Jesus became a human being to show us how to truly live a life of abundance, peace and favor

The birth of Jesus Christ signaled a new era in the history of the world. Free access to the Kingdom of heaven became available to humankind again.

After our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned, the Holy Spirit lifted from man and the heavens shut. Jesus Christ came to repair the breach and open the heavens wide for God’s love and favor to shine on earth in a big way.

God’s eternal purpose is to reside with you and in you. Jesus Christ is Immanuel - God with us. 

Jesus came to make heaven real in your daily experience, to show you how to have a life full of meaning, purpose and abundance.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give [you] a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10, NLT)

As you follow His way of life, you will increase in wisdom, distinction, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.” (John 8:12, CJB)

Here are three things Jesus lived by:

1. The greatest is the one who serves.

The God of the universe came not to be served but to serve. The false gods of world religions demand endless and costly sacrifices to appease their anger. Yet their subjects remain unfulfilled, lost and broken.

Our Heavenly Father is different. He is a God of love. He demands worship by asking us to love and treat others with dignity and respect, to “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.” In short, be a true servant.

In this world, people in high positions tend to abuse power. 

One time, James and John (led by their mom!) jockeyed for the highest position. They wanted to sit to at the right and left side in Christ’s kingdom. 

Jesus asked whether they were willing to suffer the same suffering, and fulfill the same calling He would go through to obtain the high position. They ignorantly said yes. Jesus looked forward in time and told them that indeed they would be able to do so. This seemed to approve their request.

As one would expect, this angered the rest of the disciples because they also want the same prestige. Jesus resolved the issue by saying,

“You know that among the Gentiles, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and their superiors become dictators. Among you, it must not be like that. On the contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave! For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve - and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28, CJB)

Is this rule of life practical nowadays?

Consider going to a restaurant where the waiters do not pay attention to your requests, leave you on your own and give you a really bad service. Will you go back? Most probably not.

Companies and businesses prosper because of excellent products and services. Where do you bring your branded watch for repair when it’s broken? To an expert who can service your watch well. 

A true servant will be promoted while the abusive self-serving person in authority will soon lose support. A person with a servant’s heart will always have opportunities available.

Last November, my wife hired carpenters to renovate a place for her salon. They installed a leaky water tubing, painted the walls and ceiling without sweeping cobwebs or removing nails or plastering holes, and installed a gutter that was short by five inches. She felt robbed. We ended up re-doing the same jobs. Money, time and effort were wasted. Needless to say, the carpenters were quickly dismissed.

On the other hand, a good friend, Rolly, helped us construct a small house for Nanay Vicky, an old single lady. Tirelessly, he would wake up early in the morning, prepare food for the carpenters, travel an hour to the site and supervise the work hands-on. Sometimes, he would even shell out some of his money to keep the construction going. He was a hardline servant.

He was out of a job for more than a year due to a sickness. Upon recovery, he looked for a job but was never hired. While doing this charitable service, the Lord blessed him and he now works at the accounting department in a reputable security agency.

Being a true servant brings dignity, honor and prestige.

You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right because I am. Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, or is an emissary greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:13-17, CJB)

2.  It is more blessed to give than to receive

The Lord greatly loves and He greatly gives. He gave His only begotten Son as the sacrifice for our sins.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved.” (John 3:16-17, CJB)

There is great joy in giving and there is great blessing in giving generously.

Paul understood this and said, 

“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:33-35, NLT)

In 1997, I became a full-time church worker. Staying at the office alone one day, a widow came for a chat. We shared encouragements from the bible and when it was about time for lunch, she indicated to leave. She appeared so happy all the time she was there.

Then Lord spoke to my heart to give her Php100 pesos. It was a struggle because that was my only money. She certainly did not appear to have any need at all. Moreover, I had no lunch yet and will have nothing more to pay for my fare going home. I excused myself and went to the comfort room to have a chat with the Lord. 

“Lord, you know this is my last money. If I give this away, I will have no more. But because I love you, I will give this as a sacrifice offering.” The Lord must have been amused at my faithless prayer. It had a good heart though.

I gave the money and told her, “The Lord wants you to have this.” She suddenly broke down in tears. For two weeks, she and her two small kids had been eating just rice sprinkled with sugar. When the sugar ran out, they resorted to salt. That morning, the rice ran out. She went to some of her friends to borrow money for food but there was nothing. Instead of going home depressed, she dropped-by at the office for some encouragements but did not expect any money.

As she was relating this, tears rolled down my cheeks. Joy flooded my heart, grateful to the Lord for choosing me to meet her need. I could have given more if I was able.

After she left, another person came up to have a chat. When he realized it was past one o’clock, he said, “Let’s have lunch.” I couldn’t go because I had no more money. So I said, “I’m okay. Go ahead.” He replied, “Please don’t turn me down. I want to treat you for lunch. Let’s go downstairs and fellowship some more.” My lunch was covered.

Later that day at four o’clock in the afternoon, another person came up for a chat! Before leaving, she handed me Php100 pesos. I never said anything about my need or the happenings earlier. The Lord restored my money through her.

It was the only time three persons came up for a chat in a single day. I suspect the Lord set me up.

There is a great promise to those who generously give their material wealth to advance God’s kingdom and meet people’s needs.

“Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, CJB)

3. “I have come to do your will, O God”

We give God the greatest glory by living according to His will. 

“That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,

‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.

But you have given me a body to offer.

You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.

Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God - as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” (Hebrews 10:5-7, NLT)

Jesus repeated on this theme again and again:

“My father has been working until now, and I too am working.” (John 5:17, CJB)

“Yes, indeed! I tell you that the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does, the Son does too.” (John 5:19, CJB)

For I have come down from heaven to do not my will but the will of the One who sent me. (John 6:38, CJB)

“I say in the world only what I have heard from [the Father].” (John 8:26, CJB)

When you walk in the center of God’s will, there is harmony all around you. Everything works well. Everything looks bright and everything falls into place.

When you are out of synch with God, everything is dark. There is confusion, trouble and chaos. You hit a brick wall and you lose God’s gracious hands at work. Rebellion and idolatry robs you of God’s favor.

As you fully commit yourself to God and His kingdom, He will cause you to ride on the heights. He will make you walk in His holy highway. He will give you the arsenal of heaven to accomplish His purposes in your life. No one will be able to stop you from succeeding.

Joshua knew this full well. He was told, “Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow the commands which Moses my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7, CJB)

Joshua reaped the benefits. At 110 years old testified, “Not one of all the good things the LORD your God said concerning you has failed to happen; it has all come to pass; nothing of it has failed.” (Joshua 23:14, CJB)

Jesus submitted himself fully to the will of God even to the point of death and God Almighty granted him the name that is above every name.

Promotion does not come from the East or the West, promotion comes from the Lord.Walk in his ways and you will live a life filled with God.

“No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” (Psalm 75:6-7, NLT)

As you commit yourself to doing God’s will as Jesus did, your life will be ordered by the Lord. God will arrange your schedules and will use all His power to accomplish His divine plan over your life.

In his book “Angels on Assignment,” Pastor Roland Buck testified that God had given him 120 specific prophecies. Those 120 things began to happen in sequence exactly as God told him. As an example, God said he would meet a person and would accept Christ on February 4, 1977 and would die on May 30, 1977. It seemed impossible but it happened exactly as God told him.

God told him on January 21,1977 that He was choosing Karol Wojtyla of Poland as pope. It was fulfilled on October 16,1978 when Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II.

At the time of writing of the said book, 117 prophecies already came to pass in sequence. Pastor Roland Buck testified, “God has scheduled each day of our lives. As we walk with Him, he will direct our path, and though unknown to us, he will bring to pass his purpose for each of us, just as surely as he has caused, or will cause, the 120 events to happen which were given to me that glorious day in the Throne Room.” (Angels on Assignment, page 72)

As you walk in God’s will, you also will enjoy His pleasure and presence.

“You make me know the path of life (or God’s will); in your presence is unbounded joy, in your right hand eternal delight.” (Psalm 16:11, CJB)

You and I are designed to carry God’s reality to people around you. God wants to shine His glory in you and through you. We were made to be God’s dwelling place on earth. 

Jesus Christ became the perfect picture of God the Father. He became the full manifestation of God on earth. 

This is also our calling, to represent Jesus Christ on earth to the glory of the Father. Jesus showed us how to live. We will do well to follow His way of life.

Merry Christmas!

Immanuel’s birth - God’s grand favor has come personally to you!

It came unexpectedly. A fearsome angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to a handful of shepherds followed by a vast number of angels blasting the night sky with a heavenly concert of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo!”

“In the highest heaven, glory to God! And on earth, peace among people of goodwill!” (Luke 2:14, CJB)

Just handful of shepherds for an audience to share the greatest news of all! The messiah was found wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a poor manger. Rather unimpressive don’t you think? 

The shepherds later spread the good news but the authorities dismissed it as nonsense.

More people could have appreciated the news, than simply entrusting this good news to a bunch of uneducated shepherds. Why does the Lord do this?

A few months ago, two ladies in their sixties came to me at the church after the service a little past one o’clock. They already went down but came back to be prayed for. There were only three of us at the church left. 

One of the elderly ladies had an accident while trying to get off a jeepney. The driver apparently without regard to her, sped off while she was still holding to one of the jeepney’s back rails. She was pulled like a rag doll and smashed her left knee on the pavement. She has been suffering for two months and sorely missed church.

She attended the ten o’clock service that day and another lady helped her go downstairs. Then the lady helping her told the limping lady, “Hey, wait a minute. I saw pastor and he is still upstairs. Let’s go back and ask for prayer.” So they inched their way and took the escalator back to the third floor.

I saw their faith and asked the Lord to do something. The Lord impressed in me to pull her leg like a water pump. Needlessly, I got scared. She was obviously in great pain.

Pulling her leg was easy, but it took me some more faith to pull through. Thoughts of the lady being rushed to the hospital, newspaper tabloids accusing me of worsening her condition and pointing fingers raced in my mind. It was not an easy time.

I decided to obey the Lord’s impression and took her left leg and began pumping. She grimaced in pain just as I suspected. I asked her to walk in Jesus name. She took a few steps and then exclaimed, “Oh!… Something came loose!”

A few more pumps and prayers and then I asked her to walk again. She began walking and to our joy, the pain was all gone! She got so excited and walked around the sanctuary crying and thanking the Lord! The glory of the Lord hit and we had a glory service, yes only the three of us!

We were all crying for joy at her healing. She stayed until the five o’clock service full of joy and worship to the Lord.

I wondered why the Lord allowed only three of us to experience this wonderful healing. God could have done it while there were more than three hundred people in the service earlier. The impact would have been greater.

One thing is sure, God grants the privilege of experiencing the glories of heaven on earth to those who readily believe Him. 

God is not a “master showman” but a God who really cares. He loves to meet our needs on a personal basis. He reserved the most glorious moments to a handful of shepherds on Jesus’ birth, to a couple in a manger…and to an elderly lady believing for a miracle. 

It seems God has a knack of displaying His glory with a private audience. I suspect God dislikes curious onlookers.

Enoch walked with God. He spoke to Abraham on a personal basis. Jacob wrestled and received his greatest blessings while alone with the angel of the Lord.

Elijah and Elisha both resurrected a dead boy alone inside a room. Jesus resurrected a dead girl with only her parents and a few disciples. Jesus walked on water in the middle of the night seen only by a handful of men. Ezekiel had glorious divine encounters while alone with God.

Peter was released from maximum security prison by an angel in the dead of night. So did Paul and Silas in a Philippian jail. Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration while alone with Jesus on a high mountain. Apostle John received his glorious revelations while exiled in the island of Patmos.

As you spend time alone with God today, never think that it is just a mundane and dull moment. The birth of Jesus was witnessed by only a handful people yet it was one of the most anticipated news event in the history of the universe! No kings and religious authorities to authenticate it.

Our dear Lord Jesus came to save the whole world yet God had you as an individual in mind.

He does not come for show. He comes because He cares. Alone with God today could be your most glorious moment yet. Merry Christmas!

Slaying Giants Before Possessing the Land of the Giants 2

Deuteronomy chapter 3

In all the years of their desert travels, the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day never parted from the Israelites. This was a constant reminder of God’s awesome power.

Merely two years after coming out of Egypt, the children of Israel refused to enter their promised land because they saw giants in the land! 

This is a reminder to all of us to keep our focus on the Lord. Focusing on your circumstances can eat away your confidence in God and cause you to miss out on your Divine inheritance.

Forty years of desert wanderings did two things - one, it purified the camp from rebellion and unbelief. Two, it matured their character and strengthened their resolve to do God's will.

Desert trials does something to you. It purifies your motives and strengthens your faith in the Lord until you rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Never underestimate your wilderness trials because overcoming them will make you a giant slayer.

David was a wilderness shepherd before he became a Goliath slayer.

While running away from king Saul for many years, David lived in caves, barren lands, mountains and other inhospitable locations. "Then all the people in distress, in debt or embittered began gathering around him, and he became their leader; there were about four hundred with him." (1 Samuel 22:2, CJB)

From this band of ragtag characters came forth some of the greatest warriors in Israel. Under David's wings, the once undesirables and doldrums became the thirty mighty men of David. Giant slayers and invincibles.

Here’s a few of them: (1 Chronicles 11:11-25)

Jashobeam using only his spear killed 300 men in a single encounter.

Eleazar (with David) killed numerous Philistines while defending a field of barley. 

Three of the mighty men broke through the Philistine army and through the gate only to draw water for David!

Abishai weilding a spear killed 300 men.

Benaiah was a man of many exploits. He killed two lion-hearted men of Moab, killed a lion on a snowy day and killed a 7 1/2 feet tall Egyptian. Benaiah was a giant slayer!

Jesus Christ fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness and came out in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14) It may be said that our Lord Jesus was redeeming the 40 years of Israelite rebellion and unbelief in the wilderness, one day for each year.

Overcoming your trials again and again will make you strong, mature and unshakable.

In Deuteronomy chapter three, 40 years of desert training made their faith immovable. After crushing Sihon king of Hesbon, they cut down Og king of Bashan, a ferocious giant more than 11 feet tall!

“So the LORD our God also handed over to us Og the king of Bashan with all his people, and we defeated him until he had no one left. At that time we captured all his cities, all the region of Argov, the kingdom of Og in Bashan; all of them fortified cities with high walls, gates and bars - in addition to a great number of unwalled towns. We completely destroyed them, as we did with Sihon king of Heshbon, annihilating every city.” Deuteronomy 3:3-6, CJB

King Og was the last survivor of the giant-kind or “rephaim” (Deuteronomy 3:11). While Og was the only one mentioned, his relatives and other subjects were also of the giant-kind. It may also be possible that Sihon and Og were relatives. Deuteronomy 2:20  indicates that their territories were the land of the giants. The Israelites annihilated them.

The map below shows the extent of the territory that the children of Israel possessed while en route to the Promised Land. 

The vast lands they conquered became the inheritance of Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh. (Highlighted in red, purple and brown. Map taken from the Bible Atlas, Access Foundation, Zaine Ridling, Ph.D., Editor)

The children of Israel became so successful that Moses yearned with all his soul for God to allow him to enter the promised land. As you may recall, Moses was barred from entering the Promised Land for dishonoring the Lord in Kadesh Barnea at the Meribah springs. (http://richardnillo.blogspot.com/2011/09/can-leaders-miss-mark-too.html)

Learn to recount your past victories. Write them in your heart. Stay away from evil.

“Your eyes have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms you encounter when you cross over. Don’t be afraid of them, because the LORD your God will fight on your behalf.” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22,CJB)

Your testimonies of God’s miracles in the past gives impetus to greater victories in the future.

Joshua and Caleb, the only successful desert wanderers in their generation, experienced the fullness of God’s promises.

At 110 years old, Joshua testified, “not one of all the good things the LORD your God said concerning you has failed to happen; it has all come to pass; nothing of it has failed.” (Joshua 23:14, CJB)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The Israelites traveled through the King’s highway toward the Promised Land.

Moses told Sihon and Og, “Let me pass through your land. We won’t turn aside into fields or vineyards, and we won’t drink any water from the wells. We will go along the King’s Highway until we have left your territory.” (Numbers 21:22, CJB)

Why did Sihon and Og, roused all his army to fight Moses when the Israelites just wanted safe passage?

According to the Bible Atlas, this highway was a trade route of spices and perfumes and other goods coming from the Arabian Peninsula. Whoever controls this land excises taxes on the goods brought in for commerce. Who would dare challenge the giants?

Moses told the two kings that he was not a merchant but a nation simply passing through to claim an inheritance in the land of Canaan. Moses and the children of Israel would pay for everything they consume including food and water. Moses and the Israelites are exempt from tributes and other taxes. Moses did not express any feeling of intimidation, just showing dignity and honor.

By now, the fearsome reputation of the LORD in behalf of Israel gained renown in these parts. Egypt and Amalek were already reduced to nothing. But Sihon and Og would have none of it. Crushing the Israelites in battle would bring in for them vast treasures and multitude of slaves.

Perhaps due to greed or pride, they falsely thought that mighty fortresses and sheer size would bring them invincibility. But the name of the LORD is the true banner of Victory - Jehovah Nissi (The LORD is my Banner). Sihon and Og took the death blow.

When you walk through the King's Highway, the giants at the gateway of  God's promises will oppose you. They will come like a devouring lion. But rise up in the name of the Lord and resist them in the power of the Holy Spirit. You shall conquer, amen:) (1 Peter 5:8-11)

The King’s Highway

To spiritualize, the King’s Highway is the Lord’s Highway of Holiness.

“A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it… But the redeemed shall walk there.” (Isaiah 35:8-9, CJB)

It is important to note that the King’s Highway is ‘a must’ before you reach your Promised Land. Before you can obtain your fullness of blessings, you need to walk in holiness.

The Highway of Holiness trains you to be godly

“Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8, NKJV)

For [our parents] disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but [our Heavenly Father] disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness. Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness. (Hebrews 12:10-11, CJB)

“Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, CJB)

Walking on the HIghway of Holiness brings Divine Protection and Retribution:

“Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them," says the Lord." (Jeremiah 2:3, NKJV)

“No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; it shall not be found there.” (Isaiah 35:9, NKJV)

The Spirit of holiness brings about God’s power

“and [Jesus Christ] declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4-5, NKJV)

The Highway of Holiness brings forth beauty, joy and gladness.

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2, NKJV)

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10, NKJV)

The King’s Highway of Holiness will bring you to your Promised Land

"But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 17, NKJV)

Some people call it “old fashioned,” or even “irrelevant.” But holiness will never be irrelevant nor impractical. God’s Holy Highway is the safest passage to His fullness of blessings. 

God has no other highway but holiness. “The unclean will not pass over it.” 

If you call yourself a Christian yet behave in an ungodly manner, you will never obtain God’s promises. Trouble, sorrow and defeat will mark your days. What more? You are living a lie. Shape up and get back to godliness. Make up your mind and walk in the righteousness marked out for you in Christ Jesus. 

As the old time saints used to say, “Take time to be holy.” 

Slay your giants as you march in the King’s Highway of Holiness. The giants of lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life will oppose you greatly but take heart, the Lord will fight with you.

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:21-23, NLT)

As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Scripture says, “You are to be holy because I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:14-16, CJB)

“ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land." (1 Peter 1:17, NLT)

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 

All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” (Jude 24-25, NLT)