Negligence Blesses No One

Scriptures:

2 Chronicles 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.”

Observation:

This passage is one of the constant reminders to minister from the heart and not from our flesh.

In here, Hezzekiah emphasized that as ministers, we should not dare to neglect the things that the Lord expect us to do. In this way, true anointing and power will not be hindered.

Application:

Simple reminder, that theoretically simple to apply:

-Ministers, don't NEGLECT the basics and that includes our DEVOTIONS, our PRAYER TIME. For without this, everything is just a waste of time, effort, resources.

- Don't do the basics because of ministry. It will just lead you to a wrong motive. Personal devotion , quality quiet time, sincere prayers will always lead to a powerful ministry and not just that, POWERFUL LIFE as well.

Take a Deeper Root

Scriptures:

2 Kings 19:29-30

²⁹ “This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

“This year you will eat what grows by itself,
and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
³⁰ Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.

Observation:

God understand our capacity as Christians, as we grow old in our faith, He expects us to grow deeper and deeper and bear fruits and harvest. Christians should certainly reach the point that we sow to reap, and plant to eat.

I love this passage, "The house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above" that can also be restated this way, " the deeper your roots reach, the fruitful you become" It kinda provokes me.. yeah..

Most of the Christians if not all of them is not ignorant of how to grow deeper in faith and in relationship with God, READ YOUR BIBLE & PRAY EVERYDAY which reminds me of my Sunday school song, 'as you grow, grow grow'. It's easy isn't it? But to master and be consistent in doing it determines the real score.

Prayer:

Lord, I own this passage as if it's the very same words you are telling me, " Once more, a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. In you, I speak breakthrough over me. And i claim it all, in Jesus Name, amen

Who's the Cook

Scriptures

⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”

Observation:

I remembered what Ptr. Manric told us one time, that everyday God has a fresh and personal word for us through the bible. Now it's up to us if we wanna miss it or not. In our devotions what we need to do is to eat God's cooked food for us. The same with our physical body, our spirit can't survive without food to nourish it. You wanna die -- Eat no food. God's word renew our strength, the source of our hope, gives comfort and assurance, and security to our identity. Devotion is too essential to ignore.

Bring it On

Date: March 10, 2011

Scriptures

1Kings 18:36-39

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

Observation:

God is a "Bring it on God" He surely loves "Bring it On" challenges. We people has always the tendency to rely on our own strength, fix things out by our own capacity. We always consider God as our last resort. But God waits for the time that you will allow Him to prove Himself.

Elijah showed a remarkable act in this story. You see? He never hesitated going to the camp of the people who's hunting his life and even challenge them for a showdown. His act implies that his faith to God is higher and far bigger than his fear to what his enemy could possibly do to him once His God did not show up. But also His attitude implies this way: "God, my job is just to challenge a showdown for you, now it's your problem if you won't show up because this is your people whom you wanted to regain". Amazing!

Application:

Do not be afraid to give God a "bring it on" challenges, He wont turn it down surely. As what I learned from the Sun Stand Still Series, the new paradigm of sharing Jesus to people is to ask if they have problems -- yeah, big and impossible problems. And simply tell them to give it to God. In this way, you are passing the ball to God's hand -- "Lord, I've done my part, it's now time for you to "bring it on".
We need to realize, our job is not really to win people, it's God's. Our responsibility is to pray for them and take courage to share to them about Jesus and that's it. Knowing this, we will never own the glory if people whom we shared the gospel accepted Jesus in their hearts or the other way around, we will not blame ourselves and feel a failure if they did not.

Prayer:

O Lord, I really love your word. It excites my spirit. Help me to carry it always in my heart and my mind -- that You my God is a "Bring it on God". Nothing and no one is worth comparing to You. Knowing this, may i always take the courage to pray bring it on prayers Lord for your glory.

In Jesus Name.. amen

Do them a favor

Scriptures:

34 “‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees.

Observation:

The impact of David's life lasted generations upon generations. Inspite of Solomon's wickedness, God chose to sustain His kingship over Israel and even allowed Judah to remain under the leadership of his descendants because David -- the man after God's own heart -- the father of Solomon, live a life fully committed to God.

Two insights can be taken here. First, If we walk righteously before the Lord, we are not just doing favor for ourselves but also, we are investing to the lives of our children. Second, this passage remind us that what we have right now is not because we deserve it. Everything is merely by God's grace.

Application:

Do a favor to your children (both spiritual & physical). Walk righteously before God. In this way, you are sending an investment for the generations after you.

Don't feel entitled to anything, instead develop a grateful heart. Always acknowledge that everything is because of God's grace.

Prayer:

Lord thank you for your word. It's just so awesome knowing you like this -- a promise keeper God, faithful and true to His covenant. The source of perfect grace. Your grace is like the air that i breathe, without you I am nothing.

God, make me like David. Aside from making my self a favor by walking righteously before you, i want to invest to the generations after me, especially to my children. Someday, when you run out of reasons to bless them, may my life sustain your favor upon them Lord. And all of this will only be possible with your grace and mercy.

I love you,. In Jesus Name, Amen..

Testify

Scriptures:

1 Kings 10:7-9
7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”

Observation:

Practically speaking, to own a testimony to share to the people who doesn't know Christ yet is more effective than to share to them that Jesus loves them. This world is so thirsty of testimonies that would demonstrate to them the advantage of being God's follower.

Christianity per se is intangible to those who doesn't know Christ yet. Our job is to make it tangible for them.

Application;

Never ever forget that two of your job titles is this: First is to please God in everything you do, and second, to be a responsible God's ambassador on earth.

Be conscious to maintain a faithful testimony for Jesus. In small or big matters, be faithful. Always expect that people are watching over you, to see if Jesus is real in your life.

Prayer:

Lord, like Solomon, let your glory manifest on us. Let your grace cover and protect our testimony for us to usher souls for you through our lives. help me to demonstrate in my life your faithfulness, your kindness, your goodness and your holiness and most especially, your love.

Thankyou Lord, in Jesus Name.. amen

His part, Our Part

Scriptures:

1Kings 8:56

“Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses"

1Kings 8:61

And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

Observation:

God is a certified promise keeper. Heaven and earth may fail, but His words will still remain. On the other hand, in every promises God has for us, we need to get our share done in order to fulfill that promise. Oops, Let me clarify one thing, God does not need us for Him to fulfill a promise. It's just that, He wants us to take part. A familiar phrase from preachers goes this way, In a hundred steps, God took the ninety nine steps and left a single step for us to take, unfortunately we usually miss that single step and worse we sometime blame God because of the unfulfilled promise

Application:

As God is faithfully doing His part, do your part as well. Claiming God's promise isn't just about waiting, it also requires an act for us to get it.

Prayer:

Lord you always keep your part in the bargain, but I always fail keeping mine. I need your grace Lord, Help me to reach a level that both of us is keeping our own part, but of course Lord, it will never be apart from your grace. Your faithfulness keeps me fall in love with You...

ACCORDING TO HOW YOU ARE CALLED

SCRIPTURES:

1Kings 8:10-11

¹⁰ When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. ¹¹ And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

1Kings 8:17-19

⁷ “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. ¹⁸ But the LORD said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. ¹⁹Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

OBSERVATION

• Our Lord is not a "go with the flow God" He always has His own agenda and that is far far higher and better than ours.
• God's holiness can sweep us anytime he wants
• Regardless of how much we want to do something for God, if it never was our calling, even if it's a godly thing, He wont able us to accomplish such. I believe everyone of us holds a map drawn by God and each map leads to a unique and divine destination. If we start to live out a calling that was never ours, We can never have a fulfilled life.

APPLICATION:

• Never the eliminate the fact that in every ministry, regardless of how prepared we are, God's agenda should still prevail. No matter how well we organized things out, God's moving is still higher and better than ours.
• Honestly, at my age i still have a vague picture of how God wants me to live my life, but one thing is certain, God wont just pop up an idea on my mind and tell me that's how he called me. My part is to feed myself tidbits or even chunks of the possible ministry He prepared for me and God's part is to confirm it to me.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Never allow me to waste my life by living out something that wasn't my calling. May you align my desires to yours Lord and guide me in every step of the way. My life is all about giving you glory by fulfilling your purpose in me. Your will be done Lord.