ROMANS 13: WAKE UP FROM SLUMBER: THE DAY IS NEAR

 

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. -Roman 13:11

The Day is Near

The promise of the return of Jesus Christ is written in the word of God. And just as the prophecies of His birth, sacrificial death and resurrection have come to pass, it is sure that this next major event of His return is to come fulfilling God’s salvation.

We are now in the last days, and the coming of Christ is drawing near. Things told in the scriptures has happened and is happening now that the nearness of God’s promise of Christ’s return is felt and anticipated by us believers.

-Acts 2:17  “In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”

-2 Peter 3:3  “scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.”

-Hebrews 1:2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  -Matthew 24:44

Wake up from Slumber and Prepare

Slumber means to sleep or be in a state of inactivity. Being inactive does not help us to prepare for Jesus’ return. How would we want to meet Christ our Savior and Lord? Is being the same as in our old ways and in untransformed life be pleasing to Him?

Since the day of His return is getting near, let us be awake and be prepared to meet Him.

How?

a) Make ourselves clean
[Romans 13:12a] The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness.

-after waking up from the darkness where we once held captive and now in the light of Christ, we put aside our deeds of darkness and all things that are unclean and displeasing to God so that we may meet Him clean and pleasing to Him.

b) Be clothe with Christ
[Romans 13:14] Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,

[Romans 13:12b] and put on the armor of light
-we remove our old clothing having dirtied with our old sinful ways and wear our new clothing in Christ washed clean signifying our new identity in Him as someone rescued from darkness and now in His kingdom of light. Be identified in Christ when He returns.

c) Live in newness (saved and transformed life) while we wait for His return
[Romans 13:13] Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

[Romans 13:14] and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

-Looking forward for the day of Christ return then we live today as someone who has been given salvation, a changed and transformed life by Jesus Christ not gratifying the desires of our flesh rather the desire of His Spirit in us thereby continuously being clean and set apart for God until His return.

 

As we anticipate the soon return of Jesus, let us not be inactive/asleep but rather awake, at work, preparing and living right with God until He comes.

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PAS MELODY - JCRC CAMBODIA

ROMANS 12: FROM CONFORMITY TO TRANSFORMATION

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” 

— Romans 12:2

The world's pattern: Conformity
Conformity is allowing the world to shape how we think, live, and make decisions. Paul warns that the world has a pattern—but it is a pattern that leads away from God.
- Rebellion against God
- Driven by feelings and emotions
- Chasing popularity and approval
- Mind shaped by culture

The world says, “Follow your heart.” God says, “Guard your heart and renew your mind.”

God's work: Transformation
- The word “transformed” comes from the Greek metamorphoō, meaning a complete metamorphosis.
- It is the same word used to describe Jesus' glorious Transfiguration in Mark 9:2–3. God does not simply improve us—He changes us from the inside out.

- Paul uses this word again in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
“We all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”

How do we move from conformity to transformation?
- Resist the world's influence - Refuse to let culture dictate your values, identity, or priorities.
- Renew your mind with God's Word - Scripture replaces lies with truth and reshapes the way we think.
- Remain in fellowship with God - Prayer, worship, and communion with Christ allow the Holy Spirit to transform us daily.

Let us reflect:
- Am I being shaped more by social media than by Scripture?
- Are my decisions driven by emotions or by God's truth?
- When people see my life, do they see the image of the world—or the image of Christ?

Conformity changes your behavior to fit the crowd. Transformation changes your heart to reflect Christ. 

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PAS MATET - JCRC HANOI 

Romans 11 —Grace That Keeps Us Humble

 

Romans 11 —Grace That Keeps Us Humble

S — Scripture
“For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” — Romans 11:32 NKJV
Romans 11 is a beautiful reminder that salvation is always rooted in God’s mercy and grace—not in our goodness, background, or accomplishments.
Paul explains God’s plan for Israel and the Gentiles. Some Israelites rejected Christ, and because of their unbelief, the gospel reached the Gentiles. But Paul also warns Gentile believers not to become proud. We are like branches grafted into the olive tree—not because we were better, but because of God’s grace.
And then Paul ends with worship:
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” — Romans 11:36 NKJV
After explaining God’s sovereignty and mercy, Paul could only respond with awe and worship.

O — Observation

Romans 11 teaches us three important truths.

1. God is faithful even when people are unfaithful.

Israel’s rejection did not cancel God’s promises. God was still working according to His purpose.
Minsan sa buhay natin, may mga bagay na hindi natin maintindihan. We see rejection, delays, closed doors, or people turning away.
But Romans 11 reminds us: God has not lost control.

2. Grace should make us humble, not proud.
Paul warned the Gentile believers not to boast.

We did not earn our place in God’s family.
We were brought in by grace.

Kaya walang lugar ang pride sa ministry.
Hindi tayo ginagamit ni Lord dahil perfect tayo. Hindi dahil mas magaling tayo kaysa iba.
We are here because God showed us mercy.
Every opportunity to preach, serve, worship, teach, give, or reach someone is a privilege of grace.

3. God’s ways are deeper than our understanding.
Paul eventually says:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” — Romans 11:33 NKJV
There are things God is doing that we cannot fully understand.
And sometimes, faith means saying, “Lord, I may not understand everything, but I trust You.”

A — Application

Remnants, Romans 11 speaks strongly to our hearts, especially when we are serving the Lord.

Stay humble.
Stay grateful.
Stay faithful.

Kapag may ginagamit si Lord sa atin, let us never think, “I deserve this.” Instead, let us say,
“Lord, thank You for allowing me to be part of what You are doing.”

When someone falls away, don’t immediately judge.
Pray for them.

When someone is not yet saved, don’t give up on them.
Keep witnessing.

When God’s plan doesn’t make sense, don’t run away.
Keep trusting.

And when God blesses our ministry, let us remember who deserves the glory.
Hindi tayo ang center ng ministry. Hindi tayo ang source ng salvation. Hindi tayo ang may-ari ng harvest.

God is.

As servants, our role is simply to obey, to remain faithful, and to point people back to Jesus.

Romans 11 also reminds us that God’s mercy is bigger than our limitations.
The person we think is impossible to reach may be the very person God is preparing to touch.

So don’t stop praying. Don’t stop caring. Don’t stop going. Don’t stop speaking about Jesus.

Grace brought us here, and grace should keep us moving.

P — Personal Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your amazing grace. Forgive me whenever I become proud of what I have done for You. Remind me that everything I have—including my salvation, my gifts, my ministry, and every opportunity to serve—is because of Your grace.
Teach me to trust You even when I don’t understand Your ways. Give me a humble heart that will continue to pray, serve, witness, and love people without giving up.
Lord, use my life not for my own recognition but for Your glory. May everything I do point people back to Jesus.

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” — Romans 11:36

---------------- PASTORA SHERLY - JCRC RIYADH

Romans 9: GOD’S MERCY, NOT OUR EFFORT

GOD’S MERCY, NOT OUR EFFORT

Scripture: Romans 9:16 (NIV)
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

I.  God's mercy, not  our effort
Sa Romans 9:16, ipinapaalala ni Pablo na ang buhay natin ay hindi lamang nakasalalay sa ating sariling effort, ability, o desire. Sa huli, ang lahat ay nakasalalay sa awa at biyaya ng Diyos. Maaari tayong magsikap, magplano, at gawin ang ating makakaya, pero may mga bagay na hindi natin kayang kontrolin. Kapag hindi nangyayari ang gusto natin, huwag agad isipin na nabigo tayo. Minsan, iba ang sagot ng Diyos sa plano natin dahil mas alam Niya kung ano ang tunay nating kailangan.
Hindi lahat ng hindi nangyayari ayon sa gusto natin ay failure. Minsan, ito ay bahagi ng mas magandang plano ng Diyos.

II. Do your part, trust God with result
Hindi ibig sabihin na wala na tayong gagawin. Tinatawag pa rin tayo ng Diyos na maging faithful, magsikap, manalangin, at gawin ang ating bahagi. Pero pagkatapos nating gawin ang ating makakaya, matuto tayong mag-let go at magtiwala sa Diyos. Hindi mo kailangang kontrolin ang lahat. Hindi mo kailangang pilitin ang lahat. Hindi mo kailangang dalhin ang bigat ng resulta na hindi naman ikaw ang may kontrol. Do your best, then trust God with the rest. Ang responsibility natin ay maging faithful sa ipinagkatiwala ng Diyos. Ang resulta ay nasa Kanyang mga kamay.

III. Rest in God's mercy
May mga pagkakataong pakiramdam natin ay hindi tayo sapat,hindi sapat ang ating galing, lakas, pera, connections, o opportunities.
Pero ang kabutihan ng Diyos ay hindi nakabase sa kung gaano tayo kagaling. God’s mercy is greater than our limitations.vKapag hindi natin alam ang next step, maaari tayong huminto, manalangin, at magtiwala.
Ang Diyos ay hindi limitado sa kung ano lamang ang kaya nating gawin.
Kung kulang ang resources mo, hindi kulang ang Diyos. Kung limitado ang ability mo, hindi limitado ang Diyos. Kung hindi mo nakikita ang daan, nakikita ito ng Diyos. Kaya maaari tayong magpahinga sa Kanyang awa at biyaya.

APPLICATION:
A. Stop comparing
Huwag mong ikumpara ang journey mo sa ibang tao. Iba ang timing, calling, at purpose ng Diyos para sa bawat isa. Ang progress ng ibang tao ay hindi sukatan ng failure mo. May sariling timing ang Diyos para sa iyo.

B. Do your part
Maging faithful sa kung ano ang ipinagkatiwala sa iyo ngayon.
Magtrabaho. Manalangin. Matuto.
Magsikap. Gawin ang iyong makakaya. Hindi natin kontrolado ang lahat, pero kontrolado natin kung paano tayo magiging faithful sa Diyos sa araw na ito.

C. Trust God with the outcome
Kapag hindi naging ayon sa plano mo, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa.
A closed door does not mean a closed future. Minsan, may ibang direksyon ang Diyos dahil may mas magandang alam Siya para sa atin. Hindi natin kailangang maintindihan ang lahat bago tayo magtiwala. Faith means trusting God even when we cannot yet see what He is doing.

REFLECTION:
May bagay ba akong pilit na kinokontrol na kailangan ko nang ipagkatiwala sa Diyos?
Ginagawa ko ba ang aking bahagi habang nagtitiwala sa Diyos sa resulta?
Kaya ko bang magtiwala sa awa ng Diyos kahit hindi ko pa nakikita ang sagot?

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, through Your Son Jesus Christ, salamat dahil hindi nakasalalay sa aming sariling lakas at kakayahan ang lahat ng bagay. Salamat sa iyong mercy at grace na hindi namin kailanman kayang paghirapan o bayaran. Tulungan mo po kaming gawin ang aming bahagi nang may faithfulness, ngunit turuan Mo rin kaming magtiwala sa Iyo sa mga bagay na hindi namin kayang kontrolin.
Kapag hindi nangyayari ang aming plano, tulungan Mo kaming huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. Kapag may closed door, bigyan mo po kami ng faith na maniwala na may mas magandang direksyon kang inihahanda. Alisin mo po ang aming fear, comparison, anxiety, at desire na kontrolin ang lahat. Turuan mo po kaming magpahinga sa Iyong mercy at magtiwala sa iyong perfect timing.

Lord Jesus, we may not understand everything, but we choose to trust you.Tulungan mo po kaming maging faithful sa aming bahagi at ipaubaya sa iyo ang resulta. Sa lahat ng bagay, turuan mo po kaming maniwala na ang iyong grace ay sapat at ang iyong mercy ay higit kaysa sa aming limitations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

--------ELDER PANGGA - JCRC RIYADH

ROMANS 8 : CHOOSING CHRIST DAILY

 

Choosing Christ Daily 

Romans 8:5 NIV
"5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

In this verse shows  the battle we face  how we live while we are here on earth, to live in the flesh or to live in Spirit. Our flesh direct us to things that pleases us,sinful desires while to live in Spirit is to live a life that Glorifies God.  To live everyday we must make a choice that is not temporary,our choice of living became our lifestyle.

Worldly things are always inviting. 
They attract our eyes, satisfy our desires, and offer temporary pleasure. 

• Going to mall instead of attending Church 
• scrolling social media instead of reading the bible
• attending party instead of fellowshiping
• sleeping instead of attending devotion
• remaining in sin instead of repenting 

In response to those above,sometimes ang ating nagiging escape route  " my Spirit is willing but my flesh is weak."

And when fall short of living in the Spirit, we are quick to blame someone else our circumstances, our struggles, or the people around us.

• Hindi ako nkasimba kasi, sinama ako ng kaibigan ko mag mall.
• nalimutan ko mag pray kasi busy ako sa work.
• nakapag salita ako ng masakit kasi sya naman nauna.
• nakapagsalita ako ng ganun kasi "expression ko lang yun."
• Hindi ako nakapag devotion kasi, late n ako nakatulog.

Weakness explains our struggle, but it should never become our excuse to stay in sin, to stay in flesh. Matthew 26 41 is reminding us to watch and pray that we may not fall into the desires of our flesh but instead to draw closer to God.

Every moment in our life is a conscious decision we make. God is reminding us to always set our minds on the Spirit is to intentionally choose God’s will, listen to the Holy Spirit, and pursue the things that pleases Christ.

Lets reflect:

Am I experiencing this battle ,often?
Is my thoughts or action ,right now pleases the Lord?
Am I following my flesh or am I walking in Spirit?

Lets all be reminded :
Choosing Christ is a daily decision. Let’s intentionally surrender, intentionally obey, intentionally pray, and intentionally walk in the Spirit. 
*All Glory to God*

Prayer
Heavenly Father,In the name of Your Son Jesus Christ we thank you for Your word that reminds us that what shapes our mind direct our life. Forgive us Lord for we always allow the world to consume our mind.Help us Lord to always live a life that pleases You. To always acknowledge Your will than our self desires. Teach us Lord to choose You daily to choose Your Word over worldly distractions. Amen

--------- ELDER SALLY - JCRC RIYADH

Romans 7: JESUS RESCUED THE WRETCHED ME

 JESUS RESCUED THE WRETCHED ME

📖 Scripture
Romans 7:24–25
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

🔎 Observation
❤️‍🩹 The Cry of a Wretched Heart
Paul’s is not pretending, he is not pretending to be strong. His words were raw, unfiltered and painfully honest. No religious performance, no hiding.

And we admit it or not, this is what every believer eventually discovers:
I cannot save myself. I cannot fix myself. I cannot free myself.

Humbly, this is the moment when our soul stops negotiating with sin and finally confesses its misery. The moment when our pride collapses and the truth rises.

And yes, this is the moment when Jesus draws to us closest.

🌅 The Rescue Only Christ Can Give
Paul asked this genuinely honest question that echoes through every struggling believer:

“Who will deliver me?”

And this is not what—not a method, not a discipline, not a new rule. It is not when—not someday, not eventually. It is not how—not through effort, not through our willpower.

Who. Because deliverance is personal. Rescue comes from a Person.

And Paul answered his own cry:
“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Jesus enters the wretched man.
Jesus reaches out into the darkness.
Jesus steps in and pull us out.
Jesus rescues us.

He does not wait for us to improve.
He rescues us just as we are—wretched, weary, defeated, exhausted us…

❇️ Application
What This Means for Our Daily Life
🔥 Our weakness is not a barrier to Jesus—it is the doorway.
He rescues the wretched, not the impressive.
🔥 Our struggle does not disqualify us—it proves our need.
The battle inside us is evidence of the Holy Spirit working in us.
🔥 Our deliverance is not our achievement—it is His gift.
We do not climb out; He pulls us out.
🔥 Our victory is not in trying harder—it is in trusting deeper.
Jesus is not our life coach. He is our Rescuer.

The rescue begins not with effort, but with surrender.

Only when we stop fighting and cries out, “Help me!” does the lifeguard dives in, does Jesus comes in.

💛 Personal Reflection for Today
Let us take a moment and let our heart speak honestly before God.

Where do we feel wretched?
Where do we feel trapped?
Where do we feel powerless?
Whisper it to Jesus.
Jesus does not recoil from our weakness—He runs towards it. He runs towards us.

Let our confession today become our freedom:
“Jesus, rescue me again today.”

And let our gratitude rise:
“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ my Lord.”
 
🙏 Prayer
Almighty Father, we come to You just as we are—weak, weary, and aware of our own wretchedness. Thank You for not turning away from our struggles. Thank You Jesus our Lord for stepping into our darkness and rescuing us. Deliver us today from every sin that clings, every weight that pulls us down, and let Your grace be our strength. Our hope, our help, our freedom is found in You alone. In Jesus name, amen.

--------PASTORA RIVA - JCRC RIYADH

ROMANS 6: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

 

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,”

Romans 6 : 8 NKJV

Romans chapter 6, Paul emphasizes in embracing our new identity in Christ.
In verse 4, through baptism, we are publicly declaring our oneness with Christ, our rebirth with Christ. As we submerge in water, spiritually our old self dies, together with our sins—and as we come up from water, new life is birthed in Christ.

Everyday is a struggle to embrace our new identity in Christ; to turn away from sins, to keep our eyes from temptation—but the Lord promise of His presence, companionship, and His grace that truly abounds. It’s difficult but never impossible to live in obedience, as long as we anchor to Christ and we surrender it all to Christ. Sins no longer have dominion over us, for we are under Christ grace (V14).

May this Chapter lead us in true submission to Christ—to His will, to His plan, to His vision.

🙏
Father, we thank you for reminding us that from the day we received you as our Lord and our savior, our past does not have any dominion over us, you have given us new identity in you, that gives us strength to move away from sinning. May your words continually remain in our hearts, in our minds and in our actions; that in times we struggle, we are tempted, we can only anchor on your promises.
Amen.

--------- ELDER KHEN - JCRC RIYADH