Followers of Christ Jesus

04/19/2023

Ang Panawagang Magsisi

"Magmula noon ay nangaral na si Jesus, 'Pagsisihan ninyo't talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan, sapagkat malapit nang maghari ang Diyos.'" Matthew 4:17

Pansinin natin ang unang aral na ipinahayag ng ating Panginoon sa mga tao. "Pagsisihan ninyo.." Ang pangangailangan ng pagsisisi ay isa sa mga dakilang pundasyong bato ng Cristianismo, isang katotohanang napaka-importante.

Ang lahat ay nagkasala, ang lahat ay guilty sa harapan ng Diyos; at ang lahat ay kailangang magsisi at magbagong-buhay kung nagnanais na maligtas. Ito ang katotohanang ayaw nating bigyan ng sapat na pag-iisip at oras.

Ang totoong pagsisisi ay isang malaking pagbabago, isang pagbabagong ipinakikita ang malaking pagkalungkot sa mga kasalanan, sa isang taos-puso, tapat at totoong pag-amin ng ating mga kasalanan, sa isang kumpletong pakikipaghiwalay sa mga [paboritong] kasalanang nakagawian, at pangmatagalang pagkamuhi sa lahat ng kasalanan. Ang ganung pagsisisi ay hindi maihihiwalay sa isang nagliligtas na pananampalataya kay Cristo.

Walang pangangaral o preaching na masasabing isang Cristianong pangangaral kung hindi ito paulit-ulit na nagsasabi "na dapat nilang talikdan ang kanilang kasalanan at manumbalik sa Diyos, at manalig sa ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo" (Acts 20:21).

04/06/2023

There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus ... To Break Every Chain." Pray With Me Now - Heavenly Father, today we ask you to replace our fear with strong faith. Replace our worry with mighty hope. Replace our despair with unspeakable joy. Father, lead us to that inner peace that can only be found in You, our Lord and Savior. Today, we declare that those chains of negativity are broken and we are free! In Jesus’ Mighty name, Amen! Enjoy your day … Everything Is Gonna Be Alright!

02/19/2023

01/25/2023

God is good all the time.

WHAT DO YOU SEEK?
JOHN 1:38
JESUS TURNED, AND SEEING THEM FOLLOWING, SAID TO THEM, "WHAT DO YOU SEEK?"

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER IF JESUS WERE TO ASK YOU, "WHAT DO YOU SEEK?"
WOULD YOU ASK HIM FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS? A BETTER JOB? A HAPPIER MARIAGE? FINANCIAL SECURITY? VINDICATION FROM A FALSE ACCUSATION? SALVATION FOR A WAYWARD LOVED ONE? AN EXPLANATION OF SOME DIFFICULT THEOLOGICAL CONCEPT?

FOR TWO DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, THIS SITUATION WAS MORE THAN AN EXERCISE IN IMAGINATION. ONE DAY WHILE THEY WERE WITH JOHN, JESUS WALKED BY AND JOHN ANNOUNCED, "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!"(v.36). INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO FOLLOW JOHN, HIS TWO DISCIPLES STARTED FOLLOWING JESUS.
WHEN JESUS SAW THEM, HE ASKED, "WHAT DO YOU SEEK?" (v.38)

APPARENTLY JOHN HAD TAUGHT THEM WELL, BECAUSE THEIR ANSWER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SEEKING SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES BUT JESUS HIMSELF. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHERE JESUS WAS STAYING. NOT ONLY DID JESUS SHOW THEM THE PLACE, HE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WITH THEM.

I WONDER HOW OFTEN WE MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME WITH JESUS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEKING SOMETHING OTHER THAN HIS PRESENCE. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE MORE TIME I SPEND WITH JESUS, THE LESS DESIRE I HAVE FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT ONCE SEEMED VERY IMPORTANT.

"JESUS LONGS FOR OUR FELLOWSHIP EVEN MORE THAN WE LONG FOR HIS."

SUNDAYS BIBLE READING,
JOHN 1:35-42
HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY AT SANA MAY NATUTUNAN TAYO SA MGA SALITA NANG DIOS JESUS. AMEN

01/20/2023

REASONS TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST RATHER THAN RELIGION

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
HAS BEEN VIEWED AS EVERYTHING FROM A STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN TO A SALVE FOR A PERSON'S CONSCIENCE.

BUT, WHAT IS RELIGION--AND IS IT ENOUGH?
THIS ARTICLE OFFERS 10 REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT RELIGION CANNOT MEET PEOPLE'S DEEPEST NEEDS.

INSTEAD, WE ARE POINTED TO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON.

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RELIGION OFFERS THE APPROVAL OF MEN RATHER THAN GOD

JESUS RESERVED HIS STRONGEST CRITICISM FOR RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO USED THEIR SPIRITUAL REPUTATION TO GET SOCIAL ATTENTION AND HONORS.

TO SUCH RELIGIONISTS JESUS SAID, "WOE TO YOU PHARISEES! FOR YOU LOVE THE BEST SEATS IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND GREETINGS IN THE MARKETPLACES" (LUKE 11:43).

THEN, SPEAKING TO HIS DISCIPLES, HE SAID OF THE PHARISEES, "ALL THEIR WORKS THEY DO TO BE SEEN BY MEN" (MATTHEW 23:5).

JESUS SAW CLEARLY INTO THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION, WHICH HOLDS THE OPINIONS AND ATTENTION OF MAN TO BE MORE IMPORTANT AND DESIRABLE THAN THE APPROVAL OF GOD.

RELIGION OFFERS THE APPROVAL OF MEN RATHER THAN GOD.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER, UNTO THE SON, UNTO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.

01/11/2023

Good evening everyone.
May the Lord bless us and guide us in the year 2023 and years to come. Amen.

01/09/2023

YOU FOOL!

THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART, "THERE IS NO GOD."
PSALM 14:1

IT SEEMS TO ME RATHER CONTRADICTORY THAT JESUS, WHO WAS SO GENTLE AT TIMES (MATTHEW 19:13-15), WOULD CALL SOME PEOPLE FOOLS.

YET, AS RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS A NUMBER OF TIMES, OUR LORD USED THIS DEROGATORY TERM TO DESCRIBE THOSE HE SPOKE ABOUT----ESPECIALLY THE PHARISEES (SEE MATTHEW 23:17-19); (LUKE 11:39-40).

JESUS ALSO USED THE WORD FOOL IN A PARABLE AFTER WARNING A MAN ABOUT COVETING (LUKE 12:13-21).

WHAT MADE HIM FOOLISH IS NOT THE FACT THAT HE BUILT BIGGER BARNS TO STORE HIS ABUNDANT HARVEST (vv.16-18).

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FOOLISH OF HIM TO LEAVE IT OUT IN THE FIELDS WHERE INCLEMENT WEATHER WOULD SPOIL IT. NOR WAS HE FOOLISH BECAUSE OF HIS THOUGHT THAT THIS UNEXPECTED WINDFALL WAS ENOUGH TO LAST HIM A LONG TIME (v.19).

AFTER ALL, WE ARE URGED TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE ANT IN "STORING UP" THE HARVEST (PROVERBS 6:6-8).

WHAT MADE A MAN FOOLISH?
HE LEFT GOD OUT OF THE PICTURE. HE WAS CALLED A FOOL BECAUSE HE FAILED TO REALIZE THAT HIS LIFE WAS IN GOD'S HANDS.

WHILE HE WAS PLANNING CAREFULLY FOR HIS COMFORTABLE LIFE ON EARTH, HE FAILED TO PLAN FOR ETERNITY AND STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN (MATTHEW 6:20).

DOES YOUR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE HAVE GOD IN IT? YOU WON'T WANT TO BE CALLED FOOLISH BY HIM IN THE END.

HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE. SAY AMEN. !!!
HALLELUJAH LORD. AMEN.

THURSDAY BIBLE READING
LUKE 12:16-21

01/09/2023

REASONS TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST RATHER THAN RELIGION

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
HAS BEEN VIEWED AS EVERYTHING FROM A STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN TO A SALVE FOR A PERSON'S CONSCIENCE.

BUT, WHAT IS RELIGION--AND IS IT ENOUGH?
THIS ARTICLE OFFERS 10 REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT RELIGION CANNOT MEET PEOPLE'S DEEPEST NEEDS.

INSTEAD, WE ARE POINTED TO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON.

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RELIGION DOESN'T CHANGE HEARTS

JESUS LIKENED THE RELIGIOUS PHARISEES TO A GROUP OF DISHWASHERS WHO CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF A CUP WHILE LEAVING THE INSIDE DIRTY.

HE SAID, "NOW YOU PHARISEES MAKE THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH CLEAN, BUT YOUR INWARD PART IS FULL OF GREED AND WICKEDNESS. FOOLISH ONES! DID NOT HE WHO MADE THE OUTSIDE MAKE THE INSIDE ALSO?" (LUKE 11:39-40).

JESUS KNEW THAT A PERSON CAN CHANGE HIS IMAGE WITHOUT CHANGING HIS ACT (MATTHEW 23:1-3).

HE KNEW THAT RELIGIOUS CREDENTIALS AND CEREMONY CANNOT CHANGE THE HEART. HE TOLD ONE OF THE MOST RELIGIOUS MEN OF HIS DAY THAT UNLESS A PERSON IS "BORN AGAIN" BY THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD (JOHN 3:3).

YET FROM THAT DAY UNTIL NOW, MANY OF THE MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD CONTINUE TO FORGET THAT WHILE RELIGION CAN GIVE ATTENTION TO OUTWARD APPEARANCE, ONLY CHRIST CAN CHANGE THE HEART.

RELIGION DOESN'T CHANGE HEARTS
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER, UNTO THE SON, UNTO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.

01/09/2023

JOHN 14:27
"PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU;
MY PEACE I GIVE YOU."

01/08/2023

HERD INSTINCT

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; AND I KNOW MY SHEEP, AND AM KNOWN BY MY OWN.
JOHN 10:14

NEAR THE VILLAGE OF GEVAS IN EASTERN TURKEY, WHILE SHEPHERDS ATE THEIR BREAKFAST, ONE OF THEIR SHEEP JUMPED OFF A 45-FOOT CLIFF TO ITS DEATH.
THEN, AS THE STUNNED SHEPHERDS LOOKED ON, THE REST OF THE FLOCK FOLLOWED.
IN ALL, 1,500 SHEEP MINDLESSLY STUMBLED OFF THE CLIFF. THE ONLY GOOD NEWS WAS THAT THE LAST 1,000 WERE CUSHIONED IN THEIR FALL BY THE GROWING WOOLLY PILE OF THOSE WHO JUMPED FIRST. ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST, 450 SHEEP DIED.

THE BIBLE OFTEN REFERS TO HUMAN BEINGS AS SHEEP (PSALMS 100:3; ISAIAH 53:6; MATTHEW 9:36). EASILY DISTRACTED AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO GROUP INFLUENCE, WE WOULD RATHER FOLLOW THE CROWD THAN THE WISDOM OF THE SHEPHERD.

I'M GLAD THE BIBLE ALSO DESCRIBES SHEEP IN A POSITIVE WAY.
JESUS SAID, "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD . . . MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME " (JOHN 10:14,27).

SO THE BIG QUESTION FOR US IS:
WHOM ARE WE FOLLOWING?
ONE ANOTHER?
SELF-CENTERED SHEPHERDS?

OR THE VOICE AND DIRECTION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD?

OUR CHALLENGE IS TO AVOID THE MISTAKE OF THE SHEEP WHO BLINDLY FOLLOWED ONE ANOTHER OVER A CLIFF.

WE MUST MAKE IT OUR DAILY PURPOSE TO ASK OURSELVES:
AM I LISTENING FOR THE VOICE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD?
AM I FOLLOWING HIM?

FOLLOW CHRIST, NOT THE CROWD!.
YOU DON'T KNOW THEM, BUT YOU KNOW CHRIST, HE WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU, THROUGH BAD TIMES AND GOOD TIMES, AND DON'T FORGET! HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN, LIKE THE CROWD YOU ARE FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW.
SO FOLLOW CHRIST AND NO OTHERS, BUT ONLY CHRIST ALONE. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! AMEN.

TUESDAY BIBLE READING
JOHN 10:14-30