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.

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.”

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!!

THE POWER OF YOUR TONGUE

The Tongue: Life and Death Are In Your Mouth!

Proverbs 18:20-21

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.

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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.

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!!