SCRIPTURE - Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
OBSERVATION
David is asking God to make him more aware of the true condition of his heart. David knows that when we go through trials and our character is tested, we will discover our hidden anxiety and sinfulness. David understands the importance of being objective about the condition of his heart and totally depends on God's sovereignty to be aware of his weaknesses and blind spots. This kind of prayer should be taken seriously, especially when God answers it and we are tested.
APPLICATION
Building relationships with people that are not aware of their true condition can be very frustrating. Only when we are tested the truth comes to surface. And even when confronted with the truth, some people play defensive and don't want to admit what they see in the mirror. For whatever reason (fear, insecurity, lack of trust,) people keep going through life unaware of their anxiety and offensive ways. And such condition doesn't help them to build healthy and rewarding relationships.
But a worse scenario is when the person through trials becomes aware of the true condition of his heart, has good intentions, but does not grow out of it. It may be stubbornness and unwillingness to change. It could also be self-deception. Whatever reason or excuse, the enemy is behind any plan to keep us from growing in character and building healthy relationships.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I need to stay closer to you every single moment so you can reveal the true condition of my heart. Let me be aware of who I am and of who you are. I am broken, but you are my healer. Please search me and reveal my anxiousness and sinfulness as I go though life's tests. And as I become more aware, give me the humility to repent and grow. Also help me to be gracious with others the same way you are gracious to me. When they are not aware of their compulsions, let me guide them with faithfulness and let me speak the truth in love. Amen.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
LIKE WALKING ON WATER. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - Matthew 14:28-30
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
OBSERVATION
Peter is like many of us... full of emotion and excitement when experiencing novelty, but fearful and doubtful when tested to follow trough. He is walking on water, but soon enough, as reality becomes evident, he looses focus and sinks. Jesus in a loving way reveals to Peter that we need faith to start and faith to finish.
King David had to trust in the Lord to accomplish the impossible task to conquer Jerusalem. He started with faith and follow through with faith until the city became the City of David. He knew that walking with God is process where faith sustains you all the way through, just like walking on water.
APPLICATION
In many areas of my life I'm starting to walk on water, but as reality sinks and I realize how amazing is to take the first steps of faith, doubts and fears are gaining momentum. I'm living one of the best seasons of my life, experiencing abundance and harvest beyond what I could ever think or imagine. But to be honest, I'm not sure if I have what it takes to keep walking on water. The wind is gaining speed and the waves are starting to raise. And even though I'm not drowning now, I know that I must grow my little faith. I need the Lord more than ever before. I cannot loose focus at this moment. I must fix my eyes in Jesus to sustain me and build my faith as I follow through.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, as you promised to me several years ago, I'm conquering my own Jerusalem. Despite all the opposition and impossibles, yu have been faithful to provide a way to conquer the city. I've been walking on water, but I need you more than ever before so I don't drown. Please come to my rescue and build in me a faith I never had before. Help me to keep walking in faith as I follow through with your plan for my life. You are the source of my faith, so let me increase my love and devotion for you. Don't let me go. Draw me close to you so I can fix my eyes on you as we together walk on water. I love you Lord. Amen!
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
OBSERVATION
Peter is like many of us... full of emotion and excitement when experiencing novelty, but fearful and doubtful when tested to follow trough. He is walking on water, but soon enough, as reality becomes evident, he looses focus and sinks. Jesus in a loving way reveals to Peter that we need faith to start and faith to finish.
King David had to trust in the Lord to accomplish the impossible task to conquer Jerusalem. He started with faith and follow through with faith until the city became the City of David. He knew that walking with God is process where faith sustains you all the way through, just like walking on water.
APPLICATION
In many areas of my life I'm starting to walk on water, but as reality sinks and I realize how amazing is to take the first steps of faith, doubts and fears are gaining momentum. I'm living one of the best seasons of my life, experiencing abundance and harvest beyond what I could ever think or imagine. But to be honest, I'm not sure if I have what it takes to keep walking on water. The wind is gaining speed and the waves are starting to raise. And even though I'm not drowning now, I know that I must grow my little faith. I need the Lord more than ever before. I cannot loose focus at this moment. I must fix my eyes in Jesus to sustain me and build my faith as I follow through.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, as you promised to me several years ago, I'm conquering my own Jerusalem. Despite all the opposition and impossibles, yu have been faithful to provide a way to conquer the city. I've been walking on water, but I need you more than ever before so I don't drown. Please come to my rescue and build in me a faith I never had before. Help me to keep walking in faith as I follow through with your plan for my life. You are the source of my faith, so let me increase my love and devotion for you. Don't let me go. Draw me close to you so I can fix my eyes on you as we together walk on water. I love you Lord. Amen!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
DEALING WITH FOOLS. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - 1 Samuel 25:25
May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him.
OBSERVATION
Abigail's appeal to David was full of wisdom and humility. It caused David to relent from an angry response to Nabal's insults. It's amazing when the power of persuasion is used in a way that brings good and blessing. David had to deal with a fool like Nabal, and his first response was not the appropriate. Abigail had more experience dealing with fools. She knew how to handle Nabal, not to take the insults of a fool personally, and how to let God take care of the situation. Her good judgment brought righteousness and avoided unnecessary bloodshed in David's hands.
APPLICATION
Proverbs 13:20 says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Nabal was a fool. His name means "fool." Abigail was married to him, but she did not become a fool. Having fools around will not make you a fool, but because of proximity to their lives, we are vulnerable to the consequences of their decisions. Nabal's foolishness almost had all the men in his household killed. That's why when we are in proximity with fools, we have a higher propensity to suffer harm.
Abigail knew how to deal with fools and we must learn from her. Fools are people that know the difference between right or wrong, but they don't care and still do whatever they want. They know that treating their spouse in a certain way is wrong, but they don't care. Fools are all around us. Maybe wee live with one of them, or we work with some of them, and certainly, we go to church with some of them. How do we deal with them? We do what Abigail did. We do not pay attention to their folly, we do not take their insults personally, and we prepare for the worse to avoid the shrapnel that comes when they blow up. We need to trust in the Lord to deal with them, and certainly, we need to invest more in building deep relationships with the wise, not with fools.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please help me to learn from Abigail how to deal with fools. Give me the grace and good judgment to treat them the way you treat me when I act foolishly. Please surround me with people that are wise. Help me to develop a tough shell but keep a soft heart to deal with the sharpnel that fools will spread when they blow up. I love you Lord. Amen!
May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him.
OBSERVATION
Abigail's appeal to David was full of wisdom and humility. It caused David to relent from an angry response to Nabal's insults. It's amazing when the power of persuasion is used in a way that brings good and blessing. David had to deal with a fool like Nabal, and his first response was not the appropriate. Abigail had more experience dealing with fools. She knew how to handle Nabal, not to take the insults of a fool personally, and how to let God take care of the situation. Her good judgment brought righteousness and avoided unnecessary bloodshed in David's hands.
APPLICATION
Proverbs 13:20 says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Nabal was a fool. His name means "fool." Abigail was married to him, but she did not become a fool. Having fools around will not make you a fool, but because of proximity to their lives, we are vulnerable to the consequences of their decisions. Nabal's foolishness almost had all the men in his household killed. That's why when we are in proximity with fools, we have a higher propensity to suffer harm.
Abigail knew how to deal with fools and we must learn from her. Fools are people that know the difference between right or wrong, but they don't care and still do whatever they want. They know that treating their spouse in a certain way is wrong, but they don't care. Fools are all around us. Maybe wee live with one of them, or we work with some of them, and certainly, we go to church with some of them. How do we deal with them? We do what Abigail did. We do not pay attention to their folly, we do not take their insults personally, and we prepare for the worse to avoid the shrapnel that comes when they blow up. We need to trust in the Lord to deal with them, and certainly, we need to invest more in building deep relationships with the wise, not with fools.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please help me to learn from Abigail how to deal with fools. Give me the grace and good judgment to treat them the way you treat me when I act foolishly. Please surround me with people that are wise. Help me to develop a tough shell but keep a soft heart to deal with the sharpnel that fools will spread when they blow up. I love you Lord. Amen!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
THE HEART OF A FINISHER. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - 2 Corinthians 8:11
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
OBSERVATION
As Paul encourages the Corinthians for their generosity and good intentions, he exhorts them to go beyond and turn their intentions into complete actions. He wants them to have the heart of a finisher, to follow through, and to carry the ball across the line. He also makes sure that they have all they need so there is no room for excuses for incomplete actions.
APPLICATION
One of the greatest problems with our culture is that people are usually coming up with good intentions, but very few carry them through. We think about it, we prepare about it, we dream about it, but at the end, we end up delivering only a portion of what we intended to do. I have so many stories in my own life that follow this pattern. The first one I can remember, when I was 16 years old, I was learning electronics in high school and I took apart an old TV with the intention to fix it. I kept the parts in a box for several moths until I had to throw it away. And just like that project, my life has a large collection of unrealized good intentions.
This morning I feel exhorted by the Holy Spirit to take a look at those things that God has put in my heart and that have been started, but have not been followed through until completion. I need to develop and apply the heart of the finisher in all those good intentions. I cannot allow opposition or setbacks derail me from what God has put in my heart to do. If something doesn't happen, it will be not because my lack of resilience. I need to match my good intentions with completed actions according to my means. And I'm confident that as I give everything I have, God will come up with what is lacking.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for being so patient with me when I get excited at the beginning of a project, have good intentions, but then those intentions cool off and become one more box of unfinished business. I've been cluttering my life with those lately. In your mercy, let me revisit those projects and help me to carry them through to completion. Show me how to give everything I have according to my means, and give me the faith to keep trusting in your provision for what I don't have to complete them. You are faithful. The good work that you started in me, you will be faithful to complete it. You are a finisher. Please give me your heart, the heart of a finisher.
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
OBSERVATION
As Paul encourages the Corinthians for their generosity and good intentions, he exhorts them to go beyond and turn their intentions into complete actions. He wants them to have the heart of a finisher, to follow through, and to carry the ball across the line. He also makes sure that they have all they need so there is no room for excuses for incomplete actions.
APPLICATION
One of the greatest problems with our culture is that people are usually coming up with good intentions, but very few carry them through. We think about it, we prepare about it, we dream about it, but at the end, we end up delivering only a portion of what we intended to do. I have so many stories in my own life that follow this pattern. The first one I can remember, when I was 16 years old, I was learning electronics in high school and I took apart an old TV with the intention to fix it. I kept the parts in a box for several moths until I had to throw it away. And just like that project, my life has a large collection of unrealized good intentions.
This morning I feel exhorted by the Holy Spirit to take a look at those things that God has put in my heart and that have been started, but have not been followed through until completion. I need to develop and apply the heart of the finisher in all those good intentions. I cannot allow opposition or setbacks derail me from what God has put in my heart to do. If something doesn't happen, it will be not because my lack of resilience. I need to match my good intentions with completed actions according to my means. And I'm confident that as I give everything I have, God will come up with what is lacking.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for being so patient with me when I get excited at the beginning of a project, have good intentions, but then those intentions cool off and become one more box of unfinished business. I've been cluttering my life with those lately. In your mercy, let me revisit those projects and help me to carry them through to completion. Show me how to give everything I have according to my means, and give me the faith to keep trusting in your provision for what I don't have to complete them. You are faithful. The good work that you started in me, you will be faithful to complete it. You are a finisher. Please give me your heart, the heart of a finisher.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
FAITHFUL PRIESTS. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE
"And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always."
1 Samuel: 2:34-35
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
OBSERVATION
The two sons of Eli were a disgrace for the priesthood and for the people of Israel. They took advantage of the people to satisfy their own selfish cravings. Their behavior was out of control. They were not even shameful about it as their actions were done in the light and everyone knew about them. Eli confronted them, but they wouldn't listen. They did not know that God cannot be mocked and they reap what the sow. For the sake of righteousness, God promised a new and improved priesthood. Going beyond Samuel's priesthood, God here is talking about the High Priest Jesus. Years later, the apostle Paul recognizes the importance of all disciples (priests) of Christ to keep a pure and holy life out of reverence for God.
APPLICATION
Reverence is more than having good manners in religious events. It's a lifestyle of obedience, surrender, and humility, especially when God has called us to serve His people. We belong the priest line of Jesus and He sets the example of how we serve them. For that reason, we need to be aware and get rid of any behavior and mindset that contaminates the purity and holiness of our calling.
In the life of a minister there are three big tests: power, sex, and money. We cannot afford to fail any of these three tests. Otherwise, we will follow the patterns of Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons. Constantly we need to keep cleaning our hearts from any propensity for self-centeredness and surrender our lives and give it all for the cause of the Gospel. We cannot allow ourselves to become comfortable with and cherish sin like Psalm 66:18 says. We need to keep seeking holiness, not because we have to, but because out of our sincere love we want to honor God, the One who gave it all for us.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for calling me to serve your people and to follow the patterns of servant-leadership set by Jesus. I cannot do this on my own. I need more and more of your Holy Spirit to be able to serve people in this sacrificial way. Please forgive me for the many times I entertain sin and become selfish. Help me to become a faithful priest, that ministers according to your heart and mind. I love you Lord. Amen!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT DISCOURAGED. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - 2 Corinthians 6:11-13
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
OBSERVATION
Paul was disappointed about the way the church in Corinth had responded to his love for them. But Paul didn't give up on them. He continued focused in God's calling for his life, even when he faced all kinds of setbacks and roadblocks from outsiders and even insiders of the church. He is not letting the Corinthians' cold shoulder discourage him.
APPLICATION
Very often we will open our hearts to people and we will invest in building relationships that give God the glory. But very often, people will respond in a way that may disappoint us, but should never discourage us from doing what is right. Our tendency is to give and invest as much as others do. We want to be fair and be treated with fairness. But life is not fair, and we cannot determine our attitude by the response of others. We must continue focused in our calling to love and shepherd people. We cannot give up on them even when they give up on us.
The enemy wants to destroy and undermine the essence of God's love in our relationships. We need to persevere and pay the price with our sacrificial love. It's easy to love when we receive the same love. But the real test is when people respond with suspicion, with unfaithfulness, with arrogance, with defensiveness, with lack of appreciation, or simply when they ignore us. Our goal should be the same as Jesus, who regardless of our response, gave it all to love us.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for encouraging me today to love others regardless of their response to my affection. I may be disappointed when people don't treat my love with fairness, but I will not be discouraged or stop investing my love. I will continue pouring out my life as an offering until these people are conquered by my love. Let our church be a place where we continue loving people regardless of how they treat us. Let us love our community, even if we are not appreciated. Gives your heart for people, a heart that never fails and never gives up. Amen!
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
OBSERVATION
Paul was disappointed about the way the church in Corinth had responded to his love for them. But Paul didn't give up on them. He continued focused in God's calling for his life, even when he faced all kinds of setbacks and roadblocks from outsiders and even insiders of the church. He is not letting the Corinthians' cold shoulder discourage him.
APPLICATION
Very often we will open our hearts to people and we will invest in building relationships that give God the glory. But very often, people will respond in a way that may disappoint us, but should never discourage us from doing what is right. Our tendency is to give and invest as much as others do. We want to be fair and be treated with fairness. But life is not fair, and we cannot determine our attitude by the response of others. We must continue focused in our calling to love and shepherd people. We cannot give up on them even when they give up on us.
The enemy wants to destroy and undermine the essence of God's love in our relationships. We need to persevere and pay the price with our sacrificial love. It's easy to love when we receive the same love. But the real test is when people respond with suspicion, with unfaithfulness, with arrogance, with defensiveness, with lack of appreciation, or simply when they ignore us. Our goal should be the same as Jesus, who regardless of our response, gave it all to love us.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for encouraging me today to love others regardless of their response to my affection. I may be disappointed when people don't treat my love with fairness, but I will not be discouraged or stop investing my love. I will continue pouring out my life as an offering until these people are conquered by my love. Let our church be a place where we continue loving people regardless of how they treat us. Let us love our community, even if we are not appreciated. Gives your heart for people, a heart that never fails and never gives up. Amen!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
RELYING ON GOD. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
OBSERVATION
Through transparency, Paul reveals his struggles and ministers with hope to the people in Corinth. He openly shares about his hardships because he understands God's purpose when life is not smooth. Life is not fair, but God is always good. Paul knows that his trials helped him to rely not in himself, but on God. Rather than eating away his faith, his troubles increased his faith. He knew how to handle problems and use them for God's glory.
APPLICATION
One of the signs of a mature character in a believer is his or her ability to deal with trials. God allows those uncomfortable moments in our lives to create a greater dependency on Him. We get closer to God when life throws its punches. But our human nature has the tendency to either fight or flight. We try to fight with our own strength or we run away ignoring what's going on. But in Christ, we can face all our trials with faith and hope because the power of the resurrection is available through our communion with the Holy Spirit.
Very recently I realized that are still many areas of struggle in my life where I rely on my own strength and not in the power of God. The more I surrender to His will and power, the more freedom and healing I will experience. And even though I believe firmly in transparency, sometimes I'm afraid of sharing my struggles with others. I need to press on and rely more on God's power, love and grace for me.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for the trails and struggles that are allowed in my journey. I know that they are not there to stop me, but to propel me into a greater faith and closeness with you. Please forgive me for the many times I deal with them in my own strength, relying on my own. I surrender all those things to you and I pray that I will have the courage and strength to walk according to your plan, not mine. Amen!
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
OBSERVATION
Through transparency, Paul reveals his struggles and ministers with hope to the people in Corinth. He openly shares about his hardships because he understands God's purpose when life is not smooth. Life is not fair, but God is always good. Paul knows that his trials helped him to rely not in himself, but on God. Rather than eating away his faith, his troubles increased his faith. He knew how to handle problems and use them for God's glory.
APPLICATION
One of the signs of a mature character in a believer is his or her ability to deal with trials. God allows those uncomfortable moments in our lives to create a greater dependency on Him. We get closer to God when life throws its punches. But our human nature has the tendency to either fight or flight. We try to fight with our own strength or we run away ignoring what's going on. But in Christ, we can face all our trials with faith and hope because the power of the resurrection is available through our communion with the Holy Spirit.
Very recently I realized that are still many areas of struggle in my life where I rely on my own strength and not in the power of God. The more I surrender to His will and power, the more freedom and healing I will experience. And even though I believe firmly in transparency, sometimes I'm afraid of sharing my struggles with others. I need to press on and rely more on God's power, love and grace for me.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for the trails and struggles that are allowed in my journey. I know that they are not there to stop me, but to propel me into a greater faith and closeness with you. Please forgive me for the many times I deal with them in my own strength, relying on my own. I surrender all those things to you and I pray that I will have the courage and strength to walk according to your plan, not mine. Amen!
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