OUR OBEDIENCE AND HIS PROMISES

 

As we meditate on His words today - let us reflect on Acts 23:11. 

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

In this chapter, we see God’s promise to Paul being kept. Paul was told by God that he would make it to Rome and that nothing would stop him. Paul had faith in God that he would keep his promise and that is why he went to Jerusalem where he knew there would be verbal and violent attacks against him for his relations with the Gentiles. In this scripture,  we see God's provision and protection of Paul.

Paul was not satisfirad with his work in Jerusalem, he felt that he did not do a lot to preach the Gospel to the Jews. But at night Jesus appeared to him inside the prison cell. Paul was imprisoned for several times and every time Jesus would free him. This time, Jesus did not free him, he accompanied him inside the prison to cheer him up and exhort him to take courage for He is always with him. 

Jesus assured Paul that he did well in serving the Lord and that He will still use him to testify in Rome. This is an assurance that Paul will not die in Jerusalem because he still needs to go to Rome. 

In our journey in faith, there are times that we fail the Lord, or sometimes we felt we are not doing enough for him, but in this situation it is very clear that for the Lord what is important is our obedient heart - it is our responsibility to obey and  He is responsible for the result. 

All He needs is for us to obey - no matter what.

Let us reflect:

- How many times do we fail God by not spending time with him because we cannot get up or lazy to open our bible -- we would rather entertain our laziness than to fight for the WORD of God. 

- How many times we do not attend to His works or fellowship because we do not feel well though we are aware of how satan works and the pattern of spiritual battle? 

- Was there a time that we doubted His promise and His plan for us? 

- What do we do when we felt like we fail Him. Are we like Paul, who repent and speak to the Lord what happened?

- We are all bound to fail when we do His works and when we decide to obey, because persecution is present and we are always on battle spiritually, but do we easily give in? if not, do we experience the presence of the Lord talking to us when we are so down? 

As Christians and true servant of the Lord we must be able to hear the voice of God, instructing us what to do and guiding us, encouraging us and giving us assurance like Paul. 

Lord, as we obey you keep your promises of proctection and provision to us.  Amen. 

DO I HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

 As we continue to reflect on the words of God, we are now in Acts 19.

Let us focus on the verses 2-6 where Paul asked the so called disciples if they have received the Holy Spirit.

2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Why did Paul asked? 

When they were asked about the Holy Spirit, Paul discovered that they have no idea about the Holy Spirit. 

The reason why Paul asked is unknown but  if we claim we are Christians - the manifestation of the Holy Spirit must be seen in our actions and in our lives.

Maybe when Paul saw these so-called disciples he did not see any transformation from them or any sign of the power of the Holy Spirit, that is why he asked.

In the same manner, in our Church, when the leaders do not see any transformation or manifestation of the Holy spirit in the lives of the flocks, we ask if they indeed receive the Holy Spirit. 

HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. We fall in love with the words - we read the bible daily.

2. We are so in love with Jesus that we felt the need to share Him to others. 

3. We have the confidence to use the authority of Jesus to heal, cast out demons and to preach with power. 

4. We are confident we are saved.

5. We speak in tongues or we have the desire to speak in tongues.

6. We bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

7. The Lord speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. 

Let us reflect:

- Do I have all these signs in my life?

- Is my life already transformed that i do not use anymore the words I used to speak  like curses, gay language or street languages?

- Is the burden of God in finding the lost souls already my burden?

Father, in the name of your Son Jesus, thank you for Your gift to us - the Holy Spirit - who is convicting us to do the godly things. 

Oh Holy Spirit, who is our revealer of truth and helper, thank you for sanctifying us everyday. May our transformed life glorify the Lord Jesus always. Amen.

BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT

 

As we meditate on our scripture today.. we focus on the verses where Apollos started his ministry..

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Apollos not only eloquent and knowledgeable, he was also fervent in Spirit. 

Like Apollos, Paul wants believers to use all their spiritual energy, excitement, and devotion in ministering to others as they serve the Lord. Even in the face of severe opposition, Paul urges the Corinthians, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NLT). Our calling to holiness demands that we be passionate about purity, love with sincerity, and serve God with our whole hearts (1 Peter 1:13–22).

Being fervent in spirit also means being diligent in prayer (Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16) and studying God’s Word (Acts 17:11; Romans 12:12; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 5:16; Colossians 4:2).

With the zeal to serve the Lord, Apollos humbly accepted the teachings of Aquila and Priscilla and continued his ministry with more fire.

Let us reflect: 

- Did you ever feel the fire to serve the Lord and preaching the Gospel?

- Are you feeling sluggish in your relationship with God?

- When was the last time you study His word and spent time with Him?

**** if we are feeling stagnant in Spirit right now, intentionally spend time in Prayer and read His words to stir up again your affection to the Lord. 

Lord, thank you for reminding us today that we need to be like Apollos whose fervor to serve you is admirable. Cause us oh Lord to continue to be on fire with you and to have an undying desire to serve you and the lost. Amen.

MY CHURCH - A SENDING CHURCH

 

As we meditate on the our daily scripture today — let us reflect on the first 3 verses.

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3

The Church of antioch was the first church to send missionaries — and this book gave us the guidelines on how to send missionaries:

- they ministered to the Lord (worship) and they received the instruction to separate the missionaries (the calling to Go) (v2)

- The whole church fasted and prayed before sending them (v3)

- Then they laid hands on them and anointed them and sent them (They commissioned them) (v3)

 When JCRC was called to send missionaries we were also ministering to the Lord — we were under prayer when we heard the Holy Spirit to prepare missionaries — 

 We had no idea how to get all the resources (we needed 150SR for all the expenses) and the Holy Spirit told us to fast and pray as a church. So we did 21 day Daniel Fasting — it was hard and struggle but the Lord sustained us and he provided everything -financial, spiritual and physical preparation of the missionaries and the whole church.

** All the churches commissioned their missionaries before their departure and sent them off as they intercede for them for the whole journey.

Let us give thanks to the Lord for teaching us what to do when they called us.. it was our first time but the Holy Spirit gave us everything - indeed the Holy SPirit who is with us is the same spirit as before.. it was Him also who who guided the church of Antioch. 

Lord, you indeed, JCRC is yours, because everything that we do is always according to your plan — it is only now that when we keep reading your word that you are confirming us that we are doing what you want us to do and that things are all aligned to the scripture. 

Thank you Lord for the wisdom that you always give us in order for us to walk with the Scripture - though most of the time we walked with the Scripture first before we realized and you showed us that what we did is in the Scripture..

Thank you and keep using us Lord. Amen.

TRUE CHRISTIAN

 

As we reflect on who we are as Christians... Are we Christians only every Sunday or on our lips only?

“And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Acts 11:26 

The definition of Christian is found in v26. 

The disciples were called “Christ-ones” the little Jesus because they did the works of Christ. 

Therefore, true Christians are the ones like Christ. Who keeps His works. 

Why are we called Christians? I am sure the answer is obvious, but have you ever really thought what it means to be called a Christian? 

Accepting Christ, baptizing in the named of Christ is not enough for us to be called Christians. 

Being a Christian is becoming a disciple of Christ. To be Christ-like in character and in works. 

Let us  not just be someone who has received baptism or believes in Jesus and His teachings, but our whole life should be a reflection of Him. He should be Lord of our life and reign in us. People should know who we follow by how we act and talk. Our life should be transformed if we are a Christian, not just believe the teachings. 

Let’s reflect:

We claimed we are Christians but what are the commandments of Jesus that we obeyed? 

What are His works that we keep? 

When others see us will they say we are “Christ-ones”? 

Thank you Lord for this understanding. May You touch us to be more like you. Amen.

MY LIFE IS UPSIDE-DOWN FOR JESUS

 

As we reflect on our daily Scripture today - let us meditate on verse 6.

6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

When accusing these Christians before the rulers of the city, the evil men from the marketplace gave an unintended compliment to the effectiveness of God’s work through Paul and Silas. To complain that the Christians were these who have turned the world upside-down have come here too was to say, “these men have radically impacted our world and nothing seems the same.”

Indeed Jesus came to turn our world upside-down. The truth will always turn our lives around - because it is not according to the pattern of this world. 

If we claim, we are Christians and we still have the same schedule, same lifestyle and same mindset then we are not Christians yet. 

Jesus gave a great example of this upside-down thinking when He spoke of a rich man who amassed great wealth, and all he could think about was building bigger barns to store all his wealth. We might make the man a civic leader or recognized him as a prominent man; Jesus turned it all upside down and called the man a fool, because he had done nothing to make his life matter for God’s kingdom (Luke 12:16-21).

Let us reflect :

- As Christians how do we affect our brethren, our family, our friends and co-workers? 

Have we turned their lives upside-down to the point that they ask us to teach them how to become truly followers of Christ?

-As Christians, Is praying (devotion), bible Study, CM, soaking, and other church activities in your Schedule now? or is your schedule only include worship service. Then, Jesus is not your priority yet. 

-As Christians, Do you feel hunger for words, His presence and His teachings - Do you feel like you need to know Him more? 

***Lord, thank you for letting us know You but we know that we need to fall in love with you so that our world will turn upside-down and that we cannot live anymore without You. Cause us Lord to fall in love with Your words always so we may abide in all that is written. Amen.

When questioning God goes wrong...

20 One day, as Jesus[a] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”

21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality,[d] but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[f] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”

As we continue to meditate on the word of God in Luke chapter 20, we notice a few questions that the scribes, chief priest, and the sadducees have asked Jesus. 

• What do you think about their questions? 

• How would Jesus feel when He was asked these questions?

• Why would Jesus rebuke them in front of everyone after they have asked Him?

• What kind of questions have they just asked?

• What do these change our ways of questioning God?

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What kinds of questions have they asked?

Out of ignorance

In Question 1: Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?

They have asked questions out of their ignorance about the truth.

 

“These answers of His were not the sharp retorts of smartness, but the final utterances of a wisdom which revealed the ignorance of the questions.” (Morgan)

• Jesus showed great courage by boldly entering Jerusalem and driving out the corrupt merchants from the temple courts. Now the religious leaders wanted to know by what right Jesus did such things. “Jesus’ teaching, preaching, and surely His cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45-46), were viewed by the officials as highly controversial if not adversarial.” (Pate)

A question of testing

In Question 2: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Jesus said, ‘’Why do you test Me?’’ If there was some exasperation in the voice of Jesus as He said this, it was not only on His own behalf. It is easy to imagine that Jesus thought, “Why do you keep testing Me when you always lose? How long will you try to get the best of Me?” 

• Jesus gave a wise and appropriate answer to their question as you read His answer in verses 23-26 in this chapter. 

A lack of faith

In question 3: Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

The Sadducees, who deny there is a resurrection. This shows their lack of faith in the truth. The Sadducees asked Jesus a hypothetical – and ridiculous – question, hoping to show that the idea of the resurrection was nonsense.

• (34-36) Jesus corrects their misunderstanding of resurrection life by showing it is life of an entirely different order.

• (37-40) Jesus proves the resurrection from the Scriptures.

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Why would Jesus rebuke them in front of everyone after they have asked Him?

• God knows the deepest of the deepest of our hearts (Jeremiah 17:10). Jesus  perceives and discerns their evil intentions against Him. So He rebukes them and warns about the hypocrisy of the scribes and the religious leaders (v 41-47). 

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Spiritual lesson: 

• We have to be careful questioning God. Let us avoid asking questions out of ignorance, testing God, or lack of faith. Let's ask with the right intent of our hearts.

• When does questioning God goes wrong?

• Have you asked God these sorts of questions?

1. If you are a good God, Why have you let me experience these sufferings and problems in my life? Why don’t you answer me?

• Blaming God in a sort of questioning His ability and nature is a question out of ignorance of who He really was. It means that we are ignorant about His existence and we don’t have a deeper relationship with Him because if we have, we would never question God’s ability to work in our midst. We have to remember that we cannot fathom God’s wisdom and understanding. 

• A situation like this can be done in trusting, not questioning. Or might as well search God and know Him deeper. (Jer 19:13)

2. If you are really a powerful God, why don’t you take my sickness away? Why don’t you do something to ease my pain?

• Black mailing God in a form of question is a sort of testing His power. Let’s remember that Satan put Him into the test when He tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Blackmailing God to get what we want will never work. He knows when to answer our prayers when our hearts are right, so might as well wait. Those who continuously hope in the Lord will never be disappointed (Isa 19:23b).

3. I have already given my help directly to others, why do I have to give it through tithes and offerings?

• Questions to justify our actions is a lack of faith because of the lack of obedience to His words. Sometimes we don’t have to understand, we just obey because it’s what His command says. His words never lie. Faith is the obedience to His words. There are things that we will understand after we obey. If we do not obey, we will not see the results and we will not understand. If you keep on questioning why you have to give tithes instead of starting to obey, you will never understand. This situation can be done by obeying, not questioning (1 John 2:3-11)

Reflections: 

• What kind of questions have you just asked?

• Was there any instance that you questioned God’s nature and ability to work in your midst in your difficult situations?

• Have you also asked God in a way of blackmailing Him to get what you want?

• Or questioning God’s words because you find it hard to obey?

• How do you think God feels when you question him again that way?

• How would you like to change your approach to God when you want to ask Him or you want to know things?