Thursday, October 11, 2018
OUR EFFORT!!!
CONTINUATION OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH!
GOD HAS GIVEN US THE RESOURCES TO GROW.HOWEVER OUR PART TAKES TREMENDOUS EFFORT,THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES ABOUT THE BATTLE WITH SIN.''SO I FIND THIS LAW AT WORK;WHEN I WANT TO DO GOOD,EVIL IS RIGHT THERE WITH ME.FOR MY INNER BEING I DELIGHT IN GOD'S LAW;BUT I SEE ANOTHER LAW AT WORK IN THE MEMBERS OF MY BODY,WAGING WAR AGAINST THE LAW OF OF MY MIND AND MAKING ME A PRISONER OF LAW OF SIN AT WORK WITHIN MY MEMBER'S (ROMANS7;21-23)PAUL IS DESCRIBING THE BATTLE THAT WE FACE DAILY,OUR OLD SELF VS NEW SELF (FLESH VS SPIRIT) IF WE UNDERSTAND THIS TEACHING,THEN WE UNDERSTAND THE DAILY BATTLE THAT WE FACE REQUIRES US TO.''PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL'S SCHEMES''(EPHESIANS 6:11)(1CORINTHIANS 9;24-27(2TIMOTHY 4;6-7)
SPIRITUAL GROWTH REQUIRE US TO EVALUATE TO GOD'S WORD.THERE IS NO SUCH THINGS AS INSTANT HOLINESS.IT IS GRADUAL,LIFE -LONG PROCESS THAT TAKES DISCIPLINE.DO YOU THINK THAT TIGER WOODS JUST STEP OUT ON THE COURSE AND HIT GREAT GOLF SHOTS WITHOUT PRACTICE?NOT ONLY DID HE BEGIN AT THE EARLY AGE,BUT THE PRACTICE BY HITTING GOLF BALL AFTER GOLF BALL..IN LUKE 9;23 JESUS CALLS US TO DENY OURSELVES DAILY,'THEN HE SAID TO THEM ALL;''IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME,HE MUST DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW ME''
SINCE GOD HAS MADE YOU THIS WAY,WITH CAPACITY FOR LIVING ACCORDING TO HABIT,YOU MUST CONSCIOUSLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT YOUR LIFE.YOU MUST CONSCIOUS AND CAREFULLY EXAMINE YOUR UNCONSCIOUS RESPONSE. YOU MUST BECOME AWARE OF YOUR LIFE PATTERN AND EVALUATE THEM BY THE WORD OF GOD.WHAT YOU LEARNED TO DO AS CHILD YOU MAY BE CONTINUING TO DO AS AN ADULT.PATTERN BY PATTERN YOU MUST ANALYZE AND DETERMINE WHETHER IT HAS DEVELOPED FROM PRACTICE IN DOING GOD'S WILL OR WHETHER IT IS HAS DEVELOPED AS A SINFUL RESPONSE.THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO BECOME A GODLY PERSON,TO ORIENT ONE'S LIFE TOWARD GODLINESS,AND THAT MEANS PATTERN BY PATTERN.THE OLD SINFUL WAY, AS THEY ARE DISCOVERED,MUST BE REPLACED BY NEW PATTERN FROM GOD'S WORD.THAT IS THE MEANING OF DISCIPLINED LIVING.DISCIPLINE FIRST REQUIRE SELF-EXAMINATION,THEN IT MEANS CRUCIFIXION OF THE OLD SINFUL NATURE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES THROUGH HIS WORD.THE BIBLICAL WAY TO GODLINESS IS NOT EASY OR SIMPLE,BUT IT IS THE SOLID WAY.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH--FAITHFUL IN PRAYER.
BEFORE WE STUDY THE WORD,WE SHOULD PRAY AND ASK GOD TO GIVE US WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO SEARCH OUR HEARTS TO REVEAL SIN THAT IS HINDERING OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.''TEACH ME,O LORD, TO FOLLOW YOUR DECREES, THEN I WILL KEEP THEM TO THE END.GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING,AND I WILL KEEP YOUR LAW AND OBEY IT WITH ALL MY HEART.
DIRECT ME IN THE PATH OF YOUR COMMANDS FOR THERE I DELIGHT.TURN MY HEART TOWARD YOUR STATUTES AND NOT TOWARD SELFISH GAIN.
TURN MY EYES AWAY FROM WORTHLESS THINGS;PRESERVE MY LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD''(PSALM 119;33-37)PSALM 139;23-24)
SPIRITUAL GROWTH-GREAT JOY..
SPIRITUAL GROWTH TAKES TIME AND EFFORT AND REQUIRES A CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR LIVES,WE DON'T ALWAYS LIKE CHANGE WE MAY EVEN BE TEMPTED TO GIVE UP OR THINK THAT IT IS TOO HARD. REMEMBER THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?
EACH DAY,AS WE DENY OURSELVES AND LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.HE PRODUCE FRUIT IN US.AS WE OVERCOME SIN AND GROW CLOSER TO GOD,WE WILL EXPERIENCE PEACE AND JOY IN OUR HEARTS,TEMPORARY JOY CAN COME FROM THINGS LIKE A PROMOTION AT WORK OR THE HOME TOWN TEAM WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP . BUT TRUE JOY ONLY COMES FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST DAILY.WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY JESUS IN (JOHN 15;10-11)IF YOU OBEY MY COMMANDS.YOU WILL REMAIN IN MY LOVE,JUST AS I HAVE OBEYED MY FATHER'S COMMANDS,AND REMAIN IN HIS LOVE I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE!!!
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE TO READ MAY BLOG, I HOPED THAT MY BLOG HELPED US TO GROW OUR FAITH IN GOD!!GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Studying God's Word
''CONTINUATION OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH''
SPIRITUAL GROWTH-'STUDYING GOD WORD''
THROUGH HIS WORD,GOD PROVIDE US ALL THE SPIRITUAL RESOURCES WE NEED TO GROW ''ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING,REBUKING,CORRECTING AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS,SI THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK''(2TIMOTHY 3;16-17)THE WORD IS LIVING,IT IS TRUTH AND IT IS SUFFICIENT FOR ANY AND EVERY SITUATION OR TRIAL THAT WE MAY EXPERIENCE IN OUR LIVES (1PETER 1;22-25)(PSALM 19;7-14)
SPIRITUAL GROWTH WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNLESS WE FREQUENTLY SPEND TIME STUDYING GOD'S WORD,WE NOT ONLY NEED TO STUDY THE WORD,BUT MEDITATE ON IT,MEMORIZE IT,AND APPLY IT,TO OUR LIVES,(JAMES 1;22-25)SCRIPTURE EXPOSES OUR SIN AND TEACHES US HOW TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST.THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE ACTIVE ON OUR MINDS (ROMANS 12;1-2)(EPHESIANS 4;23)
THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE ACTIVE ON OUR BEHAVIOR (ROMANS 6;12-13)(1TIMOTHY 4;7)
THE APOSTLE PETER COMPARE OUR DESIRING OF GOD'S WORD TO A NEW BORN BABY,LIKE NEWBORN BABIES,CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK,SO THAT BY IT YOU MAY GROW UP IN YOUR SALVATION''(1PETER 2;2)I UNDERSTAND THIS ANALOGY BECAUSE I'AM FATHER IN CARE MAY CHILDREN WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR A MILK,OUR LITTLE GIRL WOULD LET US KNOW,IF SHE DID NOT GET IT SOON ENOUGH,SHE SCREAMED AND CRIED.CHRISTIAN SHOULD HAVE THE SAME INTENSE CRAVING FOR GOD'S WORD.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH-LIVING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH PROCESS REQUIRES US TO DECLARE WAR ON SIN,BUT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS DAILY BATTLE.AS WE STRIVE TO BECOME MORE CHRIST-LIKE, GOD IS ACTIVELY WORKING IN US (PHILIPPIANS 2;12)(,PHILIPPIANS 1;6) HE HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE WITHIN US (ROMANS 8;9-11)THE HOLY SPIRIT STRENGTHENS US TO HOLINESS FIRST BY ENABLING US TO SEE OUR NEED OF HOLINESS. HE ENLIGHTENS OUR UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE BEGIN TO SEE GOD'S STANDARD OF HOLINESS.THEN HE CAUSE US TO BECOME AWARE OF OUR SPECIFIC AREAS OF SIN.ONE OF STAN'S MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS IS MAKING US SPIRITUALLY BLIND--UNABLE TO SEE OUR SINFUL CHARACTER.THE BIBLE SAYS,THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS AND BEYOND CURE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT?(JEREMIAH 17;9)NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND EXPOSE IT EXCEPT THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WORD AND APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES (1CORINTHIANS 2;9-16) AS WE FAITHFULLY STUDY THE WORD,GOD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFORMS US TO HIS CHARACTER (2CORINTHIANS 3;18)
''SO I SAY, LIVE BY THE SPIRIT,AND YOU WILL NOT GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE SINFUL NATURE,FOR THE SINFUL NATURE DESIRES WHAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT,AND THE SPIRIT WHAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SINFUL NATURE''(GALATIANS 5;16-17)LIVING BY THE SPIRIT IS SUBMITTING TO GOD'S WORD AND ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK IN OUR LIVES.WHEN WE DO THIS,THE SPIRIT PRODUCES FRUIT IN OUR LIVES.THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS NOT ONLY GETTING RID OF SIN IN OUR LIVES,BUT POSSESSING CHRIST -LIKE QUALITIES ''BUT THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LOVE,JOY, PEACE,PATIENCE,KINDNESS,GOODNESS,FAITHFULNESS,GENTLENESS,AND SELF-CONTROL.AGAIN SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LOW,THOSE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCIFIED THE SINFUL NATURE WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES,SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT,LET US KEEP WITH IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT LET US NOT BECOME CONCEITED, PROVOKING AND ENVYING EACH OTHER.(GALATIANS 5;22-26)
AGAIN TO BE CONTINUED TO NEXT BLOG!!GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!
Monday, October 8, 2018
SPIRITUAL GROWTH!
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS ESSENTIAL TO EVERY CHRISTIAN.OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY BEGINS THE MOMENT WE ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.THE GRADUAL,LIFE-LONG PROCESS OF WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION INVOLVES CHANGING OUR LIVES TO REFLECT GOD'S HOLINESS (1PETER 1;13-16)OUR WORK WITH GOD WILL BE JOYFUL AND SATISFYING WHEN WE STAY FOCUSED ON ETERNAL LIFE INSTEAD OF TEMPORAL THINGS THAT WE OFTEN OCCUPY OURSELVES WITH (1PETER 1;3-9)
A.NEW CREATION.
''THEREFORE,IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST,HE IS A NEW CREATION,THE OLD HAS GONE,THE NEW HAS COME''(2CORINTHIANS 5;17)WHEN WE COME TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WE ARE BORN AGAIN (JOHN 3;3),WHICH MEANS WE ARE RE-BORN SPIRITUALLY. DOES THAT MEANS THAT WE IMMEDIATELY BECOME PERFECT CHRISTIAN?NO!!BECAUSE WE WERE BORN SINNERS(ROMANS 3;23),WE STILL HAVE OUR SINFUL NATURE TO DEAL WITH JESUS''DEATH DELIVERANCE US FROM THE OVERALL REIGN OF SIN IN OUR LIVES,BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH INDWELLING SIN IN OUR FLESH (THE APOSTLE PAUL CALLS IT OUR'' MORTAL BODY")
(ROMANS 6;1-14)SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS THE CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION OF OUR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CHARACTER DAILY UNTIL OUR PHYSICAL DEATH.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS NOT OPTIONAL,SPIRITUAL RE BIRTH MUST BE FOLLOWED BY GROWTH.GOD COMMANDS US TO'' GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.''(2PETER 3;18).THE EXPECTED GROWTH OF A CHRISTIAN IS EVIDENT WHEN COMPARING HOW WE USED TO LIVE (OLD SELF)TO HOW WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE (NEW SELF),THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES ABOUT THE OLD SELF VERSUS NEW SELF''YOU WERE TAUGHT,WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE,TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF,WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRES,TO BE MADE NEW IN THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR MINDS,AND TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF,CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS''(EPHESIANS 4:22-24),(OLD SELF VS.NEW SELF SEE EPHESIANS 4;17-;5;21) COLOSSIANS 3;1-17)
NOTE!TO BE CONTINUED TO NEXT BLOG! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
MAY PRAYER!
Prayer for 2 Corinthians 9:8 ►
“And God is able to make every grace
overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you
may excel in every good work.”
Heavenly Father, thank You for the free gift
of Salvation and all that You have lavishly bestowed on me freely, by Your grace.
Give me a willing heart a generous heart a cheerful heart that gives willingly
to others as a product of my love for You. May You be glorified in all I say and do… and all
I give to others and to You, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Encouragement Bible Verses
Bible Verses of
Encouragement That Give Strength and Comfort!!
Encouraging Bible Verses and Quotes - The below Scriptures
will offer encouragement in
your daily life and provide inspiration and strength as you cope with life's
challenges. God's plan for your life is that you have joy and life life to the
full.
If you are
feeling overwhelmed, run down, and without hope, the Bible can lift your
spirits and give you a fresh start! This collection of verses from the Holy Bible are filled with
encouragement and will have you experience God's healing power for our soul.
Meditate on these verses through the day and share them with your friends so
you can make an impact on someone else's day!
God has encouraged us
that if we believe in Him he will give us strength, no matter what we're
dealing with. Here are a few verses that speak to the strength and
encouragement we can find in Him.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty
one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will
quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Matthew
6:34 Therefore do not be
anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for
the day is its own trouble.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you;my peace I give
to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be
troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the
LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to
be moved
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our
outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For
this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory
beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the
things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the
things that are unseen are eternal.
Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a
stronghold in times of trouble.
Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in
peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God
you have an everlasting rock.
1 Chronicles
16:11 Seek the LORD
and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; you will
protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and
build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He
will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be
dismayed.
Bible Verses of Encouragement That Bring
Comfort
God doesn't always
take away the pain or suffering that we're dealing with, but he does give us
comfort in the midst of those troubles.
Psalm
55:22 Cast your burden on
the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous
to be moved.
Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the
hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who
made heaven and earth.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.
Isaiah 49:13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O
earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his
people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He
will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be
dismayed.”
Monday, September 17, 2018
Forgiveness is God Command.
>Forgiveness can
be difficult. In our day-to-day people will do or say things that offend
us, rather than hold a grudge – the Bible teaches us to forgive them. Having an
unforgiving heart leads to bitterness, and a heart that is bitter can not love
as it ought to love.
This is something I’m putting into practice myself. I often demanded an apology
in order to forgive someone. But when it’s done this way we – more often than not, are
reacting based on the desires of our flesh. We feel an apology is owed to us.
In scripture we can find encouraging, and inspiring verses that
encourage us to be forgiving.
These are some of the verses I like to turn to for encouragement
when I’m struggling with the difficulty of forgiveness.
Ephesians 4: 32 Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 18: 21-22 Then
Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to
you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8 Now if anyone has caused
pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too
severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is
enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.”
Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a
complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-6 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy
or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is
not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices
with the truth.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you
will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and
you will be forgiven;
FORGIVENESS IS ABOUT GOD FORGIVE US, BUT ALSO ABOUT HOW WE FORGIVE EACH OTHERS.
FORGIVING CAN BE HARD…
Matthew 5;43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your
neighbor and
hate your enemy.’ 44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate
you, and pray for
those who spitefully use you and persecute you
>ABOVE ALL,LOVE EACH OTHER DEEPLY, BECAUSE LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE
OF SIN.(1PETER 4;8) GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!
Sunday, September 16, 2018
THE POWER OF YOUR TONGUE
Proverbs has a lot to say about what we say. In
fact, the subject of the tongue and how we use our words is perhaps the
preeminent theme of this book. Over 150 times in this book alone, Proverbs
refers to our lips, our mouth and our tongue. One of the central issues of the
Book of Proverbs is how you use your tongue. I think all of us remember reading
in the book of James where it says “Though
the tongue is small, it is set on fire of hell. With the same tongue we bless
the Lord and curse our friends.”
Words are important. After all, God created the
universe with words. He spoke and it was so. Our Lord Jesus was called THE
WORD. “In the beginning was
the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us.”
Two reasons why words are important:
1.
Because of the sheer quantity of words we use.
Do you have any idea???According to
researchers, each person here will open his mouth an average of 700 times in a
day. In those 700 times, you will use an average of 18,000 words. Those 18,000
words would translate to about 54 printed pages. That means that in one year,
an average person would fill 66 books of 800 pages each. Every year. wonder Jesus said, “By your words you
will be condemned and by your words you will be justified.”
2.
Because of the amazing power of words.
With your words you either say something worthwhile or something
that is not worth anything at all.
Proverbs 18:20-21, “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s
stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue
has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Whether you know it or not, there is the power of life and
there is the power of death within you. Everything you have said this week has
either been life-giving or death-dealing, and there is nothing in between. The
tongue has the power to kill, to destroy, to hurt, to maim and to assassinate.
Right
Uses of the Tongue
1. The tongue may be used for wise counsel and sound
advice.
Proverbs 10:31 says, “The mouth of the righteous brings forth
wisdom.”
Proverbs 15:7 says, “The lips of the wise spread knowledge.”
2. The tongue can speak rebuke and reproof.
Proverbs 17:10 says, “A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a
hundred lashes a fool.” If you find a man of
understanding and you rebuke him, he will be impressed by your rebuke more than
if you find a fool and beat him with a lash 100 times. That is because a wise
man, a man of discernment, is a man you can come to and say, “My friend, I
think you’re on the wrong path. My friend, I’m not sure about what you’re
doing. Before you do that, stop and think. Let’s talk for a bit.” Blessed is
the man who has a friend who is willing to come and give you advice like that.
Proverbs 27:6 says, “FAITHFUL ARE THE WOUNDS OF A FRIEND,
BUT THE KISSES OF AN ENEMY ARE DECEITFUL.
.
3. The
tongue may be used for encouragement.
“Proverbs
12:25- An
anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”
“Proverbs 15:4The tongue that brings
healing is a tree of life.”
“Proverbs 15:23A man finds joy in giving
an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!”
“Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are a
honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
How many of your words this last week were words
of encouragement? How many of your words were words to build up? How many times
in the last week did you find it necessary to criticize, to tear down and
destroy? . Are you the kind of person that other people are glad to see coming
into the room, or are you the kind of person that causes other people to turn
their face away? One reason may be that they see you as a negative,
discouraged, critical person. Everybody has troubles and problems. Nobody gets
a free ride from earth to heaven. How blessed you are if you use your tongue to
lift up and encourage the people around you.
4. The
tongue may be used for witnessing to others.
“The lips of the righteous nourish many.”
Proverbs 10:21
That
means that you can use your lips to help bring people to God. You can use your
lips to give spiritual nourishment to other people.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of
life, and he who wins souls is wise.”Proverbs 11:30
That
means that somebody, somewhere, opened their mouth and gave you the gospel. You
are a Christian because somebody shared the gospel with you, spoke on the
social media, from a pulpit, or because somebody close to you spoke the words
of life to you. What have you been doing to become a tree of life where you
work, at your school, to your friends, to your neighbors, to your loved ones?
By your lips you should give such good fruit that people come and want what you
have…
BUT SOMETIMES YOUR TONGUE HE USES FOR WORONG…
1.Wrong
Uses of the Tongue
“Proverbs 20:17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”
“Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a
flattering mouth works ruin.” Proverbs
“ Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the
end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.”
2. The
tongue may be used for quarreling.
“Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and
his mouth invites a beating.”
“ Proverbs
29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under
control.”
Young people, you’ll never learn a better lesson than this: learn
to control your temper.
Proverbs 22:24-25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
do not associate with one easily angered.”
3. The
tongue may be used for gossip.
“Proverbs 10:18 He who conceals his
hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
“Proverbs 16:28A perverse man stirs up
dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
Proverbs 17:9 He who covers over an offense
promotes love.But whoever repeats the mater separates close friends.
That means that you don’t have to tell
everything you know. You don’t have to make everything right. You can cover
over some things so you can go on with life.
Three questions to ask yourself whenever you’re
tempted to tell something to someone else about what somebody has done:
Is it true?
Is is kind?
Is it necessary?
There wouldn’t be any gossip if we used those
three questions before speaking.
4. The
tongue may be used for lying.
Proverbs 6:16-19 gives
us the seven things the Lord hates. Two of them are a lying tongue and a false
witness who pours out lies.
“Proverbs
14:25 A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.”
“ Proverbs
12:19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
5. The
tongue may be used to seduce to evil.
Proverbs 5 talks about the lips of an
adulteress. It says her lips drip with honey.
“Proverbs 6:24 Keeping you from the immoral woman (or man),
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife (or husband.)
“Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of an
adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the Lord’s wrath will fall into it.”
Your tongue, which is meant to bless God, can be
used to drag other people down into sin. Don’t do it.
6. The
tongue may be used to talk too much.
“ Proverbs 10:19 When words are many,
sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
“ Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips
guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
“ Proverbs 17:27 A man of knowledge uses
words with restraint.”
Proverbs
17:28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he
holds his tongue
That means that you don’t have to have an
opinion on everything. You don’t have to comment on everything that goes by you
in life. You don’t have to answer every question. How blessed we would all be
if we would learn to listen more and to speak less.
This is the best single verse on the tongue in
all the Bible. It says, “Let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” You wouldn’t have too many interpersonal problems anywhere if you
just put that verse into practice..
4.
Yield your tongue to God.
Have you ever done that? Have you ever said,
“Lord, my tongue now belongs to you?” That’s where Romans 6 comes in, talking
about yielding the members of your body to God. Have you ever told the Lord, “I
have been using my tongue for myself. I am now going to use it for you. Here are
my lips, let me speak for you. Here is my mouth, let my mouth speak the words
that you want.” Proverbs 16:1 says, “To a man belongs
the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.” That verse means the tongue can be put under the Lord’s control.
That’s a great thought. Your tongue, which today may be set on fire of hell may
become a tongue under God’s control. He can give you new lips. He can give you
a new tongue. He can put new words in your mouth. He can baptize your speech.
Shall we not yield our tongue to him? Shall we not give him our lips? Shall we
not give him our speech? Shall we not say, “Oh, Heavenly Father, here is my
tongue, let it speak only for you!
Oh God, help us today and this week to yield our
lips to you and so may they be filled with messages for thee. Amen.
Monday, September 10, 2018
KULANG TAYO SA PANALANGIN!(COL 1;9-14)
Kulang tayo sa
panalangin. Hindi lang ito sa mga bagong Christians, kundi sa marami sa atin na
matagal na sa buhay Cristiano. Sabi nga ni Philip Yancey na pagdating sa
prayer, “we are all beginners.” If we are honest, there is not much prayer
going on in our lives.
Hindi natin masyadong
naiisip ang ibang tao, hindi palaging sumasagi sa isip natin ang makinig sa
Dios at kausapin siya. We would rather spend much time in front of the TV,
checking our Facebook, surfing the Internet, playing games, working, sleeping,
talking to others than pray.
At kung magpray man
tayo, kadalasan ang prayer natin para sa sarili lang natin, para ibless ni Lord
ang buhay natin, ang health natin, ang family natin, ang business natin. At
kung magpray man tayo para sa iba, our prayers are not that biblical and
God-centered. Kulang tayo sa panalangin, kaya nga ang least popular na activity
sa church ay ang Prayer Meeting.ito ang minsan ang problema natin ang puso
natin!
Heart Problem
Bakit ganoon? Dahil ba
sobrang busy talaga ng buhay at wala tayong magawa para maiadjust ang schedule
natin? Dahil ba we find it really boring at hindi kasing exciting ng ibang
activities? Dahil ba hindi ka sanay at walang nagtuturo sa iyo? I believe na ang
problema natin ay hindi schedule, hindi rin skills or experience. Ang problema
natin ay ang puso natin. Kapag hindi tayo nananalangin, lalo na para sa ibang
tao, nagpapakita ito ng…
1. Unbelief. May kinalaman ito sa attitude ng puso natin sa Dios. Di tayo
naniniwalang sabik siyang makipag-usap sa atin. Di tayo naniniwalang kaya niya
at gusto niyang baguhin ang puso ng sinumang pinagpepray natin. Di tayo
naniniwala sa kabutihan, pag-ibig at kapangyarihan ng Dios na sumasagot sa
panalangin. Ang tiwala natin nasa sarili natin o nasa ibang tao.
2. Pride/self-centeredness. Feeling natin kayang-kaya nating patakbuhin
ang buhay natin. Konting pagsisikap lang at tiyaga mairaraos natin ang buhay
natin. Bilib tayo sa sarili natin. At kung hindi man sa sarili, sa ibang tao
tayo hihingi ng tulong sa halip na sa Dios. We don’t pray because we love
ourselves too much.
3. Lack of love. Kung magpray man tayo para sa sarili lang natin. Kulang na
kulang ang panahon at effort na inilalaan natin praying for others. Bakit? Kasi
feeling natin mas importante ang pangangailangan natin kaysa sa iba. We don’t
feel any concern sa kahirapan at mga struggles na pinagdadaanan ng mga kasama
natin sa church. We become unloving kapag sinasabi nating wala naman tayong
responsibility para sa ibang tao. So we don’t pray for others.
Kung mabalitaan man
natin ang mga prayer concerns ng ibang tao, nakita mo siguro sa Facebook, o
naitext sa iyo, o sumagi sa isip mo, tapos di ka man lang naglaan ng focused
prayer para sa kanya, kasi tingin mo sobrang busy mo, pinapakita nito ang
unbelief, self-centeredness, at lack of love sa puso mo. Ouch ba? Kasi totoo
naman.
Ibang-iba ang response
ni Paul. Kung titingnan natin, di pa niya nakikilala talaga nang personal ang
mga taga-Colosas. Nasa kulungan siya, di pa siya nakakapunta doon. Si Epaphras
ang nagdala ng Magandang Balita sa kanila. At siya namang nagbalita kay Pablo
kung ano ang magagandang nangyayari doon. Kaya naman nang mabalitaan niya iyon,
nagpapasalamat siya sa Dios sa bunga ng Magandang Balita sa kanila na mas
lalong tumitibay ang pananampalataya nila kay Cristo, at lalong umiinit ang
pag-ibig nila para sa isa’t isa bilang isang pamilya ng Dios (Col-1:3-4).
Maganda ang nangyayari
sa kanila. So, pwedeng sabihin ni Paul, “OK na pala kayo. Good job! Di n’yo na
kailangan ng tulong ko.” Pero hindi, kaya nga siya sumulat sa kanila kasi may
mga concerns. Pero bago pa man siya sumulat, he was already praying for them.
Verse 9, “Kaya nga, mula nang mabalitaan namin ang tungkol sa inyo, patuloy namin
kayong ipinapanalangin” Hindi niya
sinabing, “Iba na lang ang ipagpepray ko ha, maiintindihan n’yo naman siguro
iyon.” At hindi lang siya basta nananalangin, regular siyang nananalangin para
sa kanila. Ang itinuturo niya sa atin na “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17)
ay ipinamumuhay niya at nagbibigay siya ng magandang halimbawa para sa atin.
Tayo po ba? katulad ba tayo ni Pablo na
nananalangin para sa mga church members natin? At masasabi ba natin sa kanila
na tularan nila ang halimbawa natin pagdating sa prayer life (1 Cor. 4:16;
11:1)?
Bakit tayo dapat manalangin para sa iba?
Ituloy natin ang verse
9, “Hinihiling namin sa Dios na bigyan nawa kayo We continually ask God to fill
you…” Bago natin talakayin ang laman ng prayer ni Paul para sa kanila, dito sa
simula ng sinabi niya, mapapansin natin kung bakit siya nananalangin para sa
kanila, at bakit ganoon din dapat tayo.
1. Kailangan nila. Kaya nga ang hiling ni Pablo ay bigyan sila ng Dios ng kailangan
nila. “that you may be filled…” Ibig sabihin, meron pang kulang sa kanila,
hindi pa sila kumpleto. pero kong ikaw ay
na kay Cristo wala nang kulang, pero sa karanasan natin ng katotohanang iyan,
di pa natin iyan lubos na nararamdaman, di pa iyan lubos na bumabaon sa puso
natin. Patuloy pa rin ang laban natin sa kasalanan. Ang tinutukoy dito ay ang
ating ongoing sanctification, ang proseso na nilalakaran natin para maging
tulad ni Cristo. Di pa tapos iyan. Di pa tayo dumarating sa destination natin.
None of us has fully arrived. Wala ni isa man sa atin ang completely mature na
na hindi na natin kakailanganin ng prayer – kahit sino paman sa atin. Para tayong
timba, may laman nang tubig iyan. Pero hindi pa puno, patuloy nating isasalok
sa gripo, dahil naniniwala tayong sapat ang tubig na pinagmumulan nito para
punuin tayo.
2. Sapat ang Dios. Nananalangin tayo, dahil anumang kakulangan sa atin at sa ibang
tao, naniniwala tayong sapat ang Dios sa lahat ng iyon. At siya lang, wala nang
iba ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng kailangan natin, ng lahat ng kailangan natin.
Pansinin n’yo kung paanong inuulit-ulit ni Pablo ang salitang all,
every, at fully. Malinaw ito sa ESV: “all spiritual
wisdom and understanding” (v. 9); “fully pleasing to him (NIV,
“please him in every way”), bearing fruit in every good
work” (v. 10); “all power…all endurance” (v. 11). When
we pray for others, we believe that only God can give us everything we need. So
God is glorified in our prayers.
3. May responsibilidad tayo. Oo nga’t ang Dios ang gagawa noon, at kaya
niyang gawin without our help. Pero niloob niya na gawin iyon sa pamamagitan
natin, and our prayer as his instrument. Kaya sabi ni Paul, “Hinihiling namin…”
Siya ang nananalangin. Parang tulay o water conduit, para ang gagawin ng Dios
sa mga taga-Colosas ay dumaloy mula sa langit patungo sa kanila. We fulfill a
priestly function when we pray for others. We imitate the ministry of Jesus as
our Great High Priest. Kaya nga sa dulo ng prayer natin sinasabi natin, “In
Jesus’ name.” At kapag siniseryoso natin ang prayer para sa iba, we are acting
out of love for them. We are taking responsibility for the spiritual growth of
others. Hindi na lang puro sarili natin ang iniisip natin.
Ito ba ang
pinaniniwalaan natin? O hindi tayo nananalangin para sa iba kasi di ka naman
tayo naniniwala na kailangan nila, sapat ang Dios, at may responsibilidad ka?
Pero kung ito ang pinaniniwalaan mo – strong conviction in your heart – you
will begin adjusting your prayer life, na di na pwedeng mawala sa prayer list
mo ang ibang tao – your family, our church members and minstries, our
missionaries, your unbelieving friends, and unreached people,
Anu-ano ang dapat nating ipanalangin para sa
isa’t isa?
Kung babasahin natin
ang laman ng prayer ni Paul para sa kanila sa verses 9-12, it is very obvious
na ang prayer niya ay para sa kanilang spiritual growth, o heart
transformation. Obvious din na ang prayer niya ay hindi para sa physical health
nila, o sa success sa work or business, o sa pagkakaroon ng asawa o anak, o sa
exams nila sa school. Oo pinagpepray natin iyan, at importante naman. But those
things are not most important. Ang pinakamahalaga ay ang puso ng tao, ang paglago
natin sa Christian life sa relasyon natin sa Dios at sa ibang tao. But when you
assess ang mga prayer items mo o prayer requests mo, karamihan walang kinalaman
sa personal spiritual growth. We are not praying according to his will,
but according to our own will, kung ganoon. “This is the confidence
we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he
hears us” (1 John 5:14 NIV). Dito sa prayer ni Paul sa Colosas, anu-ano ang
hiniling niya sa Dios para sa kanila na “according to his will”?
1. Na lumago sa pag-unawa ng kalooban ng Dios (v. 9). Hiling ni Pablo sa Dios na bigyan ang
mga Colossian Christians ng “karunungan at pang-unawang mula sa Banal na
Espiritu para lubusan ninyong malaman ang kalooban niya”; “to fill you with the
knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit
gives” (NIV). Ito ang primary prayer item ni Paul. Lahat ng susunod na
babanggitin ko ay nakapailalim dito o nagmumula dito. Ang salitang “knowledge”
dito sa original (Gk. epignosis) ay nangangahulugang full knowledge
or deep knowledge. Ito ang prayer ni Pablo dahil merong mga katuruang nagsasabi
sa kanila ng mga bagay na kailangan nilang malaman para maging lubos ang
religious experience nila. Pero kay Pablo, ang kailangan nilang malaman ay
hindi kung anu-ano pa, kundi ang kalooban ng Dios. At ito ay tumutukoy hindi
lang sa kung ano ang gusto ng Dios na gawin natin, kundi sa kung ano ang plano
ng Dios na gawin at kung paano tayo makikibahagi doon.
At siyempre, ibig
sabihin nito na nais ni Pablo na mas maging malalim at malawak ang pang-unawa
nila sa Salita ng Dios, kasi doon naman natin matatagpuan kung ano ang kalooban
niya. Pero hindi lang ito intellectual knowledge, but spiritual, yung galing sa
Espiritu. Posible kasi na aral ka ng aral, marami na tayong alam, pero di naman bumabaon sa puso natin ang
kalooban ng Dios. Sasabi ba natin “I delight to do your will, O my God; your
law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:8) or “My food is to do the will of the Father”
(John 4:34).
This knowledge is
“through all the wisdom and understanding” – na ibig sabihin ay nailalapat sa
buhay kung ano ang alam at pinaniniwalaan natin. Practical. Hindi lang
intellectual. I pray for all of you na magkaroon tayong lahat ng pusong sabik
na mag-aral ng Salita ng Dios, learners, sumisisid sa Salita ng Dios, at sabik
na gawin kung ano ang kalooban niya.
2. Na lumago sa pamumuhay nang nararapat at nakalulugod sa
Dios (v. 10). “Sa
ganoon, makapamumuhay tayo nang karapat-dapat at kalugod-lugod sa Panginoon sa
lahat ng bagay…so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in
every way This is the goal of his prayer, na hindi lang basta kaalaman, kundi
merong pagbabago sa buhay. God’s will in the Word is given not for our
information but for our transformation. Not just knowledge, but leading to a
transformed life. Ang salitang “worthy” ay nagpapakita na dapat sang-ayon ang
buhay natin sa pagkakaalam natin. Integridad ang pinag-uusapan dito. Maraming
Christians malaki ang ulo, maliit naman ang puso. Maraming alam, di naman
isinasagawa ang nalalaman.
Oo, dahil kay Cristo,
we are well-pleasing to God. Pero tandaan natin na makagagawa pa rin tayo ng
mga bagay na magugustuhan o di magugustuhan ng Dios. Huwag nating isiping
magugustuhan ng Dios kung marami kang alam, nakapagtapos sa Bible school. Tapos
di naman nakikita sa pamumuhay mo. Our goal is to please him in every way. Na
lahat ng bahagi ng buhay natin ay nakaayon sa kalooban ng Dios. Kung dati, kung
ano ang gusto mo, kung ano ang pangarap mo, kung ano ang trip mo yun ang
nasusunod, ngayon hindi na. ang maghari na sa atin ay ang bagong desires at
motives na sumunod sa kalooban ng Dios sa lahat ng bahagi ng buhay, na ang
hangarin natin ay hindi ang i-please ang
kung sinu-sino, kundi ang bigyang-lugod ang Dios.
Ano ang larawan ng
buhay na pleasing sa paningin ng Dios? Iyon ang number 3 hanggang number 6.
3. Na lumago sa mabubuting gawa (v. 10). “…At makikita na lumalago tayo sa
mabubuting gawa” bearing fruit in every good work” Malinaw sa Ephesians 2:8-10
na naligtas tayo hindi dahil sa mabuting gawa natin, kundi dahil sa biyaya ng
Dios sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya. Pero ang resulta ng kaligtasang
natanggap natin ay ang paglago natin sa mabubuting gawa na inihanda na ng Dios
noon pa man para sa atin. Dahil kay Cristo, may buhay na tayo. At ang bunga
nito ay ang mabubuting gawa para tugunan ang pangangailangan ng ibang tao. Sabi
nga “God doesn’t need our good works;
our neighbor does.”
Nagpasalamat na si
Paul sa Dios dahil sa paglago ng mga taga-Colosas (v. 6), dito ang prayer niya
ay patuloy silang lumago at magbunga. Na hindi na lang sarili nila ang iniisip,
kundi kung paano makakatulong sa ibang tao. At yan ang prayer ng bawat isa sa
atin na ang primary motivation natin ay sa pagpunta at involvement sa church,,,
hindi yong “Mabebless kaya ako dun?” kundi, “Paano kaya ako magiging blessing,
encouragement, at support para sa iba?” Kapag nangyari iyan, God is pleased
kapag ang nagiging direksyon ng buhay natin ay outward, sa halip na inward.
4. Na lumago sa pagkakilala sa Dios . but knowing God deeply. Intimacy ang
pinag-uusapan dito. The more we know him, the more we love him, the more
his love overflow. Kung hindi mangyari iyan, sayang lang ang mga marami nting
alam. God is pleased not when we are spending a lot of time studying things
about him, but when we are spending a lot of time enjoying him.
5. Na lumago sa pagtitiwala sa kalakasang galing sa
Dios (v. 11). “Nawa’y
palakasin niya kayo sa pamamagitan ng dakila niyang kapangyarihan, para
makatagal at makapagtiis kayo sa lahat ng bagay nang may kagalakan”being
strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may
have great endurance and patience” (NIV). Mahirap ang buhay, lalo na ang buhay
na nagpapasakop sa kalooban ng Dios. God doesn’t promise an easy life. Pero sa
hirap ng buhay, natural sa atin na kakapit tayo, lalapit tayo, kukuha tayo ng
lakas sa sarili natin o sa ibang tao, o sa experience natin, o sa skills natin,
o sa kayamanan natin. Kaya ang prayer ni Paul, na maplease nila si Lord sa
pamamagitan ng pagkapit sa lakas na nanggagaling sa Dios. “With all power
according to his glorious might.” Wow! Yan ang available na tulong na kailangan
natin. Yan din ang inaayawan natin kung sa iba tayo humihingi ng tulong.
“for all endurance and patience with joy.”
Madaling magtiis kung magtitiis lang. Madaling magtiyaga kung magtitiyaga lang.
Pero hindi iyan ang nais ng Dios sa atin. Hindi ang makaraos lang sa araw-araw,
hindi ang malagpasan lang ang mga pagsubok sa buhay. But to go through life,
even in hardships, with joy. Kaya yan ang prayer ni Paul. Kasi imposible sa
atin iyan. Hindi natural iyan. Galing sa Holy Spirit yan (Gal. 5:22-23). dapat
din ang prayers natin. Alam ko marami sa atin ang dumaraan sa kung anu-anong
trials – may health problems, may problema sa asawa, may financial
difficulties, may pressures sa work at sa business. Tapos sa loob-loob mo,
“Hanggang kelan kaya ito? May katapusan pa ba ‘to?” Ang prayer ko, magkaroon tayo
ng attitude na hindi takasan ang pagsubok at hirap ng buhay kundi maging
matatag na harapin ito nang may kagalakan, na narerealize na wala sa mga bagay
na iyan ang satisfaction at treasures natin, kundi nasa Dios lang sa
pamamagitan ng Panginoong Jesus na nasa atin.
6. Na lumago sa pasasalamat sa Dios (v. 12). “At [nang] makapagpasalamat din tayo
sa Ama.” Again, hindi rin ito natural sa atin. Kapag may mga problema, natural
sa atin ang magreklamo, mag-alala, mawalan ng pag-asa. Kapag maganda naman ang
nangyayari, natural sa atin ang kuhanin ang credit o papuri para sa sarili
natin. “Ang galing ko kasi, masipag kasi ako, masunurin kasi ako.” To humble
ourselves and to give God all the glory and the credit is a work of the Spirit.
Ang prayer ni Paul para sa kanila ay magkaroon sila ng pusong laging
naghahangad na bigyang papuri ang Panginoon. Yan din ang prayer ko sa inyo,
lalo na sa mga active sa ministry na minsan nararamdaman n’yong di kayo
napapansin kasi walang affirmation o papuri man lang sa inyo. Na ang maging
pangunahing hangarin ng puso natin ay sa lahat ng ginagawa mo at magandang
nangyayari sa paglilingkod natin, ang hangarin mo ay bigyang papuri ang Dios,
hindi ang sarili natin.dapat
taimtim na manatili tayong
matatag, maging ganap, at may buong katiyakan sa kalooban ng Dios. Saksi ako sa
mga pagsisikap ni Epafras para sa inyo…” ( COL;4:12-13) .
Ang panalangin para sa
iba ay hindi lang gawaing pampastor. Para po ito sa lahat sa atin. So,
magcommit tayo na manalangin araw-araw. Basahin ang Bibliya araw-araw, at
ipanalangin ang kalooban ng Dios na matupad sa buhay ng ibang tao. Pray for
your family and others.
Ano ang kumpiyansa nating sasagutin ng Dios
ang mga panalangin natin sa isa’t isa?
Alalahanin natin kung
ano na ang laki ng ginawa para sa atin ng Dios, tiyak na gagawin niya rin ang
hinihiling natin ayon sa kalooban niya. Remember the gospel. Ito ang confidence
natin sa prayer life natin. Our prayers must be
gospel-driven. Pansinin n’yong iyon agad ang kasunod na sinabi ni Pablo
pagkatapos ng prayer niya sa vv. 12b-14. Anong koneksyon? Para sabihin kung
bakit tiwala siya sa Dios at dapat tiwala din tayo sa Dios sa mga prayers
natin.
1. Ginawa na niya tayong karapat-dapat. Verse 12b, “Ginawa niya kayong
karapat-dapat na makabahagi sa mamanahin ng mga pinabanal niya, ang manang nasa
kinaroroonan ng kaliwanagan.” Wala ni isa man sa atin ang banal. Lahat tayo
marumi. Walang karapat-dapat na manahin, parusa pa nga ang nararapat. Pero
dahil kay Cristo, we are now qualified and worthy. Iniintay natin ang manang
iyan na nakareserba na sa atin sa langit.
2. Inilipat na niya tayo sa kanyang Kaharian. Verse 13, “Iniligtas niya tayo mula sa
kapangyarihan ng kadiliman at inilipat tayo sa kaharian ng minamahal niyang
Anak.” Dati, nasa kadiliman tayo, ngayon nasa liwanag na. Dati alipin ni
Satanas, ngayon mga anak na ng Dios. Dahil kay Cristo.
3. Tinubos na tayo’t pinatawad ang kasalanan. Verse 14, “At sa pamamagitan ng kanyang
Anak, tinubos niya tayo, na ang ibig sabihin ay pinatawad ang mga kasalanan
natin.” Dati, alipin tayo ng kasalanan. Ngayon, malaya na. Dati, napakalaki ng
pagkakautang natin sa Dios. Di natin kayang bayaran. Ngayon, bayad nang lahat.
Higit pa doon, nasa atin na ang katuwiran ni Cristo at lahat ng pagpapalang kasama
noon. Dahil kay Cristo lahat.
Ibinigay na ng Dios
ang kanyang lahat-lahat para sa atin, kaya makatitiyak tayong sa panalangin
natin para sa sarili at para sa iba, ibibigay din niya sa atin ang lahat ng
bagay. Ito ang sabi ni Pablo sa Romans 8:32, “Kung ang sarili niyang Anak ay
hindi niya ipinagkait kundi ibinigay para sa atin, tiyak na ibibigay din niya
sa atin ang lahat ng bagay” (ASD); “He who did not spare his own Son but gave
him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things”
(ESV)? Mas mararanasan natin at ng ibang tao ang katotohanang “kay Cristo, wala
nang kulang” kung palagi tayong mananalangin para sa ibang tao.God Bless you
all!!
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