True Freedom Through Spirit-filled Lifestyle

Looking back to my earlier days, I feel chained by poverty that seems too impossible for me to get out of it. I still remember that as I age more and understand what my true situation was, I feel even harder for everyday that ends. It was a difficult situation for me, indeed; but I thank God for He did a great job to put everything in my life in order under His careful instruction and supervision.

God made us and breathed us to life, and so His spirit was shared in us too. Only if we learn to believe that God does exist in our lives, then we can make use the power behind it to the most possible way. God is too willing to free us from any form of bondage like pain, sufferings, inequities, and sins. He wants to restore not only the broken relationship between us and Him but also to restore us as His precious creation. We are the only creation of God that He breathed to live, and that makes us the apple of His eye.

Paul, in His letter to the Corinth churches, reminded them the presence of God's Spirit and the privilege that it brought to those who acknowledge it. It was stated in 2 Corinthians 3:17 --- "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom." God wants us to experience true freedom that can't be influenced by anything the world can offer, but only if we learned it through His divine presence in our lives.

Jesus in His ministry on earth promised us to send The Father's advocate and that is the Holy Spirit. It should be the our utmost desire to acknowledge Him in every moment we live because He gave us more than freedom and these are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). I encourage everyone to enjoy true freedom by living a spirit-filled lifestyle.

God bless everyone!

Shared Responsibility: Do Not Be A Stumble Block

During my advanced military training way back on my university days, we were thought of the very common principle “Obey first, before you complain.” This discipline has embedded to me and I allow myself to submit to any person that has authority over me, most especially to our God. In the same way, I am sharing the same principle to others if there are opportunities and with shared responsibility.

Before, my idea of being obedient to this principle is simply following any orders given by my superior. And when it came a time for me to impart this to others, I feel the burden while sharing it to them. I have learnt that there is hidden joint responsibility to it which is to be a role model to my subordinates. The moment I told them about the value of full obedience without any hesitations, then the burden of bearing the influential authority and its responsibility felt heavier. Thereafter, everything I am about to say, to act, and to think must be carefully presented to avoid them copying anything that is wrong both to them and to the organization.

In the same way to our Christian Community, every believer has responsibility to carefully examine their ways in dealing with people of different beliefs, moreover, to weaker people of the same belief. Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

Weaker people are mostly new members of our church who are starting to know our God and Jesus but also extended to those who have already been with us for longer time and remains child in their spiritual lives. They believe in God but also they look at us as an authority over their faith. Bearing this right is dangerous as it may lead them to stumble if we committed things which are against God’s authority and influence. Though we have the responsibility to behave well imitating Jesus as the best role model for Christian living, we also need them to understand who they should look up to and that is our dear Lord Jesus only.

We must lead them towards Jesus and focus their eyes only to Him, following His instructions, commandments, and teachings; so that even if we fail to the human standard, we will avoid contributing to their own stumble if there will be any.

God bless everyone!

The Price Of Your Soul

The legality of same-sex marriage in America has finally declared legal throughout its whole nation and is a trending topic in the whole world, indeed. Different Groups, Communities and even Christian Believers have their different views of this worldwide historical event of humanity. A dangerous question is --- what is our view about it?

In my personal view only and as per my Christian background, I strongly disagree of its legality. Not that I don’t want these people to be happy but I firmly believe that if this becomes the law of the land, the whole nation will be opened up to participate in vulnerabilities of its acts. Moreover, this does not differ to legalizing divorces, prostitution, gambling, adult pornography and the like. We all know how these legalities affects the people getting involve to it, enjoying it, and later on abusing it are ending their lives in miseries (but not everyone, of course, those who find their way out of it). I would like to remind myself about Jesus question to us in Mark 8:36-37 that asked us, “­­­­36­ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  

It seems to be that there are people who are looking for opportunities to win the world and yet losing their soul. Our soul is our very essence, the God’s design as part of His universal creation, which acts for a greater purpose in our lifetime to do His good will. And although we cannot control the world as we do not own it, WE CAN control ourselves. Even if we live in this world now where people are willing to lose their soul, we can still choose to keep our soul and avoiding what the world offers (1 John 2:16 - For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.)

Again, let me ask you the same question --- what can you give in exchange for your soul? 

God bless everyone!

Return To The Lord With All Your Heart

There are people whose hearts are hardened by their experiences and starting to ignore God and denying His utmost participation in our daily lives. Some are due to sorrows, difficulties, and disabilities but others are due to their self-confessed successes in our lives. We tend to forget God when we are reaping fruits of our labour like bearing education, a well-paid job, a great career and promotion, a good business, and many more. Because we enjoy them most, we get rid the joy God has given and shared to us from the time we were borne.

In His ultimate plan for us to reconcile with Him, He called everyone to return to Him with true repentance. He allowed His own Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and be restored with Him in the same way Jesus has risen and ascended to heaven to join Him. But He wants with all of our heart and not of compulsion. Even before the time of Jesus ministry here in earth, God wants His people to return to Him as He is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, and most of all His loyal love to all of us. He confirms this in Joel 2:12-13, 12 "Yet even now," the Lord says, "return to me with all your heart - with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your garments!" 13 Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love - often relenting from calamitous punishment.

God, in the same way when Jesus arrives on earth to save the sinners, shows His abundant love to us (read John 3:16). Jesus is a reflection of God's mercy and compassion that He allowed Himself to submit selflessly to the will of God to save the humanity once and for all. Jesus teachings and words are all scattered like a seed in the field to grow. But the seed is now in the soil of our hearts to keep, to nurture, to grow, and to bear fruits. And no matter what external influences of the world to steal, kill and destroy it; we will remain steadfast and always returning to Him from this life and to the next life to come.
 

God bless everyone.

Christians - The Watchmen

Christians are known to be peace-loving people. We are expected to behave well both in private and most especially in public. As much as possible, we avoid getting involved in any trouble to anyone or caught having trouble to others but, of course, it's inevitable. 

There are times where we were witnessing others doing things which are against God's law and are evil in His eyes. Every believer is challenged when facing this kind of situation, especially if it involves our close families and friends. God drawn us to Jesus, therefore, we are saved by believing Him that He is the Lord, He is risen, and He is the Son of God. He has also given us His Lamp to be the Light of the world for those who are in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16) by doing righteous before the Lord.

God appoints us to be our brother's watchman. If we knew someone, whether we are in relationship with them or not, and they commit sins or wickedness; we MUST warn them! God spoke to His prophet in Ezekiel 33:8-9 that says "8 when I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you must certainly die,' and you do not warn the wicked about his behavior, the wicked man will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to change his behavior, and he refuses to change, he will die for his iniquity, but you have saved your own life.

We value our relationship to everyone around us, but if it's about time to rebuke, to correct, or to warn them even at the point of breaking our connection with them, we need to do it. It is our obligation to comply to bring the lost souls back to God's feet and live a righteous lives. Whether they will change or not, we have at least done our part as primary accountable to their ignorance of God's righteousness. Moreover, we should be accepting others warning as well as submission to this same command of God especially if we are caught sinning against Him. 

God bless everyone!

Both May Or May Not Prosper, So Do It Anyway!

On the very first time that I decided to start the new FBGC church service in Point Cook, I feel worried about the possibility that it may not work for me. Moreover, I was also ordained to be the local pastor in this new community of believers. Although I have that desire in my heart and seeing the vision in my mind for what this church will look like, I really have no idea that I will serve as the pastor of this church, given my lack of experience in this field.

With my doubt, I did not stop to do what God has called me to perform. We open our home to serve as our initial venue for the opening of our church service, we organize according to what task each pioneering members can carry out, we plan for some activities that help us to grow as a church for both workers and members like Beginners Bible Class, organizing Cell Group for smaller group bible studies and fellowship, and many more. At this moment, we have just moved to a new place God has prepared for us to serve as new place of meeting with Him.

Truly God confirms to me that we are called to be qualified even if we are not. He also revealed to me that everything we do for God, let us just do it as what said in Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 that " 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed - whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally."

Therefore, I urge you to continue to serve in whatever God called you for - whether it is for a small or big task, for simple or complex roles, and for obvious or discreet service. As long as we do our part, God will also do His part. The success is not for us to think of as we do not really know how our God works.

God bless everyone!

Always Take A Second Look

Everyone is dreaming a good life free of any troubles, hardships, and sorrows. Who doesn’t want it? But when we are going to ask Jesus about it, I think he will give us a very good illustration of taking the path between life and destruction which I think in my own opinion refers to facing the different problems we may encounter of choosing Him against the world.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." He is warning us of choosing life against death, Him or the evil world, heaven or hell. He is showing us the options and the rewards after you have taken which path.

Jesus unfolds to us the true life while we are here on earth and living a life imitating Him and His deeds. Our eyes, as the windows of our soul, are easily blinded by the world due to the lust of the flesh. And what we see is what we want, that is why Jesus reminded us many times that walking with Him must be through faith and not through sight. Though we are experiencing sufferings today by obeying our God, therefore we cannot enjoy what the world enjoys; we are going to be rewarded in the end.

I urge you to always have a second look of what choices we are making in our lives. Always get ourselves reminded of Jesus’ reflection of the two different gates. Sometimes, those less popular one and hard to find will give the most precious reward. Be patient always if you think what you are doing now doesn’t make sense, for all your hardships does no really equate to nothing rather to a beautiful gift of life not only today but to the days to come where we will be forever with Jesus.

God bless everyone!

Be a Blessing, Not a Curse

I forgive but I do not forget!"

This quote is one of the popular, if not the famous statement, that we can hear or read in social networking posts coming from persons who received pains, betrayals, sorrows, and troubles from family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. It is a sad situation to witness that once best of friends with their number of years of great relationship will simply be ruined because of sinning against each other that reach ones limit. Then when they start talking to each other, they will learn the things that they hate from each other before, although they have already forgiven themselves before, but it was not really forgotten.

This kind of relationship and situation are becoming very popular now. Worst thing a person can do to others is to retaliate verbally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. We tend to cast curses, slander, or do the same way how it was done to us even to point of threatening others’ lives. Scary but true. It is simply because evil is taking that opportunity where a person is most vulnerable and that's when they are in their burning anger.

I was reminded by the Bible verse in 1 Peter 3:9 which says "Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing." We mostly forget about this simple principle of acting graciously when we received evil and insult from others. Even Jesus teaching says that when someone strike us on our cheek, we turn the other as well (Matthew 5:39). Jesus knows that the person in anger is not fully aware of what he is going through. These people who are causing us pains are probably experiencing hatreds, sufferings, addictions, sins, troubles and problems; and reacting with same anger may not help them at all if the intention is to simply keep them away.

People in anger need help, they may be waiting for a blessing to come such us understanding, comfort, companion, sympathy, and the like. Instead of us returning them with evil and insult, why don't we try to bless them instead? Because with that humble attitude towards the others; you are already sharing the blessings that you have also received from Jesus --- the new you that bears the image of God. Therefore as a new creation, let us remember 1 Peter 3:8 - "Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble." Learn to be a blessing to everyone and not a curse.

God bless everyone!

The Bible and Its Design

The Bible is our “Basic Information Before Leaving Earth”. This serves as our primary reference for everything to live here on earth; in peace, in righteousness and in saving grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. It reveals great wisdom from different authors of the books, moreover, the scriptures spoken and written by our God. Everything written to it has great significance; well, it may be boring in some part of the books when read but that is of equal importance.

Why are we studying the Bible? Aside from being one of the longest surviving books of the early people, this is written not to entertain, inform, and teach the reader but to transform, inspire, refresh, and give insights and wisdom for those who dig on every stories, verses, and context inside of it. The message revealed is always new at every instance you read it, it maybe mysterious but this is how God designed it.

I have not seen any books that a single verse can give several meanings and penetrate the heart and mind of every vulnerable reader. The Bible is totally useless for those who do not want to be ruled by it. For some, it is a simple books placed in the corner of our bookshelves covered with dust. For most of us, even those who claim to be Christians, failed to unleash and experience the promises and power of every words embedded in it.

The Bible records what God did along with its endless stories, the Bible is also telling it again and again until the end has come. Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 (NET) "I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him. Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

God bless us always!

Jesus - A Soul Caretaker

There was a recent miracle witnessed by the whole world over the execution of Mary Jane Veloso, the convicted drug courier to Indonesia and sentenced with a death penalty through firing squad. It was, indeed, a miracle because she was the only one spared of life among the eight other prisoners who were in the same firing line to face the gruesome act of Indonesian laws.

All Filipinos around the globe are celebrating and truly overwhelmed by God’s Saving Grace and granting the prayers to spare MJ’s life. Everyone is in the attitude of praise, giving glory and honour to Him. This event is a true test of faith not only by the Filipinos but by MJ herself. The scripture is true that “only our own faith can saves us.” MJ says that “Na kahit gahibla na lang na oras ang natitira, kung gusto ng Panginoon na mabuhay ako, bubuhayin pa niya ako.” Her story really moves every Filipino in their faith and in tears simply because everyone believes, she is only a victim of human and drug trafficking syndicate.

I wonder during the times of Jesus crucifixion or even the time He was sentenced to death, how many people have prayed to get Him spared? Is there any single person ever question the rule of court to get Jesus freed from any convictions? Indeed, even Pontius Pilate did not found anything worthy for Jesus to be sentenced to death but he still forced to die. Not even Jesus or even our God – The Father, saves Him from this suffering. It is simply because Jesus came to the world to save, and not to be saved. His sufferings are our sins which His body carried and is crucified together in the Cross of Calvary.  Worse is that He has to die with it as this symbolizes that our sins need to die as well.

But Jesus death is not a bad news at all, it looked bad but it is indeed a very good news; because He was raised on the third day to live and bring righteousness to everyone who will believe in Him. God’s wounds allow us to get healed in our own wounds --- wounds in physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of our lives, which can be found through all the sins we have committed against God. We may experience sufferings in times but like Jesus, we will gain righteousness and live with it the same like Him. And like Mary Jane, we may get lost our soul due to all troubles and pains; look for it again and return to God to let Him be the Caretaker of our souls.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - (1 Peter 2:24-25)."