Lakas Angkan Ministry - Isulan

26/02/2026

This is an important question and one that skeptics often raise.

Short answer:

**No. Paul and the other apostles did not preach different Gospels.**
The New Testament itself directly addresses this issue.

Let’s examine it carefully.

1️⃣ The Bible explicitly says there is only ONE Gospel

**Epistle to the Galatians 1:6–9**

Paul says:

> If anyone preaches another gospel… let him be accursed.

If Paul had a different Gospel from the Jerusalem apostles, this statement would condemn himself.

He insists:

* There is only one Gospel.
* No variation allowed.

2️⃣ Paul met the other apostles and they affirmed him

**Epistle to the Galatians 2:1–9**

Paul went to Jerusalem and laid before:

* Peter
* James
* John

the Gospel he was preaching.

What happened?

> They added nothing to me.

They extended the right hand of fellowship.

That means:

* Same message.
* Same Gospel.
* Different mission fields (Jews vs Gentiles).

3️⃣ The Jerusalem Council proves unity

In **Acts of the Apostles 15**, the big question was:

Do Gentiles need to keep the Law of Moses?

* Peter says salvation is by grace.
* Paul says salvation is by grace.
* James agrees.

They conclude:

> We believe we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

No competing Gospel.

4️⃣ What skeptics usually claim

Skeptics argue:

* Jesus preached “Kingdom Gospel.”
* Peter preached Jewish Gospel.
* Paul invented justification by faith.
* Paul removed the Law.
* Paul changed Christianity.

But Scripture shows continuity:

Peter teaches grace:

**First Epistle of Peter 1:18–19**
Redemption through the blood of Christ.

John teaches faith:

**Gospel of John 20:31**
Believe and have life.

James teaches faith that works:

**Epistle of James 2**

Even James does not contradict Paul he addresses dead faith, not justification by Law.

5️⃣ Where confusion comes from

There are differences in:

* Audience
* Emphasis
* Vocabulary
* Cultural issues

But not in the core message:

Christ died for sins.
He rose again.
Salvation is by grace.
Received through faith.

Paul summarizes the apostolic unity clearly:

**First Epistle to the Corinthians 15:11**

> Whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

That destroys the “two Gospels” theory.

The Real Difference

There is:

* One Gospel
* Multiple contexts
* One Lord
* One faith
* One salvation

The apostles did not compete.
They were united in Christ.

24/02/2026

buymeacoffee.com/iamrjknight/when-falling-becomes-living-the-danger-deliberate-sin

Post by Jeremiah Knight

23/02/2026

1️⃣ Nature of Tongues

📖 Paul’s Teaching

In Acts of the Apostles 2, tongues were real human languages.

In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul uses the word glōssa (normal Greek word for language). He even says:

“There are many kinds of languages in the world…” (14:10)

This strongly suggests intelligible human languages.

He also assumes interpretation is possible.

🔥 Modern Charismatic Practice

Often described as a heavenly prayer language

Usually not identifiable as any known human language

Frequently repetitive syllables

Interpretation is rare or subjective

🔎 Key difference:
Biblical tongues appear to be structured languages; modern practice often does not resemble known linguistic systems.

2️⃣ Purpose of Tongues
📖 Paul’s Teaching

Paul says tongues:

Are a sign for unbelievers (14:22)
Must be interpreted to edify the church (14:5)
Without interpretation, they should be kept private (14:28)
Public edification is Paul’s priority.

🔥 Modern Charismatic Practice

Often emphasized as:

Personal spiritual edification
Evidence of Spirit baptism
A sign of deeper intimacy with God
Frequently practiced corporately without interpretation

🔎 Key tension:
Paul restricts uninterpreted tongues publicly; many modern services allow mass simultaneous tongues.

3️⃣ Order in Worship
📖 Paul’s Teaching

Paul gives strict structure in 1 Corinthians 14:27–28:

Only 2 or 3 at most
One at a time
Must have an interpreter
If no interpreter → remain silent

He concludes:

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (14:33)

🔥 Modern Charismatic Practice

Often many speak at once
No limit to number
Interpretation not always required
Sometimes emotionally driven atmosphere

🔎 Major contrast:
Paul regulates; modern practice often normalizes spontaneity and group expression.

4️⃣ Tongues as Evidence of Spirituality
📖 Paul’s Teaching

In 1 Corinthians 12:29–30, Paul asks:

“Do all speak in tongues?”
The Greek grammar expects the answer: No.

Tongues are one gift among many it is not universal.

🔥 Modern Charismatic Practice

Some groups teach:

Tongues are initial evidence of Spirit baptism
Every believer should speak in tongues
It marks higher spirituality

🔎 Clear difference:
Paul does not make tongues universal nor the main evidence of maturity.

5️⃣ Tongues and Maturity

📖 Paul’s Teaching

Paul actually downplays tongues compared to:

Prophecy
Teaching
Love (chapter 13)

He even says:

“In church I would rather speak five words with my mind…” (14:19)

Tongues are not the centerpiece of spirituality.

🔥 Modern Emphasis

In some circles, tongues:

Receive strong emphasis
Are frequently highlighted in worship
Become a defining doctrinal identity

The Core Question

The real issue is not:

“Can God give a heavenly language?”

The real issue is:

“Does modern practice match Paul’s clear instructions?”

Do not drift away from the simplicity of the Gospel. Christ finished all the work for you. Rest in Him and live in the righteousness and holiness He has given you.” Amen!

22/02/2026

Context of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Paul writes:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,.”

Many believers apply this verse to filtering negative thoughts or mentally guarding the mind. While that application can have value, we must first ask:

What is Paul actually talking about in context?

In 2 Corinthians, Paul is defending his apostolic authority against critics who questioned his message and accused him of walking according to the flesh.

He responds by saying:

Our weapons are not carnal.
They are mighty through God.
They pull down strongholds.
They demolish arguments.
They tear down ideas that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.

Paul is not primarily addressing private intrusive thoughts.
He is confronting false arguments, wrong belief systems, and proud reasoning that oppose the Gospel of Christ.

🏰 What Are These “Strongholds”?

Strongholds are not random bad thoughts.

They are mindsets and doctrinal positions that contradict the truth of what God has accomplished in Christ.

Examples:
“You must earn righteousness.”
“You are still defined by your past.”
“God accepts you based on performance.”
“You must maintain your salvation by effort.”

These ideas exalt themselves against the knowledge of God revealed in Jesus.

Throughout Romans, Paul makes it clear:

Righteousness is a gift.
Justification is by faith.
There is no condemnation in Christ.
The old man was crucified.
We are united with Him.

Any belief that contradicts this must be demolished.

⚠️ Where Many Preachers Miss It

Some interpret this passage as:

“Control your thoughts by your own discipline.”
“If bad thoughts come, pray harder.”
“Read more chapters to defeat the enemy.”
“Try harder to stay pure.”

Now hear this clearly:
Reading Scripture and praying constantly are beautiful and essential.

But if they are used as tools of self-effort to earn acceptance, then we have gone back to performance.

It subtly becomes:

“If I do enough spiritual activity, I will stay righteous.”
“If I pray enough, God will be pleased.”
“If I read enough, I will overcome.”

That mindset is exactly the kind of stronghold Paul is tearing down.

It shifts the focus from Christ’s finished work to my spiritual performance.

✨ Reading and Praying Are Fruit Not the Foundation

We don’t read to become righteous.
We read because we are righteous.

We don’t pray to be accepted.
We pray because we are accepted.

Spiritual disciplines are the result of new identity not the way we secure it.

🧠 Taking Thoughts Captive

To “bring every thought into captivity” means:

Any idea that contradicts:

Your new identity in Christ
The righteousness given to you
The finished work of Jesus
…must bow to Him.

When a thought says:

“You are still your old self.”
“You must earn God’s approval.”
“God is disappointed in you.”
“You need to perform better.”

You arrest it.

You declare:
“That exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”
“My righteousness is a gift.”
“My acceptance is secured in Christ.”
"I am the child of God now because of Christ."

This connects with renewing the mind in Romans 12:2 not striving harder, but believing rightly.

Transformation comes from aligning with truth, not increasing effort.

Beloved, not every thought deserves agreement.

Do not return to the flesh by turning grace into another performance system.

Yes, read the Word.
Yes, pray continually.
But do it from identity not for identity.

You are not fighting for righteousness.
You are standing in the righteousness already given.

You are not trying to win victory.
You are enforcing the victory Christ already won.

Let every lie bow to the finished work of Jesus. Amen!

21/02/2026

Does modern Charismatic teaching about intimacy with God match what Paul the Apostle taught?

Let’s break it down carefully and biblically.

1️⃣ What Apostles Actually Taught About Intimacy With God

For Paul, intimacy with God is:

1. Union With Christ (Identity-Based)

Paul’s foundation is **being in Christ**.

* “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)
* “One spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
* Seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6)

Intimacy is not something you *work up* emotionally.
It is something you already *have* because of union with Christ.

It is positional and covenantal before it is experiential.

✅ 2. Through the Holy Spirit - But Rooted in the Gospel

Paul teaches that believers cry “Abba, Father” by the Spirit (Romans 8:15).

The Spirit:

* Testifies we are children of God
* Reveals Christ
* Produces fruit (Galatians 5:22–23)
* Gives gifts for edification (1 Corinthians 12)

Notice:
The Spirit’s work is not primarily about sensations it is about:

* Christ revealed
* Righteousness produced
* Love expressed
* The church built up

✅ 3. Mind Renewal, Not Emotional Pursuit

Paul emphasizes:

* Renewing the mind (Romans 12:2)
* Knowing Christ through revelation (Ephesians 1:17–18)
* Walking by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)

His focus is doctrinal grounding, identity, and transformation through truth.

2️⃣ What Many in the Modern Charismatic Movement Emphasize

(Not all charismatics are the same, but generally:)

* Experiencing God’s presence
* Emotional encounters
* Manifestations (shaking, falling, crying, chills)
* Prophetic words
* Hearing God’s voice inwardly
* Atmosphere-based worship
* Pursuit of “more” of God

Intimacy is often described as:

* Feeling closeness
* Tangible presence
* Spiritual sensations

3️⃣ Key Differences

A. Identity vs Experience

Paul:

> You are already complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10).

Some charismatic teaching:

> Seek deeper encounters to get closer to God.

Paul’s emphasis = **Finished work → Rest → Growth**
Modern emphasis (in some circles) = **Pursuit → Encounter → Feeling closeness**

B. Gospel-Centered vs Manifestation-Centered

Paul corrects the Corinthians (who were very charismatic!) in 1 Corinthians.

The church at Corinth:

* Spoke in tongues
* Had prophecy
* Had spiritual manifestations

But Paul rebuked them for:

* Division
* Carnality
* Pride

He redirected them to:

* Love (1 Corinthians 13)
* Order (1 Corinthians 14)
* Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2)

So Paul did not reject gifts -
but he subordinated them to maturity and love.

C. Spirit as Revealer of Christ vs Spirit as Experience

Paul’s theology:
The Spirit glorifies Christ.

Some modern teachings:
The Spirit is emphasized almost independently as a source of experiences.

Paul’s anchor:
Christ crucified and risen.

4️⃣ Important Balance

It would be wrong to say:

* Paul was anti-experience ❌
* The Charismatic movement is entirely unbiblical ❌

Paul himself:

* Spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18)
* Had visions (2 Corinthians 12)
* Experienced deep spiritual encounters

But he did not make those things the center.

The center was:

> Christ and Him crucified.

5️⃣ The Real Biblical Picture of Intimacy

According to Paul:

Intimacy with God is:

* Being justified and righteous in Christ
* Knowing your sonship
* Walking by faith
* Bearing fruit of the Spirit
* Loving others
* Being conformed to Christ

It is covenantal before it is emotional.
It is identity before it is sensation.

6️⃣ So What Should a Believer Do?

Healthy position:

* Appreciate the gifts of the Spirit.
* Do not chase manifestations.
* Anchor intimacy in the finished work of Christ.
* Let experience flow from truth, not replace it.
* Measure everything by the apostolic gospel.

21/02/2026

The Gospel In a Nutshell

Q: What are the requirements to enter heaven?
A: Perfection.

Q: Perfection? So, is there anyone in heaven right now?
A: Yes.

Q: And are they perfect?
A: No.

Q: So there are people in heaven, but they are not perfect. How is that possible?
A: Grace.

Q: What is grace?

A: None of us are good. No one is perfect. We cannot obey God perfectly. We have all fallen short of God’s standard. We all justly deserve His temporal and eternal punishment. By nature, we live under the wrath of God because He is holy, righteous, and just.

Think of this way, when we see someone violent a mass murderer, a liar, a thief and we think they deserve punishment, you are right. That is justice. And that is how God sees sin but far more perfectly than we do. He hates lying, stealing, cheating, dishonoring parents, and using His name in vain. God will settle the score. He will give everyone what they have earned. Since we have broken His law, what we have earned is punishment.

But God is rich in love and mercy. He desires to save sinners. Yet He cannot simply forgive and pretend sin never happened that would make Him unjust. And He is not unjust.

So His plan from eternity past was to send His Son in human flesh to represent us. Jesus took the punishment we deserve. He lived the perfect life we could never live. The righteous deeds He performed throughout His entire life are credited to us when we repent and put our trust in Him.

Because of Christ, God can forgive us while still remaining just.

In Christ, we are made perfect.
In Christ, we are counted righteous.

That is grace.

Verses for Reference:
Hebrews 10:14
Romans 3:22
2 Corinthians 5:21
Ephesians 2:8–9
Romans 5:1

16/02/2026

Paul’s statement, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20), is not a slogan about spiritual effort or religious performance. In Epistle to the Galatians, Paul the Apostle is defending the Gospel itself against a subtle but deadly distortion: beginning by faith and then continuing by the law.

Below is a clear exhortation rooted only in Galatians, showing Paul’s meaning in its proper context.

1. The Context: From Faith Back to Law Is a Betrayal of the Gospel

Paul opens with a sharp rebuke:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (Gal 3:1)

Why? Because they started by faith and were now trying to be perfected by the flesh:

“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (Gal 3:2)
“Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal 3:3)

This is the backdrop of Galatians 2:20. Paul is not teaching better self-control or stronger discipline. He is confronting a return to law-based righteousness.

2. “I Have Been Crucified with Christ” Means the End of Law-Based Identity

Paul says plainly:

“Through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” (Gal 2:19)

To be crucified with Christ means:

The old “I” that sought righteousness through obedience, pedigree, knowledge, or effort is dead.

The law no longer defines your standing before God.

This death is not self-denial as a religious technique it is a once-for-all union with Christ’s death.

3. “Christ Lives in Me” Means Life Is Now Sustained by Faith, Not Performance

Paul continues:

“The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal 2:20)

Not:

faith plus law
faith maintained by effort
faith proved by religious systems

But faith alone, ongoing and present.

Paul reinforces this later:

“The righteous shall live by faith.” (Gal 3:11)

Living by faith means Christ Himself is the source, sustainer, and sufficiency of the believer’s life not human ability to “cope up” with religious expectations.

4. Justification Is Christ’s Righteousness, Not My Progress

Paul is explicit:

“We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Gal 2:16)

If righteousness could come from effort, maturity, or obedience systems, then:

“Christ died for no purpose.” (Gal 2:21)

This is the heart of Paul’s argument. To turn Galatians 2:20 into a message about trying harder is to commit the very error Paul is rebuking.

5. Misunderstanding This Produces the Same Error as the Galatian Church

Paul warns:

“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” (Gal 5:4)

When “crucified with Christ” is preached as:

giving up your career
do more self sacrifices
focus on religious activity

then Christ is no longer the advantage.

“If you accept the law… Christ will be of no advantage to you.” (Gal 5:2)

6. True Gospel Living: Faith Working Through Love

Paul does not deny transformation but he locates it correctly:

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (Gal 5:6)

The Christian life flows from Christ, not toward Him.

Final Exhortation

Galatians 2:20 is not a call to replace the law with Christianized effort. It is a declaration that your old life of self-righteous striving is over.

You do not live by:

your former knowledge
your spiritual résumé
your ability to meet church systems

You live by faith in the Son of God Jesus Christ who loved you and gave Himself for you (Gal 2:20).

To add performance is not maturity it is regression.
To return to law is not growthm it is unbelief.

And Paul’s verdict remains unshaken:

“Christ died for no purpose” (Gal 2:21) if righteousness comes any other way.

14/02/2026

Beware of False Teachers: A Warning from the Apostles

The apostles repeatedly warned the church about false teachers. These are not always obvious enemies of Christ. In fact, they often claim to be followers of Christ and even preach about Him.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:13

They speak about faith.
They speak about grace.
They use Christian language.

Yet something is missing.

They Depart from the True Gospel

False teachers distort grace. They subtly shift the focus from Christ’s finished work to human effort.

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.”
Galatians 1:6

They may preach grace, but not grace that is sufficient.
They may preach faith, but not faith resting fully in Christ’s finished work.

Instead, obedience becomes driven by:

Fear
Condemnation
Emotional manipulation
Endless sacrifices to “appease” an angry God

But that is not the Gospel.

The Truth: Christ Finished the Work

The true Gospel declares what Christ has already accomplished.

“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:14

You are not being perfected by repeated sacrifices.
Christ perfected you once and for all.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1

You are:

Declared righteous
Justified
Made new
At peace with God

Not because of your effort but because of Christ.

We Obey From Identity, Not For Acceptance

The apostles never taught obedience to earn righteousness. They taught obedience flowing from who we already are in Christ.

“We love Him because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19

Our obedience is:

Not to gain favor
Not to avoid rejection
Not to earn righteousness

We obey because:

We are children of God
We are declared righteous
The Holy Spirit lives in us
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13

Righteousness is not something we strive to become.
It is who we are in Christ and we grow into it as we grow in the knowledge of Him.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

How to Discern False Teaching

The apostles warned clearly:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits.”
1 John 4:1

Ask:

Does this teaching magnify Christ’s finished work?
Does it produce assurance and peace with God?
Or does it produce fear, condemnation, and endless striving?

05/02/2026

If you still believe that God does not exist, no Creator, no Designer. Consider the complexity and precision of creation. Can all of this truly have evolved by chance alone? Be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. What excuse remains for not believing in God?

Romans 1:20 (ESV):
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

04/02/2026

📣 You’re Invited!
The Gospel – Dare to Share

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Join us as we equip and encourage believers to boldly share the Gospel with love, clarity, and confidence.

📖 Be equipped
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📅 [02.06.2026] | ⏰ [5:30PM] | 📍 [Fellowship Center, Purok Bliss, Kalawag 1, Isulan, SK]
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Come, be equipped and dare to share the Gospel!

27/01/2026

Many people miss the deeper meaning of God’s command to Abraham to offer Isaac (Genesis 22:1–14). A shallow reading reduces the story to a simple lesson about provision “God will provide,” Jehovah Jireh but the passage goes far beyond material needs.

This event is a shadow of Jesus Christ.

Abraham was blessed because he obeyed (Genesis 22:15–18), yet it was still God who provided the offering: “God Himself will provide the lamb” (Genesis 22:8). Isaac was spared, and a substitute was given (Genesis 22:13). This substitution points forward to Christ, God’s ultimate provision.

Jesus is the true offering provided by God:

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32)

Through Christ, we receive the blessings promised to Abraham:

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law… that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles” (Galatians 3:13–14)

Our righteousness and reconciliation come not by works, but through God’s provision:

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1)

God’s concern is not primarily earthly provision, but eternal life:

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life” (John 6:27)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16)

So read the story again, and thank God not merely for what He provides in this life, but for what He has provided eternally. God cares more than the material things you need, more than your ambitions, more than your earthly desires. His greatest concern is your eternal life and He has already made full provision for it in Jesus Christ. Amen!

24/01/2026

Many Christians today feel trapped, confused, and afraid to move, because they were taught to endlessly wait for “the will of God.”

👉 “Wait for God’s will.”
👉 “You haven’t discovered it yet.”
👉 “Don’t move until you’re sure.”

As a result, believers stay boxed in paralyzed, wandering, and doubting.

But this is NOT how the apostles taught the church.

“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

The will of God for believers is not hidden, mystical, or confusing.
Scripture makes it clear, certain, and livable.

“This is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

God’s will is:
✔ Salvation in Christ
✔ Growth in holiness
✔ Walking in obedience
✔ Loving and serving one another
✔ Living by faith, not fear

The apostles never taught believers to sit still until they “figure it out.”
They taught believers to walk in Christ and in doing so, they were already walking in God’s will.

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

You don’t wait to love.
You don’t wait to serve.
You don’t wait to obey.

You walk, and direction follows obedience.

And service in the Body of Christ is not human effort it is grace flowing through believers.

📖 “Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7)
📖 “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Every believer has grace.
Every believer has a gift.
Every believer has a function now, not someday.

God’s will is not a fragile path you can accidentally ruin.
It is a life in Christ, empowered by grace, lived in freedom.

📖 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Stop waiting in fear.
Start walking in faith.
You are not outside God’s will if you are in Christ, you are already in it. Amen!