Thursday, April 23, 2009
This was the second message from the camp brought by Ptr. Jon Espanolla. He was indeed a great speaker. He even helped us about 3 years ago, in a camp titled Developing Young Leaders in Rebuilding the Nation. He even made us realize how great our country is. He is the Senior Pastor of Yeshua Rock (not sure of church' name).
Christian life is like a race. The moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, it was as if He put us in a race track.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. - Acts 20:24
I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith - 2 Timothy4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith - 2 Timothy4:7
Race in Greek term is dromos, it means course or journey. Race is journeying the course that is marked out for us. It is knowing your calling and fulfilling your purpose. Life never called "life" when you just live to exist. But life is called "life" when you do your very purpose that God has told you to do so. It is really about finishing the race. It's not about being at the top or finishing the race first. It is a reality of God's purpose living in His kingdom. It is not just maintaining to be a Christian. But living out your Christianity.
But being a Christian doesn't promise a life that doesn't have any problems. There are still hindrances that we could encounter:
1. False start of doing your purpose. The fire in us is so ab lazed that we cannot even control it. We tend to go beyond what we want to do because we are too emotional. We are to crazy to do our purpose even though, we are not that equipped:
2. Cramps
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12:13
Life, as we all know, is full of ups and downs. But one thing that we Christians have, is that in our sadness - there is joy because we have our God.
3. Jeerers. Jeerers are those people who tend to persecute you. They laugh at you and think that you are not that good.. They are the ones who says "Booooh!" or "Hindi mo kaya yan!". But come to think of it as what the Lord said:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for their is the kingdom of heaven" - Matthewe 5:10
There are times that you may feel na kalaban mo na ang mundo. Feeling mo, tinatawanan ka nila.Pero kahit ganun na kahit pinepersecute ka ng mga tao, kahit iniisip nilang nababaliw ka na, ay andiyan pa rin si God at may promise siya!. And there's one thing about Jeerers/Persecutors/Oppositions, - they persecute your because, they themselves do not know their purpose in life. Because they had no directions at oppose/baligtad ang pagktakbo nila. Siyempre, ioopose ka ba nila, kung alam nila na tama at with purpose ang ginagawa mo?
Persecuted but not abandoned.
4. Personal Weakness
Some of us tend not to obey the rules. We find it too much 'nakakasakal'. Sometimes, we seek the world to be more enjoyable than what we have in Christ. We tend not to enjoy life - the life that God has given us.
But being a Christian doesn't promise a life that doesn't have any problems. There are still hindrances that we could encounter:
1. False start of doing your purpose. The fire in us is so ab lazed that we cannot even control it. We tend to go beyond what we want to do because we are too emotional. We are to crazy to do our purpose even though, we are not that equipped:
"And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher" - 2 Timothy 1:11
Oftentimes, we do not wait upon the Lord. We should realize that everything is in His perfect timing.Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - NT only in my presence but how much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. - Philippians 2:12-13
But often times, we are too afraid to do our purpose because we are thinking of what the world may think to us.We should discover our purpose.
2. Cramps
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12:13
Life, as we all know, is full of ups and downs. But one thing that we Christians have, is that in our sadness - there is joy because we have our God.
3. Jeerers. Jeerers are those people who tend to persecute you. They laugh at you and think that you are not that good.. They are the ones who says "Booooh!" or "Hindi mo kaya yan!". But come to think of it as what the Lord said:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for their is the kingdom of heaven" - Matthewe 5:10
There are times that you may feel na kalaban mo na ang mundo. Feeling mo, tinatawanan ka nila.Pero kahit ganun na kahit pinepersecute ka ng mga tao, kahit iniisip nilang nababaliw ka na, ay andiyan pa rin si God at may promise siya!. And there's one thing about Jeerers/Persecutors/Oppositions, - they persecute your because, they themselves do not know their purpose in life. Because they had no directions at oppose/baligtad ang pagktakbo nila. Siyempre, ioopose ka ba nila, kung alam nila na tama at with purpose ang ginagawa mo?
Persecuted but not abandoned.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this
all surpassing power is from God and not from us.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,
perplexed but not in despair.
Persecuted but not abandoned,
strucked down but not destroyed.
We always carry in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-1
all surpassing power is from God and not from us.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,
perplexed but not in despair.
Persecuted but not abandoned,
strucked down but not destroyed.
We always carry in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-1
In fact, every one who want to live a godly life
in Christ will be persecuted - 2 Timothy 3:12
in Christ will be persecuted - 2 Timothy 3:12
4. Personal Weakness
But God choose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before Him.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
We cannot do our purpose without Him. We are not that strong. We even cannot boast our very self because we are not perfect. We have our strengths, but we have our weaknesses too. But if we have Christ, we do. Even God, didn't call out people who are strong or great. They are not even famous. But because of God's power - they overcame their weakness.
"Whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign enemies" - some part of Hebrews 11:32-34
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God -
Hebrews 12:2
5. Quitting - because of failures and discipline. Hebrews 12:1-3Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God -
Hebrews 12:2
Some of us tend not to obey the rules. We find it too much 'nakakasakal'. Sometimes, we seek the world to be more enjoyable than what we have in Christ. We tend not to enjoy life - the life that God has given us.
Beyond these things, these hindrances,let's run the race.
Let's just not exist.
But live life with our purpose - knowing and embracing it.
Fix our eyes to the Lord.
Let's run until we finish the race!
Let's just not exist.
But live life with our purpose - knowing and embracing it.
Fix our eyes to the Lord.
Let's run until we finish the race!
