True Worshiper

I'm blessed with yesterday's preaching...

TRUE WORSHIP is LISTENING and OBEYING. God is also in the business of seeking me and you.

Devotions & Reflections

October 16. "NEVER TOO BUSY"
Nothing on you agenda, no matter how pressing, is reason enough to ignore the voice of God when He tells you to stop and help.

October 15. "REST TO REFOCUS"
(a message of encouragement from the Lord)
"You can give everything you have to God's service and come away exhausted. God removed Elijah from the activity for a time so that he could spend time with God. If He needs to remove you from your work for a time, He will."

> I was able to relate with Elijah, who after doing everything for God's Kingdom including burning the altar, people still want to kill him. Eventually, he found himself tired & rested in a cave. God asked him, "what are you doing there?"... and comforted him with His gentle voice saying, "Go back..." Minsan, kailangan lang ng rest to clearly hear God's voice and to experience His presence. That's exactly what has happened to me. :D

October 14. "CLEAR MESSAGE"
If we walk with Him, in obedience to His Word, He will stand with us and ensure us victory over our challenges. "OUR DECISION WILL BE EVIDENT BY THE OUTCOME."

> I went to Manila to have my EEG Test at Makati Medical Center. On my way home, while riding on a bus, I saw a big billboard with the message, "Follow Me." - GOD. Feeling ko, ako lang ang nakakita ng billboard na yun. After I saw it, I prayed... "Lord, para sakin ba yun? Ano po bang utos Nyo?"

After few days... nalaman ko na what God wants me to do. :D

Teaching...

...is not only a profession,







but a calling.




Love for God is its foundation.

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

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!

The God-given Ability to Succeed

- posting from Word 4U Today -

Bible Text:
- Deuteronomy 8:18: "But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today."

Do you want your life to count in God's big plan for the planet?
1. Get seriously creative: When God gives you the ability to succeed, it often begins as an idea. But remember you have to do something with that idea, make a plan, talk to people, get it done! Your idea (or someone else's) might come from God. Stop and think: if God's a creator and we are made in His likeness, shouldn't we be creative too?

2.Use your gifts: The gift God gave you is your key to success. He didn't give it to you to be wasted on stuff that has no point or purpose or denied out of a false sense of humility. No, He gave it to you to be invested - to be used! Jesus told the story of three guys who were given money to invest. The first two double theirs; the third buried his in the ground because he was afraid of messing it up. Look out! FEAR IS ONE OF YOUR GREATEST ENEMIES. It numbs your spirit and bangs up your creativity. Use what God's given you. Trust God and take some risks.

3. Get on with it! Ok, sometimes it's wise to wait. But a lot of times, being over cautious will just lead to missed opportunities, disappointments and regrets. Your friends and leaders can help you work this out. But if you know in your heart that God has told you do something for Him, if you've got the ideas and the gifts, don't make excuses, get on with it! Make it happen. Seize the day! Grab the 'now' moments of your life - the 'right time' you're waiting for may never arrive.

Personal Reflection:
I also took note of some points from Deuteronomy 8:18.
- Remember God. "But remember the Lord your God..." Don't take God away from the picture.
- Utilize our ability to produce wealth. "...for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth..." If God has given us the ability, make use of it!
- Hold on to His promises and claim them. "...and so confirms His covenant..." God confirms His promises, so there's no room for doubt. It's also good to mention God's promises to us when we pray.
- Believe His consistency. "...which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today." God is unchanging. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. If He promised and gave success to our forefathers, He will do the same to us.

I was truly blessed with this. I was praying last night kasi...God did answer my query right away. He said, "Anak, go on! Make it happen! I'm with you all the way."

Patience

I'm reading the book by Oswald Sanders, "Spiritual Leadership." From chapters 1-8, the author tells about the qualities of a leader. One of such is having patience and this is how Sanders defines the term.

Patience
- it is victorious endurance and constancy under trial
- a courageous and triumphant ability to bear things

With the abovementioned definitions, I tried to assess myself. I must admit I fall short.

It is not:
- being half asleep
- ignoring things

I also agree when Sanders said, "Patience meets its most difficult test in personal relationships."

Point to ponder:
"The evidence of our strength lies not in the distance that separates us from other runners, but in our closure with them, our slower pace for their sakes, our helping them pick it up and cross the line"

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."
- Romans 1:15

Rich Generousity

I want to quote this one from Pastor Anthony's sermon last Sunday.

God created the sun, it gives...

God created the moon, it gives...

God created the ocean, it gives...

God created the earth, it gives...

God created man...

Rich generousity is best defined in the Bible:

2 Corinthians 8:3-4

"For I testify that they gave as much as they were able (not bound by the law and not limited with tithes), and even beyond their ability (work diligently to give more). Entirely on their own (from their own pockets), they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing (looks for the opportunity to give) in this service to the saints."

God is really testing me in terms of giving. He definitely does not need my money but rather wants me to be free from the love of it and to trust Him.

Rain, what does it tell you?

I received an email and I repost it here.

Stop at the picture for a second, and watch the Rain... then read on...

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly my daughter, Aspen , spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. "Dad, I'm thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked.

"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away." After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Aspen."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked, "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?" Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.

In order to see the Rainbow, you must first endure some Rain.

Opposing Principles

I was doing my reflection paper on chapter 3 of the book "Spiritual Leadership" when I realized that the Master's Principles are really different with men’s principles and most of the time, they are totally opposing.

Few examples are:
Men: If you want to be rich, keep your blessings.
God: If you want to be blessed, bless others.

“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then
because of this the LORD your God will bless you

in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” Deuteronomy 15:10

Men: If anyone hurts you, do the same thing to him.
God: If anyone hurts you, pay him with good thing.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty,
give him water to drink.” – Proverbs 25:21

Men: A leader must exercise authority, make the most of it and rule.
God: A leader must serve.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” – Mark 10:43-44

Leadership for men is equivalent to “authority” but for God it is tantamount to “servanthood”.

It's amazing how God works in a different and unique way (very different from our ways). Sometimes we can't understand what He's doing and where He's leading us, but still He will say this: Just trust Me!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Potter & Clay

"Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'?" - Isaiah 45:9 -

"...can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand..." - Jeremiah 18:6 -

Going through Spiritual Confusion

The Lord proved once again that He is a prayer-answering God. He knows our thoughts, our pains...and He is in control. He just wants us to trust in Him with all our heart and hold on to His words although we don't understand.

Below is God's for me and now I see things in a clearer view...

There are times in your spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it is not simply to say that you should not be confused. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through a spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.

The Shrouding of His Friendship (Luke 11:5-8). Jesus gave the illustration here of a man who appears not to care for his friend. He was saying, in effect, that is how the heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think that He is an unkind friend, but remember-He is not. The time will come when everything will be explained. There seems to be a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessings of fuller fellowship and oneness. When God appears to be completely shrouded, will you hang on with confidence in Him?

The Shadow on His Fatherhood (Luke 11:11-13). Jesus said that there are times when your Father will appear as if He was an unnatural father-as if He was callous and indifferent-but remember, He is not. "Everyone who asks receives..." (Luke 11:10). If all you see is a shadow on the face of the Father right now, hang on to the fact that He will fully justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into your life.

The Strangeness of His Faithfulness (Luke 18:1-8). "When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). Will He find the kind of faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing.

Now I know that it's not a matter of how much you understand but a matter of how much you trust in God despite all odds!