by Pastor Bong Gonzales
Galatians 4:4-74
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. NIV
In this season of the year many pilgrims are going to celebrate the greatest story ever told which is the Suffering of the Christ for the redemption of mankind. To many somehow who celebrates, they only thought that He just came to redeem us from sin. But let's see what's included in the package when Jesus came to this earth the first time as Messiah.
Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death!
What did He pay in full when He shed Hid blood to redeem us?
1. He redeemed us from sin - the most important of all, for all the wages of sin encapsulate in it. (Rom 5:12). All of our sins are forgiven as we place it upon Christ (1 John 1:9).
2. He broke the bondage of satan - (1 John 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:4). Everyone who comes to the Lord will be freed from the forces of darkness!
3. He healed us from all our sicknesses and diseases - healing of all kinds of sickness, all kinds of diseases are included in the redemptive work of Christ for He will be honored in a healthy body! (2 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Peter 2:24)
4. He sent provision for all our needs- No more poverty in Christ! He will supply all the things that we need (Philippians 4:19, Romans 8:32). A heaven here on earth to those who will believe.
The best of all!
5. He restored our position as Children of God -lost of fellowship with God is man's greatest dilemma. It is the heart of all hurts. His rejection, because of man's willful sin, is mankind's greatest curse. But in Christ all of these were restored!
He placed us again in the beloved of God (John 1:12, Romans 8:14-15)
Well my friend this Lenten season, lets put to heart that Jesus did not just die for our sins! He died to make us live again in a heavenly condition, here on earth and on the age to come in eternity!
Glory to the Lamb of God who was, who is and is to come!
Everytime you are in a situation opposite to what Christ did, do all your faith can, and bring back what is yours in Christ!
By prayer and supplication let your request be known to him, who will do more than what we could ask or think!
Hallelujah!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Today's Devotion- Jesus: Who is He to you
by Pastor Bong Gonzales
Matthew 16:15-19
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
NIV
The knowledge of who the Lord Jesus Christ is, not by the decision of the majority, nor in the level of human intellect! It is a revelation of God the Father to the person to whom it is given.
That’s why as Christians, we should not be offended on why others are saying who Jesus is opposes the word of God. For as in the days of Jesus in the human flesh, many already struggled to know who really he is. But only as the Father reveal Him, then and only then the truth of His person is known to the recipient of who Jesus is.
For God is beyond mans understanding!
The true knowledge of Him as the Christ is just the beginning of a worthy journey. That’s why those who were before us willfully gave their lives for Him when required. Jesus is the greatest knowledge to know, greatest treasure to be found, greatest friend to find and greatest saviour to serve!
That’s why even St. Paul was willing and had counted everything a dung just to know Jesus.
Every followers of Jesus must have the same passion and heart after they have known Jesus as Lord and saviour. He is more than just answering our prayer, more than a healer, a deliverer! He is the Lord God, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit!
We who have the revelation of Him must cherish and be humbled in the grace received from Him.
May we always worship and honor Him as He is!
God bless!
Till next time!
Matthew 16:15-19
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
NIV
The knowledge of who the Lord Jesus Christ is, not by the decision of the majority, nor in the level of human intellect! It is a revelation of God the Father to the person to whom it is given.
That’s why as Christians, we should not be offended on why others are saying who Jesus is opposes the word of God. For as in the days of Jesus in the human flesh, many already struggled to know who really he is. But only as the Father reveal Him, then and only then the truth of His person is known to the recipient of who Jesus is.
For God is beyond mans understanding!
The true knowledge of Him as the Christ is just the beginning of a worthy journey. That’s why those who were before us willfully gave their lives for Him when required. Jesus is the greatest knowledge to know, greatest treasure to be found, greatest friend to find and greatest saviour to serve!
That’s why even St. Paul was willing and had counted everything a dung just to know Jesus.
Every followers of Jesus must have the same passion and heart after they have known Jesus as Lord and saviour. He is more than just answering our prayer, more than a healer, a deliverer! He is the Lord God, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit!
We who have the revelation of Him must cherish and be humbled in the grace received from Him.
May we always worship and honor Him as He is!
God bless!
Till next time!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Being Steady in Shakening
by Pastor Bong Gonzales
Hebrews 12:25-27
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain. NIV
As stated by the word of God, that everything that was created will be shaken. So, all of us and all in us will be shaken! It is expected that our lives will be stormed with so much for the purpose of keeping what is unshakable.
Shaking comes through various Testings and trials!
The only thing that is unshakable in us are the things that are not created! So we must identify whats unshakable in us and what shakable! Well, let me share to you what we have that's unshakable!
1. Faith is unshakable, though it is the target of all trials and testings (1 Peter 1:7). It cannot be shaken because it is given to us by God as stated in (Romans 12:3). Though we have the duty to make it strong and keep it growing through the meditation of the word of God. (Joshua 1:8-9, Matthew 4:4, Romans 10:17).
2. Our personal relationship with Jesus cannot be shaken, because He is the one holding us, not us holding Him. He chose us, it is not us who chose Him. (John 15:16). Therefore, no matter what the testing will bring He can bring us through for He will never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13:8). But again ,we need to remain in Him, allowing Him to bring us wherever and whatever He wills and in His ways.
3. Our opportunity from Him, which is a 24/7 communication line without any off line. A privelege to talk to Him and ask for His help in times of need is unshakable, because He is the one who offered it to us (Jeremiah 33:3).
Let us always come to Him to discuss and express what troubles us, for it is His pleasure to bless us.
No trouble, no trial, no testing in this life is able to bring us down, for there in a God-given unshakableness in us!
In Him we live and move and have our being!
God bless and till next time!
Hebrews 12:25-27
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain. NIV
As stated by the word of God, that everything that was created will be shaken. So, all of us and all in us will be shaken! It is expected that our lives will be stormed with so much for the purpose of keeping what is unshakable.
Shaking comes through various Testings and trials!
The only thing that is unshakable in us are the things that are not created! So we must identify whats unshakable in us and what shakable! Well, let me share to you what we have that's unshakable!
1. Faith is unshakable, though it is the target of all trials and testings (1 Peter 1:7). It cannot be shaken because it is given to us by God as stated in (Romans 12:3). Though we have the duty to make it strong and keep it growing through the meditation of the word of God. (Joshua 1:8-9, Matthew 4:4, Romans 10:17).
2. Our personal relationship with Jesus cannot be shaken, because He is the one holding us, not us holding Him. He chose us, it is not us who chose Him. (John 15:16). Therefore, no matter what the testing will bring He can bring us through for He will never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13:8). But again ,we need to remain in Him, allowing Him to bring us wherever and whatever He wills and in His ways.
3. Our opportunity from Him, which is a 24/7 communication line without any off line. A privelege to talk to Him and ask for His help in times of need is unshakable, because He is the one who offered it to us (Jeremiah 33:3).
Let us always come to Him to discuss and express what troubles us, for it is His pleasure to bless us.
No trouble, no trial, no testing in this life is able to bring us down, for there in a God-given unshakableness in us!
In Him we live and move and have our being!
God bless and till next time!
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