Many today are becoming exhausted everytime facing struggles in life’s battlefield. They easily give up and take losses as they drop hopes down the ground. But looking at the whole picture, this happens because they battle all by themselves. They are like armies pushing mountains through their own might.
But then again, when Jesus ascended to heaven after He resurrected from the dead, He didn’t actually leave us alone to fight alone against all the forces of evil. Instead, He left us with the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us overcome the world. We are made victorious through His death and rise, thus, defeat is not ours to worry about.
The reason why many would suffer difficulties and failures in life is because of their rejection of power endowed by Jesus Himself to make us victorious overall the earth. The Book of 2Timothy 1:7 promises that we are given the power, love and self-discipline through the Holy Spirit.
God didn’t give us a fearful spirit but a power to be free of worries in all aspects life. When everyone around you is in world compromising, it is hard to work with the conviction. But the Holy Spirit enables us to battle against it to triumph. It is also true to love people and care for their salvation is so hard. But with the Holy Spirit filling us with love, we are then made able to love not just our families and friends but we also develop to attend to others who are still in the world. Self-denial to magnify Christ Jesus is a hard thing to do. It is stepping on your self-desires and priorities to uplift Jesus. But the Holy Spirit developed in us a heart of compassion to glorify Jesus in all that we do, hence, we can overcome the world and live for God.
True that every battle is hard to win. But we are not sent alone to fight alone and lose alone. We are gifted with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we do not lose heart and claim victory always in any situation in life.
The promise is made. The promise is true. The promise is yours to declare!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Nitty-gritty of Christian Life
Several memories of our elementary days make us smile every time we talk about it with friends. Many may have experienced loses, others recognition… but at the end of all stories, we boil down to compliment our foundation to our elementary schooling – from where we learned the basics of ABC’s and 123’s. For whatever defines of who we have become now, it all would trace back the foundation we have set before.
This thing is so true to spiritual life. No one could ever go further and let God move into his life if the foundation of faith is set weak.
The book of Hebrews, from where this discussion is based, is a letter written to the Jewish Christians who after being converted to true faith came to a point of reverting back to old beliefs because of the false teachers and prophets destructing their concrete belief to God and made them confused. Same scenario is apparent to Christians today who still let in the bond of traditions and old beliefs to crimp in their lives. And all this because, the basic they need to be equipped with is weak and easily destructed by small things.
Chapter 5: 1 of Hebrews spoke of believers who are slow to learn. This reflects those types who are apathetic and reluctant of learning and are contented to be just always fed and not be used. If anyone falls to this category, then even the best teacher cannot make him learn things out. This paints a picture of Christians who spends more time in prioritizing their personal concerns instead putting God’s teachings first. Most of these kinds of believers are tangled in the myths of spiritual growth: (1) myth of knowledge, who believes that since they know the word, they are already matured. But then again, growth in spirit doesn’t concern knowledge alone; (2) myth of association, who suppose that when you are with the spiritually matured people, you already are one of them where in fact, growth is never a package deal but individual decision; (3) myth of time, who reasons that the length of stay in being a Christian would assure maturity. But it is a wrong perspective because growth is a heart-issue and not a time-issue. All believers who are among these myths are then the Consumer Christians, who are satisfied to feed themselves and not be used to give in return.
Growth or maturity in spiritual life happens through willingness, with intention and purpose, incessantly to either new or long-staying Christians, to be acquainted with the Word and teachings of righteousness. Otherwise, this will lead to confusions, fears, worries and doubts.
Remember again, maturity is when a believer already learned to distinguish between good and evil. Like what Hebrews 6: 1A pronounces, “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity.” Meaning, learning the elementary all over again is so not to stay in it but leave it and go on and grow up.
Look unto Jesus and set your foundation through him. For no one can lay any foundation other than one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1Cor 3: 11).
This thing is so true to spiritual life. No one could ever go further and let God move into his life if the foundation of faith is set weak.
The book of Hebrews, from where this discussion is based, is a letter written to the Jewish Christians who after being converted to true faith came to a point of reverting back to old beliefs because of the false teachers and prophets destructing their concrete belief to God and made them confused. Same scenario is apparent to Christians today who still let in the bond of traditions and old beliefs to crimp in their lives. And all this because, the basic they need to be equipped with is weak and easily destructed by small things.
Chapter 5: 1 of Hebrews spoke of believers who are slow to learn. This reflects those types who are apathetic and reluctant of learning and are contented to be just always fed and not be used. If anyone falls to this category, then even the best teacher cannot make him learn things out. This paints a picture of Christians who spends more time in prioritizing their personal concerns instead putting God’s teachings first. Most of these kinds of believers are tangled in the myths of spiritual growth: (1) myth of knowledge, who believes that since they know the word, they are already matured. But then again, growth in spirit doesn’t concern knowledge alone; (2) myth of association, who suppose that when you are with the spiritually matured people, you already are one of them where in fact, growth is never a package deal but individual decision; (3) myth of time, who reasons that the length of stay in being a Christian would assure maturity. But it is a wrong perspective because growth is a heart-issue and not a time-issue. All believers who are among these myths are then the Consumer Christians, who are satisfied to feed themselves and not be used to give in return.
Growth or maturity in spiritual life happens through willingness, with intention and purpose, incessantly to either new or long-staying Christians, to be acquainted with the Word and teachings of righteousness. Otherwise, this will lead to confusions, fears, worries and doubts.
Remember again, maturity is when a believer already learned to distinguish between good and evil. Like what Hebrews 6: 1A pronounces, “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity.” Meaning, learning the elementary all over again is so not to stay in it but leave it and go on and grow up.
Look unto Jesus and set your foundation through him. For no one can lay any foundation other than one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1Cor 3: 11).
Saturday, July 31, 2010
“Mile-wide and Inch-deep”
I was 3rd grader when I was introduced to a Christian Church that shares not a religion but a relationship with the Savior Christ Jesus. It was vague though for a so young mind to understand, yet little by little and over the time, I was able to see the clearer picture… until, I then could grasp the always-talked-about TRUTH.
Along doing things to deepen and ignite the faith seeded in, I learned the significance of which to motivate and to devote to so as to experience God moving in my life. Like said, when you seek, you shall find… and so as the Father to my desire to seek more of Him. He let me understood how it is to be in His dwelling place, floating in joy and peace. It seemed as if reaching for Him has not even been a task to toil on. Not to mention that several of the Christians that time were just either (1) ablazing in faith or (2) dead cold. No lukewarm and mediocre are in a noteworthy percentage then. In fact, to know who’s Christian and not was just so apparent that many could easily tell. Not certain though if it was about the clothing or attitudes or whatever. It doesn't really matter big.
Anyway, that was the last scene of the movie I remember before I took a turn. I had to be out of the church to pursue some priorities and opportunities I didn’t weigh good, I could tell, and had to be totally drowned into the worldly pleasure of recognition, contentment and sins. This is whole different story to tell but to make it short, I had to be out for a while to see what’s out and enjoyed it and when got tired and wounded, I went back in and tuned to the movie I was watching.
I went back to the church after 5 long years and tried to reconcile with God and renewed my acceptance of salvation. And as I stay on, I was a little puzzled of where did the story go and it seemed several things happened and new sets and twists associated along. Too many to mention… but what painted most in my mind is the vast increase in number of Christians from all walks of life. And praise be to God that He allowed and helped the gospel through in many people. Even friends I know, who I met again with, were already involved and even leading groups for same purposes in other different churches. But to my surprise, they that lead the small groups for Jesus are the same people who sing seculars in loud, and drink liquors and smoke and should I say, are WORLDLY.
Not being a conservative, perfect and sinless Christian because I am actually not and I am an "open-to-every-possibility" type of a believer, but the remarkable transformation of what I know and what I experienced just startled me to deep. Was I left behind of new trends in Christianity or was I just being an unintelligible critic that rides pessimism?
In my pursuit, it takes several researches to be read and several more studies concerning both sociology and God’s words to be looked on and deeper, more stable prayer life to build before I understood what’s going on. And the fact is, there really was a twist in the story so abrupt that the story became so vague and led to the total loss of the original storyboard. Now, a "mediocre" is introduced big and the "lukewarm, religious Christianity" is just everywhere.
Just recently, I was forwarded by dear sister in Christ with a link to a blog-study entitled Theo-tainment vs. Discipleship (http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11635336/). As I went on, the indistinct reality I am looking at all this time suddenly became clearer to me – it is true that Christianity grew mile wide yet just an inch deep. Church has become a place of professing faith in Jesus Christ yet not actually following Jesus. Yes. It became just an empty place where people would fellowship but without nurturance and spiritual maturity pursuance. Sad fact.
True to words, "mile wide and inch deep" Christianity is very evident in today's world. With its growing popularity, more in RELIGIOUS aspect and not in a RELATIONAL facet, makes it more difficult for many, especially new Christians, to really know what and how it is to have a true relationship with Jesus Christ through faith that works. In fact, in a youth group of 10 once asked "Whose Christian here?” about 7 or 8 might raise an excited hand up. But once further solicited with "How they say so?” mostly will just say "Because they attend the church," and nothing else.
In simple terms, many are Christians in "TAG" but "REAL" ones are becoming rare.
However though, this is not an issue of who's in or out of REAL and RELATIONAL Christianity. This is rather an issue of calling unto God to help us correct whatever is wrong that may soon become a TRADITION that could already be hardly altered due to practice and thought that all these are the right thing to pursue. And of course, those who understand, then, have to do ways to really fulfill the Great Commission.
This shook me to my feet. I might be just one of those who help in mile-widening the Christianity and ignore the depth to truth. Search heart and God opens the door to the truth when we knock. Seek more of Him and grow wide and deep!
Along doing things to deepen and ignite the faith seeded in, I learned the significance of which to motivate and to devote to so as to experience God moving in my life. Like said, when you seek, you shall find… and so as the Father to my desire to seek more of Him. He let me understood how it is to be in His dwelling place, floating in joy and peace. It seemed as if reaching for Him has not even been a task to toil on. Not to mention that several of the Christians that time were just either (1) ablazing in faith or (2) dead cold. No lukewarm and mediocre are in a noteworthy percentage then. In fact, to know who’s Christian and not was just so apparent that many could easily tell. Not certain though if it was about the clothing or attitudes or whatever. It doesn't really matter big.
Anyway, that was the last scene of the movie I remember before I took a turn. I had to be out of the church to pursue some priorities and opportunities I didn’t weigh good, I could tell, and had to be totally drowned into the worldly pleasure of recognition, contentment and sins. This is whole different story to tell but to make it short, I had to be out for a while to see what’s out and enjoyed it and when got tired and wounded, I went back in and tuned to the movie I was watching.
I went back to the church after 5 long years and tried to reconcile with God and renewed my acceptance of salvation. And as I stay on, I was a little puzzled of where did the story go and it seemed several things happened and new sets and twists associated along. Too many to mention… but what painted most in my mind is the vast increase in number of Christians from all walks of life. And praise be to God that He allowed and helped the gospel through in many people. Even friends I know, who I met again with, were already involved and even leading groups for same purposes in other different churches. But to my surprise, they that lead the small groups for Jesus are the same people who sing seculars in loud, and drink liquors and smoke and should I say, are WORLDLY.
Not being a conservative, perfect and sinless Christian because I am actually not and I am an "open-to-every-possibility" type of a believer, but the remarkable transformation of what I know and what I experienced just startled me to deep. Was I left behind of new trends in Christianity or was I just being an unintelligible critic that rides pessimism?
In my pursuit, it takes several researches to be read and several more studies concerning both sociology and God’s words to be looked on and deeper, more stable prayer life to build before I understood what’s going on. And the fact is, there really was a twist in the story so abrupt that the story became so vague and led to the total loss of the original storyboard. Now, a "mediocre" is introduced big and the "lukewarm, religious Christianity" is just everywhere.
Just recently, I was forwarded by dear sister in Christ with a link to a blog-study entitled Theo-tainment vs. Discipleship (http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11635336/). As I went on, the indistinct reality I am looking at all this time suddenly became clearer to me – it is true that Christianity grew mile wide yet just an inch deep. Church has become a place of professing faith in Jesus Christ yet not actually following Jesus. Yes. It became just an empty place where people would fellowship but without nurturance and spiritual maturity pursuance. Sad fact.
True to words, "mile wide and inch deep" Christianity is very evident in today's world. With its growing popularity, more in RELIGIOUS aspect and not in a RELATIONAL facet, makes it more difficult for many, especially new Christians, to really know what and how it is to have a true relationship with Jesus Christ through faith that works. In fact, in a youth group of 10 once asked "Whose Christian here?” about 7 or 8 might raise an excited hand up. But once further solicited with "How they say so?” mostly will just say "Because they attend the church," and nothing else.
In simple terms, many are Christians in "TAG" but "REAL" ones are becoming rare.
However though, this is not an issue of who's in or out of REAL and RELATIONAL Christianity. This is rather an issue of calling unto God to help us correct whatever is wrong that may soon become a TRADITION that could already be hardly altered due to practice and thought that all these are the right thing to pursue. And of course, those who understand, then, have to do ways to really fulfill the Great Commission.
This shook me to my feet. I might be just one of those who help in mile-widening the Christianity and ignore the depth to truth. Search heart and God opens the door to the truth when we knock. Seek more of Him and grow wide and deep!
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