Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Genuine Christianity
- These are my notes from Myk's post entitled "This changes everything," which contains an hour-long video of Paul David Washer's preaching in a youth conference.
Text: Matthew 7:13-29
Matthew 7:13-14. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
- There is only ONE GATE, ONE ROAD, ONE GOD, ONE MEDIATOR-JESUS CHRIST. Walk in the way of righteousness like Jesus and if I step out of that path, God will discipline me and bring me back to that path again. If I profess to be a Christian but live like the people in the world, the Bible tells that I should be terribly afraid! Jesus says that there is not only a narrow gate but also a narrow road.
Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The issue here is not that I have sinned but the point is I've never done anything but sin! Even my great works are filty rugs before God. Apart from the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the only thing left for me is the wrath and fierce anger of God because of sin.
We say, "No, God can't hate me because God is love" but God must actually hate us because He is love. IF WE LOVE WHAT IS HOLY THEN WE MUST HATE WHAT IS UNHOLY. But the sad truth is more of the things we love, God hates. Most of our 'christianity' is based only on songs, culture but not on the Bible!
People say that the cross is the sign of how much a man is worth, that's not true! The cross is the sign of how much depraved a man is that it took the death of Christ to save him!
2. Am I bearing good fruit?
Matthew 7:15-16a. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."
Look at your life, look at how you talk, how you think, how you dress, your passion, etc. IS JESUS THERE? or do you look like the world, act like the world? or do you love sin and relish it?
How do you know that you are saved? because you prayed the sinner's prayer? because your parents told you? because you believe? how can say that you believe? You know you are saved because you are in a process of being changed and you are in a narrow way!
Why are there people who say they encounter Jesus but their lives aren't changed?
Remember:
3. Am I doing the will of the Father?
Matthew 7:21. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
This is not plainly about works but the evidence of faith, a style of life that pleases the Father.
Mattthew 7:22 and 23 say, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" We, most of the time, say, "The most important thing in the world is to know Jesus Christ," that's wrong! The most important thing is that God knows you."Does Jesus know you?
4. Am I applying what God teaches me?
Matthew 7:24-27. The story of the wise and foolish builders.
The point of the story in this context is not about strong or weak foundation. It's about those who hear the Word of God and apply it to their everyday life and those who hear the Word and do nothing about it.
It is important to put everything - the decisions you will make, your finances, the way you talk, the way you dress and so on, in subjection to Jesus by looking at what He says in His Word.
- Thanks to Myk for sharing the video...it rebuked me and challenged me to live genuinely as His servant.
Text: Matthew 7:13-29
How will I know that I am a Genuine Christian?
Below are questions that allowed me to assess myself.
1. Am I walking on a narrow road?
Matthew 7:13-14. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
- There is only ONE GATE, ONE ROAD, ONE GOD, ONE MEDIATOR-JESUS CHRIST. Walk in the way of righteousness like Jesus and if I step out of that path, God will discipline me and bring me back to that path again. If I profess to be a Christian but live like the people in the world, the Bible tells that I should be terribly afraid! Jesus says that there is not only a narrow gate but also a narrow road.
Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The issue here is not that I have sinned but the point is I've never done anything but sin! Even my great works are filty rugs before God. Apart from the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the only thing left for me is the wrath and fierce anger of God because of sin.
We say, "No, God can't hate me because God is love" but God must actually hate us because He is love. IF WE LOVE WHAT IS HOLY THEN WE MUST HATE WHAT IS UNHOLY. But the sad truth is more of the things we love, God hates. Most of our 'christianity' is based only on songs, culture but not on the Bible!
"Examine ourselves in the light of the Scripture. Compare ourselves not to other Christians nor to those who say they are Christians but compare ourselves to the Bible!"
People say that the cross is the sign of how much a man is worth, that's not true! The cross is the sign of how much depraved a man is that it took the death of Christ to save him!
2. Am I bearing good fruit?
Matthew 7:15-16a. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."
Look at your life, look at how you talk, how you think, how you dress, your passion, etc. IS JESUS THERE? or do you look like the world, act like the world? or do you love sin and relish it?
How do you know that you are saved? because you prayed the sinner's prayer? because your parents told you? because you believe? how can say that you believe? You know you are saved because you are in a process of being changed and you are in a narrow way!
Why are there people who say they encounter Jesus but their lives aren't changed?
Remember:
"If you got something from the Lord genuinely, it will last!"
3. Am I doing the will of the Father?
Matthew 7:21. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
This is not plainly about works but the evidence of faith, a style of life that pleases the Father.
Mattthew 7:22 and 23 say, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" We, most of the time, say, "The most important thing in the world is to know Jesus Christ," that's wrong! The most important thing is that God knows you."Does Jesus know you?
4. Am I applying what God teaches me?
Matthew 7:24-27. The story of the wise and foolish builders.
The point of the story in this context is not about strong or weak foundation. It's about those who hear the Word of God and apply it to their everyday life and those who hear the Word and do nothing about it.
It is important to put everything - the decisions you will make, your finances, the way you talk, the way you dress and so on, in subjection to Jesus by looking at what He says in His Word.
- Thanks to Myk for sharing the video...it rebuked me and challenged me to live genuinely as His servant.
We are set apart by God then, act as one!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
My Vow this Christmas
I Vow to Worship You
Chorus:
I vow to worship You
this Christmas day I stand and say
Glory, glory in the Highest
in Excelsis Deo
I pledge to celebrate the meaning
of this holiday
Giving praises to the beauty of
Your holy Name
Verse:
More than anything I do
More than anything I say
More than anything I say or do
I worship You
More than any card I write
More than any Christmas light I light
More than any gift I give
I give You my praises
from morning 'til night
I worship You this Christmas (3x)
Christ the Lord
For You alone are worthy (3x)
Christ the Lord
We'll praise Your name forever (3x)
Christ the Lord
Chorus:
I vow to worship You
this Christmas day I stand and say
Glory, glory in the Highest
in Excelsis Deo
I pledge to celebrate the meaning
of this holiday
Giving praises to the beauty of
Your holy Name
Verse:
More than anything I do
More than anything I say
More than anything I say or do
I worship You
More than any card I write
More than any Christmas light I light
More than any gift I give
I give You my praises
from morning 'til night
I worship You this Christmas (3x)
Christ the Lord
For You alone are worthy (3x)
Christ the Lord
We'll praise Your name forever (3x)
Christ the Lord
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Lead the Crowd
I saw this site, http://www.acquirethefire.com/, on the book I mentioned in my previous post. By the way, I dropped by at the Book for Less store in Mall of Asia once again when we had our Christmas Party last December 11, Tuesday, at Science Discovery Center. The book that I was talking about is entitled "Live God Loud."
I visited the site to see what it's all about. Then, I watched some video clips and below is one of them.
Upon viewing this, I was reminded of some points from the book of Oswald Sanders, "Spiritual Leadership."
Responsibilities of a Leader
- Service. The true leader is concerned primarily with the welfare of others not with his own comfort or prestige.
- Discipline. "Train yourself to be godly" - 1 Timothy 4:7. Same way, don't be afraid to rebuke and correct others.
- Providing guidance. The leader must go before his flock. Therefore, he must know where he is going before presuming to lead others.
- Initiate. The leader must initiate plans for progress or recognize the worthy plans of others.
- Take responsibility willingly.
Some Tests of Leadership
- Compromise. Lowering standards is always a backward step and compromise nearly always requires it.
- Ambition. Instead of personal ambition, a leader must show selfless nobility, genuine concern for God's glory and compassion for the misguided people.
- The impossible situation. A true leader rises to face baffling circumstances and complex problems.
- Failure. How a leader handles failure will set much of the agenda for the future. Successful leaders have learned that no failure need be final, whether his own failure or someone else's. No one is perfect and we can not be right all the time.
- Jealousy. A leader will face the problem of jealous rival. His main concern must be God's glory and not his own privilege or position.
"Don't follow the crowd. Lead the crowd." Lead the crowd to Jesus!
I visited the site to see what it's all about. Then, I watched some video clips and below is one of them.
Upon viewing this, I was reminded of some points from the book of Oswald Sanders, "Spiritual Leadership."
Responsibilities of a Leader
- Service. The true leader is concerned primarily with the welfare of others not with his own comfort or prestige.
- Discipline. "Train yourself to be godly" - 1 Timothy 4:7. Same way, don't be afraid to rebuke and correct others.
- Providing guidance. The leader must go before his flock. Therefore, he must know where he is going before presuming to lead others.
- Initiate. The leader must initiate plans for progress or recognize the worthy plans of others.
- Take responsibility willingly.
Some Tests of Leadership
- Compromise. Lowering standards is always a backward step and compromise nearly always requires it.
- Ambition. Instead of personal ambition, a leader must show selfless nobility, genuine concern for God's glory and compassion for the misguided people.
- The impossible situation. A true leader rises to face baffling circumstances and complex problems.
- Failure. How a leader handles failure will set much of the agenda for the future. Successful leaders have learned that no failure need be final, whether his own failure or someone else's. No one is perfect and we can not be right all the time.
- Jealousy. A leader will face the problem of jealous rival. His main concern must be God's glory and not his own privilege or position.
"Don't follow the crowd. Lead the crowd." Lead the crowd to Jesus!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
How to Read the Bible?
I was about to go to Hypermarket, Mall of Asia to buy some food for dinner last Monday (after attending a meeting at Science Discovery Center) when I passed by a book store - Book for Less. Feeling ko parang Book Sale sya na may mga books worth P20.00 only so I went inside. I saw good books; there were Bibles, devotional books, cook books, academic, etc. but they're quite expensive pa rin (for used books) .
I got one book (wheew! I forgot the title!) and scanned the pages. Nabasa ko ung part na "How to read the Bible" (something like that). I could still remember some points...
- Read the Bible per theme. Have a specific topic and read passages about it (e.g. purity, worship, etc.). The use of Concordance may help.
- Read per book. Like any other books, it's good to read by chapter to establish continuity. Eventually, this will give you better understanding.
- Memorize a verse. It's good to read even a verse in the morning, memorize it and keep that in mind for the whole day. (Ginagawa ko 'to at masaya! hihi. Like for today I have Psalm 58:11 "Then men will say: 'Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
- Read more. Use other reading materials/references that will help you understand the passage (Bible dictionaries, History, etc.).
- Make your reading creative. Have questions in mind and find out the answer; "Why did God say this?", "What happened after this or that?", "Who was behind this?" and so on.
There are lot of ways on how we can enjoy Bible reading. I'm discovering my own strategy... ;)
I got one book (wheew! I forgot the title!) and scanned the pages. Nabasa ko ung part na "How to read the Bible" (something like that). I could still remember some points...
- Read the Bible per theme. Have a specific topic and read passages about it (e.g. purity, worship, etc.). The use of Concordance may help.
- Read per book. Like any other books, it's good to read by chapter to establish continuity. Eventually, this will give you better understanding.
- Memorize a verse. It's good to read even a verse in the morning, memorize it and keep that in mind for the whole day. (Ginagawa ko 'to at masaya! hihi. Like for today I have Psalm 58:11 "Then men will say: 'Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
- Read more. Use other reading materials/references that will help you understand the passage (Bible dictionaries, History, etc.).
- Make your reading creative. Have questions in mind and find out the answer; "Why did God say this?", "What happened after this or that?", "Who was behind this?" and so on.
There are lot of ways on how we can enjoy Bible reading. I'm discovering my own strategy... ;)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Help!
Hi people! Can you help me with this?
I'm in need of 3-4 Christmas Party Games na ma-eenjoy ng mga adults (starting 35 and up). We (the association-PACEOS) have a Christamas Party on December 11. Ako ang pinaghahanap nila ng games. I tried to surf the net kaso parang di naman nila ma-eenjoy.
Your suggestions are highly appreciated. Many thanks! God bless!
I'm in need of 3-4 Christmas Party Games na ma-eenjoy ng mga adults (starting 35 and up). We (the association-PACEOS) have a Christamas Party on December 11. Ako ang pinaghahanap nila ng games. I tried to surf the net kaso parang di naman nila ma-eenjoy.
Your suggestions are highly appreciated. Many thanks! God bless!
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