GCF Nuvali Church

06/10/2026

October 6, 2026, Tuesday, Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 5-7; Psalm 109 #1512

Passage: “As the ark of the LORD was entering the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart” (2 Samuel 6:16 CSB).

Principle: Embrace the call to worship God with every part of your being—heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The background of this story involves David and his troops bringing back the ark of God from Baale-Judah (v. 1). They placed the ark on a new cart, and Uzzah and Ahio transported it while guiding it. David and the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, dancing and playing various instruments as mentioned in the CSB translation (vv. 2-5). This dancing was an act of worship and celebration before the LORD.

As they traveled, the ox stumbled, and Uzzah reached out to steady the ark. In response, the LORD struck him dead on the spot (vv. 6-7). According to Numbers 4:15, there was a prohibition against touching holy things, and the ark was meant to be carried by men—the sons of Korah specifically.

Due to Uzzah's death, David diverted the ark to the house of Obed-Edom in Gath. God blessed Obed-Edom and his family during the time the ark was with them (vv. 6-11). Upon hearing of God's blessings on Obed-Edom, David ordered his men to bring the ark back to the city of David. As they transported it, David continued to dance before the LORD, expressing his celebration through movement and offering sacrifices (vv. 12-16).

When the ark was finally set in its place, David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the presence of the LORD. After these offerings, he blessed the people, and all of Israel celebrated the LORD together (vv. 17-19).

When David returned home to bless his household, his wife, Michal, accused him of behaving disgracefully in front of the servant girls. David responded by saying that he danced before the LORD, who had appointed him as ruler over Israel. He expressed his intention to continue dancing and to humble himself before the LORD (vv. 20-22).

The narrator notes that from that day on, Michal remained childless (v. 23). This could indicate that her barrenness resulted from either her estrangement from David or as divine punishment for not participating in the celebration of God. Consequently, there were no successors to the throne from the house of Saul, as all his sons had died, and his daughter remained without children. It is evident from this verse that Michal had not borne children with Palti during her time as his wife. [1]

Theological Reflection:

The word “dance” (Hebrew: měsǎhǎqîm) means “to be merry or play: incl. instr. music, singing and dancing.” [2] The implication is that David was celebrating God. He was rejoicing before the Lord.

Sadly, in our expression of worship, some people are quick to judge those who express themselves in worship. I am not talking about excessive movement, but rather a preference in how we express worship. Those who do not want to move should not think that what they are doing is holier than those who are dancing as an expression of worship.

This is between the worshiper and God. When we worship God, we must worship Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. There is nothing wrong with lifting our hands. There is nothing wrong with moving our bodies or dancing before the Lord, as long as we are not hurting the people beside us. And don’t mind those who prefer no movement; some churches worship that way. So if you prefer that kind of worship, then look for that kind of church. No judgment.

Worship God.
Celebrate God.
Focus on God.

Embrace the call to worship God with every part of your being—heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Life-Links:

1. When we worship God, we focus on him, not on the people around us.
2. When we worship God, we give our all.
3. When we worship God, we move, sing, and dance because we celebrate God.

[1] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 398.

[2] Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 965.

05/10/2026

October 5, 2026, Monday, Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 3-4; Psalm 108 #1511

Passage: “My heart is confident, God; I will sing; I will sing praises with the whole of my being. Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn (Psalm 108:1-2 CSB).

Principle: Worship God even in times of pain, sorrow, and grief, for He will bring you justice.

Psalm 108 is a song David composed, and it serves as a psalm of trust. The structure of this psalm can be broken down into two main parts: (1) The psalmist sings praises to God, even enduring sleepless nights, because of God’s faithfulness (verses 1-5); and (2) The psalmist continues to praise God for His ability to save (verses 6-13).

The phrase, "I will wake up the dawn," illustrates the experience of a sleepless night. Despite facing challenges from his enemies, David remains committed to praising God. His praise is rooted in God's faithfulness, and he never wavers in his belief in God's reliability.

In the second section, David expresses confidence in God's promise of victory because he knows of God's faithfulness. His assurance is firmly anchored in God's word (verses 7-9).

Theological reflection:

Last Sunday, September 27, our outreach place of worship was robbed. We lost our mixer, speaker, and projector. This traumatic event has left me with sleepless nights as I worry about what might happen next. It feels like the enemy is trying to disrupt what the Lord is doing in Silang, Cavite.

Despite this setback, the worship service in Silang continued. Pastor Elias and the worship team at GCF Nuvali held the service without a sound system or projector. Worship does not stop just because bad things happen.

We acknowledge the injustice we experienced, but we remain committed to worshiping God even in the midst of grief from the robbery.

We believe that the enemy will not have the final say in this situation. Victory comes from God, and ultimately, vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will bring justice.

Worship God even in times of pain, sorrow, and grief, for He will bring you justice.

Life-Links:

1. Worship does not mean denying our reality.
2. We worship God in our pain, grief, and sorrow.
3. Trust God that He will deliver justice.

04/10/2026

Thank you to our amazing Kids 4 Jesus Sunday School Teachers! Happy World Teachers’ Day to all of you. Your labor in the Lord is much appreciated 💚

03/10/2026

What blessed way to spend your Sunday but to worship the Living God and fellowship with others. See you church fam! 🙌

📍GCF Nuvali Church: 10AM
📍GCF Nuvali-Silang Church: 3:30PM

Holy SpiritEphesians 5:18-21

02/10/2026

We invite you to join us every Wednesday at 6:30pm. Let us come together as a church body to intentionally pray for one another🙏

02/10/2026

October 2, 2026, Friday, Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 107 #1510

Passage: “Some time later, David inquired of the Lord: “Should I go to one of the towns of Judah?” The Lord answered him, “Go.” Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord replied” (2 Samuel 2:1 CSB).

Principle: Seek clarity from the Lord with confidence, and take courage to obey Him as He guides your journey.

David sought guidance from the Lord about whether he should go to Judah and where specifically in Judah he should go. The Lord responded to his inquiry. This is one of the commendable aspects of David; he consistently sought God's will for his life. In David's time, inquiries of the Lord were made using the Urim and Thummim, which were attached to the breastplate of the priest's ephod (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Deut. 33:8; 1 Sam. 23:6–9; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65). [1]

After receiving clear direction from the Lord, David went to Hebron with his family. There, the men of Judah anointed him as king over the house of Judah. They also informed David that it was the men of Jabesh-Gilead who had buried Saul.

In response, David sent messengers to Jabesh-Gilead to commend them for their actions regarding Saul’s body.

Meanwhile, Abner, the son of Ner and commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul, and made him king over Israel. However, the tribe of Judah remained loyal to David.

Unfortunately, this situation led to a civil war between the factions loyal to David and those loyal to Ish-Bosheth.

Theological Reflection:

Although chapter two of this story eventually led to a civil war between Abner and Joab, the commander of David’s army, what struck me about this narrative is the importance of seeking clarity in life.

Just as David sought the Lord's guidance on where to go—and then followed that guidance—we too must regularly inquire of the Lord for clarity in our lives.

We need clarity in several areas, including:

- The path we should take
- Our approach to discipleship and disciple-making
- Our next steps
- Decisions regarding our careers
- The courses we choose in college

When the Lord provides us with clarity on the direction we should take, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that His presence goes before us and is with us. This divine presence empowers us with the courage to take steps of faith and obey God.

Seek clarity from the Lord with confidence, and take courage to obey Him as He guides your journey.

Life-Links:

1. Confidently seek clarity from God about the what, when, where, and how of your life.

2. Trust that His presence is always with you and that He is paving the way ahead of you on your journey.

3. Embrace the courage to follow His guidance as He directs you on the path you are destined to take.

[1] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 389.

01/10/2026

October 1, 2026, Thursday, Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 29-31; Psalm 106:24-48 #1509

Passage: “When he heard their cry, he took note of their distress, remembered his covenant with them, and relented according to the abundance of his faithful love” (Psalm 106:44-45 CSB).

Principle: God is unwavering in His faithfulness. So, humbly seek His mercy, express your gratitude, and find joy in praising Him wholeheartedly.

This psalm highlights the contrast between the unfaithfulness of God’s people and His unwavering faithfulness.

The psalmist begins by calling the people to praise God for His mighty works (vv. 1-5). He recalls their sins, noting how they quickly forgot God’s deliverance from Egypt (vv. 6-15).

While wandering in the wilderness, they strayed and worshipped a golden calf, exchanging God's glory for a creature that eats grass (vv. 16-23). They committed idolatry and grumbled against the Lord, facing His anger at Meribah (vv. 24-33). Disobedient, they failed to destroy the Canaanites, allowing these people to lead them into serving other gods and defiling themselves (vv. 34-43).

When they cried out to God, He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, demonstrating His faithful love (vv. 44-45). Despite their discipline through Gentile nations, God saved them, so they could give thanks and rejoice in Him (vv. 46-47).

The psalm concludes with praise to the everlasting God of Israel (v. 48).

Theological Reflection:

Just like the Israelites, Christians do not always walk straight in the Lord’s path. If we plot our walk with the Lord on a graph, we will see not a straight line going up but one that goes up and down.

The good news is that God’s faithfulness does not depend on our faithfulness. The apostle Paul said, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13 CSB). The assurance of salvation is not based on our faithfulness but on the faithfulness of God to His promises.

God never ceases to be faithful. Yes, He is righteous, so He disciplines those who disobey Him, but He remains faithful. When we have sinned against Him and humble ourselves to ask for His forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive us (cf. 1 John 1:9). He is faithful to deliver us from our struggles in life.

God is unwavering in His faithfulness. So, humbly seek His mercy, express your gratitude, and find joy in praising Him wholeheartedly.

Life-Links:

1. Humbly ask God for forgiveness of your sins.
2. Give thanks to God in all things, for His faithfulness never ceases.
3. Rejoice in the Lord by looking to His faithfulness, not to your circumstances.

30/09/2026

Praise God for the recently concluded NGEN Youth Fellowship!

30/09/2026

September 30, 2026, Wednesday, Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 26-28; Psalm 106:1-23 #1508

Passage: “Samuel answered, “Since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? The LORD has done exactly what he said through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. You did not obey the LORD and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek; therefore the LORD has done this to you today. The LORD will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines” (1 Samuel 28:16-19 CSB).

Principle: When we seek clarity from God about our path, we must be prepared to wait for His answer.

In 1 Samuel 28, David faced a dilemma as he served as a bodyguard for Achish, who wanted him to join the Philistines in their fight against Israel (vv. 1-2). The focus then shifts to Saul, who was inquiring of the LORD for guidance but received no answer due to his past disobedience (vv. 3-6). Instead of seeking forgiveness, Saul resorted to consulting a necromancer from En Dor, which was forbidden by God.

While mediums were typically fraudulent, this particular medium was surprised when what she did seemed to work (vv. 8-19). However, it was not her power but God's intervention. Key points from the narrative include: (1) The medium’s astonishment (v. 12); (2) the acknowledgment that it was Samuel, not an evil spirit (vv. 14-15); (3) Samuel reiterating God's message about Saul’s disobedience (vv. 16-18); and (4) the prophecy of Saul’s downfall (v. 19).

Saul was terrified by Samuel's words (vv. 20-24).

Theological Reflection:

Disobedience to God carries consequences. As leaders, it is essential for us to follow God's Word and His ways for His glory.

When we disobey, we must be quick to seek forgiveness and amend our actions. We should turn away from sin and turn to God without delay.

In difficult situations, we should seek God's guidance and patiently wait for His answer. One reason we may struggle to hear from God is due to our sin. This highlights the importance of coming clean before God every day. We must not become dull in our ability to hear His Word; instead, we should listen to and obey God’s Word daily.

We should avoid making hasty decisions when we do not clearly hear from God. It is crucial to wait before the Lord.

When we seek clarity from God about our path, we must be prepared to wait for His answer.

Life-Links:

1. As we wait for His answer about the way we should go, we must examine our hearts. If there is any sin in our lives, let us ask for His forgiveness and amend our ways.

2. As we wait for His answer about the way we should go, we must not assume what we will do, for doing so might lead to more trouble.

3. As we wait for His answer about the way we should go, we must continue to walk with God and follow His Word.

29/09/2026

September 29, 2026, Tuesday, Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 24-25; Psalm 105 #1507

Passage: “He is the LORD our God; his judgments govern the whole earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he ordained for a thousand generations” (Psalm 105:7-8 CSB).

Principle: Seek God, for He is the Sovereign who judges fairly and is faithful to His promises across all generations.

In Psalm 105, the psalmist praises God for His greatness and faithfulness. The psalm can be summarized as follows: (1) The psalmist encourages seeking the Lord to give thanks for His works (vv. 1-5); (2) He reflects on God's faithfulness to Israel (vv. 6-25); (3) He recalls God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt (vv. 24-45).

The psalmist begins his song with praise and encourages the people to seek God continually (v. 4). This daily pursuit involves remembering His goodness and marvelous works, which helps cultivate gratitude.

He also highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant, recalling the stories of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. God sent Joseph to Egypt to save Jacob’s family from famine, allowing them to grow into a great nation (vv. 6-25).

Moreover, God delivered His people from Egypt through Moses, with the final plague being the death of the Egyptian firstborn. Throughout their wilderness wanderings, God remained faithful to His people (vv. 24-45).

Theological Reflection:

“He is the LORD our God; his judgments govern the whole earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he ordained for a thousand generations” (Psalm 105:7-8 CSB).

As the psalmist calls the people to praise God, inviting them to seek Him for His wondrous works, faithfulness, and deliverance, the same applies to us today. Part of giving praise to God involves seeking Him through prayer and worship.

In verses 7-8, we are encouraged to seek Him in prayer and worship because He is God. This means recognizing Him as the ruler who has the right to reign over the lives of all His creations. God is sovereign, and His judgments apply to all nations. The psalmist notes that “His judgments govern the whole earth” (v. 7b). His sovereign judgment is rooted in righteousness. He does not judge arbitrarily or capriciously; His judgments are based on objective criteria, not subjective whims.

As God, He judges righteously and remains faithful to His covenant or promises (v. 8a). By making a covenant with His people, He reveals Himself as a relational God who desires a loving response based on His promises. He wants His people to trust Him because He is faithful, and His words are trustworthy.

He is not only a promise-keeper but also the God who exists across all generations (v. 8b). He is the God of the patriarchs, and He continues to be our God today. He is relevant to baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and the generations yet to come.

Seek God, for He is the Sovereign who judges fairly and is faithful to His promises across all generations.

Life-Links:

1. Seek God through prayer with the Word of God – the way God gave us to continue to know who He is.

2. Seek God by worshiping Him because He is righteous and faithful. Worshipping Him includes a grateful heart.

3. Seek God by knowing His works and ways through the Scripture.