the reality of ministry

a ministry that makes money more than it helps people is questionable...in my own opinion, i can't call it a ministry. When God gave the believers of our day and age the opportunity to be led and be filled by God the Holy Spirit, our passion for living should have intensified. Now that we have the edge of producing fruits that has eternal value, we should seize the day!

Slowly, our desires will shift from temporary to eternal in value...we will be burdened by injustices and hopeless situations all around us. But what good is our desires if we don't act on it. You have to step out in faith and claim that God will be faithful to complete the work He has burdened you to do.

Once you have done the hard part of stepping out of your comfort zone and into the unknown, things will start to be complicated. A ministry without testings and trials won't last...you need to be baptized with fire so that your desires will be purified and your sincerest intentions will be revealed. People will disagree with you, systems within the ministry will test your patience, and as you go farther down the road...you will realize that you are all alone and in no man's land! But once you overcome the wilderness, you enter the promise land!

Remember that every ministry in this world is God's ministry...they are just managed by an individual chosen by God. So a ministry that ceases to exists is not automatically a failure...I believe that the purpose of that ministry has already fulfilled its purpose.

Never get scared of the reality of ministry...yes, it is hard...yes, it will test you in all aspects...but if your desire is to minister, and proclaim God's Word to others, then you're already in ministry!

tula ng pasasalamat

pinagpala ang taong marunong tumanaw,
sa Diyos na dakilang may likha ng araw,
mga talang nagniningning sa lalim ng gabi,
nagsi-sulputan nang si Yahweh ang nagsabi!

ang pagtangkad ng bundok at paglago ng gubat,
pagdami ng hayop sa lupa at dagat,
ang paghuni ng hangin sa dalampasigan,
ay obra ng isang Maestrong makapangyarihan!

Sa bawat paghinga ay di dapat makalimutan
ang biyaya ng Diyos na laging nararamdaman
sa buhay ng isang mananampalataya,
kahit nga sa taong tinalikdan Siya!

huwag ipagmalaki kung ano man ang narating,
huwag ipagpilitan ang angking galing,
dahil ang lahat ng iyong tagumpay,
ay akda ng Diyos para sa iyong buhay!

manalangin nang mabuti bago mamahinga,
ipagpasalamat ang mga natamong biyaya,
huwag ipagkait sa Diyos ang papuri
"Salamat" na nga lang hindi pa masabi?

ika nga ni Pepe, sa isda'y masahol pa,
kapag tayo'y tumalikod sa sariling wika!
paano kung Diyos na ang ating tinalikuran?
meron pa kaya tayong puwedeng hantungan?

Mga kapwa kong mananampalataya...
huwag tayong mamuhay ng pariwara!
Ipagsigawan natin ang pagibig ng Diyos
at hindi ang pagibig ng mundong laging kapos.

love > lust

love is the most wonderful thing God has ever shown mankind. It's this concept of unselfish and sacrificial love that moves the human race to great heights. Science and technology can only go so far for us...but not love! Death cannot end what love has sustained. never have fear of loving.

Fearing love is like saying breathing is optional. No one can stay away from the grasp of love...you may not reciprocate love, but love reaches each and every one of us whether we like it or not. Might as well get with the program and learn to love. I'm not saying be careless with your emotions, for love is never illogical...it may be radical at sometimes, but never without reason. Never malign love with stupid acts...it's these kinds of irresponsibility that gives love a bad name (ain't that an 80's song!?!) Appropriate understanding of love leads to appropriate behavior. If you claim that love has been tempting you then it's the wrong four letter word...LUST has no business with love...they are not even at the same bracket! Love breeds security...lust multiplies fear...how? Well, if your lust pushes you to heights of ecstasy, it numbs your perception of reality and you do things out of the norms of society...therefore you commit sins that has overt consequences. And as long as you are not caught, you fear for your security!

Unchecked lusts gives you a different hype in life...it disregards the institutions that God has divinely established. Lusts makes you do stuff that stupid people regard as dumb. Keeping a lifestyle engulfed in lustful desires will inevitably destroy you. You'll just wake up one day hating the world...because your perception of love has been screwed by lust.

Do not take my words lightly...do not disregard my warning...love has always taken the lead when it comes to successful relationships. It's the concept of impersonal unconditional love that keeps friends, lovers, family and even casual acquaintances worthwhile. Do not let lust be greater than love in your life

the faith-rest technique

If you missed it last Wednesday night, here's my outline!

INTRODUCTION

• One of the consistent features of the Christian Life is TESTING.
• We face daily disasters, small and great, which are brought on us suddenly by NATURE, by the IGNORANCE or DELIBERATE actions of other people, or even by our own MISTAKES and SINS.
• As Christians, we are given the privilege to always depend upon God's IMMEDIATE and CONSTANT provision for us in our time of testing.
• God knows all about our tests before they occur and has made provisions in advance to MEET or NEEDS (Eph 1:3-4)
• Whether the test is small or great, it is ALLOWED by God to measure our faith and our application of the things He has provided for us in this life. (1 Pet 1:7; 5:6-7)

DEFINITION

• Faith-Rest: The process of UNDERSTANDING, BELIEVEING, and APPLYING the doctrines and promises of God's Word in times of testing in the Christian life.
• the term "faith-rest", and its definition, is taken from the Scriptures in Hebrews 4:1-2.
• Faith-Rest is designed to be used by the Christian throughout his lifetime, on a daily basis, as a TECHNIQUE for maintaining peace and spiritual balance during difficulties, problems, or disasters in life.
• Faith-Rest is one of the Christian's most important resource in making rapid progress toward Christian maturity and the production of divine good in the Christian life.

TWO REASONS WHY WE FAIL ENTER GOD'S REST (HEBREWS 3)

• There are two common reasons why Christians fail to grow and prosper in the Christian life, and fail to profit from all the blessings, promises, and logistical provisions which God has put in place.
1. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S PLAN (Hebrews 3:10)
2. DISOBEDIENCE & UNBELIEF (Hebrews 3:18-19)
• Christians who don't know what the Word of God says will NEVER know the promises of God of the PROVISIONS He has made for testing.
• The extent of a believer's spiritual maturity becomes obvious in hard times.
• All Christians look and behave about the same in good times. But when testing comes, those who have actually failed to grow in Christ fall away, and fall back into patterns of worry, blaming others, and trying to solve their own problems by worldly means.

 Examples:
    - Abraham, who first distrusted, then believed (Gen 15)
    - The bitter water test at Marah (Exo 15)
    - The No-Food & the First No-Water test at Meribah (Exo 16, 17)
    - The "Giant" Test (Num 13, 14)
    - the Second No-Water Test (Num 20)

• Sometimes, complacency after a spiritual victory makes us vulnerable. We have to remember that Satan keeps charging; and he is especially skilled at counterpunching, at exploiting any temporary weakness.
• WORRY is Satan's chief weapon.

HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO TESTINGS?

1. 1 Peter 5:8-9
2. Genesis 15:1
3. Deuteronomy 31:6-8
4. Isaiah 41:10-13

RECOGNIZING THE AUTHOR OF THESE PROMISES

• Who is the one making these promises? ALMIGHTY GOD
• Every promise of God is backed up by His perfect character.

1. SOVEREIGNTY: God in His ultimate authority, designed Faith-Rest as part of His plan for mankind.
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS: God is perfect goodness, so any trial will be good for us.
3. JUSTICE: Guarantees that His plan for us is fair, that we will always be treated justly.
4. LOVE: We know that every situation in life is governed by God's love for us.
5. ETERNAL LIFE: God is eternal and we have everlasting life with Him through Christ's work on the cross.
6. OMNISCIENCE: God knows about my trials or sufferings even before they happen; and He has already planned what to do about our testings.
7. OMNIPRESENCE: God is always present and able to help.
8. OMNIPOTENCE: God is all-powerful, so He always has the capacity to carry out His promises and to provide help in time of need.
9. IMMUTABLITY: God never changes in His attitude toward us, and all of His characteristics remain the same, forever.
10. TRUTH: God never lies; therefore what He has promised, He will perform.

HOW TO APPLY FAITH-REST

• The objective of Bible teaching is the PRESENTATION of Bible doctrine which the Christian can use in his daily life.
• There must also be continuous REPETITION of important principles and reinforcement in learning how various Bible principles interrelate.
• By FAITH you apply doctrine logically from the resources in your soul, meanwhile you are RESTING in the promises of the Word of God.

STEPS IN THE FAITH REST TECHNIQUE

• Before you can avail of this technique, you should have a foundation of the salvation doctrine in your soul. The acceptance of Jesus Christ as y our personal Savior is needed before the application of this doctrine, or any doctrine as well. 

1. REBOUND (1 John 1:9)
2. CLAIM PROMISES (Rom 10:17)
3. APPLY DOCTRINE (1 Cor 10:13)
4. REACH DOCTRINAL CONCLUSIONS (Rom 8:28-31)

CONSISTENT application of the Faith-Rest technique can result to a grace-filled Christian way of life.

divine interruptions

When God steps in...you'll know it's Him. His impeccable timing has been my life saver since the day I become aware of sin and evil. His interruptions hurt...but was never harmful. Life has been that way with me...mostly spent in divine discipline.

Just last night, I taught on the topic of Faith-Rest, and how we should make a conscious effort to understand, believe and apply Bible doctrine. How we should make it a point to choose Bible doctrine and the principles it supports from the Word of God. But, I felt ashamed on how poorly I've made decisions for the past months...how quick I've reacted and neglected the Faith-Rest principle. How I always end up being disciplined by God because of my disobedience. Thinking that I would never outgrow my own sin. I felt way worse than bad...i felt awful! And in that vulnerable, defeated state...I turn to sin...thinking that "maybe this is my destiny...to wallow in sin...and wait for my end" Pitiful...and pathetic...i know...that's me and my melancholic self under the old sin nature control. But it's a good thing God is in the business of divine interruptions.

God's integrity cannot stomach our pathetic state without doing something to help us come to a divine realization. Yes, God is willing to help...but only to those who would help themselves. Remember, God does not meddle with our choices...but He does provide a nudge or two so that we are reminded of the real reason of our earthly journey.

The love of God is infinite in capacity. We are forever loved unconditionally. So, if you feel a burden in your heart, if you feel your conscience tugging you away from something that might destroy you...stop...listen...and discern. You never know...God might be divinely interrupting you!

LIFE: short but sweet

A full life is not based on the number of years we have stayed here on earth...it's a life that God deems as satisfactory. God is the only qualified being who can grant us rest from this physical life. Make sure you have that personal relationship with God guaranteed by accepting Jesus Christ as your savior so that your life after this won't be spent in eternal torment.

So whether it's 90 75, 50, 25, 10 years or a couple of months old...when God calls His children home...it's time...short and simple!

the price of standing your ground

"If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post, calmness can lay great errors to rest"  Ecclesiastes 10:4

There's nothing more gut wrenching than angry authorities...especially when you know that you're one of the main cause! Our authorities (parents, boss, pastor or government) are specifically placed in our life for a purpose. They are our active boundaries...they protect our interests without limiting our freedom. Once a leader masters this balance, then he will, most probably, be effective.

I also believe that we, as individuals under the umbrella of our authorities, have the responsibility to obey and discern.Our authorities are not perfect, they will never be...God is the only perfect sovereignty. Once they reach a certain point where they cannot contain their anger or dismay, we have to choose to show grace! If they were put into that situation because of us, then we should stay put, stop saving face, refrain from telling lies, and apply grace! There is great reward in standing your ground.

I know that as fallen creatures, we are prone to lying and covering up our mistakes. We like to acquire the old sin nature as our main defense when push comes to shove! But as Christians, we are told to do something radically different. DO NOT RUN! You have to stay and take on whatever your authorities will tell you. They might say something inappropriate, it might hurt big time, but we are never to retaliate and react...we should respond with grace. I'm not claiming it's easy...it's not! I'm telling you now that it will be a challenge. Going against your nature is a very big challenge.

Grace that is given will be given back...not immediately...not even in the same manner...but you will definitely receive a doze of your own graciousness!

So stand your ground...the price might be more than you expected...but the results will be worth it!

resting in God's faithfulness

"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1Cor1:9

God has purposed in us to succeed in our spiritual life. He intends for us to reach our potential. He wants us to succeed...the only problem is that we chicken out. Whenever we are struck with trials, we easily give up and claim that maturity is not worth the pain.

If only we truly understand the extent of God's faithfulness, then maybe, just maybe...we'll consider pushing through! God's faithfulness is dependent on His character and essence. Have you ever considered the fact that God is OMNIPOTENT? He is all powerful...nothing can ever faze God almighty! Nothing can overpower God. So if He tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that's a guarantee! How about God's IMMUTABILITY? Do you know that He can never change His mind? God's resolve is final! What more can you ask for?

The Bible says that nothing can ever be able to separate us from the love of God (ROM 8:38-39). Another translation says that the reason why nothing can ever separate us from God's love is the way He embraces us. God will never let go of us. Yes, we sin and we do stupid things that cuts off our fellowship with God, but we are still within His reach. If only we confess our sins, then God, in His faithfulness, will always forgive us without neglecting His justice (1JOHN1:9) In everything, God is exerting His faithfulness...it never runs out and it is even new every morning! (LAM 3:22-23)

Fellow believers...if you're caught in a jam, don't give up easily! God is with us, God is with you...if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, then He will never forsake His children. Always go back to the essence and attributes of God. He will wisely guide you. God's faithfulness will always be a stable factor of our Christian life...all you have to do is recognize that fact!