Devoted to Christ

Today we recognize the brave men and women who fought for our country. Let us also recognize the ones who still continue to do so against the war on terrorism. May God cover them with the spirit and physical protection.

I picked up this quote from a friend of mine and I’m all for what it says. Praise and worship cannot be taken as a routine thing but must be done in a way that provokes the heart. It is then your arms and hands are lifted up on high.

“You cant program worship. Just because you say your meeting is going to begin with some songs doesn’t mean worship is going to take place. True worship is the spontaneous provoking of the human heart to respond to something that is beyond their understanding that leads them to a response; tears, song, laughter, shouting, dancing, falling. Praise requires presence and presence cant be faked.”

I thought we can get some new vocabulary in by understanding what Transcendence and Immanence mean.

Transcendence means that God is uniquely and wholly “other” than everything else, far above his creation in his being and in his activity. Immanence means that he has chosen to be near to those who trust him and seek to do his will, and he works in and through them.

How can we sincerely pray, “Our Father in heaven” if our affection and attention are not focused on heaven? This does not mean we’re “so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good” – D.L. Moody, but that everything we do on earth is motivated by heaven and the promised return of our Savior. The people of this world look at heaven from earth’s point of view, but God’s people look at this world from heaven’s point of view. This is the way Abraham and Moses lived. (Hebrews 11:8-16, 24-28), and God blessed them because their attention was heavenward.

Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT | Abraham looking forward to heaven
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

I know I should make time for God, but when secular work comes down on me it’s difficult to stay focused from a stressful job where there is so much expectations out of me. Keep me in your prayers. Been working a couple of overtime days and missed out on mid-week bible study.

I hope to retouch my sermon outline for this Tuesday’s preaching seminar demo. Oh what a weekend it will be. Memorial day, a time to recognize our men and women who have fought to protect our country!

Every Tuesday night for the past couple weeks, I’ve been attending preaching seminars on how we can proclaim the gospel. To no surprise, it was a bit easier than I expected as we analyzed on how effective a sermon outline can be used in preaching. I came around to an awesome verse, Ephesians 2:8.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, KKJV

God has offered this great gift of salvation, and it’s something that is priceless and noteworthy to take in. You’ll be glad you’ve done so. What is salvation? View my post here. Upon receiving salvation, we are justified of all the wrong-doings we have done.

When we are justified, it is the answer to the problem of guilt.
To be justified, you are forgiven of all your sins. All evidence of guilt it completely wiped out. (Acts 13:38, Hebrews 10:17 (sins), Micah 7:18-19)

Acts 13:38
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Jesus shows up at the temple telling the people there that, “Even when we can’t obey the 10 commandants that were presented by Moses and God the Father, we are still justified of sins because we believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:17
17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.


Micah 7:19
19 He will again have compassion on us, 
And will subdue our iniquities. 
You will cast all our sins 
Into the depths of the sea.

One of my favorite television shows called 24, where Jack Bauer captures suspects whom are a threat to the United States are asked a pardon. That if the suspects gives up valuable information that can save thousands of victims from dying, he would be given a pardon from the United States president. The president is the only one who can sign a pardon, erasing of all your crimes whether it me murder, stealing, lying, etc. Imagine no jail time; but rather being free without guilt.

God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

– 1 John 1:5

One day I was pulled over by a police officer for not fully stopping behind a stop sign and I was accused of almost running over 2 people whom were crossing the street. I told the officer that I have stopped behind the stop sign and that I’d see him in court. Upon my court appearance I stood in front of the judge whom informed me that the officer did not show up and my case was dropped and I was a free man with no charge. I was saved from having a bad record, paying a debt I could not owe at the time (as to California law now states that when found guilty in a traffic violation, you ought to pay 4x’s of the original amount), and having the guilt of a cause I did not do.

When the case was dropped I felt like Jesus Christ had come into the court room and stood in front of the judge telling him, “Let him go, take me instead.” Nonetheless, I was free.

Like at the cross at Calvary. The Lord took our place and justified us of any wrongdoings we may have caused. This means whatever sins we have, they are taken away and are “justified of any wrongdoings.” And when we have sin removed from us, we can and are able to enter in the kingdom of God.

How many of you feel that when you’re in a tight situation you have Jesus Christ in your life? How many of you have the salvation the Lord offers in your life? Or let me put it in plain terms. How many of feel that you are saved?