Posted on January 14th, 2010 by Pastor Jeff in encouragement
So many of us walk through life finding relief from problems that may be physical like a sudden discovery of a disease, a permanent disability due to an accident, or something as simple as a want to experience hemorrhoid relief. The hope we have is from the fact that God is all powerful and He can make anyone disease-free. He is the Healer.
The other hope is that if we truly have a personal relationship with God that came through admission of sinfulness, repentance and through a commitment to follow God from then on, then the incorruptible part of us will remain forever with God less the sickness, disease or any unwanted physical problem. Believe and have faith.
Posted on January 14th, 2010 by Pastor Jeff in obedience
“Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.”
1 Kings 22:48
Solomon’s ships had returned in safety, but Jehoshaphat’s vessels never reached the land of gold. Providence prospers one, and frustrates the desires of another, in the same business and at the same spot, yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise at one time as another. May we have grace to-day, in the remembrance of this text, to bless the Lord for ships broken at Ezion-geber, as well as for vessels freighted with temporal blessings; let us not envy the more successful, nor murmur at our losses as though we were singularly and specially tried. Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord’s sight, although our schemes end in disappointment.
Posted on January 14th, 2010 by Pastor Jeff in character
When Peter denied Christ three times and realized that Jesus’ prediction came to pass, I just couldn’t imagine how depressing that was. Sometimes in our own lives there are times when we deny Christ through our actions, thoughts and decisions.
Posted on January 13th, 2010 by Pastor Jeff in Faith
“Mighty to save.”
Isaiah 63:1
By the words “to save” we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification. The words are multum in parro: indeed, here is all mercy in one word. Christ is not only “mighty to save” those who repent, but He is able to make men repent. He will carry those to heaven who believe; but He is, moreover, mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them. He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain the despiser of His name to bend the knee before Him. Nay, this is not all the meaning, for the divine power is equally seen in the after-work. The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by “the Mighty God.” The bush burns, but is not consumed. He is mighty to keep His people holy after He has made them so, and to preserve them in his fear and love until he consummates their spiritual existence in heaven. Christ’s might doth not lie in making a believer and then leaving him to shift for himself; but He who begins the good work carries it on; He who imparts the first germ of life in the dead soul, prolongs the divine existence, and strengthens it until it bursts asunder every bond of sin, and the soul leaps from earth, perfected in glory. Believer, here is encouragement. Art thou praying for some beloved one? Oh, give not up thy prayers, for Christ is “mighty to save.” You are powerless to reclaim the rebel, but your Lord is Almighty. Lay hold on that mighty arm, and rouse it to put forth its strength. Does your own case trouble you? Fear not, for His strength is sufficient for you. Whether to begin with others, or to carry on the work in you, Jesus is “mighty to save;” the best proof of which lies in the fact that He has saved you. What a thousand mercies that you have not found Him mighty to destroy!
Posted on January 10th, 2010 by Pastor Jeff in Ministry
This Saturday, JIVE Youth Ministry will be celebrating its 6th anniversary. They will be making a lot of preparations for this Saturday, January 16, 2010 so some youth will take turns in using outdoor cushions to nap on as they work on other preparations.
The anniversary service will be open to everyone and they are expecting 100 attendees. JIVE Youth meets at the 3rd floor of Kalayaan Talipapa Bldg., 9642 Kalayaan Ave. Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City.
“Thy love is better than wine.”
Song of Solomon 1:2
Nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ. He has enjoyment as others have in the common mercies of life, he can be glad both in God’s gifts and God’s works; but in all these separately, yea, and in all of them added together, he doth not find such substantial delight as in the matchless person of his Lord Jesus. He has wine which no vineyard on earth ever yielded; he has bread which all the corn-fields of Egypt could never bring forth. Where can such sweetness be found as we have tasted in communion with our Beloved? In our esteem, the joys of earth are little better than husks for swine compared with Jesus, the heavenly manna. We would rather have one mouthful of Christ’s love, and a sip of his fellowship, than a whole world full of carnal delights. What is the chaff to the wheat? What is the sparkling paste to the true diamond? What is a dream to the glorious reality? What is time’s mirth, in its best trim, compared to our Lord Jesus in His most despised estate? If you know anything of the inner life, you will confess that our highest, purest, and most enduring joys must be the fruit of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. No spring yields such sweet water as that well of God which was digged with the soldier’s spear. All earthly bliss is of the earth earthy, but the comforts of Christ’s presence are like Himself, heavenly. We can review our communion with Jesus, and find no regrets of emptiness therein; there are no dregs in this wine, no dead flies in this ointment. The joy of the Lord is solid and enduring. Vanity hath not looked upon it, but discretion and prudence testify that it abideth the test of years, and is in time and in eternity worthy to be called “the only true delight.” For nourishment, consolation, exhilaration, and refreshment, no wine can rival the love of Jesus. Let us drink to the full this evening.
Posted on January 9th, 2010 by Pastor Jeff in Faith
Last year has been a surprising year especially after the typhoons hit Manila and the Northern part of the of our country. It didn’t matter whether people were in the valley or in the plains or in the high part like the mounts in the Benguet province because in both places, disaster struck.
I have learned to live by God’s mercy and grace because of the natural disasters that hit our country. May this year be filled with God’s promises and may His mercy and grace continue to sustain us all.
