Conviction is not condemnation know the difference

When we are being convicted by the Lord from our wrong doings He is not accusing us. We have to remember that He is gentle, humble and most of all He cannot contradict Himself, saving us through dying for us on the cross and then coming hard on us when we make mistakes. I am sure He is very well aware of our weaknesses. He died for us while we are sinners.

Romans 8:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Never judge others for doing what they have done because we just don't know what kind of pressures they are under; how and what they are thinking at that moment. The evil one is in control of their hearts and minds that time. I mean who doesn't go through that? The Lord Himself is the only one who knows those things, we cannot! because we are limited.

We have to turn to the Lord quickly when we fall to sin. He is truly our Savior the one who is gentle, meek and humble. Focus on that image to our King of kings He is not a common king that easily gets angry and full of pride that will send out unjust sentence. The enemy is the accuser the one who puts guilt in us that causes us to shy away from coming back to Christ. Guilt can give us heavy burden but the Lord said " I will give you rest ".... " For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." We have to believe in Him, that is our job.

John 8: 28-29

Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered  and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Even if we have accepted the Lord we still have the tendency of shying away from coming to the Lord for repentance. Because of the accusing voice that is giving us heavy feeling.

Revelation 12:10

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come,  for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

If we are not careful about the subtle maneuvering of the evil one in putting guilt in our hearts we might end up destroying ourselves which is the enemy's ultimate goal. Do not let that happen! fight a good fight of faith.

John 10;10-11

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

The Lord Jesus Christ is truly the only one who can clean us up with gentleness.

Great Revival starts within

Matthew 6:33

" But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

We have to seek His kingdom first because He is our priority not ourselves. Keep the main thing the main thing and the details will fall into place. Focus on God, I know it's too cliche but if we believe that the Lord heals and we do not believe in our realistic mind that He will not heal us of our bondage that is contradicting. We should live our lives believing that it is also possible to us because we are also His.

Our beliefs about the Lord and how we live our lives should be in harmony. Revival is a great move of God in our life and there has to be transformation within us. Being better than we used to be rather than being better than others, without prejudice.

One time I was praying and very softly the Lord impressed in me  He said, "Look in your heart,.... how much faith do you see?" I was embarrassed to admit it was very very little almost nothing. Then I thought what about, how much love? how much hope? It is easy to say I have faith, I have love, I have hope but if we really examine our daily actions and reactions to others, it exposes us. As part of the body of Christ I think we will all benefit in challenging ourselves with this question in our private devotion time with the Lord. I was alarmed to see very little it's almost nothing.

Ezekiel 18;25-32

"Yet you say, ' The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is my way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? "When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. "Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. "Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. "But the house of Israel says "The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord God. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. "Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O house of Israel? "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies." declares the Lord God. "Therefore, repent and live."

Mark 13:35-37

"Therefore, be on the alert-for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning- in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. "What I say to you I say to all, " Be on the alert!"

Panalangin ng pagsisisi

Ama na gumawa ng lahat ng kalikasan at ng sanlibutan. Maraming salamat sa buhay na ibinigay nyo sa akin, sa mga biyaya na iyong ipinamamalas sa akin. Lumalapit kami at nagpapakumbaba kami sa Inyo  humihingi ng tawad sa aming mga kasalanan, patawarin N'yo po kami sa mga oras na mapusok ang mga salita namin sa kapwa halos paslangin namin ang ibang tao sa masasakit na salita na ayon sa sampung utos mo, Huwag kaming papatay. Patawarin nyo po kami kapag ang tingin namin sa sarili ay mas mataas o mas magaling o mas matalino sa iba, sabi sa iyong mga salita kinasusuklaman mo ang mga mapagmataas. Patawarin N'yo po kami sa mga reklamo namin sa pagtahak namin sa araw-araw imbes na magpasalamat sa mga nakamit namin sa buong araw na galing sa Iyong awa sa amin at sa mga pamilya namin. Patawarin N'yo kami Ama sa mga bulok na pagiisip namin na puno ng galit sa kapwa lalong lalo na sa mga mahal namin sa buhay; mga kapatid, kamag-anak, asawa, mga anak, ka trabaho, sa mga kasama sa simbahan. Patawarin mo kami dahil wala kaming oras na manahimik at antayin ang Iyong presensya sa twing pagkatapos namin magdasal. Kalimitan puro hingi ang aming idinadasal imbes na panalangin na pagsamba sa Inyo dahil sabi mo sa iyong salita kung uunahin namin kayo lahat ng kailangan namin ay ipagkakaloob mo dahil alam mo ang lahat ng aming pangangailangan. Maraming salamat sa kabaitan Ninyo sa amin sa pagbigay ng Iyong anak na si Hesus para iligtas kami sa lahat ng aming kasalanan at linisin kasing puti ng niyebe. Itinataas po namin ang Iyong pangalan Ama sa pangalan ni Hesu Kristo. Amen

Panalangin ng pasasalamat

Ama na Makapangyarihan sa pangalan ni Hesus ang iyong bugotng na anak na tagapagligtas namin. Patawarin Nyo po kami sa aming mga kasalanan, lumalapit po kami sa inyo sa mapagkumbabang puso, bigyan nyo po kami ng grasya at awa upang makuha naming akuin ang pagbabago ng puso namin na ayon sa inyong kalooban.

Maraming Salamat po sa araw na ito sa pag gising namin sa umaga upang harapin ang panibagong araw. Maraming Salamat po sa kaarawan ko, simula pa nung ako ay pinanganak alam kong pinapatnubayan ninyo ako palagi, minsan naliligaw pero ganon pa man itinatama Nyo pa rin ako na pumunta sa tamang daan patungo sa buhay na walang hanggan. Maraming Salamat sa pamilya namin sa mga kapatid ko na tumutugon sa ano mang tulong na kailangan ko. Maraming Salamat po sa mga kaibigan ko na nagdadasal para sa akin. Patnubayan mo po ako sa araw na ito balewala ang kakayahan ko kung hindi ko rin kayo kasama sa araw-araw. Gabayan at pagpalain Nyo kami palagi kahit kami ay nagkakamali at binabali ang katapatan sa Inyo. Pasalamat kami dahil tapat pa rin kayo sa pag hango sa amin sa inyong piling kahit na kami ay nagagawi sa ligaw na landas. Mahal po namin Kayo sa pangalan ng inyong anak na si Hesus itinataas po naming sa Iyo ang lahat. Amen

Miracles by Jesus Culture cover by Brian Wahl .....great uplifting song!!! have fun! :)

Compliance is not Obedience there is a difference

The last season I have gone through this year was filing my income tax for the past year. We all do it to comply from the requirement of the government with our personal income for tax purposes. If you are a renter in an apartment or a house you are complied to pay rent. If you are a home owner you are to comply in paying your mortgage. Most often we have so much things to comply to we also do it in our faith. 

We think that if we pray a certain prayer at a certain time, reading the scriptures and going to Church on Sundays and  giving our tithes are enough for us to say we have faith and love for God. We comply and we think that is all there is to it, you submit your total income for the past year, pay your rent or mortgage that's it. If we do all those that was mentioned above and we go on doing the same lifestyle in cursing others, murdering others with our words by lying, cheating, mocking, taking advantage of others given a chance, etc. All of the things you have done for religious purposes are nothing but just compliance.

Imagine if a corrupt politicians, mafia leaders and members, thieves, drug dealers, killers, people who do sins in their own intelligent secret lives that no one knows ( except God ), etc. do comply for all the things they have to do to their church; read the bible, pray daily devotions, go to Church and give their tithes. Do you think God will be pleased with all of their offerings?

Matthew 16:8 "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me". The Lord Jesus clearly said it all with just one sentence, those words will pierce your heart if your heart is really on the Lord.

In John 4:23 -24, the Lord Jesus have said ....

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

If you are only complying, you will end up complaining because you will say to yourself and to God. I pray and I go to church but there's no healing, no blessings and no miracles, how come? If you are obedient you will be satisfied always because your life is your prayer and it is not all about you anymore it is all about the Lord. If there is no transformation that means you are still ignoring the presence of the Lord in your life.

In compliance you give yourself a pat on your back and say to yourself you did great today because you did your obligations. In obedience it is never enough, you will thirst for more for the Lord.

In compliance there is a chance of having a spirit of Pharisee we judge others, trying to remove the small speck on the eyes of our brothers and sisters and not seeing the logs in our own eyes. In Obedience you will encourage one another in getting closer to the Lord  in a loving and humble way in a non judgmental way.  Read Luke 18:10 the story of the prayer of a Pharisee and a tax collector and who were justified between the two of them.

In compliance there is arrogance and pride, in obedience humility and love. In compliance you need many audiences obedience however has an audience of one in 3 persons. In compliance there is no transformation, in obedience you will not rest without transformation. I have to admit sometimes I am also just a compliant.

Here are more scriptures you can refer to, I am sure you know more scriptures that supports what I am trying to tell you:

1Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams."

In Revelation chapter 3: The Lord's message to church Sardis and Laodecia 

Matthew 7:21-22 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from  me , you who practice lawlessness .'

John 14:24 

He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

Luke 6:46

"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Once you have a personal relationship with the Lord you will realize compliance and obedience bear no resemblance to one another. The Lord have no requirement to accept you, come as you are and He will cleanse you. 

The Holy Spirit will not agree on your prayers if your private life and prayer life does not match to one another. I heard a Pastor said "The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart". He also said "Comfort zone is a place where God exist but He is not needed."

There's a difference between believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and actually following Him.
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PS. I would like to personally thank a friend of mine, Jun for telling me that he has been reading my thoughts in this site awhile back until my entries dwindled down. Hopefully I could begin to write more again.....and to all of you who reads my thoughts Thank you very much! :)