“I was introduced to the church but not to Jesus.”

This stuck with me when I was having a conversation with Toch. He grew up with wonderful Christian parents.  He was sheltered, protected and well taken cared of.

But when he moved to Manila to study, he was all on his own.  His family, friends, church mates were not there.  He was lost, became lost or got lost.

But whatever the case may be, one thing was missing – a relationship with Jesus.

He had been introduced to the church (the people, the organization, the ministry).  But sadly, he never got to meet Jesus.

Good thing, his college buddy, Crunchie introduced him to Christ.  While they were both getting high with drugs, Crunchie met Christ.

He then reached out to his buddy, Toch.  “Pare sama ka sa akin… eto, mas ibang klaseng high.” (This one, you’ll get a different type of high).

Both of them get discipled, trained and now making a difference where God’s placed them.

Toch, who is now our Senior Pastor in Victory GenSan, said,

“My prayer everyday is that we will build a church that will introduce people to Jesus, not to the church.  Church is great.  But introducing them to Jesus is way better.”

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17).

This includes our vocabulary.

Here’s a new “F” word you can use.

Try not to have the same experience Charlie will have in case he comes at the wrong time.

As I was preparing for our message this weekend, I came across an article that listed down the different Bible characters and how they could’ve come up to God and made an excuse why God can’t use them.  Some of them actually tried.

I was reminded of one of my most favorite verses in the Bible that says,

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)

Here are some of the Bible characters God used mightily yet had their flaws…

Noah got drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Joseph was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Moses had a speech problem.
Gideon was a scardey cat.
Samson was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah & Timothy thought they were too young.
David had an affair with a married woman and murdered her husband.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah thought himself unworthy.
Jonah ran away from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
Martha was a perpetual worrier.
The Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus at the well was five times divorced.
Zaccheus was too small.
Peter denied Christ.
The disciples fell asleep while praying.
The little boy only had 5 loaves & 2 fish.
Paul was a religious fanatic.
Timothy had ulcers.
Lazarus was dead!

How about you?  What’s your excuse?

I had the privilege of listening to Stephen Mansfield as he spoke to Victory pastors all over the Metro. His message was on the Signposts in the looming crash of a leader.

Here they are my notes on that talk.

1. View of authority became isolated.

The ministry on the pedestal.
Ministry becomes one of your ‘kids’.

Testimonies from the recent Prayer and Fasting keep coming in.

Here’s one which is probably in my top 3 most favorite Prayer and Fasting testimonies shared by Noemi.

Why fast? More than praying for things to happen, it was an encounter with God.  All of a sudden my lifestyle changed. I have finally finished the New Testament, which given my Bible reading pace, I would have for 6 months. My eyes were opened to people other than myself. I began to see prayer requests in the hearts of others without them telling me.

My prayer started to sound like an intimate conversation with God – like I was talking to a long-time friend. His words speak to me like no other. I appreciated the things that I have and realized that I don’t lack a thing. I was going through something personal at the moment butI was filled with peace – the kind that the world cannot give.

Why fast? Because to deny yourself of a pleasure in its simplest form (food) for a greater purpose is to see who God really is in His greatest splendor. When we draw near to Him, He will make Himself known.

With all that I gained from those 7 days, I will never be on the losing end even if God doesn’t answer my 10 faith goals. I am already a winner in every sense of the word.

“It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

He is indeed a prayer answering God.

Here’s one from Leng G. who sent me a text this morning.

Hi. Ptr Paolo, wud really like to thank u for prayin healing towards the sick people last worship night before the fast. I was not really prayin for myself but to those people around who raised their hand somehow my body conformed to the pain on my legs due to sprain and I just totally ignore the fact that it was painful it was then when u pray that I felt the difference between there is pain or not. I m really refresh and until now the sprain didn’t come back..thank u so much…… God keep u and ur family always ….

Again, I say to you, that if two of you are in agreement on earth about anything for which they will make a request, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19, BBE)

Today’s was a long day.  Full of meetings.  His grace was sufficient.

Lots of great stuff today.

Met about “Strong” series.  Message no. 2 on the way.  Message no. 1 here.

Great to meet with men (metro manila pastors) who are passionate for God and His kingdom.

Afternoon staff meeting was good. Every department positioned for a great year… by His grace.

Good ‘passionate’ discussion on certain things.  I’m thankful for men who will say what they feel is the right thing to do and are not just “YES” men.

Prayed for a guy who is believing God for restoration of marriage.

Lord, I pray for all the marriages represented.  Heal, restore, strengthen.

Prayed for the nation tonight.  Awesome.

P Manny shared a powerful message.  ”Don’t have a grasshopper mentality.”

“How you see yourself is how others will see you.” – Manny Carlos.  This principle was taken from Num 13:33 which says, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

We cry out for this nation.  Lord, heal our land.  Heal us, your people.

Praying for the nations tonight.  Ps 2 – Ask and I will give the nations to you.

Rest day.

Praying for future church plant in Paranaque.

Lots of distractions but will keep my eyes on Jesus.

They say after day 3, it gets easier.  I’ve heard that many times in the past years.  I still have to wait for that to happen to me.

Weakness before God.  When I am weak, He is strong.

More toxins coming out… physically and spiritually.

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Cor. 12:9, NLT)