Paolo Punzalan.com

Welcome me back to the blogging world.

My friend Benzon Tan asked me where I’ve been.

I’ve been out of commission for the past 3 weeks because I had my computer re-formatted because I had too much clutter in my files.  As a result, I lost all the saved passwords and ‘cookies’.  Through the years that I’ve used my computer, certain files and ‘cookies’ make their way into my hard disk memory.

I look at that and I notice that that’s the same way with my life.  And guess what, it’s the same with yours.  Life has a way of setting in those ‘cookies’ and junk that might slow down your processor and clog your hard disk.

Paul spells it out plainly to us when he said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

God’s word has a big role to play in this renewing process…

Read it, think about it, live it…

Absolute surrender… a phrase that has moved me since I read it from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest.”

In a time when we question everything, this phrase may not necessarily be a welcome phrase in many people’s vocabulary.

One word can define why this can happen – TRUST.

… trust in Someone you know won’t fail.
… trust in Someone you are sure desires the best for you.
… trust in Someone you are convinced that He knows the end from the beginning…

When Jesus called His first disciples to an adventure for the next three years He’ll be in ministry, this is what He said, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

The Bible didn’t say that the disciples thought about it first.  Neither did it say that they asked what it meant to be fishers of men (though I am pretty sure it crossed their minds).  Neither did they ask for assurance – ie, what’s the package, the benefits and the perks.

Matthew 4:20 tells us “AT ONCE they left their nets and followed Him.”

Absolute surrender.

Absolutely amazing…

Where is wisdom found?  This is the question Job asked.

His friends had different ideas…

1. Eliphaz said it came from experience. (Job 4:7,8; 5:3, 27)

What was his attitude?

“I have personally observed how life works and have figured it out.”

While experience can be a teacher, it is not necessarily the best teacher nor the ultimate source of wisdom.

2. Bildad said it came from education. (Job 8:8,9; 18:15-21)

To him, wisdom is inherited from the past.  He based his advice from traditional proverbs and sayings he frequently quoted.  Wisdom would come from the learned and teachers.

His attitude? “Those who have gone before us figured life out, and all we need to do is use that knowledge.”

3. For Zophar, wisdom would come from intelligence. (Job 11:6; 20:1-29)

To him, it’s either you have it or you don’t.  He based his advice on his wisdom that had no other source than himself.

His attitude: “The wise know what life is like but there aren’t many of us around.”

4. But Job hit the nail on the head.  It’s not from experience, nor education, nor intelligence.  His answer was that wisdom came from God. (Job 28:20-28)

His attitude: “God reveals His wisdom to those who fear Him.”

Job 28:28 – ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’

What then is the fear of the Lord?

Proverbs 8:13 – To fear the Lord is to hate evil.

It’s to hate what God hates.  To dislike what He dislikes.

A few more verses on the fear of the Lord…

Prov 15:33. The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Prov 19:23. The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Prov 10:27. The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Prov 14:27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Mary Malinao shared an awesome message during our noon time prayer meeting.

She asks the question that if Jesus is the wisdom of God personified (1 Cor.1:23-24) , and if we have Christ in us (Col.1:27), then why don’t we see a lot of Christians having wisdom?

That’s an very good question to ask.

Proverbs 8:13 says, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil…”

She then asks us, do we hate what God hates.  Is there a hatred for sin?  Is there a passion to shun evil the way God shuns it?

We’ve become ‘desensitized’ to the things God hates.  We laugh at jokes that we shouldn’t laugh at.  We watch shows that glorify sex and fornication.  We ‘tolerate’ things so as not to be called a ‘killjoy’.  Sad but true.

I need to repent.  Some you do too.  In this season of prayer and fasting, Lord help us to be sensitive to the things you love and the stuff you want us to shun!

Prayer and fasting day 1: so far so good…

Reading a book now by Justin Taylor.  He was telling a story of an 85 year old man (father of John Piper) who wrote something in his journal 1 month before he passed away.  This is what he said.

“I’ll soon be 86 but I feel strong and my health is good.  God has been exceedingly gracious and I am most unworthy of His matchless grace and patience.  The Lord is more precious to me the older I get.”

I had to re-read, re-re-read and re-re-re-read the last line.  It hit me.  Kablam!

What a statement from an 85 year old man.

That is my prayer… my desire and heart… that Jesus would be more and more precious to me the older I get.

Prayer meeting starts in 30 minutes…