Talking Point

03/21/2024

Considerations in Studying the Bible
March 21, 2024
2 Timothy 2:14-16
"14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to ungodliness."
Today, i am so much challenged in my readings and study of the Bible to share things that may be difficult to take in at one sitting. Also, with the challenges i am reading concerning topics, or hot topics, on Facebook. I do not minimize valuable informations that I read out there posted by7 some well-meaning friends, I believe have not studied well before sharing.
I have before us three verses taken from Second Timothy. i was planning to use verse 15 for my presentation today, but i change my mind by putting the verse in its context. I have three considerations for us to consider in our study of the Bible. before dealing with Verses 14 and 16.
Verse 14 is a responsibility, while verse 16 is the parameter of verse 15. For the time being, I introduce everyone to my three naughty young ladies. 1) Miss Quotation;. She is an aggressive apologists quoting verses of the Bible verbatim. Her only problem is the ways of quoting her references. There so much for her to learn from 2 Timothy 2:15.
2) Miss Interpretation. Nobody could argue will with this disciple if one is not familiar with the Bible. I was planning to send her over to a class in Hermeneutics to learn the elements of interpretation to avoid the warnings of 2 Timothy 2:16.
And 3) Miss Application. This lady is treading the grey area of 2 Timothy 2:16. If she's not careful the warnings in the verse will really pop up before her face. The underlying issue here is this: One can only applied the value and reality of a passage if it has been applied to oneself, first.
So, with all that has been said and done, these are the considerations i will be treading on our future studies.
God bless you all and more power to you. - pastor ray

12/21/2023

Generosity and Goodness
Galatians 6:2-10
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Generosity and goodness are measured in three ways: One, it is how you measure yourself through others (vv.2-5). It is not the other way around: measuring others through your accomplishments.
Two, giving respect to the one that leads and brought you up to the Lord (v.6). Many seem to forget the ones that lead, nurture, and established them to the Lord. The verse is self explanatory.
Three, never be exhausted in doing good to others, "especially those who belong to faith" (v.10). Remember, you will received back in due season the good things you have done from the Lord. "You will reap what you have sown" (v.7).
Hope you are generous and good this Christmas season. - pastor ray
"All I Want This Christmas Is Good Words" from you.

12/19/2023

December 19,2023
The God You can Trust, Psalm 40:1-4
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

The writer of Psalm 40 expresses and experience of deliverance from a hopeless circumstances - "a horrible miry pit." It is like being stuck in a quick-sand slowly sinking to his death. Hopeless, yet persevere in calling and waiting for the Lord.
Verse 2 tells us that God responded and "set [his] feet upon a rock, established in sure footing. His crying changed to singing in "praise to God." The psalmist declares that what God has done will cause to "trust in the Lord" more and more. Causing blessing if only we "make the Lord [our] trust.
So, when did you experience a response from the Lord, pulling you out from the slimy "mud and clay"? You may have a thousand of issues and challenges in life. But God will set your feet on a rock "higher than your circumstances." What's the best thing you can do? "Sing praises to the Lord" that others will hear and see, and trust also in Him.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! - pastor ray

12/18/2023

The quote of the year: "Ceasefire in Gaza!"
Who are they calling at to initiate the ceasefire? And who start the war? You see, anyone can point finger to who initiate the war.

Another quote: "Free Palestine!" But part of Palestine does not want to be free.

11/28/2023

03/06/2022

10/07/2021

Philippine Election 2022: Sarsuela-Style
Philippine Election on May 2022 appears to Look like "Sarzuela-style where everybody is dancing on their own tune. Imagine more than 2 dozens aspiring for the presidency! In those days, election is really great with two or three, most of the time two, parties are competing. Two or three parties should be enough. Party-list ... "sahong-sahong" in Bicol or the ugly Pilipino term "sawsawan."
The ugly thing for becoming a President is the kind of term a President is in office. There should a second-term for the office. Why? A sitting does not care whether he is good or not. After all the office terminate after six year. But if there is a reelection, he would try to maintain a good image. If the President wasted the first term. there would be no re-election because the people does not want the sitting President to remain in office.
The juiciest of the 2022 election in on BBM's court. I would say, if the electorate are wise and intelligent voters, BBM is the best choice. Why? Everybody will be throwing trash on his camp. When that happens nobody will be able to present the best agenda if elected President. The people might choose the under-dog which has all the opportunity to prove himself. That is if the electorate are intelligently voting. If the people choose the wrong person, there would be another six years of heartbreaking issues in the country. Why can't the Philippine Congress think of reform in governance rather than wasting time and money to ridiculous investigations. Sometimes they only know "mud-slinging" one to another more than what is best for the people.
Let us hear and see what these candidates would promise and the elected do with their promises.
See you all next time.

07/01/2021

SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Understanding Spiritual Warfare
Foundation
Mark 1:14-15:
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Introduction:
Understanding Spiritual Warfare is a timeless subject but will culminate in God’s timetable. It is an issue from time past down to the so-called “end-time” which we do not know when.
Sometimes, spiritual warfare is already there under our noses, yet we do not notice it because we are not aware of it,
Paul says, spiritual things are discerned and understood spiritually” (1 Corinthians 2:13-14). If we have lived in the time of Paul, and not in time we are reading about his activity, we will never understand his actions in Acts 16 why they were not allowed to bring the gospel to Asia Minor, Mysia and Bithynia that “the Spirit did not permit them to go” vv.6-7).
When you enlist yourself in God’s business, it means you made yourself available to his bidding to include spiritual warfare, whatever the cost maybe. In Paul’s case, they end up in jail but the result is great at the end. Read Acts 16.

What is Spiritual Warfare?
Spiritual warfare can be defined as “a struggle in the realm of the spirit or the unseen.” Our passage in Ephesians 6:12 gives us the picture of the struggle we get ourselves into. We do not choose it, but we get into it. Anyone who choose to follow Jesus calling in one’s life the prospect of spiritual warfare is inclusive. You may not see it, yet it is there.
Examples: 1) in the practice of prayer. Before you pray, or during your prayer, or even after prayer. you will experience spiritual warfare. Read Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Jesus was tempted by the devil during or after communing with the Father for forty days. But the devil never accomplish his purpose. Angels attended to Jesus after the devil left Him.
2) How about in following Jesus? Do we make excuses in responding to God’s invitation to follow Him? When Jesus called His disciples, “they followed Him as they were asked to” (Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:59; Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). Following Jesus is greater than the importance of the family and generational ancestry, but it does not mean that they have to be neglected. They are still a part of the world Jesus came to save.
There is a price in following Jesus. He said, “If any-one desires to come after Me let him deny himself, and take his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23).
3) in making decision for salvation. Spiritual warfare is evident as well when a person takes Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life. Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21).
No amount of religiosity matters in attaining eternal life. Jesus has the solution: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33)
If religion is the issue, one “must be born again, and you will [truly] see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). And if you go this direction, the more you plunged yourself to spiritual struggle. In a home Bible study, I was conducting early in my ministry at a new mission field, an attendee testified, “I did not experience being persecuted for the last 10 years of my born-again life.” I asked why? She answered, “Well, they do not know anything that I am born again.”
4) in making decisions for life. Sometimes we do not know what to do during critical times of our lives. What spirit do we listen to? In these times of pandemic, we are bombarded with ideas. Some are beyond psychological reality and there are those that are disappointing. James advice is “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith.”
“Faith” or “trust in God” is the very connection we have with God. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of light, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (1:17).
We have more to cover as we continue our study.

The Challenge:
Every day that we spend living for the faith in Jesus is a day of great struggle. But every bit of struggles in the spiritual does not come without being notice by the one you have followed.
When we begin to doubt our relationship with God, problems begin to creep in, unbelief and distrust of God. Trust Him with all of your heart. He will carry you through with His help.
If we are doing His will His way, God can easily communicate with us. You will not fail in anything you do when you are under His guidance.

pastor ray/rwp/B Cool Man

05/30/2021

Sunday, May 30, 2021 6:30 am
Worship: Is It Worth? Revelation 5:6-12
Reading my devotional this morning as we take our breakfast, I contemplate about our worship. We have a set day, a set time, and a set place. But what about why we worship?
With regards to responding to the question, have we set our worship the way it should be? Worship, as describe in the passage, gives us the picture in which there is a set place, except for time and day. But each of us who reads the book of Revelation, we have an idea of the day and time and place of worship in our reading.
So, our question now is "Why we worship?" The occasion of worship in the passage is obvious: worship takes before the throne where the Lamb that was "slain" stood holding a sealed scroll. We see the "four living creatures and the twenty-four elders falling down before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people" (vv.7-8). The Spirit of God and God's people were there. All singing a new song (vv.9-11).
Now, who is central to our worship? Were do we focus most of our worship? Are we leading the people to worship the One who is worthy to be worship? Sunday worship has to cater to the One who was slain for us. Our posture, and everything we bring before Him should be uplifting to the One we worship. Elements of worship in its truest sense is getting lost in the life of the church. We have added human elements into it without consideration of what we do.
The people of God with all the angelic hosts, elders alike, are in unison worshiping the One worthy of worship with one purpose and one message: the Lamb slain in the midst of a worshiping people. Worship is a celebration. The message, the posture, the singing of songs are focus together. "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, TO RECEIVE Power and Wealth and Wisdom and Strength and Honor and Glory and Praise!" (v.12).
Have you given Him of what He is WORTHY of? Lord, allow me in my way to tell You that You are worthy of my worship today. Please help me to come before You today in Your presence with a grateful heart. You were the Lamb slain in my behalf? Amen!
God bless you all real good. I remain ... pastor ray/rwp