God’s Word – PAOLOPUNZALAN.COM

TEMPTATION IS TOO STRONG. HOW CAN I RESIST?

I was in a meeting with a few men talking about temptation. Some of the questions arose included:

How do I resist?
What do I do when I’m tempted?
Is there a way to win over them?

As we discussed the chapter in 2 Samuel where David committed adultery with Bathsheba, here were a few things we discussed that may be of help to some of you reading this.

GOD’S WORD

Jesus was not exempted from temptation. In Luke chapter 4, we see Him being tempted by the devil on several fronts. But at every temptation, He responded with “it is written” (v.4,8 &12).

What can we learn from this? Jesus fought the temptations of the enemy with God’s Word. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is a weapon by which we may wield to defeat our enemy.

Question. Do you know what God says in His word enough that you can pull out the sword in times of temptation to defeat the enemy? If we don’t use the weapon, we won’t be able to slay the enemy.

2. FLEE

Staying in the circumstance when the temptation is ongoing is not the best way to handle it. Staying in the porn site while praying for God to deliver you is not the best route. Hanging out with friends who love to drink is not the way to defeat drunkenness. Talking to your best friend who instigates gossip is not the best road to stepping away from that sin. Staying on your favorite online shopping site will not cure your materialism.

Joseph was tempted by Mrs. Potiphar in Genesis 39. But what did Joseph do when he was tempted? Argued? Shared the love of God? Explained how sexual immorality displeases God?

Joseph ran. No explanation whatsoever.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY

I remember my friend, Pastor Marc saw another pastor of ours in a car with another lady not his wife. Right there and then, he phoned the other pastor and asked who he was with. He shared that that was his wife’s niece and was bringing her home.

Because there was permission to call out, Marc didn’t hesitate. And because the other pastor gave permission, he didn’t take offense when Marc called.

Accountability is best when it is sought and not demanded.

If I demand accountability from another person, telling him he needs to call me every Friday to report what he did and didn’t do, at a certain point, this won’t be as effective as compared to when we personally give permission to people we trust and say that they have permission to call us out and keep us accountable.

When we seek accountability, it seems more effective than us being demanded of it.

4. TRUST IN GOD

Until we come to the point that only God can give genuine, ultimate and lasting satisfaction, we will always consider other options.

I say genuine because there are fakes. The earlier we can distinguish the fakes from the genuine, the better for us. God alone can give genuine and lasting satisfaction. Every other knock-off will not fully satisfy.

5. TRANSPARENCY

While this sounds like point number 3 on accountability, I would like to make a distinction. Transparency is the willingness to be open to the people you are accountable to… even to the people who are close to you.

For the husband, does your wife know all your passwords?
For the student, does you bestfriend have access to your history folder?
For the young man, does someone have the permission to call you out?
For the young lady, does someone have the permission to check up on you regarding the struggle you currently face?

In this world, we will face temptations. But there is always a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Let’s continue to glorify God with our lives.

THE STARTING POINT OF AUTHENTIC TRANSFORMATION

As we start the fast today globally in Every Nation, I read Day Zero in our Prayer and Fasting Guide (download here). But since it’s also Day 1 here in Manila, I will read Day 1 as well.

———-

I remember in the old house we were in, my wife and I had a problem with the faucet in our bathroom. Because the water flow was so slow, to be able to brush your teeth, we had to wait about a minute for the cup to be filled. We endured this for several weeks until we got a plumber to help us with our faucet. In 10 minutes, he figured out the problem thus a cup could be filled in 3 seconds instead of a minute.

What you tolerate, you will never change.

I’ve heard that many times on different occasions. What you will allow to continue in your life, you will never see changes. God desires to sanctify and change us into the image and likeness of God. But if we stay stuck in our ways, we won’t be able to move forward.

The Bible says in Matthew 22:19 that “you are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Change happens all the time. But genuine and lasting change in the life of a person can only happen when God does it. By His power and the power of His Word, we are transformed.

The starting point is with the gospel. We can try to write 10 steps to change or 7 stages to transformation but if they don’t start with an understanding of what God has been done for us rather than what we can do for God, then we only find ourselves frustrated as with many of our New Year’s resolutions.

Jesus became flesh.
Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life.
Jesus was crucified.
Jesus was buried.
Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus is coming back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The Scriptures declare that Jesus is Savior and Lord. (Acts 2:36)
And the power of God is the gospel for through it, many are saved. (Romans 1:16)

———-

Watch Pastor Jim Laffoon as he explains further …

FASTING IN BITE SIZES

Rhubarb_Cake_00008.tif

This week has been an amazing week of prayer, fasting and seeking God.

I’d like to share with you thoughts I got either from the Word, speakers during the prayer meeting or personal reflection.

Here they are…

The Holy Spirit enables us to speak the Word with great boldness. – CJ Nunag

You are enabled by the Word of God and empowered by the Spirit of God. – CJ Nunag

Speak the Word not out of fear but out of faith. – CJ Nunag

To love another is to seek their highest good. – Peter Tan-Chi

If we want to pray for the body of Christ, lets pray that we will all be Christ-like. – Peter Tan-Chi

If we align our prayers with God’s kingdom purposes, then we have the assurance that our prayers will be answered. – Manny Carlos

Prayer enables us to walk into doors of opportunity. – Manny Carlos

Prayer makes us sensitive to the leading of God. – Manny Carlos

On reaching next gen: It’s not a quick fix but it’s thinking long term. – Joseph Bonifacio

On reaching next generation: It’s not acting like a kid but building relationships. – Joseph Bonifacio

God is a Multi generational God. – Joseph Bonifacio

“Sometimes, it’s not adversity but prosperity that makes us forget God.” – Nixon Ng

Refuse to lose. Jesus has won the victory!

It is the wisest thing to trust the plan of the One who knows your past, your present and your future. – Juray Mora

God has a plan for our breakthroughs. The question is if we are willing to work with His plans. – Juray Mora

God’s breakthroughs in our lives do not come by chance. They are planned by God. – Juray mora

The goodness is not dependent on our timing. – Juray Mora

You cannot pay for the blessings of God because none of it we actually deserve.- Juray Mora

Your trust will only be as strong as your knowledge of His goodness. – Juray Mora

God’s plan, God’s will, God’s Word always works. It never fails. – Juray Mora

Your breakthrough depends on the Word of God and the Will of God. – Paul Chase

God does not ask you to do the impossible. All He asks is for you to BELIEVE. – Paul Chase

Jesus will heal you not because you gave your life to Christ. He will heal because He gave His life for you. – Paul Chase

Don’t allow the past failures to steal your future expectations. – Paul Chase

If you hesitate to ask the unbelievable, you’ll hesitate to believe the miraculous. – Paul Chase

“Don’t pray prayers you can answer “- Paul Chase

DON’T SAY I CAN’T WHEN GOD SAYS I’M ABLE

THAT THING YOU DO

We started a new series all over Victory entitled “That Thing You Do.” It is a journey through Acts chapter 2 studying what the early disciples did and how the church grew not just in numbers but also in spiritual maturity.

For the next three weeks, here are the topics.

July 28 and 29: Read – Know what it means to love God’s Word
August 4 and 5: Share – Find out the importance of true Biblical relationships
August 11 and 12: Pray – Discover the value of prayer

Last weekend, we gave out a reading plan where we can journey together as we read through the Scriptures. I’ve attached the file below in case you’d need a digital copy.

1. The Word of God brings joy.

Psalm 119:111 says, “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”

There are many things that can make you happy while there are only a few that can really bring joy.

Gadgets can bring happiness and so does promotion, salary increase, new relationships. But these can be temporary. God’s word brings something way beyond happiness that is based on happenings. God’s word brings joy, therefore, we are to value it.

2. The Word of God brings power.

God’s word is able to transform lives.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Only God’s Word is able to bring genuine transformation.

The world came into being by the very word of God. Something came out of nothing as a result of the very words that came from the mouth of God.

The same power from those words is the same power that is in God’s Word, the Bible.

It is powerful, therefore we can believe it.

3. The Word of God brings growth.

We see our lives flourish when we read God’s word.

But ultimately, the Word of God is not about us.

It really is about Jesus.

Jesus says in John 5:39-40, You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Ultimately, THAT THING YOU DO IS BECAUSE OF THAT THING HE DID.

We devote ourselves to Him as we realize how much He’s been devoted to us.

“JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART”

It was Jenn’s mom’s birthday last Saturday. Coming home from the Couples Getaway of Victory Fort, she had a dinner for the whole family all set up – steak, liempo, puchero, and lots of other dishes. It was a major feast.

Have you ever told yourself, “Ok, there’s lots of food. I’m hungry. But I won’t eat a lot tonight.”

Fast forward a couple of hours, you’re burping every minute because of the tons of food you ate.

That was me.

You’ve heard it’s been said to “follow your heart.” (For this instance, it was follow my stomach.)

You like this guy, just follow your heart.
You want to transfer to another department, then just follow your heart.
You desire to leave your wife because she’s so annoying, then just follow your heart.
You want to spend more time with him even if you’re married because he gives you the attention you don’t get from your husband; then just follow your heart.
You know it’s wrong. Going all the way won’t be the wisest thing to do. But then again, just follow your heart.

Not sure if you’ve noticed by now, we are actually masters at self-deception. At least I know I am. I’ve lived long enough to realize that.

“I can eat this liempo. I really haven’t had any in a long time… like 24 hours…”
“Just one won’t hurt.”
“No one notices anyway.”

We’re good at convincing ourselves to do something we know that’s not wise.

Then we end up messing up. Then we blame our circumstances, others, our childhood, our parents, even God. We blame everyone else except ourselves.

Let me tell you why we can’t follow our heart.

Jeremiah told us clearly that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

It’s deceitful. It’s desperately wicked.

What would be a good standard to follow? God’s given us His word.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8, NLT)

It is our compass. When we stick to what He says, then the promise is that there is going to be success in all we do.

His Word. Our standard.

DEFIB THE SOUL

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul…” Ps. 19:7

Christmas time is the busiest time of the year. And because of all that goes on, one of the things that usually takes the back seat is our time in the word.

This is something we need to deliberately fight for in our daily planner. Why?

1. It’s perfect.

His Word is perfect. Perfect to comfort. Perfect to encourage. Perfect to correct. Perfect to rebuke. Perfect to inspire.

It’s perfect to revive.

2. It revives the soul.

The heart defibrillator has saved thousands if not millions of lives. Think of His word as a spiritual defibrillator. Yes, it is spiritual daily bread but at the same breath, when one feels ‘dead’ in His walk with God, the word is perfect to revive.

Just a reminder for all of us (includes me!) during this very busy season.