Preaching Proficiency…

Someone said that “ministry is God’s work… IN and THROUGH us…”

                                    I agree…

Preaching... (not the actual pic)

Annually, our school conducts preaching contest for senior students.

I joined.

I talked about “loving God’s work by loving God himself.”

I really wanted to minister to my fellow students through this message. I’d like everyone to see how Paul viewed ministry. And I’d like to know why, despite the sufferings and the death sentence for his life, does he love God’s work so much. It was a great message, because it is God’s message. My passage was Philippians 1:12-14, 19-26…

After my term of preaching, I already knew the result. I was so sure I won’t make it to the finals. I was sad because few people just watched the semi-finals. My goal was to minister, I don’t think I attained it.

After that day, I reviewed my message.

and I was rebuked, again. The message directly pierced my heart.

All I was thinking was to minister to other people… not knowing that it was God’s intention to minister to me.

After the last chapel service of that week, the finalists were announced. And as what I expected, I didn’t make it -my name was not mentioned. It hurts so much. Especially whenever I hear the side comments: “oh, ba’t wala si Jobet?” There were actually people who asked me, “pre, ba’t di ka pumasok?” I just answer with a smile, but deep down my heart it was the exact opposite of what I am showing. I did my best, but my best wasn’t good enough.

I again reviewed my message. And again, I was blessed. God talked to me one more time. Every time I read my manuscript I learn new things. It was like my devotion for the whole week.

It was obviously God’s work IN me.

I thank God I didn’t make it. Because I don’t think I will be pondering this much if I entered the finals. If I entered the finals, this blog entry might have not existed. And I imagine my self busy doing another message for the finals.

As you can observe, my blog entries now becomes more and more personal. God is helping me not only be informed of the things about His Word. He’s helping me to be transformed all the more.

And it hurts.

God’s work IN me hurts. But I know, it’s the best. for me to excel to be the best that I can be, for the Best (God)…

 

May God work IN and THROUGH us!!!

God bless us.

Apart from me….

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”

-Jesus Christ

Did you ever doubt this statement? History has clearly shown us that people who have no relationship with Christ Jesus have also done great things. In fact many of them became the history maker, trendsetter, and indeed, people who are worthy to be called ‘legends’.

We have seen Hitler, who used to be one of the most powerful rulers in the world, killed millions of Jews to eradicate Christianity. We also are reminded in the church history, where Christians in England are being persecuted and being put to death by the very words and command of the Empress, whom we commonly know as the bloody Mary. We also have heard the vocalist of the most popular band, The Beatles, who bluntly scoffed Jesus in front of millions of people and in front of media wanting Jesus’ name to be forgotten by people because of their popularity. And even in our present age we see very clearly some of the people who do great things –people who are obviously and completely apart from Christ. Do not these people just prove that the statement of Jesus was wrong?

With that question all Christians will answer synonymously, no. Jesus’ commands, promises, and statements are perfect. Somehow we just have to be reminded that what matters most for Him is to do the will of the Father (John 4:34) which is of eternal value. We heard Jesus saying that in the last days many people will come to him who thought they have done great things for and in the eyes of God, but in reality Jesus has never been their master at all (Matt 7). These passages made it very clear for us on how we should understand the statement “you can do nothing apart from me…”

Whatever good works we perform here on earth would be of no value in eternity if we were apart from Christ. Jesus said it is in vain because what matters most for Him are only the things that will last for eternity. Whoever we may be or we may become is in vain unless we are connected to Him. This might be one of the underlying principles why Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain. Knowing that things he does for Christ here on earth aren’t in vain, and leaving this earth is actually what he awaits for.

One preacher said:

If for you to live is all about money, then dying is leaving them behind.

If for you to live is all about being famous, then dying is being forgotten.

But if for you to live is Christ, then dying is your gain.

Those who are in Christ can claim this for eternity. But those who are apart from Christ will finally understand what it means to have a vain life when that day comes. And indeed, all will agree in what He said, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing.’ 

Have you done something lately?

Kahapon TUBIG, ngayon PUTIK…

 

Photo courtesy of JLee Napila

“kahapon tubig, ngayon putik”  says Mang Al. (“Yesterday we were flooded with water through rain, now we have mud.” )

Rahab

Joshua 2

We often have the idea that talented people has a place for ministry. These kind of people; great ministries await them! But actually, in this passage, God reminds us that people who will be used by him depends on his mercy and sovereignty alone, not because people are talented nor intellectual.

The passage gives us this prostitute, a worthless woman who has been giving and selling people a temporary enjoyment with her body, and this is for her living. When she has heard about the LORD, she knew how she needed God’s help. She has come to realize how worthy of trust is the Lord because she believes to the great things God has done. And this faith; saves her (Heb. 11).

A worthless woman in the eye of the society, has become a significant person in the history of Israel.

Not because she had the talent, but because she had the faith!

People God uses are those who are humble enough to admit they are helpless, thus depend on God alone.

Many times, when God answers our prayers, He sends another storm; then we’ll be asking God -why? at the end, we will realize he just want us to be still and know that he is God.