Devoted to Christ

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” Colossians 4:2

The doors that God opens in our lives lead to new beginnings, new blessings and new opportunities to be effective witnesses for the Lord. Certainly things may not have gotten my way this week, but you know, it’s not my way in life, it’s God’s way. There’s certain things you expect out of life, and ALL of us, don’t meet that expectation. You think the door is open for you, you enter in, only to experience it doesn’t work out for you. Could be a job, a task, a project, or a certain hope. But who are we to argue and fight with a God that loves us and will not give us anything we can’t handle. God shows us the door to a new opportunity. And I thank God that even when a door is closed, he shows me a new door in enter in. As long as the leading of the holy spirit is there, I’m entering in! There are times of hardships, but be grateful my friends, God is with you. Emmanuel, God is with us.

Luke 18:17 NKJV
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

Just saw this film last night. It’s something many people can relate to. Cancer. An incurable disease. I’m always inspired from people who survive cancer. I truly believe that’s it’s the work of the Lord that does the job. I’ve had a cousin recently pass away 2 weeks ago. And although there is suffering in this world, there always hope. Hope for a better life. Hope for a better body. Hope of no more suffering and sorrow. The film was about a young boy who was diagnosed with cancer and although it seemed grim for this family and friends, young Tyler still chose to be used for God as an instrument to lead others to Christ. Very heartfelt and very hopeFUL. Not hopeLESS.

Dear God,

This letter to you is a thank you one. Thank you for giving people (even people whom I don’t know) the gift of salvation. For inspiring me and at the same time using me as instrument to reach out to people. I pray that you will use me more for your glory. Thank you for your holy spirit in resisting temptation. You word says, Blessed are those who resist temptation. I cannot pray to not let temptation come to me. It’ll always come. I just have to endure. You will not give us anything we can’t handle. Thank you for accepting me. I commit my life and sacrifice my body for you.

Love,
Michael

l had a fun and safe camping trip! A success and victory upon giving our Lord and Savior glory and honor. Thank you Lord!

It was a time of remembering how to be engaged into the church of the living God. Testimonies were shared and people were touched upon how the spirit moved unto people’s lives. It was the first time where people have arrived early (Thursday afternoon) and appreciated what God had in stored throughout the 4 days. 5 preachers stood up and proclaimed the gospel throughout the entire weekend. People hiked across steep slopes and everyone who were involved in this year’s Jeopardy game had a very competitive time.

Photos and videos coming throughout the week! Stay tuned!

One day Moses, the man of God, said to God, “Show me your glory.” God said, “No. I can’t do that for you.” Why? Because God knew that no one could see Him and live.

But there will be a day when WE will see God. Jesus says so himself on the sermon on the mount. He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). In a burst of faith, right in the midst of his grief, Job (which by the way, was a man who lost many things. His family, his children, and health) said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body is decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him in my own eyes. – Job 19:25-26.

We can understand non-believers asking about what does God look like? Even for Christians may wonder that too. Believer or non-believer, we wonder questions such as why did this happen in life? Why did you allow this to happen? How did Jonah survive being eaten by a whale? How about we ask God when we’re in heaven? After all the bible says look for things above and not of this world. For your place (which God is preparing for you when you commit your life to Him) is in heaven. How will it be when we get to physically see God, King David, Jonah, Peter, Moses, and Jesus? These are just a few random names I picked up.

Pastor Pancho gives an invitation to those who accept the freedom from sin (bondage) through salvation. Altar music by Kutless – Word of God Speak

The Lord created a spirit being, a mighty angel known as Lucifer; Lucifer, however exercised the free will God and have rebelled against his creator. In so doing so, he chose to be God’s adversary, and became Satan. The devil, then was not created by God. The devil became what he is by his own violation.

“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
And Satan answered the Lord, “I have been going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
- Job 2:2 NLT

Now that’s pretty creepy!

The bible declares the devil as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He’s like a hungry beast of prey looking for his next meal – ready to pounce.

Day after day, Satan continues to pull people down with him into temptation, sin, corruption, and death.

Last night’s Pulpit Ministry seminar (it was rather more of a service) proved to be a success as new preachers and song leaders were born. Please pray for these people that they have continued anointing and conviction to do the work of God; but first, remember to thank God for what He has done in your life.

Thank you Lord for using me for your glory. I continue to pray that if this is what you will set forth for me to do, I will gladly accept it!

Jonah 1:1-3 NKJV
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Here in scripture we see that God had spoken to Jonah commanding him to preach to his enemies in a great city called Nineveh (which today is known as modern day Iraq)but instead he went to the city of Tarshish (which today is modern day Spain.)

Plane Ticket of Choice:
How many of you if given 2 plane tickets and one of them is enjoying the sights and sounds of Spain or the other ticket for going to Iraq and ministering to those who don’t know God? It’s amazing that I base this question during Jonah’s time thousands of years ago, yet today Iraq still needs to be ministered to today.

So in Verse 4:
4 The LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.

We see Jonah hopping on a ship to head to Tarshish (or Spain, however you want to call it) and it’s at that time we see Jonah disobedience with God. Even when God commands to do something God still gives us the free will to make a choice; but because he loves us God doesn’t stop pursuing us even if we forsake him.

Proverbs 15:10
10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, 
      And he who hates correction will die.
We see here God wants Jonah to GO (to Nineveh). Jonah says NO. God says BRO. God will take drastic measures for us.

And we see here what happens when we disobey God:

1. We miss the privilege of Partnership with God.
In verse 3, Jonah went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Now we see Jonah was not alone on the boat because he went with “them” being the mariners (mariner: a man who serves as a sailer).

2. Our choice damages more people that we know.
In verse 4 “The LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.” We see that God was not done with Jonah. In fact, because of the choice Jonah has made to disobey God, God decided to rock Jonah’s ship along with the other people on board.

3. You start not to care.
In verse 5, “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.” At this time Jonah’s attitude became uncaring to not only other crew members but to God as well.

4. We lose both integrity and trust.
In verse 8 Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”

Jonah responded: 9 “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

So the crew on the ship became even more afraid because they knew Jonah had disobeyed God. The God of heaven and earth.

In verse 10 the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.

Knowing Jonah had disappointed the crew members he said you know what, 12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”

15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

As we know God had prepared a great fish to swallow. It’s amazing to know hat God who created us also controls the animals of the world. What a powerful God indeed.

Jonah wanted to end his own life when he told the crew to toss him over the ship. He wanted to get away from the task at hand of having to go to Nineveh but as we all very well know, “You can run from God but you can’t hide.”

So what did Jonah do while being alive in the belly of the whale? Probably what all of us should be doing when encountering a huge problem. PRAY!

Jonah 2:1
“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly.”
Jonah prayed and God gave him a realization. Almost like a rude awakening. When you do or perform the work of God it starts out with sort of a rude awakening. In our case today, it’s powered holy spirit.

Acts 1:8
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.”

After 3 days of riding in the belly of the fish while Jonah was praying God talked to the whale and vomited Jonah to dry land. The whale could of just vomited Jonah in the middle of the sea, but God specifically told the whale to vomit Jonah to dry land. As we see in Jonah 2:10 “So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

How is this scientifically possible? It’s been known as one of the most controversial stories known to man. How did Jonah survive such a strange fate? It’s been studied that perhaps the type of whale what Jonah was swallowed by was a sperm whale. The inside of a sperm whale can be between 90-110 degrees fahrenheit. And for us Californians, that’s no sweat! And it’s also been studied that as long whatever the whale swallows is still alive, it cannot be digested. We have also the hole above the whale’s head making it possible for the whale’s stomach to take in air.

Many scientists still can’t draw to conclusion that this event that took place was true. In fact, some scientists have thrown out this scientific knowledge to conclude that this event was a miracle of God. How many of you have been stuck with a problem and have forgotten about the word of God. A scientist can’t solve your problem, nor can a psychologist, not partying, not alcohol, and certainly not drugs. Some us need a miracle today. Some of us need a rude awakening. Would you put your trust and faith in God today and turn to the answer to your problems today.

Being born into the human family doesn’t automatically make us members of God’s family, nor does it give us the privilege of prayer. It’s by being born again through faith in Jesus Christ the Savior that we become children of God.

- John 3:3 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

But how can we know we are Children of God?
According to Romans 8:16 –
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

We we read the Bible, when we share in congregational worship, when we meet another believer, when we do a good deed in the name of Jesus, the Spirit affirms within us that we belong to the family of God. You are a responder of God’s words and you will do what it takes the affirm yourself into God’s good graces. You have the power to get up and walk forward or kneel down and accept Jesus Christ into your life. You are then adopted into the family of God. But like many family members, they can and are able to walk away. Stay within the inner circle of Jesus and you will find out yourself how much you are glad you did.