Friday, November 30 2007

The #1 Competitor

Mt. 6:24 – ‘No one can serve two masters…you cannot serve God and money.’

As Christians, we’ve been taught and so we know that our #1 spiritual enemy is the devil. But no one has really opened the veil on who’s supposed to be the #1 competitor for our passion for God. Some have thought the passion for pleasure, fame, power, and even our loved ones – such as our families. But Jesus comes in with no hesitation, in his famous Sermon on the Mount, saying that the #1 competitor for our passion for God is our passion for money. Not the devil, not our family, not fame, not power, not pleasure – but money.

Money has a tremendous capacity to steal our hearts away from our commitment to our ultimate provider – God. The reason being is because our hearts often times mistakenly identify money as the ultimate source of life – the giver of life. True that money can buy us food, house, clothes, gadgets, entertainments, and medicines, but money can’t buy the very thing that most people want and need – life.

No doubt that we all need money to sustain our physical being here in this world – food, education, gas, homes, etc. But we ought not to forget our ultimate commitment to our master who is the real giver and provided of life – God. It is not the money, but our passion for it. It is not that we don’t need money, but we need to remind ourselves time and time and again that our need exceeds than just the need for physical being, because ultimately we need God.

Thursday, November 29 2007

How to be rich – Part 3

1 Tim. 6:18-19 – ‘They are to do good… to be generous and ready to share…’

Say for example that to be generous is that we all should give at least 10% from what we have. So if we have $10, then to be generous means to give at least $1 and sure enough that won’t be a problem for most of us. But if we have $1000, to be considered generous means that we have to give at least $100 and at this point we might get a bit uncomfortable because start to think all the things that we can do and buy with $100 that we were about to give. Finally then, if we have $10,000 being generous then means we have to give at least $1000 and for many of us that’s a lot of money for a lot of things. And at this point we all would think more than twice to give that $1000 away. With that in mind, does being generous have to do with amount or just sincerity? Well, Paul says both.

The key to understand what Paul says about being generous is the phrase next to it – ready to share. Being generous basically, Paul says, is the readiness to share what we have – because we can’t share what we don’t have. Point is often rich people share with others as if they don’t have much – they share what’s left over from what they have used up for themselves.

So does being generous have to do with amount? Yes, certainly said Paul because it involves what you have in your hand. Is it all to it? No, said Paul because it also involves readiness – a sincerity that sprouts from a thankful heart of being blessed more than we need.

Wednesday, November 28 2007

How to be rich – Part 2

1 Tim. 6:17c – ‘…but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.’

If yesterday we learned that we ought not to set our hopes on wealth that are so uncertain, then the question is, on what or rather on whom should the rich set their hopes? Readily Paul says that God is the focus and center on which our hope rests on simply because He is ultimately the owner, the supplier, and the provider of everything.

You see, here Paul points us back to the real provider of all the needs and yes, even wants in our lives. God is pictured here as a wealthy person who lavish gifts generously, not so that he can manipulate others or to give himself a pat in the back, but so that those who are being blessed by him can enjoy the gifts. Paul wants rich Christians to know that their wealth and possessions are not the ultimate spring of life – God is.

We’ve seen rich people who live in fear and anxiety and we’ve read those who hold on so much on their wealth and possession that they forgot to enjoy their wealth and live joyfully. If we set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, we will only experience anxiety and fear – simply because deep in our hearts we know that they are nothing but uncertain. But if we set our hope on the right place and person – God – we know we are standing on a secure ground. God is the giver, He is the provider and He wants us to enjoy what He has given to us. Do you find yourself more on being anxious or enjoying what God has given to you in your life?

Tuesday, November 27 2007

How to be rich – Part 1

1Tim. 1:6:17b – ‘…not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches…’

If you follow the news in the business section or even in the general section, often you will find articles on the topic of ‘how to get rich’ by some famous businessmen or women. But hardly will you find articles on how to be rich. At the same time, the news are full of people who won millions worth of lottery or people who climbed up in their professions but only end up in bankruptcy, divorce, drugs, and other terrible things other than happy and enjoying their wealth. Truth is – getting rich is much easier than being rich.

Paul affirms that being rich requires an attitude that embraces the fact that the value of wealth and possessions in this world is so uncertain. Stock and housing market went up and down like the mercury in a thermometer. The value of money itself is no exception. Values of wealth cannot be confined with, in, or on anything – they are ever changing.

This attitude is so important to Paul because we, humans, have the tendency to set our hopes on riches among other things. We always think that the accumulation of wealth carries a certain weight that can sustain and secure our lives. But if our source of security is so uncertain, what kind of security are we looking at? By doing so, the result would be catastrophic in our lives. Being rich requires a greater attitude of heart – putting hope not on all you have accumulated because they have very little value of certainty in this world.

Monday, November 26 2007

Show me the money…

1 Tim. 6:17a – ´As for the rich in this present age, charge them…’

When Bill Gates and his wife visited India, they met with a poor single mom who practically lived in a hut. After Gates left, a journalist asked her, ‘Do you know that the guy who was here is the richest man in the world…?’ She just calmly answered, ‘Everyone from the west is rich…’

For the poor Indian single mom there is no such category of rich, richer, and richest. To her there are only 2 categories; either you are rich or you are poor. But that’s not the case with people who live in the west, where there are tons of categories of wealth and possessions that are used to define how and where they are standing on the scale of richness. For the 30k salary people, the rich are those who have 70k salary and above. As for the 70k salary people, the rich are those who have 120k salary and above and so on. The fact of the matter is ‘richness’ is a moving target because it’s always shooting for the next category.

This is important to realize because the Bible has a lot to say, not only about money, but also about rich people. The problem comes when people read these kinds of passages and deemed them irrelevant simply because they don’t feel rich. Truth is being ‘rich’ is not at all about feeling, but is all about having more – more than we need. It seems staggering because if you have more than what you need, do you ever consider yourself to be rich or are you still aiming at the next category? If you have more, then you are rich, and this passage is for you.

Friday, November 23 2007

Moving in Presumption

Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp. - Numbers 14:44

The people of Israel were brought out of Egypt to enter a new land-the Promised Land. This land was not handed over to them freely; it required the removing of God's enemies through battle. It required a partnership between God and the people. As long as the people remained true to God, they were victorious.

The people were camped at Kadesh Barnea, near the border entrance to the long-awaited Promised Land. All the hardships of their journey from Egypt were now culminating at this important crossing. However, Joshua and Caleb were the only scouts who proclaimed faith in God to take them into the land and conquer their enemies. The other spies saw all the dangers and refused to take the risk. The people of the camp shrank in fear because of their report. They decided not to enter in.

God was angered at the people for their lack of faith. Moses had to intercede on their behalf. Once they realized what they had done, it was too late. But they thought their repentance was enough to right their wrong. They presumed this was all that was necessary.

Moses informed them they were deceived in their presumption of God's favor. They went to battle against the Amalekites only to be soundly defeated. Those who returned did not understand why they lost the battle.It is important for us to know whether we have God's hand upon our endeavors. Presumption leads to failure. God's favor leads to success. Ask God to confirm His hand on your endeavors..."If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (Exodus 33:15).

Thursday, November 22 2007

FEAR NOT!

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7

God calls each of us to engage in spiritual warfare at times. Whenever satan wants to come against one of God's children, he does so by trying to intimidate through fear.Goliath's formidable size and arrogant boasting intimidated Saul and Israel's army. And because God's anointing had fallen from Saul, he was unable to respond with courage to Goliath's charge. Fear paralyzes and torments. That is why Saul could not respond.

The anointing had fallen on David, who was just a young boy, but mighty in spirit. David did not cower at the size or shouts of the giant Goliath. He saw Goliath through the eyes of God, who saw him as a mere speck. David had righteous indignation for an affront to the armies of the living God.David did not weigh the risk of failure because his faith was resting totally in God. That is another important factor in overcoming fear-complete trust in God.

When the Lord began training me to confront fear, the training grounds were a groundless lawsuit, intimidations, and calamity that confronted my very existence. Learning that these were merely tactics of the enemy, designed to instill fear, allowed me to stand firm in God's power to overcome.Do not fear sudden calamity if you are walking uprightly before God. It may be setting the stage for a great victory that will bring praise and honor to your heavenly Father. These battles are training grounds for greater victories to come.

Wednesday, November 21 2007

KEEPING OATHS

This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them. - Joshua 9:20


Joshua and the people of Israel were in the Promised Land. They were winning battles and were feeling good about their progress. One day a band of Gibeonites came by dressed as travelers in order to fool Joshua. They wanted to make Joshua believe they were merely travelers instead of enemies. The Gibeonites asked Joshua to make a peace treaty with them. Since Joshua chose to believe their story, he did just that. That was a mistake on Joshua's part. The Bible says Joshua did not inquire of the Lord about the Gibeonites. This forced Joshua to uphold the peace treaty with the Gibeonites, even though it was made under false pretenses.

Keeping our oaths before the Lord is a serious matter. One might think that Joshua had every right to consider the agreement with the Gibeonites null and void since it was done on false pretense. However, Joshua knew how God viewed oaths. He knew that a man's word, once it was given, should be good as done. There was no reversing it. He also knew that if he did not keep his oath, he was subject to God's disfavor, which meant his ways would not be blessed.


Whenever we become a child of God, we represent Him. When His children follow unrighteousness, He takes this personally. Unrighteousness opens us up to satan's attack. God's protection shield is removed. So Joshua knew that if he did not honor his oath, he would be subject to God's judgment.
Is there any unfulfilled oath you have made to anyone? Ask God this morning if you have not fulfilled a commitment to anyone. Then, if there is, go and fulfill. Otherwise, you will be subject to God's judgment for your unrighteousness.

Tuesday, November 20 2007

BITTERNESS

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. - Hebrews 12:15

The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships. Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the same. A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt. What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.

When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.

Breaking satan's foothold requires at least one person to press into God's grace. It cannot happen when either party "feels" like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving. None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt. Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party. It is only obedience that allows God's grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.

The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you find yourself. Choose grace instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19th 20007

Divine Setups

Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. - Luke 22:31-32

Have you ever perceived yourself to be at one place spiritually only to discover that you were actually far from this place? Peter perceived himself to be so spiritually strong that he was prepared to suffer greatly for his Master. Yet Jesus knew where Peter really was in his own pilgrimage. He knew that Peter's enthusiasm did not match his reality. He was suffering from an attitude of self-righteousness. So, how did Jesus help Peter match his perception to his reality? Peter was the object of a divine setup.

First, notice that satan asked permission to sift Peter as wheat. Jesus determined that satan would be used to bring Peter to the maturity level both Jesus and Peter really desired. And Jesus was praying that Peter would pass the test. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times that very day. Peter could not believe what Jesus was saying.

Sometimes the lessons we must learn are very painful. This experience was necessary in Peter's life. It was necessary to purge Peter from his sin of self-righteousness. This very lesson would allow Peter to come face to face with his own misperception of where he was in his relationship and devotion to Jesus. When he was forced to confront this, it nearly broke him apart. He wept bitterly once he realized he had done just as Jesus had predicted.

This confrontation with reality is necessary at times in our lives. Do not be surprised if Jesus allows you to experience some painful circumstance. You may be the subject of a divine setup designed to bring you to a greater maturity level in your walk with Jesus. It may not be a fun experience when you go through it, but you will, like Peter, become a leader whom God will use to lead others.

Friday, November 16th 2007

Beauty for Ashes

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
--Isaiah 61:3
Many times we are amazed at the testimonies of someone when he or she tells us the way they used to be. Perhaps we’ve looked at them and thought, There is no way that person used to be that way. Jesus Christ has so radically changed them.
Isaiah 61:3--4 promises that God "will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. . . . "
God will bring joy instead of mourning and beauty for ashes. For the person who has made a mess of his or her life--a pile of ashes, so to speak--God says, "I will bring beauty." For those who are mourning because of the wrongs they have done and the sins they have committed, God says, "I will bring joy out of it."
Only God can take a tangled mess of a life, turn it around, and transform it in such a way that you would not even know that individual used to be a very different person. Not only that, but such a transformation gives hope to others who may still be that way. It provides a powerful testimony.
If you come to Christ and say, "Lord, here I am. Forgive me of my sin," He can transform you and change you. He can take your mistakes and your sins, turn them around, and even use them for His glory. When you commit your life to Christ, He will clean your life up. And He will do a great job of it.