"GO to the WORLD and Preach the GOSPEL to ALL the creation"

April 5-6, 2012
ANTIPOLO CITY PHILIPPINES

A Battle has begun.
God has given each and every Christians in the entire world to look for HIS lost sheep.
Today I have realized how many were Lost that God was talking about. This is the reason why HE sent us OUT.

Last year I was bothered by the people who have joined their so called "ALAY-LAKAD". It includes people from different places whom are walking and bringing their IDOLS in Antipolo while others were selling it in the street. God doesn't like it when people worship IDOLS it's the SECOND one in the TEN COMMANDMENTS.

 I was shocked last year for many were really out of track. These people really thought that what they are doing is right. But keep on rejecting the Gospel and the words of God that we're preaching.

( 2 Tim 3:5  “They will act as if they are Religious, but they will Reject the power that could make them Godly.” )

But last friday evening till morning was MORE BOTHERING for Their number is twice nor thrice as many as the people who have been there last year. IT REALLY IS ALARMING! God has spoken that many will chose the wide road and it really is sad but true.

    (Matt 7:13-14 Jesus says, "You can enter God's Kingdom ONLY through the NARROW GATE. The Highway to Hell is BROAD, and its Gate is WIDE for the MANY who choose that way. But the Gateway To Life is VERY NARROW, and the Road is DIFFICULT and only a FEW EVER find it.")

I have heard people screaming and getting angry because of what we are preaching, I thank God for instead of fear We have been more eager to share the truth in spite of what they are saying. I also have the feeling of  sadness for when They were ask if they Love God they Easily say "YES! of COURSE" but they cannot obey HIS commandments.

(John 14:15 Jesus says, “If you LOVE ME, OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS." )

Let us continue praying that God will move in this peoples life. that they may turn away from their wickedness and unrighteousness. may they understand that God is JUST.

Romans 2:4-10 Don’t you see how Wonderfully Kind, Tolerant, and Patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his Kindness is intended to Turn you from your Sin? But because you are Stubborn and Refuse to Turn from your Sin, you are Storing up Wrath (Terrible Punishment) for yourself. For a Day of Wrath (Anger) is coming, when God’s Righteous Judgment will be revealed. He will Judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give Eternal Life to those who keep on doing Good, seeking after the Glory and Honor and Immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his Anger and Wrath on those who live for themselves, who Refuse to Obey the Truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be Trouble and Calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is Evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be Glory and Honor and Peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is Eternal Life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

SELF DENIAL-PART TWO

SELF DENIAL

PART TWO

“Bearing the Cross”

Section 1-2

WE ARE TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

LUKE 9:23-26

 Jesus says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must DENY HIMSELF and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and FOLLOW ME. For whoever wishes to SAVE HIS LIFE will LOSE IT, but whoever LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE, he is the one who will SAVE IT. For what is a man profited if he gains the Whole World, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be Ashamed of him when He comes in His Glory, and the Glory of the Father and of the Holy Angels."

As I have read these passages the word “take up his cross” & “Loses his life for My sake” was the first thing that registers to my mind. It has a very great impact on me. God has thought me about carrying my cross if I want to follow Him in all His ways. Taking up my cross means being ready for the sufferings and unexpected things that might come on my way while serving him. He reminds me that my life here on earth is a preparation for what He has prepared for me in His Kingdom in heaven. I have to endure all trials that I might have encountered while travelling here on earth, reminding me that His graciousness is enough for me to survive in this world. God has thought me through this text and His word that as a pilgrim in this world I will be tested a lot of times, I’ll be having difficulties and troubles, Trials that I need to overcome all of it not alone but with Him. All this thing will be given to me to test how long will I stand for my faith, how long will I endure all this trials and difficulties for Him. That all this difficulties while in His service is a test if I deserve to become part of His family, for even God has suffered while He was here on earth to honour the Father I therefore needed to consider that following Him & being Christian means enduring all trials and tribulation that will come on my way to be able to stay in His presence.

I have realized that whatever God wanted for my life I need to obey for what He has said (John 14:15) that loving Him means being obedient and God again followed this verse (1 John 5:3). God keeps on reminding me that DENYING MY SELF is equal to OBEDIENCE. GOD REQUIRES AN OBEDIENT SONS & DAUGHTERS obedient enough to TAKE HIS/HER SELF FORGRANTED so that God will be known and glorified in the entire world.  “As I have read it I have realized how invaluable my life would be and I may still be wasting this entrusted life if God hasn’t found me...”

Section 3-6

THIS IS NEEDFUL TO TEACH US PATIENCE AND OBEDIENCE

Patience is one of my struggles in my personal life. I have a very short temper. I don’t want to wait. It is one of the things that make me feel bad or disappointed. But being patient is one of the first thing that I know God wanted me to learned for He has put me into TEACHING, Being troubled and having different students requires a teacher to have a patience long enough to cross rivers and mountains for if not, I might quit My profession. For having 90 kids in the classroom with different traits and behaviour I might end up walking out of class everyday for many were hard headed than those of the obedient one. As I have thought of it, seems like the same as most of Christians’, church is like a classroom full of students the difference is GOD is the TEACHER and I am one of His student.

While taking the cross God wants me to continue experiencing His faithfulness for even when I am bearing it God is still there watching every steps I take and when I feel like falling He come to me and give off help even if most of the time I never ask for it... and what I have learned that God wants me to realize how I cannot manage carrying my cross without Him.  How glorious He is that even if I don’t deserve it He reminds me that I could not pass on this if He doesn’t have me. I realize that God knows how impatient I am so He gave me something to learn how to neither wait nor be patient. That handling the kids would have been very difficult that on my first month of teaching I cried hard enough and said I’ll be quitting for I was handling 6 worst 2^nd yr and 3^rd yr classes but that’s not what God wanted. He showed me that “I can do all things through CHRIST who STRENGHTENS me” (Philippians 4:13). He made me realize that in all the things that I’m doing I need to remember that it’s not to satisfy my want but rather bring glory to His name. He also made me realize that my weakness is where He’s name is lifted just like what Apostle Paul said (2 Corinthian 12:9-10).

I have also found out that God doesn’t want me to become impatient and disobedient so I could  not boast it to others but rather God told me that there’s NOTHING I CAN DO UNLESS HE ALLOWS me to. I have learned that God continuously allowing me to experience a lot of trials so I would be tested if I am worthy of the Life he has prepared for me. He wants me to continue being a pilgrim in this world so that when Gods perfect time has come He could see if I am ready. So I need to endure all of it, learn to patiently and happily wait for Him while obeying all His commandments and not compromising it. Like how Abraham waited, as He’s waiting is over- it’s WORTH it. Being a teacher isn’t bad after all. It is a God given opportunity to learn how to WAIT PATIENTLY and at the same time OBEYING HIS COMMANDMENTS through inducing the GLORIOUS GOD to all of my students. I have then learned that God put me into to teaching to teach my student the GOSPEL while waiting for Him. Truly God is a GOD of ORDER he has put me in a perfect place NOT according to MY PLAN but according to HIS PLAN. Surely HE PALANS MY LIFE better that how I have planned for it.  

God has cured my impatience and disobedience by putting me in a place where I never expected to be neither I wanted to be. He has given me hard times where I would learn best. I am truly grateful for God has allowed me to walk in His path (Psalm 119:35). This has happened for I know God wanted me to become upright according to His ways for He wants all his Children to become clean and pure.

Section 7-8

BEARING THE CROSS IN PERSECUTION AND OTHER CALAMITIES

MATHEW 5:10-12

“God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and Lied about because you are my Followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a Great Reward awaits you in Heaven. And remember, the ancient Prophets were Persecuted, too.”

Travelling outside the country is part of how I have planned my life. I wanted to work and see different places at the same time. I plan to resign on my current job last year to work abroad but like what I have said God has planned my Life better than how I have planned for it. Since there are a lot of things that has to be done first I erased “travelling/working abroad” out of my lists of priorities. But who would have thought that my plan is still in an “ongoing” process. I may have stopped planning but God continuously pursuing for it. Sooner or later I’ll be out of the country by Gods grace still for “work” but I’m not hired by this world but by Him rather. I’ll be practicing my patience and obedience through this journey He has prepared for us whom he was called “to GO and Preach the Gospel”.

The first emotion I have felt when I found out about it “I’m Afraid of....”. It seems like “I love to go” but at the same time “I’m also afraid of going”. Right after I have heard of it I felt fear but God doesn’t want me to -feel it that way. He wanted me to look at it into something beautiful He showed me His words and plans-He showed me this (MATHEW 5:10-12)“God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and Lied about because you are my Followers. BE HAPPY ABOUT IT! BE GLAD!  For a Great Reward awaits you in Heaven. And remember, the ancient Prophets were Persecuted, too.” God then thought me that its part of me carrying my cross and following him. He then insisted to me the word “IF YOU LOVE ME OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS” and again another one followed (1 John 4:18) that there’s “NO FEAR IN LOVE, but PERFECT LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR…” He then reminds me that neither PERSECUTION nor DEATH can take us away from GOD if we are firmly rooted in our foundation-JESUS CHRIST (1 Corinthian 3:11). He even made me realized that whatever God has given He was the prfect one who could also take it away from me (Job 1:21). God has made me realized that many may despised us for we are in His service surely there is better place waiting for those who willingly obey His commandments. God has shown me that “I really needed to pray more” so I could withstand my flesh and all things it value and prioritize. God made me realized that fear in doing what He has asked us to do is unacceptable instead God needs a cheerful heart while serving Him.

Section 9-11

CHRISTIANS MEETS SUFFERING AS SENT BY GOD BUT WITH NO STOIC SENSIBILITY

When I was young I never wanted to cry nor show others that I am crying cause I’ve got this belief that crying is equal to weak. I never wanted people to look at me as a weak person so I never show anybody that I am crying. I actually hide every time that I am about to cry later on I learned to control tears. Whether I am in deep pain or troubled I don’t shed tears. But when I became a Christian I end up being a “cry baby” no matter how I tried to control my tears I end up busting more tears.  It was then the time when I have realized that God doesn’t want me to have immunity to pain unless he wanted me to feel one so I would realize that He is the only one who can take it off me. Like what these passages said, “Whatever be the kind of cross to which we are subjected, we shall be in the greatest straits firmly maintain our patience"… God then let me realize that denying myself means accepting that I am weak and knowing that there is a strong God that could hold me so I will be still through the end of my journey like what Apostle Paul had said (2 Corinthian 4:8-9). So when I have read the meaning of STOIC (adj. - patient and uncomplaining: showing admirable patience and endurance in the face of adversity without complaining or getting upset.) PATIENT & UNCOMPLAINING- are the two words caught my attention; It made me realize that God allows me to become weak to the extent that I weep so I would be able to learn how to endure ALL things while waiting for Him.

Total submission to Gods power and authority is necessary; necessary means it is our NECESSITY and NOT WANTS. God taught me to his passages that I need to understand that there’s not enough adversity that must hinder our services for Him. Both Good things and Bad ones can happen to us for HE WILLLED IT (Job 1:12). So we must learn to accept both positive and negative things that might have happened on our ways            (Job 2:10). “Obey because it is unlawful to resist, bear patiently, because IMPATIENCE IS REBELLION against the justice of God.”

SELF DENIAL

SELF DENIAL

PART ONE

SECTIONS 1-3

“THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY OF UNWORLDLINESS AND SELF DENIAL: WE ARE NOT OUR OWN; WE ARE GODs”

Matapos ko pong mabasa ang nilalaman ng unang tatlong bahagi ng “Self Denial” Higit na natuon po yung pansin ko dun sa pahayag na (Sec 1) “We are NOT Our own Master, But belong to God”. Naunawaan ko na “ako ay hindi po akin”. Kasi sabi nga po sa Awit 24:1 “Ang buong daigdig ANG LAHAT NG NAROON ang may-ari’y si Yahweh, ating Panginoon” ayon lang po sa aking pagkakaunawa na ang aking buhay at lahat ng mayroon ako ay hindi sa akin... isang bagay ang ipinakita sa akin ng LORD na anumang bagay ang gawin ko dapat ang nakikita dito ay si Kristo (Efeso 4:23). (Sec 2-“Denial through Devotion to God”) Maging sa aking pag-iisip at pagkilos, ipinaunawang higit ni GOD sa akin na ang aking mga ginagawa ay hindi upang mapasaya ang aking sarili, kundi higit sa lahat dapat nitong napararangalan ang Diyos (1Cor 10:31).  (Sec 3) Habang pinag-aaralan ko ang lahat ng ito lalong ipinapaunawa ng Lord sa akin na- dapat kong maunawaan na mula ng maging bahagi ako ng kawan ng Diyos ang pag-iisip na ang mayroon ako ay ang dapat na pag-iisip na Mayroon ang Panginoon (1 Cor 2:16) sa lahat ng aspeto ng buhay ko dahil kung hindi lagi lang po akong matatakot na gumawa ng maganda at malalaking bagay para sa kanya. Dahil kung ang puso ko pong ito ay puso pa din ni “Agnes”-masyado pa din itong matatakutin pero kung ito pong puso na nasa katawan ko ay puso ng Diyos lagi po itong maghahangad ng buhay at gawa na katanggap-tanggap lamang sa paningin ng Diyos (Gal.2:20). Sa tuwing matatakot akong gumawa para sa Panginoon alam kong lagi niyang ipaalala sa akin na mas mainam na kunin ako sa mundong ito na nasa gawain ng Panginoon kaysa naman po natutulog ako at komportable sa aking kinalalagyan. Patuloy na ipinauunawa ng Lord sa akin na ako ay KATIWALA lamang ng aking buhay at ang katiwala y dapat na maging tapat sa kanyang Panginoon (1 Cor 4:2). Habang patuloy pa po ang aking pag-aaral ang daming mga salita po ng Panginoon ang aking nakikita at patuloy niyang ipinapaunawa.

SECTIONS 4-7

“THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF DENIAL IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FELLOW MEN”

“Anuman ang inyong ginagawa, gawin ninyo ng magaan sa kalooban na waring hindi sa tao kayo naglilingkod kundi sa Panginoon”

-(Col 3:23)

“Huwag sariling kapakanan ang hanapin ninyo kundi sa iba”

-(1Cor 10:24)

Nang mabasa ko pa lamang po ang pamagat ng bahagi na ito ang dalawang bible verse na ito kaagad ang una pong pumasok sa aking isipan. Sa tuwing nakakaramdam ako na ako ay tumutulong sa iba natutuwa po talga ako at nakakramdam ng aking pagmamalaki sa aking sarili lamang. (Sec 4) Habang binabasa ko po ang bahaging ito may mga bagay na pinaisip sa akin ang Panginoon- Sa maraming pagkakataon pala na tumulong ako sa ibang tao lagi kong naitataas ang aking sarili-at hindi pala iyon ang gusto ng Panginoon. Naunawaan ko na, na sa tuwing tumutulong o nakakagawa ako ng maganda at kaaya-ayang bagay sa iba unang dapat na parangalan ang Diyos bago ang aking sarili. Ipinakita sa akin ng Panginoon na ng tumulong ako hindi ko inangkin ang bagay na iyon na sa akin kundi sa Panginoon. Hindi ibig sabihin na superior na po pla ako dahil ako ay tumulong at yung iba ay hindi. (Naalala ko po kasi na nung minsan na sumakay ako sa bus papuntang Maynila ay nagkataon na siksikan ang dami ng tao at mayroong b huntis na sumakay din sa bus na iyon at tayuan na halos lahat ng aking kahanay ay mga lalaki at ako lang ang babae nakiramdam ako kaso-walang sinuman sa kanila ang nag-offer man lang ng kanilang upuan kahit hirap na hirap na yung buntis kaya ang ginawa ko ako na lang yung tumayo at pinaupo ko yung buntis-sobrang proud pa po ako sa sarili ko at kinutya sa isip ko yung mga taong nandun). (Sec 5-6) Ngayon ko po higit naunawaan na kahit simple at maliit ang bagay na iyon sa paningin ng iba. Wala akong dapat na ipagmalaki sa aking sarili sapagkat ang pagtulong at ang mabuting gawa ay bahagi ng pagparangal ko sa pangalan po ng Diyos at nagagalak ang panginoon kapag natutulungan ko po ang ibang tao (Gal 6:9). Madalas po kasi kapag nakakatulong o nakakagawa po ako ng mabuting bagay sa ibang tao inaasahan ko na na mag-papasalamat sila at kung may kasamang pamumuri mas lalo pa po akong natutuwa yun po pala-hindi iyon ang ibig ng Diyos. Dapat kong maunawaan na mahalga at mabuting bagay kapag palagi kang nakakatulong kasi iyon ang nais ng Panginoon (Heb 13:16) dahil “ninanakaw” ko po pala ang karangalan na dapat ay sa Panginoon. Malaki man po iyon o maliit na bagay iyon ay para sa panginoon at mali na mas kin ikilala ko ang aking sarili kaysa sa Kanya and “being a blessing to others is GODs GIFT to us”. (Sec 7) Ipinapaala din ng Panginoon na maging ang aking kapwa po ay isa sa mga ipinagkatiwala niya sa akin kung kaya’t marapat lang na maging mabuti akong katiwala sa mga taong iyo na sa tuwing naglilikod ako sa iba ito ay ginawa ko ng higit ang aking makakaya dahil ito ay “hindi sa tao kundi sa Panginoon ko ginagawa”. Ipinauunawa din pos a aking Panginoon na kapag nakakatulong ako hindi ko lang napi-please ang tinutulungan ko higit napapasaya at napaparangalan  ko ang Diyos at sa tuwing gumagawa ako ng mabuti ang Panginoon ang makikita ng mga tao na gumagawa sa kanilang mga buhay at Hidi ako. “Denying myself in terms of charity and service to others means exalting God and promoting Him to all the People I have known".

SECTIONS 8-10

“THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DENIAL ON OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD”

“Trust in God’s Blessing Only” ang pahayag na ito ay isa sa may pinaka malaking impact sa buhay ko. Gaya po ng nakasulat sa first part ng bahagi na ito nakalagay doon ang maraming bagy na labis na hinahangad ng mga tao. Nakakahiya man pong aminin na maging ako ay nagging bahagi ng paghahangad ng mga bagay na iyon dati, per ng mabasa ko yung Mateo 6:33- na lagging na-reremind pos a isip ko ang verse na ito at lagging sinasabi sa akin “UNAHIN mo ang DIYOS”. Ako po ay may malaking suliranin po talaga sa pagiging mahusay na katiwala pagdating sa paghawak sa ipinagkatiwalang pera sa akin ng Panginoon. Isang pahayag ang tumimo sa isip ko sa isang aklat na ipinabasa sa akin ng Panginoon-“How we handle money affects our RELATIONSHIP and FELLOWSHIP TO GOD”. Naranasan ko kung gaano kahirap “GAMITIN sa TAMA ang AKING PERA”. Madalas kasi ang aking kaisipan ay nasa bagay na gusto KO at hindi po yung GUSTO ni LORD para sa akin. Naipaunawa sa akin ng Panginoon ang maraming bagay- na ang aking sahod ay hindi lang pala 10% ang sa panginoon kundi ang lahat ng ito ay sa kanya (100%) at ito ay pansamantala lang niyang ipinapagamit sa akin. Sa pagkakaunawa ko po sa bagay na ito ipinakita sa akin ng Panginoon na kung ang lahat ng materyal na bagay na mayroon ako ay isusuko ko sa Panginoon mas nagiging higit itong kapaki-pakinabang. Isa pang bagay na ipinapaunawa sa akin ng Panginoon ay ang madalas na “pagkakaroon ko ng utang” isang magandang bagay ang ipinakita sa akin ng Panginoon sa babasahing ito. Na paano ko maipapahayag na ang GOD IS A GRACIOUS  & WEALTHY GOD kung ako mismo ay nangungutang. Hindi ko lalo maipapaunawa na si God ay mayaman kung nakikita nila na ako na anak ng Diyos ay nangungutang/ nanghihiram ng pera. Maliwanag na ipinakita sa akin ng Panginoon na ang tunay na Wealth ay hindi yung ikaw ang naghirap na matamo kundi nauunawan natin na ito ay PAGPAPALA ng DIYOS kaya dumating man ito o mawala sa anumang paraan tiyak na papalitan ito ng Panginoon ng higit pa sa ating Inaasahan gaya ni Job (Job 1:21). Ipinaunawa sa akin ng Panginoon na kung uunahin kong papaunlarin at papayamanin ang aking fellowship at relationship sa Kanya kesa ang maga bagay na nawawala dito sa lupa dahil ang tunay na pagpapala ay sa Panginoon lang matatagpuan-gaya ng sinabi ni apostol Pablo sa 2 Cor 4:18 “Kayat ang paningin naming ay nakapako sa mga bagay na di nakikita, HINDI sa nakikita. Sapagkat PANANDALIAN lamang ang mga bagay na nakikita ngunit WALANG HANGGAN ANG MGA BAGAY NA DI NAKIKITA”.