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Culture of Generosity

October 8, 2021

September — We spent almost the whole month just staying inside the base because of the total lockdown implemented in the whole province of Siem Reap.

Our area was categorized as “Red Zone”, which simply means that no one is allowed to go out, and if the police catch you, then you are to pay $250 plus confiscation of your vehicle. Obtaining food supplies are only allowed through online markets delivered by government authorized couriers. It’s a little bit expensive but many don’t have a choice. What’s challenging was the abrupt announcement of the lockdown, leaving dozens of people without supplies and unprepared.

As we daily communicate with our brothers and sisters, we found out that some people were left with nothing. Jobs are closed, supplies are running out, and they are in constant distress because they cannot go out.

Thank God that we were able to buy our supplies before the announcement. However, some of our leaders got stuck in one of the provinces after doing ministry there. The abrupt announcement included the closure of provincial borders. So our team cannot cross the border and needed to find a way how to sustain their limited supply and find shelter in Battambang Province. Good thing there was no lockdown there.

Seeing and responding to the need

So, while looking at our food supplies, we felt led to divide the goods that we have and send them to some of our brothers and sisters. With the limited food supplies that we have, we can only give to few people. So we find ways to how to deliver it to them, and then it worked!

The contagious effect of responding to the need

So fast forward, during that day when we made our first delivery, I was talking and encouraging one of my close friends in the Philippines because he’s just recovering from covid. So while chatting, he mentioned how he lost his whole savings because of the hospital bills and how God supernaturally provided for their hospital bill that reached P1.5 Million. And then after that, he asked me about the situation in Cambodia, I told him what’s the recent happenings. Just before we end our conversation he said that he wants to send a small amount of money just to add for the rice that we’re giving away. I was in tears that time because I know how he almost died in ICU and how they faced their huge hospital bills. But who am I to hinder a brother that is sowing for the Kingdom.

With the sudden increase in price in the market, we decided to buy the stuff in Battambang Province. So we sent the money online to our team there and they skillfully managed the budget, being able to include rice and other important goods. After packing the food supplies, they contacted a taxi driver who would deliver the food from one province to another. People cannot cross, but food supplies are allowed.

The taxi successfully crossed the border. Then we contacted one of the PassApp (Rickshaw) guys who would pick it up and then deliver it to the addresses that we provided. We also asked him to take pictures for us. He took good photos by the way. That day we delivered to 8 families in the city and 5 in the village. We thank God for His favor and grace that enabled us to be a pipeline of His blessing.

Where multiplication happens

Here’s the fun part of the culture of generosity. After that, we shared our story with our leaders and few friends to encourage them with our testimony. The response was awesome as people begin to respond making our third wave of relief possible. We thank God for our home church in Fairview who gave and also our friends as well. The third relief operation blessed a total of 21 families.

Just like the account of the feeding of the five thousand, we refuse to just look at what is lacking. God has given us the Spirit to lead us to God-given solutions. 

The culture of generosity is a powerful force that can make a huge impact, it is contagious and results to even more acts of generosity.

It doesn't require a huge step to start, you just have to be willing to trust God with what you sacrifice.

Generosity is the very nature of the Father. He responded to man’s greatest problem by giving His only begotten Son to die for our place.

Hence, to walk with God means to walk in generosity.

In every situation we refuse to be the victim. We refuse to be the one in need. Instead, we rise above the situation and demonstrate the greatness of our Father through simple acts of generosity.

We echo one of the tenets of Victory Churches International that says: 

God is the source of all our needs. So, we are generous.

Thank you for your prayers and support! May the Lord continually bless you!

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One with Christ

What does it mean to be "one" with Christ?

1 John 1:3 "...indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."

1. To be one with Christ means to have fellowship with the Trinity.

It is to develop a progressive relationship with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. This is only possible if we constantly choose to spend time with the Godhead and to involve them in our every day life.

The word Fellowship in the Greek is "koinōnia" which means communion, intimacy, pledge, association, and intercourse. Hence, we should view our relationship (fellowship) with God in the context of "koinōnia". We should not take lightly our fellowship (devotion time) with the LORD because it is indeed a divine task of which we are drawn by the Spirit to "come unto Him" and not just come but also to "Abide in Him."

2. To be one with Christ means to walk in the light [1Jo 1:5-10 KJV]

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

- Now this should put the fear of the LORD in our hearts and at the same time encourage us. Holy fear because in His presence, darkness is not tolerated. It means that whenever we enter His presence we are to expose every bit of darkness that rests upon us. But at the same time this should encourage us because your thoughts about yourself (which most of the time condemning) doesn't exist in the presence of God because in Him there is no darkness at all.

3. To be one with Christ means we acknowledge Him as our Advocate

[1Jo 2:1-2 ESV] 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Praise the LORD! For our "Parakletos" our helper, lawyer, defender. He helps us in our weaknesses!

When God looks at us He sees Christ in us. Now that truth alone should make you jump and rejoice! We are united with Christ! We are one with Christ not because of our good works or performance. But because of the Divine work of the trinity on the cross and resurrection of Christ.

Now one may say that the first two points of being one with Christ is hard to follow. But if you would just open your heart and allow Christ to reveal Himself as our Advocate, then you will know that God has given to us everything that we need to be in right relationship with Him. This is what the Apostle Paul mean in the book of Colossians when he said that "we died, and our life is hidden in Christ Jesus."

In Christ alone we will have a consistent devotional life. In Christ alone we will overcome every anxiety that leads to depression. In Christ alone we stand faultless before the throne of God. In Christ alone we are one with the Godhead.

In Christ alone we have the victory in every area of our life! So today, stand up, be strong and courageous. You are not ALONE. You are "one" with Christ. You are never alone.

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A New Running Motivation

Hebrews 11:1-2 CSB - 1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by it our ancestors won God's approval.

What is the thing that we should hope for as believers? Is it our dreams? The prophecies that was spoken over us? The fulfillment of your ministerial calling?

Hebrews 11:10 CSB - 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:39 CSB - 39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,

Obviously what the "heroes of faith" desired and hoped for cannot be found on this earth.

The Psalmist made this truth wonderful when he penned his heart in  Psalms 73:25

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you."

What is your primary motivation of being in heaven? Is it to escape hell? Is it to see your relatives? What makes you excited of heaven? We're asking heaven come, yet don't understand that what made heaven "heaven", is the presence of the Trinity.

If Christ is the greatest desire of your heart and to be citizen of Zion (His heavenly abode) is your passion. Then what you hope for is not found on this earth.

That's why blessed are those who are like what Peter wrote: 1 Peter 1:8 CSB - 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,

He continues to encourage the persecuted believers:

1 Peter 1:13 CSB - 13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

He didn't promised a better life here on earth, but promised a better future at the second coming Jesus. Peter motivated the persecuted church to set their hope completely into the second coming of Christ, and to be with Him forever.

Hence, the writer of Hebrews concluded the "Heroes of Faith chapter" with this statement:

Hebrews 12:1 CSB - 1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

Although most of the time we preach that these cloud of witnesses are encouraging us to persevere, they are not just to encourage. But they are to WITNESS. What are they witnessing? They witness or testify, that the promise is true! That what they have hope for is fulfilled in heaven! There is a city prepared for them, and the King is Jesus! They are cheering us but not just to overcome temporal difficult situations, but they are cheering us to run the race swiftly so that we would gain an abundant entrance into the inheritance of the saints. The very thing that we hoped for. JESUS – in all of His fulness. The Trinity, and Heaven – Zion the city of God.

Onward we go! For only then we grow! Run pilgrim of Christ! Run with perseverance! Look to the greatest reward, JESUS!

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New Blog! May it bless your heart! 

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Keep yourselves from idols

1 John 5:21 ESV "Little children keep yourselves from idols."

The Apostle John warned the believers of his time to keep themselves from idols. Why would John warn them if they were all believers? A more literal translation of the verse and its context would give us an idea:

1 John 5:20-21 TPT 20 And we know that the Son of God has made our understanding come alive so that we can know by experience the One who is true. And we are in him who is true, God’s Son, Jesus Christ—the true God and eternal life! 21 So, little children, guard yourselves from worshiping anything but him.

In today’s Christianity, there is a great danger of creating our own image of God. A false image of the true God is considered idolatry. What does it mean? A Christ-less Christianity will lead us into idolatry. Is that possible? Absolutely! It is possible when Christ is not supreme in our lives. It means that we substitute the joy of simply being with Christ with stuff that we think would satisfy our being. We should strive to know God in the light of the teachings of Christ. We should not pick the truths about God that we like and leave the truths that are hard behind. That is forming your own version of God.

The Bible says that no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jesus).

Simply put it this way:

No cross = No crown

No Jesus = No Life

Again John mentioned this in verses 11 and 12 of the same chapter:

11 This is the true testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not have the Son does not possess eternal life.

The eternal life that we have is not a Christ-less life. But it is a life that should be full of Christ. In your workplace, campus, family, ministry, care group, social media. Because if Christ is not present in what you do, then it simply means, there is no life. There would be little fruit and little joy.

Christianity that is only lived on weekends is idolatry. So, little children keep yourselves from idols.

Don't worship the church, ministry, school, family, even your life. Don't even worship the promises that were spoken over you. Worship Jesus, the true vine! Who will make those promises come to pass.

Let Christ be preeminent in all you do.

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Onward we go.

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As a pastor and as a congregation, we must be thankful for everyone God places in our church. God not only chooses the pastor, He also handpicks the members for the pastor.

Dr. Brian J. Bailey

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Perfect Harmony

As believers, what binds us together? Is it common interests? Is it friendship? Is it Ministry? Church? Personality? What makes us close to each other? Is it just what we get out of our brethren?

The Apostle Paul encourages the believers in Colosse to put the secret ingredient that would bind everything.

"Colossians 3:14 (ESV) 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

The Greek word for love in this passage is Agape. This is a kind of love that comes only from God. Our human flesh is incapable of expressing "agape" love. Most of the time we express "phileo" love.

Human love, will most of the time fail. But the "agape" kind of love is enabled by God. We can love others because God enables us to love them. Agape also is a term that early church used for their love feasts which is similar to Care Group in modern times. Agape Love Feasts is kept by church fathers to strengthen the bonds and the spirit of harmony among the believers.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes that Agape love is what the believers need to be united. It is interesting that he used the Greek word syndesmos to describe the result when we put on love.

Syndesmos literally means ligament. Ligaments are what bind our bones and other parts of the body together. When we operate in brotherly love, we strengthen our spiritual ligaments and we become strong as one body.

Brotherly love is one of the topics overlooked in the scriptures, but oh how important it is that we make it a daily practice. It is essential that we allow Christ to move through us by demonstrating Agape love towards our brothers and sisters even though they don't deserve it. Let brotherly love rule your hearts!

Above all, let us love, sacrificially. For this is what binds us.