Sunday, May 25, 2008
Philippine National Symbols
The National Flower of the Philippine is the Sampaguita (Jasminum Sambac) . Strongly scented, it is sold as leis mostly around curches but also near where the Traffic Lights are located. When the light turns red, kids rush to the stopped vehicles and offer their Sampaguita leis. Many small children earn their school allowance by selling Sampaguita. The Philippines adopted it as its National Flower in 1937 while Indonesia adopted as its national flower (one of two) in1990. A native song refers to it as "Sampaguita ng ating lahi" (Sampaguita of our race) indicating its favored position in the heart of the Filipinos. However, a careful study of its popularity shows that is popular in some places but not in many other places in the Philippines.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
bad times in life
We can quote many verses to help fight the bad times of our lives. That is good but we need to glean from the verses the truth that can set us free. Bad times are unavoidable but we should remember that there is no victory without an enemy or an opposition. Bad times are excellent opportunities to win.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Choices
Our Choices are usually defective because they are based on attraction instead of conviction and they are premised on convenience instead of obedience. Eve's attraction to the forbidden fruit pushed to the side the truth that God has said "do not eat." Sometimes it seems convenient to be disobedient but obedience is a "no ifs and buts" conviction
Sunday, April 20, 2008
sermon on Eph 6
Sermon on Eph. 6
Satan wins by the weakness of our stand!
Eph 6:10 and following
I. The Fight With Satan follows his schedule not ours
Eph 6:11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. NASB. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. NIV
II. The fight with Satan requires the use of special armor.
Eph 6:11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. NASB
We should not miss the point that the armor in Eph 6, is not a PERSONAL ARMOR but a CORPORATE OR GROUP ARMOR. The word YOU is plural in the Greek!
The armor is used to protect our relationships from the attack of the enemy
Parts of the Armor
Truth for the Loins . Righteousness for the chest. Gospel of peace for the feet. Shield of faith. Helmet of salvation. Sword of the Spirit.
Truth governs our relationships. Righteousness describes our relationships. Peace permeates our relationships. Salvation is common to all of us in our relationships. We all have the sword of the Spirit.
III- The fight with Satan requires a decision to be strong and to fight for unity.
Eph 6:10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
The fight with Satan is centered on the issue of Christian Unity
The warrior of God resolves the issue of disunity even if it means being hurt
The agent of the enemy pursues divisive issues just to justify his/her opinion.
Whether Satan is successful or not is:
Seen in our relationships in the family
Seen in our relationships in the Church
Unity is not the absence of a fight but it is best described as ENJOYABLE COMPANIONSHIP
Satan wins by the weakness of our stand!
Eph 6:10 and following
I. The Fight With Satan follows his schedule not ours
Eph 6:11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. NASB. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. NIV
II. The fight with Satan requires the use of special armor.
Eph 6:11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. NASB
We should not miss the point that the armor in Eph 6, is not a PERSONAL ARMOR but a CORPORATE OR GROUP ARMOR. The word YOU is plural in the Greek!
The armor is used to protect our relationships from the attack of the enemy
Parts of the Armor
Truth for the Loins . Righteousness for the chest. Gospel of peace for the feet. Shield of faith. Helmet of salvation. Sword of the Spirit.
Truth governs our relationships. Righteousness describes our relationships. Peace permeates our relationships. Salvation is common to all of us in our relationships. We all have the sword of the Spirit.
III- The fight with Satan requires a decision to be strong and to fight for unity.
Eph 6:10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
The fight with Satan is centered on the issue of Christian Unity
The warrior of God resolves the issue of disunity even if it means being hurt
The agent of the enemy pursues divisive issues just to justify his/her opinion.
Whether Satan is successful or not is:
Seen in our relationships in the family
Seen in our relationships in the Church
Unity is not the absence of a fight but it is best described as ENJOYABLE COMPANIONSHIP
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The destructive power of a wrong belief
Text John 5:1-15
Main Truth: Wrong belief can prolong and intensify our agonies
Introduction:
The power of mental conclusions: You are what you conclude yourself to be. …
Hopelessness is a mental conclusion.
Happiness is a mental conclusion
Horror is a mental conclusion. Ex. What to others is the horror of perverted poverty was to Mother Teresa an opportunity to love and help.
No one is spared from the agonies of life. We will have to know how to cope up or overcome our pains. Otherwise, we will be drowning unnecessarily. The story today is about a man who had a difficult need.
I HIS BURDENS WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
1. Handicap- His freedom of movement was extremely limited
2. Helplessness- He was alone with no one to help him.
3. Homelessness- He had been there for quite a while and was no longer in his home
II HIS BELIEFS WERE NOT HELPFUL TO HIM
1. The angel- he was focused on the arrival of the invisible angel
2. The water- he was focused on the rippling or bubbling of the water
3. The people who can help would of course help themselves first
4. the result: years of terrible burdens and pains
III HIS BLESSINGS INCLUDED A CHANGE OF MENTAL CONCLUSIONS
1. Change of focus: Not on being unable to walk but on walking
2. Change of mental conclusions. From “I can’t walk “ to “I must walk”
3. Change of focus “not lying down but walking around with the mat”
4. Change of attitude. I must avoid anything that may bring back my burdens “ “sin nor more”
Conclusion:
The answer is not clear when we have wrong beliefs. Wrong belief drowns. The bridge between a burden and a blessing is right belief.
Main Truth: Wrong belief can prolong and intensify our agonies
Introduction:
The power of mental conclusions: You are what you conclude yourself to be. …
Hopelessness is a mental conclusion.
Happiness is a mental conclusion
Horror is a mental conclusion. Ex. What to others is the horror of perverted poverty was to Mother Teresa an opportunity to love and help.
No one is spared from the agonies of life. We will have to know how to cope up or overcome our pains. Otherwise, we will be drowning unnecessarily. The story today is about a man who had a difficult need.
I HIS BURDENS WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
1. Handicap- His freedom of movement was extremely limited
2. Helplessness- He was alone with no one to help him.
3. Homelessness- He had been there for quite a while and was no longer in his home
II HIS BELIEFS WERE NOT HELPFUL TO HIM
1. The angel- he was focused on the arrival of the invisible angel
2. The water- he was focused on the rippling or bubbling of the water
3. The people who can help would of course help themselves first
4. the result: years of terrible burdens and pains
III HIS BLESSINGS INCLUDED A CHANGE OF MENTAL CONCLUSIONS
1. Change of focus: Not on being unable to walk but on walking
2. Change of mental conclusions. From “I can’t walk “ to “I must walk”
3. Change of focus “not lying down but walking around with the mat”
4. Change of attitude. I must avoid anything that may bring back my burdens “ “sin nor more”
Conclusion:
The answer is not clear when we have wrong beliefs. Wrong belief drowns. The bridge between a burden and a blessing is right belief.
life of Jabez
IF IT IS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT UNDO, ACCEPT IT AS A REALITY BUT NOT AS A DESTINY
Verse 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez' name had become synonymous with pain. There was no way for him to change it so he did not try to change it. He accepted it as a reality but it was not his destiny to be a paingiver or a sufferer of pain. It makes a lot of difference when you distinguish between what is a reality and a destiny.
Verse 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez' name had become synonymous with pain. There was no way for him to change it so he did not try to change it. He accepted it as a reality but it was not his destiny to be a paingiver or a sufferer of pain. It makes a lot of difference when you distinguish between what is a reality and a destiny.
Do not try to change what cannot be changed
Life can be so devastating when we try to chance what we cannot change and try to undo what we cannot undo
The wisdom is often a matter of knowing which part of your life you still can change and which part you can no longer change
The wisdom is often a matter of knowing which part of your life you still can change and which part you can no longer change
fear or faith?
FEAR MEANS TO FOCUS ON WHAT PEOPLE SAY. FAITH MEANS TO FOCUS ON WHAT GOD SAYS.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY CAN HURT BUT WHAT GOD SAYS CAN HEAL.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY CAN DESTROY BUT WHAT GOD SAYS CAN DELIVER.
So, choose Faith over fear.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY CAN HURT BUT WHAT GOD SAYS CAN HEAL.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY CAN DESTROY BUT WHAT GOD SAYS CAN DELIVER.
So, choose Faith over fear.
painful break-up
When someone you love leaves you, wait with faith. If the person is not for you, your feelings will change. If your feelings will not change, that means the person will be reconciled with you.
Monday, February 25, 2008
questions
As pastors we often encounter questions of many kinds. Some of these questions come from hearts that have very serious concerns while others are legitimate issues needing clarification. Feel free to ask questions having to do with concerns in life or even Bible-related issues.
Descriptive language
English is English but when English is used to describe an idea so that listener "sees" a picture, the English used is called Descriptive English. In Tagalog we refer to this " paglalarawan sa pamamagitan ng salita" (making a picture through words). A Preacher must learn how to use descriptive language.
Since this blogspot is intended to be a forum where pastors can exchange ideas, feedback are appreciated and will be helpful to all of us.
Since this blogspot is intended to be a forum where pastors can exchange ideas, feedback are appreciated and will be helpful to all of us.
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