Unfailing Promise of GOD - May 1, 2014

Scripture: Joshua 21-24
43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. 45 Not a single one of all the good promises theLord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. - Joshua 21
8 Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now. - Joshua 23
13 I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them. 14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. - Joshua 24

Message:

Thank you Father GOD, that Not a single one of Your promise will fail for you are a Faithful GOD, the great I am! We may forget but you always remember.
Observation/Promise:

When the LORD is with you, nothing and no one could stand against you. How do we have that blessing for GOD to be with us all the time? When we are obedient to the LORD's commands, when we wholeheartedly follow the LORD and His ways, then GOD will never cease to be with us. Even in our rebellious ways, He will not give up on us that easily, but waits and works gently to bring us back to HIM. HE is not forceful on us, He is gentle and kind.

Application/Command:

Cling to the Lord your GOD as you have done until now. Cling, do not depend on anybody that can help you or save you from your troubles but depend on the LORD alone.

Fear the Lord, do not take His name and Being lightly

Serve the Lord faithfully with all your heart. 

Do not let the idols of your heart that compete with GOD grow and rise up. Know and Understand what it is that competes with GOD in your heart and Put them away forever.

If you do all these things faithfully, you will always experience the unfailing promise of GOD.

Fear GOD - March 24, 2014

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32-34
4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!4 
21 They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God;
they have provoked my anger with their useless idols.
Now I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people;
I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles.

Message:
The Lord's Anger burns against the unfaithful, rebellious and disobedient.

Observation/Promise:
God's ways are perfect, there is no wrong in Him. Isn't it wonderful that there is somebody perfect whom we can look to for justice, for perfection, for holiness, for everything we ever need. Looking to His perfection, His glory will make us a little more and more like Him. When GOD calls us to walk with Him, we slowly become like Him, but when He calls us, we have to respond with our hearts and not with our minds, not half heartedly, for a half hearted response is what He despise. He wants to mold us into His perfect will, it is our task to obey.

Command/Application:
We ought to regard the Lord as a High Being worthy of the highest respect and reverent fear. When we understand His Holiness, we will fear Him in a right way and not take His grace and mercy for granted. We will love Him with all our hearts when we know who He truly is. It is important to love GOD but it is equally important to fear Him.

In or Out - March 14, 2014

Scripture: Revelations 7-11
15“That is why they stand in front of God’s throne
and serve him day and night in his Temple.
And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter.
16 They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” - Revelations 7
11 But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. 12 Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.
The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come.
It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets,
as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name,
from the least to the greatest.
It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
- Revelations 11
Message:

In or Out. With GOD or without. Light or Dark.

Observation/Promise:
There's only two places in the spiritual realm, in the light or in the dark. There's only two places we can be in, either we are in the light or in the dark.
Either you are with GOD or not. Either you belong to GOD or the devil. If you don't belong to God, you belong to the devil. There's no such thing as in between. Either you love GOD or hate Him. If you love the world and everything this world offers, then you do not love GOD. If you do not fear GOD, you will be afraid of something else. Why would you be in the dark where GOD is not there when being in the light is so much better because GOD is on your side and you will forever be in His shelter, in His keeping, in His arms. Just as a mother looks at their child, is how GOD looks at us, with so much love and compassion. There's no losing when you are with GOD, HE will always lead His sheep into spring of life.

Command/Application:
Fear GOD, by loving Him and giving Him the highest respect and authority in your life. Let GOD lead you like a Shepherd leads His sheep. Worship and love GOD with all your heart. You can never lose when you belong to GOD. And if you fear GOD, you need not the terrors of the earth or in the days coming upon the earth for you know that GOD is Sovereign, He is always in control. And even the terrors that come upon the earth are part of His will and plan to punish the wicked and give judgement to all the works of mankind. When the judgement of the earth comes, you need not be afraid because you know that this is all part of GOD's plan. So are you in or out?

The Judgements of GOD - Feb 28, 2014

Scripture: Malachi
1 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.3 He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. 4 Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.
6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lordof Heaven’s Armies. - Malachi 3
1 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.
2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 3 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. - Malachi 4
Message:
The Lord is a just GOD and His righteousness He will show through His judgements.

Observation/Promise:
The Lord has already spoken His prophecies to His people and the judgements that is coming to take place in the Philippines. There's wickedness everywhere, and hearing about them make me cry out, O Lord have mercy and judge the wicked for your righteousness sake. He is already judging His own house first, those that believe in Him and we are filled with trouble from every side. But the Lord will preserve and protect His children, to those that love Him and fear His Holy Name, difficult it may be right now but they will be healed by the righteousness of GOD, there is hope and restoration even though we have to go through the fiery fires of trial, when the judgement comes, for the children of GOD, it is like the Lord refining us like metal, or silver burning away the impurities from us. But for the wicked, what a terrible day it will be, for they will be gone without hope, without a future. But if they decide to repent with their hearts, they will live and find hope in the GOD of our Salvation.

Command/Application:
When the day of judgement comes and you are in the fires of trial, Look up, for your salvation is near. Hold on to the Lord and make sure never to fall away. Submit yourself to the refining of GOD and let your heart be sober before Him. Ask for His forgiveness all the time and trust in His Sovereign power. The day of the Lord is upon us, but those who fear the Lord they will become better than they were before. 

In your youth, Live in the ways of GOD - Feb 27, 2014

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11-12
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
9 Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. - Ecclesiastes 11
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. - Ecclesiastes 12
Message:
God's works in mysterious ways and in all you do, do it out of reverence for GOD for He will judge us according to what we have done on earth.

Observation/Promise:
God does all things, He is working out everything according to His purpose. Are we working according to His purpose? Are we one with His will? God has given us youth and vigor, strength and energy and we can do anything with it as we please but everything we do can be a waste when we are not working in line with GOD's heart and will for us. It is wonderful to enjoy life, it's good to wake up early, to see the day dawning. Be eager to live and be excited for the future. But whatever we do on earth, we must give an account to Him who is the giver of our life. So it is good to sow seeds early in life, because whatever we sow, we will reap later. 

Command/Application:
Sow! Start sowing early in life. Invest, and divide your investments. Do everything you can do today, do not wait for the best time to do things. Let GOD work out things for you for He is the one working behind all things. God's ways are mysterious, just trust Him. More importantly than money, Invest in your spirit, which is eternal, for whatever things you invest in the spirit, you will reap eternal rewards in Heaven. The young because of their energy is prone to anger, we can be angry for a time but we can it go right away. Chose to keep your body healthy by not letting anger take it's grip on you. And in your youth, thing of pleasing your creator, the GOD who loves you more than anyone does because you are going to grow old someday and what more can you do when you are already in this dying age? Above all, fear GOD, and walk in His ways. 

Ask Wisdom

7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.
But correct the wise, and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

- Proverbs 9

Wisdom has always been an integral value that GOD has emphasized in the book of Proverbs that all of us, His people should have. Why is it that wisdom is taken for granted by many? Because wisdom cannot be seen but can only be witnessed right after the person has gained fame and honor. Wisdom indeed brings honor. But to the simple minded and to those people that enjoy talking about other people - these are the ones that are called mockers, they despise wisdom. They talk about the mistakes and failures of others and even laugh at them. Why does wisdom tell us not to bother with correcting them? Because it won't do you any good to correct mockers but will cause you more harm. Do not bother with anything at all when you are in contact with mockers because they will mock at you from your back without your knowledge of it.

We should not waste our time correcting other people when GOD has not instructed us to do so. We should rather gain wisdom from GOD and how do we do this? We start by having a distinct kind of fear for GOD. This fear is not to be afraid of GOD, but it is a fear that holds someone in high regard with their deepest respect. This is what the Bible says about this kind of fear. For having high respect and regard for GOD will make you careful whatever you do in life and however you think. It is the beginning of fear because it will make you ask, is this pleasing to GOD? Should I do what I am supposed to do? And if it makes you seek GOD's approval then HE will guide you into wisdom because HE is wisdom, HE knows what is the best for you and has only what is most excellent for you. So ask wisdom, fear GOD, seek His ways and you will never regret anything in your life.  

A Chance

11 “If they listen and obey God,
they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.
All their years will be pleasant.
12 But if they refuse to listen to him,
they will be killed by the sword
and die from lack of understanding.
13 For the godless are full of resentment.
Even when he punishes them,
they refuse to cry out to him for help.
14 They die when they are young,
after wasting their lives in immoral living.
15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.
For he gets their attention through adversity.
- Job 36 

Listening to GOD and obeying His commands brings us many blessings with prosperity all throughout our lives. Is this our primary motivation for being close to GOD? Being religious following all His commands? But loving GOD is the most satisfying and fulfilling anyone could ever experience in their lives. It is not enough for GOD that you follow and obey Him out of obligation or fear. If that was so, He would not have to send His only Son Yeshua to die for our sakes. For it is not enough for GOD to have our obedience because we are after His blessings. He is such a wonderful being because He is after our love.

But even after what GOD has done and people still refuse to listen to Him, they will be judged by the sword of His word and die because of ignorance, lack of knowledge of the truth, no sense of wisdom and understanding. There's only two kinds of people in this world,  the godless, those that reject GOD and the faithful, those that belong to GOD because they chose to follow and obey Him with their whole hearts. There are also people who are religious but they do not belong to GOD because they say they fear GOD but in their hearts are resentment, rebellion and pride. But GOD's mercy is so great, He will try His hardest to get the godless out of their rebellion by punishing them with suffering so that when He gets their attention through hardship, they can have chance to change their evil ways and live their lives for GOD. This is how faithful and just GOD is to every one, HE always gives a chance.

Faithful to the Faithful

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look with lust at a young woman.
2 For what has God above chosen for us?
What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Isn’t it calamity for the wicked
and misfortune for those who do evil?
4 Doesn’t he see everything I do
and every step I take?

- Job 31

Job was not just a believer of GOD who goes to church every Sunday and gave his tithes to the temple. He didn't just listen to the preacher and forgot all about them during the week. He wasn't just any ordinary man who had religion but did not have faith. Job loved GOD. He loved GOD so much he pleased GOD in the deep of his heart to the pages of his thoughts. To make a covenant or a promise with himself never to look at lust with a young woman is a man who has developed a character of moral excellence. It is very hard for man not to look at women with lust because naturally men are very visual and anything they see stimulates them. But it was Job's prerogative to discipline the thoughts of his mind and keeping them pure and holy before GOD.  You can never keep birds of thoughts from flying over your head, but you can always keep them from building a nest in it.

Job was a man that truly feared GOD. Fearing GOD is not to be afraid of Him but to have the highest respect and reverend awe for GOD. This is how Job lived his life and GOD was very pleased with him. GOD was so proud of Job that HE had to boast about him to the devil and so gave the devil the chance to test the one who was more righteous than anyone on the face of the earth to prove GOD wrong. GOD believing Job so much allowed the devil to touch  his wealth, his family, his health but Job never disappointed GOD in fact he was so faithful to GOD even to the point of death. For this Job's fear for GOD paid off in the end. Job was given back a hundred times back what the devil had stolen and broken from his life and lived even more abundantly than he ever did before. So what is the difference between someone who loves GOD and someone who doesn't? Both go through the same troubles and even the righteous go through it undeserved. But one thing is for sure. The righteous may have troubles but the LORD delivers him from them all. He is faithful to the faithful.

Your Heart, Your Center

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

- Psalm 32

GOD is faithful, HE is good to those whose hearts are His, to those that fear Him. To fear GOD does not mean to be afraid of Him, but fear in a way that you have so much respect for Him and His being that you do not just do anything according to what you feel is good, but you always consider His thoughts and what He might feel every time you do something.The LORD wants to guide you in the best pathway for your life, truly He knows what is best for you. If you ask Him, He will gladly guide you and watch over you.

The pagans, the godless, they do anything they feel and think is right for them. They give in to their physical desires anytime their bodies demand for it. But GOD says not to be like them. It is wise to be in control of our bodies and of our minds because everything that we decide to do starts with our thoughts. Be open to GOD, tell Him all that is in your heart  and HE will align your thoughts to His will. Keeping track of the state of your heart lets GOD always be the bearer of your heart. When GOD holds your heart, you make the Him the center of your being. And when He is your center, you have nothing to fear!

The God of Justice

¹⁴ “Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. ¹⁵ You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.
- Deuteronomy 24:14-15


The earth has its own laws on different countries depending on the law makers of the Land. Man made laws serve to protect it's people and serve justice when it is needed. But there are spiritual laws that govern the world on it's entirety and it doesn't depend on people who dwell on the land but the lawmaker is the creator of the whole Universe. These are invisible laws that we don't see and laws that we can only know when we read GOD's word the Bible. Man made laws have flaws that somehow the wicked who are scheming can and are able to get away from it. But GOD's laws are perfect and nobody ever gets away from them. HE is the GOD of Justice and HE sees all things.

The creator of the whole Universe is not only a God of Justice but He is a God of righteousness. He seeks fairness in all our dealings, therefore He commands in Deuteronomy 24 to Never take advantage of the powerless and needy. It is amazing that even though our man made laws fail us, the higher laws of GOD are incorruptable and unfailing. These divine laws not only apply to Israel His chosen people, but these laws apply to all men regardless of race, country, culture or faith. Whether we believe in the GOD of Justice or not, whether we are Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist or whatever religion we are in, GOD's laws apply to us and justice will be served inevitably to all humanity, being or creature. Even the golden rule "Whatever you do to others will be done unto you" came from the very words of JESUS. Therefore we should not take lightly what GOD is saying to us. Yes, the poor might be powerless before us but GOD hears the cries of the poor and GOD will count whatever wrong we have done as sin and we will surely be punished for whatever sin we have against GOD. If you truly know GOD, then you will naturally fear GOD. Not fear as in be afraid, but you will have reverent respect of HIS Divine being that it will be impossible for you to live a careless life. Do you know the God of Justice? If you do, then it will surely be evident in how you live your life.

The High Priest

When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! 2 When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. 3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4 For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!
- Deuteronomy 20: 1-4

Who are you enemies? Enemies come in different shapes and forms. They could be external, human beings that want to destroy you, they could be great problems or they could be the devil that wants to tempt you out of what is right. Enemies could be internal something that you deal within yourself everyday. Laziness, Doubts, Fears, and any negative energy that stops you from being who you want to be and what you are supposed to be. These are enemies that we face everyday. But GOD knows all the battles, struggles and fights that we have to deal with on a daily basis. The LORD is aware and He cares for us so much He has a commanded us what we should be doing to overcome our enemies by preparing each day for the battle that is ahead.

GOD commands the priest to speak to the troops. It doesn't literally mean that we have to speak to a certain human being each day and be dependent on that person for encouragment. We have a High Priest who is available for us at our call of His name JESUS. He is the priest who can minister to our souls each day and HE is the person we should speak to daily before we start our day and this is how we prepare for battle. The LORD JESUS will certainly speak to our hearts if we seek to hear HIS voice, HIS words and seek HIS will everyday. HE will not fail to meet us when we come to HIM. HE will surely say to us "Listen, do not be afraid, do not lose heart or tremble, for I AM with you! I will fight for you against your enemies and I will give you victory!" Isn't it wonderful that our High Priest JESUS is the One who gives courage telling us HE will fight for us. If we just depend on HIM for strength and not on our own, we will live each day with courage and faith because we trust in the One who is fighting for us. But we can't ever trust if we don't know the character of a person, and we can't ever trust if we do not have a close relationship with that person. So if you want to know how to win against your enemies, take time everyday to listen to the voice of the High Priest JESUS, you will be amazed at what HE will say to you.

Fear of GOD

How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.

- Psalm 128:1-4

This world can occupy our minds of many things: worries about bills, money, debts or goals we set to achieve our dreams, plans for business, people who have affected us, the list is endless. But there's only one thought that gives relief to the human soul. Thoughts centered around GOD keep us focused on living the right way. What does GOD think of my plans? Does this please GOD? Will GOD bless my endeavour? Thoughts that revolve around GOD are the only thoughts that keep us in the right track. Fearing GOD means always involving HIM in every moment of our lives. It's not being afraid of being punished by GOD, it is being aware of HIS omni presence, knowing that regardless of how we think of HIM, HE is there watching every little thing we do, think and say, rewarding or punishing us for what we deserve.

King David says that those who fear GOD have the greatest joys, those who seek to follow HIM are more than happy. Happiness is a thing that is temporary because happiness is dependent on our circumstance. Like if we have something we have been wishing for, we are happy. If we get what we want we are happy, when we are being promoted at work, when we buy something we love, this gives us happiness. But joy is something that is more stable and permanent because it is not dependent on circumstance or things. Joy is being happy even in suffering. Yes, joy seems like a crazy thing but it is the thing that is what you would rather have than any short lived happiness. Fearing GOD also enables you to live a life of satisfaction and success. Why? Because GOD blesses those who fear him by not just making them successful or prosperous but HE enables them to enjoy their hard work. There are lots of rich people in this world, yes they have all the money but they can't enjoy their wealth because they are sick, they have family troubles or they are just unsatisfied no matter how much money they have. Therefore satisfaction is a gift only GOD can give. There are only things money can buy. But everyone knows money cannot buy happiness or satisfaction. Only GOD can truly give satisfaction to our hearts delight. God fearing men not only receive riches, wealth and the health to enjoy their hard earned money. God also provides these faithful men with wives that flourish in their homes, wives that are happy are flourishing, ever beautiful as they get older. God gives them children that are as vigorous as tress, obedient and loving children that are not rebellious but children that love to spend time with their fathers that's why they are in the dinner table eating with them. With all these promises that GOD gives to a Man, who wouldn't want to live a life that fears and loves GOD? Fearing GOD is not to be afraid, it is to have the highest respect in the world for a Most High Being who has the power to take or give.  

Trust

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

I have been fearing a lot lately because I had a negative experience that I do not want to go through again. If I was heading a road that I know will give the same painful experience, would I really want to go through that same road again? What if there was no other way to pass by but through that exact same road? Then I really don't have a choice but to go through that road again. Fearing for that same pain. But somehow pain is buried deep down in a person's memory more than any happy memories could ever be implanted in the human brain. Thus being fearful of the same pain called a Trauma is where you don't even know you will be in that same pain again, you just become more worried that it will torment you that same pain again if you pass by that same old road.
I realized that a lot of my fears today has got something to do with not trusting GOD enough to take care of me and GOD allowing me to be in pain in the past. If I know that GOD loves me then I should not be in pain but I'm not most certainly correct. Being in this world we are prone and susceptible to pain and suffering because this is a fallen world. But I cannot live in fear all my life and I have to step out somehow and face those fears. Even in pain, I know that GOD's love has not ceased for me. GOD allows pain but only for a greater cause. In the many stories in the Bible GOD has caused so much pain to those who chose to follow HIM but their end was always full of glory and their lives are of Honor and Courage. To persevere is to trust GOD in fear and to take courage. Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act in the presence of fear. Fear can paralyze us and manipulate us to hide away in our safe zone if we let it take hold of us. To hide away from pain will only cause us to be shielded and even more sensitive but it will not make us as strong as Titanium. I wish I was Titanium as the song goes "I'm bullet proof nothing to loose, fire away, fire away you shoot me down but I won't fall I am Titanium..." and until then, I will gather the courage not to hide away anymore. For I trust that all those who belong to GOD will be honored in the end.