40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 4:The Art Of Being PRESENT - PRESENT IN YOUR PLACE

The body! Isn't it a wonderful image that Paul used, writing to the Corinthian church all those years ago? It really gets the point across - we each have a unique, God-given purpose and part to play in the 'body' of His community. Makes you wonder what 'body part' you might be, doesn't it?

Paul describes how ridiculous it would be if one body part decided it wanted to do the role of another, also noting how the whole body suffers when not all the 'parts' are present. The church operates best when all the parts of its 'makeup' are present and working.

One of the best things about taking your place in the community of God's people is the journey of discovering your unique purpose. Unified by a cause so much greater than ourselves - the cause of Christ - provides us with an opportunity to use what God has placed in our hand for His glory and to be a blessing to others.

Take a moment today to write down your gifts and passions. Talk to God about how you can develop them and use them to bless others and build His church. Ask Him to help you find the right 'place' in His community so that you are not just present, but present in your 'place.'

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 3:The Art Of Being PRESENT - PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY

From the earliest days of the church, God has been present when believers gathered. In Acts 2, when early believers met together, the Holy Spirit came like the wind, filling the place and causing those gathered to speak in tongues.

The early church hungered for both God and community. Daily they met and made space for those who God added to their community. They found what Jesus had shared with His disciples to be true; that where two or more were gathered in His name, He was there among them (Matthew 18).

When any unique individual is wholly present in a community, that community is naturally strengthened. When we take our place in the community of believers though, the community is additionally strengthened supernaturally by God's presence - and especially so when we have faith for God's presence.

Perhaps it has been a while since you have taken your place in the community of believers. Or perhaps you have been present physically but lacking faith for God's presence. Let this moment be a turning point for you. Determine that you will be found to be present and faith-filled in the community of God this weekend.

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 2:The Art Of Being PRESENT - CONSISTENCY

John 20:24 is a verse that many Christians have likely passed over often. It recounts how Jesus' disciple Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in His resurrected form.

Later, Jesus did appear to Thomas, graciously allowing him the physical proof he'd said he needed to believe that Jesus' resurrection was real, to which Thomas responds with an absolute, personal confession of belief.

The Bible doesn't tell us why Thomas was not with his friends that day. We can speculate based on the circumstances and Thomas' personality: perhaps he was grief-stricken or traumatised?

We can say with certainty though, that Thomas was absent from the group of those who knew and loved Jesus on that day, and missed an opportunity to be in Jesus' presence as a result. Another opportunity was given to him (isn't that just like God?) but the initial moment lost, could never be regained.

40 Days of Revival - Lent Day 1: The Art Of Being PRESENT - WIDE AWAKE

If we are honest, most of us will admit that we have experienced seasons when the moments, days and weeks seemed to slip away without us noticing. Perhaps we were absorbed by the busyness of everyday routines, or by a difficult season when mere survival was challenge enough. Regardless, we often look back on these seasons with a sense of regret and the feeling that moments were 'wasted.'

The book of Psalms (always a great place to start when facing the shortfalls of our humanity and refocusing on God) gives expression to this tendency in a prayer by Moses. He asks God to arrest his impulse to drift through the days, saying:

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Easy to learn, this verse has been the prayer of countless Christians wanting to awaken to each moment they have been graced with. Perhaps today, it can become your prayer, too.

As we begin this study of revival, let's resolve to be aware of what God is doing. From the outset, let us number the days, tune our ear heavenward and determine that this season will not slip away. That we might have our eyes wide open to see that the Lord is present and active.

How To Experience His Presence in Your Everyday Life

Life is busy and filled with distractions. It's so easy to get caught up in your cares, errands and worries that we lose sight of what matters most.

Luke 2:41-52 is a story of "The Boy Jesus At the Temple".
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

I wonder how many times we suppose that God is with us when we've wandered off to do our own thing?

When Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus was not with them, it took them three days to find Him. 

• It is easier to lose that special presence of God than it is to get back once we've lost it.

We need to be careful, to remain in the presence of God. When we do, we make God feel at home in our hearts. 

This simply starts with being obedient to His Word. A commitment to turn from behavior that offends God is the number one sign of spiritual maturity. It shows you care about what He thinks.

That means you choose to be generous towards others, you learn to forgive, let go of offenses and live in peace. When we choose to be intentional with our words giving thanks to God and lifting up to others we'll feel connected to God all throughout the day.

--Joyce Meyer: Promises for the year --

Despite Lost Opportunity (Just in Time)

Just in time.

Simply reminds us that when God sent His time, it is the perfect timing

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.…

Chronos - movement of time; passage of timeYou cannot move, prevent stop time

Kyros - moment in time; opportune in timeThings in our lives that are there that we can use as opportunity
Pleru - God's perfect itme; time had fully come
Whether you like it or not, you cannot do something about it because God did something about it.
We are all bound by time. Limitation of 24 hours a day. When we think we want perfect timing. But we are always busy, running all the time and running out of time.

God in all his wisdom, as Alpha and Omega, His timing is perfect.

There are things that are lost because of lack of timing. 

The only reason why we have Christmas is for us to be redeemed.
Wrong timing means lost opportunity

If u limit yourself to the limitations, economy trends of the world

Who decide when matters are over? Who tells you that time is up?


Lost opportunitiesJohn the Baptist (Luke 1:16-17)
-entry of a movie
-unpacking of the changing of the nations
-to make ready, the people to the coming of the Lord
-Bring back many to the Lord our God
-to pave the way of the Lord

His birth is unexpected-he will be great
Storms of life come, you cannot see a thing..
When in doubt of God's promises,
Just trust in God's timing and God's provision

When seemingly the enemy is winning, Trust that God is over all

When God is silent and inattentive, Trust that God answers prayers

When God forgets his promises in the Bible Trust that God keeps His promises

God is over all
God will answer your prayer
-For Display His glory
-To Dispense His Grace Isa 30:18 -you're blessed to bless

When in doubt, trust God!

Unfinished Business

Habakkuk 2:14 - For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Acts 1:8 - talks about being a witness (outflow of identity)

Luke 19:10 - talks about PURPOSE

Matthew 9:10 - talks about the Call of Matthew

1 John 1:1 - talks about 

Raising the White Flag

The white flag is used to symbolize surrender. It is often a military color which indicates that the person or party is exempted in a combat. It signifies the an intent of giving up and the desire to communicate.

Do you remember a time in your life when you raised the white flag?
When did you raise a white flag to GOD?

I remember clearly the time that I have nothing. I just came out from an operation from the hospital, therefore, I'm still recovering, my mom was rushed in the hospital. I was nowhere near her when she was rushed to the hospital. Without anything, without any cash, I left Manila with a prayer of strength and courage. I went home to Baguio to see her. According to her doctor, only 2% of her brain is functioning. It was aneurysm.
I still remember the date. January 10, 2010. It's hard to let go. Since my father passed away 14 years ago, she single-handedly took care of 4 children. I was in the ICU when I received a phone call from a pastor. We prayed. I have to say goodbye. I have to let go. I have to raise the white flag.
After 2 days, she passed away. I was lost then. My brothers were still minors and major decisions were left with me. I have nothing. The hospital bill ballooned to more than 200,000. I just prayed.
God really uses people. Members of the church and my mom's friends and co-workers were the ones who "chipped-in" for the bill. The wake was arranged by her friend who sells memorial insurance and the burial place was arranged by my dad's sister. 

 I raised the white flag to God and He did the rest. 

I remember Abraham. In Genesis 22, God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. I take Isaac as Abraham's white flag. It was then when his trust to God was tested. Isaac was Abraham's prayer since he married Sarah but without any questions, his willingness to trust and obey paid off the price. 

Starting strong, finished wrong

Starting strong, finished wrong
Scoreboards remember only who finished strong
Life is not a sprint its a marathon
Building friendship, marriage, relationship with God, investing, doing business is not a sprint, it's a marathon

Sampson - man of strength
Judges 13-24-25
He was strong but he was weak, impulsive, disobedient, no self control
When you choose the person in your life is the biggest desicion in your life which will spell between happiness and misery
Delilah- needed sampson not love him
There is a difference between needed and loved
Sampson started strong, finished wrong

2 things you need in life
Capacity- ability, skill
Character- who you are, your ethics

Short term success are based on capacity
Long term success must have a character

Formula to have a longterm impact
Your character is a multiplier of your capacity

Negative character loses faith

Temptation
Sex
Money
Power

Dream as if you will live forever
- focus on thefinish line
Live as if you will die today
- the finish line can happen today

God promises He will not forsake you
Press on towards the finish line

Original Pinoy Mindset 3

DI PWEDE ANG PWEDE NA!

(WHEN GOOD ENOUGH IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH)

 

Mindset - things that we do not think much about it but we do it anyway.

-          Set in the mind

Pwede na – contentment

Ø  Be contented with something given

Ø  Material things

To give all – to be excellent

Ø  Doing something

Ø  Do not settle for second best

Ø  Give best with everything

Pwede na applied to things you have – contentment

Pwede na applied to things you do – excellence; give our best

Effects of mediocracy (pwede na) – slow progress; inferior products

Daniel 6:3

Exceptional quality – excellent spirit (like the wind you don’t see it but it is there)

Ø  Excellence – you can’t see but you see tangible results

Ø  Hard to grasps but results are tangible

Daniel 1: 1-8

Ø  If there is a person in the bible who has an excuse not to be excellent, it will be Daniel because he is a captive

Ø  Excellent spirit is what’s with you regardless of circumstance

Daniel

Ø  Resolved not to be defiled

Ø  Followed the Leviticus diet

King

Ø  To be healthy, you must eat from the King’s table (Daniel 1:10)

Ø  To defile culture – do not eat from king’s table

Culture – gives food you cannot swallow

Excellence – challenge yourself against yourself

Daniel – challenged the world on the standards of the WORD

Daniel 1: 20

Ø  Giving the best in all in every matter

Ø  Not to be excellent spiritually but in every matter mentally, physically and emotionally

Ø  We cannot attain perfection but if we chase after it, we might just get excellent

Proverbs 22:29

                Excellence is being mindful of details

                Every matter and every detail

Daniel 1:8

                Have a heart – ways to excellence

                Excellence is not sustainable without a heart