Gusto ka ba moadto sa impyerno? .

Gusto ka ba moadto sa impyerno? .: Luke 16:19-31 (Basaha ang istorya bahin sa Dato ug ni Lazaro) Mga berssikulo nga gamiton: v24-v31 . Tinood nga adunay impyerno, mao ...

Ang pagkamatinud-anon diha sa grasa sa Diyos

READ MORE: Ang pagkamatinud-anon diha sa grasa sa Diyos: “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” “Busa,...

Ang maminaw makabaton sa pagtoo ug kinabuhi

READ MORE: “Busa ang pagtuo naggikan sa pagpamati sa mensahe ug ang nabati naggikan sa pulong ni Kristo.” (ROMANS 10:17) . Sa dili pa makatoo ang ...

Ang Kristohanon nga makigdaiton

READ MORE “Bulahan ang naningkamot nga managdait ang katawhan kay isipon sila sa Dios nga iyang mga anak! (MATTHEW 5:9) Niining atoang nagk...

Pagdawat sa pagpanudlo ug pagpanudlo usab ngadto s...

READ MORE “Ug ang mga butang nga imong nadungog gikan kanako sa atubangan sa daghang mga saksi, kinahanglan ipiyal mo kini ngadto sa kasaligan nga mg...

Siya nga buot magpasigarbo sa kaugalingon

CLICK HERE: “Sumala sa giingon sa kasulatan, “Ang buot magpasigarbo kinahanglan magpasigarbo sa Ginoo.” (2 CORINTHIANS 10:17) Usahay, makumpara...

Ang pagtugyan sa tanan ngadto sa Ginoo

Ang pagtugyan sa tanan ngadto sa Ginoo: “ Itugyan sa Ginoo ang imong mga kabalaka, kay tabangan ka niya. Dili niya pasagdan ang mga matarong hangtod sa kahangtoran.” (PSALMS 55:22...

The Man of Sorrows thirst for us

(John 19:28)

"Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

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Apparently Jesus asked for something to quench his thirst in order to fulfill Psalm 69:21, King David’s Psalm of lamentation: "They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." The bible called this as wine vinegar, a sour wine that had turned to vinegar. Wine is made from grape juice. In the Roman times this is identified as posca, a drink popular with soldiers of the Roman army, made by diluting sour wine vinegar with water to sustain them during their crucifixion duty. They weren't getting drunk on it, just using it to quench their own thirst.

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DEPICTION  OF JESUS’ THIRST It is near the end of Jesus' human life. He senses it. He was crucified on the cross for six hours now and each time he wants to breathe he must pull himself up. His shoulders are aching and his mouth is parched; he asks for something to drink to wet his lips.

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Read Psalm 22:15. This psalm of David is known as one of the most important Messianic psalms. Our Lord on the cross repeated the first line and other verses are quoted or alluded to in the New Testament as to his passion: the spiritual and physical suffering of Christ. “Nag-uga na ang akong tutunlan sama sa yuta ug ang akong dila mitapot sa akong alingangag.”

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Again, turn to read Lamentations 4:4. In their age of crisis and a turning point of Israel’s  history, their temple was destroyed and leaders were exiled and they lost their national sovereignty. This was during the fall of Jerusalem in 6^th BC. The lamentations of the beseiged city was thus: ”the  tongue of the infant clings to the roof of its mouth  for thirst; the young children ask for bread but no one breaks it for them.”

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REASON OF JESUS’ THIRST During the crucifixion, Jesus was not in a good attitude. As his health plummets, his heart and spirit affected him. The Bible calls this the breakdown of his "spirit." A  man’s spirit communicates beyond its point of beginning. What happened then externally affected his spirit and worked to deteriorate his physical body. He endured the underwent great emotional stress from being abandoned by friends, the thought of humiliation and a cruel death by crucifixion, was without sleep and breakfast, and weary from walking about 2.5 miles back and forth between the sites of different trials and got tortured earlier. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good to the body; but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Jesus’ broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, had such a direct tendency to ruin his health and waste out his life as grief, anxiety and fretfulness. All these work to his death.

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Now lets read Proverbs 18:14. The incident of Jesus’ at this time has no sufficient strength to bear up under the unavoidable trials of life; he was wounded by every body’s sin, and his soul is dying by every man’s iniquity. He had just walked for some 3-4 hours to a road going to calvary with no sitting or rest. He was on a depressed mood, had difficulty concentrating, is full of fatigue, he had anxiety and this caused his excessive thirst. All these produced his desire to live gone.

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In closing, the words of Jesus on the cross reminds us of his  tangible physical suffering, of which his extreme thirst is for us to readily identify to his plea and respond in our own personal experience by coming to him, worship, love, adore, believe  and  accept  the Lord as one’s savior. Such  thirst, being parched only by us approachIng him, will conquer all our impiety and bring us the warm feeling of salvation. Amen.

We all hurdle difficult exams in life

Text: Psalms 26:1-3

EXAMINATION. The word examine comes from Hebrew “Baw-Khan” meaning to test, to investigate, to prove, to try and to tempt (convince, attract, excite). We need to examine ourselves once in a while in order to know our proficiency (advancement) and knowledge of God and the stage of our faith. This is to be done through questions or inquiry about ourselves. In our life today, problems, uncertainties, difficulties, even doubts help us examine ourselves.

FIRST EXAMININATION. Let God examine ourselves first. “Susiha ug sulayi ako o Ginoo, usisaha ang akong mga tinguha ug mg huna-huna.” (Psalms 26:2). When God does, always have a ready defense, the Hebrews call this as “Gawnan” which means to protect or defend. A defense from God’s examination does not mean resistance but an apology or a plea for vindication. In human treatment, this diligence of having a defense is shown in 1 Corinthians 9:3 “Kon sawayon ako sa mga tawo, tubagon ko sila.” Such response is not to counter back with the same condemnation but to ‘react with wisdom.’ (Eccleasiastes 7:12) and let your accusers and critics hear your defense (Acts 22:1)

SECOND EXAMINATION. Then we examine ourselves. Check, inspect,   scrutinize what’s wrong, observe, think about, analyze, weigh up, sift, and investigate yourself. First Corinthians 11:28 tells us to question or appraise ourselves. To stay in faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), be your own critic and evaluator. Judge yourself and pronounce and opinion about what and where you are, whether you are still devoted and committed to God. 

REVIEW.Receive the reward of blessing—a good grade from God Himself. Have a deepened and more developed faith, intensified more by the examination that gives God more glory. Our lesson then is to learn to walk in integrity or perfection not that we think of ourselves as free from sin but by the purity of our intentions and designs, the uprightness of our conduct and that we could not be charge with any wrong action in this respect, and therefore ought to be acquitted before men and be justified in the sight of God. Amen.

' The oldest profession’

TEXT: Leviticus 19:29

A THRIVING PROFESSION? Prostitution is known amusingly as the oldest profession. One engaged in this promiscuous activity is called a prostitute and this is expressly forbidden by God in the scriptures. The Hebrew word “Khaw-lal” (for prostitute) means “to profane, cast or slay.” It is figuratively used by the Israelites to mean “sorrow, stain and wound.” A harlot in biblical times is despised, scorned and look down upon. Prostitution in the Philippines is illegal but widely prevalent, according to Wikipedia. It is often available through bars, in KTVs, massage parlors, brothels, street walkers, and escort services. Last year, an estimated 500,000 prostitutes ply our streets. A senator cited that some 800,000 women are being exploited in prostitution in the country. Prostitution is said to cater to local customers and foreigners and cities where there is a high incidence of prostitution are Angeles City, Olongapo, Subic Bay, Legazpi, Albay, and Pasay City, with the customers usually foreign businessmen from East Asian and Western nations. Reasons for the widespread prevalence of prostitution in the Philippines are poverty, attitudes toward money, social acceptance and single unwed mothers.

THE PROSTITUTE (WHO SHE IS)

A. Disguises herself (Genesis 38:15)

B. Famous and known for where she stays (Joshua 2:1)

C. Cause of loss of property and money (Luke 15:15)

THE PROSTITUTE (WHAT SHE DOES)

A. Tells lies (1 Kings 3:16)

B. Turns away from God (Jeremiah 3:6)

C. Gives herself to everyone (Ezekiel 16:16)

THE PROSTITUTE (WHAT SHE MUST DO)

A. Stop from being one (Hosea 2:2)

B. Repent and believe in Jesus (Matthew 21:31)

C. Cultivate deep faith in God to escape death (Hebrew 11:31)

REVIEW. Help stop prostitution--this message is also implied to our government so that our land will get away from the erstwhile decadence, immorality and other vices. Depravity (from ESV translation) as a consequence of prostitution causes hardness, inability to listen, lovers of evil and defilement of conscience among men.

What is love?

text: 1 Corinthians 13

ARE YOU IN LOVE? Love is not just a many splendored thing that comes out from the most unexpected places. It may move mysteriously but it is not blind and can’t hurt anybody. You find it irresistible to love. “Whenever we ask, ‘What is love?’ it’s usually because we’re unsure if a certain special someone really loves us, or because a certain special someone just accused us of not really loving them. “When we are truly engaged in giving and receiving love, we don’t ponder such philosophical questions,” a writer once said. It’s only when something is lacking that we begin to analyze and contemplate what that thing actually is. For example, nobody sits down to a full meal and asks, “What is a pastrami sandwich?” It’s only when something is lacking that we begin to analyze and contemplate what that thing actually isSo, if we’re even asking the question, “What is love?” it probably means that we don’t feel completely loved, or that someone doesn’t feel completely loved by us. In the website ALL ABOUT GOD, it is defined as “the cost of giving” Real love demands sacrifice that can’t be found in self-centeredness. You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Sacrificial love requires that we give what we value most: our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Real love does not always follow our natural inclinations; it is not an impulse from feelings. Love can only be understood from the actions it prompts.

THE ABSENCE OF LOVE

A.     Ever-repeating annoyance (v1)

B.     No importance found (v2)

C.     Worthless, none the better (v3)

THE PRESENCE OF LOVE

A.   Patience and kindness is there and no envy (v4)

B.   No arrogance and ill-manner and even irritable qualities (v5)

C.  No gloating over other’s sins and keeps no record of their wrongs (v6)

THE ESSENCE OF LOVE (Inmost nature)

A.   Undying and eternal (v8)

B.   Delights in truth and honesty (v8)

C.   No limit and never fails (v7)

SCIENCE OF LOVE (Systematic)

A.   Begins simply from a childish outlook (v11)

B.   Then comes to mature understanding (v12)

C.   And finishes to complete, full knowledge seeing the true nature of love (v12)

REVIEW. Have faith in order to have an optimistic anticipation and give out or be in love. Find it irresistible in the strongest sense. Love is God’s Nature. God created love, not the reverse. He deliberately chose to express His love to us -- revealing the very nature of God Himself. When we bear with the failings and weaknesses of others, divine love reveals itself (Ephesians 4:2). At all costs, this love compels us to give so that we alleviate the suffering of others. Instead of seeking to fulfill our emotional and physical needs (receiving), we humbly give of ourselves (1 Peter 3:8–9).

Call to holiness

Text: 1 Peter 1:15F

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. Peter writes in his letter that “He who called (us) is holy, (we) also be holy in all our conduct, since it is written, and “You shall be holy, for I am holy." Holy, that is physically pure and morally blameless and consecrated to God, and that, is in all manner, in all aspects of our lives. With today’s modernity, every thing going hi-tech; all the environmental events—climate change and all, and with every type of people, it seems that practicing to be blessed or sublime seems easier said than done or challenging for a Christian but then again this is God’s demand for His would-be followers. The word “holy” is described in the dictionary as “properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense.” Somebody who is holy has a pure heart, temper or character; free from sin and sinful affections. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly. As to God, His holiness signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions.

HOLINESS IS NOT AN OPTION BUT A REQUIREMENT. People say it is difficult to achieve. Is it difficult for one to be virtuous and faithful, consecrated or set apart to a sacred use or to be of service or worship of God? Will a Christian find struggle arranging one’s self to pious principles or purposes; as holy zeal. Maybe you can answer that. Sometimes man can have the wrong notion of being holy. We picture him as the robed person who sits in a corner and continually think thoughts of God. Holiness, my beloved Christian friend, is a lifelong task for you and me. It includes being temperate in all behavior, sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humility in judgment. Holiness should be the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves. To be holy, to add, is to be self-controlled, stripped for action, fixing one’s hope on the gift of grace and living a new life.

HOLINESS IS THE REQUIREMENT OF FOLLOWING GOD. This is challenge for everyone. It begins when one is forgiven and a new life is found in Christ and in obeying God’s commands. Obedient children will seek to please and to be like their father. Our Father is holy, and the duty rests upon us of seeking holy lives. Let us be that the model or example in accordance with which we are to frame our lives. Our character should be like God, to be holy in all manner of conversation and conduct. Since God is holy, and we profess to be his followers, we ought also to be holy. God’s command found in Leviticus 11:44 was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal politeness addressed to Christians. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God.

REVIEW. To be holy is also avoiding evil. Living righteously, getting rid of our old selves and deceitful desires with our hearts and minds completely made new. We must reveal that true life that is upright and holy and devout as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:22-24, Eph 4:22: “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” That is also changing our attitude for the better and striving for righteousness, godliness, faith and love, endurance and gentleness, fleeing from jealousy, disputes, insults, evil suspicions and harmful pursuit of money. Still difficult? Only you can answer that..

Trick or treat

Text: Genesis 3:13

TO TRICK IS NOT TO TREAT. A trick is a thing done or said to deceive or cheat, a mannerism, a habit, feat or skill which is deceitful. To trick is to make someone be in a position contrary to that held by majority and thus bring one into conflict.

A TRICK HAS BEEN DONE. We call this in our language as GIILAD. Remember Eve when she was tricked by the snake? She took it for a good one but it proved a bad one, with lying words and deceitful language imposed upon her she thought was very useful to improve her knowledge but instead caused her to err from the truth, and to believe a lie. And like her husband, she attempted to swing the blame from herself, and lay it on the serpent. (Genesis 3:13). Another Cebuano term is LANSISI. This time let us read over the story involving Delilah (Judges 16:5) where each of the Philistines promised her an unusual sum of money--a considerable bribe--and very tempting to a person of such a character, and which she readily embraced, as appears by what follows in the story. You get something after you trick someone or even then the trickster annoys you with pleadings.

A TRICK HAS BEEN DONE ON YOU. Are you what we call as NALINGLA? Of course, what a fool you are for having been hoodwinked by people you are familiar with. So you get furious and vengeful. Let’s take a look at Herod (Matthew 2:16) he killed all the male children, not only in Bethlehem, but in all the villages of that city. Such unrestrained wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often carries men to absurd cruelties. “It was no unrighteous thing with God to permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as it begins. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin. But the murder of these infants was their martyrdom. Herod now thought that he had baffled the Old Testament prophecies, and the efforts of the wise men in finding Christ; but whatever crafty, cruel devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand,” says the Matthew Henry Commentary. Herod killed the babies because of the trick made on him. The second one is PAGBITIK—and knowing it on hand-- will make you stand against it and do the right thing. Lets read what was Jesus reply when tricked by being asked on the payment of taxes (Mark 12:15). The Lord knows from the very beginning their flattering titles and characters of him, and which lay hid in their secret designs against him. “Nothing is more likely to ensnare the followers of Christ, than bringing them to meddle with disputes about worldly politics. Jesus avoided the snare, by referring to the submission they had already made as a nation; and all that heard him, marveled at the great wisdom of his answer. Many will praise the words of a sermon, who will not be commanded by the doctrines of it,” another commentary from Matthew Henry. We may learn to put in mind as good and as Christian duties by the smallest things that are in common use among us. A single coin may remind us of God’s goodness and bounty towards us, in affording us such precious metals for our use and trading one with another. The malignity of a trickster’s heart took the form of craft, pretending what they did not feel—an anxious desire to be guided aright in a matter which to a scrupulous few might seem a question of some difficulty. Christians, like Jesus, should see perfectly through this.

REVIEW. (Ephesians 6:11) Isul-ob ang tanang kahimanan sa gubat nga gihatag sa Dios kaninyo aron makasukol kamo batok sa mga pagpanlimbong sa yawa. “Be strong in the Lord — Since every relation in life brings along with it corresponding duties, and requires vigor and resolution in the discharge of them, whatever therefore the circumstance or situation may be which you are in, see that you do not rely on your own strength, but apply to the Lord, for his strength, and arm yourselves with the power of his might” (BENSON COMMENTARY)

The prayer of faith

TEXT: James 5:13-16

PRAYER is NEEDFUL. Everybody agrees that in almost everything, we strengthen our words of yearning by saying it through prayer. So prayer becomes essential and always a requirement when we come in whatever position in life. With prayer we entreat to God, appeal with faith, make our desires known, hope, plead and even wish our fancies.

Who needs PRAYER? Our text mentions those suffering (v13). The Greek ‘kakopathia’ describes them as the ones in hardship and suffering affliction. Who is in the world today not going through such experience? We all are. The ‘astheneo’ (Greek for the sick) in verse 14 desire prayers. They are the diseased, the week and feeble. The dictionary includes even those known to be impotent (the ones unable to help).

THE PRAYER OF FAITH. From our key verse, the prayer of faith saves one from sickness (v15). This means that aside from recovery in sickness one gets saved from sin—when you point the sickly to Jesus Christ--the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). When he believes in Him, he will be delivered from death that is just round the corner for Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). The prayer full of belief in Jesus’ name will forgive the sins of the sick and he is likewise restored back to Christian fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:7-10) since his fellow members (or the ones praying for him will gain the knowledge of forgiving him of his mistakes and comfort him that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. He will then receive spiritual cleansing because he has been prayed upon.

PRAYER FOR HEALING. First comes confession of one’s sins. The Greek word for this is ‘exomologee’ which means to acknowledge, agree fully, confess, profess and promise. You will not get healing if you still have that annoyance in yourself caused by the relationship hurts or other offenses you may have against God and men, knowing it all and hiding it instead. When praying for the sick brother or sister (‘yokomahee’) we are to pray to God and entrust him to the Almighty’s will, not on our own inclination.

REVIEW. “God never intended prayer to change His purpose or move Him to come to fresh ideas. He has ordained that we be saved through the means of preaching the gospel, but prayer is also a means of salvation. We have seen that it is His will that we pray; it fits into the design of His purpose. Prayer is therefore not a vain exercise but a means by which God exercises His decrees. When we pray for things God has already decreed, things happen! These prayers are not meaningless.” (John W. Ritenbaugh “The Sovereignty of God: Part Nine”)