SCRIPTURE
21 The word of the LORD came to me: 22 "Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'? 23 Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. 25 But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
Ezekiel 12:21-25
OBSERVATION
The skepticism people had about God's revelations was off the charts. They were thinking, "God likes to cry out 'wolf' a lot. He keps warning us about imminent destruction and it's not happening." They even made up a mocking proverb to make their point. And eventually, God's vision of destruction came to pass and the people of Israel suffered. They had a great chance to believe and repent, but they blew it away because of their skepticism. They learned that God always fulfills the true visions He gives to His people. In this case, the visions were about destruction. But the same can be said about the visions of restoration.
APPLICATION
The danger of skepticism over the visions of destruction is that also affects our perception about God's revelation of restoration. God's vision of healing and restoration is greater than any doom and gloom revelation. When God promises growth, healing, hope, and restoration, He means what He says, and He will fulfill those visions, regardless of our skepticism. He is faithful to accomplish what He reveals in visions. And if He promises blessing, He will work through it all, at the right time, to bring forth His blessings.
There have been some visions, some revelations from God about my life, where I have been loosing hope for. My level of skepticism has been growing. But this morning I'm reminded that God is faithful to his promises. He will finish the good work He started in me. He will give me a new and better heart to follow Him and love Him. He will bring healing where there is brokeness. He will bring provision where I don't have enough. And He will give me wisdom when I'm indecisive or lost. He will fulfill the vision without delay. Great blessings are around the corner.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please forgive me for the small amounts of skepticism sometimes I allow in my mind. They may be insignificant, but I don't want to harbor them in my heart. Please help me to put all my truyst in you and how to increase my faith in the viosions you have revealed in my personal life, for my family, for the ministry and for the church. Greater things are ahead of us. You are faithful and you will fulfill your promises without delay. Help us to be prepared to receive those blessings in a way that honors you. In Jesus name, Amen!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
DEALING WITH POST-SIN DARKNESS. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
Psalm 143:8-10
OBSERVATION
King David is depressed as he writes this psalm. He has been defeated by his enemies and he describes how he has been forced by them to live in darkness. He is loosing hope and he is paralyzed with fear. He remembers the past where he lived a better life with God giving him victory over his enemies. And David wants to return to those days. He prays passionately, lifting his hands, seeking God once again in desperation. Then he prays from the heart these verses and pleads for protection and restoration. He is at the end of his rope and he doesn't know where else to go.
APPLICATION
Very often we find ourselves in the same predicament David was when he wrote this psalm. We see how the enemy of our souls has chased us, knocked us to the ground, and forces us to live in darkness. The enemy will use anything to bring us down: our impatience, our lack of endurance, our sufferings, and especially, our own sin. The enemy not only causes us to sin, but also uses our sin to inflict a greater damage. This post-sin state is very painful. At those moments, we need to learn from David and from the way he prayed to God.
First of all, we need to make an effort to seek the Lord. At those moments of shame and remorse, we think a lot, but we don't bring our presence before God. We need to find that secret place where we can lift our hands and cry out to the Lord. We need to experience God's presence like never before. We need to find that prayer closet where we can focus completely in God power and pray the way David did. As we put our trust and faith in those words that we pray and as we bring our hearts sincerely before God, the power of restoration will invade our lives and we will be rescued from the post-sin state of darkness and despair.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please forgive me for the many times I'm in the floor, forced to live in darkens in a post-sin state, and being distracted from seeking your presence. I need you in my life and all I do is to neglect or avoid your presence. I need to be diligent to find my secret private prayer closet where I can lift my hands without distractions and open my heart completely before you. Help me Lord to overcome those moments of despair and defeat. Help me to have the life you always intended for me. Amen!
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
Psalm 143:8-10
OBSERVATION
King David is depressed as he writes this psalm. He has been defeated by his enemies and he describes how he has been forced by them to live in darkness. He is loosing hope and he is paralyzed with fear. He remembers the past where he lived a better life with God giving him victory over his enemies. And David wants to return to those days. He prays passionately, lifting his hands, seeking God once again in desperation. Then he prays from the heart these verses and pleads for protection and restoration. He is at the end of his rope and he doesn't know where else to go.
APPLICATION
Very often we find ourselves in the same predicament David was when he wrote this psalm. We see how the enemy of our souls has chased us, knocked us to the ground, and forces us to live in darkness. The enemy will use anything to bring us down: our impatience, our lack of endurance, our sufferings, and especially, our own sin. The enemy not only causes us to sin, but also uses our sin to inflict a greater damage. This post-sin state is very painful. At those moments, we need to learn from David and from the way he prayed to God.
First of all, we need to make an effort to seek the Lord. At those moments of shame and remorse, we think a lot, but we don't bring our presence before God. We need to find that secret place where we can lift our hands and cry out to the Lord. We need to experience God's presence like never before. We need to find that prayer closet where we can focus completely in God power and pray the way David did. As we put our trust and faith in those words that we pray and as we bring our hearts sincerely before God, the power of restoration will invade our lives and we will be rescued from the post-sin state of darkness and despair.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please forgive me for the many times I'm in the floor, forced to live in darkens in a post-sin state, and being distracted from seeking your presence. I need you in my life and all I do is to neglect or avoid your presence. I need to be diligent to find my secret private prayer closet where I can lift my hands without distractions and open my heart completely before you. Help me Lord to overcome those moments of despair and defeat. Help me to have the life you always intended for me. Amen!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
WORSE CASE SCENARIO. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE
“But I am afraid to surrender,” the king said, “for the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!” Jeremiah replied, “You won’t be handed over to them if you choose to obey the Lord. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you."
Jeremiah 38:19-20
OBSERVATION
King Zedekiah was more afraid of what people could do to him than what God could do to him. His fear impaired his judgment. It caused him to be indecisive, anxious, and certainly, very proud. When Jeremiah exhorts him to surrender, Zedekiah cannot even consider it. His fear has taken over his will. He thinks that no one should have power or authority over him. He alone determines his own destiny. He was very wrong. The history of Israel and Zedekiah's descendants would have been very different if he had simply complied to God's command to surrender and to trust in His grace to protect him.
APPLICATION
Fearing people more than God will always cause us to become stubborn and prideful. We know that this is the worse case scenario with God. The Lord resists the proud and stays away from those who lack the humility necessary to surrender their will and plan to God. We fear people more than God when we make decisions thinking more about what people would say or do. We don't want to confess and repent becasue we are afraid that people would misjudge us and reject us. We are afraid to stand up for what is right because we want to avoid criticism. We are afraid to surrender any area in our lives because we don't trust that God will honor our obedience. That is the big problem with stubbornness. It's rooted in lack of trust in God. It's the total opposite from faith. And it's the worse case scenario in our relationship with God. It will destroy every thing in our lives.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, there is some of Zedekiah in me that needs to die today. I recognize that in many instances I'm more afraid of what people can do to me than what you can do in my life if I continue in stubbornness. Please forgive me for not trusting in your hand of grace completely. Help me to make decisions, tough ones, regardless of what people think. Let my faith grow as I trust in your redemption power more than in my own ways to handle my life. You are the King of my life, not me. I surrender it all to you. Amen!
“But I am afraid to surrender,” the king said, “for the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!” Jeremiah replied, “You won’t be handed over to them if you choose to obey the Lord. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you."
Jeremiah 38:19-20
OBSERVATION
King Zedekiah was more afraid of what people could do to him than what God could do to him. His fear impaired his judgment. It caused him to be indecisive, anxious, and certainly, very proud. When Jeremiah exhorts him to surrender, Zedekiah cannot even consider it. His fear has taken over his will. He thinks that no one should have power or authority over him. He alone determines his own destiny. He was very wrong. The history of Israel and Zedekiah's descendants would have been very different if he had simply complied to God's command to surrender and to trust in His grace to protect him.
APPLICATION
Fearing people more than God will always cause us to become stubborn and prideful. We know that this is the worse case scenario with God. The Lord resists the proud and stays away from those who lack the humility necessary to surrender their will and plan to God. We fear people more than God when we make decisions thinking more about what people would say or do. We don't want to confess and repent becasue we are afraid that people would misjudge us and reject us. We are afraid to stand up for what is right because we want to avoid criticism. We are afraid to surrender any area in our lives because we don't trust that God will honor our obedience. That is the big problem with stubbornness. It's rooted in lack of trust in God. It's the total opposite from faith. And it's the worse case scenario in our relationship with God. It will destroy every thing in our lives.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, there is some of Zedekiah in me that needs to die today. I recognize that in many instances I'm more afraid of what people can do to me than what you can do in my life if I continue in stubbornness. Please forgive me for not trusting in your hand of grace completely. Help me to make decisions, tough ones, regardless of what people think. Let my faith grow as I trust in your redemption power more than in my own ways to handle my life. You are the King of my life, not me. I surrender it all to you. Amen!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
THE BLESSINGS OF TRANSPARENCY. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanse us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
OBSERVATION
The key for significant and authentic relationships is transparency. When living in the light, there is no secrets, no shame, no hidden agendas, no selfish motives, no bitterness, and no lies. When we create an environment where the light shines in every corner of our hearts, our fellowship with other people will be transparent, real, and the blood of Jesus will stick in our hearts and cover all our sin.
APPLICATION
When it comes to relationships, especially with those who are really close to us, we need to make sure that there is no interruptions to transparency. We must speak things in love rather than holding them. We must heal rather than hide. We must process our thoughts together and be objective when dealing with perceptions rather than making our mind about a person or a situation. Close relationships are the best scenario to learn how to be transparent and invade our hearts with the light.
There are close relationships in my life where I'm experiencing a kind of lack of transparency. On my side, I'm afraid that I will hurt them when I reveal what it's in my mind and instead of making things better, I will make things worse. And I think that the same feeling happens on the other side. We need to learn how to speak the truth in love. We need to overcome our fears and let God's light shine all the corners of our hearts.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to bring transparency in all my relationships, especially with those who are very close to me. Let me overcome my fears and give me wisdom to speak the truth in love, at the right time, with the right words. In Jesus name. Amen!
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanse us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
OBSERVATION
The key for significant and authentic relationships is transparency. When living in the light, there is no secrets, no shame, no hidden agendas, no selfish motives, no bitterness, and no lies. When we create an environment where the light shines in every corner of our hearts, our fellowship with other people will be transparent, real, and the blood of Jesus will stick in our hearts and cover all our sin.
APPLICATION
When it comes to relationships, especially with those who are really close to us, we need to make sure that there is no interruptions to transparency. We must speak things in love rather than holding them. We must heal rather than hide. We must process our thoughts together and be objective when dealing with perceptions rather than making our mind about a person or a situation. Close relationships are the best scenario to learn how to be transparent and invade our hearts with the light.
There are close relationships in my life where I'm experiencing a kind of lack of transparency. On my side, I'm afraid that I will hurt them when I reveal what it's in my mind and instead of making things better, I will make things worse. And I think that the same feeling happens on the other side. We need to learn how to speak the truth in love. We need to overcome our fears and let God's light shine all the corners of our hearts.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to bring transparency in all my relationships, especially with those who are very close to me. Let me overcome my fears and give me wisdom to speak the truth in love, at the right time, with the right words. In Jesus name. Amen!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
RESILIENCE TO FOLLOW HIM. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE
Then Jesus said to him (Peter), "Follow Me!"
John 21:19
OBSERVATION
After the resurrection, Jesus has in his mind to restore Peter's confidence to be a follower. After his failure denying Jesus, Peter felt disqualified from the higher calling. So he went back to his old fishing business. Peter's past failures were a roadblock and Jesus masterfully demolished them by giving Peter grace and by reconfirming his assignment to feed God's flock. That's when Jesus pronounced the same words He spoke to Peter 3 years before, "Follow me!" But there was another roadblock in Peter's life - comparison. He compared himself with Johnny the "Good Boy." Jesus, once again, destroys that roadblock by rebuking Peter's insecurities and by exhorting him to focus in his own assignment, not in John's. And once again, Jesus said, "You must follow me."
APPLICATION
Following Christ is a matter of resilience and determination to demolish any roadblock set in front of us. For Peter, past failures and comparison were on the way. I can relate to Peter about this, especially when my own past threatens to disqualify me from the race. Every time I fall my pace slows down. Sometimes I want to go back to my old business. In my reasoning, I cannot see myself leading God's people if I cannot lead myself well. Yet, the Lord in His grace keeps calling me, saying, "Follow me." I need to make a clear decision every time I face my failures... am I going to follow Christ wholeheartedly, or am I going to be distracted with self-pity. I must be willing to follow Him with resilience, even against my own failures. I need to trust in His grace and embrace His calling to feed His flock. God did not made a mistake when He called me to this assignment. He knows what He is doing. I need to follow Him with resilience.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes I don't understand why you did call me to follow you. I'm not the brightest, nor the most capable, and certainly, I'm not the most faithful. I cannot run away from your calling to follow you, especially when I'm facing my past failures. Please help me to trust in your grace and honor it by following you with resilience. Let me face my opposition with dignity, faith, and determination. Please restore me and heal me from my own failures, and give me endurance to follow you regardless of my performance. I love You Lord! And I will follow you all the days of my life.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
REWARDS OF OBEDIENCE. By Pastor Fernando.
SCRIPTURE
18 Then Jeremiah turned to the Recabites and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed your ancestor Jehonadab in every respect, following all his instructions.’ 19 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me.’”
Jeremiah 35:18-19
OBSERVATION
God uses the Recabites way of life as an example of obedience and sets a pattern of rewards for anyone who is willing to follow the same lifestyle. Because of their obedience, they created a legacy of service before God. Just like the Levites did, the Recabites were about to enjoy a special favor from God exclusive of those who serve Him. They had no wrries about living arrange,ents becasue God Himself always took care of them. They never have to worry about food becasue God Himself took care of their hunger. An dmore than anything, serving God guaranteed constant access to His presence and fellowship. Obedience really pays off in ways that sometimes people underestimate.
APPLICATION
This morning I'm coming back from a long family vacation, ready to resume my normal schedule and the responsibilities of my calling. I'm refreshed and ready to continue blazing a fresh trail God is preparing for me, my family, and our church. However, I cannot be distracted by the tasks and neglect the areas where my full and immediate obedience is required. In my own personal assesment and self-evaluation I cannot see an intentional area of disoebience like the Israelites have. But what I can see are areas of compromise where I'm too slow to make radical changes. They are like loose ends that continue putting me in situations where I will be vulnerable to fall. The very basics of my relationship with God cannot be neglected. They need to be restored to full capacity. Especially, my time in God's presence to be nurtured by His holiness, to be embraced by His grace, to be consumed by His compassion, and to be instructed in the ways I shoud go.
PRAYER
Dear heaveny Father, I don't want to miss the rewards that a swift and consistent lifestyle of obedience will bring into my life. I don't want to loose my caling of service and compromise the legacy for generations to come. Let me become more obedient like the Recabites. Let me follow their example. Help me to put my home in order, to tie all loose ends, and to move forward in sincere and swift obedience to all your promptings and instructions. Amen!
18 Then Jeremiah turned to the Recabites and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed your ancestor Jehonadab in every respect, following all his instructions.’ 19 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me.’”
Jeremiah 35:18-19
OBSERVATION
God uses the Recabites way of life as an example of obedience and sets a pattern of rewards for anyone who is willing to follow the same lifestyle. Because of their obedience, they created a legacy of service before God. Just like the Levites did, the Recabites were about to enjoy a special favor from God exclusive of those who serve Him. They had no wrries about living arrange,ents becasue God Himself always took care of them. They never have to worry about food becasue God Himself took care of their hunger. An dmore than anything, serving God guaranteed constant access to His presence and fellowship. Obedience really pays off in ways that sometimes people underestimate.
APPLICATION
This morning I'm coming back from a long family vacation, ready to resume my normal schedule and the responsibilities of my calling. I'm refreshed and ready to continue blazing a fresh trail God is preparing for me, my family, and our church. However, I cannot be distracted by the tasks and neglect the areas where my full and immediate obedience is required. In my own personal assesment and self-evaluation I cannot see an intentional area of disoebience like the Israelites have. But what I can see are areas of compromise where I'm too slow to make radical changes. They are like loose ends that continue putting me in situations where I will be vulnerable to fall. The very basics of my relationship with God cannot be neglected. They need to be restored to full capacity. Especially, my time in God's presence to be nurtured by His holiness, to be embraced by His grace, to be consumed by His compassion, and to be instructed in the ways I shoud go.
PRAYER
Dear heaveny Father, I don't want to miss the rewards that a swift and consistent lifestyle of obedience will bring into my life. I don't want to loose my caling of service and compromise the legacy for generations to come. Let me become more obedient like the Recabites. Let me follow their example. Help me to put my home in order, to tie all loose ends, and to move forward in sincere and swift obedience to all your promptings and instructions. Amen!
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