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.

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?

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!!

 

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? May 17, 2008

It was a scene straight from the pages of biblical history. Jesus was bidding his disciples farewell. Sadness mixed with fear must have gripped the disciples. But Jesus spoke words of comfort as He assured them, that though He was going away physically, He would be with them in Spirit. “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit, in Greek, is called “Parakletos” which means “One called alongside” to help or to protect.

This is the same message everyone needs to hear after hearing the Gospel, for how else do you encourage Christians who are in despair, defeated and discouraged? “A lot of Christians do not realize the inner power of the Holy Spirit to handle things which they think they must take into their own hands.” Don’t be like the junkyard dog that even after breaking free from the chains, still lives chained to the past. 

Understanding the Holy Spirit begins with an understanding of the Trinity. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same, equal in position and being.  God the Father is our Sovereign, Almighty Creator. God the Son is our Savior. God the Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. God the Father is God for us. God the Son is God with us. God the Holy Spirit is God in us, which brings us to the following two points:

1. He is God’s Spirit living in us. The Holy Spirit, being God, has divine attributes:

a. Omnipresent. He is everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-8)
b. Omnipotent. He is All-powerful.  (Luke 1:35)
c. Omniscient. He is All-knowing.  (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
d. Eternal. He always was, always is and always will be. 
    (Rev. 22:17). 

What does this mean for us today? The Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Eternal Father is in complete control so we can trust Him. We can rely on Him who is in us as we face the challenges of life. With banner raised, we can declare: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philip. 4:13). Since God’s Spirit is living in us, we can BE STRONG in the Lord!

2. He is Jesus’ Spirit living in us. (John 14:17). Jesus, in reference to the Holy Spirit, said: “…that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you” (John 14:17). The Holy Spirit, being a Person, possesses the following: 

a) Mind. The ability to know, understand, recognize, and have meaning. “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11).
b) Will. The ability to make choices and decisions on the basis of what one chooses to do: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you” (John 16:13-15).
c) Emotions. The ability to feel and sympathize. He identifies with our pains, sorrows, and joys. Therefore, we ought to BE SENSITIVE to the “tugging” of the Holy Spirit in at least two ways: 

• Be sensitive to His leadings. Has it ever occurred to you that you are led to pray for someone for some unknown reason? Have you been moved to do something for someone and later discover that it is the answer to his/her prayer? The Holy Spirit may want to accomplish something great through us so we need to be sharp and alert.
• Be sensitive to His emotions. Just as we get hurt and offended, He, too, gets hurt and offended. How it grieves Him when we sin! “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephes. 4:30-31). When we resist or disregard the Holy Spirit’s nudges or when we neglect to utilize our spiritual gifts, we quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

In Old Testament times, God’s presence filled Solomon’s temple. Today, the Holy Spirit indwells every believer. If we let Him, He will mold us into Christ’s image, strengthen us in our weakness, and lead us on to a life where God is glorified.  Know Him, therefore!

WALK IN THE SPIRIT May 16, 2008

Now that i’m back to blogging after many days of mourning and thanksgiving for the life of my spiritual mother, who’s changing her address from earth heaven, although she is gone but i know i’ll see her again. But nevertheless i’ll be talking about something that inspires me most.the title of blog is WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Our journey on earth is unmistakably difficult. We go through peaks and valleys, twists and turns, sometimes stumbling over roadblocks and occasionally slowed down by spiritual sickness. “…for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) is our walking stick as Christians. A believer should graduate from milk to the solid food of God’s Word in order to enjoy the Spirit-filled life that develops into a life of faith. It is a fully-surrendered life characterized by:  1. CONFIDENCE. Do you get dwarfed by your problems? Only if you measure them by human standards would you see them as insurmountable mountains. But, against our BIG God, they shrink into manageable molehills.  Twelve men were asked to spy on Canaan, the land God promised to the Israelites. They discovered a land flowing with milk and honey, a walled city and giant inhabitants. A majority report cited a no-win situation, with recommendations not to attempt entry. Because they focused on their situation and their feebleness, they lost heart even before they could try, grumbling as they did. The minority report filed by Caleb, however, pushed for a move to claim and possess the land already promised, declaring by faith, “do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:1-9). A man of faith sees beyond the problem, knows that God is on top of the situation, and says “Go!” when everything else says “No way!” To walk by faith is to have confidence in God, trusting He can and will do exactly what He promised. In contrast, to walk by sight is to complain and question the character of God. The Bible says: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Confidence in God believes that He has our best interests at heart even when the odds seem to go against us. As Gary Thomas said: “Faith is not tested by how often God answers prayer with a yes but my willingness to continue serving and thanking Him even when I don’t have a clue as to what He is doing.” 2. OBEDIENCE. An understanding of God’s holiness, righteousness and justice should prompt us to obedience.  Obedience is the gauge of a life lived by faith and is unarguably costly. The cost of disobedience, however, is far more expensive.  Many of us struggle with obedience because we are afraid.  We are afraid because we do not believe. We do not believe because we do not understand the heart of God. “I can’t do it” is actually “I won’t do it.” That’s oftentimes the reason why we fail to obey. Although there is forgiveness of sin, sin has its consequences and one of which is forfeiture of blessing. “Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs …yet have put Me to the test…and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it” (Numbers 14:22-24). As a result of Caleb’s obedience, he and his descendants after him received their portion of God’s inheritance. Unfortunately, those who did not obey because they did not trust God missed the blessing. 3. PATIENCE. Faith is waiting with patience for the Lord to answer prayers in His way and in His time. However, faith is active obedience. While waiting, we must keep doing what He asks us to do. We must fight the deception of the mind that says, “I can’t” and instead cling to the truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Caleb’s faith gave him the patience to wait for his share of the inheritance. He did his part, though, by claiming the promised blessing till it finally became his (Joshua 14:10-14). We can choose to be grasshoppers allowing the giants to intimidate us. Or we can let our big God go alongside us in order to experience the fullness of life and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. A warning is sounded off in Hebrews 3: 18-19: “And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” Are we walking by faith or by sight?