Jesus Is Alive - ALCOY

05/03/2026

WHY A SHEEP?

Key Text: Luke 15:3–7

Jesus said, “Which of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

Have you ever asked yourself: Why did Jesus choose a sheep?
Why not a lion, a horse, a dog, or even a bird?
Why, when describing lost humanity, did Jesus say, “You are like a sheep”?

Jesus never chose illustrations by accident. Every detail in His parables carries truth. Let us discover why the lost is compared to a sheep—and what that reveals about us, about sin, and about God’s heart.

Sheep Get Lost Easily

Unlike many animals, sheep are not natural navigators.
They do not have sharp instincts for direction.
A sheep can wander off simply by nibbling grass—step by step—until it suddenly realizes it is far from the flock.

Isn’t that exactly how people get lost spiritually?

Very few people plan to walk away from God.
No one wakes up one morning and says, “Today, I will ruin my life.”

Instead, it happens slowly:

One neglected prayer

One compromised decision

One unchecked habit

One ignored conviction

Isaiah 53:6 says,
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way.”

Jesus did not say, “All we like wolves rebelled,” or “like lions attacked.”
He said, “like sheep”—because we drift before we rebel.

Sheep Cannot Find Their Way Back Alone

Here is something important:
A lost sheep does not become found by itself.

A dog may find its way home.
A bird can fly back to its nest.
A cat often returns on its own.

But a sheep?
Once lost, it becomes more lost.

Spiritually, this is deeply true.

No amount of:

Intelligence

Education

Good intentions

Religious activity

can save a lost soul without the Shepherd.

Jesus said in John 14:6,
“I am the way.”

He did not say, “You will eventually find the way.”
He said, “I am the way.”

This parable teaches us that salvation is not self-rescue.
It is divine pursuit.

Sheep Are Defenseless and Vulnerable

Sheep have:

No sharp claws

No strong teeth

No speed to escape predators

A lost sheep is in constant danger.

Likewise, a soul separated from God is exposed:

To deception

To temptation

To discouragement

To destruction

The enemy is described as a roaring lion, but we are never described as lions.
We are described as sheep.

Without Christ, we are not powerful—we are vulnerable.

That is why David could say in Psalm 23,
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

A sheep’s safety is not in its strength, but in its Shepherd.

Sheep Recognize the Shepherd’s Voice

Jesus said in John 10:27,
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Even when lost, a sheep can still respond to the Shepherd’s call.

This is a message of hope.

A person may be:

Far from church

Broken by sin

Confused by life

Wounded by failure

But if they are still listening for God, they are not beyond saving.

Jesus did not compare the lost to a wild animal that must be tamed,
but to a sheep that must be called, carried, and restored.

Sheep Are Valuable to the Shepherd

Why would a shepherd leave ninety-nine to search for one?

Because to the shepherd, one sheep matters.

A sheep is not numbered—it is known.

This parable reveals the heart of God:

He does not give up on the one

He does not replace the lost

He does not say, “At least I still have ninety-nine”

He searches until He finds it.

And when He finds it, He does not scold it.
He does not beat it.
He does not drag it home.

The Bible says He puts it on His shoulders, rejoicing.

This is grace.

Why Not Another Animal?

Jesus did not choose:

A lion (too strong)

A fox (too clever)

A horse (too independent)

A dog (too self-directed)

He chose a sheep because:

Sheep need guidance

Sheep need protection

Sheep need rescue

Sheep need relationship

And most of all, sheep belong to a shepherd.

The Shepherd Who Became the Lamb

Finally, let us remember this powerful truth:

The Shepherd who searches for the lost sheep
became the Lamb who was slain for the sheep.

Jesus did not just look for us.
He laid down His life for us.

So, whether you feel:

Lost

Weak

Drifting

Unworthy

Take heart.

You are not forgotten.
You are not disposable.
You are not beyond reach.

You are a sheep—and you have a Shepherd.

05/03/2026

When approval drives you, insecurity follows. But when identity drives you, peace follows.

05/03/2026

Being a pastor is not mainly about speaking into a microphone.

The real responsibility is helping people grow — guiding them, correcting them, praying for them, and walking with them until they become mature in Christ.

Preaching is important.

But mentoring lives is the true weight of the calling.

In short:

The real work of a pastor happens beyond the pulpit.

28/02/2026

"Ang church na walang discipleship, siguradong mga workers ay walang discipline. Tunay na hindi namimili ang Diyos ng mga tinawag, katunayan, maging ang pinakamakasalanang tao ay maaari Niyang gamitin ngunit sa oras na tinanggap mo na ang Diyos sa buhay mo at willing ka talagang magpagamit, hahayaan mo Siyang baguhin ka sa pamamagitan ng discipleship."

2 Corinthians 5:17 — … the old has gone and the new has come. ☝🏻🙇‍♀️🔨🔥

23/02/2026

JIA-YWAV FELLOWSHIP 🔥
Building bridges, breaking barriers🫶🤍
Empowered by faith, united in purpose. 🙏🏼

09/02/2026

Minsan hindi natin namamalayan, pero unti-unti nang lumalamig ang puso natin sa ministry.

Hindi dahil masama tayo, kundi dahil napagod, nasanay, o nawalan ng tamang perspective.

Eto yung ilang red flags na dapat nating i-check sa sarili natin:

𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐤𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝

Dumadating ka nga sa gawain, pero walang prayer, walang paghahanda, walang expectancy. Para bang attendance lang, hindi offering.

𝟐. 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐦𝐨 𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐢 “𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚-𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧”

Nawawala na yung joy. Duty na lang, hindi na devotion. Parang trabaho, hindi na calling.

𝟑. 𝐌𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐦𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Konting pagod, atras agad. Konting conflict, bitaw na. Kapag may mas “masayang” option, doon ka na.

𝟒. 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚 𝐧𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞

Ayaw na ng correction. Defensive agad. Feeling mo alam mo na lahat, sign yan na pride is slowly replacing humility.

𝟓. 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

Hindi ka na nag-aaral ng Word, hindi na nagdadasal deeply, hindi na nagse-seek kay Lord. Ministry ka pa rin, pero personally stagnant.

𝟔. 𝐑𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐰 𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭

Mas marami ka nang napapansin na mali kaysa sa grace ni God. Nakakalimutan mo na kung bakit ka tinawag in the first place.

𝟕. 𝐌𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

Kapag walang pumansin, tinatamad ka. Kapag walang palakpak, nawawalan ka ng gana. Delikado ‘to baka tao na ang audience mo, hindi na si Lord.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫:
Ang ministry ay hindi natin pag-aari, ito ay ipinagkatiwala. At kung ano ang ipinagkatiwala, dapat pinahahalagahan, inaalagaan, at binabalikan sa paanan ni Cristo.

Kung tinamaan ka, hindi ito condemnation. Invitation ‘to sa repentance at renewal.

Balik tayo sa first love. Balik tayo sa dahilan kung bakit tayo nagsimula.

“𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥.” — 𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟒:𝟐

07/02/2026

"Anak, sa discipleship ay pakikialaman talaga ang buhay natin. Kapag ayaw natin magpacorrect at magpabago, siguradong titingnan natin ang discipleship as manipulation. Madalas, makikita natin ang lalim ng ating relasyon sa Diyos sa kung paano tayo magpasubmit sa ating mga spiritual leaders. Kapatid, this post is not to glorify the leaders kundi upang iremind tayo na their job isn't easy as we think at upang mapagaan ang ministry na ipinagkatiwala sa kanila ng Diyos dahil lahat ng bigat ng accountability ay nasa balikat nila. Anumang pagpapabaya ay mananagot sila sa harapan ng Diyos. Kaya mapalad ka kapag may leader ka na concern sayo growth at ikakabuti mo."

Hebrews 13:17
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

03/02/2026

Something to Ponder 🤔🙇‍♀️

Before dying at the age of 40 from stomach cancer, the world-renowned designer and author "Crisda Rodríguez" wrote:

1. I had the world's most expensive car in my garage, but now I have to use a wheelchair.

2. In my house there are all kinds of branded clothes, shoes and price tags, but now my body is wrapped in a small cloth provided by the hospital.

3. I have a lot of money in the bank. But now I don't benefit from that amount.

4. My house used to be like a castle, but now I sleep in two beds in the hospital.

5. From five star hotel now spending time in hospital moving from one clinic to another

6. I've signed autographs to hundreds of people but this time the medical records are my signature.

7. I've been to seven barbershops to get my hair done, but now - I don't have a single hair on my head.

8. With a private jet, I can fly anywhere, but now I need two assistants to walk to the hospital gate.

9. Even though there is a lot of food, now my diet is two tablets a day and a few drops of salt water in the evening.

10. This house, this car, this plane, this furniture, this bank, the excessive fame and glory, none of it works for me. None of this will calm me down. "There is nothing real except death."

At the end of the day, the most important thing is health.

Please be happy with how little or much you have while you are healthy, have everything, have a plate of food, a place to sleep... YOU ARE NOT LACKING ANYTHING...

1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

The most important thing in this life is to have soul's salvation. Trust the finished work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. 1 Cor 15:1-4. You will have eternal life. You will be satisfied because only Jesus can give us true satisfaction.

03/02/2026

We frequently pray for the anointing, but we often forget that the oil flows only after the olive has been crushed. The breaking process is not a form of punishment, but rather a form of preparation. It is during this season that God carefully, and sometimes painfully, removes the elements that cannot accompany us into the next chapter. This process involves the pruning of pride, the stripping of self-reliance, and the refinement of our faith in the fire. Before David was anointed king, he was overlooked by his own family. Before Joseph was given the robe of authority, he wore chains in prison. Before Jesus began his public ministry, he endured the wilderness. If you are experiencing a season that feels like breaking, do not despise it. The pressure you are feeling may be the very thing that releases the fragrance of your calling. The anointing is coming, not in spite of the breaking, but because of it. Therefore, if you are feeling crushed, do not ask God to stop the crushing, but rather to release the oil of anointing upon you.

02/02/2026

Discernment is not given so we can feel superior.
It is not meant to expose people publicly or quietly judge them in our hearts.

When God allows us to see something beneath the surface, it is an invitation to pray deeper.
To stand in the gap when others cannot.
To cover with grace what could easily be criticized.

Fault-finding hardens the heart.
Intercession softens it.

One tears people down.
The other lifts them before God.

If what we discern leads us to prayer, humility, and compassion, it reflects God’s heart.
If it leads to pride, gossip, or quiet resentment,
then it is no longer discernment…

God trusts discernment to those who are willing to respond with love.

📖 James 5:16
“Pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

Discernment is not about seeing what is wrong.
It is about responding the right way.

31/01/2026

NI**OD: POWER, PRIDE AND THE DANGER OF REBELLION

The Bible does not mention Ni**od often, but when it does, it gives us a powerful warning. Ni**od was strong, influential, intelligent, and successful by human standards. He built cities, unified people, and shaped civilizations. Yet his legacy is not remembered for faithfulness to God, but for rebellion against God.

Ni**od teaches us an important truth: power without submission to God leads to pride, and pride leads to rebellion.

Genesis 10:8–9 says:

“Cush fathered Ni**od; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.”

Ni**od was a pioneer—a strong leader, a warrior, a builder. The phrase “mighty hunter” does not only refer to hunting animals; it also implies a conqueror of people. He gathered followers, ruled territories, and exercised authority.

The Bible acknowledges his strength, but strength alone does not mean righteousness. God can allow people to rise in power, but power does not equal God’s approval.

Genesis 10:10–12 tells us that Ni**od founded major cities:

Babel

Erech

Accad

Nineveh

These cities became centers of politics, commerce, and culture in Mesopotamia. Ni**od represents humanity’s desire to build great systems—cities, economies, governments—without dependence on God.

Civilization itself is not evil. The problem arises when human achievement replaces God. When progress ignores God, it becomes rebellion.

Genesis 11 reveals the spirit behind Ni**od’s kingdom:

“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves…”

This was not about architecture; it was about pride. God had commanded humanity to spread over the earth. Babel said, “We will stay, we will rise, and we will make our own name.”

The tower symbolized human self-sufficiency—reaching heaven without God. This is the essence of rebellion: doing God’s work in our own way, for our own glory.

Though Scripture does not explicitly say Ni**od built the tower, Jewish tradition and biblical context associate him with Babel’s leadership.

Ni**od represents:

Power without humility

Leadership without obedience

Unity without righteousness

He stands in contrast to faithful servants like Abraham, who later left cities to follow God by faith. Ni**od built kingdoms; Abraham built altars.

God did not destroy Babel with fire. Instead, He confused their language.

Why? Because God opposes pride but gives mercy. Confusion was judgment, but also protection—preventing humanity from destroying itself through unchecked arrogance.

This teaches us: God will interrupt any system, ministry, or life that seeks glory apart from Him.

Ni**od’s story is not ancient history—it is modern reality.

When leaders seek power over people instead of serving them, Ni**od lives on.

When churches seek fame instead of faithfulness, Babel rises again.

When individuals trust talent, influence, or technology more than God, rebellion begins.

Success is dangerous when it replaces submission to God.

Ni**od had strength, vision, and leadership—but he lacked surrender. His name is remembered, but not blessed.

Today God asks us:

Will you build your own name, or lift up God’s name?

Will you rely on power, or walk in obedience?

Will you follow Ni**od’s path of rebellion, or Abraham’s path of faith?

Let us choose humility over pride, obedience over ambition, and God’s glory over our own.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

30/01/2026

Sometimes the purest worship is a broken heart that still bows, a weary spirit that still whispers His name, and a wounded soul that still chooses obedience.

What song, verse, or prayer helps you worship in brokenness?