Hisgot Hisgot Ta...

Money

2010-09-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Jesus declared "you can not serve God and Money". Money can be our lord and master...but we can use money to give glory to our Master. This is the next red-letter words in my Bible

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, ...
... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, ...
... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...
... If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. ...
... "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and Money...
... "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, ...
... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
... For the pagans run after all these things, ...
... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
.... Each day has enough trouble of its own. Mat 6:19-34

RG: Lord, what shocked me in this passage is You elevated serving Money with Serving God in the same level but in contrast. I thought the battle for lordship in ones life is only between You the devil and self, but here you are contrasting You and Money.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Yes RG, I have to emphasize this because Money is a very strong driving force in the heart of man. Money continued to be the SECRET MASTER of many people who profess to know me.

RG: Lord if I examine my heart, yes, indeed in many instances I am driven by money. But isn't legitimate Lord to desire to have money? We have our needs that we know money can meet.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: "Needs that we know money can meet!" Do you hear yourself saying that RG? who then meets your needs?

RG: Oh oh, I know that you are the one meeting our needs. Now I got your point Lord, why money can be our Master instead of You, because money can also meet our needs and not just needs including our insatiable wants.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: You see RG, money is highly convertible to meet ones needs. Money can be easily converted to any forms of pleasure that you like, to comfort that to want, to power that you want to have, to almost everything that you can think of in this world. Most of the things that you ask of Me can be answered by money. That is why it is very easy to turn to money and make it your master.

RG: Lord, this is a very dangerous trap! Lord, please teach me how I should view money, I know that money is not evil but the love it can lead me to be enslave to it. How can I avoid making money as my master?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: First of all RG, you must reckon everything from the time when you trusted me for your salvation. You must trust me all the way including your basic needs, and your family's needs. Not only in the present but also in the future. If you cannot trust me for your basic needs, you will begin to worry and scramble yourself up to find more money on your own.

RG: Lord, this is exactly the description of me when I was pursuing a better and comfortable life, before you called us to be here.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: There is nothing wrong RG with living a comfortable life, but if your commitment to comfortable living goes beyond your commitment to follow me, then the love of money will start to crawl in your heart. And when you can not secure your future, you will try harder and harder until you have what you want. Once you started to have money, you want keep it all to yourself, after all its the fruit of your labor. But slowly your trust is now shifting from me to your money. And because you consider it as "your money", it become difficult to see Me in the picture, I don't have even a say where you should spend your money.

RG: Lord, please help me to sort this out, how can I put you clearly into the picture?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: You see RG, if you are fully trusting me for your needs. Its easy to see and acknowledge that everything that you have comes from Me and is part of the way I am providing your needs. I am the one who is blessing your efforts. I am the one who is giving you the ability and opportunities to earn money. If this is the way you view how you get your money then you will give me the freedom to tell you where you should spend it.

RG: Oh, Lord I am beginning to understand, thank you Lord for your assurance that you will meet our needs.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: That's too small for Me RG, in fact I am providing each of my children not only their needs, but a lot more so that they can invest them for eternity. I want them to store it in heaven by helping the movement of the furtherance of My Kingdom here on earth. This is good for your soul, for where your treasure is there your heart be also. You sometimes wonder why your heart is very far from Me, well, simply because your treasure is not aligned to what is precious to Me.

RG: What a beautiful picture Lord on how we should handle our money. So instead of making money as our master, we can actually use the money that you gave us to honor you and bring glory to your name.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: That's right RG, but I am so sad about the reality that many of my children, are wanting to put the control of money unto their hands, not because they wanted to invest for eternity but they wanted to satisfy every cravings of their flesh and everything that their eyes can see. I am sad RG that I have given many of my children the ability to earn money more than what they need, but instead of sharing it to the poor and spending it for the furtherance of the Kingdom, they spend it all for themselves and building more reserves so that they can sustain their lifestyle. Even the so called full-time workers are not spared. The commitment to a comfortable life of some of my workers is so strong that, money becomes the motivation even among the so called ministry.

RG: Lord, please help me to trust you. You know that I am a worrier, I am worrying, about my children, I worry about helping our relatives, I worry about our growing old and so many other things. I want to come and look to you alone as our provider...

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Here is my deal with you RG "seek first my Kingdom and my righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you as well" let me rephrase it "You take care of the things that are dear to Me and I will take care of the things that are dear to you"

RG: Oh Lord, this is too wonderful to behold!

Prayer

2010-09-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

There are so much to learn about prayer...This is the next red-letter words in my Bible.

"... when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites...
... But when you pray, ... pray to your Father...
... when you pray, do not keep on babbling ... many words.
... This, then, is how you should pray..." Mat 6:5-15

RG: Lord until now I cannot fully understand what is it in prayer that seems mysterious sometimes. Others would consider it as power to get things done specially when it involve spiritual dimension. Other consider it as a mark of a saints. Lord please teach me what really prayer is.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: First of all RG prayer is not for show. So don't pray so that others would know or others would see or hear your well arranged words with highly spiritual sounding words with matching rise fall of your voice to show how spiritual you are. In other words you do not pray to promote yourself.

RG: Whuuo... this is heavy Lord.. I remember my self engaging to this kind of prayer during prayer meetings or praying when there are people around... Oh Lord, please free from theatrical prayer. Please continue Lord to teach me what payer really is.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Secondly, prayer is not for magical power, that when you pray several times a day, or repeating certain words, or in certain position or with certain accessories, or in certain place with matching trembling hands and rising and falling of voice, then you make things happen or you force God to make it happen.

RG: Lord, I am tempted to do this whenever I face difficult situation. When I am sick and when I am facing a personal, family and even ministry problem, I want them to vanish right away so my prayer sounds like magical. And when it does not happen, first I will begin to justify that probably its like this and like that... but later on, I observed my self that little by little I am drifting away from you...then the worst thing that happened to me was when I resented you ... because you seems to be not listening to me... you don't let the things that I prayed happen. Until now Lord I still have that tendency... so sometimes I would say to my self, I better not pray...what's the use of praying if God don't let it happen.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Yes, RG I remember that time that you resented me so much when things are not happening the way you wanted it to be in the training apartment that you started in Cebu. I was overwhelmed by your demands (hehehe)... you were so confused who is the Lord between the two of us. And when I did not do what you want you started to resent me and did not want to talk to me for eight months!!! can you imagine that! hehehe but of course I treasure that time because finally you learned who is Lord between the two of us, and you learned that there is no place on earth to hide that I can not find you and reach you with my love.

RG: Yes Lord, I remember that moments and I treasured it too.. Lord, please tell me, if prayer is not about asking you so that things would happen then what is it?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Well, RG, prayer is about GOD and about your relationship with Him, yes He cares about you but it is all aligned to who He is and His relationship with you. You see in the first two things I mentioned what prayer is not, they are all about you. Both theatrical and magical prayer are all about your old self. You are just using prayer to advance yourself and your agenda, and you are not just using prayer, you are also using Me.

RG: Urgh!!! kasakit Lord, but you are right...forgive me Lord, and please teach me what prayer really is.... ahh ok Lord, I remember now, you did not explain what prayer is to your disciples but instead you taught them how to pray. Lord please teach me also how to pray.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Ok RG, I will teach you the same prayer I taught to my first disciples. Go ahead write it down.

RG: Oh this is exciting, Ok Lord here it is:

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' Mat 6:9-13

Oh I didn't realized that it was very short.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Yes it is short but it says it all. It starts with defining how you should approach God when you pray. "You are his son and He is your Father!". As a Father, God longs for you to talk to Him about anything and you should rejoice that His dwelling place is in Heaven. It doesn't implies that He is a distant father, because he is everywhere but rather it says about His character. Here on earth, fathers are not perfect, all tainted with sin and selfishness but not your father in Heaven where holiness, faithfulness and love abounds.

RG: Ok Lord, so my prayer first of all should be out of my relationship with you as my Father. Thank you lord for making me a father to my three sons, at least I know how it is to be a father, as imperfect as it is, you gave me a glimpse of how you feel when your children come to you to talk about anything.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Not only God is your Father RG, this Father that you have is also a reigning holy King and God of the universe. He has His big plan of regaining back part of His Kingdom which was surrendered by Adam and Eve and usurped by Satan. You are part of this redemption, that's how you become His son, you are now His ally. So,your prayer should always be align to who God is and to His Plan. That is why you say "Let Your Name be glorified, Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done here on earth as it has been in heaven"

RG: Lord, I know I can not align my prayers if the things that I do and the way that I am is not align to God and His plan. How about my needs and my family's needs Lord where is its place in my prayer?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: He wants you to depend on Him for your needs, he knows it even before you ask, but he just want you to ask. Its not just the asking that is important to God its the joy of hearing your voice because you are His son. That is why He loves you to do it in a daily basis. So you should pray "Give us THIS day our daily bread", so that tomorrow you will come again to Him.

RG: Oh Lord You are amazing, thank you for causing me to come to you daily...

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Since you are now my son and my ally, I want you to extend to others what you receive from Me. So you should be able to pray "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sins against us" . There is something that snaps in our fellowship as Father and son if you can not do to others what I have done to you.

RG: Oh Lord I treasure our companionship as Father and son. You are not just my Father, you are my friend too and I don't want anything that would break it.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Neither I RG. I treasure our friendship more than you do. So I want you to pray " That you will not be led into temptation but let God protect and deliver you from evil" Don't be on your own, always depend on your Father, because that is the essence of prayer. Prayer puts you and God to its right place.

Hypocrisy

2010-09-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

I learned that hypocrisy is a silent destroyer of our relationship with God...God hates hypocrisy... this is the next-red letter words in the Bible.

"Be careful! When you do good things, don't do them in front of people to be seen by them. ... don't be like the hypocrites... Mat 6:1-18

RG: Lord please teach me about hypocrisy.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: RG, it is exactly what I said it is "doing good things to be seen by people". It's not real, it's plastic, it is not who you really are from the inside, it's for a show. And I don't like it.

RG: Lord, I read from the Bible how you unleashed your anger towards the Pharisees because of hypocrisy.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Go ahead RG, write that portion of the Scriptures here so that while you are writing and reading it you can feel my heartbeat against hypocrisy.

RG: Yes Lord here it is;

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. Mat 23:23-29

Lord, You were really angry when you saw the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Not only to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law RG. At the beginning of the Church I made a clear and strong signal that hypocrisy should never be part of my people. There was point in time when everybody were selling their possessions and bringing everything into the Apostles feet for distribution, there was this couple wanting to make a show for everyone to see that they were doing the same thing. I want you also to write that story here RG so that you can feel my heartbeat against hypocrisy.

RG: Ok Lord here it is;

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Act 5:1-11

Oh Lord this was really a fearful sight that Ananias and Sapphira just fell dead on their feet. I know that it was not because they did not give 100% of the sales that they suffered death, but it was because they lied and make others believed (including the Apostles) that they gave 100% of the sales to show to the people how dedicated they are.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: That is right RG, all acts of hypocrisy are lying. Hypocrisy RG is not only present among unbelievers, it is present among believers, oh yes, the saddest thing is, it is ruining the lives of many Christian Leaders.

They are so good and loving to their constituents but harsh to their wives and children.
They are so good and making advise and quoting verses but ignoring same advise and verse.
They have done so little in the ministry but very quick to take the honor of some successes in the ministry.
They are quick to say "I'll pray/I am praying for you" but have never prayed for so long.
Theyare quick to give to some announced needs but neglect the need of his neighbor and family members.

I can enumerate more and more acts of hypocrisy here and I want you to know that I am very sad that my children has to engage in this charade.

RG: Lord I am guilty of hypocrisy, forgive me Lord... please teach me more about this silent destroyer of my relationship with you.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Hypocrisy is an attempt to maintain an image, it is also an attempt to exalt yourself and gain honor and glory. You know from the start RG that honor and glory should only belong to God and you will always be in trouble if you attempt to take it and put it in you. When Satan tried to get it and put it on himself, he ends up as the enemy of God. God is a jealous God and He can not allow His glory to be taken by others. It's not not because He is a self centered God, but it is for your own good, you are created as a giver of glory to God not a taker of glory that belongs to God.

RG: Lord teach me how can I overcome hypocrisy.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: First settle it in your heart that ALL GLORY and HONOR should only belong to God. Let God exalt you if He wish but never seek it from people. Secondly, I think you need to know by heart that I have already accepted you as you are, so don't have to lie and be hypocrite just to feel accepted by people. Make my acceptance as more important than the acceptance that you long from other people. I love you RG, I know you and I choose you to be mine, you don't have to make a charade of who you are, I have forgiven you and accepted you as you are and now I am working to transform you into my own likeness.

RG: oh Lord, my God how wonderful you are!

New Standard of the Law

2010-08-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

What kind of holiness the Lord expect from us? Can we live to his standard? Here are the next red-letter words in my Bible.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.... Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.... Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Mat 5:17-48

RG: Lord I thought when I accepted you in my life I will no longer be under the Law but here, you seem to be saying the opposite.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Exactly RG, in fact I am setting a higher standard than the Law.

The Law says that when you murder you will be subject to judgment BUT I say, when you hate your brother you will be subject to the same judgment.

The Law says do not commit adultery, BUT I say, when you look at a woman lustfully you are already committing adultery.

The Law says when you want a divorce just give her a certificate of divorce BUT I say, don't even think of divorce, for you will be causing her and other to commit adultery.

The Law says fulfill your oath, BUT I say, don't even make an oath simply make your yes be yes and no be no.

The Law says eye for an eye, BUT I say do not even think of revenge instead offer more of yourself.

The Law says Love your neighbor and hate your enemy BUT I say love them both, pray even for your enemy.

RG: Oh Lord, you have indeed set a very much higher standard than the Law. If no one has ever followed the Law how much more these revised standard.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: and this is my final words RG as far as the new standard is concern "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. "

RG: Lord, I thought your yoke is easy and your burden is light. How can it be easy and light if your standard is very high!

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Hehehe you are missing the whole point RG, read again what I said before I lay down the new standard.

RG: Ok here's what you said "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Who will fulfill them? You or me?

RG: Oh Lord, so it's YOU again who will fulfill them.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Yes RG, when I came here on earth, I have fulfilled even the comma and period of the Law. The biggest of which is the Death that the Law requires for anyone who sins.

RG: Lord, I'm beginning to understand why your yoke is easy and your burden is light. It's because you yourself has fulfilled it in me. Unlike the way religion put burden to people.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: And here is my Good News to you RG. The fulfillment of the law does not end on the cross because when I gave you myself as my greatest gift, I also chose you in whom I can fulfill the Law. In fact I will fulfill in you not only the Law but even higher standard than the Law.

RG: Oh Lord this is too much for me to handle, how can you do that to a sinful man like me?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Oh RG, my son and my friend, until now you have not understood what I've done to you. I purchased you with my precious blood. I made you holy, and that's what you are! Holy man of God!

RG: Oh Lord forgive me... I know that I can only be holy because of you, but how can I maintain that holiness?

The Lord seems to say: Oh RG my son, my friend, you don't even have to think how to maintain your holiness. I've done that already! What you need to do in order to experience this holiness is you ABIDE in me. Apart from me RG you can't do anything. That is why I told you that you treasure ME as your greatest gift from God because I will be your holiness, in fact I am your everything.

RG: Oh my God, ... my Lord,... my Father... and my Friend, teach me to love you and treasure you in my life more than anything else. Help me to abide in you not just on a daily basis but moment by moment Lord. I remember just now that those moments when I sinned, it was the time that I was not abiding in you.

Blessed to be a Blessing

2010-08-27T01:56:00.000-07:00

What is God's purpose when God called us to himself? Here's the next red-letter words in my Bible.

Mat 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth.'.... "You are the light of the world.

RG: Lord what do you mean by being salt of the earth and light of the world?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: You know RG when the Father brought you to me, I have two main purposes. These purposes are generally the same as when I called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldean. First, I want to bless you. Second, I want to make you a blessing to others.

RG: Wow Lord! what a purpose to live with. Oh I like the first one, but I need more grace for the second one hehehehe.

The Lord Jesus seems to say:Yes I know, I can still smell your concept of blessing. I want to

reitirate RG that the ultimate "Blessing is ME".

RG: Yes Lord I need to learn this "that the ultimate blessing is YOU". It will not matter what my life situation is, may I be in abundance or in wants, in good health or in sickness, honored or ridiculed and persecuted.I understand that although I have you in full as the "great blessing" yet many of its effects has yet to come.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: That is right RG, unless I am sufficient to you, you will never experience the abundant life that I promised you to have.

RG: Lord before we leave this topic of "Blessing me" puede mohirit? You mentioned about Abraham, and if I look at him in the Bible, indeed he became very wealthy, and he indeed became a great nation, is this not your ultimate blessing to him?

The Lord Jesus seems to say:Hehehehe I know what you are implying, but go ahead read the life of Abraham and find out what is his greatest blessing. Everytime you read any form of blessing I gave to Abraham list them down.

RG: Oh This is exciting...ok Lord I will read about his life again.. (turned to the Bible and start reading from Gen 12) Ok Lord I will start my list now:

1.I will make you into a great nation (Gen. 12:2)
2.I will make your name great (Gen. 12:2)
3. I will make you a blessing (Gen. 12:2)
4. I Will deal with people the same way they will deal with you. If they bless you I bless them If they will curse you I will also curse them. (Gen. 12:3)
5. I will bless all people on earth through you. (Gen. 12:3)
6. I will give this land (Canaan) to your offspring.(Gen. 12:7)
7. Abram (In Egypt) acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
8. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.(Gen 13:2)
9. Their (Abraham and Lot) possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. (Gen 13:6)
10. (Abraham, Standing in Canaan God told him)"Look north, south, east and west all the land you see I give you and your offspring forever.(Gen 13:14-15)
11. I will make your offspring numbering like the dust on earth (Gen13:16)
12. Abram (became mighty) returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him (Gen 14:17)

Ok Lord I think I have listed all and these proved my point on how you blessed Abraham.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: I want you to read a little bit farther...

RG: Ok Lord, I am now in Gen 15...(shocked!) Oh my God, here is what you want to say about your greatest blessing to Abraham.

Gen 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Oh Lord, so it was not the things I envied about Abraham's blessing. But Abraham's greatest blessing is YOU...YOU are his greatest reward!

The Lord Jesus seems to say: You are right RG, It's my personal relationship with Abraham that I valued most, the same way as I value my relationship with you. That is why my greatest blessing and reward to both of you is MYSELF. Yes, there were great men in the Bible like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and many others. Many of them became wealthy and mighty. But I want you to remember them as "men who walked with ME", "MY friends", "men after My own heart" and "men who trusted ME".

As to the other blessings? who gave and will fulfill them anyway? is it not I? I gave them to you according to what you can handle and for a purpose. Abraham can handle great wealth and power, and you can handle the things that you have now. At the end its not how much I gave you, but I will make an account on how you handle them.

RG: Thank you Lord for driving it deeper into my heart. Thank you for giving your self to me as the Ultimate blessing of God. Now I am ready to listen for the next purpose why God brought me to you.

The Lord Jesus seems to say: When I came on earth, I came as light when you accepted me the light was transfered to you. I expect you to pass on this light to others. You are also the salt of the earth called to preserve the decaying society and be a seasoning in this unpalatable world.

RG: This is a big responsibility Lord. how can I do it?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: RG you cannot be a light and salt apart from me. As you walk close with me, people around you will see it and will be blessed. because if you walk close with me, you will be sensitive with my instructions and as you obey, people will be blessed. They will see you as my follower and then recognize God in you. Then you must tell them about me so that they too can receive the blessing. This is the way the blessing moves from one person to the other. This should continue until all nations on earth hear about this blessing and then I will come to give you and others who accepted me the full effect of this blessing.

RG: Lord why do you need to do it with us? You can do it by yourself or with your angels right?

The Lord Jesus seems to say: Yes I can...but I chose to involve you because I love you. I want to bless you more, I want you to know me better, I want to pour my heart to you what I feel towards these people. I want you to be my friend who knows my heartbeat, that's why...

RG: Oh Lord, I am your unworthy servant...but I thank you for the privilege for being salt and light.

Blessedness

2010-08-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

I just realized that Blessedness or happiness according to these verses is rooted in heaven and in God Himself... these are the next red-letter words in my Bible.

"Blessed are the ....... for ........." Matt5:3-12

RG: Lord I want to live a blessed life what does it mean to have a blessed life?

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Go ahead list down the last portion of the verse and you will find out what is a blessed life.

RG: Ok Lord here are the list:

1. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. They are comforted.

3. They are heirs of the earth.

4. They are filled

5. They are shown mercy

6. They see God

7. They are called sons/daughter of God.

8. Their reward in heaven is great.

Lord what a contrast on what we believe blessedness are. I thought blessedness are:

1. Having money to meet our needs now and in the future.

2. Having a decent house with enough space for the things we want to do.

3. Having car to take us where we want to go.

4. Having a family that are loving.

5. Having a wife/husband who love us and our children.

6. Having good health

7. Having a source of income/work which is easy and less stressful.

8. Having community/church/group who meet our spiritual and social needs.

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yes RG unless you redefine what a blessed life means, then you will find life on earth miserable at least in one area of your life if not all.

RG: Lord it seems to me that a blessed life is a life which is rooted and focussed on heaven and in the future rather than here on earth and now. This is what made it difficult for us to understand or made it it less attractive to many, because people just want the "NOW".

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: RG if you move one step forward on what you said "heaven and future" you will end up right in front of ME. That is exactly where the blessedness is. I love you RG and I want you to be always in front of me, right here in my presence.

RG: Oh Lord, I just want to be where you are..

The Lord seemingly saying: Yes RG, I already broke the barrier between me and you when I lay down my life on the cross, now you can be as close to me as you want it to be but I want to tell you that it will cost you something.

RG: Yes Lord I observed that its in the first part of these verses.

The Lord seemingly saying: Go ahead list it down

RG: Ok Lord I hope I will not discover something that I am not willing to pay. Anyway here they are:

1. Be poor in the spirit

2. Mourn (for your condition and others)

3. Be meek

4. Hunger and Thirst for righteousness

5. Be Merciful

6. Be pure in heart

7. Be a peace maker

8. Be willing to be persecuted and insulted

Lord, these has little things to do with what should I do but rather these are more of a descriptive of what should my heart be.

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: You are right RG, but it will cost you your pride, it will cost you your comfort, it will cost your treasured sinful habits, it will cost you time and money to be really merciful, it will cost to walk extra miles, it will cost you your honor... it will cost you your life. Are you willing to pay the cost of a blessed life?

RG: (mummed and in deep, long silence...) Lord have mercy I need your grace to say yes!

Righteousness

2010-07-19T02:24:00.000-07:00

This the next Red Letters in my Bible

Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

RG: Righteousness!!! Oh Lord, a very rare commodity here on earth, its not even use by people anymore in ordinary conversations. I can only hear it preached and read from religious book and of course from the Bible.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: You are right RG, but you know the word righteous and righteousness are two words that supposed to be concerned with everyday living. It means being ‘right’, ‘fair’, ‘just’ and ‘honest’. A righteous person is one who does right or is in the right.

RG: Wow! what a description. I can just imagine if all the people in our society are like that. From traffic enforcers, police, in the marketplace, drivers, government officials, congressmen, senators, judges and President. What a wonderful place to be!

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: I'm glad that you are longing for such society. and I want you not just to long for it, but crave and thirst for it. I told you in our last talk, that when my Kingdom will be established here on earth it will be more than what who have imagined.

RG: Oh Lord, let your Kingdom come!

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Not yet RG, I still have to gather more righteous people from among nations. I want every tribe and every nation on earth to be represented in that Kingdom. So I want you to continue to be my partner in this business.

RG: But Lord is there any righteous men left?

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: You are right, no one is righteous not even you. But that moment when you accepted the righteousness that come from the Father, I declared you righteous when you trusted me. There will still be many who will thirst for that righteousness, and like you, they will be declared righteous too.

RG: Oh God. Where will I be if you did not made me righteous before you? I thank you Jesus for what you have done in the cross, you made yourself unrighteous by paying the penalty of unrighteousness and sin so that I will be righteous before God. You cloth me Lord with your righteousness.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: RG, now that you are declared righteous I want you to live to that name. Be holy for thats what you are. Exercise what is right, what is fair, what is just with all honesty and sincerity. This is what it will be when my Kingdom come.

RG: Lord, please be gracious to me, teach me, mold me to be able to live a righteous life.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Just remain in me, and let my words remain in you and you will be fine.

RG: Thank you Lord..... Hmmm, Lord can I ask You something? Since I begin meditating the red letters in my Bible you always bring to my attention "Your Kingdom" Your first preaching was to repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near" and then you are talking about Your Kingdom that is coming here on earth". Can you explain it further?

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: The Kingdom of God is in Heaven, I created the earth so that it will be an extension of my Kingdom. When I created man, I gave him this earth to be his dominion, he is suppose to subdue it and be the ruler of the earth. So the earth is man's dominion. My Purpose was, as man rules the earth he is to reflect my glory and my character that's why I created him in my image. But man surrendered it to Satan by listening to him and disobeying Me, so from that time on Satan has been ruling many parts of the earth, his unrighteousness, injustice, unfairness and dishonesty is just everywhere. You can see it in the government, in cities, in marketplace in the streets, at home and even in the hearts of individuals. His demons are also here. He is still working hard to subdue this earth in fact he will be ruling this earth for sometime under one government. But he can not subdue it because there will still be many people who will not bow down to him.

RG: Yes Lord I read it in your word and I heard it preached before.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: You don't have to be ignorant about this RG.. look at the banking system how they are slowly merging and currencies are uniting. Look at the advancement of internet capabilities. Can you imagine if the data base of Face Book, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft be gather together? that is enough to track down all political leaders, professionals and intellectuals of the earth. Everything now are gearing towards one world government and in preparation for Satan's temporary establishment of his kingdom.

RG: Yes Lord I also read about tribulation, oh it's a dreadful story! but I know that you will come and rescue your people.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yes, That is the time when I will establish my Kingdom here on earth, because the earth is not his. This is reserved for the meek, and I see to it that the meek inherit this earth, I will give this to its rightful rulers, men who are like Adam before he surrender this to Satan. and I will be here to be the King of rulers, kings that will reflect my glory and my character. And you who have surrendered your life to me, should rejoice because you are a citizen of this Kingdom. Together we will rule this earth for 1000 years.

RG: Oh Lord, This is too wonderful to behold. You mean you will be our King and you will assign territories for us to govern? Oh Lord, a farm with pond for me is enough hehehehe I will be fishing the whole day.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Hehehehe sure you can have that pond teeming with so many fish but its more than that RG, there are so many wonderful things that will be there during this period, can you imagine this world ruled by Me?

RG: But Lord, I thought you are preparing us for heaven!

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: I will tell you more about that RG, but I want you to answer this; What did I promised you RG in John 3:16 when you believed?

RG: Eternal life.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Is living for 1000 years eternal life?

RG: Oh Oh... so there is more!!! Oh my God, Oh my Lord who can understand your ways! Your so great!!!how can you be mindful of me?

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: I love you RG, that's why I am mindful of you...as your son JI said of me "I choose to die just to have you by my side for eternity"

Meekness

2010-07-17T02:22:00.000-07:00

The next Red letter in my Bible:

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

This still part of a special teaching session of Jesus with His disciples.

RG: Lord, I noticed that you started your sentences with "Blessed" what do you mean by this?

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: It means supremely blest, fortunate, well off and happy.

RG: Isn't it Lord this what people are looking for? Many people now use "God Bless" as way of wishing happiness.

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: Yes, but they will not find real blessedness until they become a citizen of the Kingdom.

RG: So that's why you said Blessed are the poor in spirit for it will lead to them to the Kingdom. Blessed are those who mourn for they will long for the Kingdom and be comforted.

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: Now I'm telling you "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth"

RG: Lord this is a surprise!! before I ask you the most important question what do you mean by meek? Is it the same as humility?

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: Humility and meekness are similar, both of them are attitude of the heart of not being boastful nor arrogant even if you know that you have power and ability, but instead willing to serve others and willing to submit to God silently. He has confidence in God that everything that is happening to him is part of God's purpose in his life, so he do not complain but continue to submit to God. This is the attitude that God likes because He can guide and teach a person who are humble and meek. These are the characters that the Kingdom of God values.

RG: You have shown us exactly what it is Lord when you came and submit yourself to the cross. And how can a meek person inherit the earth? is this the same earth where we now live?

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: Yes, in this present time this will be more of the inhabitants of this world. Example in your case you can inherit the people where you are, to win them to the Kingdom.

RG: Oh Lord you know that it is my desire.

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying:But RG there is more, and I want you to look forward for this: The full inheritance of the meek as far as this earth is concern is when I fully established my Kingdom here on earth. You will be co-heirs with me. It's not just the people that you will inherit but the earth itself. You will be one of my governors and administrators you will be with me in governing this planet for 1000 years.

RG: When will this be Lord?

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: When I come for the second time..

RG: But I might be dead that time...please don't forget my children or grandchildren.

Lord Jesus Seemingly Saying: Don't worry, even if you are dead, I will resurrect you back to life and I will give you an indestructible body together with those who died whose lives are surrendered to me. Those who are still alive and are my followers will also have a changed body and together you will float and meet me in the air. Then we will come back to earth and established my Kingdom and we will rule this earth for 1000 years. This earth will be in great abundance as never before. There will be peace, love, justice, safety and prosperity. Wild animals will be setting side by side to each other, there will no more fear, no more tears...

RG: What a wonderful world it would be!!! Please tell me more about this Kingdom Lord... Oh I have so many questions but this sight is enough for me to contain right now!!!

Poor in Spirit

2010-07-14T03:59:00.000-07:00

The next red letters in my Bible

Mat 5:3-4 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Jesus taught these directly to His disciples. Others called this Beatitudes.

RG: Lord, Mat. 5 is a gold mine as far you teaching is concerned.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yeah, I want you to prepare for it with a different mind. Remember what I taught you in the the preaching of John which was also my preaching? "Repent for the Kingdom of God is near". My teachings here are all Kingdom values and you can not understand many of these if you will not listen with different mindset (repentant).

RG: Oh Lord, please help me because I am not so familiar yet with thinking in different mindset.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: That's good because its very much related to my first teaching. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

RG: Oh yeah , how Lord? are you hinting that unable to think differently is being poor in the spirit? You know Lord I have a very negative experience about that word "poor in spirit". My mother use to call people without common sense as "pobre espiritu" that is why it was a surprise to me that people with "pobre espiritu" are actually blessed and the Kingdom of Heaven are theirs. How could this be?

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Hehehe... Before your first repentance, you were trying to gain God's favor, especially on how to get in to the Kingdom of God by your own efforts, religiosity and by being good. But none of those can earn you to the Kingdom of heaven, all of those fall short of God's standard. So, you were poor in spirit...spiritually bankrupt.

RG: Lord you're right I realized hat later.. you know the bad guys out there can easily recognize their spiritual bankruptcy. But for good boys like me, holy boys hhhmmm quite difficult.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yes same as when I was here on earth in physical form. The Pharisee and the teachers of the law can not just get it. But the tax collector, the prostitutes the sinners easily got the idea of being poor in spirit.

RG: I remember my mother Lord, you know that she was very religious, a leader in our chapel. When I shared to her about being saved by faith.. oh her main concern was, how about the things that she has done? Good that when she was dying in bed I hear her said three times, she said: "Dios ko Dios ko, guiromdoma ako baku kundi sa guibo ko kungdi sa pagkahirak mo" (My God, my God, remember me not because of my works but because of your mercy). Finally my mother picked it up.

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yes although all people are spiritually poor but only those who knew that they are, can potentially go to kingdom of heaven. When someone sees this condition of his spirit, he can not help but mourn about it. He will see his hopelessness and then run to me and take the gift that I am offering him.. eternal life that I purchased with my blood..

RG: Yes Lord, I remember when you convicted me with my sin, my arrogance my pride that I am better than others. I cried out loud . Oh Lord what a comfort to know that from my spiritual bankruptcy, from nothingness and hopelessness you brought me to life of hope and eternity with you... that's why you said "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: And if you continue to mourn about the effect of sin in your life, and in the life of others, pride that are holding people to come to me, rest assured of my comfort... that someday all of these will end... there will no tears...no more suffering because of sin and no more dying...

RG: Oh Lord what a great joy to look forward for that time...even right here and right now I can see ahead how it will be..what a blessed moment it would be..

Lord Jesus seemingly saying: That is why Blessed are those people who knew that the are poor in spirit because they can run to me and get to the kingdom heaven...Blessed are those who mourn because they saw their sinfulness and nothingness and the effects of sin in their lives because I will comfort them of the hope that someday all of these will end...

RG: Oh Jesus, you are indeed the ultimate BLESSING that God promised to Abraham long time ago..

Fishers of Men

2010-07-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

This is the next red letters in my Bible

Mat 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

This is the invitation of Jesus to Peter and his brother Andrew... they were fishermen in the sea of Galilee.

RG: Lord You are now recruiting your disciples right? and what's your bases for recruiting Peter and Andrew what are their qualifications?

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Nothing to do with qualifications because no one is qualified. Its all about my mercy that I choose them. Oh by the way this invitation is for all of those who hear and listening. Are you?

RG: Oh Lord, yes I am you know that since I meet you in college, it's always my desire to be a fisher of men. Before I was just fishing in the pond but this time you brought me into the ocean that I didn't have any hint on how to fish in this deep and sometimes raging ocean.

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: RG, the principle is the same whether you are fishing in the pond or in the ocean... "COME, and FOLLOW ME".

RG: Lord its very difficult and complicated to be fishing for men in this deep and roaring ocean.

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: RG, you are looking at the ocean, that is not what I want you to concentrate on.. I want you to concentrate on Coming to Me daily... and I will show you what to do. Then just follow me... before you know it, you are already catching fish... big fish... that's how you become fishers of men.

RG: Lord in my early years in Christian life its not the way I was taught to become fisher of men. We were taught to share the bridge illustrations, to share the testimony, one verse evangelism and few others. I went through several training on evangelism like cold turkey evangelism and house to house.. what value is that in becoming fisher of men.

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: It will have a lasting value only if it is part of your "coming and following" Me. But if it is just a program or church activity its value will only last with the program.

RG: But Lord there are also many who got saved from that program.

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yes, there are many and its because the Father is merciful to draw them to Me, and its not because of your skills in evangelism.

RG: I think Lord its both because if I didn't learn that skills how can your word be clearly explained and got result?

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Ok I will not argue with you now, we'll have more time to talk about it later. But I observe one thing from you RG when it comes to the business of fishing for men. You seems to be so concern about the result. You are so worried about when will you see someone comes to Me. How many and who are the candidates and possible people who might accept me.

RG: Isn't it a legitimate concern Lord?

The Lord Jesus seemingly saying: Yes it is, but sadly it is not more of your concern.. It's my concern. Your main concern is to come to me and follow me..You still don't understand it RG? I want you! first of all and not what you can do... I long for times like this... where you are talking to me and listening to what I am saying..than for you to be busy finding fish for me, then later feeling exhausted and then blame me that I left you alone. RG its not your plan its mine, so if you want to join me come to me and just follow me.

RG: Oh Lord who am I that you want to come to you? yet deep inside me I know that you long to fellowship with me as I also long to be with you.. Lord I dont want to leave your presence anymore.

Repentance

2010-07-10T01:59:00.000-07:00

This is the next red letter in my Bible.

Mat 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Jesus began preaching with this words which was the same as what John the Baptist was saying.

RG: Lord You preached the same words that John the Baptist preached. Is it because his role is to prepare the way for you and you have to show that you are the one he was talking about?

Lord Jesus: Yeah but its more than that. There is something in that preaching that I want to emphasize upfront.

RG: Yeah I feel that these words are loaded. what do you mean by the Kingdom of heaven is near, in some translation say "at hand".

Lord Jesus: The Kingdom of heaven is the place where the King reigns, where God reign where He is obeyed as King and Lord.

RG: Is not the earth part of your Kingdom?

Lord Jesus: Yes but the first man that I assigned to rule the earth surrendered it to Satan by disobeying me. From that time on Satan had been claiming the earth as his and insisting to take control of the affairs of this world. He did a lot of damage especially in hearts of people. There was a time when I decided to wipe-out all that I have created by flood, but I can not just give up the people that I created in my own image. So I planned to strike back at Satan.

RG: You mean to say Lord that Satan has not really took control of the earth totally?

Lord Jesus: No, that is impossible, I am the creator and Lord of all that I created, so for each generation I have set aside people who did not bow down to him but continue to worship me. I choose individuals, families, clans and nation to continue to declare my Name until I come here the first time. So now I, the King is here, I brought with me the pure Kingdom of Heaven!!! The striking back is on.

RG: Then why did you tell your hearer to REPENT!! what do you mean by REPENT?

Lord Jesus: This is not the first time you read this word in the Scriptures. Go ahead see some verses both in the new and old testament and observed where repentance is associated with.

RG: Hmmm hard work hehehehe, but I am eager to know.

.... (finding the word repent using e-sword)

Ok 38 verses 12 from old testament and 26 from new testament. Both in the Old and New Testament repentance is associated with turning away from sin, or worship of other gods and turning to God, and in almost all cases, God forgave and restored the person or the nation who repented. Another observation Lord, your people has a cycle of sin-repent-forgiven and sin again repent again and forgiven...

Lord Jesus: Yes you're right and that is only for my people those who have done their first repentance.

RG: What do you mean?

Lord Jesus: Your first repentance happened when you believe in me that I am the one who saved you from your sin. And you also believe that I am the Lord that you should obey and not Satan nor his teaching and principles. So this is your first act of repentance; turning away from sin and turning to God. But I know that Satan has done a lot of damage to you, and while I am healing you, you will still sin, but I am always ready to forgive because those sins are included when I paid the penalty of sins on the cross.

RG: Oh Lord thank you so much for what you have done... I drowning in you Love...

Lord Jesus: There is one more thing that I want to tell you about repentance. The word that I used which is translated as "Repent" means "to think differently afterwards". You see you are coming from different kingdom.

RG: Lord, you know that I did not worship Satan, so I never been to his kingdom.

Lord Jesus: I know, but you've been living in your own kingdom of whom you are the king! and most of the laws you follow is the same as the laws of Satan, oh yeah, you also follow some of my laws but you were very selective... you like my laws when it favors you otherwise you just ignore it and follow the other camp. So, RG I hope you understand that when you made your first repentance it also means you surrendered your kingship and your kingdom.

RG: Yes I realized it later Lord that that's what it means.

Lord Jesus: So I want you to think differently now! because you now belong to a Heavenly Kingdom so I want your full attention to Kingdom that you now belong. If you keep on looking back to your little kingdom you will find it hard to understand the things of the Kingdom of God to which you now belong. OH I have so many wonderful things to tell you about this Kingdom..so leave behind your little kingdom and focus your eyes on the Kingdom of God. This is what I mean by repentance... Think differently now!!!

RG: Oh Lord its getting more exciting...guide me and take where ever you want...Todo na Kasado na..

Temptation

2010-07-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

This is the next Red Letter in my Bible:

Mat 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

This the response of Jesus when Satan promised Him the world if Jesus will bow down and worship Satan.

Lord Jesus: Now RG that you begin to listen, let me say this directly.

Satan's purpose in tempting you is for you to bow down and worship him.

You probably observed in my previous word exchanges with him that he was progressively pushing me to worship him.

First, he appealed to my physical needs -So I reminded him and myself that physical satisfaction is not everything that matter in life, what God said is equally important, and I would say more important than just satisfying our physical needs and wants. (Food, shelter, pleasure and comfort)

Second, he wanted me to shift role with God - I am God alright, but during this time I was a real man who bow down to obey the Father and will not do anything on my own. But Satan wanted me to shift role, he wanted me to tell the Father to do something when I throw myself into the air.

And finally, he wanted me to worship him. That is his goal..
This is exactly the same strategy he used when he tempted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and he will use the same strategy over and over again when he tempts you. He was successful with Adam and Eve, and he has been successful from that time on...until he met Me..

REJOICE RG!!!!, because you are my friend!!! you don't have to be counted as one of his successes. I am here to strengthen you and provide a way of scape for you.

RG: Oh God ....my God...I worship you Lord....

(silence............)

RG: You mean to say Lord, temptation may lead to Satan worship?

Lord Jesus: If you yield to temptation, yes, because that is his objective...remember he usurped power from God and he wanted to be god so that angels and people will also worship him.

RG: Lord I can see this among unbelievers...but how about among the believers?

Lord Jesus: Oh RG, you have opened a wound in my heart...

RG: Why?

Lord Jesus: Because many many professing Christians are still living, believing that physical realm is what life is all about and that's all that matters... Good food, beautiful houses, lots of money, pleasure, sexual satisfaction, self satisfaction and comfortable life... therefore they are wide open for Satan to initiate temptation. Good that some of them learned not to shift role...but some go one step further...they wanted to rule and do it in their own way, some of them neglected God all the way but some continue to remember God to assist them to pursue worldly gain... so you still see them pray, go to fellowship thinking that they will have a connections in pursuing their agenda of satisfying their craving for physical satisfaction. They manipulate, exploit people and calling them brothers sisters in the Lord...This is not just happening among ordinary believers...it is happening in high profile Christian personalities.. leaders...pastors, deacons..priests..bishops...you name it...

RG my hearts bleeds for them... because I know that the next step is... they will be worshiping Satan...

RG: Oh Lord...I want to cry with you for this sad reality... I want to pray for my friends in the Navs, in Open Door and other friends who are professing to follow you. Now I understand why you teach your disciple a prayer that includes....."...and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil..."

Lord Jesus: That is why RG I always made it clear for everyone who wants to follow me that I am LORD, and I should not have a rival, not even your wife, your children and people that you love, not even yourself , and how much more with the things in this world... Not because I am insecure or trying to flex my muscles..I want everyone to bow down to me as Lord because sooner or later they will be bowing down to Satan as their lord... It's a way of loving you... protecting you under my wings... I am sad when Christians argue and defy my Lordship as if I am stripping them of their happiness

RG: Oh Lord... now I see the big perspective... yes Lord...You are my Lord and I will continue worship you as my Lord... who can resist this love...Oh God my loving God ...thank you so much..

Putting God to the Test

2010-07-07T01:26:00.000-07:00

The next red letter text in my Bible.

Mat 4:7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

This is still part of of the conversation between Jesus and Satan when the latter was tempting Jesus after Jesus spent 40 days in fasting.

RG: Lord, what do mean by putting God to the test? I'm a teacher, is it the same as giving test to my students? Is it challenging God to prove Himself?

Lord Jesus: It's probably good for you to see what part of the Scriptures I quoted it from.

RG: Ok Lord thanks for e-Sword I can easily locate it in seconds... here it goes. Hmm.. so God here is giving the laws to the Israelites, laws that they should follow once they will in the land of promise.

Deu 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.

Oh oh why? what happened in Massah? unsa ilang gi-massah? hehehe (joke!)

Lord Jesus: Go and find out what happened in Massah..

RG: Ok .. hmm I dont know exactly where Massah is, but the surrounding verses picture the scene of their dessert journey from Egypt to the promise land. They are thirsty and began quarreling with Moses until God provided water from the rock. and then here's what the verse says.

Exo 17:7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

When the Israelite asked "is the Lord among us or not?" they were putting God to the Test! Now its making sense. Lord a little more enlightenment I think I would get it.

Lord Jesus: You see RG these people have just experienced how God mightily brought them out of Egypt... how the God feed them with quail and manna, how God overshadow them with clouds during the day and light during the night...now that they are thirsty they are asking Moses "Is the Lord among us or not?

I hope that you are listening to what was going on in their hearts when they asked this question. I hope you can sense the deep motive of their hearts, and most of all I hope you can see how they were treating God...

RG: Ah ah.. so it was not really a naive question. It was actually demanding from God to do something about their situation. I don't know if I'm right but they want to use God and hostage God to do something. There was no sense of humility before God.. I can feel their arrogance and demanding attitude.

Lord Jesus: That's exactly what Satan wanted me to do.. Since I am the Son of God, I can throw myself down and demand from God to send angels to catch me.. Just to prove that I am what I am.

RG: Lord I can see one more thing why this is wrong. In putting God to the test, there seems to be a shifting of role between me and God. I wanted him to do what I want rather than me doing what He wants. Who is the Lord here anyway?

Lord Jesus: and why would you like Him to do what you want?

Ronnie: I am ashame Lord to admit, but its because it boasts me and propels me to the place where people would honor and praise me and put where I would feel happy about myself and be comfortable.

Lord Jesus: I have to add one more thing. I hope you took notice the nearby verses of Deut. 6:16. can you go back to it?

RG: ok here it is:

Deu 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
Deu 6:14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;
Deu 6:15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.
Deu 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.

Lord Jesus: God is a jealous God and He will not give His glory to anyone... not to other gods and not even to yourself.. so "putting God to the test" is using God and demanding from God to boast yourself. It was different when Moses was arguing with God, he was arguing about the Glory of God being at stake and not his own glory or honor as the leader of the Israelites.

RG: Oh God, forgive me for in many instances I've put you to the test.. I remember the time I got burned out... I had so many similar questions that the Israelites had.. not because I did not know you but I was demanding that you to do something, and when You refused, I resented You, I didn't talked to you for months.. Oh I am thankful that You are merciful, you treated me like a Father rather than a jealous God..

Man does not live on bread alone

2010-07-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

The next red letter in my Bible is

"It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"(Mat. 4:4)

Jesus said this to Satan when He was tempted after spending 40 days of prayer and fasting.

Ronnie: Lord, I think there are many things to learn here... this could be your strongest teaching on how to face temptation, because you demonstrated it rather than just teaching. I know you can just kick Satan out right there in there, but You allowed him to trick You. So, I know its not for your sake that you allow it to happen but for us who observe You face the temptation.

Lord Satan knew your weakest point at that time, after 40 days without food ordinary man like me will naturally look for food and will do anything just to have it. But when Satan reminded you that you can turn the stone into bread (which I know You could), It's just amazing that you did not grab and buy his suggestion.

Lord Jesus: Yeah I learned it from the Scriptures that man shall not live just in physical realm but also in spiritual realm. By the way I was fully man when I face that temptation to satisfy my physical needs. So I was not different as you today.

You are right that Satan will tempt us on our weakest part. And one of the weak-spots of man is the flesh. Our physical body need a lot of things, food, water, comfort and pleasure. Satan will tell you that this is the only important things in order to live and I'm sad that many believe this lie.

Ronnie: Lord you know, I think many times I also believe it. I may not be saying it but I knew there were instances in my life that I think comfort and pleasure is everything... It is shown on what I think and what I relentlessly pursue. Often times I became insensitive to you during those days..

Lord Jesus: You are right, when you pursue comfort and pleasure you will be an easy prey of Satan. Closely connected to pursuit of comfort and pleasure is the pursuit of money, because money can facilitate comfort and pleasure...you can buy anything that you think can give you comfort and pleasure easily with money. If you think big house can give you comfort you can easily have it if you have money. Travels, good dress, cars, etc..etc.. you can have it if you have money. Pleasures can also be bought with money. Sex, drugs, parties...everything that you think is pleasurable can be possible if you have money. So its very easy to love money... I have more to say about money later..

Ronnie: So what's the right thing to do Lord?

Lord Jesus: Man does not live on bread alone - You tell yourself that you are not living on physical needs alone... you do not live on food, water, comfort and pleasure alone. So stop pursuing it as if its everything! be willing to give it up if necessary, at times you even have to abstain and die to self gratification. Don't be sad, because the Father knows that you need them and trust Him for your physical needs... I have many things to tell about the Father's concern for your physical needs later.

Ronnie: Oh Lord I know I read it before but I am so excited to reach that part where you teach about the Father who is very much concern of our physical needs... hehehehe.

Lord Jesus: Yeah that's why you don't live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. If this will be part of your system you will be victorious when Satan temp your flesh. Tell him in his face "Yeah my body longs for it, but I do not live on bread alone but on every word that my Father told me."

Ronnie: Oh Lord Jesus what shall I say... You are wonderful... I love you and I thank you...

The Red Letters in my Bible

2010-07-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

My longing to have a meaningful conversation with Jesus has brought me to read the words in the New Testament particularly the Gospel which He directly spoke. They are in red letters in some of the Bibles.

As I read it I also begin to ask question and interact with Jesus about what He said.. This time of interaction is amazingly very enriching... so I decided to write them here.

I am following the book of Matthew:

Here is the first red letters in this book. This during the time of Jesus' Baptism by .John the Baptist.

"Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." (Mat. 3:15)

Ronnie: Honestly, Lord I don't understand why you have to go through this baptism.

Jesus: Let it be so now;

Ronnie: You mean to say Lord there are things that I do not understand but I just have to accept it? I think I just have to trust You for that.

Jesus: it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness

Ronnie: Lord if I am John hearing you saying that "it is proper for us to this".. I think I will take You in your words. But what do you mean by "to fulfill all righteousness"? what righteousness are you talking about? What is the connection between your baptism to this righteousness? what is you baptism is all about?

Jesus: Look for other passages that talk about my baptism

Ronnie: Ok Lord here it comes:

Mar 10:38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
Mar 10:39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,
Mar 10:40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Ronnie: Ok now I think your baptism is not the same as the baptism of repentance but a baptism to start your life here on earth to fulfill what God has promised. The Salvation that will come from what you have done in the cross.. the suffering until death.. so that we can have the righteousness that God requires.
Thank you Jesus...

Living in the Wetland

2009-07-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Partners, friends ug mga Igsoon,
Last night before I slept I shared with you why the "Lordship of Christ" is the culmination of the Gospel and therefore a very Good News for all of us. Recognizing the Lordship of Christ does not only put God in His right place but also putting us in our right place, to the very purpose of why God created us. To give Him glory and worship Him as our King and Lord. There is no other way we can be His true worshipers but under His Lordship. In my illustration of the fish, this is the chance of a lifetime that we will experience the place where we really belong!

But many of us including myself, is like a fish that after God brought us to life prefer to stay in the wetland where we both like/dislike the life in the seashore but also afraid to launch into the deep blue ocean of His Lordship where we can experience God. When we donot plunge ourselves into the Lordship of Christ, we are like a fish trapped into a small pond in a wetland (Hunasan), we are alive but always fearful that anytime the pond will run dry. So we do anything we can to make the pond bigger and deeper but at the end of the day we realize that we are just a small fish that can only move not even a stone but only a grain of sand. Our growth is very limited, because we can only grow according to the resources in that small pond.

But, while in that small pond God has never forgotten us. He sends a regular hightides in order to replenish the water and bring in new food, BUT most of all, hightides are His INVITATION for us to go with Him into the deep. His invitation for us to be at home with Him, where God will be everything to us, He is incharge, His will is our guide, His joy is our joy and His heartbeat becomes our heartbeat.
Hightides happen when we are fully aware of Him and we feel that He is asking us to step by faith and trust Him that He will see us through. But sadly, when the current of God starts to carry us into the deep, we resist with all our might and when the low tide comes we find ourselves into the same little pond, hoping that someday another hightide will come again.

Mga Igsoon ko, living in the wetland (not plunging into the Lordship of Christ) is quite dangerous because anything that would create a splash in that small pond might bring you back to the dry land and we know what will happen to a fish in the dry land. Surely the Lord does not want us to stay there forever. He wants us to plunge early into His Lordship because His Lordship is non-negotiable, every body will recognize it either now or later. His words declare that every toungue will confess and every knees will bow declaring that He is LORD of all, but the bad news is not everyone who will declare Him Lord later will be with Him for eternity. The demons, the people who did not surrender to His Lordship in their life time will be in the different place where He is.

Now how about those who are in the wetland?... I am not to judge, nor wanting to create a contrversy, go to the Bible and ask God, be at peace with what God will reveal to you. But for me, the safest place for a fish is the ocean and not in the wetland. Same with man, the safest place for man is in Jesus, being the only savior and Lord of our lives. This simple Gospel, who is Jesus has far greater implication than the different forms and legalistic rituals and activities of Chritianity today.
If our Christian life does not start with confrontation of who Jesus is, and if it is not settled to us that Jesus is the only Savior and LORD of our lives, there is no Christian life to live with. We thrive only in Christian groups and environment because they are nice people, they are our former classmates and friends back in college, they are safe to be with, but deep inside us, we do not care who Jesus is. We never consider Him in any area of our lives not even in our decision much more in our actions. Oh yeah, we call upon Him to assist us, we call upon Him when we mess up our lives, we call upon Him to bail us out of the mess and trick Him with some promises that we will be good and go straight after He bail us out. We call upon Him when we do not have money becuase of our indiscreminate spending. We call upon Him when we get sick because of stress in putting all our efforts to secure our future. We call upon Him during examinations and forcing God to let us pass etc... Sure God loves to hear those prayers... but how He wish that He will be more than just an assistant to us. HE is the LORD!!! and that's what we need. We need Him as our Lord because that's the way He created us.

I'll stop here, and again as I am sharing this to you I am also preaching the Gospel, (Jesus) to my self.

RG.

The climax of the Good News

2009-07-11T04:15:00.001-07:00

Dear Partner and friends,
In my other egroup few months ago we statarted discussing about the Lordship of Christ. We called that sharing as Hisgot-Hisgot. Since we started sharing in our HIsgot Hisgot few months ago, thought of Jesus as the pure Gospel had never got out of my mind. I was so facinated with its simplicity at the same time its greatness. I wanted also to here about JESUS as the gospel, infact for me, if we talk about the pure Gospel it will be Jesus alone, other addition or subtraction or multiplication or division of this pure gospel would make it irrelevant or difficult to permeate in some culture like the place where we are now. So sharing the pure gospel is bringing Jesus in the attention of man and let that man be confronted with the person of Jesus. We who are bearers of the gospel then must have a clear understanding of who Jesus is.
Little by little I am beginning to understand the simplicity of the Gospel as Jesus alone and nothing else. Yet this simple Gospel is so profound that when we are given the grace to know who Jesus is it would really make us see the seemingly elusive "Abundant LIFE" that He promised and we also desire to have.
The simplicity of Jesus as the Good News (Gospel) lies on His being the Messiah (The Only Savior) and the Son of God (The Lord of All). These two is really the Good News and we can not separate them and consider one (His being the Savior) as the Good News and the other (His being Lord) as something we would struggle with. The Lordship of Christ is part of the Good News in fact it is the culmination and the climax of the Good News. I want to share with you why the Lordship of Christ is the epitome of the Gospel.
When God created man He created Him for His Glory. Man's design and make-up is to give glory to God. In other words Man's make-up is to live and recognize God as LORD. Apart from this purpose man will be disoriented and lost. Imagine a fish in the seashore, it will try to jump and jump with all its might gasping for oxygen and hoping that his last jump he end up in water, this is simply because fish are made to be in water. My friends we are made to make God our LORD, that is why when Jesus is not LORD of our lives we are like that fish in the seashore, struggling, gasping, just to live for few minutes. That's what exactly happen when Adam and Eve sinned against God and tried to live without making God as their LORD. they tried to jump out of the water and started to struggle to live and died. And this is the life and death that we inherited when we also jump out of the water and we too did not recognize God as Lord. We did not give glory to God the very purpose why He created us. Now my friends, ones in our life, He has given us the Good News that He want to resuscitate us, bring us back to life, yet He also said that He is not just bringing us to life (Jesus as Savior) but He wants us swim back to where we belong!!! recognizing God (Jesus) as our Lord because ORIGINALLY that is what you are!!! Isn't it a GOOD NEWS!!! that at last we are home. The Lordship of Jesus is indeed the culmination of this Good News!!! because like the fish in the seashore,dead after minutes of struggle, was not only brought to life BUT now given a chance to swim back into the water where it truly belong!!!! Now we can Glorify God!!! if we live under the Lordship of Christ. That's what we are mga kapayid ko WE ARE CREATED TO GLORIFY GOD and the only way to be back to that state is TO MAKE JESUS (GOD) OUR LORD... that is why Jesus as LORD is a Good News!!!
But, many of us just wanted the idea of being resuscitated back to life but still wanting to stay sa "HUNASAN" (wetland) and do not want to swim back into the water of the Lordship of Christ. As a result we continue to gasp for oxygen, continue to be jumping and struggling to live the life Jesus gave us. Sometimes we end up in a small pond of water in the wetland and feel some relief and taste of life but that is not what our life is, that we live in that small pond Mga kapatid ko sa Pangnoon throw yourself out into the water of the Lordship of Christ.... and begin to experience, the beauty of the ocean bed with God.
While sharing this to you, I am also, again preaching the Gospel to myself.. the Gospel, of who is Jesus the only Savior and Lord..

RG.

Why Lordship of Christ a Good News for Us.?

2009-07-11T04:00:00.001-07:00

Dear mga Igsoon,
Since we started sharing sa atong HIsgot Hisgot few months ago, thought of Jesus as the pure Gospel had never got out of my mind. I was so facinated with its simplicity at the same time its greatness. I want to continue sa atong hisgot hisgot about JESUS as the gospel, infact for me, if we talk about the pure Gospel it will be Jesus alone, other addition or subtraction or multiplication or division of this pure gospel would make it irrelevant or difficult to permeate in some culture like the place where we are now. So sharing the pure gospel is bringing Jesus in the attention of man and let that man be confronted with the person of Jesus. We who are bearers of the gospel then must have a clear understanding of who Jesus is.
Little by little I am beginning to understand the simplicity of the Gospel as Jesus alone and nothing else. Yet this simple Gospel is so profound that when we are given the grace to know who Jesus is it would really make us see the seemingly elusive Christian life that we desire to have.
The simplicity of Jesus as the Good News (Gospel) lies on His being the Messiah (The Only Savior) and the Son of God (The Lord of All). These two is really the Good News and we can not separate them and consider one (His being the Savior) as the Good News and the other (His being Lord) as something we would struggle with. The Lordship of Christ is part of the Good News in fact it is the culmination and the climax of the Good News. I want to share with you why the Lordship of Christ is the epitome of the Gospel.
When God created man He created Him for His Glory. Man's design and make-up is to give glory to God. In other words Man's make-up is to live and recognize God as LORD. Apart from this purpose man will be disoriented and lost. Imagine a fish in the seashore, it will try to jump and jump with all its might gasping for oxygen and hoping that his last jump he end up in water, this is simply because fish are made to be in water. Mga Igsoon ko we are made to make God our LORD, that is why when Jesus is not LORD of our lives we like that fish in the seashore, struggling, gasping, just to live for few minutes. That's what exactly happen when Adam anf Eve sinned against God and tried to live without making God as their LORD. they tried to jump out of the water and started to struugle to live and died. And this is the life and death that we inhirited when we also jump out of the water and we too did not recognize God as Lord. We did not give glory to God the very purpose why He created us. Karon mga igsoon, ones in our life, He has given us the Good News that He want to resucitate us, bring us back to life, yet He also said that He is not just bringing us to life (Jesus as Savior) but He wants us swim back to where we belong!!! recognizing God (Jesus) as our Lord because ORIGINALLY that is what you are!!! Isn't it a GOOD NEWS!!! that at last we are home. The Lordship of Jesus is indeed the culmination of this Good News!!! because like the fish in the seashore,dead after minutes of struggle, was not only brought to life BUT now given a chance to swim back into the water where it truely belong!!!! Now we can Glorify God!!! if we live under the Lordship of Christ. That's what we are mga Igsoon ko WE ARE CREATED TO GLORIFY GOD and the only way to be back to that state is TO MAKE JESUS (GOD) OUR LORD... that is why Jesus as LORD is a Good News!!!
But, many of us just wanted the idea of being resucitated back to life but still wanting to stay sa "HUNASAN" do not want to swim back into the water of the Lordship of Christ. As a result we continue to gasp for oxygen, continue to be jumping and struggling to live the life Jesus gave us. Usahay maka timing ug libaong nga naay gamay tubig, medyo malipay gamay But that is not what our life is, nga mabuhi sa libaong Mga Igsoon ko throw yourself out into the water of the Lordship of Christ.... and begin to experience, the beauty of the ocean bed with God.
While sharing this mga Igsoon, I am also, again preaching the Gospel to myself.. the Gospel, of who is Jesus the only Savior and Lord..

RG.

The Navs should be bonded by a four-fold string

2009-03-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Mga Igsoon,
Murag natabunan na ni akong topic da. I hope that these questions will continue to linger as we Read our Bible. Bobot and Kuya Eseng please shoot you further explaination on your previous statements.
During our Nav Staff Retreat in Baguio we have the Session on Realignment led by Danny Narciso one of our NLT. This was intended to define and redefine the words that we used in the Navs. Example of these basic terms is the Gospel. What is the Gospel? In the Navs what we desire is just to share and to live out the pure Gospel, free from the bagages that was added by the people who have accepted it. Another term that we love to use in the Navs is Disciple, Discipleship, Disciple making. but What is a Disciple? who is making Disciple? By the way walay nahitabo ato nga session kay sa "Pure Gospel" pa lang ug "Disciple" naungot na... hehehehehe until now wala pay follow-up ato.
Usahay gahunahuna sab ko is it really important nga we have commom understanding of the terms we use? because it seems to me that it is not the one binding us together. Actually what is binding us is the name "NAVS". Because anyone who associate himself with the Navs it is almost always automatic that he belong, mentioning few names and showing TMS is enough that we feel that he is one of us, we do not care what he believe or what he understand about the Gospel, Salvation, Disciple and other word jargoons. For me this is amazing.. But I believe, that God in His mercy, has given the Navs a portion of His Kingdom where we can play our role. And that Role was given to our leaders and is stated in Mission/Vison statement of the Navs.

“We envision loving communities living out and proclaiming the Gospel of God's Kingdom, leading to the transformation of hearts and lives, families and nations, from one generation to another”

and here is some explanation of that vision.

We seek to bring the Scriptural teaching and principle into the daily conversations and experiences of people-- for that is a non-negotiable essential for maturing in faith and wisdom. What we envision is not merely formation of small bible study groups, but loving and vibrant biblical communities multiplying across the country, living out the truths learned in the Scripture and navigating life with Christ at the helm. Small biblical communities that met in homes marked the life of the first believers.

People need Christ-centered examples of individuals and families as well as develop skills in sharing, discipling, and practical service so they can be a positive influence to their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and to society as a whole

There are Big and vague terms in this vision that we in the navs should at least understand. Like "living out and proclaiming the Gospel" "Small Biblical communities" "discipling" and others. If we believe that this is what the Lord want us to do as an organization then there is a need for us to understand what are these phrases and terms mean.
I think here In the Navs we should be bonded by a four-fold strings. First is by the Name "NAVS" where we experience our first Love, the comraderrie, frienship etc. second by the "Vision" given by God to the Navs, third by the "Kingdom" to which the Navs belong and by the "Glory of God" the reason why everything exist.
We in CebuNavs we are strongly bonded by the the name "NAVS" very few are bonded by the vision (probably for some this is your first time to read the vision). I think many are bonded by the Kingdom (We are doing things, which is not in the vision that God gave to the Navs but still very much part of His Kingdom), and I have no hint of who among us are just consumed by the "Glory of God". Others might ask how about love? would it not bind us above all these? Yes this is part of His Kingdom because this part of the Kingdom values.
The Navs could hardly find people from its contituencies who are consume by its vision. I think this is due to the lack of understanding of what this vision is all about. Kung naungot mi didto sa staff meeting, well kahinanglan siguro ug reinforcement. Its good to start here in the grassroot level so that we will all own this vision the that Lord has given us in the Navs... that is why I want to continue aning atong Hisgot hisgot. Anyway ako man ang moderator hehehehehe so wala moy mahimo kung mag sigi ko ug tabi diri hehehehehe. Aw naa diay.. i-delete ang mga gikan kang Amir ...
Hala Bay Venric ilibot na collection basket kay human na ang sermon. Dayon balik sa Bible ug patabang tang nanan sa atong Ginoo. (BTW Bay Venric nakit-an na nimo imong Bible?)

RG.

Seemingly different views that need clarification

2009-03-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Mga Igsoon,

Di pa ni human ang atong hisgot-hisgot, we still have many things to talk about. And I hope this is helpful to all of us.
For this topic, I still want to summarize that was said so far and everyone is still encourage to ask question.
1. I think no one will argue that Salvation is a gift and completed by Jesus alone and given to us free.
2. That the Father is the one that draws a person so Christ. and Holy Spirit open the spiritual eyes of the person to see Jesus as the the only Savior and Lord, and convicts the person of sin.
3. Kuya Eseng has a unique view that Salvation is not just a gift but also a Mystery, that we will be surprise whom we will see and will not see in Heaven. Its all depends on the giver as Ruby agreed.
May tanong ako kuya, and the rest didto sa mga gisulti ni Bobot.. Kuya is it possible that we will meet a very sincere Muslim who believe in the God of Abraham and with all his heart submit himself to God in heaven? How about Eglesia ni Cristo, Seventhday Adventist, Jehova's witness and others.

Here is the seemingly different views that need clarification:
1. Bobot had carry it further: "Saying yes to the gospel(The work of Christ), is the work of the Holy Spirit when he circumcised the heart of man being shared with the gospel. Even the acknowledgment, of sin is a product of a circumcised heart"
Question:
a. If saying yes or accepting Jesus (the Gospel) is the work of the Holy Spirit alone, would this mean that man has no choice but to say yes if the Holy Spirit choose to let him say yes?

2, I find this contradicting: "How much more making Jesus as our Lord and savior? We can not do that. The moment we will do that, salvation becomes a result of work. Instead we need to surrender to him and allow Jesus to be the Lord of our lives." - Is surrendering and allowing Jesus to be the Lord of our lives different from making Jesus as Lord and savior?

Glo and I have been discussing this for the last few days: Here are some of our discussion,
If indeed it is true that everything is God's Work, including the making of the decision of man to accept Jesus, there are very good implications in the way we bring the gospel to others:
1. It will bring us to our knees because no amount of effort in our part will work because unless God will work and will let that person choose Jesus nothing will happen.
2. It will keep us humble and totally dependent on God.
3. Since He is the one who did it all then all glory belongs to Him.
On the other side we can not help but ask:
1. Where is the parnership that God desired from men? his command to to believe, to submit, to accept, to obey to love, the command to go, to be holy, would this mean that in all of this man has no responsibility? It may swing to the other extreme, that we will not do anything because anyway its all the work of God.

Hala dili lang si Bobot ang mag share ani, Everybody get back to your Bible and search hehehehehe.

RG

Salvation is a gift and a mystery

2009-03-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

On the subject of Lordship...

We will all be amazed when we go to heaven. There will be those we think should not be there. Some men and women whose lives are inconsistent with the Gospel call. We will see there hyper Calvinisitics and hyper Arminian in heaven no longer arguing about the role of men (as in Lordship) and the role of God through Jesus' emptied cross and the HS convicting us of our sins (as in pure grace). One thing I am sure, salvation is a gift and a mystery.

Geoff Garton's BS material on Doctrinal Study of Salvation is really good. This is actually equivalent with one subject on Systematic Theology. We still have that in our bookstore.

Eseng Victolero

Thank you moderator for laying out these questions for reflection and thanks to those who share their thoughts on the topic of salvation and Lordship.

I happen to believe and agree with Kuya Eseng that salvation is both a mystery and a gift. The terms are on the Giver and not on us. The Giver makes the call and grant it to those He chooses to receive. Ours is just a matter of gratitude to His great love through Jesus Christ. Repentance and Lordship is a lifetime process and an act of worship.

ruby

Salvation is not the work of man

2009-03-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Lordship as a pre requisite to Salvation is the concept or Theological views of the group called the Lordship Salvationist. This is not a new thing as it already created a lot of controversy in the past. In my other email Jay apologized that he only reads that quotes from Mr. Murrel, an author of the book from where he got the quotations. In the current decade this idea or theology is backed-up by John F. MacArthur, one of the great theological teacher in our times. Sometimes he swayed to extremes, but his views are always sounds strong.

In my last trip to the US, I have the chance to befriend a newly acquainted pastor. He graduated from the seminary of John F MacArthur in LA. I told him: " I find you delivering a very balanced sermon(Kuya Wency and I attended his church)...I know a lot of pastors who followed John's teaching, turns legalistic..." I added. To that, he said a big YES..."if you are not careful, you will become legalistic..."

To me, Salvation is not the work of man, but; it is the work of;
1. Someone who has the capability or capacity to save, and
2. Someone who has the willingness to save.
Even saying yes to the gospel is something we can not boast of. Everyman if given the chance to choose, he would not choose Jesus Christ. Man will always choose the world. Saying yes to the gospel(The work of Christ), is the work of the Holy Spirit when he circumcised the heart of man being shared with the gospel. Even the acknowledgment, of sin is a product of a circumcised heart. It is not a product of intellectual understanding alone.
How much more making Jesus as our Lord and savior? We can not do that. The moment we will do that, salvation becomes a result of work. Instead we need to surrender to him and allow Jesus to be the Lord of our lives. Definitely, we can not make him our Lord. Alligning our lives to his Lordship? Who and what kind of man can do that? Definitely, no one...instead we can ask and plead before Him to help us renew our lives. Renewing our lives is not just a matter of counting the gains and losses and make a new action plans in order to allign. It is rather a spiritual in nature because it is a partnership between God and man. With God who ia ready to help, and man who is willing to accomodate the help from God-His grace.

Salvation always revolves around Ephesians 2:8-9, and Titus 3:5:

For it is by grace you been saved, through faith--- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--- not by works, so that no one can boast

He saved us not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. he saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation? nothing coming from us...it is a FREE gift. Imperfect lordship? The bible illustrated it through the tax collector who said, " I am a sinful man...", that confession glorifies God but no promise of not doing it again as he reports again the next day to his job, collecting taxes...Did he has a perfect lordship after that? we dont know...what I know is that a lot of us are wrestling with our weaknesses no matter how committed we are inthe presence of God. The issue here is not perfect or imperfect lordship, but what is our attitude towards our sin, which I myself also is struggling and needs a lot of strength and grace from God.

Bobot M.

Thanks to Ed T and Kuya Wency's enlightening views. Thanks also to R.G.'s initiative on this topic.

Nav Vision

2009-03-13T04:23:00.002-07:00

Dear mga Igsoon,
Ako na pud ni ipa ibabaw ang atong Hisgot Hisgot.
Here below, was sharing about how we are bonded in the Navs, that one of the weakness we have is we are not bonded by the vision God gave us in the Navs, but rather we are bonded by the name Navs, and the Kingdom and with the Glory of God. I do not know if the NLT would agree with this but that is my observation. Is there something wrong with this? I think nothing wrong, because its gives us diversification in the larger part of the Kingdom of God. Its the reason why we are invovlve in the different minstries. Edith and mely are with the children.. Cris Malecdem are with Mangyans, James and Joker are with Bible translation, Jonthan and thelma with the prostitutes, Roy and kuya Philip are with equipping Chrurch leaders and many others are in local churches both in protestants and Catholic. like vivian and Sis Tirsa. Its amazing How the Lord produced workers in His harvestfield in order to expand His Kingdom through the Navs. So, as we continue to trace our ancestry and legacy with the Navs it is good to look at what God wants Navs to do and i believe we can always integrate the nav vision to whatever we are doing and continue to influence our sphere of ministry with the Nav distinctives, this is if we believe that God has established the Navs with certain role to play in the Kingdom of God.
Quickly going back to the Nav vision, I think it can easily be integrated to whatever ministry we are in.

“We envision loving communities living out and proclaiming the Gospel of God's Kingdom, leading to the transformation of hearts and lives, families and nations, from one generation to another”

From this Vision I see Three Big Words which are the core of this vision.
1. Communities
2. Gospel
3. Trasformation

Of these three THE GOSPEL is right at the center. it is the reason for the existence of the communities (Where the communities has to live-out and proclaim) it it also the prime mover or the reason/cause of the transformation of heart, lives, families and nations.
What is the Gospel then? - I believe that if we have a clear understanding of what the Gospel is then there is a reason for the community to exist and we will appreciate the transformation of ones life.
When Pastors and theologian are asked what is the Gospel, 1Co 15:1-4 ( Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures), will come as the scriptural difinition. Yes this the Gospel and if you look at it closely the Gospel all point to JESUS. Jesus was the one who died for the the sin, Jesus was the one who was buried and Jesus is the one who rose again, therefore JESUS is the GOSPEL, the GOODNEWS that man could ever have.. So Knowing Jesus is knowing the Gospel, accepting Jesus is accepting the Gospel. So living out the Gospel is living out Jesus and proclaiming the Gospel is proclaiming Jesus. That is why for me it is important that we should not reduce Jesus of who He is. He is both Saviour and Lord. - Saviour because He was the one who died and paid the penalty of our sins, Lord because He is God. He was Lord even before he became a Savior, He is Lord Now and will be Lord forever.
When we accept Jesus we can not say that we didnot accept Him as Lord, because our act of surrender, our act of giving up our path of gaining salvation (good works and others...) and accepting the work of Christ in the cross are indications of accepting Him as Lord and Savior. so we have accepted Jesus as our LORD!!! and I want us to remember that. So as we go on our struggle with sin, with selfishness and tendencies to on our own ways its always good to recon and remind ourselves that we have made that decision already when God opened our eyes and see Jesus and accepted him into ourlives.
So I believe when God told us in the Navigators to live-out the Gospel it means we should live out JESUS, His teachings, His Lordship, His character His Person, or simply we imitate Christ. and when He told the Navigators to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, we simply proclaim Jesus, lead people to come face to face with Jesus, the same as the way we see Jesus, both the Savior and Lord.
Taas na. next time na pud.

RG

Salvation is a grace

2009-03-13T04:23:00.001-07:00

Indeed I agree with Edd and Bobot. Salvation is a grace and paid for by the greatest price. Thus it begins with the repentance of our sinfulness, then denouncing our old self and then accepting the grace of salvation God has given through Jesus Christ.

The full realization of the extent of His love makes us so grateful to God such that in everything that we do - obedience and good works, we do as a response to His love. This is where Lordship begins as we allow Jesus to reign in our hearts and minds, our decisions and priorities, opur plans, hopes, and dreams.

Vivian R Molina

About Repentance

2009-03-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

Bay Bot ayaw iduot si jay, maayo ra ba na siya mulusot hehehehehehe. Tan-awa di wa ka kadakop hehehehe. Nahadlok na siya acutally dili sa imo kung dili kang Dr. Edd heheheeh kay unya makit-an siya. maayo ko kay wa kaila si Edd hehehehe.
Hala pangitaa ninyo si Mac Arthur ug si Steve aron tubagon mo hehehehe.

Mga Igsoon ko,
I think many of us in CebuNavs, have not fully understood the full extent the the Lordship of Christ when we meet Jesus, but have confessed Him as Lord when we set the general directions of our lives to obey Jesus. I remember when Juniboy shared to me about repentance that is it a 180 degree turn of setting our general direction. If we are going to the north following our own ways of living, and ways how to get save, then we turn 180 degress to Jesus and embrace His way of salvation and let him sit in throne of our lives. Naa pa gani to drawing drawing nga linkoranan, unya nagutana dayon Kinsa man galingkod karon diha? When we accept Jesus we said we let Him sit in throne. That I think is what the articles mean to me when its said that "the starting point of salvation is the acknowledgment of the Lordship of Christ" If they mean another thing that I will not also buy. (Bisan pa ibaligya na ug barato), because if we do not see Jesus as Lord then we need to know Him more. Now let me ask you a question. Who among us here in Cebu Navs, accepted Jesus, without any hint in his heart of obeying and pleasing Jesus as Lord?" Yes we fell, yes we sin and fell again and sin again, but can we not see the Lordship of Jesus in operation in these experiences? I believe that His Lordship together with His Love and Mercy, grace and forgiveness are all in operation when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Learning to live a surrendered life. the life that we choose when we accept Jesus is one thing that we differ. So kung wala nay mutampo sa atong Hisgot hisgot, I want to move our discussion on Learning to live a surrendered life, the life that we choose to live.

RG.

Lordship Begins in the Heart

2009-03-13T03:50:00.000-07:00

Kuya Bobot ug Mga Kaigsuonan,

Sorry, I cannot explain this("The starting point of salvation is the acknowledgment of Lordship of Christ." ). If you notice, I was quoting Steve Murrel just to add to the article(by John Mc Arthur) for discussion as started by R.G. Kuya Bobot, pala-absent ra ba ko sa B.S. namo sa CIT sa una mao nga tig-paminaw ra jud ko (you can ask Kuya Eseng n R.G) hehehe.

By the way, here's the continuation from Steve Murrel's idea on Lordship.

Lordship Demands Obedience

Anyone who claims Christ as their Lord is expected to do what he says. Intellectual faith and empty confession is not enough. If we say Christ is our Lord, our lifestyle should back our claim.

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21

Lordship Begins in the Heart

Submitting to Christ as Lord is not about following a set of religious rules and traditions. Rather, Lordship is a matter of the heart. Lordship begins as an internal submission of the heart. If it is genuine, it will eventually manifest itself in outward obedience.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. 1Peter 3:15

Lordship is a Continuous Walk

We begin our Christian life by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord. We must continue to walk under his Lordship for the rest of our lives. Lordship is not having a onetime experience with God, but developing a lifetime walk with God. The more we know him, the more we submit to him.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord continue to live in him. Colossians 2:6

Jay

What is the the starting point of Salvation?

2009-03-13T03:46:00.000-07:00

like it Edd- ( why double d anyway ?)
bay R.G., I must buy this kind of strategy , morag formal ra bitaw kaayo to inyo presentation sa question with "kuya"bobot he he and with jay - kinahanglan man ta ato magbarong Kong mag-answer... ug sakto si Edd, ang mga 'not so young' (mosanay ning terminology ni Cres da) or 'not so old' generation ,( pareho ra man siguro nang duha bay R.G. kay hairline ra man ang boundary nila ), gasigi pa ug papormahay, kay lalim bay - di god to tig- email atong panahuna nga mga gwapo pa to sila, he he .. . (apil ta ani nila bay R.G.?)
take a look at this - Luke 13:1-5
and the Words in 3 and 5- I tell you , no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.( NIV ni nga version bay R.G - ako ni hinulaman sa ako silingan, wa pa man makit-i ako Bible god )..
It's an action - reaction virtue caused by man, if one has to be prized with the ever worth of salvation. But such an act by man alone, points not to where salvation starts but where salvation begins.Unless we repent or as Edd would put it, acknowledgment of oneselve's helplessness, and humble ourselves before God - Salvation as an effect cannot have its due course.
Another thing bay R.G., the single phrase of REPENTANCE is highly encompassing , just like the LOVE OF GOD. It carries the acts , of Acceptance of the LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST , of Control with one's action , Romans 8:9, 1Peter 1:13 -16, of Leading and Nurturing , as in the parable of man taking care of the vineyard, of Loving one another, the whole chapter of 1John, and many more. more and more... All these acts should not be competing with each other, as one could never precedes the other, but they are all put into one bigger sphere, and becomes the ultimate requisite of SALVATION.
Last thing bay R.G. , if you would ask me about the starting point of Salvation, be it the LOVE OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST could be my wisest response.

bay Venric

P.S.
palihug bi, ikaw may moderator, ingna nya to si Allan nga ayaw lang nang "Venric in concert" ang ngan sa amo reunion, diay lain ay, ug mura ug familiar nato ni nga grupo, "Ruby and Company" in concert.- bay R.G., lisod ning mga "not so young" or( "not so old?) kung moandar, like Allan he he he, kung baga mga mountain ni sila- kita ani bukol ra, ug sapawon tang duha, duha ka bukol ra gyod na.(dili mountain sa ocean ha , he he}

I don't buy the idea

2009-03-13T03:40:00.001-07:00

Bay, RG, and Jay (I still need to meet you),

I suggest that we huddle into a small corner so we can talk a little bit about
this while everyone is still greeting each other and telling stories of their
adventure or misadventure in life with God. Sometime I view this as a huge
fellowship where everyone just wanted to talk and there a few of us enjoyed
watching and smiling that at the end of the time, our jaws started to lock up and
become sore.

By the way, I don't buy the idea that "The starting point of salvation is
the acknowledgment of Lordship of Christ".

I would rather say that the starting point of salvation is the acknowledgment
of oneselve's helplessness that no matter what he/she does he still fall short
of the glory of God. Unless there is that acknowledgement, how else would
he come to Christ?

Ssssshhh. Let's keep our voices low. Maybe the "not so young" generations
as Cres would put it who are just smiling or busy deleting messages might
want to chip in.

Warm regards,

Edd

The Sum Total of the Ledger

2009-03-13T03:26:00.000-07:00

Mga igsoon,

Mga tig tampo ning atong hisgot hisgot, palihog ug sumpay sa latest nga post and do not erase ang previous posts kay ganahan ko nga at any point sa atong discussion anybody can follow thw previous thoughs we had. Kapoy baya ug cut and paste sa inyoung tampo.

Haay, salamat wala kaila sa ko si Edd. Kuya wency siguro pag tagal tagal bisaya ka na rin.

Salamat kaayo sa inyong mga tampo, nag kanidot na ni atong balay nga Cebu Navs, naa busy sa re-union, naa sa kilid nalingaw sa ilang kinumustahay, naa gakalipay sa mga answered payered, naa nagahilak, naa gusto mag bake ug mag pinirito, naa ay gangisingisi sa kilid, Naa pud nagapangutana sa ila kugalingon "Hala no save ba kaha ko?" hehehehehe, Naay tigulang, not so young ang not so old hehehehe what a beatiful community to be with.

Balik ko sa atong hisgot-hisgot. I have no objection on the things that you said. The hopelessness that you said is the conclusion of the king who encountered the KING with great power, he saw himself as hopeless so he gave up, he subject himself to Jesus, and accept Jesus and what He said about Himself. Jesus did not sugar-coat the fact that He is the only Savior and Lord (Son of God)..

When people who wanted to define what a Messiah is (someone who can always perform a magic of multiplying food exponentially) left Him because He was trying to redefine what a real Messiah is, he turned to his disciples and asked "What about you? are you willing to leave also? He was happy when Peter recognized it that He is the Christ (Savior) and the Son of the living God (Lord).

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”[John 6:66-69]

Peter was in the state of "hopelessness" "to whom shall we go?" then right infront of him, was Jesus, the who holds eternal life, the Christ (Savior) and the Son of God (Lord), then he surrendered...Those who left were members of "Jesus fans club" they liked Jesus because He can provide bread instantly. But when Jesus ceased to be what they like him to be they left.

What is amazing to me is the verse before that. Joh 6:65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

Wow!! the opportunity to come to Jesus face to face and recognize him of who is He is (as the Only Savior and Lord) that in itself is a gift from God. The twelve disciples were given that opportunity including Judas. Eleven of them made the right response of surrender, but one did not.

Mga igsoon ko diri sa Cebu Navs, I think all of us has given the grace of meeting Jesus face to face and able to know and recognize Him as the only Savior and Lord. And i pray that all of us has grabbed that opportunity, and be forever grateful for that. Being here in the midst of this M world my heart bleeds for the multitude of people who has not yet given the opportunity to come face to face with Jesus.

Mga igsoon ko I pray that we will not join or remain as members of "Jesus Fans Club" or Paul's fans club or Peter's fan club nor "Bay Venric's fans club" Let us all put Jesus in His proper place. Again like Kuya Wency said, no one will be perfect in obeying our KING, we stumble, we fall and we have weaknesses, and we thank God that in all of these they are all taken cared of by His Grace." But it must be clear that the Sum Total of the ledger (sakto ba ako term ani mga accountant?) is Jesus is Lord of our lives.

Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus (Jesus as the Lord in other translation) and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

This verse I believe does not say that confessing Jesus as Lord is will guarantee a 100% obedience in our part and in every area in our lives. But rather confessing is a declaration, a chosen direction of life, a life that is surrendered to Jesus. This we need to preach Jesus (the gospel) to ourselves daily and in every situation, especially when it comes to issues in life where the decision of whom to follow "Jesus or me" is invovlve, some of us can easily yield and dont even dare to fight, some may dare to fight and engage God in arguments, (like Job and the prophets) but a person who have confessed Jesus as lord, always have the white flag ready in his pocket, because he knows that he has no match for this King.

I had a good fight with this KING during by burned-out days for more than 8 months I do not want even to think about Him. I was so dissappointed with Him because dispite that I was "serving" Him full time, He did not give what I asked, so nangluod ko, I fought Him with a silent treatment (I know wives never like this kind of fight hehehe) looking back it was really a fight of who is lord between the two of us. And one day He pushed His Lordship a little harder, I heard His voice almost audibly saying " RG, you are running away from Me, but where are you going?" I knelt down, and slowly take out my white flag and said "Yes LORD, you are right, I have nowhere to go, because whereever I go you are there" It was not just His Lordship that reign but also His Love, mercy and Grace. Now I am awed "What Kind of LORD is He!!!, very gentle and loving full of mercy and grace" So Let us not be affraid to take Jesus as Lord, nor be affraid of sharing Jesus as Lord right at the start.

Haay taasa na diay sa akong nasulat.

RG

When was the time that the 12 become believers?

2009-03-13T03:14:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

When was the time that the 12 become believers? After three years with
Jesus, they were still a disappointment. Judas sold Jesus, Peter denied
Jesus three times, cut the ear of the servant. A few were jockeying up
for position in heaven and arguing about who is the greatest. . Others
were scattered and abandoned the King. Only the women stayed with Jesus!
Were they already believers at that time who surrendered their lives
100% to Jesus? What a picture of a disciple!

Truth is we are all fellow travelers...each with weaknesses that needs
to be surrendered to Jesus as we recognize them.....and that is the
process until we "graduate" to heaven...But we grow in that repenting
process only when we are involve with a gracious community that accepts
us unconditionally. We need to journey with one another especially in
our weakness.....

To be a disciple does not mean we will walk in obedience perfectly. We
are 100% forgiven and accepted unconditionally just because of
Jesus...absolutely nothing in us is acceptable to God apart from Jesus,
even our so called obedience and sacrifices.....that is our position
before God and it helps us be sober and humble before God and man.

We are saved by grace 100%, free for us but costly to Jesus. Even
maintaining our salvation is 100% by grace, not because of our obedience
are we accepted daily by God ....but only because of Jesus. If we deeply
appreciate the grace of salvation, we will be compelled to love and
obey Him in return as a sign of gratitude. Those believers who do not
seek to obey, do not yet experience and appreciate the depth of God's
love and grace. (Edd is right that we need to see our hopelessness first
before we can appreciate His grace. Problem is we see ourselves as good
and able people. We live independently from God--which is the worst form
of idolatry.)

We have to acknowledge Him as King of our lives, the one who owns us...
has the authority to manage and lead our lives...that implies that from
now on we will seek to obey Him with the help of the Holy Spirit out of
gratitude to His graciousness.

Wency

The Two Kings

2009-03-13T02:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Jay and R.G.

I am really interested on this topic. Let's have it discussed by starting on the questions that I asked, specially on question number one. Another is, please explain what the paragraph below means, specially on: "The starting point of salvation is the acknowledgment of Lordship of Christ." Unless this is explained, others will understand and participate on this. I will give my fearless view after your explanation.Okay?

Dear Bobot,
Bot, akong gibutang diri ang imong sumapay sa Hisgot hisgot aron naa tay document of discussion aron anybody can read back what we have already discussed.
Don't be so hot, lets discuss this slowly kay during sa among BS sa una ni Juni-boy iya ra tong ginadali-dali kay clase naman hehehehehe.
Let me share another parable about the Kingdom. Jesus shared this in the height of his popularity that so many people were following Him. Jesus was quick in clarifying to them what it takes to really follow Him.
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. Luk 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
He compared it with two kings one with great power and the other one with less power. Who are these two kings? Before I thought that this is Jesus and Satan respectively, but looking at the verse 33 and the previous verses it is obvious that He was talking about Himself and the people who wanted to follow Him. So its Jesus as King versus me another king. I look at my "kingship" ("queenship" sa mga girls hehehee), my "kingdom" those that I want to rule, wow!! there is a great freedom to live on my own and continue my ways... BUT when I met Jesus another King of great power, obviously my kingship and my kingdom has no much with His. Then I ask "WHAT SHALL I DO?" If I fight I know I will die, if I surrender I know I will live but it also means I will submit to Him and His condition is to forsake all. Now, His advice is for us to sitdown and compute. Is it worth the fight? or is it more worthy to raise up our white flag, and say LORD I surrender!!
The General Surrender of once life should be done and decided by every one who met Jesus. We will all struggle how to live a surrendered life but in every struggle we always reckon our lives with Jesus whom we accepted as our only Savior and have surrendered our lives and made Him LORD, KING of our lives.

BTW, Jesus use the word here "can not be my disciple" . Ang pangutana "Is being a Christian different from being a Disciple?"
Hala nagkadaghan na ang pangutana..... wala man gatubag sigi lang pasumbingay hehehehe.

RG.

A Decision of Trading All

2009-03-13T02:51:00.000-07:00

Mga Igsoon,
Continue lang ko aning topic ha, bisan ug mura ug ako ra ang interasado ani. unsaon man ako may moderator, heheheheeh and you can always comment anytime you like. I just have the burden to talk about this very basic issue of what it means to have Jesus in our lives, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Jesus once told this parable about the Kingdom. A one verse parable. Mat 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
This parable tells us a lot about a BIG decision that we should make when we met Jesus (the King of this Kingdom). Its a decision of trading all that we have for the Kingdom. this does not say about buying our salvation with all that we have becuase that is not consistent with what the Bible says, but it has something to do with giving up our reign, our rights ourselves to Jesus so that His Kingdom will reign in our hearts.
This man look at what he has, then look at the Jesus and his Kingdom. He weigh things out... and decided that its worth it all. This is a decision that I think each of us should make..

RG.

The Parable of the Sower

2009-03-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

Mga Igsoon ko,
Wala gyud kaayo ga pick-up aning topic but I know you are listening and waiting for more discussion. The questions of Bobot are tough questions that need to be addressed not only to us here in Cebu Navs but actually to other Nav Staff and constituents. This is important because this will affect the way we share Jesus (the good news, the gospel) to others, specially in the Philippine context. In the Phillipiines almost all people will never refuse Jesus as the Savior, but the integral part of who Jesus really is as LORD, are either misunderstood or taken for granted by many who accepted Him in their lives. It could be the reason why when certain issues in life come the Lordship of Jesus is being left-out, because Jesus has never been the LORD of their lives.
This is I think is the theme of the Parable of the sower that Jesus Himself explained. there were 3 people who accepted the word about the Kingdom, but only one of them produces fruits. the other two either misunderstood or have taken the Kingdom (and the KING) for granted.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”( Mat 13:20-23)

You can add to Bobot's questions. We do not have to be in a hurry to get answers. Let it a continuing thoughts, until such time that God will capture our hearts and teach us of who He really is.

R.G.

Put Jesus in His proper place

2009-03-13T02:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Jay and Bobot ug mga igsoon ko,
Salamat sa inyong tampo. Although, this is the most basic, and probably the first thing that we learn during our Bible Studies, on Lessons on the Way and Assurance of Salvation. But I am sure that not all of us are confident with what we believe about our Salvation and much more the way we knew Jesus. In our on-line YM BS with some of us here, one of the thing that we noticed; almost all the people that Jesus met have their own concept of what the "Messiah" should look like or should be doing. When Jesus refused to be what they picture Him to be, they left him, they denounced him and finally they crucified him. They don't want a Missiah who will not fit with what they like.
Now, this maybe obvious when we read the Gospel but during the time when we met Jesus, we may have the same concept of Jesus as they have. We have our ideas of success, and what is a happy life should be or how to make life works. So when we met Jesus, we "accepted Him" for at least two reasons, 1) the salvation He brings and 2) we are very excited because there is now Sombody who will help us to achieve our pre-defined successful and happy life. Well, If I may add, the third probably is, you like this funny navigators (hehehehe), you feel happy when you are with them so why not just conform and do what they do.
Soon, in real life situation (love life, choosing life time partner, career, work, money, and even a small decisions), you probably observed that Jesus that, He would like to redefine for us what success is and what life is, as a whole, and deliberately not support our idea of how life works. The person who did not accept Jesus as Lord, will slowly slip out of Jesus, first ignor Jesus, then leave and continue to do things his own way. he may not say a word but the "actions speak more than words". In some cases the leaving is not done by leaving the group where he met Jesus, he continue to hang around, because of frienships and other reasons. This person I should say is journeying on accepting Jesus as He is and His term. His continued studying of the word, the witness and example of those who truly accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior are important in his journey, much more the role of the Holy Spirit to finally open his eyes of who Jesus really is.
But the person who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, he may or may not know the big picture yet but when the same life situation come, he may struggle, he may cry and beg, yet at the end, he surrenders, and say to Jesus "Jesus since you are the Lord, then not my will but let your will be done." Soon, you will see this pesrson realigning his decesions, his life to how Jesus defines them, and soon you will see him as friend of God, an ally of God, he has the heart and the vision of God for His Kingdom, he knows the role God gave him, and does it faithfully because He is consumed with the Glory of God. Please do not be misled by equating Lordship with being active in the minstry, because Lorship is still on the basis of "for WHATEVER you do, whether you eat or drink, do all for the GLORY of God."
Mga igsoon ko diri sa CebuNavs, the reason why I brought this up because our desire and my prayer is, all of us will put Jesus in His proper place. He is not just our only Savior, He is our LORD.

Hayyy, Naka hilak ko da sa pasulat nako ani...Now help me answer the questions of Bobot....

RG.

If one can not follow all the "terms" of Jesus, is he save?

2009-03-13T02:36:00.001-07:00

Questions:
1. Is "making Jesus Lord" into one's life a requirement for
Salvation?
2. When we say Lordship, how do we view it in one's life? Perfect
at all? Semi perfect? faltering? Is there anyone whose
Lordship in Christ perfect in all the areas of his life?
Is Lordship an "All-or Nothing" issue? Does Jesus
requiring Lordship for everyone to be saved?
3. If one can not follow all the "terms" of Jesus, is he save?
4. How do we reconcile Romans 10:9, with Ephesians 2:8-9?
5. When one receives the Lord Jesus in his life, he is saved...but
understandably His Lordship in Jesus is not yet a perfect in
his life. He has a lot of things first to process yet in his
life. The next day after he received Jesus, he dies...Is
the person save?
6. What do we mean by Lordship as essential for Salvation?

Kuya Bobot

Lordship is Essential for Salvation?

2009-03-13T02:28:00.001-07:00

Amir(as in American Iranian) hehehehe,

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:36

Ingon sad si Steve Murrel:

Lordship is one of the central messages of the Bible. Jesus is referred to as "Lord" ninety-two times in the book of Acts and 747 times in the whole New Testament, while being referred to as "Savior" only twice in Acts and twenty-four in the New Testament. The biblical emphasis is overwhelmingly on the concept of Lordship. Lord means master, the one who calls the shots, the one who makes the decisions.

Lordship is Essential for Salvation

The starting point of salvation is the acknowledgment of Lordship of Christ. Confessing Jesus is Lord implies a submission to his Lordship in every area of life. If Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. We do not have the option of receiving him as Savior and not as Lord. Salvation is an all-or-nothing proposal.

Jay

Who is Jesus when we accepted Him into our lives?

2009-03-13T01:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Amir,
You better ask or formulate some questions from the article in order to drive a point and it is easy to answer.
Bobot
Thank you Bobot, Kini mga igsoon si Bay Bobot dili ni gikan sa Cebu, apan ato ning gi-adopt by affiliation (kay product man ni sa mga gikan sa Cebu nga gipadala sa Ginoo sa CDO, silang Edith, Ed tadulan,Roy requeroso, Elma, Jk-Jk ug uban pa, so siya linghod nga anak sa Cebu Navs, hehehehe. Ug ang kina bug-atan, isa siya sa National Leadership Team (NLT) karon sa PhilNavs. Ang mga wala nasayod, as of now the Philnavs is lead by a team. K.Eseng based in Davao, Danny Narciso based in Iloilo, Bobot Migraso and Soc Arzadon based in Manila. Soc is working in a corporate world, so we can say that we have a team of leaders who understand every aspect of life. This team is composed of a more veteran(K.Eseng) and the young blood like Danny and Soc. Si Bay Bobot naa ni sa tunga-tunga. All of them are also connected here in Cebu Navs, and i think they are entertained, sometimes tensed and infuriorated (sakto ba ni akong ininglis?), but I think they are also blessed. Including our former ND Kuya Wency is here.
Ok balik ta didto sa atong hisgot hisgot. Nangayo ug question si bay Bobot sa atong article. Mao ni ang akong question? Kinsa man gyud kinaguapuhan sa Cebu Navs karon? hehehehehe kasab-an tang Bobot ani. sigi lang puede man nako i delete iyang ngalan diri hehehehe. (BTW, sigi lang mo sa inyon kinumustahay ha? aron saba gihapon ta, kay sauna ra ba, b4 sa BS saba kaayo, tanan pirmi naa dala ug jokes, pero pag magutana na ang BS leader, kinsa maka quote sa A1!!!! duha na lang ang gasaba, katong naka memorize, Kinsa man anf naka quote sa B12, ah isa nalang si Roy Versoza na lang (ambot sa USC kung kinsa) , ang E2, wa na hilom na tanan. heheheheeh, ingon pod ang BS leader (Si Raul, sa USC ambot kinsa) bi share kuno bi sa imong quiet time!!! tanan nagashare sa ilang quiet moments. Hilom man kaayo hehehehehe)
Ah! serious na ni.
1. From this statement in the article "I've taken Him as Savior, and later on I'll make Him Lord." Is this possible?
2. Again part of the article says " I didn't know any other way to accept Christ. He is Lord; and I accept Him on His terms, not mine. I don't redefine Jesus as something less than He is, and then accept Him that way." -What would be the implications of this statement to a person who accepted Jesus as Lord?

Bunos question ni. Puede di na ninyo tubagon ang duha ka pangutana kini na lang mas sayon siguro ni.
WHO IS JESUS when I accepted him into my life? Puede mo mangutana kang Jesus for the answer.

R.G. Amir

Are you a Lordship Savationist?

2009-03-13T01:15:00.000-07:00

Mga Igsoon,
Dili matugkad ang akong kalipay karon na nagtigum-tigum aning egroup. We are about 5 to 6 generations of Cabu Navs in this egroup. As a moderator ganahan kong mag hisgot hisgot sa mga butang nga atong pirmi gihisgotan sa atong Bible studies nga mag likay likay si Jun Palad pag naa na si Raul hehehe. Karon nga naa na tay Madre, full time workers, pastors, missionaries, layminister, elders, managers, engineers, doctor, abogado, mga mama, papa, lolo lola mga apo, estudeyante negosyante ug uban pa, unya spread out through-out the world. Lets look at those basic things that we used to talk, argued and wondered.
I would like us to comment on the this article of John Mc Arthur: (Dili apo ni Douglas ha?)

CONFESSION OF CHRIST'S LORDSHIP

In order to give glory to Christ, we must confess Christ as Lord. That brings about salvation. That is not a second act. You don't say, "I've taken Him as Savior, and later on I'll make Him Lord." Those aren't two distinct things. When you are saved, you confess Christ as Lord. Romans 10:9 says, "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." In other words, salvation is a matter of confessing the lordship of Christ--confessing that He is God and that He is sovereign.

Are You a Lordship Salvationist? Somebody asked me if I was a "lordship salvationist." According to that individual, a lordship salvationist is someone who believes that you must believe that Jesus is Lord in order to be saved. I said that I didn't know any other way to accept Christ. He is Lord; and I accept Him on His terms, not mine. I don't redefine Jesus as something less than He is, and then accept Him that way. I asked him if Jesus is Lord and he said, "Yes." I said, "Then how do you take Him?" And he said, "You must take Him as He is." When you confess Jesus as Lord, you bring glory to God. But no one can glorify God until they confess Jesus as Lord.

R.G. Amir