This was the theme of the recently concluded Calvary Chapel Workers and Pastors Regional Conference held in Cebu. It was a very refreshing, instructive, challenging and encouraging two and a half days indeed. I could say the best so far… and very timely too, as so many are falling away and are tempted to quit the race. Are you among them? Are you in a situation that seems so hopeless you want to give up? Are you one serving the Lord for years and have become weary of life’s battles you want to hang your sword and lay down your shield?

He does not and will not quit on you! So why quit on yourself?

Read this: “Being confident of this, that He who has began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil.1:6).” That’s good news! He does not and will not quit on you! So why quit on yourself? Precious people, God had a purpose in view when He began His saving work in us, and that purpose will neither be abandoned nor unrealized. In other words, you can count upon God to consummate whatever He intends for you. He is going to see it through. I don’t know what your circumstances are, but if you are a child of God, I am sure you can testify that God has brought you up to the present moment, hasn’t He?  Can’t you look back over your life and see how He has led you and provided for you…especially when you thought there’s no way out? Then why should you be concerned about tomorrow? Do you think He is going to let you down now? I don’t think so.

Notice three truths here: 1) Jesus is the one who started a work in us. Heb.12:2 –‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.’ This is where Paul and where we can base our confidence that the work in us will be finished – on the character of God himself. God never starts a work and leaves it unfinished! That would be a contradiction of His character. Thank God that my hope in Christ does not rest upon my will power. It rests upon the fact that God would never have started the work in me if he had not decided to finish it. The character of God guarantees the completion of the work.

2^nd, notice the kind of work He started in us – It’s a GOOD WORK! Not a bad work. God never does something bad. If there’s bad in the world today, it’s because of sin in the world. But even the seemingly bad situations we face that God allows are designed for our good – for God does something good out of bad circumstances.

How many times, when we pray for God to change something, do we later discover that we are the ones He wanted to change all along?

The 3^rd point: Notice where the work is done: IN YOU. The work is within. Change takes place from the inside out. How many times, when we pray for God to change something, do we later discover that we are the ones He wanted to change all along? You see, He’s more interested with our character than our circumstances!

So beloved, Jesus is faithful through and through and He’s faithfulness enables us to be faithful unto the end!

It captured the world’s attention. The world heard. The world watched. The world waited…and waited. And the world celebrated!  I’m referring to the 33 miners rescued after being trapped underground for 69 harrowing days. My hats off to the rescuers but it’s by God’s mercy and grace that they have been freed.

Have you been in a pit? I have not been in a pit, or trapped inside it, and I wonder what it must be like buried down there. It must be horrible. Now you may not be in a literal pit but you may be in a situation like you’re in a pit. David felt that way. He wrote in Psalm 40:1-2Psalm 40:1-2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
40 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. ¹ I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. I waited...: Heb. In waiting I waited ² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. an...: Heb. a pit of noise  

WP-Bible plugin – “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

Anything that causes a sense of helplessness and desperation and threatens to ruin life or take it away - that is the pit.

Are you today in a pit of despair, disappointment and discouragement?  Anything that causes a sense of helplessness and desperation and threatens to ruin life or take it away – that is the pit.  You scratch and claw to try to get out and get some air and relief, but you keep falling back into the pit and there seems to be no hope of improvement.  That is what being in a pit feels like. A sense of desperation and futility settles in.  David felt like that. But what did he do in the pit? David cried out to God for help! Regardless of how HOPELESS David’s situation seemed, he knew what SOURCE to turn to find COMFORT and MERCY!

Now David not only cried out to the Lord but he waited patiently for the Lord to deliver him (vs.1). Having cried out to God for help, we then need to wait. And wait patiently. I know it’s not easy. We rather have things instantly, we rather be helped now. The flesh does not like to wait. It is so impatient. And the funny thing is that most of us when we call out to God for help don’t wait long enough for God to act. After a short while, we start to do things on our own again instead of continuing to ask God and wait for Him to act.

Waiting patiently for the Lord means to actively seek Him. It means continuous praying to God for help.

Now, waiting patiently for the Lord does NOT mean just saying, “OK, Lord, I’m just going to sit here and wait for something to happen.” No. Waiting patiently for the Lord means to actively seek Him. It means continuous praying to God for help. It means continual obedience to God even as we wait for Him to solve our problems. It means considering and reflecting on God’s Word. It means to focus all of our energy on Him. It is not neglecting God and denying the problem, but it is actively waiting and hoping in God.

And how long will it take for God to answer our prayers? We don’t know for sure. We don’t know how long it will take for our situation to be changed, but our responsibility and our comfort is to wait patiently for God to act. And ultimately as we wait, hoping for our situation to change, it is our heart that is being changed! And that is what God is most after…our heart.

You could hear it coming. My wife Lolit went to our room’s window wondering what she was hearing. I heard it too. It sounded like an old air-condition engine, according to her. Coming from afar slowly approaching, my wife standing in front of the window, feels the coolness of the air, until it fell…and it fell hard! The rain came down hard! Yes, at the time of this writing it was raining. And I heard from the news that some parts of our country are experiencing a storm.

“Storms have a way of revealing what is real and lasting…”

I remember watching many great storms that hit Metro Manila. I watched those storms peel shingles from roofs and send them flying through the air like feathers, I thought, storms have a way of revealing what is real and lasting. In times of our deepest crisis, we gain wisdom that enables us to discover who we really are, of what we are truly made, and what life is seriously about. I’ve seen storms uproot trees and wondered how deeply rooted am I in the Lord. It is not the storm without, but the enemy within that poses our greatest threat.

There’s a story of a ship that was caught in a storm. The frightened crew hears a terrible crashing sound below. Immediately the men know what it is: a cannon has broken loose and is crashing into the ship’s side with every smashing blow of the sea! Two men, at the risk of their lives, manage to fasten it down again, for they know that the unfastened cannon is more dangerous than the raging storm.

“How does one weather the storms of life?”

Many people are like that ship—their greatest danger areas lie within their own lives. How does one weather the storms of life? An old seaman said, “In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.”

Beloved, this is what we must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must put your soul in one position and keep it there. You must stay upon the Lord, fix your eyes on Him and, come what may— winds, waves, seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers—no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus!

“Fix your eyes on Him… come what may… no matter what… hold fast your confidence in God’s faithfulness and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus!”

“Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…..No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom.8:35-39)!” That’s the best position you can be most secure – in His love! The rain may fall down hard but His love is your everlasting shelter from the storm.

Heart trouble is the most common thing in the world. In fact one of the contributors to a physical heart disease is a heart trouble – spiritually and emotionally! No rank, or class, or condition is exempt from it. No bars, or bolts or locks can keep it out. Partly from inward causes and partly from outward – partly from the body and partly from the mind – partly from what we love and partly from what we fear, the journey of life is full of trouble! Even the best of Christians have many bitter cups to drink between grace and glory. Even the holiest of saints find the world a place of fears.

...heart trouble – spiritually and emotionally: no rank, or class, or condition is exempt from it. No bars, or bolts or locks can keep it out.

Jesus had already said He’s going away and they thought that Jesus is going somewhere else – to a different location. The disciples didn’t know that He’s going back to the Father, after He resurrects from the dead. So their hearts were troubled (see John 14:1-3John 14:1-3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 ¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  

WP-Bible plugin). They could bear to die with Him, they could not bear to live or die without Him. Jesus knew what was going on in their minds and hearts. He knew how disturbed and upset they were, and knew what was causing it. He knew the remedy for it, as well. Perhaps there are many among us here who are suffering from the same affliction as these disciples – troubled hearts, fearful hearts, upset, disturbed, agitated hearts because of what was going on. Our Lord knew that these men were afraid – afraid of what was coming. And even as believers we go through times when our hearts were trembling; and our hearts do have fear – and we are concerned about the future, we’re concerned about our circumstances, we’re worried about different things that are in our lives. And here Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

…even as believers we go through times when our hearts were trembling; and our hearts do have fear – and we are concerned about the future…

Trusting in God is the cure for troubled hearts! Not fretting, murmuring, nor grumbling, but trust in God! So the cure for heart trouble is trusting God! What we believe determines how we respond when our hearts are troubled. Why, “Trust in God?” Well, trust in God who is in control, who knows what He is doing, who is capable of exercising infinite wisdom, infinite power, and infinite love. Trust the One who is too kind to do anything cruel, too wise to make a mistake, too deep to explain Himself. And Jesus said, “trust also in Me,” Jesus who is the means by which all that wisdom and resource and power of God is made available to us! That is the secret.  When we’re in trouble get hold of His promises, His truths revealed in His Word and entrust everything to Him. Let go! But you say, “It’s easier said than done!” That’s true but what’s the alternative? What’s the other option? Is there any other solution you know? When Jesus says, “Trust in God” He’s giving us the only solution to troubled hearts! You can choose to believe it or not!

Let go! When Jesus says, “Trust in God” He’s giving us the only solution to troubled hearts! You can choose to believe it or not!

So hush dear troubled heart…trust Him today, tomorrow and the rest of your life, for He knows what’s best for you and let Him work things out according to His glorious purpose and plan.

Just recently I learned that September is a Peace Month. Peace. A wonderful word but most elusive. This is the reason behind a lot of troubles today. A lack of peace. So we long for it. We pray for it. And to others they fight for it. But truth must be told: It’s not innate. It doesn’t come from within us. For we are naturally at war…at war with God (Rom.5:10; Col.1:20). The lack of peace is due to a broken relationship with the God of peace. And yet He provided a way for man to be brought back to a relationship with God, and that is through His Son Jesus Christ! Through faith in Christ we were reconciled to the Father. And that’s the only time that we can truly experience peace within us. Peace is not a pursuit, it’s a by-product of being at peace with God. And once we have this peace then it flows over to people around us. Now you become a conduit of peace.

...once we have this peace then it flows over to people around us. Now you become a conduit of peace.

Are you at peace this morning? You may have allowed worry and fear dominate your thinking. Trust Him instead. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4Isaiah 26:3-4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. perfect...: Heb. peace, peace mind: or, thought, or, imagination ⁴ Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: everlasting...: Heb. the rock of ages  

WP-Bible plugin) Almost always, you keep your mind stayed on whatever you are trusting. When you trust money, there your mind is focused. When you trust your job, there’s where your mind is steady. It’s when we get too focused on our problems that we get all tense and anxious. “But if I don’t worry about my problems, who will?” you say. I’m not advocating that we don’t work on our problems, or that we ignore our problems. But there are times when we simply spend too much time focused on our problems, and not enough time focused on our God who is able to handle our problems. So God gave us a tool – it’s called prayer! (read Phil.4:6-7).

It’s when we get too focused on our problems that we get all tense and anxious...

So why do we find it so difficult to trust Him? Often, it’s because we’re afraid that things won’t go as we want them to unless we control them ourselves. The less we are in control, the more anxious and worried we become. Author Hannah Whitall Smith wrote, “It is not hard, you find, to trust the management of the universe, and of all the outward creation, to the Lord. Can your case then be so much more complex and difficult than these that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of you?”

You know who’s a peaceful person? A prayerful person. A person who learned to give everything to God and trust Him with them. The peace of God comes when you rest your case fully in His hands. When you say, “Well Lord it’s in your hands.” When we simply put the whole matter into His hands, and however He responds, we know it’s going to be the best. That’s when we can say “thanks” and that’s when we receive His peace. The peace of God is not something you can manufacture, buy, or earn. It is a result of a heart that is totally surrendered to Him. When we bring our lives under God’s authority by turning away from sin and seeking Him with our whole heart we receive something priceless…THE PEACE OF GOD.

The peace of God is not something you can manufacture, buy, or earn. It is a result of a heart that is totally surrendered to Him.

When you are wrapped up in the arms of Jesus, and you know that you have an all-powerful God who hears your prayers and is in control of every situation, that’s when you can have real peace, perfect peace! Peace comes from trusting someone trustworthy. Is He trustworthy? Indeed He is!

We all go through crisis. Personal crisis, national crisis, international crisis – even crisis of faith. We don’t like it, nobody wants it, but they do come in one degree or another – sometimes – one right after another! It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. It’s going to happen. They are a normal part of life. Don’t be surprised by it. You can’t plan them, time them, schedule them. Crisis are always unexpected. Crisis just happen. No one is immune to them. Everybody has problems. Yes, even the righteous – the people of God. The important issue is how we are going to respond to a crisis.

We all go through crisis. Personal crisis, national crisis, international crisis – even crisis of faith...

King Hezekiah of Judah faced a crisis, an international crisis that threatens the very existence of Judah (read Isaiah 36-37). And how he and his officials handled it can help us face our own.

He turned to God in prayer (Isaiah 37:1,5-20Isaiah 37:1,5-20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
37 ¹ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. ⁵ So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. ⁶ And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. ⁷ Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. send...: or, put a spirit into him ⁸ So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. ⁹ And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, ¹⁰ Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. ¹¹ Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered? ¹² Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar? ¹³ Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? ¹⁴ And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, ¹⁶ O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. ¹⁷ Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. ¹⁸ Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, nations: Heb. lands ¹⁹ And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. cast: Heb. given ²⁰ Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.  

WP-Bible plugin) – So, he responds to the threats by immediately turning to God. So often we try to worry and fret about problems that we should be turning over to God. He sees himself unable to win the battle. He doesn’t start with a pep talk to the troops. He didn’t go out and motivate his people, he didn’t call a board meeting to strategize…no, he falls on His face before God for help! That’s where each of us should spend much more of our time…taking the matter to God in prayer!

King Hezekiah falls on His face before God for help!

And when he prayed, Hezekiah acknowledged the God to whom he’s praying to (“Lord Almighty”; “God of Israel”; God over all the kingdoms of the earth; and God who made heaven and earth!) In other words, if He is God over all, then what can He not do? If He is God, then what is beyond His control? Hezekiah realizes the most fundamental fact of all theology: God is God, and we are not! God is God, and our enemies are not!

Here’s the point: When we know who we are calling out to in prayer it puts things in perspective. My problems that were looming…so great that I really couldn’t see beyond them! I was being buried by them! They were overwhelming! But I’m coming to the God who created the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, the One who has all the authority and control. Yes, it’s too much for me, but hey, it’s not even the move of a little finger for Him!

I’m coming to the God who created the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, the One who has all the authority and control...

So you begin to get the things in perspective when you know who the God you’re praying to. When Jeremiah was discouraged because it seemed overwhelming, He said, “Jeremiah, I am God. Is there anything too hard for me?” See it in perspective. That happens when you put the right address on the prayer. Suddenly things are in perspective! Satan’s purpose in your crisis is to get you to focus on you or your problems. God’s purpose in your trials is to get you to focus on Him. Spread out the matter before God like Hezekiah and present it to the Lord acknowledging that He is Supreme, that He is Almighty, that He is more than able to handle all that we present to Him in prayer! Don’t wait…do it now!





This is the topic based on 2 Cor. 1:3-4; 5:5-72 Cor. 1:3-4; 5:5-7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; ⁴ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. ⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. ⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: ⁷  

WP-Bible plugin, I had the privilege to share during the first CC Missionaries Fellowship held last week at CCTC. How timely, how fitting and how relevant the topic not only for missionaries who experienced difficulties in the field but to all of us who are all subject to weakness, pain and trouble.

“Seeking God in our trouble should be our first response…”

Let me just share with you an excerpt from my notes: Have you ever known someone who was ill, and the doctors have done all they can do, so they say, “the only thing you can do now is PRAY.” When a sick person hears that, they sometimes frown and say, “Oh no! Has it come to that?” In other words, they act as if prayer is the last resort. But seeking God in our trouble shouldn’t be our last resort; it should be our first response!

He is the One “who comforts us in all our troubles.” My favorite word from that verse is “in.” Where is God? Well, He’s everywhere, of course. But the Bible says He is with us IN all our troubles to comfort us. Now, our modern use of the “comfort” has robbed it of some of its strength. To us, it’s a soft, sentimental, soothing feeling. We even use it to described a soft, fluffy covering for a bed, a comforter. But in the Bible, “comfort” is an action word. It’s the Greek word “parakaleo”, which literally means, “one who comes alongside to help.” It’s the same word Jesus used in John 14-16 to describe the Holy Spirit. Our English word “comfort” comes from a combination of two words that means “with strength.” The “fort” in comfort reminds us of the word fortify, or fortitude. So, to comfort means “to come along someone and to give them your strength.”

“God comforts us IN all our troubles…”

Let me give you a visual definition of “comfort.” Imagine an elderly man or woman is standing at the bottom of a steep set of stairs. They look up and wonder if they can make it. If you see their need and then come alongside them help them up the stairs, you are giving them comfort according to the Bible meaning of the word. If you see their need and just yell, “Use the handrail!”—that’s not comfort. Or if you yell, “Go use the elevator around the corner!” That’s not comfort. In order to comfort them, you must come alongside them and physically give them your strength to help them.

Got that picture? Because that’s what God does when He comforts us IN our troubles. He doesn’t just call out from heaven, “Hey use the handrail!” He comes alongside to help you. How? Through His Word as the Spirit gently reminds us of His promises. Through His presence and the spiritual strength He provides. And also, through fellow believers! That’s why we need to stay connected to the church!

Psalm 46:1Psalm 46:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
46 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. for: or, of ¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  

WP-Bible plugin – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” God doesn’t want to be your 911 number, He wants to be your 24/7/365 number—your EVER-PRESENT HELP—right now. So turn to Him first, not just when things get really bad and you’ve run out of all your other options. And when you do, He comes alongside you to hold you and strengthen you!

Yes they still go at it. They’re still pointing fingers on who’s to blame. Yes, those responsible for the failure of the hostage-taking crisis should answer to the law. But it seems that all they do is play the blame game. Someone has said, “If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.” The first people on earth, Adam and Eve, first played it so it’s not surprising that the children would follow. The Lord God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten the fruit I commanded you not to eat?” Yes,” Adam admitted, “but it was the woman you gave me who brought me the fruit, and I ate it.”

“Often we seek to blame others for our behavior and our failures…”

Adam both blamed the woman and God who gave him the woman! Then the Lord God asked the woman, “How could you do such a thing?” “The serpent tricked me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” It was the classic “The Devil made me do it,” defense! Yes the Devil will tempt us to do wrong, yes he wants you to fail as a Christian. But you don’t have to. One of the greatest promises in the bible is found in 1 Corinthians 10:131 Corinthians 10:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. common...: or, moderate  

WP-Bible plugin, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”The bible never says that we won’t be tempted, but it does say we don’t have to give in to temptation.

Now, how often in our lives do we seek to blame others for our behavior and our failures on others? ‘It was because of my parents, or my teachers, or my friends. They led me astray.’ Beloved, when you blame others, you give up your power to change. And so you don’t need to change if it was someone else’s fault that you sinned. Very seldom do you hear someone say “I sinned, it was my choice, nobody forced me, tempted me or enticed me, I did it because I wanted to.” And there’s no forgiveness for that.

Many suffer for years with a guilty conscience because they are not willing to come to the place where they acknowledge their sin. They will not call it what God calls it. We all tend to cover up sin and make it sound nicer than it is. “No this is not sin, it’s a weakness!” “No, this is not gossip, it’s just telling you this so you can pray.” We use pleasant names to describe it. Thus, we try to cover over our sins. But we can never be forgiven while we do this, for the first step in the process of forgiveness is an acknowledgement of sin. Not trying to cover it up, blame others for it, justify, rationalize or make excuses for it! But when we stop protecting our sins, and confess them, then we receive forgiveness and the process of restoration begins. And we not only regain a better relationship with God – a peace with God, but we also feel His peace within and at peace about ourselves!

“So, confess, admit, open up… and you shall be free!”

It’s been in the news, talk programs and social networks all over the world with mix reactions and comments, good and bad. No. I’m not referring to the Miss Universe Pageant that landed our own Miss Venus Raj to the Fourth runner-up position. I’m referring to a more serious and tragic event – the Hostage massacre that killed eight tourists last Monday. It was a sad day indeed.

“The wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart”

Now, Scripture tells us that there is a terrorist out there lying in wait to take you hostage. He is a spiritual terrorist, but he is very real. One of his tactics is to keep you away from the truth. Jesus said, “The wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart” (Matthew 13:19Matthew 13:19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  

WP-Bible plugin). Don’t fall prey to this adversary by failing to listen to and obey God’s Word. Maintain a steady schedule of Bible study so that you can stay safe from the devil’s wiles.

Scripture calls Satan “the tempter” (1 Thessalonians 3:51 Thessalonians 3:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.  

WP-Bible plugin). Another of his tactics is to lead you into temptation so that you’ll walk away from God and into the enemy camp. When temptation comes your way, know that it’s a scheme to lure you from the God you love. Trust that “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:131 Corinthians 10:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. common...: or, moderate  

WP-Bible plugin). God is stronger than the tempter, so rely on Him for strength to fight the temptation. Remember, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:41 John 4:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  

WP-Bible plugin).

...true freedom—spiritual freedom—is found only in knowing Jesus Christ.

We’re thankful for those who have been freed by the hostage-taker. And true freedom—spiritual freedom—is found only in knowing Jesus Christ. This freedom can never be taken away; this freedom is not limited by race, nationality, or social status; this freedom is available to all who choose to follow Christ. Are you bound today by something? Are you being held as a hostage today – unforgiveness, alcoholism, pornography, bitterness, any other addiction? Admit it before God and ask Jesus to break the chains that bind you. For whom the Son has set free is free indeed (John 8:36John 8:36
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36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  

WP-Bible plugin)! If you already have found freedom in Christ, take a moment this morning to thank Him for liberating you from the bondage of sin and your past.

Stay in God’s Word so that you can be strengthened within...

Beloved, the world is an ugly place and “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:81 Peter 5:8
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8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  

WP-Bible plugin). But you can “resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:91 Peter 5:9
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9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  

WP-Bible plugin). Stay in God’s Word so that you can be strengthened within. Stay in fellowship with other believers because there truly is strength in numbers. And stay in prayer so that you are walking strong in obedience to God’s will for your life. You can overcome the ultimate terrorist by faithfully following your great God. And hey, let me remind you, he’s already a defeated foe!

“The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” (1 Samuel 10:61 Samuel 10:6
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6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.  

WP-Bible plugin). The past week was one of those times when my mind’s running 100 kilometers per hour! It was so far my tightest, most hectic week so far since we had our H4U Ozamiz outreach. No. I’m not complaining. The truth is I enjoy what I do. It’s always an honor and a privilege. But sometimes you get tired too, physically, mentally and emotionally. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

“How did I make it through. How did I accomplish those things needed to be accomplished?”

So looking back to that week I pondered, “How did I make it through. How did I accomplish those things that needed to be accomplished?” And the answer is clear – the ministry of the Holy Spirit! Have you ever looked at ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things in the kingdom of God and wonder how they do it? Our mistake is that we look only at the person rather than at the power behind the person – the Holy Spirit.

The subject of the Holy Spirit evokes uneasiness among some. Excesses they’ve seen in the past come to mind and, as a result, they want nothing to do with Him. Then there are the thrill seekers who think there must be emotional drama manifested or the Holy Spirit wasn’t present, so they feel disappointed. Both are extreme positions that require balance. The Holy Spirit is our divine Helper – that’s how Jesus described Him. He’s not just an observer but an active participant in the believer’s life: strengthening, advocating, interceding, and helping. (I say we can use all the help we can get!) In our own strength, the Christian life is impossible. The Holy Spirit gives us the help to pull it off.

Let Him fill you today, let Him pour His life in you, and then let Him flow through you!

So what does the Holy Spirit do? Jesus said, “He will glorify Me” (John 16:14John 16:14
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14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.  

WP-Bible plugin). That’s the Spirit’s primary task – to point people to the Savior and in doing so bringing Him glory. Everything else He does is built upon that. When He gives gifts, when He heals, when He manifests Himself in any way, it is for the sole purpose of glorifying Jesus. And how does He glorify Jesus? One way is through us, His people. He empowers us to do that which we cannot do on our own strength! Yes, there’s power available for living and for service!

Beloved, the Holy Spirit wants to take your ordinary life and help you to do extraordinary things for His glory. Let Him fill you today, let Him pour His life in you, and then let Him flow through you!

Amazing how in our modern time still there are people who are superstitious about Friday the 13th! Many believe it is bad luck, seriously or jokingly. But sad that there are those who base their lives on luck. Bad news! You certainly can’t count on luck. If you believe in luck, you may think you’re having great luck one moment, only for it to turn into rotten luck the next moment.

The winning number for the lottery had just been announced...

There’s a true story of a couple Woodrow and his wife Lois. They were thrilled. The winning number for the lottery had just been announced, and that exact number was on their ticket. The grand prize was $12 million. Woodrow and Lois were jubilant—at least for a few hours. Then lottery officials found that there had been a proofreading error when the winning number was published. The ticket wasn’t worth $12 million after all; it was worth nothing. It had all been a mistake. The next day Woodrow died of a heart attack.

When you hear that true story, you may say, “What rotten luck!” But I think all luck is rotten. I think it’s disastrous to trust in luck. Every story where luck is the main theme will eventually have a sad ending. You may disagree and think luck is important. You may like lotteries or casinos or some other kind of gambling. You may use good luck charms or lucky numbers to improve your chances, and you may avoid certain things that might bring you bad luck. Then again, you may not believe in charms or omens, and you may think it’s dumb to throw money away on gambling. But you still might believe that life is just a series of random events. That life is a lottery, a matter of luck.

The trouble with luck is that you can’t really trust it. You never know whether luck is going to be for you or against you. You can be praising your good luck one moment, only to find out the next moment that your luck has gone bad. If you’re like Woodrow, your faith in luck can give you $12 million dollars one day and then take it away and kill you the next day. In this life I couldn’t bear to think that everything that’s going to happen is just a random jumble of chance events. I couldn’t handle the wondering and worrying. I couldn’t feel safe or secure. But I don’t believe in luck. I believe something better than luck. I believe in the unchanging faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

The good news is that, amid so many changes, there is one unchanging reality you can always count on. The fact is, your health can change, your finances can change, weather patterns can change, economies can change, technology can change, governments and national boundaries can change, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Changing times don’t change the Lord. All other things, even the very earth and sky, are changing. The Bible says earth and sky are like clothes that eventually wear out and must be changed. “But,” says the Bible of Jesus, “you remain the same, and your years will never end” (Hebrews 1:11-12Hebrews 1:11-12
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11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; ¹² And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.  

WP-Bible plugin).

So, beloved, don’t look to the stars to guide your life, instead entrust your life to the One who created the stars!

Russia has wildfires, Pakistan has flooding, bomb attack in Zamboanga City airport and a murder committed in our neighborhood. Just some of the bad news from last week. In times like these, how can we remain steady and secure? Psalms 21:7Psalms 21:7
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7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.  

WP-Bible plugin – For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.”This is where our victory and security lies, – trust in God’s unfailing love! Isa. 54:10Isa. 54:10
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10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.  

WP-Bible plugin – “Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.”

Beloved, in a time when all of man’s programs and systems are failing…

Beloved, in a time when all of man’s programs and systems are failing, when the foundations of the world are crumbling, when uncertainties have left nations and households with a sense of apprehension, there is one thing that is sure, that is certain — which we can trust – God’s unfailing love! What does it mean to trust in His unfailing love? First, trusting in His unfailing love means knowing that God is aware of every situation. Isn’t that comforting – that He is aware of every situation? “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies. Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Lk. 12:6-7Lk. 12:6-7
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6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷ But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.  

WP-Bible plugin).” Our Father in heaven knows your tears and your fears. You are not alone in your situation.

…trusting in HIS unfailing Love…

2nd, to trust in His unfailing love means to know that God is in control. The Lord’s sovereign rule extends over everyone and everything. This includes both the situations that He directly causes to occur, as well as the ones He indirectly allows to take place. And in the end, His purposes and will, will be fulfilled. 3rd, to trust in His unfailing love is to know that He is Wise and Understanding. From the very beginning, the Lord has always exercised His sovereignty with wisdom and understanding (Prov.3:19). In our troubled times, it is good to know that God knows what He’s doing and what He’s allowing. It may not be clear to us, we may not understand everything, but we can trust in a loving God whose ways are just and pure, working behind the scenes to a glorious end! 4rt, to trust in His unfailing love means to know that God is able to bring good out of bad situations (read Rom. 8:28Rom. 8:28
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28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  

WP-Bible plugin). He can use global uncertainties to focus lives once again upon Him as the only “hiding place” in a dangerous world!

He Himself will become the place where we find refuge and safety in the storms of life...

Beloved, when times change like shifting sand, when events unfold that leave us overwhelmed within, how wonderful it is to know that God is our Rock and stability and strength. When we don’t know what to say or what to do, we can quietly look to God alone to work. When our hope seems to diminish, we can put our expectations upon the Lord. He will be our stability. He will be our defender. He will keep us from being blown away by impossible circumstances. He will bring His glorious grace to bear upon our situation. He Himself will become the place where we find refuge and safety in the storms of life.

As believers, many of us understand intellectually what it means to be forgiven. We know that Christ’s death atones for our sins. By placing our faith in Him, we are saved into an eternal relationship with our Lord that never changes. Even though we may still sin after becoming a Christian, we know that when we turn to the Lord with a repentant heart, confessing our sin to Him, He washes our sin away. First John tells us that when we confess our sin, God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:91 John 1:9
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9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

WP-Bible plugin).

“It may seem like our sins are beyond God’s forgiveness…”

Yet sometimes, people discover that they are unable to find that feeling of reconciliation with God. No matter how often they confess and after doing all that they can to make reparation for their sin, they still feel as if they cannot be forgiven. It may seem like their sins—things like pornography, drunkenness, abortion, or adultery—are beyond God’s forgiveness. They continue to carry the burden of their guilt along with them each day, weighed down by a feeling of permanent distance in their relationship with the Lord.

Perhaps the waters of guilt have washed over you, and you feel like you are sinking in sorrow and regret. What could be preventing you from moving beyond your past and feeling forgiven? I have observed a number of mistaken ways of thinking that are common among those who struggle with past sins. I’ll only share one (but the most common) due to lack of space. Crossing over these thought “barrier” is a major step on the road to feeling forgiven . . . and free.

“We have made our particular sin out to be uniquely bad and Christ’s payment to be inadequate…”

“What I have done is too bad. I know that God is forgiving, but I cannot be forgiven for this.” This barrier ensnares many sincere believers because it gives such a strong appearance of sadness over sin. It feels like a righteous response; we don’t want to downplay the gravity of our sin. Yet an honest look at the above statement shows that it is not really humble nor is it true. In effect, it implies that Christ’s death was not enough to pay for all sin. It is as though we are saying, “Maybe His atonement covers the sins of the rest of the world. But Jesus’ death cannot cover this.” We have made our particular sin out to be uniquely bad and Christ’s payment to be inadequate.

What a far cry this is from the truth! If our sin is an exception to God’s forgiveness, then Scripture lies because it declares, “Everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved” (Acts 2:21Acts 2:21
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21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  

WP-Bible plugin). No exceptions! The truth is that our sin is no worse (and no better) than the rest of humanity’s. All sin is evil in the Lord’s sight. Yet Christ’s death is sufficient(see Colossians 1:20-21Colossians 1:20-21
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20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. having...: or, making ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in...: or, by your mind in  

WP-Bible plugin; Hebrews 7:24-25Hebrews 7:24-25
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24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. an...: or, which passeth not from one to another ²⁵ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. to the...: or, evermore  

WP-Bible plugin). It is more than enough—many, many times over—to cover all the wrong we’ve ever done and will ever do. No sin is beyond God’s forgiveness. Hallelujah!

As we remember the Lord today at the Communion table, rejoice in that truth and give Him thanks!

A tree fell and it caught our TV cable that made it snap and resulted in a 2-day cable-less existence. That was ok. No big deal. But when our internet connection, for whatever reason it was cut off, that’s another story. It affected me, my work and the kids…their assignments and all! Now that’s a big deal! One day without it…it was okay. 2nd day, it’s still kind of ok, but when it was 3rd day, we all started squirming, feeling restless, incomplete that we can’t connect. Yes, Globelines took a long time coming to fix it. But then, I realized something. Those times without TV cable and internet connection were actually a good thing. We had more time together as a family, more time with the Lord in prayer and His Word, more time with just thinking, meditating, just there being still before the Lord. And I really began to like it.

“Our modern age suffers from a great lack of depth in our walk with the Lord…”

I think of the early church that had not much distractions like we do today. What we have in this present time produces shallow relationship with God. Our modern age suffers from a great lack of depth in our walk with the Lord. Many distractions work against a deep, substantial relationship. Jesus said that in the last days, the love of most would grow cold (Matt. 24:12Matt. 24:12
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12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  

WP-Bible plugin). He warned about the traps that would hinder a deep relationship with Himself. He mentioned the cares of this life: the pressures of making a living, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for more and more things (see Matt. 13:3-23Matt. 13:3-23
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3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; ⁴ And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: ⁵ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: ⁶ And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: ⁸ But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ⁹ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. ¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? ¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. ¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: ¹⁵ For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. ¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. ²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; ²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin ²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. ²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  

WP-Bible plugin).

"We know a little about everything, but not much about anything..."

Our electronic age brings further distractions. Television, telephones, cellphones, the world wide web and computer games constantly flood our minds with all kinds of stimuli and ideas, gobbling up time we might have spent in meditation upon God. We are living in an age when man has become very, very broad, but not very deep. Through the mass media we can now bring up many subjects. We know a little about everything, but not much about anything. And our relationship with God has suffered as a result. In many ways, the days of the apostles were far better to our own. More readily than today, they were able to have the kind of communion and fellowship with God that creates character God can use. Think about Paul, the apostle, when he walked from Jerusalem to Caesarea, about a three-day journey. He wasn’t listening to music or keeping up on the local news. He was surrounded by nature – by the trees, the flowers, the animals. At night he would wrap himself in his blanket and look up at the stars. How could he not think about God and His creation and His works? Solitude is very conducive to communion with God, to meditation on God.

" In Solitude... Stop, look and listen to the God who made you... He wants an intimate relationship with you."

Today, in a fast-paced, crowded, information-overload generation, you’ve got so much stimuli coming into your brain that you can’t commune with God and have a time of real spiritual enrichment. Our whole society and manner of living has taken us away from simplicity. We are not as close to God as the saints of old, and that may be one reason why we do not see much of His power evidence today as it was back then. Because a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian. A deep-abiding faith in God is nurtured in solitude.

So, beloved, from time to time, turn off that TV, close that computer, shut off that cellphone…and listen. Stop, look and listen to the God who made you – He who desires to be with you and show you things in His Word; He who loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you.

Now that our H4U Ozamiz is already done and is now a part of our church history, never think for a moment that the warfare we are engaged in is over. For life as a whole, much more the Christian life is a life of warfare! We are called to a battle, not to a life of ease; to a battle, to a warfare, to a wrestle, to a struggle” (see Ephesians 6:10-12Ephesians 6:10-12
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10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh...: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual...: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly  

WP-Bible plugin). The word which Paul uses here actually refers to wrestling. It’s the kind that you see in a high school or college gymnasium, the kind where two guys are entwined with one another and are trying every kind of move that they can think of to pin the other guy to the ground. It’s the kind of battle where you have extremely close contact with one another. And yes, sometimes, if not most of the time, the struggle hits close to home…it’s very personal.

We cannot afford to put our guard down. We need to be in constant look out in prayer of the fiery darts that the enemy throws at us. Our enemy is relentless looking for opportunities at our weakest point to attack us. And one of the most dangerous places and times for temptation, for the Devil to attack is when we feel comfortable, successful, easy and light – just like King David’s fall when he was feeling secure, successful and comfortable! Of course, our ultimate rest from it is when we finally see Jesus face to face, but until then, we are engaged in a spiritual battle – whether we like it or not; whether we accept it or not! That’s the hard reality of life!

So how do we face this? Paul wrote, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Eph.6:10). The human will does not generate this strength. It is not mere resolve, determination, or self discipline. While all of these are inherent in spiritual life, they are derived from true strength. There is a human attempt to be strong. We have all tried this. However, there is no ability in us to be strong in the face of a spiritual warfare. The strength is from the Lord. We have no sufficient strength of our own. All our sufficiency is of God. It is not our strength that equips us to stand; it is God’s strength invested in us when we submit to God.

To be strong in the Lord is to surrender and fully submit our heart, mind and will to Him. That is why James 4:7-8James 4:7-8
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7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  

WP-Bible plugin tells us that the power of resisting is found through submitting to God (“Submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you”). The devil does not flee from your power, but from God’s power within us that overcomes him. We have the promise that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Resistance is no longer measured by our strength, but the strength of God who draws us out of temptation.

So, beloved, as Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Always be in prayer mode and know that His strength is our strength!

Most of us were glued to our Television last Wednesday as we watched another historic event in our country, the inauguration of our 15th president, Benigno Aguino III. We heard his speech, simple and straight to the point, promises were made, as usual, but spoken straight from the heart, to the heart of the Filipino people…a people longing for true change. So, we all wish, hope and pray. And we can certainly contribute to this change as citizens of this country. But one thing is missing, one thing is lacking, one thing never emphasized…and it’s the most important of all – the God of the change! For only He, through Jesus Christ, can bring true change. It all starts in the inner recesses of man – the heart. And only He, who searches hearts and minds, He who weighs every motives and intentions of the heart can reach it, mold and shape it….even cleanse it – making it new. And that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ! Nothing less, nothing more, nothing else.

This is then we, who call ourselves followers of Christ, come in to effect change. How? Colossians 4:5-6Colossians 4:5-6
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5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.  

WP-Bible plugin tells us how (Go read it) – First is PRAYER – Pray for open doors (and hearts) to share Christ in your workplace, neighborhood, home and wherever you are. Always be in prayer mode. Second is BE WISE IN THE WAY WE ACT – To be wise in the way we walk means that we’re careful not to say or do anything that would make it difficult to share the gospel. Often this simply means that we need to remember that those who don’t yet know Christ are watching us. Beloved, we need to be careful about the way we act because people are making decisions about the validity of Christianity based upon how we’re living. Somebody wrote – “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day, I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way, the eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear; Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.” When we pray, God will give us open doors, let’s not shut them by our behavior! But rather, allow our behavior to be the means that God uses to open doors.

Third, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY – This phrase is a commercial term and means to “buy up.” It’s the picture of finding something on sale and buying all you can afford because the price is so good. Likewise, we’re to buy up every opportunity to speak for Christ when we see one. Time is short, life is short. Every moral decision is important, every opportunity is important. It’s going so fast. Make it count. How? Redeem it. Find ways in which you can say, `I don’t need to waste this time because I don’t have a lot of time left!’ And fourthly, GRACIOUS SPEECH – Our wise walk should lead to wise words. If our actions are right, then we will earn a hearing. Don’t blow that opportunity by using words that are harsh, judgmental and hard to understand. Use words that are gracious, merciful and will make people want to hear more. How can we make the gospel attractive to them if our talk doesn’t match our walk? May our confession match our profession!

Beloved, we are not called to be so heavenly minded with no earthly good, for we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Live it out and true change will happen through the power of the Spirit of Christ!

At the time of this writing the H4U team is all set for our Ozamiz outreach, all geared up for another battle…the battle for souls of men. It is not easy to fight battles. We can’t imagine the how hard it is unless we’re in the middle of it. But we know this in some degree – in the battles we fight each day. Some battles are a bit closer to home. Sometimes neighbors disagree; sometimes people battle not with guns or fists, but with words. There are also battles of ideas. If you believe in God and the Bible, you may find your beliefs under attack in the college classroom or in conversations with unbelieving friends. But I believe some of the fiercest battles are those fought inwardly—within oneself. They are private battles with pain or physical illness, depression, financial difficulty, grief, worry, stress, frustration, loneliness, temptation, and you could go on and on.

The question is: How are we going to find our way through? Well, the Psalmist, David the king, gives us the answer. His day, too, was one of trouble: “May the name of the God of Jacob protect you” (Psa.20:1b). There is where our refuge lies — in the name of the God of Jacob. Only God is adequate for the situation. If you are not resting upon the God of Jacob, you will never make it. What do you and I do when we face a day of trouble? We tend to panic, don’t we? We want to cast about for some kind of maneuver to accomplish what we want. We tend immediately to start manipulating, bringing pressure, trying to use trickery or dishonest methods in the situation. But the God of Jacob is our refuge and trust. David closed his psalm with these words – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm (Psa.20:7).”

Chariots and horses were the most dreaded war machines of David’s day. The world today has its sources of confidence, too. But they will not suffice. There is nothing wrong with them, as such, except that they are not adequate for the task. David well knew that horses and chariots are needed in battle, but he also knew that if they are all you are going to trust in, you will not have much of a chance. Horses and chariots are not enough without the Lord of glory behind them.

What do you trust in today? What are you relying upon? There are many modern equivalents to these horses and chariots. You could say, “Some trust in ancestry and education; but I will rely on the Lord my God for power.” “Some trust in tranquilizers and pills but I will rely upon the Lord my God.” “Some trust in wealth and property, but I will trust in the name of the Lord my God for provision.”

Here is the note of faith, the quiet, confident expression of a man who has learned where true power lies, the only source of power in the world. And so he says, “I am not going to trust in anything secondary, but I will trust ultimately in the working of the Lord my God.” David’s confidence in the saving power of Jehovah assured him of victory. Beloved, we do well if we do the same!

Somebody once said, “Anyone can have a child, but it takes a special man to be a father.” I wholeheartedly agree and even add that ‘it takes total submission to our Father in heaven to be a father!’ Being a father is much more than performing a biological function. It is about loving and caring, guiding and sharing.

A father recognizes the importance of making time for those he loves…

A father is the head of his family. He does this, not out of insecurity, selfishness or pride, but out of the desire to be an obedient servant of God. (Eph. 5:22Eph. 5:22
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22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  

WP-Bible plugin) A father offers wise counsel so that he may lead his children to a path of righteousness. He is slow to anger, yet demands respect. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; …” (Genesis 18:19Genesis 18:19
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19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.  

WP-Bible plugin) A father is strong, reliable and confident. But, a father is also tender, loving and understanding. “In everything, do to others what would you have them do to you…” (Matt. 7:12Matt. 7:12
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12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  

WP-Bible plugin; Psalms 103:13Psalms 103:13
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13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  

WP-Bible plugin). A father is a good provider. As long as he is capable, he is willing to labor hard to provide shelter for his family, and food on the table … “if any would not work neither should he eat” (II Thess. 3:10ss. 3:10
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10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.  

WP-Bible plugin).

A father recognizes the importance of making time for those he loves. A study shows that fathers of preschool children on the average spend 37.7 seconds per day in real contact with their youngsters. In contrast, the study indicated that children watch television approximately 54 hours per week. The average teen in our churches spends only 2 minutes a day in meaningful dialogue with his dad. 25% of these teens say they have never had a meaningful conversation with their father—a talk centered on the teens’ interests. “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6Proverbs 22:6
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6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train...: or, Catechise in...: Heb. in his way  

WP-Bible plugin) A father is not judged by how much he earns or how many material goods he provides. What does matter to his children is if he has been a “father” to them.

Does your child need your love and forgiveness today?

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers! Does your child need your love and forgiveness today?As what you have abundantly received from our heavenly Father (the knowledge of Him, His grace, mercy forgiveness, and love), which are far more important than silver and gold, give them NOW to your children. HAVE A MEANINGFUL FATHER’S DAY TO YOU DAD!

June 12 we celebrate our country’s Independence Day. We don’t want to take for granted those who shed sweat, blood and tears to gain our freedom. And we thank them for that. But are we really free? Sad to say the freedom is only skin-deep, so to speak. People are still bound to a greater enemy within – sin. The issue is not the color of the skin but the sin within. And it’s because of that, the Bible tells us that man is an enemy of God, separated from His life and lost. And the enemy of our soul, the Devil, has him in his grasp!

…He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place on the cross of Calvary to reconcile us back to Him…

This is why in a free nation evil still continues to wreak havoc in the lives of men and women. That’s why in spite of man’s effort to improve himself and his surroundings – with the latest technology, man-made programs or what have you, it remains the same. Society’s ills are traced back to the heart of man. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. Wherever you go, whatever time period you live in, styles may change, fads come and go – the heart remains the same. It still is deceitful above all things. Who can cure it (Jer.17:9)? Unless the heart is truly freed from the power and influence of sin, there could be no real independence of the soul.

Now, one may say, “Me, a prisoner? I’m free to do what I want!” But Jesus put it this way, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34John 8:34
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34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  

WP-Bible plugin). If you have chosen to live your life disobeying God’s commands, you’re a slave. The good news is God has not totally left man alone. He Himself provided a way for him to be truly free. It cost Him greatly. He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place on the cross of Calvary to reconcile us back to Him. Through Christ’s death and resurrection He purchased freedom for us.

How is this possible? When we put our faith in Jesus Christ He gives us new heart and changes us from within. He gives us new desires, new way of thinking, and a new way of living. And being so affects and influences the environment we are in. Oh what an impact we can make when we live up to our calling – pointing people to the One who can truly set people free. For whom the Son has set free – is free indeed. Let us call out men and women to this freedom we know. Let’s bring them to the feet of our Savior the bondage-breaker!

True freedom—spiritual freedom—is found only in knowing Jesus Christ. This freedom can never be taken away; this freedom is not limited by race, nationality, or social status; this freedom is available to all who choose to follow Christ. Are you among those who are “free indeed”? If not, I encourage you to ask Jesus to break the chains that bind you. If you already have found freedom in Christ, take a moment this morning to thank Him for liberating you from the bondage of sin and your past!

It’s almost a month now after Election day and our next President is not yet been proclaimed…even with the automated machines! We’re hearing a lot of issues tossed around and debated at Congress. Let’s just pray that God’s will and purpose will prevail in such a time as this. Now while it’s important to be wise and responsible citizens, it’s even more important to remember that, as Christians, we are ultimately citizens of a different country – heaven. (Phil.3:20) For the believers heaven is our homeland. Although we live in this world, we do not belong here. Scripture tells us we are here as a stranger and aliens (1 Pet.2:11). We are journeying through this world to our eternal home.

Now, the greek word translated “citizenship” is the word from which we get the english word “politics” – and it has to do with one’s behavior as a citizen of a nation. In other words, our destination is not just heaven but that we are to live as citizens of heaven; we are to behave as citizens of heaven, worthy of our King. Is our life worthy of Jesus if we refuse to forgive those who offended us, if we harbor bitterness in our hearts? Is it worthy of Jesus when the world see us fighting among ourselves? Is it worthy of Jesus when we live like the world, with its attitudes and philosophies? Heavenly conduct should mark the Christian.

...as you walk daily with God on this earth, remember to keep a Kingdom perspective.

When Jesus walked the earth, He ushered in a new kingdom which is unlike any other known to man. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God long promised by the Old Testament prophets. His manifesto contained radical new ideas: “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake . . . Blessed are the peacemakers . . .” (Matt. 5:3, 9, 10Matt. 5:3, 9, 10
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3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

WP-Bible plugin). Unlike politicians of modern times, Jesus was not concerned with popular opinion; He was concerned with speaking the truth. As Sovereign of this new kingdom, He calls His subjects to that same standard.

Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33
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33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  

WP-Bible plugin challenges us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” In a society that encourages self-promotion, God calls us to live in a radically counter-cultural manner. Speaking of those who are entrenched in the kingdom of this world, Jesus says, “do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8Matt. 6:8
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8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.  

WP-Bible plugin). The subjects of God’s Kingdom walk to the beat of a different drummer. While we should be concerned with the present political environment, our primary focus should be on those things of eternal consequence.

So, fellow pilgrim, as you walk daily with God on this earth, remember to keep a Kingdom perspective.