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The Appointed Time Part 1

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:45:34 +0100

“To everything and to everyone there is a time appointed.” I think that statement had really shocked me—truly if we know the appointed time, then we won’t fret but we will prepare and do well in advance. What would happen if everyone knows the time that their loved ones would depart? Then they would all do what they can to be around them before that time comes. Likewise, what would happen if we know what time we are supposed to receive and get an employment?

Then we won’t be losing those precious times applying in various places and getting around the bush to truly go to the path we want and we need. But what if I tell you that there is a way just like this? If we truly follow what our hearts of hearts desires, and know above all things that we are to honor God, put Him first and keep service to others as the most important job description we have--then there will be lesser step backwards and the farther we can go. Then you shall hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the path, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21 KJV).

That statement buckled the knees of the Ancient Israelites when they heard Isaiah prophesy to them, reveal to them that there is indeed a Living God who knows and understands us, who cares for our needs and longs to be gracious unto us. Answered prayers do not depend solely on our efforts to petition God on our behalf but there is also the aspect of God’s sovereignty that we must consider as well as His omniscience that we must understand. What do I mean by this? Even if we are very godly, not all our prayers will be answered. Some will get a nod from heaven’s council and others will have to go away.

Not all our wishes and whims will be answered and personally, I am glad that this is so. Aren’t you glad that not all your prayers have been answered by the Lord? If He had to answer every prayer on our behalf, not only that we will face chaos but could also lead to our destruction.

There once was a very godly man who was looking at the window of his house, the cold snow was falling to the ground and his room was cold and dank because of the snow.

In frustration, after coming from his work, he blurted, “Lord, could you take away the snow?” Then unexpectedly, his relatives and their children arrived without notice, not in his work plan that day, and they knocked at his door, “Julian, Julian, come out…let us play.”

“The snow is quite high, about a feet high and does not come every day of the year.” They continued knocking. The godly man came to attend to his relatives, still holding their wooden sledges at the door. Then he asked them, “Why have you come? I don’t really play in the snow.” “What? Come on, let us play today, take some fun,” they all said in unison. After much convincing, finally Julian went to play with them.

This illustrates how God sometimes may answer our prayers in a very direct and confronting manner. He did not answer the whims of Julian to end the snow that year because his relatives were also longing that some would fall so that they could play in the mountains and in the parks. Surprisingly, not all of us recognize the way God answers our prayers when they come. We still continue to hold on to them instead of asking for wisdom and clear understanding on the matter so that we can see His hands in our affairs.

Julian did not see it but he still played well in the affairs of God. Indeed, because the voice of God is more often a gentle, still small voice, many do not recognize Him when He speaks to them. This does tell us that most often times, the voice of urgency can crowd out the voice of God. We mistake things as urgent or a priority when in fact they are not. I have observed that few truly possess the skill of distinguishing between what is urgent now and what is urgent but not necessary. For instance, I thought that because my wife received her PhD scholarship after my Masters, I am also supposed to work out with all my effort and find PhD now.

That thinking obfuscates what is necessary and removes us far from the training of the moment that we should instead be partaking. Another instance of this happens when people try to buy into houses or properties when they are supposed to be paying their debts completely. Buying houses and properties is a desire but not actually an urgent matter when compared to paying our debts.

However, if we have liquid assets, then why not? If we can hit both, by paying our debts and also paying our rent-to-own house, then that would be so much the better. Thus, we must consider everything in our decisions and trust God for the best. When we pray, we must ask Him that we may also see with His eyes, hear with His ears and understand with His heart so that when He guides us what to do, then we can redirect our prayers and petitions. I agree with John Wesley that God does nothing unless in answer to prayer.

As I am looking forward to going back home after a year of furlough here in Germany, there were many thoughts that raced through my mind, I think, I’m still happier at home in the Philippines. Looking for a job may take some time but when we know what we are looking for in this life, that puts limit to where we should find a job, where we should work and enables us to get more focused. Focus is power. The more focused our energies are, the more powerful we can become.

Those who are thinly spread by vying into all their talents have to grapple with lesser impacts. A laser can precisely cut into the skin during surgery, it can read codes, it can measure distance and it can detonate a bomb. However, a flashlight will never accomplish such feat. Focus will also enable us to do specialization which is good for growth. Doctors will specialize to learn all they can about the brain, the heart, or the internal organs. So do agriculturists who either have to deal with plant breeding, horticulture, animal science or veterinary medicine.

Christians too ought to do the same, and so are churches…there are diversities of gifts and ministries. Not all will become megachurches, not all will be called to the missions and not all will express the power gifts. Some are called for administration, leadership and helps and some are to gifts of miracles. We must recognize these so we can avoid confusion and treading on the wrong path. Jesus did not waste his time dealing with the negatives or even fearing for his life. He simply did what he ought to and made His mark in History so that until this time we continue to talk about Him and try to live the way He did.

Thieves and robbers

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:15:04 +0100

Sometimes we often think that God is like a cosmic KJ, that He is really after our money, and so we don’t really give Him the tithes, nor really trust Him in His word to test Him. In spite of the many exhortations that we hear and the testimonies of blessings from many other Christians, there are many rebels who don’t really trust God of their money. They think it as theirs, a product of their hardships and efforts. As Moses had argued before the Israelites, don’t ever think that it was your wits and your power that you got your money. Whether you want to believe this or not, the power to get wealth does not lie in your ability alone but it is through God. Moses clarified this by saying,

“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.” Deuteronomy 8:17-19

Wealth and riches belong to God whether these were donated, purchased or inheritance that were given to you, you have the responsibility to acknowledge the kindness of God. Some may say that they have gained all of these by their power and others would say that it is by their hardwork, but ultimately, it is written that, “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). No one really has the right to dictate or violate the laws of God on the premise of this declaration, He owns the earth and everything in it! We don’t have personal rights, only grants! Therefore, we are all His beneficiaries when He declared, “The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man” (Psalm 115:16).

We are not really owners but simply stewards of the richness of His grace on this beautiful planet. This is also the reason why it is forbidden to murder, commit euthanasia or even to commit abortion because only the real owner of our lives have the complete right to take it away from us or from others. Going further, it can be said also that because He is the real owner, He expects us that we use everything entrusted to us for maximum profits. We see this mandate in the parable of the talent where the owner of the talents gave each of his servants according to their abilities; he then expected them to use their talents until he comes again.

Just like the owner of the talents, God expects us to use what we have and to keep multiplying it for profit. In other words, we are accountable with how we use what talents we were given for there will be a day of accounting. Second, since the talent really comes from Him, He expects to be benefited from it just as the servants returned and showed the master what they got. In essence, this raises the assumption that they were co-laborers with the owner of the talent. As a co-laborer, we have rewards of our efforts and freedom how to maximize and use our talents. Again the wisdom to do this comes from the Lord and the more we were given, the more is expected from us. This brings us to our conclusion that essentially, what we have is not our own but only given as a trust!

When the prophet Malachi explained to the Israelites why they were suffering from abject poverty, he pointed out how they have become thieves and robbers by not giving the tithes to God’s storehouse. Poverty is really more complicated than it looks, and there are various reasons that researchers put forward why they happen to various people. Some theorize that it’s because of colonialism, others say that it’s because of lack of resources, others because the people lack education and some say it’s because they are simply lazy. However complicated it may look, if we really work hard in our jobs, obey God and do all His statutes which include giving the tithe to His storehouse, we will soon be off from poverty.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:10-12

Just as farmers have their own designated storehouses during days of harvest to bring in their sacks of grains in their towns, the people of God today should be in their own local churches. Each believer should give their tithes to their local congregation where they get social support, spiritual nourishment and counsel. You don’t get to eat at Jolibee and pay your bills at McDonald’s right? In the same way, people who are members of their local congregations should give their tithes there so that there will be continual nourishment of the people of God.

If we don’t do this, the priests, the ministers of God’s house have as well to give back their positions in the church and seek other means of local employment to support themselves. You don’t want to see your pastors wearing tattered jeans or dilapidated shoes don’t you? God promises that for those who give faithfully, they will be blessed by the Lord and there will be no pests around their farms, around the jobs, around their families. Yes, there will be no sickness, no bad deals and no job losses.

People who point out and use the epistle of Paul (2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9) to twist its real meaning and say that we are living under the Age of Grace are wrong on two accounts, first, it is the Age of Grace and Truth (John 1:17), second, Jesus did not nullify giving of tithes because He came to fulfil the Law instead of removing it, “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. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).

There is a great deal of difference from fulfilling the law and from removing it. When you remove the Law and the Prophets, it means you destroy the very foundation of Christianity, which can’t happen because everything has to be accomplished as written there first. The law was given and was a means to show our culpability and predilection to sin which leads us to knowing God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (see Galatians 3:19-25).

The fulfilment of the law therefore is through the law of love, which is based again on loving God and our neighbour (see Matthew 22:40). How then could those who say that the tithe is nowhere instituted in the New Testament have the grandeur to claim that because we live by grace, we should not tithe? In fact, because Paul and the twelve disciples were all Jewish, they always practiced tithing and pointed the same to their disciples.

Paul’s discussion on 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 is on giving generously because God loves a cheerful giver. I believe a cheerful giver means giving beyond the 10% of our gross incomes, if we want that specific. People who don’t give their tithes because it is "no longer instituted in the New Testament" should really consider all the other Scriptures and not based their judgment alone on Paul’s assertions in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. In his epistle to the Hebrews, he discusses about Melchizedek, a priest who received tithes from Abraham and who prefigured Christ in the Old Testament (see Hebrews 5:6-10). Since Jesus Christ is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, He therefore even during our times, continues to receive the tithes that we give to Him just as in the times of Abraham (see Genesis 14:18-20). What choice would you want to be? Leave your tithes in your pocket and get devoured by pests or live in the nourishment of heaven. I think making that choice is easy.

Access granted

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:28:03 +0100

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. Matthew 27:50-51

The greatest benefit of the cross is that it restored us to a relationship with our Maker. Through the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the Cross we have been granted free access to His grace. Through the blood of Jesus we have become children of royalty! Through the blood of Jesus we can call Him, Abba, Father. Yes, through the blood of Jesus we became His sons and daughters. Through the blood of Jesus we were made His ambassadors! We were acquitted and made as if without sin. Think about that total change of destiny, once we were just prisoners sentenced to death but now we are sons sitting with the King of kings in the heavenly places!

This is what the cross granted us, instead of sacrificing animals, instead of paying attention to rituals of purification, ceremonial cleansing and the many regulations before coming to God, all those barriers were removed and Jesus did away with it once and for all so that everyone who calls and comes to Him can become His child. His blood was enough to cover all our sins, not just now, not just tomorrow but for all time!

The blood of goats and bulls can sanctify the people outwardly but it cannot remove sin from their midst. There is always the reminder of sin through the ritual of yearly sacrifices. People were always conscious of their sins, of the law and they lived lives that were always out of touch with God. The Prophet Isaiah describes this condition as one having, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men” ( Isaiah 29:13).

Because the sacrifices of the blood of goats and bulls fulfils God’s requirement of atonement legally, people were always conscious of their sinful condition. The law showed them their need of a Savior through the offering of unblemished Lambs until the Seed promised, who is Christ the Savior will come. But when the Savior who is sent from God came and fulfilled this sacrifice for sin, He redeemed us all from the curse of the law so that we can become adopted as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).

Therefore just as the “blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean,” the blood of Christ is even more powerful and cleanses us from dead consciences so that we can serve Him victoriously! (See Hebrews 9:13-14). In fact the Lord has demonstrated this free access into Him by tearing apart the curtain that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place when Jesus died on the cross, signifying that anyone who calls upon Him, He gives the power to become His child.

Again we see this Hebrews 10:19-22 that tells us to come to Him freely and confidently, not anymore as sin conscious people but God conscious. We are not to run away from Him anymore, but every time we face difficulties and trials, we run to Him and speak to Him confidently because we have become His children! “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22).

But what does this mean for us today? It means everything! It means we have been restored to a place of exaltation, to a place of authority through Christ! By virtue of our relationship with Him, we can also become like Him in deeds and authority in this world. Now we have been granted free access, free access of salvation, revelation, and grace. Isn’t this what the Bible tells us?

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

Therefore even the newest believer among us has greater resident power and potential than any combined forces of the armies of this world. Through our access to God by faith into His grace, we can petition our Father and our prayer can change the course of nations! In fact, one day in the life of a believer could even be more significant and glorious than the earthly lives of past presidents and kings. Today, even these kings, as awesome and great as they were in the past, could be wishing to live during our times not only because of the modern convenience afforded by electricity, transportation and the internet but because of the power that any one believer could impact eternity with.

Deep in the hearts of hearts of man lies a vacuum that only the Lord can fill and those who chose to serve Him for this hour are wise for they can be sure of living significantly for eternity. Our free access to God has granted us numerous advantages in this life so that we don’t have any reason to fail. For with God nothing is impossible and with God everything is possible! Nothing can compare to the glory and power that can be revealed in the fulfilling of our calling, even the earthly lives of kings are like rubbish, soon forgotten by men and will pass away. But your life and deeds are now being recorded in the Book of Life, never to be forgotten but will be richly rewarded. Such is the power of faith and access granted!

Struck by the Rock

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:03:34 +0100

Recently an Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia ran aground near the rocky island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring through a 160-foot gash in the hull. Most of the passengers complained that the crew failed to give evacuation notice until the ship was already dangerously tilted so that even lowering the lifeboats were dangerous. Most of the passengers aboard were quickly evacuated but some 40 went missing. Sometimes an event like this can struck a similar chord that won't go away and you just can’t sleep because of its similarity to the titanic. It has been said that the Captain of the ship is an 11-year Costa veteran, familiar of the route between Civitavecchia and Savona which the ship was doing 52 times a year, by going through the well laid out route.

We may not completely know what had happened until all the investigations will be done but events like this do sound off a message to us. These events do tell us something that needs to be done. This luxury ship is a symbol of the opulence and arrogance of much of the developed world today. Most of us have been hearing about the debt ridden economy of the PIIGS nations which speak of Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain. The time for display of luxuries, pomp and riches may already be over for these nations.

When ships of this size tilt or run aground, it is because the captain is usually asleep or had been complacent about the route that it has been charting about. Complacency is the greatest danger that we all have to face in this world. Much of the West today had been resting on its laurels, resting on what it had accomplished and doing all it can not only to boast about this but it has also forgotten the Source of its wealth and riches. When Europe was blessed with true faith and freedom, wealth and riches also came. But when wealth and riches becomes an end in itself, it becomes an idol that can hardly be shaken, these countries need an awakening. They need to be tipped so that they will awaken of the dangers around making idols of our own good works, our own products and our own economic prosperity.

No country today can survive much longer any complacency on its economy. When everything that a president does is geared towards its economy, it really means that something awry had been happening. It does portend to us that the West had been really covering up the extent of its economic mishap so that most if not all the world are actually unprepared to see the extent of its damage.

Economic mishaps are hard to recover from and many countries today which have probably boasted of their luxurious economies in the past may not anymore be able to do that. In fact the recent credit ratings downgrades in the Eurozone area does show to us that only those who have been frugal, those living within their economic means could actually weather the economic storm ahead of us. No one nation can shoulder this alone but it is necessary that while there is time around, we can leave this dangerous ship aground and run to the rescue ship.

There is an economic ark available to every nation that will see this and begun to change its directions, there will be salvation from this wreck. What more, if everyone’s hands have been quickly informed of the real danger of the listing around of the ship, there could have been enough time to save everyone. Sadly as the case with most ships that run aground, panick overtakes the crew and many lifeboats are abandoned and become useless.

The times ahead are not easy economically because all the nations in the world have been globally connected and their economic treaties with one another could make one vulnerable of their fall. There is always the danger of a domino effect in the economic arena of this world. But what could be a fatal shot to this world could be the salvation and opportunity for the church to rise up because the economy of the Church is not based on man’s efforts but on the Kingdom of God that cannot be shaken.

The economy of God’s Kingdom works differently from the economy of this world but to each nation that begins to change direction and goes around the rock, these nations does not have to become pulverized by the Rock to be broken. We need to humble ourselves; we need to call on God who alone can save us from this economic debacle.

The wisdom of God is greater than the strength and wisdom of men; what we cannot do, God can always do. He has chosen us to call on Him during these times that we should all be prepared, call upon Him and He will open to us the windows of Heaven. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). Where the windows of Heaven are open, there we can find abundance, supply, provision and salvation. David wrote, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).

David may have been a poor man in the sense that he was abandoned, he was out of his wits, he was out of provision but when he called on God, God answered him and saved him out of all his troubles. These troubles are not just simple troubles such as evading a javelin or a sword or an enemy but it includes all kinds of troubles even, economic and financial troubles. David may have called personally on God and he sets an example to us that we can call on Him personally and as one- nation.

Our pride and arrogance have built up this complacency, which is a haughty thing to do. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Many of the meetings and conferences now done to save the economy of most of these nations could have been simply spent on prayer and asking God’s help, and if this could have been done, it could have made more difference on behalf of these nations in trouble. Again it is not yet too late and let us repent and pray and seek God’s face on these problems. It's time to call on God for our solutions do not work.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Rejection and God’s Remedy

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:56:15 +0100

What is rejection and how can we remedy it? Sometimes in order to understand the concept of a word, we need to understand it’s opposite. The opposite of rejection is acceptance and a beautiful picture of acceptance is being honored in a banquet together with a king or a very important host. Another definition of rejection is to be denied access, to be denied fellowship, love or honor. The deepest wound one can receive is to actually be rejected, and there is a corresponding parallel between how those who have been rejected will actually react in rebellion, indifference or hatred.

Once people fall by reacting to rejection they do foolish things that can cause self-destruction. We have an example of how Esau’s rejection turned to self-destruction when he nursed resentment upon knowing that Jacob got the blessings of the covenant. Because his mother loved Jacob more than him and because both Isaac and Rebekah disliked the wives of Esau, he felt rejected; he then turned away further from his family by taking another wife from Ishmael’s daughters instead of actually taking from Laban’s. Thus Rebekah said,

Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, "Do not marry a Canaanite woman," and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had. Genesis 28:6-9

This negative reaction bears the marks of rebellion and it is passed on from one generation to the other. This is why we see that generations after the Israelite would go from Egypt to the Promised Land, the descendants of Esau would actually hinder the descendants of Jacob. They won’t allow Israel to pass through their country and go to Canaan. They were still reeling from hatred and resentment from the history of their ancestors (see Numbers 20:21). Solomon describes this deep wounding as saying, “A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14).

Therefore we find that rejection can be easily caused by lack of love, or the inadequacy of expressing this love. We find that years later, children whom fathers or mothers have not lavished with love would later try to find it in the hands of abusive lovers or the wrong crowds. Martial rejection could also cause severe wounding in the spirit which could easily turn to resentments, bitterness, loneliness and despair. People who feel rejected (especially the unsaved) try to find it by looking for love in the wrong places and in the wrong crowds. Lonely people try to quell the gnawing pain inside them by involving in illicit relationships and illegal activities. Is there a remedy for this situation? Is there a solution for our lack of love?

Jesus indeed came to remedy our foolishness and lack of love towards one another by dying for us on the cross—a divine exchange occurred so that the sinless died for the sinner, the divine for the ungrateful so that His benefits would be ours in spite of who we are. John clearly said this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

Jesus had borne our afflictions so that we can be healed, he has borne our rejection so that we can be accepted in the Beloved. Isaiah writes: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5).

In fact because of the obedience of the Son of God, who was crucified as the Son of Man, the temple curtain was broken in two from top to bottom signifying that all men have now access to God. The ultimate rejection of Jesus was the rejection of the Father so that we could all have a free access, and intimate relationship with Him. In Ephesians 1:4-6, it states clearly that we were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless just like Him and He predestined us to be adopted as sons and daughters of God through the cross that He bore.

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved Ephesians 1:4-6 (NKJV)

This clearly means that we have been accepted by Him to which we must do three things to practically experience this:

1)     Forgive and accept ourselves for who we are
2)     Accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and,
3)     Receive healing for feelings of rejection

To be made accepted really means to be highly favoured by God, just like Mary was when Gabriel proclaimed to her, highly favored one (see Luke 1:28). Think about that, in spite of all our past records, in spite of who we are, God has really favored us! What does favour means? It speaks of all spiritual blessings and benefits one can be made recipient of the covenant with God. It is often hard to forgive and accept ourselves because we often look back to a record of evils which we have done, to a record of failures that we have committed and to a record of financial disasters we may have caused.

But Jesus has really made us a NEW CREATION. When the Bible says we have become a New Creation in Christ, we truly are! And with that, the OLD SELF is gone and the NEW SELF made in God’s image has come. All the past records of evil, all the past records of failures, all the past records of disasters we have committed have all been erased by the blood of Jesus.

You cannot go beyond that, and it could not have been made better than that. Therefore we should learn to accept ourselves once we have received the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross because we are already “God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). We have been made valuable by the cross of Jesus and significant enough to do good works which have been already prepared for us to walk through. In short, we received His grace.

Addressing calamities and vulnerabilities

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:21:13 +0100

Addressing calamities and vulnerabilities
Edison Macusi

Today the term most abused is climate change. Every time there is a disaster somewhere in the world, people in authority or even those with little knowledge always claim and quickly run to this term. When the disaster struck Cagayan De Oro, Iligan City and Dumaguete City down South in Mindanao, and the Visayas, people were quick to say that it was climate change.

However, the real culprit and the real story behind this destruction was man’s own meddling and destruction of his own support environment. For instance, because there is little forested area in Luzon and the Visayas, the last frontier for most influential loggers is to actually go and hunt down the last of the century trees in the thick, lush and primary growth forest found in Mindanao.

Because the regional and local authorities involved in certifying these loggers were quick to approve their claims that they are there only to selectively cut their trees, this naiveté richocheted back with torrents of destruction. It looks like a devastation of war, twisted bodies covered with muds, houses torn apart and families that are separated. Whether the approving officials intended to get money through a form of bribery or tax, this quick exchange had a disastrous result.

Not learning from what happened in Ormoc, or from the recent Ondoy disaster in Metro Manila, the Environment officials and the local authorities in these places that connived with the big logging companies has a lot of explaining to do. But the silence of the people, the silence of the journalists and watchmen in these cities have all contributed to a disaster that swept the area like an inland tidal wave. Where is the voice of the one crying in the wilderness in these places?

This should all be a warning to us that our silence could be costly. The greed of the few unless stopped could sweep the many like a tidal wave. A few rotten tomatoes could make all the others rot. Giving our lives in the service of others is of much greater value than actually valuing it for little that it is worth. Our position whether as a mayor or as an environment official should be for the purpose of service, not for greed.

The worst form that a government official could fall into is to become corrupted by money. Corruption blinds us of the consequences of our actions or inactions. This disaster in the South is a wakeup call that from this time forth, unless officials will repent of their neglect and do all that they can to ensure the best for their constituents, disasters will strike them. These are the best of times and the worst of times, the time when the judgment of God for this world is coming.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12: 25-29

It is not meant to destroy us but to cleanse the earth of those that are destroying it and it is coming in greater measures unless we repent of our folly. There are things that science can explain but not everything can be explained by science alone because it is only a tool for seeing, measuring and using the things we are given. It is not meant to take over life.

Only the Word of God was given for us to base our life upon, including how we must behave, how we must view this world and how we must rule in wisdom. We can rely on the Word of God to save us and protect us from floods. In fact, Jesus clearly mentioned that the wise builders will build their house on a rock, on a solid foundation and not on a mud (see Matthew 7:24-27).

If we are looking for clear biblical direction for building our lives into, it must be on this Rock, the Rock that can never be shaken. Just as the Kingdoms of this world are falling, its economic systems and life support, there will be a place of supply for cities, provinces and nations that will be running towards the safety of God. The name of Jesus will become place of refuge for all who will seek Him, He will be the God Almighty, the God who is more than enough for those who will be partaking of Him.

Bribe money, posh condos or villas can feed and clothe a few people, it can even give them false assurance that everything is fine. But soon the reality will sweep in, even this respite and luxury will prove to be brief and flimsy…as we have already seen in those devastated areas.

What could even be more disturbing and more foolish to do during the time that many of the bodies piled up at the funeral parlors is to dump them in the seething stench of a garbage site. Doesn’t this really demonstrate where the hearts of the authorities are? It does. This lackadaisical attitude of those authorities has just disqualified them for the next election round. We should all remember this and place into position only those who could truly help us during times of crises, those whom we could rely on to protect our lives by living in a higher integrity and in the service of many.

I like what Conrado de Quiros labelled this for what it is, it is really reaping what we sow. Forest covers are not there to only act as if to provide a pleasing scenery, nor should mountains be valued only for their gold…we have to make a hard choice, between keeping money at the cost of our environment and our lives or helping preserve our environment by looking at alternative livelihood activities.

If we will protect the basis of all our economic activities, and that is our environment, our mountains, our trees and our wildlife, we will never have to face a backlash. Without these support systems, the web of life, which includes man in the center, man will be left with nothing to support himself with. I am glad the Kalingas have chosen to value their productive ricefields than choosing gold. Grain first before gold is a better choice.

The unbridled development or extraction activities without concern for its environment and neighbors can really hurt us all. Just as a man who tries to build a different housing style in villa type neighborhood could destroy the landscape, anyone who tries to build his own house without considering his neighbors is really a foolish man.

My point is, every time we build our living without considering those who might be endangered by such extractive activities could destroy us all in the long run. Solomon says that the wise will foresee the evil and he will hide from it. As a suggestion, we already have good building codes, hazard maps and hazard areas are already in place, illegal activities have already been identified by executive orders and the law, why then should we continue to push for doing an illegal livelihood and activity?

And why then should people continue to support such engagements? It has been known that unless a Filipino has been struck first with a disaster, he will not change his direction. Again we must change and repent for taking the wrong turn. Disasters and wars are the last ways to be forewarned before a total devastation could take place. We don’t want that. So therefore a wise man should hear a rebuke and live his life accordingly. Let us build ours on the Rock that cannot be shaken.

Trusting God in this season

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:07:34 +0100

Celebrating New Year always evokes in us a new hope and a new beginning. Hope is sorely needed in a world that is greatly shaken, in a world that is currently in recession, experiencing earthquakes, political turmoil, unrest and floods. I believe that we have come to a juncture in time when everything that will be shaken will be shaken. Paul writes about this , “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:25-27). What this means is that all things that do not have a solid foundation, those not founded on the Rock will certainly go away and melt in this fire of difficulty. Where then is the hope that we might anchor ourselves to? Again it is written,

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 (NKJV)

It is the God of Hope Himself who will fill us with joy and peace through our faith in Him. The place of safety during these days will not be found in trusting in man or what he can do for you but it can only be found by trusting in God. All things are possible with God and the real satisfaction of life can only be found in Him. You can laugh all day and even find comfort among your friends but the real joy that virtually thumps every sagging heart can only be found by abiding in Him.

This can only be established by having peace with God for through Him we have the hope of salvation. This salvation that we have is essentially likened to a helmet because it gives us security. Our peace with our God creates such marvelous sense of peace that it gives us security even in the midst of storm.

These times should encourage every believer that God is coming soon and He is coming to take His Bride away. Unless you have frittered your life with worthless things, crowded Him with the non-essentials, and drove Him away because of your busy schedule, you are safe in the boat with Him. Truly these are the times of harvest, the field is already white for harvest, let us wake up, prepare ourselves for what is coming and do all things that we can to be able to equip those who will become laborers for the harvest and for the nations. Just as it breaks the net of a fisherman when there is too much fish on his net, and brings him tension and stress as he pulls in the heavy harvest into his boat, so it will be to us when there will be great harvest of souls.

The question is, are we prepared to handle these? Do we have enough Bibles prepared for them? Do we have enough reading pamphlets, discipleship materials, training books, tapes, CDs and DVDs for them? These are essential things to prepare even as we are already in the midst of what is about to break all over the world.

Louis Pasteur is one of my heroes in science and what he said is pivotal for our transformation, “Chance favors the prepared mind,” that to me practically means being prepared and readying every day for the calling of God in our lives. Because many in the church have become callous and oblivious to what the Scriptures say of equipping the saints for the work of service they are virtually unprepared for what is coming. While these professionals know a lot about the Bible, it is another thing to prepare the people and release them to do the works of service themselves.

Our goals are far higher than just baking the bread in the kitchen or distributing to the needy, it is really doing works of service with Him and that means discipleship. This will keep the burden and stress evenly distributed among the people of the church. This will also hold the harvest and equip those who are new to the faith because when that time comes, we can’t always be relying on our pastors or elders to come and pray for the sick or to deliver a demonized believer. Therefore a better goal this year would be to trust God for all that He will about to do and to do all that we can to prepare for what He is about to do.

Just as in science experiments most of those who discover a new method, process, bacteria, genome, gene or invention are those who have been faithful in laying down their proper foundation in their field, only those who have been preparing and digging their foundation in the Lord will also be successful in handling a revival or great harvest. Louis Pasteur is honoured for his remarkable breakthroughs in microbiology such developing the first vaccine for rabies and anthrax but most notably known for inventing a method to prevent milk and wine from spoilage.

But what is even more remarkable about this scientist is his faith in God and in believing that every gift he received is for the service of mankind. His biographer wrote: “Absolute faith in God and in Eternity, and a conviction that the power for good given to us in this world will be continued beyond it, were feelings which pervaded his whole life; the virtues of the gospel had ever been present to him.” Like Pasteur, we must recognize and acknowledge the Lord in every area of our lives for then He will make our paths straight.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Where does God dwell?

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:07:38 +0100

Where is the place that God marks as His dwelling place? Where is the sanctuary that God abides in? Stephen proclaimed that the Most High does not dwell in temples made with human hands and Paul continued that discourse by saying that you are the temple of the living God unless you failed the test of faith. God no longer dwells in a temple built by human hands but He has chosen to dwell in us and to be with us. This is paralleled by how the Lord chose His accommodation when He came on earth, instead of being born with a rich and noble family, He chose a young, unsuspecting virgin to be His mother and chose the lowly stable of Bethlehem over the opulent accommodations offered by the rich to be His place of birth.

Consider this, there were many better accommodations in Bethlehem but He was rejected and in the scurry of the night only one opened his stable for Him. We often romanticise the humble origin and birth of our Lord and Savior through the nativity scenes during our Christmas celebrations but the truth remains that his birthplace were among unclean animals, in the lowest and worst of place that one could be born with. The dirt floor was made of hardened animal dung and Mary and Joseph endured that night. But they were comforted to know that they are doing the will of God and to hear the glad tidings of the angels as well as the visit of the shepherds who testified of the angels who encouraged them that night to go and visit the Babe lying in a manger.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)

Just as the angel said that this will be the sign to them, “a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” even to this day the great movements of God, the places where He comes to visit and touch the earth continues to be those in lowly places, and choses to be born with people of humble origins and hearts. It seems that if there is one criterion that God continues to be attracted to, it is of those who have humble hearts, those who are hungry for His presence, those who are hungry to know Him and those who are hungry to find Him, these find His revelation.

The shepherds were unaware that the Savior of the world would be born that night and yet, these shepherds who were watching during the night were given a sign and they immediately left their sheepfolds to see the Messiah who would bring true peace on earth. The angels told them to go and find the Babe in a manger and not in a palace or a wealthy accommodation for they would not have been even allowed to get passed the gates, being considered as good for nothing. But they should go to the shabby manger, to the poor couple and find acceptance and joy in that wondrous first Christmas. Like what happened to these poor shepherds who were first witnesses of the Lord, He cannot be found by human effort but could only be through His revelation.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the real Savior of the world cannot be found by our own good intentions, by our own good works nor can He be bought by our outward pieties and empty traditions. Jesus can only be known by those whose hearts are seeking the truth, those who are seeking Him through whom abundant peace, and true joy could be found. And for that to happen, let us humble ourselves and receive the miracle of Christmas, welcome Him in our hearts and homes…He who was clean came for the unclean to seek and to save that which was lost. If you confess that you are lost, that you have been seeking the City of Peace, the Jerusalem from Above and have not found it from Babylon below, nor have been fulfilled by your earthly ambitions and dreams, there is only one solution to your problem.

Today there is One who is called Christ the Saviour born in Bethlehem, through whom we can find true peace and reconciliation with God; this is the meaning of having peace on earth and goodwill to men. Confess and renounce your sins, receive Him today as your Lord and Savior and you can be sure that in the stable of your heart, He will light up and shine a light that will never dim and a life that will never end.

^“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:8-10

A perfect Christmas

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:05:31 +0100

What is the meaning of Christmas? My teachers in my elementary school often asked that question. We all guess what the meaning of Christmas is and almost everyone would think it is gift giving, or giving presents to those you love. But how about those who cannot give? Giving as alms and as responsibility to our fellow humans have been the core message of Christmas Sundays and for most there is really nothing wrong about that because our Savior came and gave His very life so that we can be saved. He was placed in a manger, dwelt with lowly animals, kept in swaddling clothes and fellowshipped with shepherds and the lowly elements of the society.

A King was born in Bethlehem yet few of the most religious and upstanding citizens of Israel were invited to see the very One whom they have been waiting for. A select few like Simeon whom God promised that he will not die until he saw the Messiah come was moved by the Blessed Spirit to go to the temple and hold in his arms the very One through whom the salvation of the Gentiles and Israel was long foretold. And upon seeing the baby in the temple, “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:28-32). Simeon’s statement could sum up the very purpose of the appearance of the Lord Jesus who was incarnated as a man being a divine. Indeed God is sovereign. He knew at what time He should come and through whom He will come.

He is not least disturbed with our failed goals, problems or our troubles but He does things according to His good plan for indeed there is no plan or wisdom that could prevail against God. He chose Mary who was a young teenager, a vessel through whom God is fit to be born. Mary received the revelation from the angel Gabriel that she was chosen among all women to bear the Divine in her womb and without any resistance, but with a glad surrender, Mary accepted the words of the angel. Her attitude displays the lack of reluctance to accept responsibility of child bearing in a society that shuns women who conceive out of wedlock. She was bold enough and took the words of the angel by faith, without wavering…saying, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Here we find one reason today why we celebrate Christmas, there was a willing vessel to receive the words of the Lord as truth. Mary immediately declared that she was the Lord’s servant and therefore whatever He wants to do with her, He can do it. Here was a virgin who conceived the Divine because she was willing to receive the Lord upon hearing the word of God proclaimed to her. There could have been no conception and no nativity without the willingness of Mary to receive this revelation and eventually to receive God in her womb. It must have been mind boggling to think as we still do today, how could a big God cram Himself inside a woman’s womb? Thus Mary did ask the angel, how can this be for I am a virgin?

But the angel’s remarkable explanation was enough to answer her nagging questions: “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Those six words stretched her faith. But unlike Mary, as a young boy and teenager, faith to me is simply going to church service every Sunday or when there is an occasion. My faith really is in myself and in my ability so that I had no real wish for Christmas because I had no assurance that my wish will come true. I just don’t know how gifts will be whipped up from the North Pole down to our shack. So to avoid frustrations, I kept my prayers simple and I did not believe God a lot. I went through the motions of putting up those Christmas socks and believed that Santa will put some coins or bills or candies inside them. We did not even have a Christmas tree or wreaths. And unlike the boy in Polar express who saw Santa Claus and his Christmas wish come true, I never found out who actually puts those coins or bills inside my socks.

But having grown up in this Christmas tradition, I enjoyed most the fellowship of our family members, the Noche Buena, the Media Noche, the fireworks display and my cousins and relatives who come and visit us. Those fellowships and reunion with relatives and friends have been the real presents for me. Upon reaching college, everything seems to have changed and I began questioning many things. The moment I was born again, all things have become new and a fresh new perspective overshadowed me. Christmas is no longer simply the celebration for feasting and gifts giving but it is remembering and acting out in our lives what God really came about.

Christmas is really a momentous event for all because it was the time when God chose to dwell with man. It was the time when God humbled Himself and became like man, an insignificant baby among all babies being born that time in the most despised country and in the lowliest city. Yet when God determines to do a thing, He often does not chose the noble, the rich or call the wise because as Paul wrote, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

It was the time when God who was big, huge, awesome, magnificent and great settled in the womb of a young and obscure woman from a lowly place and chose to be birthed in a dung floored manger. As insignificant as Mary and Joseph was, God chose this humble couple to bring about and train His Son who became the Savior of all. Think about that, God allowed His Son to be actually trained by a poor couple. Yet it is true, the Son of God was trained and raised up by a poor couple. And this extraordinary humility showed by the Lord Jesus allowed the Father to use Him mightily. As F.B. Meyer puts, “There have been thousands of noble exceptions; but, as a rule, not many wise, or great, or noble according to this world’s estimate, have been called.” God often uses the common clay, the ordinary and those of no easy means to herald His message and coming.

As we remember God in our midst, as we remember Him who came to dwell with us, a perfect Christmas, is really keeping His deeds alive with us. Just as Jesus chose to be born in humble surroundings, chose to associate with the lowly, the obscure and the unknown in the society, it is keeping ourselves humble in the sight of God and man that we can keep a more perfect service to our Lord and Savior. Let us remember the poor, those suffering in prison, and those affected by the recent typhoon for our little sacrifices can make a big difference in the lives of others. Just as Christ brought hope to this world, we can be His hands and feet to bring hope to those suffering and needy. Merry Christmas to everyone!

The King is coming!

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:48:57 +0100

There has never been a more opportune time, more signs in the heavens and on earth happening than this time. When an earthly king comes to visit a country, they always send their advance party to prepare the way of the king for his coming. They make his passage safe, they level the crooked paths and they inform the people of how important this dignitary is by rolling a red carpet and putting signs of his coming. The truth is, the Lord Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is coming again! The question is, will He find us prepared and watching or will we become scoffers that the Apostle Peter warned about of those who shrug off about His coming? They say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4).

Most people may not speak these words or even think about them but we know them by their lives and by the choices they make every day. To scoff means to take it lightly, to speak in contempt or derision or to mock. During these times, countries and people are choosing whether they will become His sheep or the goats that will be rejected. The fundamental characteristic of the sheep is simple, they hear and obey the voice of their shepherd and the other voices that compete with it, they reject. Thus Jesus said, “the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:2-4). It’s time to reject the competing voices in our lives, it’s time to straighten our priorities and put His Kingdom first like never before.

As Christians who are called to be the salt and light of this world we are supposed to be the lamp that shines out of darkness, vessels useful for the Lord to open the eyes of the blind and turn people wallowing in darkness to light, and “from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him” (see Acts 26:18). Becoming God’s battleaxe to bring this cultural transformation both in the Church and in our countries could be the fastest way to prepare God’s way.

This cultural turnaround does not come easily but if we have a vision to do what is right, to stand and passionately pursue our God given purposes rather than standing by idly as spectators, then we can be changed and used as change agents on earth. God does not need numbers to change the world, when He came on earth and used twelve men to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, these twelve men who were fully committed to Him brought the whole Roman Empire to its knees in less than a generation! So much was the transformation that leaders and people from all over the empire buckled in their knees when Paul and Silas came to their place, “those who have turned the world upside down has come here too!” Could we also turn our lopsided generation right side up? This is a question of strategy and pursuit of a life long purpose to be committed in proclaiming the Gospel not just in the Church but also into all the world (spheres, arenas of our lives).

Last time the word change and hope has won those who used it as a rallying cry in the ballot. This is not a coincidence, with the King coming soon to reclaim the whole land, to reclaim the whole earth to become His Kingdom, only those who stick by what is right and true will remain as the shaking continues on earth. In fact we will all be glad after this shaking because when it will be over, it will result to exposure of the myths of human strength and greed, atheism, and self-proclaimed efforts and self-deception as puny and rubbish. Paul wrote therefore about this shaking in all the earth, in all spheres of governance, in all spheres of the society as the shaking to remove all things that hinder God’s Kingdom.

In Hebrews 12:26-29 he wrote, “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” There is therefore a need to be prepared and ready for every disaster that is coming from earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons and floods as well as fundamental governmental changes because these are coming whether we like it or not. Becoming a status quo that will only act when the disaster or shaking comes will only make us dependent on the government rather than ones who are prepared to take charge, lead and take command and be ready to console, comfort and disciple those who might come from such situations and do not understand the underlying causes of what is currently happening.

Every Christian who believes this warning and seeing that the world right now is convulsing under the heavy weight of sin should consider equipping themselves on disaster preparation. We must learn and relearn how to put first aid, how to brace people, how to purify waters and where to run in safe locations when there are floods or earthquakes. Although we may be in a geologically safe place with little risks from natural disasters, time is not always on our side nor do we always fix our footing in one place, humans are mobile. If we must learn one thing from the earthquake experience of Haiti and from New Zealand, those who build their houses in order using bricks and stones with good steel reinforcements have truly made their cities safer.

But those who fundamentally compromised their building materials using light composite materials are doomed from the start when a little shaking comes in. Lives are destroyed when we don’t really prepare our house in order. Of course, the parallel of this spiritually is to build our lives on the Rock that cannot be shaken. The Lord Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27). It is by hearing God’s word that faith blooms in our hearts and it is by obeying God’s word that this faith becomes manifested reality.

Obedience to His word is a fundamental discipline more than simply obeying the words of mere men. Jesus was trusted with much power and revelation because His heart was committed to obeying His Father’s will. We cannot be trusted with much power and revelation until we do the same.

As the Kingdom is going to be built and as His will is going to be done on earth, let us live in this kingdom now and let us seek to put our lives in order and build it on a rock that cannot be shaken. It is really that simple, laying brick by brick, stone by stone as we seek His Kingdom first above all things that this world could offer to us to seduce as from the proven path of life. Let us therefore seek Him every single day of our lives.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33