Category: Discipleship

Posted on

IT’S A GOD-THING!

I’ve learned to declare this statement whenever something incredible happens and I know it wasn’t because of me.

Five Amorite kings launch an attack against Joshua and the Israelites.  That’s 5 kings plus their armies!

The Bible says that after an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took their enemies by surprise.  The Lord thew their enemies into confusion which was the cause of their defeat.  Not only that, many of them were killed because the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them that more of them died from hailstones than by the sword.

Then an interesting occurrence happens – Joshua asks the Lord for the sun to stand still.  And it did!  For a whole day!

Joshua 10:14 says that there has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man.  Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

It was a God-thing!

Two things from this…

1. God listens.

God listened to the prayers of Joshua.  And He still does to this day!  He told us to ask, seek and knock!  Then we shall receive, find and the door will be opened.

2. God fights for His people.

You know it’s God when something amazing happens and it is clearly not of your own doing.  Why does He do that?  So that it will be crystal clear to us that IT WAS ALL HIM!

At the end of the day (or 2 days for Joshua and the Israelites), I’m sure they talked to each other and declared, “Surely, it was a God-thing!”

Posted on

DESENSITIZATION IS DANGEROUS

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!

Posted on

I’M NOT BUT I AM

I’m really not excited about fasting.

When I hear people say that they’re looking forward to it, I wish I could switch bodies and share their excitement.  I actually dread it.  It’s not something I enjoy.  I think I enjoy food better to say the least.

I’ve also heard people say that after the 3rd or 4th day, it gets easier.  I’ve been doing this for several years now but the time it only gets easier is on the 7th day, at around 9 pm when I get my first meal.

I am not excited… but inside of me I really am.

I know it doesn’t make sense but it will in a minute.

I am excited about what God will do in my life and in the lives of many.

  • lives that are going to be changed
  • people who are going to be saved
  • small groups that are going to grow
  • young people who are going to get reached for God
  • financial breakthroughs
  • relational issues resolved
  • spiritual restoration
  • wisdom in major crossroads
  • increased anointing to minister
  • power to live for God in a way that would make Jesus famous
  • new jobs, promotions salary increases
  • productivity and abundance
  • family restoration

.

… and so much more…

Right before crossing the Jordan river to enter the promised land, Joshua who was leading the Israelite nation was told by God through an angel,


“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do AMAZING THINGS among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

Before the miracle (the nation crossing the river on dry ground), they had to go to God and consecrate themselves.  They had to focus and separate themselves from all that might take them away from Him and fling their lives into His will and purpose.

We start the fast tomorrow.  I’m still not excited.  But really, I am.  I am excited about what God will do…

FOR TOMORROW, THE LORD WILL DO AMAZING THINGS AMONG US!

See you.

Posted on

WHAT IS GOOD?

good_evil_t-shirt1

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

What is good?

1. Act justly.

Have I been fair in all my decisions?  How does God view my decisions?  Have I done things just to that I can be in the advantage?

2. Love mercy.

Do I find myself showing compassion?  Or am I prideful to show mercy?  Do I realize that I myself have received mercy for mercy is not getting what I deserve?  Do I treat others the way I’d like to be treated?  Or am I harsh not realizing that my frustrations sometimes show up in other people’s mistakes?

3. Walk humbly.

Do I understand false humility?  Do I understand that I may look humble on the outside yet so full of pride on the inside? How can I walk humbly today?

By His grace, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!