YOUR FAITH SHOULD BE BIGGER THAN YOUR QUESTIONS

We all have our share of discouragements and loss of faith at one point in our lives. This is nothing new that even the great men of the bible have experienced the same. Abraham’s story of faith has been recalled in the letter of Paul to the Hebrews. He faced a lot of challenges and obstacles in his lifetime but his faith was so great that it was significantly recounted in what we now consider as the bible’s Hall of Fame.

Read Hebrews 11:8-19.

HOW ABRAHAM LIVED BY FAITH.

1.Abraham did not know where.

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” Hebrews 11:8.

Often times, we plan and decide on something then ask God to bless it such as in businesses and relationships instead of asking God first to tell us what His will is for us. Abraham sought God’s will for him and when God told him to go, he obeyed even when he did not know where God was taking him.

2. Abraham did not know how.

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise” Hebrews 11:11.

God promised Abraham that he will have children (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:5-6; Genesis 17:16). His wife Sarah was barren and when God told Abraham that she was to bear children, she was 90 years old. Abraham did not understand how it will happen but he believed God.

3. Abraham did not know why.

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned” Hebrews 11:17-18.

We all have our whys: Why is everyone getting promoted but me? Why didn’t God heal my father? Has God forgotten me? God, are you with me?

God promised Abraham that he will have children. That promise was made visible when Sarah gave birth to Isaac. God told Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, He told Abraham to kill the promise. Abraham did not understand why. It did not make any sense! But still, Abraham obeyed.

YOUR FAITH SHOULD BE BIGGER THAN YOUR QUESTIONS

A child that wants something simply asks for it. He does not feel the need to know everything to be able to receive what he asks for. All he understands is that when he asks, his father will give it to him. All other questions fade away. All he understands in his heart is the faithfulness of his father. In the same way, all we really need to know is that when God is with us, we can walk by faith. We may not know all the answers, but we walk in faith because we know we can trust Jesus above all.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20.

REVEALED SERIES: Generosity

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:11(NKJV).

Matthew points us two areas of God’s generosity: Good gifts & Good things. God generously supplies our material needs but His generosity goes beyond material provisions.

HOW GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS GENEROSITY:

God is generous in the material.

God gives us not only "good gifts" but gifts that He knows will not harm us or divert our attention away from Him. He gives us gifts that will draw us closer to Him.
As sons and daughters of God we have been given access to all good gifts for as long as we live within His will for our lives. All we need to do is accept. Once we go out of His will, we are on our own. Our independence from God will cost us dearly.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”
James 1:17 (NIV).

God’s blessings and promises are sure.

God is more generous in the relational.

(Read Ecclesiastes 4:8-12)

“There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’ This too is meaningless a miserable business” Ecclesiastes 4:8.

We are designed for fellowship. Fellowship means shared lives. God entrusts us with relationships that allows us to see and learn other things about His character. These meaningful relationships stand the test of time.

WHY “TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE.”

More Productivity.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work” Ecclesiastes 4:9.

Draft horses are large horses bred for hard and heavy tasks. 1 draft horse can carry 4 tons of weight, but 2 draft horses can haul, not 8 tons but 21 tons. In the same way, we can be more productive when we have people sharing the load with us.

More Protection.

“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:10.

God entrusts us with friends who are not afraid to speak into our lives.

More Passion.

“Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” Ecclesiastes 4:11.

A coal, when put with other coals, will continue to burn. But if by itself, the fire will diminish and will eventually die. This goes the same for Christians that if we continue to be in fellowship with fellow believers, our passion for God will continue to burn.

More Power.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” Ecclesiastes 4:12.

When God is in our relationships, we stand strong against the storms of life and adversities.

God is most generous in the spiritual.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”
John 3:16.

God’s greatest act of generosity is Jesus and His motivation is because He “so loved” us. He cannot stand to see us live an eternity apart from Him. The Father, in His deep and enduring love for us, willingly gave us His most precious son so we can be reconciled with Him.

GOD’S PROMISE: ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM AND AN ABUNDANT LIFE HERE ON EARTH.

God’s generosity
knows no boundaries
and He gives access
to those He blesses
So as God the Father is revealed
to Him let us yield
for His generosity
will lead us to eternity
-Ardy Abello

REVEALED SERIES: Reconciliation

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’”
Luke 15:1-2.

Read Luke 15:11-32. The Prodigal son.

There were three parables that Jesus used in correcting the Pharisees and the teachers of the law regarding his relationship with the sinners: The parable of the lost coin, the parable of the lost sheep and the story of the prodigal son. All three parables have the following in common: Something is lost, there is a search for the lost and a celebration after finding what was lost. The parable of the prodigal son shows that God allows his children to face the consequences of our actions (Hebrews 12:6). But if there is a time of discipline, there is also the time of restoration.

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” Luke 15:20.

When the son realized that he was wrong, he planned on going back to his father to work for him as one of his servants. But when his father saw him from the distance, he quickly ran to greet him and couldn’t wait to restore him.

3 SYMBOLS OF SONSHIP.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet” Luke 15:22.

Robe.
The robe is a symbol of identity in the time of Jesus. When the father gave his son a robe, he was restoring him his honor and his right as an heir.

Ring.
The ring is a symbol of authority. In the Old Testament, rings were metal seals used to seal covenants. The father gave a ring to his son as a covenant of unconditional love.

Sandals.
In the New Testament, only family members have sandals. When the father gave sandals to his son, he was giving him his destiny.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER RECONCILES US TO HIMSELF

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” Jeremiah 31:34b.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” Isaiah 43:25.

THE RESPONSE OF THE OLDER BROTHER?

“Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends” Luke 15:29.

The older son did not address his father as “father” because he has always seen him as his master. We can be Christians for a long time but still miss out on the fatherhood of God because we always see ourselves as slaves.

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:18.**

REVEALED SERIES: Relationship

READ Galatians 4:1-7.

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir”
Galatians 4:6-7.

The Jews outnumber the Gentiles in the early church of Galatia. The Jadaizers insist that the Gentiles follow the laws of Moses in order for them to be saved. Paul corrects these erroneous teachings by writing a letter, reminding the church that as sons of God, their inheritance is made available for them through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of slavery”
Galatians 5:1.

How do we view God? There are different ways on how people view God. Some see God as Pharisees do. They see God as a set of rules to follow and rituals to do. Some see God as Gentiles do who see God as distant (John 4:20). These are both “slave” mentality. We need to view God as His children. Do we have the mindset of a son or of a slave?


THE SON MENTALITY:

ACCESS.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”
Hebrews 4:16.

We have access to God the Father. We should not be afraid or ashamed to go to God in our time of need.

AFFECTION.

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father”
Galatians 4:6.

Abba is a transliteration of the Aramaic word for Father. In the New Testament times, it is the term of endearment used by a child for his/her Father (http://www.learnthebible.org/abba.html). There is a special kind of love that the Father gives us that lets us call Him Abba.

ASSURANCE.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”
Psalm 23:6.

The root word of the word assurance is sure. Sure means feeling no doubt and uncertainty. As God’s children, there is an assurance that God will be with us in everything that we do and that He has a place for us with Him.

GOD THE FATHER TREATS US AS CHILDREN AND NOT AS SLAVES.

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God---- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

As adopted sons, we become legitimate children who have the same rights as children of natural descent.**

LUPANG HINIRANG: Reform

Reform means that there was already something before that had been broken and will just be “re-formed.” Many times, we develop bad habits; if we tolerate these bad habits, it will continue and we will have a hard time changing them even when we know that it goes against the word of God.

Our bad habits affect our nation.

Nehemiah asked the people of Israel to renew their covenant with God.

THE COVENANT THAT THE ISRAELITES RENEWED WITH GOD.

Intermarriages.

“We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons” Nehemiah 10:30.

God did not want the Israelites to intermarry because they might follow the ways and values of other nations. Solomon, the wise king of Israel, was influenced to sin by his foreign wives (Nehemiah 13:26).

We have the tendency to conform to the world. Paul, the apostle, warns in a letter to the church of Corinth not to be yoked with unbelievers and to the Romans not to be conformed with the patterns of the world.

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 6:14.

“Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”
Romans 12:2.

Keeping the Sabbath.

“When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forego working the land and will cancel all debts” Nehemiah 10:31.

Sabbath means a day of rest and worship. It means making God your top priority.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33.

Taking care of the Temple.

“We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God”
Nehemiah 10:32-35.

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you say, “How do we rob you?” In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – the whole nation of you –because you are robbing me“ Malachi 3:8-9.

LIVE THE WORD. CHANGE THE WORLD.
Nehemiah was not a religious figure. He was just a lay person but he did his part in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He let the word of God play an important role in his life and it affected his nation.**

LUPANG HINIRANG: Spiritual Renewal

“Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground”
Nehemiah 8:5-6.

When the Israelites finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, all 50,000 of them gathered together at the town square wanting to hear God’s word. It will be their first time since their exile of over a hundred years. During those times, there were no printing presses that the word of God was read publicly for people to hear.

The bible is the accurate measurement of who we are as Christians. It is more important to understand the word of God more than just reading it.

“Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror and after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like” James 1:23-24.

We build families, cities and nations through the word of God. Only when we read the word of God that our lives are changed and we can change the nation.

GOD’S WORD BRINGS SPIRITUAL RENEWAL.

READ IT.
The people of Israel prioritized the word of God. After they have settled into their towns, they asked Ezra to read the book of the law aloud. Ezra read it from daybreak till noon (Nehemiah 8: 3) atop a wooden platform that signifies the supremacy of the word of God in their lives.

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is the shield for all who take refuge in him” Psalm 18:30.

God’s word is supreme over our marriages, finances, relationships and in every area of our lives.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD.

“Then, Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘this day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them”
Nehemiah 8:9; 12.

We need to understand the word for it to penetrate our lives. Sometimes, we tend to get too familiar with the word of God that we take it for granted. The word of God and His Presence brings fullness of joy.

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”
Psalm 16:11.

APPLY THE WORD.

“Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground”
Nehemiah 8:6.

“Amen” means “so be it” or “let it be applied in my life.” Lives change when the word of God is applied. Strong families make up strong cities. Strong cities build a strong nation.

“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us”
Isaiah 33:22.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”
John 8:31.

Let us not take for granted and be good stewards of the freedom that we have.**

LUPANG HINIRANG: Unity

Filipinos are different from one another, but whatever our stations are in life, we are called to be one. There is division when there is no leadership, no unity and no common vision. Division leads to anarchy. What is our role in nation-building?

Read Nehemiah 2:17-20.

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in; Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied,’let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work”
Nehemiah 2:17-18.

Nehemiah called the Israelites to a common vision. Levites, rulers, goldsmiths, women and children came together to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah assigned the sections of the wall according to where the people lived. What is it that you’re doing right now? Whatever it is that you are doing in your life is your assignment in rebuilding the nation. Be the best in what you are doing!

WHAT UNITY CAN DO:
Unity accomplishes great things.
“How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock has sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?”

If we put our hearts together, we can fight together.
When we are doing the will of God, we will always face opposition because the enemy does not want us to fulfill the purposes of God. Nehemiah faced oppositions as he was leading the people in rebuilding the walls (Nehemiah 4:1-3).

There are two kinds of threat: External opposition and the Internal opposition. The bigger threat is internal opposition which causes division. Nehemiah and the Israelites faced external opposition but they were able to rebuild the walls with a track record of 52 days.

Strength of homes depends on the unity of husbands and wives. Strong children are born out of strong marriages. Strong families compose strong cities, and strong cities compose a strong nation.

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior”
Ephesians 5:23.

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:3.

External opposition, no matter how great, cannot bring down a unit that is together.

“The LORD said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do is impossible for them”
Genesis 11:6.

Nation building starts with the church. It is important that we acknowledge that we need the help of God in rebuilding our nation.

“Blessed is a nation whose God is the LORD”
Psalm 33:12.

“My prayer is not for them along. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me”
John 1:20-21.

We must encourage one another and spur each other towards love and good deeds. FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE COMPELS US TO UNITE DESPITE THE OPPOSITION..**

LUPANG HINIRANG: Prayer

“If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”
2 Chronicles 7:14.

Read Nehemiah 1

There have been many prophecies on the rise of the Philippines into economic abundance and while the country is currently undergoing crises left and right, it is quite difficult for the Filipino people to accept it. There are now different Christian leaders rising up in the government, but we need to realize that a few Christian politicians alone cannot bring about change; it will take every Filipino to achieve this. We need to rebuild the walls. We need to stand in the gap for our nation.

Nehemiah was a Jew exiled in Persia who served as the cupbearer, a trusted position, for King Artaxerses. 141 years after the fall of Jerusalem, he received news about of its walls again in shambles both physically and spiritually, he felt heaviness in his heart for his nation. God used Nehemiah to lead the people of Israel in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

2 THINGS NEHEMIAH DID UPON HEARING NEWS:

1. PRAYED.
(Read Nehemiah 1:5-11).
Instead of pointing a finger or blaming others on the plight of Jerusalem, Nehemiah identified with his ancestors and repented before the Lord (Nehemiah 1:6). He also prayed a persevering prayer (Nehemiah 1:6), praying from the month of Kislev (Nehemiah 1:1) to the month of Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1) before he talked to the king.
Nehemiah prayed until something happened. He saw the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt. How much do we pray for the things that we’re believing for?


2. ACTED.
(Read Nehemiah 2: 1-9)
Nehemiah presented his request to the king when he was asked the cause of his sadness. He did not ask anything for himself. Instead, he asked for:

Permission.

“and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it” Nehemiah 2:5.

Protection.

“I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?” Nehemiah 2: 7.

Provisions.

“And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residency I will occupy?”
Nehemiah 2:8.

If God asks you, “what do you want?” what will you say to Him? Do you know what you want?
Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem with his people. He himself supervised the rebuilding of the wall.

STOP BICKERING, START BUILDING.

The story of Nehemiah teaches us how to have deep love, passion and burden for our nation. God has given us different tools and crafts to rebuild it. How will you use them?**

THE ACCUSED: The Deceiver

(Read Matthew 27: 62-66).

“ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So they gave the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first”
Matthew 27:63-64.

The Pharisees remembered that Jesus said that He will rise up on the third day. In Matthew 27, by calling it a deception, they were implying that the whole ministry of Jesus was false.

The Resurrection message is an old but timeless message that we need to be reminded of. Jesus’ resurrection freed us from the bondages of our past lives.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins”
1 Corinthians 15:17.

IMPORTANCE OF BEING REMINDED OF THE RESURRECTION:

Evidence.

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” Acts 1:3

Among others, Jesus appeared to Thomas whom he allowed to touch his nail scars and to Peter who, in his guilt, has gone back to being a fisherman. He was restored in the ministry when Jesus showed himself to him.

Enlightenment.

(Read Luke 24:28-34).
“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”
Luke 24:31-32.

Although we do not see Jesus physically, the Word of God renews us every time we read the Scriptures.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow, as it judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart”
Hebrews 4:12.

EMPOWERMENT.

(Read Acts 15:13-19).
After the resurrection, the disciples of Jesus Christ were empowered. Peter, who denied Jesus three times on the night he was arrested and who since has gone back to fishing until Jesus appeared to him, preached a very powerful message. 3,000 people who heard the message were saved. He, along with the other disciples, courageously faced death as they proclaimed the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was the resurrection power of Jesus that gave them courage.

ACCUSATION: Jesus was a deceiver.
VERDICT: Not guilty.

JESUS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD

We can have victory in our circumstances. Jesus is no longer a suffering savior but a conquering King.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”
John 11:25-26.

Who are the real deceivers?

“When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day”
Matthew 28:12-15.

THE ACCUSED: A Savior who cannot save himself.

“‘He saved others’, they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him’”
Matthew 27:42.

Luke 19 and Matthew 21 tell of people singing “hosanna” to Jesus when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey.
Five days later, the very same crowd were chanting “crucify him!”

It was an issue of false expectations. Jesus did not deliver as the people expected. God’s greatest rescue mission was unfolding right before their very eyes but their false expectations on the Messiah blinded them from seeing this.

THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS:
(Read Luke 23:35-43, The Crucifixion of Jesus).

The Jewish Leaders.

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One’”
Luke 23:35.

The Jewish Leaders were asking a theological question: Is Jesus real? Ironically, they are the ones who knew and studied the prophesies, they knew of the virgin birth and all of what the scriptures say about the coming Messiah, and yet they missed out on the visitation of God. In the same way, we look at our circumstances and do not see God in the midst of it all.“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”
Hebrews 3:15.

The Roman Soldiers.

“The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself’”
Luke 23:36.

The Roman Soldiers were challenging Jesus’ authority, his might and his deity. Oftentimes, we ask God if He’s really in charge, or if He’s really powerful, or why He allows bad things to happen to us.

The Criminal.

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’”
Luke 23:39.

Our attitude is sometimes like that of this criminal. We ask God: “Do you really care for me? Do you care that I’m suffering?”
We live in a fallen world and many of the painful circumstances in our lives are consequences of the sins that we committed in the past.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”
Matthew 1:21.

The Other Criminal.

“But the other criminal rebuked him, ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong”
Luke 23: 40-41.

The other criminal did not see a dying person in Jesus. He saw a Messiah.

ACCUSATION: Jesus cannot save himself.
VERDICT: Not Guilty.

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
Matthew 26:53.

Jesus freely gave his life so we can be saved. He was not a victim but a volunteer. He did not save himself because he chose to save us from our sins in his love for us.

JESUS’ VERY MISSION WAS TO DIE TO FOR OUR SINS.

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last”
Luke 23:44-46.

THE ACCUSED: A Friend of Sinners.

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners,”
Luke 7:34.

Jesus was one of the most prominent and controversial figures of his time. Because of this, he was a target of different accusations: A Friend of Sinners, a Savior who couldn’t save himself, and a Deceiver.

(Read Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus dines with Tax Collectors).

Tax Collectors during that period were considered corrupt and sinful. When Jesus dined in Matthew’s house among tax collectors, the Pharisees accused him of being friends with them.

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
Matthew 9:11.

ACCUSATION: Jesus is a friend of sinners.
VERDICT: Guilty.

JESUS’ RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATION:

Jesus seeks the sick, not the healthy.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick”
Matthew 9:12.

We must be careful that we do not have the pharisaical attitude, thinking that we are better than others. We must learn to be instruments in restoring others to God instead of condemning others.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector” Luke 18:10-11.

Jesus desires mercy, not sacrifice.

“ But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”
Matthew 9:13.

There is no need for us to suffer for our sins to be near God. The finished work of Christ on the Cross has restored us to God.

Jesus came for the sinners, not for the righteous.

“ But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”
Matthew 9:13.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” Luke 15:7.

Jesus came to save and restore us, making us into new creations. He has the heart for the people who do not know him: Sinners, drunkards, thieves, robbers, outcast, and the unaccepted.

JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.

CHURCH IS BORING: Active Participation

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up”

1 Corinthians 14:26.

Church is not a spectator’s event. Everyone is significant in church. Church is boring if we continue to sit in the sidelines and do not take participate. Our active participation benefits both the church and us.

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BENEFITS THE CHURCH


Massive size and Massive strength.

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up”

1 Corinthians 14:26.

Size is not the indication of a healthy church, but its strength. The involvement of the people determines the strength of an organization. Everything that happens in church benefits us. The worship, the teachings, and the prayers help strengthen the church.

Bodies up in buildings or building up the “body.”

“So it is with you. Since you are eager for the gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church”

1 Corinthians 14:12.

We must use our areas of strength in getting involved in the church ministries and activities.

Numerical growth and spiritual growth.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”

Ephesians 4:16.

We all have a part to play in building up the church. Everyone has a vital role.

Gracious service and the grace to serve.

“Each of you should you whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”

1 Peter 4:10.

American billionaire investor, Warren Buffett contributed $37B to Bill Gates Foundation citing 2 reasons: Because they (Bill Gates Foundation) is good at it and that “Philanthropy is no fun for me.” We can get involved in the church ministries and activities by giving support to those who are gifted for them.

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BENEFITS US

Spiritual growth and maturity.
We begin to honor God with the talents and abilities that He has deposited in us.

We take part in Making Disciples.
As we get involved, we establish new friendships and expand our circle.

Generosity becomes a lifestyle of many.
Service moves from discipline to delight as we generously share our time and talents.

Unity in church becomes stronger.
Unity is promoted when team members work together unselfishly toward a common goal.

HOW TO TAKE PART

• Pray and discover your God-given talents and abilities.
• Be part of a Small group.
• Know more and serve in the ministries based on your strengths.
• God has blessed us with talents so that we may bless others.

CHURCH IS BORING: Prayer

Read Mark 11:15-19.

“And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’”
Mark 11:17.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3.

Prayer is primarily to have fellowship with the Father. Many people do not pray because of many reasons: A. They don’t know how to pray. B. We think that our concerns are too small for God. C. We are not sure that our prayers will make a difference. Why should we pray when God already knows our needs and wants? What is it that God wants of our prayers? To understand prayer, we must first know what Jesus meant by the words, Den of Robbers and House of Prayer.

DEN OF ROBBERS

“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say ‘We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers?”

Jeremiah 7: 9-11.

Jesus was angered by the Jews who came to the temple to pray and offer sacrifices to God; but once they step out of the temple, they continue to do things that are against God and His laws.

HOUSE OF PRAYER

“And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Isaiah 56: 6-7.

Jesus reminded the Jews who were making business out of selling to the Gentiles doves and other things to be used for sacrifices, that the foreigners can have access to Him.


THE ESSENCE OF PRAYER

The real essence of prayer is our relationship with God. We pray simply because we have a relationship with God. Church is life through prayer.

1. Pray honestly.

“But when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words”
Matthew 6:7.

Jesus was critical of dishonest prayers that were just made long. We pray because we have a relationship with God and not to have a relationship with God.

Pray for everything – big or small.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”
Philippians 4:6.

God is interested in our concerns because He is concerned about us.

Be aware of the Presence of God all the time.
“Pray continually” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

CHURCH IS BORING: Authentic Community

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it”
Matthew 16:18.

“As you come to him, the living Stone --- rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to him --- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”
1 Peter 2:4-5

How do we see church? The most common misconception of the church is that it is a structure or a building, often times, with a cross on top. When Jesus spoke about building a church, he referred to people as like living stones that make up the church. Living stones are stones that are part of a structure; It is built on top of each other, designed to carry weight. Dead stones, on the other hand, are stones that are not part of any structure, and therefore, considered useless. We, as living stones that make up the church, must understand that church is about relationships.

TWO QUALITIES OF A CHURCH.

Authentic. The relationships among the church are genuine and real. They always last.

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to a ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”
Proverbs 18:24.

“I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ”
Philippians 2: 20-21.

Community. The friends we make in church accept us for who we are regardless of background. These are people who endure with us through the good and the bad times.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” Romans 15: 7.

Award-winning author and respected speaker on family relationships, Dr.Gary Smalley said, “Life is relationships. Everything else are just details.” We are all designed with a need to belong, a need to be accepted, a need to be significant. We are designed to be connected with one another. The church is about genuine connections where these needs can be met. The Church is an Authentic Community.

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone”
Genesis 2:18a.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3.

1 LIFE TO LIVE SERIES: LEAVE A LEGACY

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
Psalm 90:12.

No matter how long you’ve labored to build a sandcastle, or how big you were able to make it, when high tide comes, the water will bring it all down to ground level. Many people work long and hard to leave a mark of their existence, but in reality, only a few are remembered. What are you trying to build with your life? What legacy would you like to leave behind?


LEGACIES WE LEAVE BEHIND:

1. A GOOD NAME.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold”
Proverbs 22:1

Dr. Alfred Nobel was an innovator, chemist and engineer who discovered the dynamite. In 1896, a newspaper mistakenly published an obituary of him that read:
"Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday."

It was then that Alfred Nobel realized that he was leaving a negative legacy that he dedicated the rest of his life helping other people. In his death, he left about 9 Million dollars to a foundation that assists scientists, researchers and scholars now known as the “Nobel Peace Prize.”

2. WEALTH AND INHERITANCE.

“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous” Proverbs 13:22.

It is good to store up for our children so that we can leave an inheritance for them and their children as well.

3. LASTING GENERATION.

Having a good name and leaving wealth are good inheritance but they can also be temporary. The legacy of a lasting generation is in the relationships we leave behind. On what foundations are our relationships built on?

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put it into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand”
Matthew 7:25-26.

What foundations are we building a legacy on? Are we building on Godly foundations that are eternal or are we building on Worldly foundations that are temporary?

James Ryle, President and Founder of TruthWorks Ministry lived as an orphan at the age of 7 and was imprisoned in Texas Penitentiary at the age of 19.

When he was able to meet with his father after he was released from prison, he learned that his father, who was an ex-convict, was one of those who built the very same cell block that he stayed in in prison.

On the other hand, Joe Martin, Pastor of an Every Nation church in Trinity, Dallas preaches on a stage and platform that his father built with his own bare hands.

How you live today determines your legacy tomorrow. Every generation either builds a prison or a platform for the next generation.

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds”
1Corinthians 3:10.

4. LEGACY OF A NEW LIFE.

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”
2 Timothy 2:2

There is nothing bigger than leaving a legacy of a relationship with Jesus. The people whom who you have shared the gospel to will be eternally grateful.


LIFE IS SHORT. LEAVE A GODLY LEGACY.

Jesus walked the earth for 33 years making each moment count. He left us a lasting legacy which is the Church that we know today.

1 LIFE TO LIVE: LEARN HUMBLY.

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
Psalm 90:2.

“Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
Matthew 11:28-30.

Life is a learning process. Not everything in life is fair. You can draw the wrong conclusions out of certain experiences in life and it can hurt you for the rest of your lives. Jesus teaches us that to learn, we must come to him.

How you position yourself in learning in life is so critical for every age. Many people find themselves bitter because they did not learn what they needed to learn from their circumstances. The challenge is to veer away from Identity theft.

“The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”
John 10:10.

Jesus’ purpose in our lives is always fulfillment. God had invested keys in our lives so that we will find our fulfillment.


GOD-GIVEN KEYS TO FULFILLMENT:

GIFTS.
God has given each of us gifts. The enemy will always try to rip us of these gifts. We must learn and draw from the Savior on how to take care of these gifts and use them.

PASSION.
God has given us passions to accomplish His purpose. What brings real pleasure in your heart?

STRUGGLES.
God has allowed struggles in our lives so that we can learn more about Him. Satan wants to steal the purpose of these struggles; he wants to steal the fruitfulness that comes out of these struggles.

“…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God”
2 Corinthians 1:4.

God stays with us and gives us comfort in all our struggles and He positions us to be with other people who may be going through the troubles that we have gone through that we may be with them to give them the same comfort that God has given us Himself.

Real difficulties happen when we think we can do things by ourselves, when we think that we do not need God, His purpose and His plans.

“Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus tells us to come to him, to learn from him and be yoked with him even in our struggles to find our real purpose in life.

God sees our purpose and our fruitfulness. He longs to see our fruitfulness in our working environment, in our relationships, in our families and so forth.

TO FIND YOUR REAL PURPOSE IN LIFE, LEARN HUMBLY

Read Matthew 13:3-23, The Parable of the Sower.

“But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown”
Matthew 13: 23.

The Lord’s goal for each of us is true fruitfulness.

1 LIFE TO LIVE SERIES: LOVE COMPLETELY

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
Psalm 90:2.

“It was just before the Passover feast Jesus knew that the time for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love”
John 13:1.

What would you do if you realize that you only have one month to live? Who would you spend your last days with?

Jesus, in his last few days on earth, didn’t spend his remaining time preaching or performing miracles, rather, he spent it with the people who mattered the most.

We are created by God to be relational beings. We are both created and commanded to love. Our purpose is to love, to receive love and give love every single day.

CREATED TO LOVE.
We need one another. None of us can live in isolation. We are social creatures created for relationships and communities.

“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”
Genesis 2:18.

COMMANDED TO LOVE.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”
John 13:34-35.

Jesus referred to loving one another as a new command even if it was mentioned because giving love was no longer natural. Sin caused people to self-preservation, pride, selfishness and vanity.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30.

Jesus summed up the 10 Commandments in the Old Testament with these two commands on love. He tells us to love others unconditionally just as he has loved us— without expecting anything in return. He also teaches us to love God with everything that we are.


LIFE IS SHORT. LOVE COMPLETELY.

How do we love completely? WE COMMIT TO LOVE. Love is a commitment. It’s a choice. We choose to love the people God has put around us. To show love to the people who matter to us is in the way we spend time with them.


HOW TO COMMIT TO LOVE:

1. Act now.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions”
1 John 3:18.

2. Forgive.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”
Colossians 3:13.

Many times, we hold on to bitterness and resentment because of hurt. In relationships, when we let go of these bitterness and resentment, both sides win.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” John 15:11.

1 LIFE TO LIVE SERIES: LIVE WISELY

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
Psalm 90:12.

What would you do if you realize that you only have one month to live? How would you live the remaining days of your life?

Every single day is a gift from God. Life is short and each of us has an appointment with God.

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath”
Psalms 39: 5

Psalm 90 was a psalm written by Moses who was a man of God. He walked his life filled with the Spirit and had witnessed 10 major miracles of God and had seen manna and quail fall from the heavens, and yet he humbly asked for God to teach him to number his days aright. What can we learn from Moses?

LEARNING FROM MOSES (What Moses asked from God).

1. Teach us.
   Moses asked God to teach him about life. God is the author of life and He is the author of time. God existed even before time began. God started time so that we can measure our days.
   

   “Be very careful , then, how you live—not as unwise, but as wise”
   Ephesians 5:15.
   

   Are you living your life on the right priorities? Are you doing what God wants you to do? Or are you just filling your life with schedules?
   
   
2. Number our days.
   In an average of 75-85 years in a life span, we only spend 5 ½ months worshipping God while we spend years and years on other things such as eating, sleeping, working, entertainment, etc..
   
   Our days on earth are numbered, but we are not victims of time. Time is one of the few things that are consistent in life. How do we value it? Do we take time for granted by simply doing lifeless routines?
   
   
3. TO GAIN.
   What do we seek to gain from this life? Do we seek eternal wealth? Wisdom? Relationships? Moses asked God to give him the basic understanding and knowledge of God. He sought to have a relationship with God. Moses sought after eternal life.
   

   “What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?”
   Matthew 16:26a.
   

4. A Heart of Wisdom.
   Having a Heart of Wisdom is having the ability to identify what truly matters most in life and pouring one’s passion in it, making every moment count.
   

   “Be very careful, then, how you live –not as unwise, but as wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is”
   Ephesians 5:15-17.
   

Even when we are not aware, whatever we do with our families, relationships and finances will echo in eternity. Are you merely existing or are you really living?

LIFE IS SHORT, LIVE WISELY.

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men”
Ecclesiastes 3:11b.

“The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”
John 10:10.

Jesus lived all his 33 years here on earth by making every moment count.**

Love

WHY CHRISTMAS? LOVE.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” 1 John 4:7-12.

Christ appeared to give us eternal life, freedom and victory. But above it all, God sent His son to demonstrate His love for us. This good news is for everyone (Luke 2:10).

The world has come up with many popular definitions of love. Noted poet, Robert Frost defines love as a desire to be irresistibly desired; Philosopher Plato defined love as a desire for the perpetual possession of the good. However, real love is from God and not from the world (1 John 4:7).

Only those who have been borne of God are capable of loving others the way God loves. Every part of God’s being is love. In fact, the bible clearly states that God Himself is love (1 John 4:8).

God did not only define love; God demonstrated His love for us.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” 1 John 4:9 .

In His love, God sent His only begotten Son to become man. He showed Himself tempted and yet had no sin. He offered Himself to die on the cross to free us.

GOD’S DEMONTRATION OF LOVE.

1. God made a decision to love us.
   

   “ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” 1 John 4:10.
   
   “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
   

   Before we became Christians, we did not honor God with our words or with our actions and yet, God already loved us. He loved us even before we lived changed lives. He loved us even when we were sinners and unworthy of His love.
   
   
2. God freely gives his love to us.
   

   “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” 1John 4:9.
   

   In the ancient days, ancient Israelites and Canaanites worshipped a sun god named Molech, to whom sacrifices of humans, including children, are offered. Our God chose to give Himself freely as a sacrifice so that we may live through Him.
   

   “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6.
   

WHY CHRISTMAS? BECAUSE OF GOD’S LOVE.

One of the attributes of Jesus Christ is that He is the Prince of Peace. We can never have peace if we are incapable of loving others in the same way that Christ loved us.**

Victory

WHY CHRISTMAS? VICTORY.

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.” 1 John 3:8

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

According to the bible, the devil has been sinning from the beginning. In Genesis 3, satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God and to desire to be independent of Him. Adam and Eve chose to be independent of God which resulted in every man being borne to sin.

The bible also states that war has been declared against the devil from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15). This is the reason why we perpetually find ourselves fighting against the temptation to sin.

The good news is that Jesus Christ has already won the victory for us on the cross.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” Revelations 19:11-13.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” John 1:14.

The apostle John who wrote both the books of Revelation and the book of John referred to Jesus Christ as the “Word of God” who won the victory for us.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” Colossians 2:15.

Victory has already been won for us in the past by the cross. You and I have the victory of Christ because Jesus won over the devil by the cross.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” Romans 16:20.

“Merry Christmas!” is more than just a greeting, it is a declaration of war. We are declaring that we can celebrate, not only because Jesus was born, but because He came to give us victory by the cross.

THE VICTORY WE HAVE IN CHRIST.

1. When Jesus Christ comes in the life of a Christian, he is a free man.
   The bible says that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. He steals our joy, hope, faith and the Word of God in our hearts; He kills our dreams and our visions; He destroys marriages, families and finances. Jesus came to destroy the enemy.
   

   “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10.

2. The Christian has the power and authority over the enemy.
   

   “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" Matthew 16:19
   

   The devil’s weapons are temptation, deception, condemnation and accusation. We do not have to fear the devil nor fall for his traps because Jesus has given us the authority against him and his schemes.
   
   
3. The devil cannot come near the Christian because of the Presence of God.
   When a Christian spends more time with God and nurtures his relationship with him, the devil cannot come near him because the Presence of God protects him.

WHY CHRISTMAS? WE CAN CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS BECAUSE JESUS WON THE VICTORY.**

Freedom

WHY CHRISTMAS? Series: Freedom.

Gift giving is the most significant event that happens during Christmas season. In Bethlehem, in the first Christmas, gift giving was also done.

In the birth of Christ, Magi came to visit him and offer their gifts of gold, frankincense (a gift given to acknowledge deity) and myrrh (symbolizing that the present King will give up His life to save His people).

History recalls that the Jews suffered so much affliction that they anticipated the coming of the mighty King, a royalty, who would redeem them from their suffering. Jesus Christ, unlike how the Jews expected, was born quietly in Bethlehem with only hay for His bed, and among commoners such as the shepherds and magi.

“But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him” 1 John 3:5-6.

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins'" Matthew 1:20-21.

Jesus was the most significant gift that was given in Bethlehem. He was God’s gift to us so that when we accept Him as Lord and Savior, we have the gift of Freedom. In Him, we have freedom from sin (John 8:36), freedom from bondages of destructive habits (Romans 12:2) and the freedom from the consequences of sin: guilt, fear, shame, bitterness and offenses (Romans 6:23). We now have the freedom to live a full life.

FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CHRIST:

1. Freedom to believe. With Christ, we have the freedom to believe for His will in our lives.
   

   “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” Romans 12:2.

2. Freedom to give. We give because He gave first (1 John 4:19).
   

   “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" Luke 6:38.

3. Freedom to live. With Jesus, we have the freedom to live an abundant life. With Christ, in whatever circumstances we are in, we have peace.
   

   “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” Romans 5:17.

JESUS CAME TO SET US FREE. Our relationship with God is not about the do's and don’ts but about the freedom with Jesus Christ on the basis of the blood He shed on the cross. We are free to live lives pleasing to Him.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:1-2.**

Eternal Life

WHY CHRISTMAS? Series: Eternal Life.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete” 1 John 1:1-4.

What excites you on Christmas? Many people find Christmas a source of excitement because of the many activities such as gift-giving, reunions and so forth that come with it, but to others, they see Christmas a burden more than a joy because of all the expenses that they anticipate for the season. But what is the real purpose of Christmas and why do we celebrate it?

“But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” Luke 2:10.

The birth of Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason why we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many people miss the real purpose of Christmas because they see Christmas as impersonal, however, the book of Luke says that Christmas is personal, positive and is for everyone. Jesus came to give us eternal life.

3 PROCLAMATIONS OF JOHN.

1. By faith, we believe that He is the Word of life.
   

   “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1.

   God became flesh through Jesus Christ to deliver the message of His love personally (John 3:16).
   
   John says in the scriptures that they have “seen, heard, and touched” the Word of life that they are testifying about. Jesus is the real deal!
   
   
2. Eternal life.
   We can experience eternal life here on earth. With Jesus, we can experience real life that He has for us: A life of freedom, victory and love. The season may come and go, but if we do not experience real life in Jesus Christ amidst the gift-giving, reunions and all others that have been added to Christmas, we miss its real meaning.
   

   “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” John 17:3.
   
   “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” 1 John 5:13.
   

3. Fellowship with the Father and son.
   Even if Jesus is no longer among us in the physical, we can still experience Him through a personal relationship. We can still sense Him. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
   

“Taste and see that the LORD is good” Psalm 34:8.

Why Christmas? We celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ came for us to give us eternal life. We can respond by experiencing and proclaiming the life of Christ to others. Does this eternal life you have attracting other people?**

Psalm 51

MOST DOWNLOADED PSALMS: Psalm 51.

Read Psalm 51.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you” Psalm 51:10-13.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” Psalm 51:1

Psalm 51 was a psalm written by David. David was a man of God, anointed king of Israel. God blessed him in everything that he did. But David was not a perfect man. David wrote Psalm 51 in repentance for having failed God and was seeking His forgiveness.

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem” 2 Samuel 11:1.

Instead of going to war when he should have, David decided to stay behind. One evening, while he was walking around the roof, he saw Bathsheba, the wife of one of his best soldiers, bathing. Attracted, hcde summoned for her. Bathsheba became pregnant with David’s child.

Instead of repenting of his ways, David schemed to escape his sin.

• David called Uriah home so he can sleep with his wife. But Uriah was a good soldier and stayed at the palace entrance with all his master’s servants (2 Samuel 11:6-11).
  
  
• David got Uriah drunk, still, Uriah stayed at the palace entrance and did not go home (2 Samuel 11:12-13).
  
  
• David set Uriah up to be killed. He, then, married Bathsheba after Uriah was killed in war and the period of mourning was over (2 Samuel 11:14-17; 26-27).

A mistake cannot be corrected by another mistake. People tend to think of ways to make wrong things seem right.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” Proverbs 14:12.

LESSONS TO LEARN FROM DAVID’S EXPERIENCE.

1. If we are not where God wants us to be, we are falling into the enemy’s trap to sin. Sin has its grave repercussions. (2 Samuel 11:24; 2 Samuel 12:14-15).
   
   
2. God sets up relationships in our lives to correct us, rebuke us, and put us back in line. David was the highest man in the land and yet he chose to listen to Nathan, the prophet (2 Samuel 12:1-13; Ecclesiastes 4:10).
   
   
3. When David repented, he confessed to God.

“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge” Psalm 51:4.

David did not want God’s presence to be away from him. We repent because we don’t want to be away from God. Repentance brings restoration and reconciliation. God knows that we will fail. From time to time, we may fail, but it is not about us. It is about God’s love for us that provides for us the way to reconcile with Him through repentance and His forgiveness.

THE PATH TO WHOLENESS IS BROKENNESS.
David broke 5 out of 10 of the Commandments of God: He lied, he stole, he coveted his neighbor’s wife, he committed murder and he committed adultery, and yet in the book of Acts, he was mentioned as “a man after God’s own heart” and one who served his purpose in his generation (Acts 13:22; 26). David’s repentance and seeking of God’s forgiveness allowed God’s reversal in his life. Our moments of weakness may become the source of strength for other people.

“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD .’ Nathan replied, ‘The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die’” 2 Samuel 12:13.

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you” Psalm 51:13.**