PRAYER FOR HEALING IN TROUBLED TIMES by Patricia Raybon February 5, 2009

The Word of God is crystal clear on what to do in a national crisis. Throughout the Bible, He spells out the four things a nation and its people must do to experience healing: humble ourselves, pray, “seek His face,” and turn from our sinful ways. That’s what God specifically told Solomon, the king of Israel, in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14.

In a lesser-known biblical scenario found in the book of Jonah, the very same prescription for national healing was given by God and resulted in dramatic restoration. When the powerful Assyrian city of Nineveh (now located near modern-day Mosul, Iraq) faced destruction, Nineveh’s king followed very single one of these four healing remedies.

When he heard the Lord’s warning from the prophet Jonah, he completely humbled himself in the way ancient people did: he tore off his royal robes and covered himself with sackcloth, even publically sitting in an ash heap (Jonah 3:6).Next, he issued a royal decree calling all his people to repent of their “evil ways,” fast from food to seek God, and “urgently” pray for mercy. The king also issued a national decree for everyone to “call urgently on God” (3:8).

“Who knows?” he said. “God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish” (3:9 NIV). Indeed, in that story, when God saw their humility and how they genuinely turned from their evil ways, He had compassion on them and did not bring the destruction upon them He had warned them of (3:10).

These steps, borrowed from Nineveh’s story, can guide and inspire us to effectively pray for our nation in the coming months ahead.

1) Be still before God.

Choose to quit spinning in circles about the “Wall Street meltdown,” the “impending economic catastrophe,” how the political race will turn out—or even about your own family’s financial future. Instead, as Psalm 46 exhorts us to do, we should be still before the Lord (v.11) and acknowledge His sovereignty, even in times of trouble (v.1). Each day, take time out to get quiet and turn your attention solely on God, focusing on His amazing presence and breathing in His rest, peace, and wisdom. Consider this promise: “They who dwell in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). The result? Refreshment, renewed vision, and more powerful prayer.

2) Seek God wholeheartedly.
Commit your worries and concerns to God and instead, put your energy into seeking His face (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 105:4). Doing so changes our focus from the news, the crisis, and ourselves, and turns it back to the Lord. As we humbly seek Him, we’ll begin to recognize that He is already taking care of us, providing His answers to our problems. Matthew 6:33 is key to a healthy perspective: when you “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” before anything else, He will meet your other needs.

3) Commit to forgiveness with humility.
Jesus said: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25). When you humbly turn from the sin of unforgiveness against others, you not only glorify God; you free yourself to receive His answers to your prayers. Ask the Holy Spirit to remove vengeful, bitter, or antagonistic feelings about others from your heart, and look to Jesus’ ultimate forgiveness on the Cross—and the healing He offers.

4) Completely turn away from sin.
If you have a hidden fault – one you know is offensive to God – now is the time to turn from it for good. Focus today not on what sins Wall Street executives committed; instead, examine your own life and reconcile with the Lord. Consider His words to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:13: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

5) Get up and get busy serving others.
Put some “feet” to your prayers. First, ask God to give you His compassion for others. Consider His attitude toward the city for which Jonah had nothing but disdain: “Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” Use this time of national crisis to help your neighbor. Ask God to show you someone else’s needs that you can meet. After all, praying is not just about asking; it’s about how we live.

GOD’S AMAZING GRACE October 10, 2008

The Bible always talks about what God has done for us first before it tells us what He wants us to do for Him. The focus is God’s grace first and our obedience as the by-product. The first three chapters of Ephesians talk about our wealth in Christ or what God has done for us and the last three chapters talk about our walk or what God wants us to do.

I. God’s Amazing Plan. God’s amazing plan is to exalt Christ over the whole world. Jesus is the King of Kings and has authority and power over all. Ephesians 1:22 says, all will submit to Christ, including governments, evil forces, even Satan. Jesus is God’s gift to the church. Ephesians 1:23 defines the church as Christ’s body. The word “church” comes from the Greek word “ecclesia,” which means “called out” or “chosen people.” Throughout the New Testament, the word “ecclesia” is used to refer to the community of believers who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Hence, the church refers to a select group of people and not a building or edifice. Ephesians 1:1 addresses the church as “saints” which means a special people set apart from the rest. It needs to be connected to the Head, which means believers must have a relationship with Christ. When you raise your hand or wiggle your toes, your body is following orders from the brain. To have a relationship with Christ is to obey what He says. The church is also Christ’s representative on earth. God wants to use the church to have His love, care and wisdom known to the world and to authorities in the heavenly places.

II. Man’s Awful Dilemma. However, we have problems that cannot be addressed with superficial solutions. But problems go much deeper. If you do not understand the real problem, you cannot prescribe the right solution. Ephesians 2:1-2 shows us that our real problem is sin. We are dead to sins and trespasses, hence, we have no appetite for the things of God. A person who is spiritually dead follows the values of this world by seeking security in pride, position and possessions. This is in accordance to the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, Satan (Ephesians 2:2). Satan’s strategy is to lie by saying, “All religions are okay for as long as you are sincere.” But Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” No religion can save us. A dead person cannot change for the better on its own. Sin or “hamartia” means to miss the target. It is not merely committing an offense, but it is also not doing what we are supposed to do. The problem with sin is we fail to realize we are full of it. Satan perverts what is good and makes it sinful. Eating is good but when you overeat you become a glutton. Sex was invented by God and in the context of marriage, it is wonderful. But when you allow this drive to be your master, it becomes sinful. Sin is disobedience and rebellion against our loving God. Ephesians 2:3 calls unbelievers “children of wrath.” There are more verses on the wrath of God than on the love of God. The Bible says, you “are storing up wrath for yourself” (Romans 2:5) when you refuse to change. Because God is holy and righteous, He will deal with sin. Revelation 6:16-17 speak about the last prayer of people who refuse to repent or take their sinful condition seriously: “They said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?’”

III. God’s Amazing Solution. The solution came from the heart of God who is rich in mercy and great in love (Ephesians 2:4-5). We were all rebels against God and dead in our sins, but Jesus died for us and so “having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:9). By the blood of Jesus, we are declared not guilty and saved from the wrath of God. We deserve to die as sinners but Jesus took our place. He shed His blood and rose again so that He can give us life. God not only has given us life but He also seated us in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Today, spiritually, we are seated with Christ. Since that speaks of authority and position, hence when we pray, we must do so with authority. In the Greek language, the phrase “you have been saved” is in the past perfect tense. It is a certainty. It happened in the past and has a continuing effect. We can be sure of receiving God’s amazing solution because of grace. It is not as a result of works, that no one should boast. People try to go to heaven through good works. But since spiritually we are dead to sin, no amount of good works will save us. The only way to go to heaven is through the grace of God. And once we are saved, God wants us to be involved in good works. However, you will never experience the saving grace of God until it is activated by faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith,” (Ephesians 2:8). Until you are willing to repent and turn your life to Jesus, you will not see the transforming power of God’s grace. When you give your life to Jesus and take that step of faith, you will know and experience the unfathomable riches of Christ!

ONE POINT:GRACE REALLY WORKS!!

DARING TO MOVE OUT FROM OUR COMFORT ZONE FOR GOD August 2, 2008

At the mention of names like Abraham, Moses, David, Joshua, Ruth, Nehemiah, Mary, Paul and Peter, we think of them as great men and women used mightily by God for a special purpose. Each of our names can be placed alongside theirs. We should never underestimate God’s special design for us. He desires to use each of us for His divine purpose. What we must always remember is that life is not about us; it is all about God.

We, humans, settle as creatures of habit. Following a predictable routine in familiar surroundings gives us a sense of security and this places us inside our comfort zone. In the Christian life, failure to move forward means stagnation, which is the sure route to spiritual deterioration. Has God been gently urging you to do something that you would not normally do, like share the Gospel with your officemate, lead your own discipleship group, humble yourself to restore a broken relationship, stand firm and not compromise in business practices, or maybe give up a sinful relationship that you know is displeasing to God?

God wants us to move out of our comfort zones for the following reasons:

TO PROTECT US FROM COMPLACENCY AND SIN. God oftentimes unsettles us so we may learn to depend on Him. David was trained under such living conditions. David’s own words attest to this. “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (Goliath).” – (1 Samuel 17:37). David was forced out of his comfort zone fleeing for his life from King Saul. And so he learned to call on the Lord. But King David fell into complacency. The bible tells us in 2 Samuel 11: 1-2 that while his men were fighting in battle, he stayed at home in the comfort of his palace. Upon waking up from a day long sleep, while walking leisurely on the rooftop courtyard of the palace, he saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing and he lusted after her and eventually commit adultery. To cover it up, he plotted the murder of her husband Uriah. Being comfortable can lead us to complacency which in turn can make us deaf to God’s voice and our conscience. Before we know it, we are entrenched in sin.

It is in unfamiliar, uncomfortable territory where we become sensitive to the voice of God. This was true of Abraham when he was instructed to leave his home and afterwards to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Joseph refused to give in to the seduction of Potiphar’s wife and consequently languished in prison. Mary accepted her divine appointment to bear Jesus in her womb. Paul surrendered to follow Jesus as he fell under the blinding light on the road to Damascus. The apostle Peter, a Jew, was called to bring the Gospel to a Gentile centurion named Cornelius. Comfort zones need not be literal places. A lot of times, we have to be dislocated from our routine schedule or familiar territory in order to listen to God. God may be trying to lead us out of complacency to protect us from sin. We must not let the comfort and security of our present life make us miss God’s plan for us.

The Old Testament (Numbers 13, 14) gives an account of how God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and how they came to a place called Kadesh Barnea. God was bringing them into His Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, but they had to conquer it in order to possess it. But because they feared the giants and fortified cities, they opted to stay where they were. God had something so much better but they did not want to let go of their comfort zone. Only Joshua and Caleb, who chose to get out of their comfort zone, received the blessing. What about us? Are we refusing to move with God outside our comfort zone – of life in general, of relationships, of old habits and attitudes? Do we want to end up like the Israelites who lived without purpose and died without experiencing the ultimate blessings of God? When we move with God outside our comfort zone, we stop relying on our own ability and begin to listen to, depend on and trust in God. In the process, we open ourselves to God’s blessings.

TO SERVE A SPECIAL PURPOSE. For 40 years, Moses was content with merely tending sheep when God appeared to him in a burning bush and charged him with the task of going to Egypt and setting the Israelites free from slavery (Exodus 3:10). Focusing on himself and his inadequacies, Moses was full of excuses (Exodus 3:11), but in the end he followed God one day at a time. Our sovereign, faithful, powerful God never takes us outside our comfort zone and then abandons us. He will be with us as He was with Moses every step of the way to ensure that we succeed in fulfilling His mission. God calls us to look beyond ourselves to allow Him to work His special purpose in our lives. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good in making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

TO GROW AND MATURE IN FAITH. God desires for us to grow in faith and character, and quite often, the only way is for Him to shake us out of our comfort zones. It is in our vulnerability, that we turn our attention to God, listen to what He has to say, and see significant, lasting changes in our lives. When we become open to change, then we become open to growth. Growth is, after all, change directed towards maturity. The Bible exhorts us to delight in opportunities for growth. James 1:2-3 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Outside our comfort zone, our faith is tested, and our maturity is developed. We see this in the case of Joshua. After Moses’ death, God appointed Joshua to be the new leader of the Israelites. He was ordered to cross the river, to set foot on unknown territory, and to claim the Promised Land (Joshua 1:2-3). We will never grow and experience God’s blessings if we do not venture forth, get our feet wet, and take the unbeaten path. When God thrusts a major crisis our way, it is because He wants to bring us to a higher level of maturity. When we resist, He will keep repeating the lesson until we get it right. If we do not seize the opportunities to grow, we will remain immature and undeveloped. God’s growth tools may not be pleasant; they may even be painful. But no growth takes place without growth pains. C.S. Lewis declares, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” The journey out of our comfort zone is what Paul calls “the good fight” as written in 2 Timothy 4: 7-8: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

The Christian life is strewn with many challenges, but even problems and trials turn into blessings if we bring them to Christ. As we trust Him by laying away our plans to accommodate His, as we lift up to Him our daily battles, and as we leave our comfort zones to step into the unknown, we discover the grace of God. As children of an awesome God who have only one life to live, we should each embark on a journey beyond our comfort zone, and grow in the knowledge and experience of God and live it to the fullest for His glory and honor!

THE GREATEST FATHER OF ALL July 2, 2008

What kind of emotion is stirred within you when thoughts of your father come to mind? What kind of father did you grow up with? How a person turns out in his later years says much about his father. How trusting a child is toward his father depends on how trustworthy the father has been to his children.  

Fathers are very important. It has been shown that there is a tremendous correlation between a fatherless family and the outcome of the children. Statistically, over 60% of suicide rates, 90% of children who run away from home, and 85% of all youth that are now in prison are from fatherless homes. Fathers make a very strong impact on families.

God is the greatest father that every father should follow. And for those who did not have fathers in their childhood, they should know that in reality, they do have a Father. Psalm 68:5 refers to God as “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows…” Psalm 103:3 says, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” God, the Greatest Father of all, shows us what a great father is like:

A Great Father Knows. Our Father is in heaven.  He is in the highest realm, high above us. No one can compare to His holiness, knowledge, wisdom and goodness. The great disparity between Him and us, however, does not make Him a cold, distant Father. He is as close and personal as anyone could ever get. No one can come close to the intimate knowledge He has of each one of us. Our Father knows our needs. He knows best, and will always give what’s best for us.  Being the God of love, His compassion will never fail us. 

A Great Father Provides. Earthly fathers, with their best efforts, try to provide for their children’s needs. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Earthly fathers are not perfect but our God in heaven is, and He promised us that He will take care of us. It is our Heavenly Father’s job to provide for us, just as earthly fathers provide for their children.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26). God is telling us we are worth much more than birds. So why do we worry? God knows what our needs are. He is able to supply. If He can take care of the needs of the birds, how much more us?

Again, Matthew 6:31-33 says, “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘with what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” Part of trusting is doing what’s humanly possible and leaving the rest to God. As long as we toil daily and observe a day of Sabbath (Exodus 16:12, 16-23), God shall supply our daily needs. God faithfully provides as long as we are trusting and obedient to His commands. We do not compromise God’s principles in order to gain God’s blessings. God’s condition is that we put Him first in everything.

A Great Father Trains. No other person plays a role as pivotal as the father to his son. The cliché “Like father, Like son” points out the importance of modeling. “Every father should remember that one day, his son will follow his example instead of his advice.” The best training a father could give is one that develops the son into a godly person.  
 A father would do well to observe a few simple guidelines to be a great father and pass on valuable lessons to his children who will eventually have families and children of their own:  

• I would love my wife more.
• I would laugh more.
• I would listen more.
• I would spend more time with family.
• I would model more than lecture.
• I would pray more, worry less.
• I would appreciate more, criticize less.
• I would encourage more, correct less.

A Great Father Loves. To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E.  Children also equate love with forgiveness and acceptance.  But no one can equal God’s love, forgiveness and acceptance.  “See how great a Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1).  Precisely because we are His children, God shows His love for us through discipline. “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6-7). What father would not want his child to learn the ropes of right living so he may not go wayward and go through life dejected and defeated?  

Knowing that we have the greatest Father of all who knows, provides and trains and has nothing but our best interests at heart, we can draw near Him with confidence. Are we turning to Him? Are we willing to trust and obey the greatest Father of all? As we go with our series on the Fatherhood of God, may we realize the importance of that.

HOW TO FINISH WELL June 25, 2008

BE AWARE OF THE ENEMY. Many Christians do not finish well because they do not comprehend that there is an enemy. Peter warns us: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Plainly the Bible tells us that if we want to finish well, we must be aware of our enemy, the devil. Peter explicitly said that the devil is full of schemes & his purpose is to destroy us. He is not playing games; he wants to wipe us out physically and spiritually. In the military, there are four colors that describe each level of the soldiers’ physical and mental preparedness. Code white means the soldiers can relax. The next level is code yellow, which means the soldiers are physically relaxed but mentally alert. Code orange means the soldiers are both alert physically and mentally. Then code red means the soldiers are ready and prepared for battle. The Bible tells us to be of sober spirit; meaning, we should be on the alert. In Ephesians 6:11, the apostle Paul puts it this way: he wants us to be always on code red. “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Sadly, many Christians today are still in code white, in a state of rest. They have no idea of the enemy and the warfare that is going on. Paul writes: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephes. 6:12). Our antagonist is not flesh and blood. We are against spiritual forces. Many times, our miseries and sorrows come from other people, but we must realize that they are not our real enemies. Our real adversary is the devil. ACTIVELY RESIST THE DEVIL. Peter writes: “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:9). We must be firm in our faith because Satan will use all kinds of sufferings to cause our faith to waver. That is why it is important that we must always be on the alert and know our weaknesses. A strong person is someone who knows his or her weaknesses and takes precaution not to succumb to them. In order to resist the devil, one of the things we need to learn is to know his schemes. What are these? First, he wants us to be careless. The devil does not want us to take him seriously. He wants to lead us in believing that he does not exist or that he is not after us. Second, he wants us to be trapped in certain kinds of sins. One of the favorite schemes of the devil is to use bitterness and unforgiveness. This is a very effective plot because most of us have been hurt and betrayed by other people. Satan uses the pain for us to harbor ill feelings towards other people and before we know it we’re already trapped in sin. That is why the apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor. 2:10-11, “But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” Third, he wants us to be deceived. Have you ever wondered why many people will not come to Jesus? Because they are not aware that Satan is a deceiver and that they have been deceived. In Luke 8:11-12, Jesus warns us: “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved.” Thomas Brooks puts it this way: “Satan promises the best, but pays with the worst; he promises honor but pays with disgrace; he promises pleasure and pays with pain; he promises profit and pays with loss; he promises life and pays with death.” Some of Satan’s Favorite Lies There is no consequence to disobedience. The truth is we are free to choose; but we are not free to escape the consequences of our decision. In Galatians 6:7, we read, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Our happiness is dependent on possessions, people, and position. The Word of God says, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). Our priority should be God. When we are in His presence we will experience joy and peace. We can earn God’s love by performing certain activities and rituals. Romans 5:8 say, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We are the victim of our past and cannot change. But the bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” We have plenty of time and following God and committing to Him can wait.The truth is: “…now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). There are many ways to heaven as long as we are sincere. But Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). There is only one way to heaven. Heaven and hell are not real places, but states of the mind. But John 14:1-2 clearly states: “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” Our faith is based in our belief on the Word of God and on the character of His Son. If we doubt Jesus, our faith will waver. The Bible says that the only way to resist the devil is to be firm in our faith. Satan will throw all kinds of problems at us; he will mock and scorn us. It is our choice, either we give in or resist him. Peter writes: “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (1Peter 5:10). We should trust in the character of God. C.S. Lewis once said, “When you are in trouble, the problem is not denying the existence of God, but in thinking ill of God.” The greatest problem is not that we would doubt God, but that we would think of God with malice. How can we give our life to Jesus if we do not believe that He cares for us? This is the battle of the mind: TRUTH vs. LIES. So let us keep trusting God and keep being firm in our faith. This is the sure way of finishing well.

THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES US M.A.D. (Make A Difference) June 16, 2008

It should not make us mad when people say we are fools for Christ. But when we hear derogatory remarks like, “Why is he like that? Isn’t he a born-again Christian?” then it may be that we have a part in giving Christianity a bad name. 

In advertising, the “before and after” technique is used to show the effects of a product as its selling point. But if a dirty shirt, after being washed by what is promoted as a “powerful” detergent, does not look any different, would consumers buy it? In the same way, when people look at our lives, do they see the difference that Jesus makes? Will they be attracted to the Savior we speak of? Is there a difference that people can clearly see?

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to examine our lives and ask, “Lord, is there something that is getting in the way of my being a witness for You?” It is the Holy Spirit that makes us M.A.D. — that stands for “MAKE A DIFFERENCE”. We are in this world to make a difference for the glory of God, and it is the Holy Spirit who will empower us to do it. We can make a difference because:

1. We are APPOINTED to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples…You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:8, 16). Jesus said we are appointed to make a difference. He called us to be the salt of the earth and as such we are to give people a taste of who Jesus is and what He is like through our lives, through our witness, and through our testimony. He said that we are the light of the world, and as such we are to radiate the character of Jesus in our lives (Matthew 5:13-16). Hence, the distinction that sets us apart as God’s appointees is a transformed life that makes a positive influence on others.

Christianity is more than just avoiding sins or going through life quietly. It is about creating an impact by our wise ways and kind, gracious speech, through which Christ is properly represented, thus giving justice to our assignment as His ambassadors. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). When people see how we make decisions, how we behave wherever we are, at work or at home, do we make a difference? Are we able to make an impact even in seemingly small things? 

2. We are EMPOWERED to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. The wonderful thing about the Christian life is that not only does the Lord say, “Go out and make a difference, make disciples and share the gospel”, He gives us the power to do so. He does not leave us on our own because He knows, like sheep, we are helpless without Him. Our sinful flesh is in constant conflict with the Spirit in us. We lust for things that are not in harmony with what the Holy Spirit wants (Galatians 5:16-17). Hence, we need to live by the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit moment-by-moment, to keep us from gratifying the desires of our sinful nature.  By constantly seeking God’s direction and wisdom, by praying without ceasing on every occasion, and making confession and repentance as part of our daily conversations with God, we are placing ourselves under the power of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to make a difference in this world. 

3. We are PRIVILEGED to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Having the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – is one reason why we are privileged as Christians. When we experience times of pain and difficulty and yet by the power of the Holy Spirit, we manifest the fruit of the Spirit in response, then clearly we make a difference for the glory of God. Christian living does not mean the absence or the removal of problems from life. It means the experience of the fruit of the Spirit in spite of difficult circumstances that may come our way. How we successfully cope sends a powerful message about Christianity, making others want what we have. The Gospel is, therefore, advanced, and Christ is made known.

“If being a Christian was a crime, would there be enough evidence in your life for a conviction?” We are in the world to MAKE A DIFFERENCE for the glory of God, and it is the Holy Spirit who will make it happen. How can we, in our own lives, counter the negative impressions about Christians and create a positive impact for Christ? Paul exhorts, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6).

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT June 10, 2008

The sheep is the most defenseless of all animals. Left untended, it cannot fend for itself. It lacks the ability to outsource food and water. Easily attracted by surrounding sights, it is prone to wander off and fall into crannies.  In many respects, we are so much like sheep.   Psalm 23 is a striking, poignant metaphor of what a shepherd does for his sheep. In our helpless state, the Lord has come to be our Good Shepherd. He takes care of us as our Good Shepherd when we have a personal relationship with Him. The Lord provides. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (v. 1). It is the shepherd’s job to look for food and water for the sheep. The Lord is Jehovah Jireh who makes sure we are provided with all our needs. For anyone who has the Lord to shepherd him, no good thing shall he lack, for the Lord provides. If earthly fathers know how to give good things to their children, how much more our Father in heaven who owns everything and cares so much for us to withhold what we need. “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (v. 2a). The shepherd looks for ideal pasture land that the sheep may graze on it. After a satisfying meal, the sheep lies down to rest on a bed of fresh, green grass. We are where we are because God put us there. But we need to have the readiness to leave and go elsewhere as the Lord deems fit. If we think we’re comfortable and contented where we are now, the Lord may have greener pastures for us. So where He leads, we must follow, otherwise we will be missing out on God’s best. God knows what’s best for us and will take care of every detail of our lives. The Lord guides. “He leads me beside quiet waters” (v. 2b).  The shepherd guides the sheep to a calm pool of water for a refreshing drink. Taking time out of our busy schedule to be alone with God will give us the refreshment we need.  He brings us to a place of stillness so we may see His face and drink from His life-giving Word. “He restores my soul.  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (v. 3). Because of the stupid, stubborn nature of the sheep, shepherds sometimes resort to breaking the legs of the sheep to keep it from repeatedly going astray. Yet the shepherd also binds up the broken leg and nurses the sheep until it is completely healed.   Our Shepherd does not only take care of our physical needs; He is also after our spiritual welfare. The Lord accepts us “as is, where is.” However, He will not allow us to remain the way we are. God is in the business of restoration. When we fall, He picks us up. When we get dirty, He washes us clean. His forgiveness is available to those who humble themselves. The Lord’s holy name shall be honored. He will deal with our stubbornness through His discipline as a father who does not spare the rod so as not to spoil the child. “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines” (Hebrews 12:5-6). God will bring about that situation where we are in a position of moral uprightness and right living. We have God’s Word from which to derive the wisdom we lack to straighten our path. In guiding us, He sometimes takes away all earthly support so we may learn to depend on Him and consequently prove His sufficiency.  The Lord protects. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me” (v.4). God may sometimes allow us to go through valleys where there is darkness and dryness, so that we may learn to appreciate the better things He has for us in the uplands, where there’s fresher, greener grass.  The valleys lead us to mountaintop experiences – the better to taste Him more intimately, and for us to realize that He alone can revive and satisfy. “Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows” (v. 5). As a shepherd applies oil on the sheep as pest repellant, our protective Shepherd also shields us from all danger and evil. With God on our side, our foes are put to shame. We have nothing to fear, for God is our security. “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v.6). The Lord relentlessly pursues us, not as a policeman would to issue a ticket for a violation, but because He bears gifts for us. He promised to be with us to bless us and preserve us all the days of our life.  Who, then, do we go to for our needs? When in trouble, who do we run to? Have we entrusted our lives to the care of the Good Shepherd? We’ll never go wrong when we turn to our Good Shepherd who will never fail us. The sheep hears the shepherd’s voice and follows. Are we listening to the Shepherd’s voice and following where He leads? Take the following self-check to determine whether you are a sheep following the Good Shepherd: 1) The ear test: Do you listen to the Shepherd’s voice? And 2) the foot test: Do you follow the Shepherd’s voice?

SURRENDERING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS VICTORY June 2, 2008

Are we as busy as Martha or as quiet as Mary as she lay at the feet of Jesus listening to His teachings? If we never learn to rest and be still before God, to bow before Him in reverence through prayer and Bible study, how can we come to know Him intimately? How can He take first place in our lives? 

Jesus said in Mark 8:34-36: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” As long as we hold on to this life and all the other things our flesh holds dear, the victory Christ has won will never be ours.  Surrendering all to the Holy Spirit brings victory. For this to be true in our lives, we need to know the answers to these questions:

WHAT IS SURRENDER? Surrender is defined as to yield to the power, control or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give (oneself) up into the power of another, especially as a prisoner. Surrender, as the world understands it, is to concede defeat. It gives up a fight to give in to a stronger force, admitting helplessness and weakness, by waving a white flag, willing to be held captive by the other. But surrendering to God is to acknowledge helplessness and weakness, so that the Holy Spirit can take over in order to be filled with His power and be victorious over the real enemies – Satan, the world and self.

It begins as a voluntary act of the will to turn over our lives to Jesus. It is giving up our rights so He can defend our rights.  Surrendering to Jesus is not a one-time act at the instance of salvation, but a moment-by-moment choice as we face our daily battles. We need to realize that when we surrender to God, we give up to gain. Have we relinquished the throne of our lives to Christ?

HOW DO WE SURRENDER? There can be no surrender without humility, for it is really a dying to self. Surrendering is coming to the end of one’s self and turning to God in complete dependence and trust, with full admission of spiritual poverty. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). We can either deny sin, or we can deal with it. Healing comes only when we admit it. When we empty ourselves, we give God room to work in us. Surrender acts on the conviction that God is good, is in absolute control, will provide for our needs, and will always give us what is best (Psalm 25:8; Matthew 6:26).

Nothing happens apart from the will of God. Job, in surrender and with full trust in the Lord, welcomed adversity. “Shall we accept good from God, and not adversity?” (Job 2:10). Abraham, when asked to surrender his son, obeyed without delay. Trials are designed by God to develop our love for Him, weaning us away from the world so we may truly feast on the sufficiency of Christ. Paul, who was acquainted with sufferings, declared: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). In times of crisis, do we raise clenched fists and question God, or do we bow our heads and lift up our hands in submission? Crisis as bad as cancer loses its sting when we give God our unqualified trust and love. By letting God’s will be done in our lives, we are placing ourselves in an attitude of wholehearted surrender and obedience. 

All our struggles to yield our rights when we are wronged or trampled upon are nothing when we look at the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane. Knowing, loving and trusting God and not ourselves allows us to surrender in total obedience.

WHY SHOULD WE SURRENDER? When the truth about Christ’s love for us cuts to the core of our hearts, abandoning ourselves to God is the only natural thing to do. Surrender, then, becomes worship. Surrendering to God is a great privilege and gift to glorify God and express our gratitude. All of us are given one life to live on this earth. That life will come to an end one day, sooner than you think. We’ve all been given a choice as to how we live our lives. You can choose not to burn the flame of God in your life. And if you do, you will waste your life. You will experience trials, difficulties, struggles and hardships, and you will be in darkness without God’s light. But if today, you choose to shine the light of God in your life, you will still have trials, difficulties and hardships, but you will have God’s light to show you the way.

Have we reached that point where we have made up our minds to let God have all of us? Have we dedicated our lives to Jesus and made that commitment to follow Him with no turning back? We deprive ourselves of God’s bounty when we hold back even just a bit. Have we surrendered all?

GROW UP May 29, 2008

After salvation, what’s next? Spiritual birth is not the end-all of Christianity. One has to go through its progressive stages. No one can ever claim that he has arrived. Life, in general, is a continuing education. So is Christianity. The moment we stop learning, we stop growing. The moment we stop growing, we will not just stagnate, but we will fall and return to our former state, perhaps far worse than when we first began. It is, therefore, God’s desire for us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:18).   Do not be afraid of growing slowly, instead be afraid of not growing at all. Most of us have ceased to mature in the faith because of the wrong belief that Christianity is all about head knowledge. Let us be reminded that head knowledge does not take the place of growth because growth has something to do with our character and love for Jesus. We look at the life of Peter as an example of how we should grow in the Lord. In 2 Peter 1:1, Peter identified himself as a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. He no longer emphasized his apostleship, instead he acknowledged himself as a slave of Jesus. He came to a point in life where he voluntarily submitted himself to become the slave of Jesus. We must come to a point in life where we realize ultimately that Jesus is our Master. And as slaves, we have one primary purpose: to please our Master. As we grow in faith, we must embrace the fact that it is not by our own doing but it is by God’s grace. As we learn more about Jesus and what He has done for us, our experience grace will grow. God has done His part. Unworthy as we are, His undeserved favor has flowed out to us. Hence, GRACE, aptly put, is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Because of grace, we have the certainty of our salvation. No longer are we under the yoke of the law, but under grace. Failing to understand grace makes one legalistic, never free from struggles. We, like the apostle Peter, have received the same apostolic faith from God that grants us everything pertaining to life and godliness. He has given us His DNA, the divine nature that gives us the desire and power to do His will, to live out Christianity and grow into maturity (2 Peter 1:1-4). There is no shortcut to Christian growth. God has provided everything but we have got to do our part. We are to be trained in the spiritual disciplines of Scripture reading (God’s Word), Supplication (prayer), Small group (fellowship and accountability), and Solitude (quiet time with God). “ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). As the preceding verse prescribes, we need to grow in the following areas: Faith. Our faith in action is shown through acts of obedience to God. Moral Excellence. This is synonymous to integrity. It is meaning what you say and doing what you say. Meeting deadlines at work or at school, arriving early at the office or for appointments, fulfilling commitments and promises are just some of the ways to exhibit moral excellence. Knowledge is power. Aside from the Bible, reading Christian books is tapping into the source of knowledge. Self-control. This requires a lot of discipline. Physical exercise, diet, anger management, TV and film watching – these are a few things where self-control needs to be exercised. Perseverance. When discouragement says “Quit!” perseverance says “Never give up!”  Moving forward past the obstacles of life is to grow in perseverance. Godliness. As Christians, we mature in godliness through reverence for God and duty towards Him and men. It measures spiritual growth in terms of Christ-likeness and not head knowledge. Brotherly kindness. Genuine concern wants what is good for another person. It is not afraid to point out the other person’s fault or weakness, but does it with gentleness without subjecting the person to humiliation. Love. People will forget what we say, but acts of love will be treasured in the memory chest.   The story of long-haired, barefoot, jeans-and-t-shirt-clad Bill is one example of love in action. He entered church to attend Sunday service where the people donned their Sunday best. Finding no vacant seat in the jam-packed place, he walked over to the middle aisle right in front of the pulpit where the pastor was preaching. There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone watched Bill squat on the floor. An elderly deacon with a cane approached him, and with a lot of effort, sat right beside Bill. At this sight, the churchgoers were moved to tears. The pastor remarked, “You will forget my message, but you will never forget what you’ve just seen.” There are growing-up pains in the Christian life, but the gains far outweigh them. Fruitfulness ripe for service (2 Peter 1:8), confidence that keeps us from falling (2 Peter 1:10), a grand entrance into God’s Kingdom (2 Peter 1:11; Matthew 25:23) – these are but a few of the blessings. Where are we at this stage in our Christian life?  Are we growing towards spiritual maturity as we should?  Or are we stagnating, or worse, backsliding?  May it never be the latter!

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT May 19, 2008

Whoever we welcome into our lives can influence us, and may even master us. People will see who has control over us by how our lives turn out.  Romans 6:16 says, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”  A statement in Physics says, “There is a common sense thesis that no two things can exactly occupy the same place at the same time.” Hence, when we give all the room to the Holy Spirit, there will be no space for ‘unclean spirits’ and we will definitely bear good fruit. It is very important, therefore, to comprehend the essence of the fruit of the Spirit. 

1. Necessity of fruit. Fruit-bearing is needed for at least three reasons:

Necessity #1: To set us free. No one can earn salvation and righteousness with God by following the law of religion, rituals and ‘right’ appearances. This kind of religiosity simply confronts us with the stark reality about our guilt and our inability to satisfy the requirements of the law, that no matter what we do, we will always fall short.

What Christ has done on the Cross has delivered us from the power of sin. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). This freedom allows us to no longer be enslaved to what comes natural to us, but to fight the old nature and live a life that is holy and pleasing to God. A pardoned death convict who has been given a new lease on life will do more than say “thank you”, but will turn a new leaf. And as a safeguard, we need to constantly be in touch with the truth to avoid being captive again to prison life. Abiding in God’s Word inevitably prepares us for obedience. “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Necessity #2: Proof of life. A tree is recognized by its fruit. Hence, the evidence that we have life in Christ is a Spirit-filled life. “No one who has been washed clean will want to puddle in the mud. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). Distaste for sin develops. Personal transformation follows. Moreover, we will no longer look out for ourselves only, but we will grow in concern for the spiritual well-being of others. Galatians 6:1-2 exhorts: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” 

Necessity #3: Benefits others. A fruitless tree is good for nothing (Matthew 21:19). Fruit is good for the picking that others may eat of it. We bear fruit to be of service to others.  “You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:13-14).

2. Purpose of fruit. The fruit we bear is not that we may be glorified, but that we may glorify God. To serve others in love is to do so unto the Lord. In a “fish-eat-fish” environment, we need to have our tanks filled with the Spirit of God, not only for our survival, but also for those who are drowning. Too often, we go spear fishing rather than being fishers of men. How many of us go fishing but do not care about the fish? How many of us are so focused on getting converts, yet do not really care for the people’s needs? Is it any wonder, then, that we are perceived as un-Christian by a great number of people. “We are known for what we oppose rather than what we stand for.”  To remove the “un” from un-Christian, we need to do two things: to love them the way Jesus Christ loves them and to build relationships with them because as the old saying goes, “They will not care what you know, until they know that you care.”  

3. Quality of fruit. Are we rotten, bitter, sour or sweet to the taste of people around us? Do they get to sample quality fruit that make them crave for more? If the navigational instrument called the Global Positioning System recalculates and gives directions to get us from point A to point B, we should be built on Christ using God’s Positional System to bring us to where we should be as Christians. To produce quality fruit, we should be partakers of God’s divine nature, where LOVE is on top of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness (2 Peter 1:3-8). Just as compliance to best practices merits a high-grade certification for quality control in organizations, the quality of our fruit depends on the Vine we are attached to. “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward” (1 Cor. 3:10b-14).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Are others enticed to Christianity because of our “patikim” (sampling)? Think about it.

I hope that it will be used if ever we are having a series called the Fruit of the Spirit in Victory Cavite, it can be used as the Introudction. I hope and pray that it will be manifested in our lives!!