SCRIPTURE - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
OBSERVATION
Paul highlights here the importance of self-discipline in order to walk with Christ. This is a process of surrendering our comfort consistently for what is best for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in our lives. Paul uses the illustration of an athlete as a parallel to our journey with Christ. We cannot go through the motions of Christianity, running aimlessly, but we should run with purpose, knowing that what we do in training will eventually produce a great result in the race. Without an intentional regimen of self-discipline we will be disqualified for the race because we have not been diligent developing what it takes to run to win.
APPLICATION
Even though I enjoy playing sports, I've never been attracted to become highly competitive. And even though I like to win in sports, I'm not interested in paying the price that requires to get to the top of the podium. I'm simply not competitive. Now, when it comes to my health, I know the importance of daily exercise and balanced diet. But I avoid exercising like a plague and once in a while I eat too much of what I shouldn't. I'm simply not diligent.
The problem with this attitude is that when it comes to our race of life and living the way that God intends, I could easily ditch self-discipline and go through the motions. Training is not fun for those who are not jazzed about winning, but it's everything for those who want to succeed. If I'm serious about becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ, I need to be serious about being intentional applying a regimen of self-discipline in daily prayer, devotions, personal Bible study, character development, and leadership training. I know that the Holy Spirit is doing a huge work in me, but I must also partner with Him and do everything possible in my life so He can bring genuine spiritual growth in me.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly father, please forgive me for my laziness and lack of intentionality in being diligent with my spiritual regimen. I want to grow, but I'm not paying the price for the prize. Let me become more competitive in this run so I'm not running aimlessly but with a clear purpose, training hard, devoted to the spiritual disciplines when no one else is watching, but growing in your image more and more. I love you Lord. Amen.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
THE SUPREMACY OF GOD'S WISDOM. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
OBSERVATION
Paul reveals his philosophy of life and ministry as he writes to the Corinthians. A sincere sense of humility is at the core of Paul's values. He recognizes that the wisdom of God cannot be compared to the wisdom of this world. In fact, what this word considers important, the wisdom of God disregards as meaningless. God's methods are sometimes opposite from the world's methods. And even though God has called to himself people that are wise in the world's standards and wants to use them in His kingdom, Paul is concerned that there is too much of the world's wisdom in the way the church lives and operates. He uses his own life and ministry as an example of God's power working through in amazing ways when we simply prioritize and embrace God's wisdom.
APPLICATION
In the same way Paul was concerned about the church in Corinth, I'm concerned about the way I prioritize the wisdom of this world over the wisdom of God. Starting with my own life, I usually follow the advice of what in our world is considered "wise." I have my favorite financial advisers, health and fitness advisers, parenting advisers, etc. I personally believe that following their wisdom will bless me, but it will be never at the level that God's wisdom can bless my life. Following the world's wisdom requires common sense but following God's wisdom requires faith. Am I willing to challenge my human common sense and that risks by placing my faith in God?
When it comes to my ministry, I know that my success has nothing to do with my personal abilities. I'm a living example that God uses the foolish things of this world. As I honestly assess myself, I can see shortcomings in many areas that by common sense we would consider as crucial and important to succeed. But God's wisdom has been revealed in my own life and His favor in my ministry declares that it is by HIS power, not mine. There is a balance to keep between our human wisdom and God's wisdom. We need both. However, there are times where I favor human wisdom over God's wisdom. I may make good decisions that way, but I miss the opportunity to make optimum decisions that will bring more miracles and blessings in my life and ministry.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for speaking so kindly yet so firmly about this lack of balance in my own life. I cannot live tilting the balance on the side of human wisdom. I must live more on the side of your wisdom, which requires a greater amount of faith. Please forgive me for relying more on common sense rather than on faith in your promises. Help me to be very good at living a life and ministry where the wisdom of this world is often embarrassed because your ways are more fruitful, everlasting, and effective. Give me the leadership gifts to motivate our church leaders to never disregard their human wisdom, but to pursue and prioritize your wisdom above everything else. I love you Lord, Amen.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
OBSERVATION
Paul reveals his philosophy of life and ministry as he writes to the Corinthians. A sincere sense of humility is at the core of Paul's values. He recognizes that the wisdom of God cannot be compared to the wisdom of this world. In fact, what this word considers important, the wisdom of God disregards as meaningless. God's methods are sometimes opposite from the world's methods. And even though God has called to himself people that are wise in the world's standards and wants to use them in His kingdom, Paul is concerned that there is too much of the world's wisdom in the way the church lives and operates. He uses his own life and ministry as an example of God's power working through in amazing ways when we simply prioritize and embrace God's wisdom.
APPLICATION
In the same way Paul was concerned about the church in Corinth, I'm concerned about the way I prioritize the wisdom of this world over the wisdom of God. Starting with my own life, I usually follow the advice of what in our world is considered "wise." I have my favorite financial advisers, health and fitness advisers, parenting advisers, etc. I personally believe that following their wisdom will bless me, but it will be never at the level that God's wisdom can bless my life. Following the world's wisdom requires common sense but following God's wisdom requires faith. Am I willing to challenge my human common sense and that risks by placing my faith in God?
When it comes to my ministry, I know that my success has nothing to do with my personal abilities. I'm a living example that God uses the foolish things of this world. As I honestly assess myself, I can see shortcomings in many areas that by common sense we would consider as crucial and important to succeed. But God's wisdom has been revealed in my own life and His favor in my ministry declares that it is by HIS power, not mine. There is a balance to keep between our human wisdom and God's wisdom. We need both. However, there are times where I favor human wisdom over God's wisdom. I may make good decisions that way, but I miss the opportunity to make optimum decisions that will bring more miracles and blessings in my life and ministry.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for speaking so kindly yet so firmly about this lack of balance in my own life. I cannot live tilting the balance on the side of human wisdom. I must live more on the side of your wisdom, which requires a greater amount of faith. Please forgive me for relying more on common sense rather than on faith in your promises. Help me to be very good at living a life and ministry where the wisdom of this world is often embarrassed because your ways are more fruitful, everlasting, and effective. Give me the leadership gifts to motivate our church leaders to never disregard their human wisdom, but to pursue and prioritize your wisdom above everything else. I love you Lord, Amen.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
REMOVING THE STONES. By Pastor Fernando
SCRIPTURE - Mark 16:1-4
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
OBSERVATION
A group of women want to anoint Jesus' body and they made preparations for it. They got the spices and all the ingredients necessary for the task. They rose early that day to do their service to the Lord. Everything seems in order until they realize on their way to the tomb that there was one problem they did not planned for... who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But they neither went back to find help nor stop to discussed the possibilities. They moved forward in faith and they got there the problem was already removed.
APPLICATION
Very often we go through situations where we have good intentions to do what God is calling us to do. We prepare and plan as best as we can, and we start the journey hoping to get things done. But almost without failing, we find challenges and roadblocks we did not planned for and we feel powerless to remove. We encounter a stone blocking us and we realize we don't have what it takes to remove it. Our tendency is to either give up and go back in disappointment or become paralyzed and try to find a solution on our own. These women did the right thing. They became aware of their shortcomings, but they move forward in faith, hoping to find the answer on their way up.
These women are very encouraging to me today. When I see the kind of things God wants me to do and I become aware of the roadblocks ahead, I recognize that certainly I don't have the wisdom, the stamina, the resources, and the strength to roll away the stones blocking me. Normally I don't give up, but unfortunately, I get numb, paralyzed, thinking and processing a lot, but not moving forward. It's at those moments where I need to move forward in faith. I need to trust that God's vision always comes with God's provision. I need to move forward knowing that God is going to meet me with a miracle of provision.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for revealing to me today that I'm missing so much because I'm stuck trying to move stones on my own. Please help me to put my complete trust in you, to move forward in spite of all my shortcomings. Certainly the new ventures you are calling me to requires a greater faith. I recognize that I don't have what it takes. I'm not enough to move the stones ahead. But you have all the wisdom, all the strength, all the resources to make it possible. So in your name, I will be moving forward, trusting each step of the way that you will meet me with miracles and removed stones.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
OBSERVATION
A group of women want to anoint Jesus' body and they made preparations for it. They got the spices and all the ingredients necessary for the task. They rose early that day to do their service to the Lord. Everything seems in order until they realize on their way to the tomb that there was one problem they did not planned for... who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But they neither went back to find help nor stop to discussed the possibilities. They moved forward in faith and they got there the problem was already removed.
APPLICATION
Very often we go through situations where we have good intentions to do what God is calling us to do. We prepare and plan as best as we can, and we start the journey hoping to get things done. But almost without failing, we find challenges and roadblocks we did not planned for and we feel powerless to remove. We encounter a stone blocking us and we realize we don't have what it takes to remove it. Our tendency is to either give up and go back in disappointment or become paralyzed and try to find a solution on our own. These women did the right thing. They became aware of their shortcomings, but they move forward in faith, hoping to find the answer on their way up.
These women are very encouraging to me today. When I see the kind of things God wants me to do and I become aware of the roadblocks ahead, I recognize that certainly I don't have the wisdom, the stamina, the resources, and the strength to roll away the stones blocking me. Normally I don't give up, but unfortunately, I get numb, paralyzed, thinking and processing a lot, but not moving forward. It's at those moments where I need to move forward in faith. I need to trust that God's vision always comes with God's provision. I need to move forward knowing that God is going to meet me with a miracle of provision.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for revealing to me today that I'm missing so much because I'm stuck trying to move stones on my own. Please help me to put my complete trust in you, to move forward in spite of all my shortcomings. Certainly the new ventures you are calling me to requires a greater faith. I recognize that I don't have what it takes. I'm not enough to move the stones ahead. But you have all the wisdom, all the strength, all the resources to make it possible. So in your name, I will be moving forward, trusting each step of the way that you will meet me with miracles and removed stones.
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