone.

Sometimes we think that it’s enough for us to just to be in church, having in prayer and worship Him, but we need to understand that it should not just on that area instead our walk with Jesus should go beyond on that. What I am saying is anything that we are doing (investing time on studies, pouring out so much effort for the ministries) we need to learn how to listen God’s instruction because through that it will guide us to do the will of God.

We are going to look at Proverbs 8:32-36

Now as we remember when David dies and Solomon was appointed king in his place. The Lord came to Solomon and said, “Ask of Me whatever you want.” And Solomon prayed unto the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, I ask that You will grant unto me wisdom in order that I might govern over these, Your people.”     (2 Chronicles 1:7-12)

Now Solomon was aware of the awesome responsibility that was placed upon him when he took the scepter from his father David and began to rule over Israel. He realized what an awesome responsibility this was. And he also realized his own ability to stand up to this awesome responsibility. “Oh God, I need wisdom to know how to govern over these, Your people. And God said unto Solomon, "Solomon, inasmuch as you've asked for wisdom, you've asked for a good thing. Because you didn't ask for riches, you didn't ask for fame, you didn't ask for your enemies to be delivered in your hands, but you asked instead for wisdom, excellent choice. And because you didn't ask for riches, fame, your enemies, but you've asked for wisdom instead, I'm not only going to give you wisdom, but I'm also going to give you great riches, fame and all."

We will not tackle all the verses of the whole book of Proverbs, but we will just take few verses this morning that would encourage us to continue in hearing God’s instruction so that we may live according to what the Scripture says.

Instruction means “a direction or order” in other words “it is a specific and detailed command to do”

Why God’s instruction is important for us? We will find two answers this morning as we look at the Scripture.

First;

Verse 32, 34, 35 – It will bring blessings and obtains favour from the LORD

There are so many stories that we could find from the Bible itself from the Old Testament to the New Testament in terms of God giving an instructions to his people.

It is so interesting to know also that even in the short period of time when Jesus started in the ministry; Jesus will always gave an instruction to his disciples and even to the people around him because through that situation they will learn something for their faith.

The first miracle that Jesus did during the wedding at Cana, turning the water to wine, He instructed the servants accordingly even though it was not yet his time to reveal, but Jesus saved the couple from the shame of running out of the wine as a major contribution of their wedding celebration, culturally speaking. (John 2)

Another also is when Jesus asked Simon Peter to launch out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch, but even though Simon Peter doesn’t know what will happen and tried to insist that they toiled all night and caught nothing, but because he listened to Jesus’ instructions, Simon Peter was able to caught a great number of fish and their net was breaking. Jesus saved Simon from his needs and even to the point that he became fishers of men.

Second thing is;

Instruction is very important also not just because it will bring blessings but it is also a warning to avoid in sinning against God. It is a deeper conversation to our soul when God instructed us. It is not just for what we need for what is outside, but it is also need for what matters inside because our flesh will always dominate if we do not allow in constant feeding with God’s word.

And from the Patriarchs, (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) to the prophets God did not stop giving instruction to his people that they may understand and believed that there is Yahweh who always saved them from the destruction because of their sins.

Verse 36 – “But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

In Genesis 2, God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil for if they will eat it certainly they will die. And we all know that they did not follow the instruction of God. Through that Adam and Eve suffer the consequence.

In Number 20, when God instructed Moses to “Take his staff, himself and his brother Aaron in gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. Moses will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

Then Moses said, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then he raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.

Verse 33 – Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain (disregard) it.

To be wise is not about you know everything because as a matter of fact nobody in this planet knows everything. We do not know the future; we cannot grasp the mind of God, we do not have all the things that we need, we are not perfect but still in the process of changing to be like Jesus, but it doesn’t say that we are hopeless in this world. We need God’s instruction so that we may trust in Him and hope in Him.

And why there is an instruction? Because it will save us.

That is why it so very important to hear the instruction from the Lord.

Take note of this; Instructions from the Lord will not work in us if we do not do it.

In verse 35 “For whoever finds me finds life”. We need to exert an action that is in line to what God has commanded for us.

Sometimes, Jesus would instruct us that do not make any sense from us yet later on we realized and see that God is the one who orchestrated everything and it is for our own good and for his glory.

For all of us here in this room, what is Jesus’ instruction to you right now? Are you carefully listening to him or just ignoring about it.

We have a choice to whom we are going to listen; either Jesus or our flesh. But it is not an excuse that we are ignorant of the truth. We have His instructions, but do we listen to it seriously and respond it rightly?

God never forget to give us his instructions everyday in every single breath of our life. We have the freedom to choose which instructions we are going to obey, but be sure that your decision of taking that instruction will not bring you into regrets and fall into sin. Adam and Eve were brought out of the garden living in a cursed life and Moses wasn’t able to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land.

Again, the Bible is our only instructions while waiting on Him. It is our shield to fight from the work of the enemy. His instruction would give us wisdom to discern what is good against evil.

The very intention of the God’s instruction for us through His Scripture is not to destroy us but to sanctify us in the grace that He has given to every one of us here.

The fruit of our lives, the result of what we are doing and the output of every effort that we did will identify every decision and respond to make if we really hear God’s instruction for us.

Once again, we need to be reminded that if God wants to bless our life, to strengthen and be mature our relationship with Him, to save us from all evil attacks, do not think that we know what’s better for us just follow His divine instructions.

    �=T�~MLPFw��w

[arielblue]

Jesus is the Heart of Mission!

I need your cooperation tonight. I will try to convince you to change your favourite things.

Just raise your hands.

1. I will give you 5,000.00 pesos if you will change your favourite color.

2. I will give you 50,000.00 pesos if you will change your favourite shoe brand.

3. I will give you 500,000.00 pesos if you will change your favourite cellphone brand.

4. I will give you 1,000,000.00 pesos if you will deny your faith just for one day.

 Why you did not raise your hands in my last offer? Because you know in your heart that it is not a temporary thing, there is a mystery beyond of our faith and that matter is a very serious thing.

Things in this world are so easy to be change and would not last forever. Sad to know that not everyone who live on this planet understand that there is eternity.

 We live in exciting times. All around us we are seeing signs of the end of the age. Nation is rising against nation.  There are wars, earthquakes, famines and violence. The Jews are back in Jerusalem and the city has become a “burdensome stone” to the nations.

Zechariah 12:3 “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” (NIV)

Jesus said that iniquity (or lawlessness) would be plentiful

Matthew 24:12 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”

And it certainly is abounding. At the same time, we have seen the phenomenal rise of mega churches with congregations in the tens of thousands; we have heard of millions in different continents coming to the Saviour; and pockets of revival have sprung up from different parts of the world. Yet, with all excitement, it seems that many Christians in some part of other nations have overlooked a few of inconsistencies.

There was a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute in New York found that “18 percent of abortion patients describe themselves as born-again or evangelical Christians.” That is, of all those who murdered their own children, nearly one in five professed faith in Jesus Christ. That is difficult to reconcile with the fact that Christians are supposed to love God and love others as much as they love themselves.

Therefore, there will be always a call to every Christians to reach out the lost in different ways, but the same goal bringing them to the feet of Jesus. Showing them the truth that all things in this world are all temporary and there is eternity that could be found in Jesus Christ alone.

Once again, as we look at tonight the life of Paul on which God appointed him to share the gospel to the Gentiles and we will see the very heart why we are obeying His great commission.

We need to understand first that going out in the mission field is not just like bringing a lot of theological stuff to the unbelievers and starts to yell at them, but bringing the truth in reflecting Jesus Christ in humility and in love.

Let’s open our Bible to Acts 26:12-18.

The Book of Acts which was written by Dr. Luke has full of stories of men and women who took the commission seriously and began to spread the news of a risen Saviour to the most remote corners of the known world. It also provides a condensed history of the early church, an eyewitness account of the miraculous spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. The book details how the Holy Spirit authorized our spiritual forebears to carry out Jesus’ mandate to be His witnesses throughout the world.

Let’s have a little background about Chapter 26

Paul was rescued by Lysias, the captain of the Roman guard from the mob that was attempting to beat him to death in Jerusalem on the temple mount. He was taken into protective custody by the Roman government and sent under special guard to Caesarea for his protection, where he appeared before the governor Felix who held Paul a prisoner for two years, more or less, as a political pawn. When Festus became the governor in Felix's place, who had been replaced by the Roman Empire because of his corruption, Festus served Paul's case and began to give Paul the run-around saying, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and answer these charges?" Paul said, "I appeal to Caesar." Being a Roman citizen, Festus was obliged to send him to Caesar, but he had a problem. The problem was this: he could not really send him to Caesar without legitimate charges being made against him, and there were no legitimate charges. And so, he explained his problem to Herod Agrippa who came to pay a courtesy visit, and Herod Agrippa said, "Well, I will hear his case." The whole idea now of Herod Agrippa hearing Paul's case is that there might be made formal charges to send with Paul as he made his appeal unto Caesar.

And so, as we get into Chapter 26, we find that Herod Agrippa, who is the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who ordered the murder of the children at the time of the birth of Christ, who was the grand-nephew of Herod Antipas, who had ordered the death of John the Baptist, the son of Herod Agrippa I, who had put James to death and had imprisoned Peter. Herod Agrippa II, and Paul is now standing before him there in Caesarea to declare his cause, and the idea is that they might formulate charges against him to send with him as he goes to Rome.

We will not take the whole Chapter 26, but we will focus on the mission of Paul which God had given to him at very first place. And for us tonight, we need to see the very heart of sharing the gospel and why we are obeying His great commission.

We will read Acts 26:12-18

Verses 12-14

               As we have seen that Paul was able to share again of His testimony of conversion from being the worst persecutor to become a gospel runner. He chased the believers and killed them and yet later on he is the one running in advancing the message about Jesus to the different places.

Obviously, Jesus called his name two times and that would signifies Paul’s life will be part of the divine and master plan in expanding the gospel.

PART 1 - Submission

The first thing that we could learn tonight is “SUBMISSION”

And Jesus mentioned “kick against the goads” and He used that analogy so that Paul will realized that even though He tried to kill the believers yet Paul have witnessed that these people never deny and reject their faith in Jesus.

In those days, when they would put the yoke on a young ox, the young ox wouldn’t like that yoke and often it would begin to kick. And so, the fellow with the plow, if he had a single plow, would have this pole with a sharp point on it, and every time the ox would kick, he would hold that goad there at the back of the heel of the ox, so that ox learned not to kick. You go ahead and object, but it’s going to hurt, and the Lord said, “It’s been hard for you, Paul, to kick against the goads.”

The point was that the ox had to learn submission to the yoke the hard way.

Basically, before Paul encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road, Paul was resisting God in a similar manner.

1 Tim. 1:13 “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”

Let’s understand this, SUBMISSION and OBEDIENCE is totally different.

SUBMISSION is inside and OBEDIENCE is outside.

It’s easy to pretend that you are obeying, doing these things, allowing the people to see you of what you are doing, but later on it will not last, it will just create troubles because there is no total SUBMISSION of the heart before the Lord.

That’s why; there is murmuring of one’s mouth because murmuring or grumbling is the product of unsubmissive heart. If we still have that kind of heart before the Lord, then there is no pure OBEDIENCE before the eyes of the Lord, we will just end up for nothing. Everything that we are trying to do for the Lord will be useless and counted nothing if our heart has a difficulty to submit or surrender it to the Lord.

Remember this; God will never use us if we do not have the total submission before Him.

Philippians 2:12-15 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

Before doing the things for the Lord, before engaging to the battle field, let us always check our hearts if there is any single of unsubmissiveness. We need to learn how to submit before the Lord because if it’s not “it is hard for you to kick against the goads” – you are just hurting yourself.

On the other hands, SUBMISSION of the heart to the Lord is another way to test our motives in doing God’s work because our flesh would have always the tendency to be prideful. God would not allow our prideful hearts to do His work. To be in the ministry is always touching our feet to the ground and never ever touch the glory of God. It is so convicting for us so called Christians if we do not learn how to submit first our heart to God. We cannot pretend outside because whatever inside of our hearts will always reveal. That’s why in sharing the gospel, our heart should inline according to the heart of God.

Verse 15-16

Have you personally encounter Jesus in your life?

From the time you understand and accept Jesus in your life it should never end at that moment, but there should be a consistent of appearance of Jesus in our lives. What I am saying is that we should not neglect our personal time with the Lord. We should not substitute of anything or anyone in our personal time with the Lord, but only the word of God and prayer.

Jesus appeared to Paul for a purpose, He said “But rise and stand on your feet” - Paul heard personally the very voice of Jesus saying “But rise and stand on your feet” – this is a picture of a soldier of the Lord engaging in battle. Jesus commanded Paul to rise and stand on his feet because Paul will not be the same, but obeying now his commander in Chief at that moment. He needs to submit in the authority of Jesus not anymore on his own flesh.

To be in the mission field is not about being just talented and skilful, but it is a spiritual battle. Our spirit should be feed up by God’s word, it should be ready to face any spiritual challenges and in Christ alone we can have power to overcome it.

 Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

 Submission is not just one time, but it is a lifetime while we are waiting on His second coming. We need to endure when we follow Jesus.

 2 Timothy 2:3-4 “You therefore must endure[a] hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

There will be always a hope when we hear the very name of sweet Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can say and help us to rise and stand on our feet. These very words are not just for Paul alone, but this is for everyone. He holds us and taken out from darkness and cleanse us from all our sins. He gave us new life and chances to experience the fullness of His grace and mercy.

We cannot share about Jesus to others if we do not encounter Him first personally.

I cannot talk about Jesus here if I did not meet Him personally in good or bad times.

 At this very moment, Paul is facing trials, persecution and pain in the face of his enemy yet he did not quit and stop to testify about Jesus. Instead, Paul takes the opportunity to share about who Jesus is through his personal testimony.

 And again, sharing Jesus in the mission field is not only limited to any kind of strategy and methods, but the very effective to share the gospel is our own personal testimony because only God can change our lives.

 In verse 28 - Even Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian”

 I am not saying that those strategy and methods are wrong, still those things are useful and back-ups, but the main point is that our changed life in Jesus should impact to the unbelievers that the God we served is holy and loving.

 There is always a purpose why God saved and changed us, to be a minister and witness to the world.

And God is still in the place of pouring out His grace to this world and still working in our lives to be sent out in the harvest field.

 Read Verse 17 – “I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles,

to whom I now send you”

 Jesus ordained Paul to be His ambassador, Jesus send Paul for a great mission in the field.

Jesus said to Paul “to whom I now send you” the authority that comes from Jesus alone.

 Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

 Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”

 When Jesus said to Paul “I now send you” – is a picture of a Master sending his servant.

 Again, we cannot obey God if we do not encounter Him first. Paul could not testify also about Jesus to the Gentiles if Jesus did not appear to him.

 Therefore, our life will not be an effective witness and minister if we do not encounter Jesus.

 PART 2 - Servant

When we say “effective witness and minister” this will lead us to our last thing that we can learn tonight.

We are his instrument to bridge the gospel – meaning we are just his “SERVANT”

 Let us not forget that we are His servant to do His will. In sharing the gospel to the unbelievers it is not our own ability and learned theological stuff that would matter and change a person, but still the work of the Holy Spirit will prevail.

 Jesus said to his disciples -

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 Why? because only the work of the Holy Spirit will enable us to do the will of God.

We cannot do these things by our flesh. We cannot be His servant if we do not submit our whole heart to Jesus. To be His servant is not about our affairs in life anymore, but doing the very concern of God.

 What is the very concern of God?

 Read verse 18 – “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

 Now his purpose or the purpose of the gospel, of the gospel itself entailed the opening of their eyes. That implies blindness. Paul, later writing to the Ephesians church said, “The god of this world has blinded their eyes that they cannot see.”

A man who does now know Jesus Christ is blind to the truth many times. It is worse when he’s not blind to the truth, but still does not believe. But the god of this world has blinded men’s eyes that they cannot see the truth. So Paul was to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God.

 This is the ultimate and the very reason why we are obeying His great commission.

The ultimate redemption of human beings through the blood of Jesus Christ nailed on the cross.

This is the very heart of fulfilling this great commission.

 It is not about how expert we are in presenting the gospel but it is how we do and step out of faith in sharing Jesus to the lost.

 The powerful witness of a Christian life is far more convincing than any well-reasoned argument.

 Instead of preaching that Jesus will “improve the flight”, we should be warning sinners that one day they will have to jump out of the plane.

“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

 When a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking the Law of God, he will flee to the Saviour solely to escape the wrath that is to come. If we are true and faithful witness, that’s what we’ll be preaching – that there is wrath to come and that God “commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30-31)

 The issue isn’t one of happiness, but one of righteousness. It doesn’t matter how happy a sinner is or how much he is enjoying the pleasure of sin for a season; without the righteousness of Christ, he will perish on the day of wrath. The Bible says, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Prov. 11:4)

 Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation, but it’s not legitimate to use these fruit as drawing card for salvation. If we do, the sinner will respond with an impure motive, lacking repentance.

 Let’s take an incident aboard the plane.

We have a brand new flight attendant. It’s her first day, and she’s carrying a tray of boiling hot coffee. As she’s walking down the aisle, she trips over someone’s foot and slops the hot coffee all over the lap of our second passenger. What’s his reaction as that boiling liquid hits his tender flesh?

Does he say, “Man, that hurt!”? Yes, he does. But does he then rip the parachute from his shoulders, throw it to the floor, and say “That stupid parachute!”? No. Why should he? He didn’t put the parachute on to protect himself from spilled coffee or to have a better flight. He put it on to save himself when the time comes to jump. If anything, the hot coffee incident causes him to cling tighter to the parachute and even look forward to the jump.

 If we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the right motive – to flee from the wrath to come – when tribulation strikes, when the flight gets bumpy, when we get burned by circumstances, we won’t get angry at God, and we won’t lose our joy and peace. Why should we? We didn’t come to Christ for a better lifestyle but to flee from the wrath to come.

 Tribulation drives the true believer closer to the Saviour. Sadly, multitudes of professing Christians lose their joy and peace when the flight gets bumpy. Why? Because they are products of a man-centered gospel. They came lacking repentance, without which they cannot be saved.

 There are still billions of lost souls outside that need the forgiveness of sins.

 We have seen that the Bible presents God’s own mission to redeem and renew His whole creation. Every mission of that mission led to the cross of Christ.

It was the purpose, goal or mission of God that;

 -sin should be punished and sinners forgiven (Isa. 53:6)

-evil should be defeated and humanity liberated (Col. 2:15)

-death should be destroyed and life and immortality brought to light (Heb. 2:14)

  Often times I’ve been given a task to lead in a Students Evangelism Outreach in CCBC.

I was able to bring some batches around Negros Island, but doing evangelism in just a week is not enough. What I have learned is that, it is a continual commitment in testifying about Jesus.

 As long as you can still breathe and to the times of our pain, trials and problem and even to the point of our death we should not stop and be afraid to share Jesus to others.

 The very heart of mission is all about Jesus. We cannot share who Jesus is if we do not encounter Him personally. Mission is sharing about Jesus. It is not just only the knowledge about Jesus, but it is our very own life that is reflecting the humility and love of Jesus to others. To bring salvation for those who are unsaved. To bring true light for those who are in darkness.

Mission is all about serving and it could not be exchange of anything from this world.

Even our pain and problems, God would allow that to be used as bridged to share the gospel.

We have limitations, we have weaknesses, and we have struggles in life yet only God can bring that and use it to reveal His message. It is not over yet; we still have enough time to be used by God in advancing His kingdom.

And it’s so easy to become a part of that kingdom; just believing in Jesus Christ, those who believe in Him, who have submitted to His Lordship. You believe that Jesus is King. You bow to His authority, and by that bowing to his authority, yielding yourself to the authority of Jesus, you become a subject of His kingdom.

For all of us tonight, we should continue to pray that we are still on fire to share Jesus to others. Do not lose hope and be discouraged, do not stop in sharing Jesus, it will still be counted in the eyes of God. It’s not about how many people we are able to share, but it’s faithfulness in obeying Jesus and the matter of our heart to be submissive and willing to be His servant for His glory alone.

Let’s pray!

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[arielblue]

Greater Things in Jesus!

Our study this morning will remind us again that God has done great things in every one of us here.

Probably we have forgotten those areas in our lives that those times it was impossible for us to think and do, but God changed us and showed his power in our lives because He called and loved us through His extending grace for us.

Let’s open our Bible in Luke in 8:26-39

I. Jesus is greater than the demons. (vss. 26-33)

It is so interesting here the scenario between the conversation of Jesus and the demons. This was happened after when Jesus rebuke the disciples about their lack of faith. The disciples felt terrified when they encountered the storm as they across over the lake.

Let’s take a look in verse 22 “Now it happened, on a certain day that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.”

Now, this would be another terrifying experienced of the disciples as when Jesus stepped out of the boat and then suddenly this possessed man begging not to be tormented. This man would be so scary to look at when you imagine how he lives. In verse 27 it describes that “he was naked and lived in the tombs”.

If the disciples were probably afraid of what they saw, the demons were most terrified because the creator of all things, all powerful and the authority, the Son of the Most High God, Jesus was there.

The demons fell down on the ground, acknowledging the power of Jesus against on them.

Even in the life of Paul in the Book of Acts 16:16-17 “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

Demon is a kind of spirit, they are unclean spirit. Their job is just to destroy human beings spiritually and physically.

Look at in verse 29 “For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness”

They take captive the human beings so that they could manifest. This would not be new for us because Jesus warns us already about this, In John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

Let’s read verse 30 – 33

Speaking of abyss in the KJV it is the word “deep” - The word translated deep is the Greek word abusso, which in other places in the New Testament is translated the bottomless pit.

Now, Tartarus is one of the four places mentioned in the scriptures as the places of dwelling for the wicked dead and for the disobedient angels and spirits. This place is where certain angels are kept bound, awaiting the Day of Judgment. And they are bound in chains of Tartarus, awaiting that Day of Judgment.  

Tartarus comes from the Greek word Tartaroo which is used only once in the New Testament in 2 Peter 2:4. "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell (Lit.Tartarus) and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Now notice, they are begging Jesus that He would not command them at this time to go to the abyss. They know that the time is coming when they will be place to the abyss. They're begging further freedom now which interestingly enough that Jesus gave to them. He did not do what the demons were asking "Torment us not, don't send us to the abyss." And Jesus at that time did not send them to the abyss. However, they will have their time, when Satan is bound.

The prince of this world is still in the work of blinding the people from the truth. We all know that this generation and the coming generation will become darker and darker. People are making evil into good in the eyes of men in different ways of approach. Satan knows that his time is almost done, yet for us Christians it is not yet done, it is not over, we still the chance to share the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ. Therefore, every person on this earth needs a Saviour, a spiritual healer to restore the broken relationship to God.

II. Jesus did a great thing to man. (Vss. 34-39)

In verses 34-37, we could see that the man was completely healed, no more crying in fear and sitting at the feet of Jesus. At this time I am pretty sure the disciples were amazed again from the miracles that they have seen.

One thing that we could learn from here is that, when God delivered us, forgive us and healed us from the work of the enemy we want always to be in the feet of Jesus. We are thirsty and hungry of His presence. It is a picture of a good and loving father who saves and protects us from the destroying hands of Satan.

But take note also of this in verse 37, that the people were more interested in those pigs than they were in this man's deliverance. The loss of their pigs was of greater concern to them than a man's health. They begged Jesus to depart.

We can see in here how people are so selfish. They do not care others who are in suffering. Let us be encouraged to consider the things that could help other than our own selfishness.

And lastly in verses 38-39;

Now it is not anymore the demons who begged to Jesus, but it is the healed man. The man begged to Jesus not for anything else, but this man wants to be with Jesus wherever he will go. Probably this man’s only thing that can pay back is to serve Jesus in his entire life. He has no gold or silver at that time. Probably his family abandoned him already yet this man met Jesus and he received another chance to live and received a hope and given an opportunity to testify to others that there is only a person who can save them, he is Jesus.

How do we know this?

Look in verse 29, Jesus said to him, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you” – this command would be the start of testifying about Jesus Christ. This man was part of the God’s plan in proclaiming about Jesus. He became the living evidence in proclaiming about Jesus. He was obedient of what Jesus had told him to do. He did not insist his own way to be with Jesus, but he obey Jesus because he knew that this person who healed him was really the Son of God.

For all of us here, we know that this story is not easy situation, but for God nothing is impossible. My question is, are we still a blessings to our own house or even to our own family. Yes, we aim for good things to our family and give the best support in all basic needs. But let us all remember that there is no other greater things that we can share or to give to others, only Jesus.

Let us not entertain the work of the enemy instead we ask Jesus to protect us. And Satan will not just use the non-believers to discourage us, but also we need to be careful and be sensitive in the Holy Spirit to guide us always because we are prone to be tempted by the enemy to destroy our relationship to God and to others. It is easy to do the things that manifest, work in the flesh rather than pleasing the Lord.

When we are truly in Jesus Christ, obeying him as our Master, then there is no power of Satan can hold us and destroy us even the plan of God in our lives. If you know that you are pleasing the Lord according to His word then keep it up.

Let us not give up in telling others about Jesus. We may have different situations; we may not have all things of this world, we may not have the position in the field of politics or the ability in public speaking, do not be ashamed to share who Jesus is in your life, remember you have Jesus in your heart that still present, living and doing greater things in your life for His glory alone.

Let’s pray.

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[arielblue]

Move Forward!

Have you tried to click forward button before you watch the full movie or any video clip for the first time or watch the trailer? Why? Because we want to see ahead of time what are the transitions of the story, who are the involved character of the story and how does it will end. Either we like it or not, right?

 Why is that so? It is because it is part of our nature already that we want to know the results of what we are doing, results of our plans and especially results of our prayer. But let’s us try to see when God commanded us to move forward in the situation that we are trap by the things that seems hopeless for us, what should be our response on it.

 I am going to share to you a few verse only in the book of Exodus 14:13-15.

 We could see in chapter 14 as one of the dramatic and highlights of the story in the life of Moses.

It was God showed his power through Moses in departing the red sea and letting the Israelites crossed over going to the other side and it was another way of God’s plan in destroying the Egyptians. Still many Bible scholars today proved that it was really happened that event because of their Biblical researched; they found wheels of chariots underwater and the location itself that described what the Bible says.

 Obviously, the Israelite were always murmuring against Moses over and over again because they were not in their comfort zone especially at this very time that the Egyptian’s soldier were chasing and planning to kill them. Pharaoh picked the best warrior to kill them and the best choice of chariots to overtake them from escaping.

 It was so interesting that when the Israelite knew that these Egyptians were chasing and trying to kill them, they preferred to go back and serve the Egyptians rather than to die in the wilderness. Still the Israelite never learned, never understood and forgotten that it was God who showed miracles to the prince of Egypt through Moses and the plagues that was poured out against to the nation of Egypt to proved that there was God, the great “I am”.

 This story will always be a picture of demonstration of God’s deliverance to his chosen people from slavery, darkness and sin. And we all know that Egypt is an image of the system of the world.

 We are going to see three things that would remind us our personal walk in Jesus.

Indeed to remind us that we are already forgiven and cleanse by His blood, saved through his grace, delivered from all our unrighteousness and by faith we live in Him. But sometimes we tend to forget of what Jesus have done in our lives, why, because we are distracted by the situations that we are in. We are distracted because we never trust in the Lord, even in our prayer.

 In verse 13, Moses said to the people; 1. Do not be afraid – The word “afraid” means “feeling fear or anxiety; frightened”

The Israelite were so afraid and terrified because they don’t want to die.

In verse 10 it says, “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelite looked up and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord”

 It was also interesting that Moses telling the people that “do not be afraid” having the boldness to shout this “do not be afraid” while the enemy is approaching towards to them.

We could see here a character between Moses and the people of Israel.

 Why is it that Moses having this kind of strong encouragement even they were chased by the enemy and even hearing this annoying murmur of the people?, because at the very first place Moses encountered God, the creator of everything, the one and only Savior, who is the true and the living God. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. (Exodus 3)

God called Moses to be his instrument to deliver the nation of Israel. And even Moses itself, he doesn’t know all about this. Moses wanted to refused the calling that he should be; he had struggles in life before in obeying the Lord, but still God who reminded Moses, that He is the great “I AM”.

 Sometimes for us, as a true born again Christian, follower of Jesus Christ, we need to be reminded that we need to encounter God every day of our lives. Why is that so important for us? - Because that’s the only way to have this intimate relationship with the Lord. How? - By having a quality time in Him through our personal prayer and by reading of His Word.

 When we decided to follow Jesus, and accept Him as our Lord and personal Savior with truthfulness and seriousness inside of our hearts then it is very impossible that we never encounter God in our walk with Him because He is a living God. If you never again encounter God, then there is something wrong in your walk with Him.

 To encounter God does not mean that you are holy than other Christians, it does not mean that you are more filled with the Holy Spirit from each other, but you understand that you give honor and you give value of your relationship with the Lord, no matter what kind of situation do you have.

 Moses said to the people of Israel “DO NOT BE AFRAID” because they were already afraid.

It is so pretending and dishonesty that we never be afraid, yes, we felt the same way, and we feel afraid. BUT when are already in Christ Jesus, resting upon in Him, we should not entertain fear or hold on it anymore because it is not the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

 It is so confusing to some people who confess that they are following Jesus yet you can see them living in fear, hearing from their mouths full of fear. It seems that they never trusted the Lord. As a matter of fact, fear starts from the mind because our mind is the battle ground of Satan. We start to entertain fear and start to be afraid on the things that we never surrender to God and never trusted it to God. We need to be careful because Satan will always use the things that will get us easily be in fear.

 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” NKJV

 If we really encounter God in our walk in Him, he will not give us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NIV - Self-discipline)

 It is like when you watched a horror movie or any kind of movie that really distracted your mind in fear it would really bother you. Even walking alone in the streets during night time, whatever you saw in that movie it will bother you, thinking that someone is looking or chasing you intentionally beyond your imagination.

 Speaking of imagination, in referring to the finished elections, as per new elected government officials declared, people started to share their ideas, views, analysis, imagination about what will happen to the Philippines. Some started to feel afraid and some doesn’t care about all this kind of governing authorities. But for me, whatever may happen in this country or even the entire world we should not be afraid because God had already a plan on it. It is beyond of our imagination and thoughts the master plan of the Lord. We do not know what will happen in this country, but only for sure that will happen, God’s plan will prevail.

 How will we know that it is God’s plan will prevail? Of course, we have His very own word.

The Bible itself assures us perfectly and from the beginning until now, God never lied to his people because His very own word has its own power to give as an assurance of hope.

Now the second thing that we can see is that Moses gave an assurance to the people of Israel.

2. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today – again this statement from Moses was an assurance to the people of Israel. Take note how Moses said it “and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today”. Before the parting of the red sea, Moses himself had seen and experienced already the power of God. Moses stand before Pharaoh and God showed his power to convince and to release the Israelites. In other words, Moses knew that God will fulfil his promise to the people of Israel. There such no hint that God will never do his promise.

Moses wanted the people of Israel to let them realized again that still God will rescue them from the enemy. In speaking of these words of assurance to the people of Israel that God still care for them.

 To be stand firm and seeing the deliverance is another way to experience the power of God to everyone who trusted in Him. It is not by the work of flesh to be delivered against from the work of the enemy, but it is the Lord will bring for it because nothing and no one in this world could deliver us from darkness, only Jesus Christ.

 It is God who will work in us for his glory. That’s why when we pray to the Lord and surrender all our concerns to him, never doubt on it because God has done greater things already in our lives.

We need to be reminded always by His word and realized that God will always and always do his promises to us. He has given us an assurance even we are still in this planet, even to our salvation God assured already that we will be with Him, having this eternal life as long as we believe in Jesus Christ, the only person that could delivered us from all our sins and could change us from day to day for His glory alone.

Sometimes, we try to condemn ourselves when we feel bad, disappointed and frustrated to the things which do not meet of what we want or even to the people whom around us because we are not trusting in His words; we doubt in our prayers, we are taking control of the situation instead of allowing the Holy Spirit. To be stand firm in the Lord doesn’t mean that you perfect in all times, that you did not experienced ups and down in your life, BUT to be stand firm in the Lord is putting your faith and hope and trust in Jesus Christ because He will never failed you even how bad your situation is.

Still you continue to serve the Lord, worship Him, read your Bible, never ceasing in prayer because you have seen and tasted that only God can deliver us from all this kind of troubles in life.

It is not easy for Moses to tell this kind of people, people who are always murmuring, grumbling and blaming him, but we see a character of consistency in obedience of the Lord.

If God gives us His assurance through his Word then take holds of it. Obey His Word.

Now, the last thing that we will be reminded;

3. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still – this should be our proper response in times when life is in tough situation. This would not be easy, this is really hard for us to be still in times of discouragement, but this statement from Moses to the people of Israel is another way of saying in NKJV “you shall hold your peace”.

What does it mean to have peace in times of this bad situation?

Of course the Israelites were really troubled at this moment, in their mind this would be the end of their life. They preferred to go back to Egypt and serve them. Look at in verse 12, “Didn’t we say you in Egypt “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

The people of Israel define their peace in serving the Egyptians. But Moses strongly said to them “the Lord will fight for you” – it is God who’s doing the action, and demonstrating for them.

Moses was trying to say to them that, “you need only to be still” “you shall hold your peace”.

It is a demonstration of having God already in your life, God is in your side, He is doing something greater in your life and yet because of this situation that makes you discouraged you are tempted to forget and disregard and even to exchange your position in Christ Jesus to the offer of the world.

It is easy to identify a person who doesn’t have the real peace from God the way he/she respond in difficult situations.

Yes the Lord will fight for us in times of troubles, BUT it doesn’t mean that you are not doing anything, He gives us His Holy Spirit to discerned things that we need to do, He gives us His wisdom to apply the things from the Lord either it is His will or not.

This instruction that Moses had told to the Israelites, “you need only to be still” meaning it demands an action.

What does it mean?  ...“that demands an action”...

Sometimes when we pray to God, it is not just only words that will come out from our mouth, but there is an action that inclined on it through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

James 2:17 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

That is why in verse 15 “And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”

God has given us the time to pray, but then there’s also the time when we need to start moving.

Doing the things that pleases the Lord. It is now a test of faith, either we continue in trusting the Lord in behalf of this bad situation or to move backward and go back to the worldly lifestyle.

Now probably many times in our lives that God would lead us into impossible situations. When started to look to the things around us, it seems that it really overwhelmed us.

Remember this, He allowed that situation for us, so that He might demonstrate unto His people that He has a lot of resources which we know nothing about.

God will always remain faithful to his word. Even for me personally, I learned that is so amazing to be led by God because He will never lead you into anything that He won’t lead you and provide the way out.

Look in verses 1 & 2, it was God who arranged where the Israelites would camp and stay for a while. It is so interesting to know that from the very beginning God already arranged everything according to His plan. From the time we started to commit our lives unto Jesus, he already arranged your life according to His Master plan and for His glory alone.

Again Chapter 14 is one of the dramatic stories that God had arranged in the leadership of Moses to the people of Israel from the place where God commanded them to stay until they were able to cross the red sea in mighty work of the Lord.

God arranged that kind of situation because until that time they do not believe. Miracles have shown to the nation of Israel yet there hearts still in fear and wanted to go back to Egypt.

Let’s look at in verses 29-31

“But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”

For all of us here, probably we might have the same problems or not, only God knows about it, but let us remember that God has given to us more than rich and precious promises. We need to claim it by faith. We need to move in and take that which God has promised to us as His children. But before we can do it, we need to learn about God. We need to learn and trust in Him. And God is teaching us the lessons of faith and trusting in Him, showing us His abilities and His powers.

If God reminded us these 3 things in our walk in Him;

Then are 2 things we find the purposes of God in verse 31

           1. Fear the Lord – it is speaking of acknowledging His power over our lives, His mighty works that could lead us to worship Him, doing the things pleases Him and allowing His plan to fulfil in our lives and lastly;

           2. Believe in the Lord – there is no other way that we can experience or encounter Him, just believe in Him. Through these I believe it will help us to grow our prayer life and most of all our faith in Christ Jesus.

For all of us here tonight, I do not know what situation are you going through right now, but one thing that I can guarantee to you, if God showed his power in parting the red sea and destroy the enemies then there’s nothing impossible in Him as long as you continue to put your trust in Christ Jesus.

Let’s pray!

  ��z\��_