Tag: god bless

2015

JIREH: THE LORD WHO PROVIDES ALL OUR NEEDS

Yet, He has a requirement for us to experience His all-sufficient provision. This can be seen in the life of Abraham, the father of many nations and a model of genuine faith in God. When God commanded him to offer his only son, Isaac, he immediately obeyed God, without hesitation or complaint. He did not tell God, “You promised me to be a father of many nations! Why are you asking me to kill my only son?” What he did was to prepare everything they needed for the burnt offering and set off in the journey towards the mountain. What a faith!

Then at one point in the journey, Isaac asked him where the lamb is. To which he responded, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). Now, we are enlightened about God’s requirement: one must trust God plans fully and obey Him completely. Abraham exemplified this and he was rewarded with God’s miraculous provision.

As Christians, we are called to become the Abrahams of our nation – true believers who live by faith and not by sight. We are the people who will declare the power and promise of Jireh in our country besieged by enormous debt and abject poverty. Hence, we are commissioned to do three things.

First, we must possess an unshakeable trust in God which will enable us to continue dreaming for progress. Now is the time for us to shun apathy, complacency and mediocrity so that we may significantly contribute to hasten the fulfillment of our glorious prophetic destiny.

Second, we must be willing to take risks in obeying God without any reservation. As His promise tells us, blessings will overtake everyone who lives in full obedience and submission to His sovereign will.

Third, we must allow ourselves to be the extension of His Hands by helping the poor and needy in our country. If we really want God’s outpouring, our aim should always be for God’s heartbeat to be ours. Without any iota of doubt, the heart of our Lord beats for all who are in desperate need of the caring touch from His people.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, my assurance for all of you is found in Psalm 37:25, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Never be overcome by any worry or fear whether in the present or in the future. As long as you are obeying God, you can rely on this unchanging truth – our God is Jireh, the Lord who provides all our needs!

God bless you all and God bless the Philippines!

2015

EL ELYON: THE LORD WHO OWNS OUR BELOVED NATION

What does this mean for us then? First, we must realize that everyone who is in need, no matter how small or big the need may be, can trust and rely on Him. There is no exemption to this great promise. Whenever we feel hopeless about our seemingly unending necessities, what wiser decision can there be than to call upon the Name of El Elyon? He owns the whole of creation, and therefore He is in control of every aspect of our life. Keep in mind that no world-renowned personality or organization will ever be able to give us the same assurance coming from the Almighty God. As Apostle Paul’s oft-quoted declaration says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). He empathically says “all,” hence we are sure that the Almighty God will provide our every need at the right time and place.

Second, we must admonish the greedy and corrupt to heed God’s command to turn away from wicked schemes. They need to understand that their merciless actions lead to the continuing suffering of millions of Filipino people. Evidently, they have become blind to the mandate of God to become responsible stewards of His resources. Now, our hope is that they may be transformed by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the only way for them to be freed from the clutches of selfishness, injustice and corruption.

We must remember that it is only by acknowledging the sovereignty of the Living God—God, El Elyon—can we truly experience a life of sufficiency and hope as well as generosity and selflessness. If we all choose to put our trust in God—the Most High—there is no reason for us to worry about life and the challenges that come with it. Likewise, once we understand that God owns not only us, but every person there is, we will all the more feel the heartbeat of the poor and marginalized, hence responding to their pain and suffering.

Finally, brothers and sisters, let me remind you this unchanging truth: El Elyon who is the Owner of all things is the same God revealed in Romans 8:32 which says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.” As we acknowledge His sovereign rule over each and every one of us, let us fully entrust our life in the Loving Hands of the God who gave His only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to save us and bring us back to His family.

God bless you all and God bless the Philippines!