TITLE: GOD LOST TWICE IN THE ELECTION TOO

Text: 1 Samuel 8:7And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

Meditation:

As the counting of votes in the Philippines progresses to this moment one thing is obvious, Christians bet is on the losing side. I tell you it’s like a bitter pill that’s hard to swallow. After being convinced that what we are doing is God’s will for the country, whom we are endorsing is God’s will for the post then it makes me wonder why. As I turned my back from viewing the latest poll outcome from the internet I grabbed my Bible groping for insights when suddenly the Lord seemed to whisper these words to me, “I lost twice in the election too”. Immediately the picture of Christ, Pilate and the Israel electorate came to my mind. The candidates were Christ and Barabbas. Armed with the greatest motivation to reconcile Israel back to God He consecrated His life for this cause. God in various ways and various times attempted to show the people who Jesus is; that He is the begotten son of the true King and was sent to Lord over Israel and the world. When people sought for capability Jesus manifested supernatural powers, when they sought for knowledge He gave them Godly wisdom and truth nobody can prevail and when they sought for integrity He challenged anyone who can convicts Him of sin. But alas! When Pilate called for election, Israel casted their votes to the person who was popular in their hearts, Barabbas. Jesus lost that election not because He’s not capable but simply because God’s will is not welcome in Israel and so He was nailed to the cross being watch only by a handful disciples at that time.

Once again God impressed to my mind the time the true King lost the favor of Israel. They asked for another king, a king that will fit their view, patterned according to the popular profile of kings from neighboring nations. God lost that election too not because He’s incapable but because the heart of Israel shifted once again away from God.

7And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." 1King 8:7-9

As I pondered more on this election outcome, a universal truth expressed once by John Maxwell surfaced to my mind; “before you can touch someone’s hand you have to touch his heart”. You just can’t pull a person to your side if his heart does not belong to you. You have to invest something into his heart and whether it is good or bad is not the question; a sort of connection must be there.

Noynoy’s victory was a result of his parent’s long haul investments to the heart of public. Erap’s surprising occupation of 2nd place despite his former record attests to the fact that he is still close to the hearts of Filipinos because of his being a movie actor for quite long. Villar, landed at the 3rd place despite the enormous amount of money he spent during the campaign period. Gibo obviously alien to the hearts of many Filipino and Eddie V…..still alien to many Filipinos, rejected by those who outwardly oppose God and doubted by some brethren landed in the 5th place.

The 2010 election improved a little bit. Technology trimmed down the possibility of fraud and manipulation and made to surface the contents of the heart of the Filipino people. Whether someone says that the people’s choice is not right, winning election is a matter of investing something into the hearts of people; it will take time, it will asks for sacrifice and at worst investment can be sown on the wrong hearts, that’s why God long ago was lost twice.

BUT REMEMBER THIS; GOD IS NOT A LOSER LIKE OTHERS USED TO THINK. CHOICES OF MAN ARE ALLOWED BY GOD THAT MAKE US REALIZE WHETHER WE CHOSE WISELY OR POORLY. SOMEDAY JESUS WILL RETURN NOT AS A SAVIOR BUT A TRUE KING AND JUDGE, NOT ELECTED BY MAN BUT APPOINTED BY THE TRUE KING AND HE WILL JUDGE THE HEARTS OF ALL MEN. WHICH SIDE YOU ARE IN NOW? I WISH YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

Smile :)

Ptr Roger.

ALAM MO NA BA?

 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

Meditation:

It was not a typical Sunday. I had to wake up 3:30 in the morning because it was Easter Sunday and must go to church early for the celebration. Afternoon was spent teaching pre-encounter seminar; later part of the day was spent supporting the youth service and troubleshooting personal problems of some brethren. Arriving home I shouted, “pahinga naman!” then retired to my bed that evening so exhausted only to be awaken by insistent ringing of my cellphone at 12 midnight. Thinking it’s a call from Dubai from my son Ryan, I went outside groping for network signal only to hear a familiar voice asking for an answer to the dumbest trivia question of the night. Rochelle, my daughters classmate, laughing and asked, “Daddy, anu ba sagot sa tanong na, What is greater than God, worse than devil and if you eat “it” you will die?” Honestly I nearly lost my attitude but managed to answer her politely; “the answer is NOTHING, NOTHING is greater than God, NOTHING is worse than devil and if you eat NOTHING, you will die.”

Although such statement was just an answer to a trivia question, it speaks volume of truth specially the first two phrases. Nothing is really greater than God and nothing is worse than the devil. In our text for today, Jesus talks about the true nature and purpose of the devil in man’s life, it is to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan is bent to steal man’s soul and being a thief he will come to you in way you do not know. Satan uses “attacks” but his most effective weapon is “attract”. Even Jesus Himself did not escape the craftiness and deceitfulness of Satan. During Jesus most difficult time while fasting in the wilderness, Satan gave Jesus “attractive” offers in the area of flesh and pride of life. But Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit did not give an inch to the devil.

Someone said that if you will sup with the devil you have to use a long spoon but honestly there is no spoon long enough to be safe from him. If you will give the tip of your finger to the devil, he will swallow your whole hand. Satan is bent to destroy man, the object of God’s love. He is so cunning and uses million ways to trap man to sin and destroy his life. The countless suffering of millions ever since is but a grim testimony of Satan’s worst. Is there a hope for mankind? Yes, because there is God who is greater than all. Jesus at the cross is a slap to the evil nature of Satan. In every way Jesus was tempted yet committed no sin. Was it easy for Jesus to live as a man? No, it wasn’t easy but He was bent to obey His Father and save mankind and the only tool that Jesus used to defeat Satan was His love for us. At the cross, the greatness of God was displayed and the foolishness of Satan was demolished.

HOW’S LIFE MY FRIEND? I WISH YOU ARE DOING GREAT. IS YOUR LIFE IN A MESS? PERHAPS YOU SUPPED WITH THE DEVIL IN THE PAST. IF THAT IS THE CASE JUST SHOUT THE PASSWORD; “LORD JESUS HELP ME!” GOD IS NOT ONLY LORD, HE IS OUR FRIEND AND DELIVERER AND NO MATTER WHAT TRAP YOU ARE IN HE CAN RESCUE YOU. HE IS GREATER THAN ANY SUPERHEROES YOU KNOW AND NO ONE CAN STOP HIM ONCE HE RESCUES YOU. REMEMBER THIS TRUTH; NOTHING IS GREATER THAN GOD.

Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare.

Smile :)

Ptr. Roger

PEACE MAN!

MEDITATION:

In this beatitude, the blessedness of the peacemakers is that they will be identified as sons of God. One unnoticed culture of the Filipino people is their fondness to be identified with someone in higher status. “Kumpare ako ni mayor, pinsan ako ni Judge, apo ko yung manager dun” are phrases that you will hear from a Filipino after you asked for his/her name because we treat such association with honor and dignity. How much more if we are identified as sons of

God although in Filipino to be called “anak ng diyos” is sometimes sarcastic because it conveys the idea that the person called always gains favors though undeserving. But here, Jesus word is not sarcasm, rather a true honor that will result in a life of blessedness and favor from men and God.

What then is a “peacemaker”? A peacemaker is a person who delights in peace and will do all the possible good to create or maintain such atmosphere. The peacemaker keeps the peace that it be not broken, and recovers it when it is broken. But we must be cautious not to become a “peacekeeper”. A “peacekeeper” is a person whom in his desire to keep the peace avoids confrontation with those who create disorder. He also loves to “sweep an issue under the carpet” rather than dealing with it. The perfect example of a peacemaker is Jesus Christ. Jesus fully understands what will bring peace to mankind; it is by dealing the root of all problems, the sin of man. He knows that in the process of bringing peace to mankind the trade-off is His life yet He didn’t hesitate to give it. In His earthly ministry, He courageously confronted the hypocrisy of religious leaders who love to sweep under the rug their misdeeds. Jesus is a peacemaker and not a peacekeeper and in so doing He was often treated with contempt, stoned, hurled to a cliff and later on was arrested and hanged on a cross. Jesus gladly gave His life because His eyes were focused on that great day where true peace will reign forever to mankind.

The third kind of person I will associate with the word “peace” is the “peace-breaker”. Peace-breakers are self-centered persons.

Proverbs 4:1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

If the peace-makers are blessed, woe to the peace-breakers!

PEACE IS RELATIONAL IN NATURE WHICH MEANS YOU CANNOT HAVE IT IF YOU SIMPLY FOCUS ON YOUR LIFE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE EVERYTHING IN LIFE YOU CAN’T BE AT PEACE IF PEOPLE AROUND YOU HAVE MESSED LIFE. WOULD YOU MIND HELPING THEM? THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT A PERSON CAN HAVE IN THE EYES OF GOD IS WHEN HE HELPS OTHERS TO LIVE RIGHT. GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR A PROFOUND SPEAKER; HE SIMPLY LOOKS FOR A PERSON WHO WANTS OTHERS TO LIVE PEACEFULLY. BRING THEM TO GOD. SHARE TO THEM WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE THEIR LIVES WORTH LIVING. CONFRONT THEM OF SIN IF NECESSARY BUT DOES IT LOVINGLY. PERHAPS YOU WERE ONCE A PEACE-BREAKER, ARE YOU NOW A PEACE-KEEPER? BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU ARE NOW A PEACEMAKER FOR PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE, YOU ARE ONE OF GOD’S SON.

Peace!