160201: Chosen and annointed to serve

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1Sam16:7).

When God chose David to be the next king of Israel, God reminded Samuel that looks can be deceiving.

God rejected the 7 older brothers but when He came to David –

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” (1Sam16:12b)

God chooses his servant leaders by looking at the condition of their hearts.

And we will know who the authentic chosen servant of God is by the Holy Spirit that works in him because he is an annointed servant of God.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160131: The Joy of Serving.

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isa 61:10)

It is such a joy to serve the Lord.

To be humbly used in sharing his mighty Words.

To open our mouths and speak words from God.

A great privilege to take part in the fulfillment of the great commission.

We are certainly imperfect yet God clothed us with garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness by our faith in His Son Jesus Christ. All honor, glory and praise belongs to our God. Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160130: Blessed and Victorious

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Ps 84:11)

We start another day knowing that we are entering a warzone.

One that is not fought by men and weapons of mass destruction but of the spiritual kind.

It is a war that has already been won by Jesus on the cross yet fought under a cloud of deception by the defeated enemy – the devil and his minions.

But the good news is that those who trust in the Lord is under His protection. We who believe in Jesus has the favor and blessings of God.

“O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.” (v12)

We are blessed and victorious in Jesus mighty name.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160129: The Way Out

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor 10:12)

Paul sternly reminded those who believe they are already strong in the faith not to be overconfident.

For the spiritual forces of evil are eyeing those who are faithfully serving the Lord. Their desire is to break our unity with the spirit. So be prepared to face the enemy’s tauntings and temptations.

But Paul also gave us great encouragement when tempted.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (v13)

And the way out is not to depend on your own strength but to depend on the power of God at work in our lives.

Hold on to the words of Jesus then resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Stand-firm.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160128: Grace Overflow

^“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Cor.9:10)

God’s plan goes beyond the rational mind and logic for the more we give the more we receive. We are able to give because we love God and others. We are able to love unconditionally and give even to strangers in need not on our own abilities and goodness but because we are connected to the unlimited source of love – Jesus.

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (v11)

The righteous will always be generous for that is the overflow of God’s grace working through them in their lives. Receive God’s unlimited love and let it overflow unconditionally to your family, your friends, your neighbors, even to the unloveables. That they may all see the love of God in us and give thanks to God for His overflowing gift of grace.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160127: Grace made me.

“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1Cor15:9)

Paul speaks and humbly lowers himself to the least credible to be called an apostle of Jesus because of his past as persecutor of the church. Just like Paul we too were not deserving to be called children of God or a servant of God because of our past sinful life.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (v10)

But by the grace of God thru our faith in Jesus we were made righteous, sanctified and worthy to be called a child of God.

The grace of God with me made me what I am. Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160126: A Grace FILLED life.

“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Eccl 9:11)

Human accomplishments, skills or capabilities do not guarantee success.

We win a race, are victorious in battle, become wealthy, or receive favor soley by the sovereign will of God.

In an instant the tide may change and we may lose all that we have. But if it is by God’s grace, we will be blessed at all times.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’ (2Cor9:8)

Have a grace filled life.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160125: Greatest Grace

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Eph 2:4-5a)

We were dead because of our sins. Damned because we heeded the cravings of our sinful nature. Objects of God’s wrath because of our stubborn disobedience  and repeated sins.

But our God is a God of love and mercy. Full of patience and compassion. We do not deserve it but God gave us all a gift of salvation

“- it is by grace you have been saved.” (v5b)

God’s greatest act of grace is the salvation He gave us by our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160124: Overcomers

“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:54)

There is a spiritual battle raging right at this moment, our enemies from the spiritual world seek to separate us from God our father. For in Christ, we have overcome the world.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Today with boldness and confidence we claim the victory that is rightfully ours in the mighty name of Jesus.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.

160123: Defeated foe

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Our enemy the devil is a defeated foe by the blood of Christ on the cross. Defeated yet still able to inflict damage if we let him deceive us.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Therefore we, who know the truth of God’s word, merely needs to resist the devil and he will flee in the mighty name of Jesus.

Death has no power.

We are victorious in Jesus.

Umagang kay ganda kaibigan.