"Fear of failure is pride" - Paul Washer
I am afraid of failing primarily because failure ruins reputation. This is an accursed weakness of mine and by grace it shall be dealt with much severity by the Lord.
May an ever increasing measure of willingness and dependency on God fill my heart!
Showing posts with label Seasonal Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seasonal Lessons. Show all posts
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
QUOTES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE
John MacArthur:
Martin Downes, On difference to doctrine: "Evangelicals who are indifferent to doctrine are a danger to Christianity. Church leaders who do not “hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught” will never be able to bring God’s people to mature godliness (which requires instruction in sound doctrine), nor will they be able to ward off infiltrators who teach another gospel (Titus 1:9)."
Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "There are many today who regard truth and error as matters of small consequence; if a man lives rightly, they say, it matters not much what his beliefs and opinions are. Such statements do not surprise us. Night and day are all one to a blind man. Truth and error are all one to an ignorant man.
Richard Baxter:
William Webster: "The promotion of unity at the expense of truth is satanic; it is demonic; it is not true unity. It is not the unity of the Holy Spirit for He is the Spirit of Truth. The Scriptural command which we have in Ephesians to promote the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace is given to those who have a common foundation of truth. Truth by its very nature divides. Where you have appeal to unity at the expense of truth all you can produce is uniformity."
Mark Kielar: "I’m always amazed by the people who, despite God’s clear and emphatic commands through the Apostle Paul, say things like, “Ah, we need to forget about the differences in our doctrines, and we just need to love one another.” as though those two are consistent goals. Surely they haven’t come to realize that the only way we can love right is to live right, and the only way we can live right is to believe right."
Leonard Ravenhill: "One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed."
Sound, biblical doctrine is a necessary aspect of true wisdom and authentic faith. The attitude that scorns doctrine while elevating feelings or blind trust cannot legitimately be called faith at all, even if it masquerades as Christianity. It is actually an irrational form of unbelief.
Martin Downes, On difference to doctrine: "Evangelicals who are indifferent to doctrine are a danger to Christianity. Church leaders who do not “hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught” will never be able to bring God’s people to mature godliness (which requires instruction in sound doctrine), nor will they be able to ward off infiltrators who teach another gospel (Titus 1:9)."
Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "There are many today who regard truth and error as matters of small consequence; if a man lives rightly, they say, it matters not much what his beliefs and opinions are. Such statements do not surprise us. Night and day are all one to a blind man. Truth and error are all one to an ignorant man.
Richard Baxter:
Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine…lest you unsay with your lives what you say with your tongues, and be the greatest hinderers of the success of your own labors.
William Webster: "The promotion of unity at the expense of truth is satanic; it is demonic; it is not true unity. It is not the unity of the Holy Spirit for He is the Spirit of Truth. The Scriptural command which we have in Ephesians to promote the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace is given to those who have a common foundation of truth. Truth by its very nature divides. Where you have appeal to unity at the expense of truth all you can produce is uniformity."
Mark Kielar: "I’m always amazed by the people who, despite God’s clear and emphatic commands through the Apostle Paul, say things like, “Ah, we need to forget about the differences in our doctrines, and we just need to love one another.” as though those two are consistent goals. Surely they haven’t come to realize that the only way we can love right is to live right, and the only way we can live right is to believe right."
Leonard Ravenhill: "One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed."
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
ADDITIONAL LESSONS
Just wanted to write down a few things that I need to remember.
1) God is sovereign. Everything has been ordained and even the problems and frustrations that you face are under His governance. The earth is but God's footstool (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35). Even the devil is subject to His authority. If the prince of this world who deceive us daily is under God's rule, is there anything else that is not?
2) Blame no one, for God has ordained things to happen. Do not be frustrated with anything, even your Church. Everything has a purpose. Besides, no sparrow falls to the ground without His will. Your job is to be faithful to Him and His Word. That's all you should be worrying about.
3) Submit to every authority for God has placed them there. If they have a problem, God will deal with them. It is not our place to take vengeance. Our place is to obey and trust Him in every situation.
4) God is not the author of sin even though the author of sin is under His divine authority.
5) Where there is dissension, do a mental checklist on the following:
*Ask God is if it is of Him or of the enemy
*Remember, God has ordained it to happen but that doesn't mean that you're just going to sit around and be idle
*Dwell in God's presence through prayer and Scripture as long as you can before making any move
*Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, bless those who hate you - this does not mean to tolerate what they are doing, but to make a stand and show that you love them at the same time
*Blame no one. Point fingers on no one or you shall be accusing God Himself. Instead, seek to remedy the situation in God's way.
*Judge not with your mind. See everything from God's point of view and pray unceasingly in accordance to the grace of God.
*Give a call to repentance and be the first one to kneel. Set an example to everyone and show them who your God is with your life.
*If they remain wicked, seek God's will. If they still won't repent, do not pass judgment! Let God do it! Shake the dust of your feet and leave without grudge. Do not hate them for you would be like them if not for God! Instead, plead for mercy and go on to the next area that God would lead you to.
1) God is sovereign. Everything has been ordained and even the problems and frustrations that you face are under His governance. The earth is but God's footstool (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35). Even the devil is subject to His authority. If the prince of this world who deceive us daily is under God's rule, is there anything else that is not?
2) Blame no one, for God has ordained things to happen. Do not be frustrated with anything, even your Church. Everything has a purpose. Besides, no sparrow falls to the ground without His will. Your job is to be faithful to Him and His Word. That's all you should be worrying about.
3) Submit to every authority for God has placed them there. If they have a problem, God will deal with them. It is not our place to take vengeance. Our place is to obey and trust Him in every situation.
4) God is not the author of sin even though the author of sin is under His divine authority.
5) Where there is dissension, do a mental checklist on the following:
*Ask God is if it is of Him or of the enemy
*Remember, God has ordained it to happen but that doesn't mean that you're just going to sit around and be idle
*Dwell in God's presence through prayer and Scripture as long as you can before making any move
*Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, bless those who hate you - this does not mean to tolerate what they are doing, but to make a stand and show that you love them at the same time
*Blame no one. Point fingers on no one or you shall be accusing God Himself. Instead, seek to remedy the situation in God's way.
*Judge not with your mind. See everything from God's point of view and pray unceasingly in accordance to the grace of God.
*Give a call to repentance and be the first one to kneel. Set an example to everyone and show them who your God is with your life.
*If they remain wicked, seek God's will. If they still won't repent, do not pass judgment! Let God do it! Shake the dust of your feet and leave without grudge. Do not hate them for you would be like them if not for God! Instead, plead for mercy and go on to the next area that God would lead you to.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
ENTERING INTO A NEW SEASON
When I got up early this morning, I was surprised to see that the temperature was negative one. It didn't stay like that the whole day but I realized that fall is almost over. The cold, the temperature drops, the morning frosts, all these signs point to one inevitable conclusion: winter is coming.
I love winter. Besides my mom, I have yet to find another individual who shares the same admiration I have for the most hated season of all. I don't play in the snow but I love to see it fall. I admire an empty street filled with nothing but snow. It can be hectic sometimes when snow turns to ice, still, in my sight, it never loses its beauty. The extremely cold temperature is also great. Not only does it allow women to put more clothes on but it also keeps most people at home. I get to see a different side of Toronto. Lastly, the sound of crunching snow when I walk just completes the i-love-winter scheme in my mind.
Anyways, its been a long and hard season for me but one that is beautiful to behold. I've learned a lot and its good to keep them in writing so I can be reminded about them.
January of this year was the month that God opened my heart to a higher level of understanding with the help of a friend.
February to March were the months I struggled with reformed theology, night and day.
April was when God finally revealed what was lacking in me and my mind was set on one thing: tell others about this amazing Gospel that we've lost. Its like "We made a mistake guys. All of us were deceived, but guess what? the food has been on the table ever since.. start asking questions and dig in!!"
May was when I realized that it is not my job to see the results are met. I obey God, He take care of the results.
June was a hard time of revelation. God revealed the many "little" sins that I commit on a daily basis. They were so subtle that I would mistake them for "good".
July, I learned that the Church is Christ's Bride, not mine. God will deal with His Church. But until I learn to love and trust Him completely, He will not step in.
August-September-October were my growing months. I've grown a lot thanks to His unmatched, parenting style. Even my view of growth changed.
Below are some of the stuff I learned throughout this year:
1) We are not growing so that one day we can keep God away and live our lives independently. We grow so that one day we can live without the world, with God alone as our Master. We don't grow out of God. We grow into God.
2) Every authority on earth has been ordained by God. To disrespect them even in thought is a direct offense against God. If they're doing something wrong, God will deal with them. As for us, our role is to obey and submit so that none will have a word against us.
3) Satan did a fine job at us. He did screwed our brains pretty badly. Lots of work has to be done. Start now!
4) Contrary to the popular belief, Christianity is very liberating. God takes care of your needs, you take care of His business. Yep, its only His business that you are called to worry about. What can be more liberating than that?
5) Your family is not perfect but they love you sincerely. They may also not express their love in the way you expect. Nevertheless, honor and cherish them all the time. They should be able to look at you and know that you love them. In my case, I have a bigger duty to them. My goal is that each of them would one day be totally devoted to that Man who shed His blood on that tree.
6) Culture sucks. Filipino or Canadian, it doesn't matter. We gauge our lives not on culture or experience but solely on the Word of God.
7) The tiniest sins that we let pass daily are the deadliest ones. They eat your soul slowly and establish a stronghold that will not be easy to break.
8) If its hard to keep up in your spiritual life, check if you've prayed sincerely, read your Bible and wrestled with the devil.. (learned from a friend)
9) Other Christians can hear God too. Are you so special? hmm I thought so.. (learned from a friend)
10) When you feel alone, despised or miserable, simply remember what you are: you didn't deserve anything yet look at the cross and see what you got.
11) A pure life is the best testimony, best sermon and best apologetic course you can ever offer to unbelievers.
^_^
I love winter. Besides my mom, I have yet to find another individual who shares the same admiration I have for the most hated season of all. I don't play in the snow but I love to see it fall. I admire an empty street filled with nothing but snow. It can be hectic sometimes when snow turns to ice, still, in my sight, it never loses its beauty. The extremely cold temperature is also great. Not only does it allow women to put more clothes on but it also keeps most people at home. I get to see a different side of Toronto. Lastly, the sound of crunching snow when I walk just completes the i-love-winter scheme in my mind.
Anyways, its been a long and hard season for me but one that is beautiful to behold. I've learned a lot and its good to keep them in writing so I can be reminded about them.
January of this year was the month that God opened my heart to a higher level of understanding with the help of a friend.
February to March were the months I struggled with reformed theology, night and day.
April was when God finally revealed what was lacking in me and my mind was set on one thing: tell others about this amazing Gospel that we've lost. Its like "We made a mistake guys. All of us were deceived, but guess what? the food has been on the table ever since.. start asking questions and dig in!!"
May was when I realized that it is not my job to see the results are met. I obey God, He take care of the results.
June was a hard time of revelation. God revealed the many "little" sins that I commit on a daily basis. They were so subtle that I would mistake them for "good".
July, I learned that the Church is Christ's Bride, not mine. God will deal with His Church. But until I learn to love and trust Him completely, He will not step in.
August-September-October were my growing months. I've grown a lot thanks to His unmatched, parenting style. Even my view of growth changed.
Below are some of the stuff I learned throughout this year:
1) We are not growing so that one day we can keep God away and live our lives independently. We grow so that one day we can live without the world, with God alone as our Master. We don't grow out of God. We grow into God.
2) Every authority on earth has been ordained by God. To disrespect them even in thought is a direct offense against God. If they're doing something wrong, God will deal with them. As for us, our role is to obey and submit so that none will have a word against us.
3) Satan did a fine job at us. He did screwed our brains pretty badly. Lots of work has to be done. Start now!
4) Contrary to the popular belief, Christianity is very liberating. God takes care of your needs, you take care of His business. Yep, its only His business that you are called to worry about. What can be more liberating than that?
5) Your family is not perfect but they love you sincerely. They may also not express their love in the way you expect. Nevertheless, honor and cherish them all the time. They should be able to look at you and know that you love them. In my case, I have a bigger duty to them. My goal is that each of them would one day be totally devoted to that Man who shed His blood on that tree.
6) Culture sucks. Filipino or Canadian, it doesn't matter. We gauge our lives not on culture or experience but solely on the Word of God.
7) The tiniest sins that we let pass daily are the deadliest ones. They eat your soul slowly and establish a stronghold that will not be easy to break.
8) If its hard to keep up in your spiritual life, check if you've prayed sincerely, read your Bible and wrestled with the devil.. (learned from a friend)
9) Other Christians can hear God too. Are you so special? hmm I thought so.. (learned from a friend)
10) When you feel alone, despised or miserable, simply remember what you are: you didn't deserve anything yet look at the cross and see what you got.
11) A pure life is the best testimony, best sermon and best apologetic course you can ever offer to unbelievers.
^_^
Friday, August 29, 2008
RANDOM NOTES ABOUT MISSIONS
All notes taken from Paul Washer's Sermon about Missions:
-yes you belong to our Church were God is working but is God personally working in your life? Is your character being refined by Him as an individual?
-our problem is not a lack of zeal for missions, it is bigger than that, it is lack of zeal for God
-we are not strategists and missiologists, rather we are theologians and prophets and are primary task is not to do missions, our primary task is to take the truth, God's truth as revealed in God's Word, to the world
-not to be just culturally sensitive to the places that we go but to be Biblically sensitive.. and not to be pragmatic and doing what we think will work, but to do what is right, in accordance to Scripture, whether it works or not.
-yes you belong to our Church were God is working but is God personally working in your life? Is your character being refined by Him as an individual?
-our problem is not a lack of zeal for missions, it is bigger than that, it is lack of zeal for God
-we are not strategists and missiologists, rather we are theologians and prophets and are primary task is not to do missions, our primary task is to take the truth, God's truth as revealed in God's Word, to the world
-not to be just culturally sensitive to the places that we go but to be Biblically sensitive.. and not to be pragmatic and doing what we think will work, but to do what is right, in accordance to Scripture, whether it works or not.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
WHAT DOES GOD'S UNCODITIONAL LOVE MEAN?
God's unconditional love does not mean "He loves everyone and everything". This notion is not found in Scripture. It is also disastrous so assume such because this would mean that He would love the devil. No. He is discriminate in His love. "Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated", says the LORD.
I know "God loves the devil but the devil just won't allow God" is an ear-tickling theology. But it is not valid since the "God loves the devil" principle is never found in Scripture. The opposite is actually written. In Psalms 5, God says that He hates all workers of inequity. This in fact also includes us which is why for us to be forgiven, His wrath was poured unto His Son in Calvary.
So, then, what does God's unconditional love mean? It means that God's love is not based on the recipient's merit or virtue. He loves those whom He chooses to love out of His abundance, not because the recipient had some merit that others did not have or the recipient had somehow obligated God to love him.
God did not love us because we deserved it or because we earned the right to be loved. Neither did God love us because He was obligated to. Nay. God loves whosoever He pleases based on His own nature, which is by definition - love.
Unconditional does not mean - universally applied. What it means is that it is not regulated by any condition, good or bad, existing in the recipient.
This is what unconditional love means - His love is totally dependent on His choice alone, not the existing attributes of its recipients.
I know "God loves the devil but the devil just won't allow God" is an ear-tickling theology. But it is not valid since the "God loves the devil" principle is never found in Scripture. The opposite is actually written. In Psalms 5, God says that He hates all workers of inequity. This in fact also includes us which is why for us to be forgiven, His wrath was poured unto His Son in Calvary.
So, then, what does God's unconditional love mean? It means that God's love is not based on the recipient's merit or virtue. He loves those whom He chooses to love out of His abundance, not because the recipient had some merit that others did not have or the recipient had somehow obligated God to love him.
God did not love us because we deserved it or because we earned the right to be loved. Neither did God love us because He was obligated to. Nay. God loves whosoever He pleases based on His own nature, which is by definition - love.
Unconditional does not mean - universally applied. What it means is that it is not regulated by any condition, good or bad, existing in the recipient.
This is what unconditional love means - His love is totally dependent on His choice alone, not the existing attributes of its recipients.
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