Religious groups imported into our nation by false teachers have diligently promoted their errors. Among these is the belief that the Holy Spirit is a mere force or wind. This is the teaching of the a religious group known as Armstrongism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Likewise, Mormonism has a similar view. This error is intensified by an indigenous false religion that started in Sta. Ana, Manila, the Iglesia ni Cristo which also believes in the same error.
These religious groups affirm such false view – that the Holy Spirit is only either a reflection of God or mere spirit of God. Is the Holy Spirit indeed not a person much more not God as these false groups would like us to believe? Let us consider the above text which was an experience of Apostle Peter and was recorded by Luke the recorder of the book of Acts. All the above groups regard the text as inspired of God. The difference lies in how they see the text meaning. One group sidesteps the clarity of truth presented by Peter concerning the personality or being of the Holy Spirit. Another entirely rejects the truth and present its own understanding imported into the text.
From there we could learn that religious people err in understanding the Holy Scriptures due to their preconceived biases. Others tend to bring into the text their own meaning of the text which is foreign from the text under consideration. What does the text teach about the Holy Spirit?
First, Luke narrated Peter’s rebuke of the couple’s sin against the Holy Spirit ( v.3). The couple did a marvelous sacrifice of donating great funds to the local church in Jerusalem. They sold some properties they owned and gave the proceeds. But they presented the donation as 100% of the selling price of a certain property when the truth was the donation was only a portion of it. So the couple misrepresented the truth. And Peter knowing the truth, probably because God revealed it to him prior to this meeting, swiftly rebuked the couple separately of their sin of lying and not of the act of giving. Thus, Peter saw the Holy Spirit as someone whom we could offend or sin against. If the Holy Spirit is a mere force or wind then he could not be offended. To affirm such truth is irrational. So the Holy Spirit is one who has personality. He is not a force or a wind but a person!
We learn here the importance of accuracy in representing the truth. We must tell the truth regardless of the consequence. We must not lie or beautify a lie by painting it as truth. We can see too that God sees our heart when we speak or think. Nothing is hidden from Him. More so, the Holy Spirit as a person means we can enter into mutual relationship with Him.
Second, Peter viewed the act of lying or misrepresenting the truth against the Holy Spirit as the very same offense against God. Thus, following the line of thought of Peter as given in the text will show that the couple’s sin against the Holy Spirit is the same sin against God. With simple understanding, the evidence shows that this Holy Spirit at least, must be God. We may reduce it into simple equation, i.e., to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God. Every sin against the Holy Spirit is a sin against God.
Every sin we commit against the Holy Spirit is also against our God as the former is also God. Do not be confused by saying that so God is more than one. He is not more than one, only and always ONE in number. Instead the text tells us that the Holy Spirit with whom the couple has lied to is God.
Third, Luke wanted to convey a message to readers through this narrative that sin against the Holy Spirit carries with it a huge consequence. It may come in the form of swift public death. It was a form of divine correction intended for public warning to future offenders. God does not state He will always bring in death or disease, or destruction. But He will require us to pay for every sin against the Holy Spirit. Such a truth is truly trembling to behold.
How sad it is to see today people merely belittle the Holy Spirit. They do not regard Him as a separate deity being. They see Him as a little lower than the Father or the Son. Sometimes even as a sort of assistant of the first two beings. In the local church, there is also a decline in the high view of the Holy Spirit. When He works in our hearts as we hear God’s word we tend to reject Him if not merely pacify Him and dump Him or His workings into the thought of emotionalism. To hear God’s word with conviction is an evidence of His living witness to work in man’s heart.
Sinners tend to delay decision to accept Christ as Savior in spite of the Holy Spirit’s convicting work in their heart. They keep justifying such inaction towards Christ by many alibis. Even saints inside the house of God dare to justify inaction or indecision towards pressing crucial issues in their life and work even if the Spirit leads them to decide. Church members refuse to respond to godly pleadings of the man of God who urges God’s people to repentance, revival, return, and resolute service. Such beloved is the modern day of Ananias and Sapphira’s sinful acts towards the Holy Spirit. We criticize the couple while we unceasingly sins against the Holy Spirit! May we cease, Cornerstone people, from such evil undermining the full power of deity of the Holy Spirit! To protect our heart from such evil, we must heed Stephen’s powerful exhortation in Acts 7:51. Amen.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Nasa Lumang Tipan ba ang Banal na Espiritu?
Mga Gawa 7:51
May mga taong nalilito kung kalian nagsimula ang ministeryo ng Banal na Espiritu. Ang Pentecostes sa aklat ng mga Gawa ay parang nagmumungkahi na noon lamang dumating ang Banal na Espiritu. Kung ito ay tamang pagtatasa, bakit kapansin-pansin Siya sa maraming pangyayari sa Lumang Tipan? Makikita ba natin Siya sa panahon ng paglikha ng Diyos? Kasama ba Siya sa pagpapahayag at inspirasyon ng Banal na Kasulatan? Siya rin ba ay may kinalaman o aktibo sa maraming relasyong pangtao?
Kung tutuusin, ang akda ng apat na manunulat ukol sa ebanghelyo ay kabilang sa Bagong Tipan ngunit ito’y bago ang Pentecostes. Maari kayang dahil sa bulaang aral ng Neo-Pentecostalism ay lumabo na ang dating malinaw na pagtuturo ng Lumang Tipan patungkol sa Banal na Espiritu? Binibigyang diin lamang ng mga Neo-Pentecostals ang mga patunay ukol sa Pentecostes ngunit hindi nila inihahayag ang buong aral ukol sa Banal na Espiritu.
Kung ang Banal na Espiritu ay nasa Lumang Tipan na, anong mga pangyayari natin Siya makikita? Ano ang maari nating matutunan ukol sa Kaniya? Isaalang-alang ang pahayag at pag-aakusa ni Esteban sa kaniyang mga tagapakinig. Sigurado siyang sila’y kabilang sa mga taong dati pang tinatalikuran ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu. Ito’y nagpapakita ng kanyang kaalaman sa patuloy na pagtalikod ng bayang Israel sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu kaya’t tahasan niya itong iniugnay sa ginagawang kasamaan ng kanyang mga tagapakinig.
Una, ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasama sa paglikha. Ito’y itinala ni Moises sa Genesis 1:2 na nagpapahayag ng aktibong partisipasyon ng Banal na Espiritu sa paglikha. Siya rin ay kasama sa paglikha ng tao ayon sa Job 27:3 at Job 33:4. Siya ay tumulong magbigay ganda sa sansinukob, Job 26:13a at maglikha ng mga hayop, Job 26:13b. Anupa’t Siya’y kabilang sa maraming aspeto ng paglikha.
Pangalawa, kabilang ang Banal na Espiritu sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos. Tingnan ang 2 Samuel 23:2. Sa Lumang Tipan, nagsalita ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga propetang Kaniyang pinili upang tumanggap at magtala ng Kaniyang Salita. Ang teksto ay nagsasabi na ibinigay ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita kay David na nang kalaunan ay nagpatunay dito sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap at pagtala nito. Si Micah ay nagpatunay din ng kalakasang kaniyang natanggap mula sa Espiritu upang maipahayag ang Salita ng Diyos sa Israel (Micah 3:8). Kinilala rin ni Apostol Pablo ang pagiging may-akda ng Banal na Espiritu ng Isaias 6:9-10 (Mga Gawa 28:25).
Pangatlo, ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu pagkatapos ng Pentekosta ay iba lamang na aspeto sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang propesiya ni Jesus patungkol sa gawa ng Banal na Espiritu sa Juan 15:26 (ito’y ukol sa pagpapatotoo kay Kristo). Tingnan din ang Juan 16:7-8, 13 (nagsasaad ng pagkilos Niya sa bawat isa sa atin sa katotohanan). Ganuon din ang itinuturo ng Juan 14:17 na nagsabing ang Espiritu ay nananahan sa bawat isang mananampalataya at mananatili sa bawat isa.
Ang Banal na Espiritu din ang naging patnubay ng mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang Nehemiah 9:20 na kung saan tinuruan Niya ang mga ito ng tamang gagawin. Inihalintulad ni Nehemiah ang Gawain ng Espiritu sa pagbibigay ng kinakailangang pagkain. Ang kabutihan din ng Diyos ay makikita sa pagbibigay ng Banal na Espiritu sa ilang mga tao sa Isaiah 63:10-11,14. Ngunit walang pamamalagi ng Banal na Espiritu sa mananampalataya sa Lumang Tipan. Tingnan ang 1 Samuel 10:10; 16:14; Mga Hukom 13:25; 16:20.
Kapag isinaalang-alang ang mga ito ukol sa Banal na Espiritu, marami tayong matutuhang gamit sa ating buhay at pananampalataya. Una, ang Espiritu ay kapantay ng dalawa pang persona ng Diyos at Siya ay aktibong naging bahagi sa paglika. Pangalawa, utang din natin sa Banal na Espiritu ang buhay natin kaya’t hindi natin ito dapat lustayin sa walang kapararakang gawain. Anupat’ dapat nating hanapin ang perpektong plano ng Diyos para sa atin. Labis na kamunduhan ng isang mananampalataya ang mamuhay na ikinalulugod ng mga ‘di ligtas ngunit ikinalulungkot naman ng Diyos at ng Kaniyang iglesia. Isipin ang inyong nais, ambisyon at ninanasa. Ang mga ito ba’y nagpapakita ng pasasalamat ng isang taong binigyan ng buhay at iniligtas ng Diyos?
Dahil ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan, tayo ay nakatitiyak sa ganap na kawastuan at pag-iingat nito. Panatiliin natin sa ating isipan at paniniwala na ang Banal na Espiritu na kabilang sa inspirasyon ng Salita ng Diyos ay kabilang din sa pag-iingat nito. Maaari kayang kinasihan lang ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita ngunit iniwanan Niya ito sa atin upang tayo lamang ang mag-ingat nito? O Siya ang gumawa ng lahat ng mga ito? Sa ganang akin, kahit ang Awit 12:6-7 lamang ang matirang bersikulo ukol sa pag-iingat ng Salita ng Diyos (dahil sa marami ng marurunong ang siniraan na ang iba pang mga pahayag), mananatili ako sa aking pananaw ukol sa puro at iningatang Salita ng Diyos. Tama lamang na paniwalaan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pag-iingat ng bawat salitang ipinahayag at kinasihan ng Diyos.
Dapat tayong matuwa sa turo ng Bagong Tipan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay permanenteng nananahan sa mga mananampalataya. Maaari ngang mas pinagpala tayo kaysa sa mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan sa ganitong aspeto. Kaya’t mas marami ang inaasahan sa atin patungkol sa ministeryo. Tayo ba ay naglilingkod sa Diyos? Makakaasa tayo ng pagpapanutbay Niya sa ating buhay at gawain sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang Salita. Siya Nawa!
Kung tutuusin, ang akda ng apat na manunulat ukol sa ebanghelyo ay kabilang sa Bagong Tipan ngunit ito’y bago ang Pentecostes. Maari kayang dahil sa bulaang aral ng Neo-Pentecostalism ay lumabo na ang dating malinaw na pagtuturo ng Lumang Tipan patungkol sa Banal na Espiritu? Binibigyang diin lamang ng mga Neo-Pentecostals ang mga patunay ukol sa Pentecostes ngunit hindi nila inihahayag ang buong aral ukol sa Banal na Espiritu.
Kung ang Banal na Espiritu ay nasa Lumang Tipan na, anong mga pangyayari natin Siya makikita? Ano ang maari nating matutunan ukol sa Kaniya? Isaalang-alang ang pahayag at pag-aakusa ni Esteban sa kaniyang mga tagapakinig. Sigurado siyang sila’y kabilang sa mga taong dati pang tinatalikuran ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu. Ito’y nagpapakita ng kanyang kaalaman sa patuloy na pagtalikod ng bayang Israel sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu kaya’t tahasan niya itong iniugnay sa ginagawang kasamaan ng kanyang mga tagapakinig.
Una, ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasama sa paglikha. Ito’y itinala ni Moises sa Genesis 1:2 na nagpapahayag ng aktibong partisipasyon ng Banal na Espiritu sa paglikha. Siya rin ay kasama sa paglikha ng tao ayon sa Job 27:3 at Job 33:4. Siya ay tumulong magbigay ganda sa sansinukob, Job 26:13a at maglikha ng mga hayop, Job 26:13b. Anupa’t Siya’y kabilang sa maraming aspeto ng paglikha.
Pangalawa, kabilang ang Banal na Espiritu sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos. Tingnan ang 2 Samuel 23:2. Sa Lumang Tipan, nagsalita ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga propetang Kaniyang pinili upang tumanggap at magtala ng Kaniyang Salita. Ang teksto ay nagsasabi na ibinigay ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita kay David na nang kalaunan ay nagpatunay dito sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap at pagtala nito. Si Micah ay nagpatunay din ng kalakasang kaniyang natanggap mula sa Espiritu upang maipahayag ang Salita ng Diyos sa Israel (Micah 3:8). Kinilala rin ni Apostol Pablo ang pagiging may-akda ng Banal na Espiritu ng Isaias 6:9-10 (Mga Gawa 28:25).
Pangatlo, ang pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu pagkatapos ng Pentekosta ay iba lamang na aspeto sa pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang propesiya ni Jesus patungkol sa gawa ng Banal na Espiritu sa Juan 15:26 (ito’y ukol sa pagpapatotoo kay Kristo). Tingnan din ang Juan 16:7-8, 13 (nagsasaad ng pagkilos Niya sa bawat isa sa atin sa katotohanan). Ganuon din ang itinuturo ng Juan 14:17 na nagsabing ang Espiritu ay nananahan sa bawat isang mananampalataya at mananatili sa bawat isa.
Ang Banal na Espiritu din ang naging patnubay ng mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan. Isaalang-alang ang Nehemiah 9:20 na kung saan tinuruan Niya ang mga ito ng tamang gagawin. Inihalintulad ni Nehemiah ang Gawain ng Espiritu sa pagbibigay ng kinakailangang pagkain. Ang kabutihan din ng Diyos ay makikita sa pagbibigay ng Banal na Espiritu sa ilang mga tao sa Isaiah 63:10-11,14. Ngunit walang pamamalagi ng Banal na Espiritu sa mananampalataya sa Lumang Tipan. Tingnan ang 1 Samuel 10:10; 16:14; Mga Hukom 13:25; 16:20.
Kapag isinaalang-alang ang mga ito ukol sa Banal na Espiritu, marami tayong matutuhang gamit sa ating buhay at pananampalataya. Una, ang Espiritu ay kapantay ng dalawa pang persona ng Diyos at Siya ay aktibong naging bahagi sa paglika. Pangalawa, utang din natin sa Banal na Espiritu ang buhay natin kaya’t hindi natin ito dapat lustayin sa walang kapararakang gawain. Anupat’ dapat nating hanapin ang perpektong plano ng Diyos para sa atin. Labis na kamunduhan ng isang mananampalataya ang mamuhay na ikinalulugod ng mga ‘di ligtas ngunit ikinalulungkot naman ng Diyos at ng Kaniyang iglesia. Isipin ang inyong nais, ambisyon at ninanasa. Ang mga ito ba’y nagpapakita ng pasasalamat ng isang taong binigyan ng buhay at iniligtas ng Diyos?
Dahil ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan, tayo ay nakatitiyak sa ganap na kawastuan at pag-iingat nito. Panatiliin natin sa ating isipan at paniniwala na ang Banal na Espiritu na kabilang sa inspirasyon ng Salita ng Diyos ay kabilang din sa pag-iingat nito. Maaari kayang kinasihan lang ng Diyos ang Kaniyang Salita ngunit iniwanan Niya ito sa atin upang tayo lamang ang mag-ingat nito? O Siya ang gumawa ng lahat ng mga ito? Sa ganang akin, kahit ang Awit 12:6-7 lamang ang matirang bersikulo ukol sa pag-iingat ng Salita ng Diyos (dahil sa marami ng marurunong ang siniraan na ang iba pang mga pahayag), mananatili ako sa aking pananaw ukol sa puro at iningatang Salita ng Diyos. Tama lamang na paniwalaan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay kasali sa pag-iingat ng bawat salitang ipinahayag at kinasihan ng Diyos.
Dapat tayong matuwa sa turo ng Bagong Tipan na ang Banal na Espiritu ay permanenteng nananahan sa mga mananampalataya. Maaari ngang mas pinagpala tayo kaysa sa mga tao ng Diyos sa Lumang Tipan sa ganitong aspeto. Kaya’t mas marami ang inaasahan sa atin patungkol sa ministeryo. Tayo ba ay naglilingkod sa Diyos? Makakaasa tayo ng pagpapanutbay Niya sa ating buhay at gawain sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang Salita. Siya Nawa!
Significant Commands Relevant to Our
Relations with the Holy Spirit
Eph. 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19
Prior to the carnal emphasis of New Pentecostalism in the 1950s even as they departed from their original foundations, the Holy Spirit was not given much credit except by godly Christians. Some Christians tend to rely upon their biblical knowledge without reliance upon the Holy Spirit so they ended in frustration. Studies in the Holy Spirit began to be widely published in defense of the faith against the errors of Charismatism. We almost neglected the specific commands God gave in the Bible on how we can work productively with the Holy Spirit. The worldly liveliness the Charismatics desired was replaced with the deadness of theological discussion of some conservatives. Today, I want to share with you these very significant commands in the NT through which you will become His great and glorious instrument in the advancing of His church.
First, believers are commanded to stop a habitual action of grieving the Holy Spirit. This is the truth in Eph. 4:30. The believers of Ephesus were continuing in such ungodly habit of various types of sins as enumerated in verse 31. Essentially, believers in one local church must avoid lying to one another and speaking in a foul manner. In stead, they ought to relate in a manner as listed down in verse 32.
If we are still engaged in any of the above sins in verse 31 then we must stop such evil practice. Why are we to do this? The reason is that the Holy Spirit who is in us is much sorrowed by such ungodly behavior. It is never right to deliberately hurt or grieve the Spirit. Not only are the involved parties are affected by such sins but also the entire local church people including those not directly involved. So we must never allow such scenario to happen in the local church.
Second, believers are commanded to allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. This is taught in Eph. 5:18. The control is possible because the Spirit is already indwelling the believer. He is urged to permit the Spirit to take total control over his life rather than his own sinful nature, the world, and the devil. This command is indeed significant in experiencing real daily victory in Christian life. Daily a believer is to allow the Holy Spirit to control him. This is also the prohibitory contrast of allowing oneself to be filled with wine as it will surely control the person.
A believer is prohibited from drinking liquor of any amount. To allow moderate, occasional, or social drinking is to allow a little sin in your life. A little leaven will leaven the whole bread. (See 1 Cor. 5:6.) The command includes absolute prohibition from any form of wine or liquor as it is unbecoming of a godly Christian. Primarily, the command is on our task to let the Holy Spirit control our lives regularly. So it involves regular surrendering to Him and permitting Him to convict us, to correct us, and to chastise us in any form.
People get discouraged when they do not see professing believers changing from bad to good. They do not fully see that the reason behind is not the powerlessness of the Bible or of God but the rejection of the person to be molded by the Spirit. Regardless of how good I am in molding people to become God’s instruments in the church, if the candidate is unwilling, uncooperative, and insubordinate then there is no way the person could improve. Usually things would get worst.
Third, believers are commanded not to resist the workings of the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul said in 1 Thess. 5:19. To quench means to put off the fire or the momentum or heat being gained. It is like putting cold water on the already burning coals. The Spirit is likened in other references to fire or flame of fire. Fire will normally eat up things around it and will cause them to burn, too. Paul warned them not to quench the task of preaching in verse 20. To quench it means to undermine, despise, belittle its importance and consequence of preaching. So in the local church, we are commanded never to quench the preaching work or the spirit of a preacher.
How do we quench the Holy Spirit? In the context, it is to resist the effect of preaching work. It also includes belittling the result of preaching. So when someone is called to preach, church members are to pray and to encourage such a person lest his fire be put off. As the pastor preaches, we must ask God to bless and widen the fire it creates in our soul as well as in others. We are never to resist neither to oppose nor to discourage the working of the Holy Spirit in any one’s life as well as in ours.
Imagine the great environment the Holy Spirit will create among us as church members when the above three commands are seriously obeyed by every one. What a holy sight to see when church members are growing away from carnality of sins mentioned in Eph. 4:31 and replaced by the virtues in verse 32. The seeming insurmountable tasks that await us Cornerstone people, shall become realities as we labor in every ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit who indwells and controls every church member. Finally, what a glorious sight that every member strengthens and encourages one another to love and to good works fulfilling together the goals of Cornerstone given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
First, believers are commanded to stop a habitual action of grieving the Holy Spirit. This is the truth in Eph. 4:30. The believers of Ephesus were continuing in such ungodly habit of various types of sins as enumerated in verse 31. Essentially, believers in one local church must avoid lying to one another and speaking in a foul manner. In stead, they ought to relate in a manner as listed down in verse 32.
If we are still engaged in any of the above sins in verse 31 then we must stop such evil practice. Why are we to do this? The reason is that the Holy Spirit who is in us is much sorrowed by such ungodly behavior. It is never right to deliberately hurt or grieve the Spirit. Not only are the involved parties are affected by such sins but also the entire local church people including those not directly involved. So we must never allow such scenario to happen in the local church.
Second, believers are commanded to allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. This is taught in Eph. 5:18. The control is possible because the Spirit is already indwelling the believer. He is urged to permit the Spirit to take total control over his life rather than his own sinful nature, the world, and the devil. This command is indeed significant in experiencing real daily victory in Christian life. Daily a believer is to allow the Holy Spirit to control him. This is also the prohibitory contrast of allowing oneself to be filled with wine as it will surely control the person.
A believer is prohibited from drinking liquor of any amount. To allow moderate, occasional, or social drinking is to allow a little sin in your life. A little leaven will leaven the whole bread. (See 1 Cor. 5:6.) The command includes absolute prohibition from any form of wine or liquor as it is unbecoming of a godly Christian. Primarily, the command is on our task to let the Holy Spirit control our lives regularly. So it involves regular surrendering to Him and permitting Him to convict us, to correct us, and to chastise us in any form.
People get discouraged when they do not see professing believers changing from bad to good. They do not fully see that the reason behind is not the powerlessness of the Bible or of God but the rejection of the person to be molded by the Spirit. Regardless of how good I am in molding people to become God’s instruments in the church, if the candidate is unwilling, uncooperative, and insubordinate then there is no way the person could improve. Usually things would get worst.
Third, believers are commanded not to resist the workings of the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul said in 1 Thess. 5:19. To quench means to put off the fire or the momentum or heat being gained. It is like putting cold water on the already burning coals. The Spirit is likened in other references to fire or flame of fire. Fire will normally eat up things around it and will cause them to burn, too. Paul warned them not to quench the task of preaching in verse 20. To quench it means to undermine, despise, belittle its importance and consequence of preaching. So in the local church, we are commanded never to quench the preaching work or the spirit of a preacher.
How do we quench the Holy Spirit? In the context, it is to resist the effect of preaching work. It also includes belittling the result of preaching. So when someone is called to preach, church members are to pray and to encourage such a person lest his fire be put off. As the pastor preaches, we must ask God to bless and widen the fire it creates in our soul as well as in others. We are never to resist neither to oppose nor to discourage the working of the Holy Spirit in any one’s life as well as in ours.
Imagine the great environment the Holy Spirit will create among us as church members when the above three commands are seriously obeyed by every one. What a holy sight to see when church members are growing away from carnality of sins mentioned in Eph. 4:31 and replaced by the virtues in verse 32. The seeming insurmountable tasks that await us Cornerstone people, shall become realities as we labor in every ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit who indwells and controls every church member. Finally, what a glorious sight that every member strengthens and encourages one another to love and to good works fulfilling together the goals of Cornerstone given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Errors among Filipino Charismatics
Filipino charismatic Christian groups and fellowships abound in our country. They are represented by some well known personalities such as but not limited to Eddie Villanueva and his Jesus is Lord Church. It also allied with other evangelical groups for socio-political agenda. Then you have the cultic religious groups of Apollo C. Quiboloy in Davao Jesus the Name Above Every Name and Mr. Ferriol’s Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ in Marikina. Other smaller charismatic groups exist here. The already confusing religious environment is aggravated by the entry of Romanist charismatic groups aiming at winning Catholics to remain in the fold through the introduction of Pentecostals charismatism rituals and affairs. This last is represented by Fr. Archie Guiriba of Shalom and Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai. These last two groups both remained within the errors of Romanism while dressing the garb of charismatism- one person with double face or garment. Such is the landscape of religious charismatism in our nation.
Common among charismatic religious groups are the following characteristics that are not necessarily inclusive in every group or at least one or few of them are found in every group. First, they claim speaking in tongues as evidence of Spirit fullness. Second, they claim health and wealth effect of being right with God. Third, they claim numbers of following is a basis of their being in the truth and favored of God. Fourth, all of them claim to be in possession of the true gospel which they define as full gospel (like Eddie Villanueva) or faith plus baptism equals salvation (like Mr. Ferriol and Quiboloy). Fifth, almost all are apolitical in position except Eddie Villanueva who is a vocal critic of the current administration but quite silent in resolving insurgency and walks on the street with leftist ideologues. Sixth, some of them accepted political inclusion into the governmental machinery. Last, they all use worldly music and ways.
With this harlot-like religious environment originally corrupted by the Romanists through political invasion in the past to advance religious territories, what else can be done? How can we spare our countrymen from such demonic destruction perpetrated by the above groups?
We must expose all types of errors. Be it theological, political, social, and religious issues, the local church must actively participate in all forms of godly exposition. Let us unceasingly use the pulpit power. Then we must proceed to pen power. Further, we must intensely promote our godly views so Filipinos would have a godly alternative to reject such errors and embrace truth propagated by true separatist fundamental Baptists. Institutions may be created to ferry those godly views thereby deepening our convictions. Lastly, forget not to prod people especially the young ones to join the fundamental church after truly experiencing genuine conversion in Christ.
The error of speaking in tongues is addressed by 1 Corinthians 12-14 and comparative study of similar event in Acts 2 and 10. Even such evidence was disowned by original Pentecostals prior to 1950s. The inclusion of health and wealth into the gospel thus claiming their full gospel is actually a false gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 clearly defines the true gospel without the additions that they included. Consider the warning of Gal. 1:6-9 on how to handle such groups who bear another gospel. Number of membership is never a test of truth or doctrinal validity and accuracy. It is even a mark of false teachers as mentioned in 2 Pet. 2:2 who hailed from the truth before. The position of Eddie Villanueva is at best untenable in Scripture and at worst contradictory to the Romans 13:1-7 principle of submission and godly attitude towards authority as taught in 1 Tim. 2:1-4. His march with leftists is a mark of true blue politicians without the biblical conviction as the Bible prohibits joining the enemy to defeat another enemy! He must be ignorant of OT prophets’ warning to Israel in search of Egyptian aid to defeat Assyrian or Babylon attacks. For a preacher to accept governmental offer of position is a gross sell out. It is a sign of lapse in sound mind as the greatest and most powerful task on earth of preaching is exchanged with juicy or earthly powerful positions.
Beware of the poison of charismatism that abounds in our field committed to dupe our children and grandchildren into their lies and errors. Let us sever relations, be they Baptist or whatever, from anyone who has been touched by such wicked charismatic influence. Let us get more Filipinos out of the miry clay of charismatism through zealous evangelism and intense discipleship. Help charismatics who have been deceived into the false teachings concerning the Holy Spirit. Take diligently God’s word in 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1! Amen.
Common among charismatic religious groups are the following characteristics that are not necessarily inclusive in every group or at least one or few of them are found in every group. First, they claim speaking in tongues as evidence of Spirit fullness. Second, they claim health and wealth effect of being right with God. Third, they claim numbers of following is a basis of their being in the truth and favored of God. Fourth, all of them claim to be in possession of the true gospel which they define as full gospel (like Eddie Villanueva) or faith plus baptism equals salvation (like Mr. Ferriol and Quiboloy). Fifth, almost all are apolitical in position except Eddie Villanueva who is a vocal critic of the current administration but quite silent in resolving insurgency and walks on the street with leftist ideologues. Sixth, some of them accepted political inclusion into the governmental machinery. Last, they all use worldly music and ways.
With this harlot-like religious environment originally corrupted by the Romanists through political invasion in the past to advance religious territories, what else can be done? How can we spare our countrymen from such demonic destruction perpetrated by the above groups?
We must expose all types of errors. Be it theological, political, social, and religious issues, the local church must actively participate in all forms of godly exposition. Let us unceasingly use the pulpit power. Then we must proceed to pen power. Further, we must intensely promote our godly views so Filipinos would have a godly alternative to reject such errors and embrace truth propagated by true separatist fundamental Baptists. Institutions may be created to ferry those godly views thereby deepening our convictions. Lastly, forget not to prod people especially the young ones to join the fundamental church after truly experiencing genuine conversion in Christ.
The error of speaking in tongues is addressed by 1 Corinthians 12-14 and comparative study of similar event in Acts 2 and 10. Even such evidence was disowned by original Pentecostals prior to 1950s. The inclusion of health and wealth into the gospel thus claiming their full gospel is actually a false gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 clearly defines the true gospel without the additions that they included. Consider the warning of Gal. 1:6-9 on how to handle such groups who bear another gospel. Number of membership is never a test of truth or doctrinal validity and accuracy. It is even a mark of false teachers as mentioned in 2 Pet. 2:2 who hailed from the truth before. The position of Eddie Villanueva is at best untenable in Scripture and at worst contradictory to the Romans 13:1-7 principle of submission and godly attitude towards authority as taught in 1 Tim. 2:1-4. His march with leftists is a mark of true blue politicians without the biblical conviction as the Bible prohibits joining the enemy to defeat another enemy! He must be ignorant of OT prophets’ warning to Israel in search of Egyptian aid to defeat Assyrian or Babylon attacks. For a preacher to accept governmental offer of position is a gross sell out. It is a sign of lapse in sound mind as the greatest and most powerful task on earth of preaching is exchanged with juicy or earthly powerful positions.
Beware of the poison of charismatism that abounds in our field committed to dupe our children and grandchildren into their lies and errors. Let us sever relations, be they Baptist or whatever, from anyone who has been touched by such wicked charismatic influence. Let us get more Filipinos out of the miry clay of charismatism through zealous evangelism and intense discipleship. Help charismatics who have been deceived into the false teachings concerning the Holy Spirit. Take diligently God’s word in 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1! Amen.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Ang Pagbuo ng Isang Mainam na Patotoo
ng Iglesia dito sa Mundo
Galacia 6:9-10
Kadalasan, kapag tinutukoy natin ang patotoo ng Iglesia, iniisip nating ito’y patungkol lamang sa pagbahagi ng ebanghelyo. Inutusan tayo ng Panginoong Jesus na gawin ito at dapat lamang na tayo’y sumunod! Ngunit hindi duon nagtatapos ang ating tungkulin. Pagkatapos natin silang mabahagian ng ebanghelyo at akayin sa kaligtasan, dapat natin silang patuloy na gabayan upang sila’y lumago sa kanilang pananampalataya. Madalas, dito sa tungkuling ito tayo pinanghihinaan ng loob.
Hayaan ninyong magbigay ako ng ilang mga paraan batay sa Salita ng Diyos na maaari nating magamit sa pagpapahayag ng ebanghelyo. Kung minsan ay natutukso na tayong gayahin ang mga banyagang kaparaanan. Ngunit hindi dapat. Dapat nating isaalang-alang ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Oo nga’t tayo ay inutusan ng Panginoong Jesus na humayo at ikalat ang ebanghelyo. Ngunit dapat nating gawin iyon bilang pagsunod sa Kaniya at bunga ng ating pagmamahal sa Diyos at sa mga taong makasalanan.
Paano nga ba natin mamahalin ang mga makasalanang hindi nararapat ng Kristiyanong pagmamahal? Gaano katagal tayo dapat magtitiis sa mga taong itong hindi marunong kumilala ng paghihirap at sakripisyo ng iba para sa kanila?Naisip ko ang teksto natin sa Galaciang humihimok sa ating magpatuloy sa pagmahal at pagtulong sa kapwa bagama’t sila’y hindi tumutugon. Habang sinusunod natin ang paghimok ng Diyos na magpatuloy at huwag panghinaan ng loob sa paggawa ng mabuti, tayo’y bumubuo ng isang maka-Diyos na patotoo sa harap ng mga ‘di ligtas. Ating pag-aralan ang teksto upang matuto kung paano natin mapapaayos at mapapabuti ang ating patotoo.
Una, huwag tayong panghinaan ng loob sa paggawa ng mabuti (talata 9a). Ito’y nagtuturo ng kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng isang matatag na puso sa paggawa ng mabuti sa anumang uri ng tao. Madalas, kapag tayo o ang ating pagtulong ay tinatanggihan ng mga tao, kaagad tayong nasisiraan ng loob. Ito ang masamang gawaing nakasaad sa talatang ito. Hindi dapat tayong manghina sa paggawa ng mabuti. Ano man ang ating papel sa gawain ng Diyos, dapat tayong magpatuloy sa paggawa ng mabuti sa kapwa. At anuman ang gawaing itong ating ginagawa para sa Panginoon, hindi tayo dapat manghina batay sa mga resultang ating natatamo.
Pangalawa, mayroon itinakdang panahon ang Panginoon upang tayo’y umani mula sa ating maka-Diyos na gawain (talata 9b). Hindi ito maaaring hadlangan ng tao. Ito’y kusang darating sa itinakdang oras ng Panginoon. Kaya’t tayo’y magpatuloy sa paggawa nang may pagkilala ng pagdating ng pag-ani. Alalahanin natin ang hirap na dinaanan ng ating Diyakono sa pagkalat ng Salita ng Diyos at ang paglipas ng panahon na ‘di niya nababanaagan ang liwanag ng pagsagot ng Diyos. Ngunit isang araw, tayong lahat ay nagdiwang kasama siya habang nakikita natin ang paglago ng gawain sa kanilang lugar at ang pag-usbong ng isang iglesia. Tayong lahat ay nagtipid ng pera para sa ating mga misyonaryo. Sinikap nating maitabi ang bawat piso upang sa lumao’t madali’y magamit para sa gawain ng Diyos. Naisip nating talikuran na ang proyekto ng CAM dahil sa hirap ng pagtaguyod nito. Ngunit naniniwala akong ang ating pagpapagal ay pagpapalain rin ng Diyos. Nagtakda ang Diyos ng araw na makikita natin ang paglago ng ating pondo. Paano? Hindi ba’t kaya ng Panginoong paramihin ang magbibigay at ang ibibigay? Nakikita natin itong nangyayari sa mga negosyo. Kaya’t bakit hindi tayo tumulad sa mga langgam sa pag-iimpok at umasa sa Diyos na Siya ang magpapalago nito.
Umaasa ako at patuloy na naghihintay sa Diyos na Kaniyang pagpalain at palaguin ang mga ibinigay Niya sa atin. Alam kong magtataas Siya ng mga magiging katuwang natin sa gawain. At kung magkagayon, matutupad natin ang pagpapadala ng mas marami pang manggagawa sa loob at labas ng Pilipinas. Kaya’t mga kasapi ng Cornerstone, halina’t makisama sa mga kalalakiha’t kababaihang patuloy na gumagawa upang maitaguyod ang gawain ng Diyos!
At panghuli, magpatuloy sa paggawa ng mabuti sa lahat ng tao (talata 10). Ang talatang ito ay tiyak at sakop ang maraming bagay. Pagkatapos ang dalawang paghimok sa paggawa ng mabuti, ang manunulat ay nag-udyok sa kaniyang mambabasa na gumawa ng mga proyektong magiging kapaki-pakinabang sa ligtas o ‘di ligtas man. Ito din ay nagbigay ng paalala na unahin natin ang mga kapwa mananampalataya. Pakatandaan ang paalalang ito ukol sa prayoridad upang hindi magkaroon ng suliranin sa iglesia sa hinaharap.
Ang mga proyektong ilulunsad ng iglesia ay dapat maging kapaki-pakinabang sa mga kasapi ng iglesia. Pagkatapos ay maaari itong palawakin upang sakupin ang ligtas at ‘di ligtas. Kung ang proyeto ay maging matagumpay, tayo ay mag-aani ng maka-Diyos at ‘di-makukuwestiyon na patotoo. Hindi ibig sabihin na kapag nangyari ito’y hindi tayo mapupulaan ng iba. May mga taong magpupumilit na tayo’y sirain sa pamamagitan ng paghanap ng ating mga pagkakamali.
Kailangang gawin ng iglesia ang mga proyektong ito bilang pagkilala sa pagmamahal ng Panginoong Jesus sa mga tao. Kapag naramdaman ng mga tao ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng ating mga gawa, mas magiging madali para sa taong itong buksan ang kaniyang puso sa ebanghelyo. Maaring hindi siya maligtas. Siyang nakakakita ng pagmamahal ng Diyos at nakakarinig ng ebanghelyo ngunit tinanggihan ang alok ng Diyos na kaligtasan ay masusunog at maghihirap sa impierno. Wala silang dapat sisihin kung hindi ang kanilang sarili. Mabuti na lamang at hindi ganito ang lahat ng mga tao! Purihin ang Diyos dahil sinabi na Niya sa Bibliya na may mga taong tatalikuran ang mali at aakapin ang katotohanang nakahayag sa Bibliya dahil sa pagmamahal ng mga Cristiyano. Siya Nawa!
Hayaan ninyong magbigay ako ng ilang mga paraan batay sa Salita ng Diyos na maaari nating magamit sa pagpapahayag ng ebanghelyo. Kung minsan ay natutukso na tayong gayahin ang mga banyagang kaparaanan. Ngunit hindi dapat. Dapat nating isaalang-alang ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Oo nga’t tayo ay inutusan ng Panginoong Jesus na humayo at ikalat ang ebanghelyo. Ngunit dapat nating gawin iyon bilang pagsunod sa Kaniya at bunga ng ating pagmamahal sa Diyos at sa mga taong makasalanan.
Paano nga ba natin mamahalin ang mga makasalanang hindi nararapat ng Kristiyanong pagmamahal? Gaano katagal tayo dapat magtitiis sa mga taong itong hindi marunong kumilala ng paghihirap at sakripisyo ng iba para sa kanila?Naisip ko ang teksto natin sa Galaciang humihimok sa ating magpatuloy sa pagmahal at pagtulong sa kapwa bagama’t sila’y hindi tumutugon. Habang sinusunod natin ang paghimok ng Diyos na magpatuloy at huwag panghinaan ng loob sa paggawa ng mabuti, tayo’y bumubuo ng isang maka-Diyos na patotoo sa harap ng mga ‘di ligtas. Ating pag-aralan ang teksto upang matuto kung paano natin mapapaayos at mapapabuti ang ating patotoo.
Una, huwag tayong panghinaan ng loob sa paggawa ng mabuti (talata 9a). Ito’y nagtuturo ng kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng isang matatag na puso sa paggawa ng mabuti sa anumang uri ng tao. Madalas, kapag tayo o ang ating pagtulong ay tinatanggihan ng mga tao, kaagad tayong nasisiraan ng loob. Ito ang masamang gawaing nakasaad sa talatang ito. Hindi dapat tayong manghina sa paggawa ng mabuti. Ano man ang ating papel sa gawain ng Diyos, dapat tayong magpatuloy sa paggawa ng mabuti sa kapwa. At anuman ang gawaing itong ating ginagawa para sa Panginoon, hindi tayo dapat manghina batay sa mga resultang ating natatamo.
Pangalawa, mayroon itinakdang panahon ang Panginoon upang tayo’y umani mula sa ating maka-Diyos na gawain (talata 9b). Hindi ito maaaring hadlangan ng tao. Ito’y kusang darating sa itinakdang oras ng Panginoon. Kaya’t tayo’y magpatuloy sa paggawa nang may pagkilala ng pagdating ng pag-ani. Alalahanin natin ang hirap na dinaanan ng ating Diyakono sa pagkalat ng Salita ng Diyos at ang paglipas ng panahon na ‘di niya nababanaagan ang liwanag ng pagsagot ng Diyos. Ngunit isang araw, tayong lahat ay nagdiwang kasama siya habang nakikita natin ang paglago ng gawain sa kanilang lugar at ang pag-usbong ng isang iglesia. Tayong lahat ay nagtipid ng pera para sa ating mga misyonaryo. Sinikap nating maitabi ang bawat piso upang sa lumao’t madali’y magamit para sa gawain ng Diyos. Naisip nating talikuran na ang proyekto ng CAM dahil sa hirap ng pagtaguyod nito. Ngunit naniniwala akong ang ating pagpapagal ay pagpapalain rin ng Diyos. Nagtakda ang Diyos ng araw na makikita natin ang paglago ng ating pondo. Paano? Hindi ba’t kaya ng Panginoong paramihin ang magbibigay at ang ibibigay? Nakikita natin itong nangyayari sa mga negosyo. Kaya’t bakit hindi tayo tumulad sa mga langgam sa pag-iimpok at umasa sa Diyos na Siya ang magpapalago nito.
Umaasa ako at patuloy na naghihintay sa Diyos na Kaniyang pagpalain at palaguin ang mga ibinigay Niya sa atin. Alam kong magtataas Siya ng mga magiging katuwang natin sa gawain. At kung magkagayon, matutupad natin ang pagpapadala ng mas marami pang manggagawa sa loob at labas ng Pilipinas. Kaya’t mga kasapi ng Cornerstone, halina’t makisama sa mga kalalakiha’t kababaihang patuloy na gumagawa upang maitaguyod ang gawain ng Diyos!
At panghuli, magpatuloy sa paggawa ng mabuti sa lahat ng tao (talata 10). Ang talatang ito ay tiyak at sakop ang maraming bagay. Pagkatapos ang dalawang paghimok sa paggawa ng mabuti, ang manunulat ay nag-udyok sa kaniyang mambabasa na gumawa ng mga proyektong magiging kapaki-pakinabang sa ligtas o ‘di ligtas man. Ito din ay nagbigay ng paalala na unahin natin ang mga kapwa mananampalataya. Pakatandaan ang paalalang ito ukol sa prayoridad upang hindi magkaroon ng suliranin sa iglesia sa hinaharap.
Ang mga proyektong ilulunsad ng iglesia ay dapat maging kapaki-pakinabang sa mga kasapi ng iglesia. Pagkatapos ay maaari itong palawakin upang sakupin ang ligtas at ‘di ligtas. Kung ang proyeto ay maging matagumpay, tayo ay mag-aani ng maka-Diyos at ‘di-makukuwestiyon na patotoo. Hindi ibig sabihin na kapag nangyari ito’y hindi tayo mapupulaan ng iba. May mga taong magpupumilit na tayo’y sirain sa pamamagitan ng paghanap ng ating mga pagkakamali.
Kailangang gawin ng iglesia ang mga proyektong ito bilang pagkilala sa pagmamahal ng Panginoong Jesus sa mga tao. Kapag naramdaman ng mga tao ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng ating mga gawa, mas magiging madali para sa taong itong buksan ang kaniyang puso sa ebanghelyo. Maaring hindi siya maligtas. Siyang nakakakita ng pagmamahal ng Diyos at nakakarinig ng ebanghelyo ngunit tinanggihan ang alok ng Diyos na kaligtasan ay masusunog at maghihirap sa impierno. Wala silang dapat sisihin kung hindi ang kanilang sarili. Mabuti na lamang at hindi ganito ang lahat ng mga tao! Purihin ang Diyos dahil sinabi na Niya sa Bibliya na may mga taong tatalikuran ang mali at aakapin ang katotohanang nakahayag sa Bibliya dahil sa pagmamahal ng mga Cristiyano. Siya Nawa!
The Causes of Loss of Church Witness
Revelations 2-3
Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while he was at the island of Patmos enduring the wickedness of society. He was exiled there by the evil ruler who got offended at his preaching. However, under such circumstance, God revealed His will to the apostle. He wrote the last book of the entire word of God. He gave clear messages to seven local churches in Asia Minor. Unfortunately, all these local churches lost their witness and eventually their existence in that region of the world.
Regardless of the local church’s size and leadership, she can lose her stance and witness. The world will laugh at her demise from the place where she used to declare God’s word to the people. How did these local churches lose their witness? Why did they cease to exist in spite of God’s promise in Mat. 16:18? Let us study that we may all be forewarned by these messages to the churches.
As a local church can we lose our witness and existence at the present location? Can we lose our strong fundamental Baptist stance? Can we lose also our spiritual existence at the place where we are now? Can we become a church that exists but ceases to remain on old historical truths?
Of the seven local churches in Asia Minor, namely; Ephesus (2:1-7), Smyrna (2:8-11), Pergamos (2:12-17), Thyatira (2:18-29), Sardis (3:1-6), Philadelphia (3:7-13), and Laodicea (3:14-22), five of them were issued a divine rebuke. All of them were commended except Laodicea. All of them were also exhorted to do something. They were also given divine promise. I shall focus on the rebukes unto these five (5) churches. Perhaps the reasons for the rebukes were contributory to the death of these churches in that region.
My desire is that we may be forewarned from the possible death of our local church due to neglect in any of above causes which led them into oblivion, if not cessation.
First, the Ephesian church was rebuked for forsaking her first love (2:1-7). The saints there were of the second generation. They remained true to the sound doctrines and practice. However, they lacked deep devotion to the God of their forefathers. Their hearts were not on fire for God though they subscribed to fundamental doctrines and ways. They seemed to appear like the Israelites in the days of the prophet Amos. They were not devoted to God.
Cornerstone people of the second generation, this fits you all. You who are young people today, whose ages range from 20 years and below, listen very well! You are prone to this error and may need to heed the same rebuke if this is true. Even we of the current generation after having been 20 years or so in the Christian life, are inclined to lose our first love for the Lord. We may continue membership in this Cornerstone church, unquestionably militant fundamental Baptist church, but if our heart has lost great fire for the Lord, then we are in a similar situation as this local church. Beware as we may get lost soon!
Second, the Pergamos church was rebuked for allowing their members to hold false doctrines (2:12-17). Either their local pastor or the leadership has allowed the false teachings of Balaam and Nicolaitans to prevail in their midst. Balaam caused Israel to spiritually stumble. It is similar with any doctrine or way that may cause members to stumble over certain doctrines. It involves departure from once held belief or moving to a new belief. Either way will qualify for Balaam’s way. Nicolaitanism involves compromise with the world’s morality and pagan’s way. Such were also permitted in this local church.
As church pastor, leaders, and members, we are never to allow anyone in belief and behavior to cause our members to stumble over certain doctrine or manner by departing from our old cherished doctrines or moving into a new belief. That will cause the fall of this church. Let us not allow modern day Balaam and Nicolas in our membership. They must repent from such errors and embrace the true ones. Diligent teaching must be employed to counter their possible deterioration. Beware of departing from the cherished belief that God’s true word was preserved in the texts that underlie the KJV Bible. Embrace not the trend of moving into newer versions, i.e. NASV, ESV, NIV due to their superior scholarship. Remain in the old path and old way!
Third, the Thyatira church was rebuked for tolerating immorality and idolatry (2:18-29). God rebuked this local church as she allowed “modern day” Jezebel to corrupt her people with sexual immorality and pagan idolatry. In the OT Jezebel corrupted the nation and influenced even king Ahab to her side. This church’s members either remained in such worldly practices or tolerated others in such evil ways. God assured that her children will cease to exist as a divine consequence for such depravation.
God designed that church people who fell in such sins must be corrected. They must be shown the gravity of sins and its consequences. Tolerating them is wrong. Immorality is rampant today even among God’s people. Paul warned about it in Ephesians 5:3 that it should not be mentioned among them. Believers are increasingly materialistic today. Materialism is a sign of paganism. Idolatry is not only the mere possession of religious idols. The pursuit of more money for selfish reasons today is the measurement of success. Lottery is increasing and enticing more people. Beware of them, Cornerstone people! We must spew out the unrepentantly immoral and idolatrous church members! Else we will cease to exist. Younger Cornerstone people you are duty bound to do the same if you want this church to remain in your generation.
Fourth, the Sardis church was rebuked for being spiritually dead (3:1-6). She developed a façade of spiritual vitality. People and colleagues rendered them as an effective and alive local church. They were at the heart of a trading area. Thus they exercised influence over other churches. But Christ stripped them of their hypocritical robe. And the real condition was disclosed — a spiritually dead church. Why were they such? First, they actually did things not out of devotion to Christ. Second, they failed to complete their duty as believers to Him. Third, God was not pleased over their life and ministry.
I fear the coming bema judgment of the Lord. None of us could escape that day! Let us examine now our hearts’ motive of service to Him, lest our labors be burned for nothing! Let us ensure we do things in His way that we may not be rejected, too. Let us not strive to please people and be promoters instead of the Lord who will scrutinize our heart and labor. Let us go to the field out of devotion for Christ. Let us sacrificially give after having been impressed by Christ’s great sacrificial love. Let us give our young children to the Lord even with the thought of possible poverty and death because of the Father’s love and giving up the Son. Beware of getting busy out of a dead heart! Get busy for the Lord out of a convicted heart to love Him who loved us first.
Finally, the Laodicea church was rebuked for being lukewarm (3:14-22). This church was wealthy and blessed with greater resources. With that they became contented and complacent. They did not strive to spiritual growth. They did not labor to earn spiritual rewards in the heavens. Thus, they were spiritually poor, wretched, and blind. The water in Laodicea was piped from city of Hierapolis and reached the place lukewarm. Their physical environment affected their spiritual condition. They were not zealous for the Lord’s work there. Many local churches typify Laodicea. May it not be said of us, Cornerstone!
When we serve God at the local church without zeal and passion then we signify Laodicea. When we do things in church ministry without intensity we are lukewarm. How is your church attendance recently? Have you increased in tithes, mission offerings, or expansion fund offerings recently? What progress did you make in your academic studies CBMS students? Are you intensely growing in teaching ministry? Mission workers are you intensely in love with your ministry and the people you are reaching? Beware of the spirit of Laodicea in your life, in your work, in your family, and in our church.
All these local churches got lost throughout time. Christ’s warning to them was fulfilled. Let us seriously heed this warning. We may lose our entrusted ministry if we fail to listen to this message. Our church may cease to exist at the current place if we disobey God’s warning. Our cessation will not run contrary to Christ’s promise in Matthew 16:18 — church perpetuity. Rather such consequence will bring shame upon us servants of the Lord and members of Cornerstone! Amen.
Regardless of the local church’s size and leadership, she can lose her stance and witness. The world will laugh at her demise from the place where she used to declare God’s word to the people. How did these local churches lose their witness? Why did they cease to exist in spite of God’s promise in Mat. 16:18? Let us study that we may all be forewarned by these messages to the churches.
As a local church can we lose our witness and existence at the present location? Can we lose our strong fundamental Baptist stance? Can we lose also our spiritual existence at the place where we are now? Can we become a church that exists but ceases to remain on old historical truths?
Of the seven local churches in Asia Minor, namely; Ephesus (2:1-7), Smyrna (2:8-11), Pergamos (2:12-17), Thyatira (2:18-29), Sardis (3:1-6), Philadelphia (3:7-13), and Laodicea (3:14-22), five of them were issued a divine rebuke. All of them were commended except Laodicea. All of them were also exhorted to do something. They were also given divine promise. I shall focus on the rebukes unto these five (5) churches. Perhaps the reasons for the rebukes were contributory to the death of these churches in that region.
My desire is that we may be forewarned from the possible death of our local church due to neglect in any of above causes which led them into oblivion, if not cessation.
First, the Ephesian church was rebuked for forsaking her first love (2:1-7). The saints there were of the second generation. They remained true to the sound doctrines and practice. However, they lacked deep devotion to the God of their forefathers. Their hearts were not on fire for God though they subscribed to fundamental doctrines and ways. They seemed to appear like the Israelites in the days of the prophet Amos. They were not devoted to God.
Cornerstone people of the second generation, this fits you all. You who are young people today, whose ages range from 20 years and below, listen very well! You are prone to this error and may need to heed the same rebuke if this is true. Even we of the current generation after having been 20 years or so in the Christian life, are inclined to lose our first love for the Lord. We may continue membership in this Cornerstone church, unquestionably militant fundamental Baptist church, but if our heart has lost great fire for the Lord, then we are in a similar situation as this local church. Beware as we may get lost soon!
Second, the Pergamos church was rebuked for allowing their members to hold false doctrines (2:12-17). Either their local pastor or the leadership has allowed the false teachings of Balaam and Nicolaitans to prevail in their midst. Balaam caused Israel to spiritually stumble. It is similar with any doctrine or way that may cause members to stumble over certain doctrines. It involves departure from once held belief or moving to a new belief. Either way will qualify for Balaam’s way. Nicolaitanism involves compromise with the world’s morality and pagan’s way. Such were also permitted in this local church.
As church pastor, leaders, and members, we are never to allow anyone in belief and behavior to cause our members to stumble over certain doctrine or manner by departing from our old cherished doctrines or moving into a new belief. That will cause the fall of this church. Let us not allow modern day Balaam and Nicolas in our membership. They must repent from such errors and embrace the true ones. Diligent teaching must be employed to counter their possible deterioration. Beware of departing from the cherished belief that God’s true word was preserved in the texts that underlie the KJV Bible. Embrace not the trend of moving into newer versions, i.e. NASV, ESV, NIV due to their superior scholarship. Remain in the old path and old way!
Third, the Thyatira church was rebuked for tolerating immorality and idolatry (2:18-29). God rebuked this local church as she allowed “modern day” Jezebel to corrupt her people with sexual immorality and pagan idolatry. In the OT Jezebel corrupted the nation and influenced even king Ahab to her side. This church’s members either remained in such worldly practices or tolerated others in such evil ways. God assured that her children will cease to exist as a divine consequence for such depravation.
God designed that church people who fell in such sins must be corrected. They must be shown the gravity of sins and its consequences. Tolerating them is wrong. Immorality is rampant today even among God’s people. Paul warned about it in Ephesians 5:3 that it should not be mentioned among them. Believers are increasingly materialistic today. Materialism is a sign of paganism. Idolatry is not only the mere possession of religious idols. The pursuit of more money for selfish reasons today is the measurement of success. Lottery is increasing and enticing more people. Beware of them, Cornerstone people! We must spew out the unrepentantly immoral and idolatrous church members! Else we will cease to exist. Younger Cornerstone people you are duty bound to do the same if you want this church to remain in your generation.
Fourth, the Sardis church was rebuked for being spiritually dead (3:1-6). She developed a façade of spiritual vitality. People and colleagues rendered them as an effective and alive local church. They were at the heart of a trading area. Thus they exercised influence over other churches. But Christ stripped them of their hypocritical robe. And the real condition was disclosed — a spiritually dead church. Why were they such? First, they actually did things not out of devotion to Christ. Second, they failed to complete their duty as believers to Him. Third, God was not pleased over their life and ministry.
I fear the coming bema judgment of the Lord. None of us could escape that day! Let us examine now our hearts’ motive of service to Him, lest our labors be burned for nothing! Let us ensure we do things in His way that we may not be rejected, too. Let us not strive to please people and be promoters instead of the Lord who will scrutinize our heart and labor. Let us go to the field out of devotion for Christ. Let us sacrificially give after having been impressed by Christ’s great sacrificial love. Let us give our young children to the Lord even with the thought of possible poverty and death because of the Father’s love and giving up the Son. Beware of getting busy out of a dead heart! Get busy for the Lord out of a convicted heart to love Him who loved us first.
Finally, the Laodicea church was rebuked for being lukewarm (3:14-22). This church was wealthy and blessed with greater resources. With that they became contented and complacent. They did not strive to spiritual growth. They did not labor to earn spiritual rewards in the heavens. Thus, they were spiritually poor, wretched, and blind. The water in Laodicea was piped from city of Hierapolis and reached the place lukewarm. Their physical environment affected their spiritual condition. They were not zealous for the Lord’s work there. Many local churches typify Laodicea. May it not be said of us, Cornerstone!
When we serve God at the local church without zeal and passion then we signify Laodicea. When we do things in church ministry without intensity we are lukewarm. How is your church attendance recently? Have you increased in tithes, mission offerings, or expansion fund offerings recently? What progress did you make in your academic studies CBMS students? Are you intensely growing in teaching ministry? Mission workers are you intensely in love with your ministry and the people you are reaching? Beware of the spirit of Laodicea in your life, in your work, in your family, and in our church.
All these local churches got lost throughout time. Christ’s warning to them was fulfilled. Let us seriously heed this warning. We may lose our entrusted ministry if we fail to listen to this message. Our church may cease to exist at the current place if we disobey God’s warning. Our cessation will not run contrary to Christ’s promise in Matthew 16:18 — church perpetuity. Rather such consequence will bring shame upon us servants of the Lord and members of Cornerstone! Amen.
The Witness of the Local Church
Acts 4:1-37
As a local church pastor I always long to see our church members living up to the demands of the gospel of Christ. As such it means members must diligently fulfill local church duties. Our compliance with those obligations will enable Cornerstone to bring to fruition her unfinished businesses. There is great sadness in my heart, and much stress is created as well, when people of God fail to live up to the demands both of the gospel of Christ and that of the goals of Cornerstone.
As Paul said to the Ephesians in 5:3b, “...let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints…” There are matters we should never allow to occur as the witness of Cornerstone will be at stake. Specific actions must be done to prevent the occurrence of such witness-destroying events. When local church people are disunited, it will ruin their witness as God’s instruments. If they are uncommitted to the divine expectations and organizational goals then they shall be a hypocritical institution. When fear creeps in the hearts of its people, as critics mount intense attacks, then the devil laughs at them while the Savior grieves. These events are destructive of the local church witness.
Let me inspire everyone to the scriptural illustration on how a church strengthens her witness in the midst of fear-sowing society and critics. Consider the history of Jerusalem church in the first century, how she managed to intensify her witness while the criticizing world raged in anger against her. Look at Acts 4:1-37. As the Jerusalem church grew in great numbers (they reached more than 5,000 numbers already, v.4), the critics were worried about their increasing zeal and influence (vv. 2-3). Consequently, the critics launched attacks aimed at weakening their strength. In verse 13 they undermined their competence. In verses 15 and 18 they ordered the Christian leaders to cease from their ministry. In verse 17 they decided to threaten them. In this witness-damaging situation, how did the church respond?
First, they engaged in prayers to face the threat (vv.24-30). The leaders shared the critics’ attitude towards the church and indirectly agreed to assemble for prayers. In prayer they brought the matter before the sovereign Lord. Notice the content of their prayers in verses 25-26, these are paraphrased quotes from Psalm 2. This psalm is the psalmist’s response to the Lord while in distress. The psalmist called and rested upon the sovereignty of the Lord in that situation. Indirectly, they learned how to use OT scriptures for their situation’s need. Should we not likewise do the same?
Regardless of the environment’s intense negative dealings with the church we can still be victorious over them by similarly learning from this narrative. We must engage in diligent prayers for every need we face. We must plead before God for the monies we need to sustain our missionaries. We can also rely upon the generous Father to transform stones into precious jewels as His provisions for the work of the Lord. We can beg God to thwart the accusing people around us desiring only the fall of His servants and His people. If we fail to trust Him and labor in prayers then we become disheartened people unable to sustain our witness.
Second, they asked God for boldness to face the threat (v. 29). The early church realized that without God’s grace of boldness they could not stand up to this threat. This humble urgent request was divinely granted in verse 31b. By this attitude they nullified the humanistic tendency to rely on earthly and worldly resources. What do I mean by this? We tend to depend on our human contacts to bail us out of the mess we face in life. We are prone also to use money in overcoming such a situation. So others engage in bribery. We may also invoke our religious right or freedom to insulate us from such criticisms. However, the Jerusalem church taught us here to rely on God’s grace of boldness endowed upon our spirit. Why did they ask for boldness? Clearly they desired only to speak the words of God. They did not do any retaliatory action except to beg God for protection.
As God blesses us with resources for the ministry, let us be warned not to rely upon such earthly gains to make us victorious in the battle. Definitely, we will use every God given asset to advance His work with faith in God who controls the process. Let us learn also from the experience of Elijah who obeyed God to Zarepath even if it was illogical to be sustained by a widow in time of drought and famine. Our witness as a local church is under question when we shrink from our duties due to fear. We fear to serve Him in the full-time ministry because of fear of financial insufficiency or poverty. We fear to move to the right doctrinal position because of possible loss of ministerial network. Others could not overcome their pride. We shrink from zealous evangelism and discipleship as fear of rejection creeps. Some men withdrew from the ministry due to fear of rebellion from the people or the latter’s insensitivity towards the minister. We hesitate to financially get involved in church ministry as we see its least financial returns or it has no return at all.
Parents discourage children to engage in ministry as they are worried of their future. A relative seems less satisfied over my daughter’s interest to pursue a music career in the church ministry. Preachers tend to go to the States for a better life and ministry while the great cities and provinces of our nation are in dire need of mission workers. In all these cases, we need God’s grace of boldness.
Third, they united together to face the threat (vv.32-37). The church decided to become knit in dealing with the circumstance at hand. Their mind and spirit were together (v. 32a). They voluntarily gave a portion of their individual assets into a common ownership (v. 32b). Notice that they were not coached by the church leaders. This was a pure Spirit work in the people’s lives (v. 31). Thus, verses 34, 35, and 37 are consequential evidences of such great unity among the Jerusalem church members. Every need was well addressed. They did not construct a socialized system of economic leveling. They were faced with such great needs that out of their brotherly concern they volunteered to be a blessing to the brethren. What they did here is echoed by Paul in Gal. 6:10.
As a local church we must maintain our current strength in unity. Let us act as caretaker in every area of ministry where God has placed us to shepherd every person under our care towards contributing to the intensification of our church unity. For by this we shall together defeat the critics’ attacks to stop the fulfillment of the goals of Cornerstone.
When does a church lose her witness in this society? One, when its members have less concern for the welfare of fellow members in every area of human life. Two, such predicament exists when members see themselves only as associational and professional assembly. Three, when members fear the repeat of wrong practice thus leading them to inaction. Four, when people of God are self-centered and insensitive to the demands and needs of the church ministry. This last was addressed by the prophet Haggai in his book.
The local church can not ask the world to grant her cessation in opposing her at all fronts. But she can strengthen her witness before this world so the latter may be silenced by her illogical and invalid criticism. Let us continue on in the ministry of prayer both in private and in public. Cease not to pray for the pastor, his family, his ministries, the deacons and their families, the missionaries, the staff, the Sunday school teachers, the Samuels, the financiers, the partners abroad, and every leader and member. Beg the Lord to grant them boldness to speak the word, to lead us to higher grounds of growth, and to conquer territories for the church. Join the increasing unity in this local church by word and by deed. Lead other weak members to get involved in the growing unity. Paul spoke of assured victory we shall have in 1 Corinthians 15:57. Amen!
As Paul said to the Ephesians in 5:3b, “...let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints…” There are matters we should never allow to occur as the witness of Cornerstone will be at stake. Specific actions must be done to prevent the occurrence of such witness-destroying events. When local church people are disunited, it will ruin their witness as God’s instruments. If they are uncommitted to the divine expectations and organizational goals then they shall be a hypocritical institution. When fear creeps in the hearts of its people, as critics mount intense attacks, then the devil laughs at them while the Savior grieves. These events are destructive of the local church witness.
Let me inspire everyone to the scriptural illustration on how a church strengthens her witness in the midst of fear-sowing society and critics. Consider the history of Jerusalem church in the first century, how she managed to intensify her witness while the criticizing world raged in anger against her. Look at Acts 4:1-37. As the Jerusalem church grew in great numbers (they reached more than 5,000 numbers already, v.4), the critics were worried about their increasing zeal and influence (vv. 2-3). Consequently, the critics launched attacks aimed at weakening their strength. In verse 13 they undermined their competence. In verses 15 and 18 they ordered the Christian leaders to cease from their ministry. In verse 17 they decided to threaten them. In this witness-damaging situation, how did the church respond?
First, they engaged in prayers to face the threat (vv.24-30). The leaders shared the critics’ attitude towards the church and indirectly agreed to assemble for prayers. In prayer they brought the matter before the sovereign Lord. Notice the content of their prayers in verses 25-26, these are paraphrased quotes from Psalm 2. This psalm is the psalmist’s response to the Lord while in distress. The psalmist called and rested upon the sovereignty of the Lord in that situation. Indirectly, they learned how to use OT scriptures for their situation’s need. Should we not likewise do the same?
Regardless of the environment’s intense negative dealings with the church we can still be victorious over them by similarly learning from this narrative. We must engage in diligent prayers for every need we face. We must plead before God for the monies we need to sustain our missionaries. We can also rely upon the generous Father to transform stones into precious jewels as His provisions for the work of the Lord. We can beg God to thwart the accusing people around us desiring only the fall of His servants and His people. If we fail to trust Him and labor in prayers then we become disheartened people unable to sustain our witness.
Second, they asked God for boldness to face the threat (v. 29). The early church realized that without God’s grace of boldness they could not stand up to this threat. This humble urgent request was divinely granted in verse 31b. By this attitude they nullified the humanistic tendency to rely on earthly and worldly resources. What do I mean by this? We tend to depend on our human contacts to bail us out of the mess we face in life. We are prone also to use money in overcoming such a situation. So others engage in bribery. We may also invoke our religious right or freedom to insulate us from such criticisms. However, the Jerusalem church taught us here to rely on God’s grace of boldness endowed upon our spirit. Why did they ask for boldness? Clearly they desired only to speak the words of God. They did not do any retaliatory action except to beg God for protection.
As God blesses us with resources for the ministry, let us be warned not to rely upon such earthly gains to make us victorious in the battle. Definitely, we will use every God given asset to advance His work with faith in God who controls the process. Let us learn also from the experience of Elijah who obeyed God to Zarepath even if it was illogical to be sustained by a widow in time of drought and famine. Our witness as a local church is under question when we shrink from our duties due to fear. We fear to serve Him in the full-time ministry because of fear of financial insufficiency or poverty. We fear to move to the right doctrinal position because of possible loss of ministerial network. Others could not overcome their pride. We shrink from zealous evangelism and discipleship as fear of rejection creeps. Some men withdrew from the ministry due to fear of rebellion from the people or the latter’s insensitivity towards the minister. We hesitate to financially get involved in church ministry as we see its least financial returns or it has no return at all.
Parents discourage children to engage in ministry as they are worried of their future. A relative seems less satisfied over my daughter’s interest to pursue a music career in the church ministry. Preachers tend to go to the States for a better life and ministry while the great cities and provinces of our nation are in dire need of mission workers. In all these cases, we need God’s grace of boldness.
Third, they united together to face the threat (vv.32-37). The church decided to become knit in dealing with the circumstance at hand. Their mind and spirit were together (v. 32a). They voluntarily gave a portion of their individual assets into a common ownership (v. 32b). Notice that they were not coached by the church leaders. This was a pure Spirit work in the people’s lives (v. 31). Thus, verses 34, 35, and 37 are consequential evidences of such great unity among the Jerusalem church members. Every need was well addressed. They did not construct a socialized system of economic leveling. They were faced with such great needs that out of their brotherly concern they volunteered to be a blessing to the brethren. What they did here is echoed by Paul in Gal. 6:10.
As a local church we must maintain our current strength in unity. Let us act as caretaker in every area of ministry where God has placed us to shepherd every person under our care towards contributing to the intensification of our church unity. For by this we shall together defeat the critics’ attacks to stop the fulfillment of the goals of Cornerstone.
When does a church lose her witness in this society? One, when its members have less concern for the welfare of fellow members in every area of human life. Two, such predicament exists when members see themselves only as associational and professional assembly. Three, when members fear the repeat of wrong practice thus leading them to inaction. Four, when people of God are self-centered and insensitive to the demands and needs of the church ministry. This last was addressed by the prophet Haggai in his book.
The local church can not ask the world to grant her cessation in opposing her at all fronts. But she can strengthen her witness before this world so the latter may be silenced by her illogical and invalid criticism. Let us continue on in the ministry of prayer both in private and in public. Cease not to pray for the pastor, his family, his ministries, the deacons and their families, the missionaries, the staff, the Sunday school teachers, the Samuels, the financiers, the partners abroad, and every leader and member. Beg the Lord to grant them boldness to speak the word, to lead us to higher grounds of growth, and to conquer territories for the church. Join the increasing unity in this local church by word and by deed. Lead other weak members to get involved in the growing unity. Paul spoke of assured victory we shall have in 1 Corinthians 15:57. Amen!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Ang Gantimpala sa Pagtangkilik
sa Lingkod ng Diyos
1 Hari 17:8-24
Ang mga taong hindi batid ang kaligtasang na kay Kristo ay mangmang din sa benepisyong maaring makamit sa pagtulong sa lingkod ng Diyos. Ito rin ay totoo sa Bagong Tipan. Bakit? Dahil ang tao ay makasalanan at hindi maaalala ang ginawang kabutihan ng Diyos sa kanila hangga’t hindi ipakita ng Diyos sa kanila ang galit Niya. Nakakalungkot na makita ang mga kasapi ng iglesiang ipinapagkait ang kanilang sariling maging pagpapala sa kanilang pastor. Hindi ko makayanan ang ganitong kasamaan kaya’t ganun na lamang ako kasidhing magsermon laban dito. Bakit? Dahil ang Kristiyano ay kumikilos laban sa sarili niya at maaaring magresulta sa pagkawala ng pagpapala ng Diyos.
Ang iba ay ayaw magbigay ng pabor sa Pastor sa takot na ang pastor ay maging abusado at yumaman nang husto. Nakalimutan nila na anumang ibinibigay ng Diyos sa kaniya ay para sa ikasusulong ng gawain ng Diyos. Kaya’t ang ganitong walang basehang takot at pangamba ay nagiging balakid sa pagpapalang maaaring matanggap sa pagtulong at pagtangkilik sa lingkod ng Diyos. Ang ating teksto sa itaas ay tungkol sa nangyari kay Eliseo sa mga liblib na lugar sa Israel. Nagpunta siya sa sapa dahil sinabi ng Diyos sa kaniya ito. Nagtuloy din siya sa isang banyagang lupain dahil sa utos ng Diyos. Makikita natin ang pagiging masunurin ni Eliseo sa pangunguna ng Panginoon. Dapat nating gayahin siya sa aspetong ito. Paano? Anumang kabigatang ibinibigay sa atin ng Diyos ay dapat nating tuparin. Nararanasan natin ito habang nakikinig sa pagtuturo ng Salita ng Diyos. Kailangan tayong tumugon at gawin ang ating napagdesisyunan anuman ang kahinatnan nito. Dapat nating sundin ang ipinapakita sa atin ng Diyos habang tayo ay nagbabasa at nag-aaral ng pansarili ng Bibliya. Ganun din, dapat nating sundin ang anumang ipinapahayag sa atin ng Diyos habang ginagawa natin ang ating pang-araw-araw na gawain hangga’t ito ay hindi labag sa Salita ng Diyos. Huwag kang sumuway kapag itinutulak ka ng iyong Pastor na gawin ang isang maka-Diyos na gawain.
May isang gawain sa ating teksto na karapat-dapat ng ating pansin. Ang ginawa ng balo kahit na hindi niya alam na siya’y pagpapalain pala ng Diyos. Kung tutuusin, hindi mo iisiping magiging katuwang siya ng propeta sa ministeryo sa mga panahong iyon. Tunay na nagtataas ang Panginoon ng mga tao upang matupad ang ninanais Niya. Una, pinakain ng balo ang propeta sa mga talatang 10-13 bilang pagsunod sa mensahe ng propeta na galing sa Diyos. Ang ganitong pagsunod ay isang kabayanihan nuong panahong iyon ng taggutom. Hindi siya nagdamot bagkus ay inuna ang pangangailangan ng propeta kaysa sa pangangailangan nilang mag-ina. Ang ganitong gawain ay nagpapakita ng ating pagbibigay prioridad sa pangangailangan ng gawain ng Diyos anuman ang ating katayuan sa buhay. Mayroong pananampalataya sa ginawang pagsunod na iyon ng balo. Walang pag-aalinlangan sa ginawang pagsunod. Kailangan nating lahat ang ganitong pag-uugali. Ito ay nakakahawa! Nais mo bang maging kagaya niya?
Pangalawa, ang balo ay biniyayaan ng sapat na probisyon sa ganung panahon ng taggutom. Tingnan ang mga talatang 14-16. Habang ipinapahayag ng propeta ang Salita ng Diyos, ang propesiya ay natupad. Siya ay biniyayaan ng sapat na pagkain sa panahon ng taghirap. Ano ang ipinapahayag nito tungkol sa ating buhay? Kaya ng Diyos na ibigay ang ating pangangailangan kagaya ng ipinangako Niya. Hindi Niya maaaring sirain ang salita Niya. Lagi Niya itong tutuparin! Huwag nating kalimutan ang itinuturo ng Mateo 24:35. Ngayon, takot tayong sundan ang ginawa ng balo dahil sa pangambang tayo ay magugutom! Mas pinagkakatiwalaan pa natin ang mga bangkero at ekonomista kaysa sa ating Panginoon. Kayong takot na sundin ang panawagan ng Panginoon ay hindi mararanasan ang pagpapala ng Panginoon hangga’t hindi kayo sumusunod sa tawag Niya!
Pangatlo, ang balo ay pinagpala nang napagaling ang kaniyang anak mula sa karamdaman. Tingnan ang mga talatang 17-24. Nagsumamo ang propeta na pagalingin ng Diyos ang anak ng balo dahil alam niya ang maaaring maging epekto nito sa balo at sa ibang tao. Namatay ang bata hindi dahil sa gutom kung hindi dahil sa karamdaman. May dahilan ang Diyos kung bakit Niya pinayagang mangyari iyon. Itataas ng Diyos ang Kaniyang lingkod sa harapan ng balo. Palalalimin ng Diyos ang pananampalataya ng balo dahil sa pangyayaring ito. Sa huli, ipapahayag ng balo ang katapatan ng Salita ng Diyos na ipinahayag ng propeta (talata 24). Anupa’t ang lahat ng bagay ay kumikilos sa ikabubuti ng mga anak ng Diyos na nagtitiwala sa Kaniya. Ang imposible ay nagiging posible para sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos. Ang ating reaksyon sa mga panahon ng paghihirap ay nagpapakita kung gaano tayo umaasa at nagtitiwala sa Salita ng Diyos.
Lagi kong itinatangi ang kagalakan ng pagpapastol sa mga kasapi ng Cornerstone dahil sa pagdami ng mga nagiging pagpapala sa Pastor at sa kaniyang pamilya. Ang ibig sabihin lamang nito ay lumalago na ang impluwensiya ng Salita ng Diyos sa kanilang mga buhay. Sa huli ay pagpapalain sila ng Panginoon.
Kayong mga kasapi ng ating mga simbahan sa misyon, hinihimok ko kayong maging pagpapala sa inyong mga misyoneryong pastor o manggagawa. Paano? Pag-isipang bigyan siya ng matutuluyan sa gabi. O di kaya’y tiyakin na siya’y may sapat na makakain dahil hindi niya sasabihin sa inyo kailanman ang ganitong pangangailangan kung sakali man. Sabihin ninyo sa kaniya na siya’y inyong ipinapanalangin at handa kayong siya’y suportahan. Protektahan ninyo siya laban sa mga pagbatikos at atake ng kalaban.
Kailan ang huling panahon na naging pagpapala kayo sa inyong Pastor? Nagiging pagpapala ba kayo sa inyong Pastor? Sa anong mga kaparaanan ninyo binabalak na maging pagpapala sa inyong Pastor? Maaari bang ang inyong pagmumukha, salita, ugali, kabutihan, at pagkalinga ay maging pagpapala sa kaniya? Mga kasapi ng Cornerstone, tingnan ang gagawing pagpapala ng Panginoon dahil sa inyong kabutihan! Namnamin ninyo ito at ipahayag rin sa iba upang sila’y mahimok na gumawa ng mabuti sa Pastor! Siya Nawa.
Ang iba ay ayaw magbigay ng pabor sa Pastor sa takot na ang pastor ay maging abusado at yumaman nang husto. Nakalimutan nila na anumang ibinibigay ng Diyos sa kaniya ay para sa ikasusulong ng gawain ng Diyos. Kaya’t ang ganitong walang basehang takot at pangamba ay nagiging balakid sa pagpapalang maaaring matanggap sa pagtulong at pagtangkilik sa lingkod ng Diyos. Ang ating teksto sa itaas ay tungkol sa nangyari kay Eliseo sa mga liblib na lugar sa Israel. Nagpunta siya sa sapa dahil sinabi ng Diyos sa kaniya ito. Nagtuloy din siya sa isang banyagang lupain dahil sa utos ng Diyos. Makikita natin ang pagiging masunurin ni Eliseo sa pangunguna ng Panginoon. Dapat nating gayahin siya sa aspetong ito. Paano? Anumang kabigatang ibinibigay sa atin ng Diyos ay dapat nating tuparin. Nararanasan natin ito habang nakikinig sa pagtuturo ng Salita ng Diyos. Kailangan tayong tumugon at gawin ang ating napagdesisyunan anuman ang kahinatnan nito. Dapat nating sundin ang ipinapakita sa atin ng Diyos habang tayo ay nagbabasa at nag-aaral ng pansarili ng Bibliya. Ganun din, dapat nating sundin ang anumang ipinapahayag sa atin ng Diyos habang ginagawa natin ang ating pang-araw-araw na gawain hangga’t ito ay hindi labag sa Salita ng Diyos. Huwag kang sumuway kapag itinutulak ka ng iyong Pastor na gawin ang isang maka-Diyos na gawain.
May isang gawain sa ating teksto na karapat-dapat ng ating pansin. Ang ginawa ng balo kahit na hindi niya alam na siya’y pagpapalain pala ng Diyos. Kung tutuusin, hindi mo iisiping magiging katuwang siya ng propeta sa ministeryo sa mga panahong iyon. Tunay na nagtataas ang Panginoon ng mga tao upang matupad ang ninanais Niya. Una, pinakain ng balo ang propeta sa mga talatang 10-13 bilang pagsunod sa mensahe ng propeta na galing sa Diyos. Ang ganitong pagsunod ay isang kabayanihan nuong panahong iyon ng taggutom. Hindi siya nagdamot bagkus ay inuna ang pangangailangan ng propeta kaysa sa pangangailangan nilang mag-ina. Ang ganitong gawain ay nagpapakita ng ating pagbibigay prioridad sa pangangailangan ng gawain ng Diyos anuman ang ating katayuan sa buhay. Mayroong pananampalataya sa ginawang pagsunod na iyon ng balo. Walang pag-aalinlangan sa ginawang pagsunod. Kailangan nating lahat ang ganitong pag-uugali. Ito ay nakakahawa! Nais mo bang maging kagaya niya?
Pangalawa, ang balo ay biniyayaan ng sapat na probisyon sa ganung panahon ng taggutom. Tingnan ang mga talatang 14-16. Habang ipinapahayag ng propeta ang Salita ng Diyos, ang propesiya ay natupad. Siya ay biniyayaan ng sapat na pagkain sa panahon ng taghirap. Ano ang ipinapahayag nito tungkol sa ating buhay? Kaya ng Diyos na ibigay ang ating pangangailangan kagaya ng ipinangako Niya. Hindi Niya maaaring sirain ang salita Niya. Lagi Niya itong tutuparin! Huwag nating kalimutan ang itinuturo ng Mateo 24:35. Ngayon, takot tayong sundan ang ginawa ng balo dahil sa pangambang tayo ay magugutom! Mas pinagkakatiwalaan pa natin ang mga bangkero at ekonomista kaysa sa ating Panginoon. Kayong takot na sundin ang panawagan ng Panginoon ay hindi mararanasan ang pagpapala ng Panginoon hangga’t hindi kayo sumusunod sa tawag Niya!
Pangatlo, ang balo ay pinagpala nang napagaling ang kaniyang anak mula sa karamdaman. Tingnan ang mga talatang 17-24. Nagsumamo ang propeta na pagalingin ng Diyos ang anak ng balo dahil alam niya ang maaaring maging epekto nito sa balo at sa ibang tao. Namatay ang bata hindi dahil sa gutom kung hindi dahil sa karamdaman. May dahilan ang Diyos kung bakit Niya pinayagang mangyari iyon. Itataas ng Diyos ang Kaniyang lingkod sa harapan ng balo. Palalalimin ng Diyos ang pananampalataya ng balo dahil sa pangyayaring ito. Sa huli, ipapahayag ng balo ang katapatan ng Salita ng Diyos na ipinahayag ng propeta (talata 24). Anupa’t ang lahat ng bagay ay kumikilos sa ikabubuti ng mga anak ng Diyos na nagtitiwala sa Kaniya. Ang imposible ay nagiging posible para sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos. Ang ating reaksyon sa mga panahon ng paghihirap ay nagpapakita kung gaano tayo umaasa at nagtitiwala sa Salita ng Diyos.
Lagi kong itinatangi ang kagalakan ng pagpapastol sa mga kasapi ng Cornerstone dahil sa pagdami ng mga nagiging pagpapala sa Pastor at sa kaniyang pamilya. Ang ibig sabihin lamang nito ay lumalago na ang impluwensiya ng Salita ng Diyos sa kanilang mga buhay. Sa huli ay pagpapalain sila ng Panginoon.
Kayong mga kasapi ng ating mga simbahan sa misyon, hinihimok ko kayong maging pagpapala sa inyong mga misyoneryong pastor o manggagawa. Paano? Pag-isipang bigyan siya ng matutuluyan sa gabi. O di kaya’y tiyakin na siya’y may sapat na makakain dahil hindi niya sasabihin sa inyo kailanman ang ganitong pangangailangan kung sakali man. Sabihin ninyo sa kaniya na siya’y inyong ipinapanalangin at handa kayong siya’y suportahan. Protektahan ninyo siya laban sa mga pagbatikos at atake ng kalaban.
Kailan ang huling panahon na naging pagpapala kayo sa inyong Pastor? Nagiging pagpapala ba kayo sa inyong Pastor? Sa anong mga kaparaanan ninyo binabalak na maging pagpapala sa inyong Pastor? Maaari bang ang inyong pagmumukha, salita, ugali, kabutihan, at pagkalinga ay maging pagpapala sa kaniya? Mga kasapi ng Cornerstone, tingnan ang gagawing pagpapala ng Panginoon dahil sa inyong kabutihan! Namnamin ninyo ito at ipahayag rin sa iba upang sila’y mahimok na gumawa ng mabuti sa Pastor! Siya Nawa.
The Role of Leaders in the Local Church
1 Tim. 1:8-13 and 1 Cor.12:28
Does the local church need deacons? Can women become deacons? What is the role of teachers in the local church? Does this include those teachers in the Bible school, in the Christian school, and in Sunday school? Are those men and women who do other tasks in the church part of leadership, i.e, music, finance, compassion, literature and maintenance?
As the local church increases the number of leaders directly involved in the ministry, it will grow further. As the number of members who are not involved in the ministry decreases then the church becomes spiritually healthier. Is not the pastor sufficient to do the ministry of the local church? If this is so then how can the pastor teach both the nursery and the adult classes? Can he preach the word while maintaining the cleanliness of the comfort rooms? Can he play the piano while leading the congregation in singing? The pastoral leadership’s success is measured by the number of members whom he has trained to serve either with or under him.
Let us identify from the Bible the kind of biblical leaders and modern day church leaders who emanate from biblical principles. First, we have the deacons. Second, we have the teachers at various areas and levels of teaching. Third, we have the musicians. Fourth, we also have the people who help the pastor in financial management. Fifth, we have those behind the maintenance work of the church. Sixth, we also have those engaged in literature and publication ministry. And likewise those devoted to the compassion ministry of the local church. Not all of these leaders could be extensively discussed in this article. But whatever is your position in the local church, you exist to help the pastor do the work of equipping people or aiding someone the pastor has authorized to do something for him. Do not neglect that your authority is delegated by the church pastor. Thus, it can be withdrawn and be given to another! So take care of it and use it well for the advancement of the local church under the pastoral leadership.
Church deacons are men selected by the church leadership and appointed by the pastor. They must comply with minimum qualifications as determined by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Various life areas of a deacon candidate are covered in that qualification. Men who desire to serve the Lord in this capacity must start to study and qualify themselves into the details of qualifications. After faithful deacon service such a man is worthy of the degree or title Deacon. They are chosen to serve the church by alleviating the pastor of the non-spiritual tasks he deemed proper to delegate. However, teaching and preaching tasks may not be delegated as they are primary tasks of the pastor, except in extreme cases. Once a man was chosen to serve as deacon, and he did it faithfully. Later he became an evangelist. Our assistant pastor was once a deacon and now he is into full time teaching-preaching ministry. Another man was once a deacon and now he is in missionary work. As church leaders of high honor in the local church they deserve high respect from the membership. Their duty may not be at the frontline. Yet their fulfilled work is not a mean task in the ministry. Thus, we must call them appropriately as Deacon_____. As the local church grows in number and in various ministries, it must increase the number of its deacons. But once appointed as deacon, he will remain in that office until any of the following occurs such as death, disqualification, or resignation from membership or office.
When deacons are godly and supportive to the pastoral leadership the pastor will succeed in leading the church to where God wants him. On the contrary, when the church is beset with problems it is sometimes because of the poor quality of the deacons’ life and ministry. Let us pray to God to increase the number of godly deacons in Cornerstone.
Teachers are carefully selected and appointed by the pastor into the teaching office. Paul discussed this office in 1 Corinthians 12:28. Primarily, this is an office belonging to male teachers. But it may include female church leaders who exhibit teaching gift especially among children. The male teachers may progress into the preaching ministry, but the female teachers can not as the preaching ministry office belongs only to qualified men. As teachers they are the extension of pastoral teaching ministry. Every teacher must be careful in belief and behavior that their words and ways are consistent with the pastoral belief and behavior, else, much harm could be inflicted upon the students of the teachers. The pastor develops and trains them to be apt to teach as well as fit to teach. Every teacher regardless of his or her teaching group must seek to be trained by the pastor and ensure his teaching content and lifestyle is fully recommended by the pastor.
These teachers include those in the music ministry. They also teach through music and hymns. Workers assigned at evangelistic centers and any strategy-based soul winning center area also covered by this teaching duty. Those who are engaged in literature ministry production are likewise in the teaching ministry.
Church members must highly regard teachers as pastoral representatives. This is what Paul taught the Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 5:12-13. Teachers help the pastor in equipping all sectors of the church members so the latter may do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12-16). Therefore, they must not be neglected in their needs (1 Tim. 5:17b-18).
Teachers who go outside the realm of the local church authority are doing harm to the local churches. This could happen both to those who teach without pastoral scrutiny of their life and teaching material as well as to those who teach outside the local church authority. The latter unconsciously develop dependency upon them and indirectly discourage students to rely upon their pastoral authority. So you will hear students seeking counsel from their Bible school professors and not from their local church pastor. Some students regard their professors as more authoritative than their pastors especially in issues where scholarship is highly factored in such as the issue on Bible versions.
As a pastor, I feel bad that some workers do not regard their pastor’s position and arguments on such a crucial issue. They would rather listen to what the scholars say. Recently, one student saw that his pastor loved him much more than the teachers. Missionaries on the field, whom will you trust and seek counsel in such significant issue, your pastor or your Bible school teacher? Why ask them who do not even know what the pastorate is by ignorance in practice? Whom will you trust in teaching ministry and pastoral work, your pastor or your seminary teacher? Beware lest the devil or your heart deceive you as others have been ruined. You will forfeit the wisdom of the man of God who oversees, who cares, who feeds, and who protects you from deceivers and enemies!
Evangelists were divinely given to expand the missionary work of the local church. You will see this office in Ephesians 4:11. Evangelists were tasked by the Lord to engage in evangelistic ministry. Entering into office necessitates similar qualification with the office of the pastor as it also involves teaching and preaching ministry. The difference of evangelism office with the pastorate is in the area of ministry geography. The former starts the work and turns it over to the latter for maintenance and growth. Both are significant in the overall growth of the local church. In the absence of an evangelist the local church pastor must do the work of an evangelist else it will have a hard time growing in number. On the other hand, when pastors linger in evangelism and neglect feeding his people the latter may become spiritually hungry. So, one has to be sure of the true divine calling and leading before entering the office.
In Acts 14:21-28, we have a pattern for evangelistic work exemplified by Apostle Paul. I believe this is more scriptural than the modern day so called evangelists who prey on church members and church goers to start a new local church. True evangelist work is praying and preparing to enter a new land where there is no work of his kind. Second, testing the field and starting to prepare the field for gospel sowing. Third, actually sowing the gospel through various means or strategies. Fourth, winning the open hearted and discipling them to grow in the faith. Fifth, baptizing the disciples into the local church. Sixth, teaching them all the necessary doctrines and practices of the evangelist’s position. Seventh, training and preparing the local trained leader to pastor the newly established local church. Finally, leaving and turning over the work to the new national or local leader to act as the baptized members’ pastor. Thereafter, the evangelist returns to the sending church to report his accomplishment. Then after a while of rest and recovery, he starts again in another location. This he will do until the Lord returns.
As a local church, such is our model in church planting at every province and nation of Asia. As we showed high respect to deacons and teachers, when the pastor finally selects and anoints a man who will engage in full time evangelism, we must also show similar respect to him. Such is also taught in 1 Thess. 5:12-13. Cornerstone members, let us diligently pray that the Lord will grant us a full time evangelist in the above philosophy and practice. To conserve our current gains, we must select and send such a man.
Even though this office is grossly neglected by Christians, let us blaze the trail for others to follow. Let us now prepare, select, and send evangelists who will do the work of the local church. We need to fill every province of this nation with Cornerstone belief and behavior to counter the spread of falsity among fundamentalists and evangelicals. We must reproduce faster than the average rate of local churches. Cornerstone juniors, youth, singles, married and seniors, come and join this wagon of laborers who are continually training to become servants of the Lord that will bring Christ to every province and Asian nation! Amen
As the local church increases the number of leaders directly involved in the ministry, it will grow further. As the number of members who are not involved in the ministry decreases then the church becomes spiritually healthier. Is not the pastor sufficient to do the ministry of the local church? If this is so then how can the pastor teach both the nursery and the adult classes? Can he preach the word while maintaining the cleanliness of the comfort rooms? Can he play the piano while leading the congregation in singing? The pastoral leadership’s success is measured by the number of members whom he has trained to serve either with or under him.
Let us identify from the Bible the kind of biblical leaders and modern day church leaders who emanate from biblical principles. First, we have the deacons. Second, we have the teachers at various areas and levels of teaching. Third, we have the musicians. Fourth, we also have the people who help the pastor in financial management. Fifth, we have those behind the maintenance work of the church. Sixth, we also have those engaged in literature and publication ministry. And likewise those devoted to the compassion ministry of the local church. Not all of these leaders could be extensively discussed in this article. But whatever is your position in the local church, you exist to help the pastor do the work of equipping people or aiding someone the pastor has authorized to do something for him. Do not neglect that your authority is delegated by the church pastor. Thus, it can be withdrawn and be given to another! So take care of it and use it well for the advancement of the local church under the pastoral leadership.
Church deacons are men selected by the church leadership and appointed by the pastor. They must comply with minimum qualifications as determined by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Various life areas of a deacon candidate are covered in that qualification. Men who desire to serve the Lord in this capacity must start to study and qualify themselves into the details of qualifications. After faithful deacon service such a man is worthy of the degree or title Deacon. They are chosen to serve the church by alleviating the pastor of the non-spiritual tasks he deemed proper to delegate. However, teaching and preaching tasks may not be delegated as they are primary tasks of the pastor, except in extreme cases. Once a man was chosen to serve as deacon, and he did it faithfully. Later he became an evangelist. Our assistant pastor was once a deacon and now he is into full time teaching-preaching ministry. Another man was once a deacon and now he is in missionary work. As church leaders of high honor in the local church they deserve high respect from the membership. Their duty may not be at the frontline. Yet their fulfilled work is not a mean task in the ministry. Thus, we must call them appropriately as Deacon_____. As the local church grows in number and in various ministries, it must increase the number of its deacons. But once appointed as deacon, he will remain in that office until any of the following occurs such as death, disqualification, or resignation from membership or office.
When deacons are godly and supportive to the pastoral leadership the pastor will succeed in leading the church to where God wants him. On the contrary, when the church is beset with problems it is sometimes because of the poor quality of the deacons’ life and ministry. Let us pray to God to increase the number of godly deacons in Cornerstone.
Teachers are carefully selected and appointed by the pastor into the teaching office. Paul discussed this office in 1 Corinthians 12:28. Primarily, this is an office belonging to male teachers. But it may include female church leaders who exhibit teaching gift especially among children. The male teachers may progress into the preaching ministry, but the female teachers can not as the preaching ministry office belongs only to qualified men. As teachers they are the extension of pastoral teaching ministry. Every teacher must be careful in belief and behavior that their words and ways are consistent with the pastoral belief and behavior, else, much harm could be inflicted upon the students of the teachers. The pastor develops and trains them to be apt to teach as well as fit to teach. Every teacher regardless of his or her teaching group must seek to be trained by the pastor and ensure his teaching content and lifestyle is fully recommended by the pastor.
These teachers include those in the music ministry. They also teach through music and hymns. Workers assigned at evangelistic centers and any strategy-based soul winning center area also covered by this teaching duty. Those who are engaged in literature ministry production are likewise in the teaching ministry.
Church members must highly regard teachers as pastoral representatives. This is what Paul taught the Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 5:12-13. Teachers help the pastor in equipping all sectors of the church members so the latter may do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12-16). Therefore, they must not be neglected in their needs (1 Tim. 5:17b-18).
Teachers who go outside the realm of the local church authority are doing harm to the local churches. This could happen both to those who teach without pastoral scrutiny of their life and teaching material as well as to those who teach outside the local church authority. The latter unconsciously develop dependency upon them and indirectly discourage students to rely upon their pastoral authority. So you will hear students seeking counsel from their Bible school professors and not from their local church pastor. Some students regard their professors as more authoritative than their pastors especially in issues where scholarship is highly factored in such as the issue on Bible versions.
As a pastor, I feel bad that some workers do not regard their pastor’s position and arguments on such a crucial issue. They would rather listen to what the scholars say. Recently, one student saw that his pastor loved him much more than the teachers. Missionaries on the field, whom will you trust and seek counsel in such significant issue, your pastor or your Bible school teacher? Why ask them who do not even know what the pastorate is by ignorance in practice? Whom will you trust in teaching ministry and pastoral work, your pastor or your seminary teacher? Beware lest the devil or your heart deceive you as others have been ruined. You will forfeit the wisdom of the man of God who oversees, who cares, who feeds, and who protects you from deceivers and enemies!
Evangelists were divinely given to expand the missionary work of the local church. You will see this office in Ephesians 4:11. Evangelists were tasked by the Lord to engage in evangelistic ministry. Entering into office necessitates similar qualification with the office of the pastor as it also involves teaching and preaching ministry. The difference of evangelism office with the pastorate is in the area of ministry geography. The former starts the work and turns it over to the latter for maintenance and growth. Both are significant in the overall growth of the local church. In the absence of an evangelist the local church pastor must do the work of an evangelist else it will have a hard time growing in number. On the other hand, when pastors linger in evangelism and neglect feeding his people the latter may become spiritually hungry. So, one has to be sure of the true divine calling and leading before entering the office.
In Acts 14:21-28, we have a pattern for evangelistic work exemplified by Apostle Paul. I believe this is more scriptural than the modern day so called evangelists who prey on church members and church goers to start a new local church. True evangelist work is praying and preparing to enter a new land where there is no work of his kind. Second, testing the field and starting to prepare the field for gospel sowing. Third, actually sowing the gospel through various means or strategies. Fourth, winning the open hearted and discipling them to grow in the faith. Fifth, baptizing the disciples into the local church. Sixth, teaching them all the necessary doctrines and practices of the evangelist’s position. Seventh, training and preparing the local trained leader to pastor the newly established local church. Finally, leaving and turning over the work to the new national or local leader to act as the baptized members’ pastor. Thereafter, the evangelist returns to the sending church to report his accomplishment. Then after a while of rest and recovery, he starts again in another location. This he will do until the Lord returns.
As a local church, such is our model in church planting at every province and nation of Asia. As we showed high respect to deacons and teachers, when the pastor finally selects and anoints a man who will engage in full time evangelism, we must also show similar respect to him. Such is also taught in 1 Thess. 5:12-13. Cornerstone members, let us diligently pray that the Lord will grant us a full time evangelist in the above philosophy and practice. To conserve our current gains, we must select and send such a man.
Even though this office is grossly neglected by Christians, let us blaze the trail for others to follow. Let us now prepare, select, and send evangelists who will do the work of the local church. We need to fill every province of this nation with Cornerstone belief and behavior to counter the spread of falsity among fundamentalists and evangelicals. We must reproduce faster than the average rate of local churches. Cornerstone juniors, youth, singles, married and seniors, come and join this wagon of laborers who are continually training to become servants of the Lord that will bring Christ to every province and Asian nation! Amen
The Role of the Pastor in the Local Church
Ephesians 4:11-16
Local churches vary in understanding about the role of the pastor. One view is that a pastor is hired by a church board to perform religious tasks for the people. Another view is that a pastor is a servant of the church who serves the church members and must live in poverty like the Lord Jesus. Still others view the pastor as one who speaks to comfort the people at various times. With these various conceptions of the pastoral ministry, come the different expectations from the pastor.
How should we regard the pastoral office? Does the Bible speak about proper view of the office? How should members relate with him? What are his tasks in the local church? Is he really a hired employee whom the church board can remove at their pleasure? Must the office of the pastor be given a term of service? How should leaders of para-church institutions relate with the man of God? Unbiblical answers to these questions will lead to ruin of the local church thus frustrating the man of God.
Occasionally, we hear of stories of young people who were sent to Bible school for ministerial training and who returned to his local church with different doctrines or behavior. Having imbibed the false views of institution teachers, he now questions the validity of his pastor’s teaching being less scholarly in nature. Other returnees quietly distrust the leadership of his pastor in various ministry areas. He is now mesmerized by the glitters of scholarship. He is now a victim of loyalty-hungry teachers who subtlely imbibed their supremacy over the young person’s pastor. This is true in my former alma mater as well as in other schools. Why does this thing happen?
First, the young student is too naïve and untaught with the true biblical role of pastor and also that of the school. Second, the school is either in competition with the local church followership or is plainly unsophisticated with the scriptural role of the school or worst probably desires to supplant the local church view about the pastoral role. Sometimes, this last perception is the dominant reason of conflict.
Some events that had transpired in our local church history and the current events are clear illustrations of above philosophy of pastoral role and authority. Let me discuss with you from the Bible some passages that provide answers to the above troubles.
God has entrusted to the office of pastor (and teacher) the task of qualifying the believers for the work of God in the local church. This is the truth of Ephesians 4:11b-12. The task of teaching is inherent in the pastoral office. The text does not provide separation of the office of teaching from the office of pastorate. This is hard to implement on a universal manner. But rather intended to be carried on in a local church setting. Qualifying task involves equipping work after selecting minimum qualities of people fit for the mold. Consequently, church members must accept the truth that their pastor, being God’s man, is the one to teach and to shepherd them towards becoming fully qualified for the local church ministry fulfillment.
See what is going on among Bible school graduates. Men and women are endorsed to the church for the work because they are degree holders. They are presumed fit for they have finished certain religious academic units. They have been influenced NOT by their pastors but by teachers who did not submit their teachings and practices to local church pastors. At best they only paid lip-service of being church members too as teachers but their belief and behavior were actually independent of their respective pastoral direction. This is plain worldliness among many fundamental schools. This is biblically wrong! Cornerstone people, we must unlearn this evil perpetuated among our generations and friends. We must remain in the belief that God has given us pastor(s) to qualify us into the various areas of local church ministry. We do not need teachers and scholars who refuse to submit their teachings and ways under the authority of local church! Thus, CBMS from inception until the Savior comes must remain under the control of Cornerstone Baptist Church else it has no biblical reason to exist! The former is an extension of the church pastor’s teaching ministry.
God intends that the pastor (and teacher) does the work until church members reach unity of the faith until the coming of the Savior. This is what is taught in verse 13. Christ is the final model of church members’ imitation and it must be sought diligently. However, a human leader is necessary for initial emulation. Paul extensively taught this point in 1 Corinthians 11:1; Galatians 4:12; Philippians 2:20; and 2 Timothy 3:10-14. So, academic graduation is not terminal, as far as qualifying aspect is concerned; but a beginning of a lifelong modeling of your pastor for the ministry’s sake. You will have to start by emulating your local church pastor towards fully imitating the Lord Jesus Christ. When church members look highly to teachers outside the local church then there is violation of God’s word in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. This will result in frustration either among members or the pastor as well as leaders. Such attitude is inviting conflict and chaos in the local church especially when the pastor is weak. When church members confide to teachers other than their pastor then there is room for local church conflict. Both the pastor and members need to know this truth. The pastor must be worthy of confidentiality and the member must trust the Lord for such a pastor God has given him.
God also designed the local church to be doctrinally stable as a result of pastoral work. Consider verse 14 as the basis for this. The pastoral teaching work either at the local church or at its extension in the Bible school must be geared at stabilizing the doctrinal grasp of the members. As the church increases in stability, it will survive attacks in doctrinal and ministerial areas. The local church must not be carried away by the fad of doctrine that changes in generations. She must not yield to changes in any area of doctrines. For instance, a large educational institution in the USA is changing its doctrine on bibliology. She used to believe that every word is inspired in the autograph. Now she still believes that, but denies the preservation of every word in the apograph. She now affirms that such (the preservation of every word in apograph) is not possible for it is not the original writings. She clearly affirms that God has preserved only the message (the essential doctrines of the faith) and not every word. Hence, there is a very minimal word discrepancy between manuscripts. So the discrepancies in words do not really matter for the essential passages on which the essential doctrines hang are unaffected. This teaching is seen in a book endorsed by the institution president. Beware of such slight departure, Cornerstone people! We must remain in the old fashioned doctrines of the faith and never attempt to change it.
God wants the pastor to speak the truth in love leading the church towards growth. Look at verses 15-16. Speaking in bitterness is never right. Harboring ill feeling towards our critics is ungodly. Exposing falsity is however urgent to warn the ignorant from deception. It is not necessarily being cantankerous. The pastor must lead the local church in growth of love towards one another even to its enemies. But love does not mean tolerating or compromising with errors. Separation is a must when there is unwillingness to correct error. The pastor must also lead the church to increase in number. These last two are both results of dependence upon the ultimate spiritual head of the local church – the Lord Jesus Christ. When the local church diligently follows (Hebrews 13:7,17) the leadership of the pastor, he will succeed in bringing together the local church into greater unity and growth. When members highly respect him as taught in 1 Thess. 5:12-13 he will have greater strength to work for the local church. As long as he remains scripturally qualified, as specified in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-11, he must pastor the local church.
Church members never neglect him and his needs! Consider 1 Timothy 5:17-18! Are you loyal to your church pastor more than to your bible school teacher? Whom do you regard more, your pastor or your teacher? Do you take time to encourage your pastor either personally or ministerially? With whom do you confide in personal and ministerial issues? Cornerstone people, if we favor, follow, and remain loyal to our pastor, then we shall strengthen him to do God’s vision for the local church!
How should we regard the pastoral office? Does the Bible speak about proper view of the office? How should members relate with him? What are his tasks in the local church? Is he really a hired employee whom the church board can remove at their pleasure? Must the office of the pastor be given a term of service? How should leaders of para-church institutions relate with the man of God? Unbiblical answers to these questions will lead to ruin of the local church thus frustrating the man of God.
Occasionally, we hear of stories of young people who were sent to Bible school for ministerial training and who returned to his local church with different doctrines or behavior. Having imbibed the false views of institution teachers, he now questions the validity of his pastor’s teaching being less scholarly in nature. Other returnees quietly distrust the leadership of his pastor in various ministry areas. He is now mesmerized by the glitters of scholarship. He is now a victim of loyalty-hungry teachers who subtlely imbibed their supremacy over the young person’s pastor. This is true in my former alma mater as well as in other schools. Why does this thing happen?
First, the young student is too naïve and untaught with the true biblical role of pastor and also that of the school. Second, the school is either in competition with the local church followership or is plainly unsophisticated with the scriptural role of the school or worst probably desires to supplant the local church view about the pastoral role. Sometimes, this last perception is the dominant reason of conflict.
Some events that had transpired in our local church history and the current events are clear illustrations of above philosophy of pastoral role and authority. Let me discuss with you from the Bible some passages that provide answers to the above troubles.
God has entrusted to the office of pastor (and teacher) the task of qualifying the believers for the work of God in the local church. This is the truth of Ephesians 4:11b-12. The task of teaching is inherent in the pastoral office. The text does not provide separation of the office of teaching from the office of pastorate. This is hard to implement on a universal manner. But rather intended to be carried on in a local church setting. Qualifying task involves equipping work after selecting minimum qualities of people fit for the mold. Consequently, church members must accept the truth that their pastor, being God’s man, is the one to teach and to shepherd them towards becoming fully qualified for the local church ministry fulfillment.
See what is going on among Bible school graduates. Men and women are endorsed to the church for the work because they are degree holders. They are presumed fit for they have finished certain religious academic units. They have been influenced NOT by their pastors but by teachers who did not submit their teachings and practices to local church pastors. At best they only paid lip-service of being church members too as teachers but their belief and behavior were actually independent of their respective pastoral direction. This is plain worldliness among many fundamental schools. This is biblically wrong! Cornerstone people, we must unlearn this evil perpetuated among our generations and friends. We must remain in the belief that God has given us pastor(s) to qualify us into the various areas of local church ministry. We do not need teachers and scholars who refuse to submit their teachings and ways under the authority of local church! Thus, CBMS from inception until the Savior comes must remain under the control of Cornerstone Baptist Church else it has no biblical reason to exist! The former is an extension of the church pastor’s teaching ministry.
God intends that the pastor (and teacher) does the work until church members reach unity of the faith until the coming of the Savior. This is what is taught in verse 13. Christ is the final model of church members’ imitation and it must be sought diligently. However, a human leader is necessary for initial emulation. Paul extensively taught this point in 1 Corinthians 11:1; Galatians 4:12; Philippians 2:20; and 2 Timothy 3:10-14. So, academic graduation is not terminal, as far as qualifying aspect is concerned; but a beginning of a lifelong modeling of your pastor for the ministry’s sake. You will have to start by emulating your local church pastor towards fully imitating the Lord Jesus Christ. When church members look highly to teachers outside the local church then there is violation of God’s word in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. This will result in frustration either among members or the pastor as well as leaders. Such attitude is inviting conflict and chaos in the local church especially when the pastor is weak. When church members confide to teachers other than their pastor then there is room for local church conflict. Both the pastor and members need to know this truth. The pastor must be worthy of confidentiality and the member must trust the Lord for such a pastor God has given him.
God also designed the local church to be doctrinally stable as a result of pastoral work. Consider verse 14 as the basis for this. The pastoral teaching work either at the local church or at its extension in the Bible school must be geared at stabilizing the doctrinal grasp of the members. As the church increases in stability, it will survive attacks in doctrinal and ministerial areas. The local church must not be carried away by the fad of doctrine that changes in generations. She must not yield to changes in any area of doctrines. For instance, a large educational institution in the USA is changing its doctrine on bibliology. She used to believe that every word is inspired in the autograph. Now she still believes that, but denies the preservation of every word in the apograph. She now affirms that such (the preservation of every word in apograph) is not possible for it is not the original writings. She clearly affirms that God has preserved only the message (the essential doctrines of the faith) and not every word. Hence, there is a very minimal word discrepancy between manuscripts. So the discrepancies in words do not really matter for the essential passages on which the essential doctrines hang are unaffected. This teaching is seen in a book endorsed by the institution president. Beware of such slight departure, Cornerstone people! We must remain in the old fashioned doctrines of the faith and never attempt to change it.
God wants the pastor to speak the truth in love leading the church towards growth. Look at verses 15-16. Speaking in bitterness is never right. Harboring ill feeling towards our critics is ungodly. Exposing falsity is however urgent to warn the ignorant from deception. It is not necessarily being cantankerous. The pastor must lead the local church in growth of love towards one another even to its enemies. But love does not mean tolerating or compromising with errors. Separation is a must when there is unwillingness to correct error. The pastor must also lead the church to increase in number. These last two are both results of dependence upon the ultimate spiritual head of the local church – the Lord Jesus Christ. When the local church diligently follows (Hebrews 13:7,17) the leadership of the pastor, he will succeed in bringing together the local church into greater unity and growth. When members highly respect him as taught in 1 Thess. 5:12-13 he will have greater strength to work for the local church. As long as he remains scripturally qualified, as specified in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-11, he must pastor the local church.
Church members never neglect him and his needs! Consider 1 Timothy 5:17-18! Are you loyal to your church pastor more than to your bible school teacher? Whom do you regard more, your pastor or your teacher? Do you take time to encourage your pastor either personally or ministerially? With whom do you confide in personal and ministerial issues? Cornerstone people, if we favor, follow, and remain loyal to our pastor, then we shall strengthen him to do God’s vision for the local church!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Ang mga Katangian ng isang Lingkod na Lider
Hebreo 11:23-29
Si Moises ay napabilang sa listahan ng mga taong kabilang sa bulwagan ng pananampalatayang nakasaad sa Hebreo 11 na kung saan ang may-akda (na marahil ay si Pablo) ay tinuring silang mga taong may malaking pananampalataya. Isang malaking karangalan para kay Moises ang mapabilang sa listahanang ito. Ang kasaysayan na ang bahalang maghusga kung ang pananampalatayang hawak natin sa ngayon ay karapat-dapat ng parangal sa hinaharap. Ano ang mga katangian ng magaling na pinunong Hebreo na ito na nagpalaya sa kanyang mga kapwa Israelita sa pagmamalupit ng mga taga-Ehipto?
Siya ay namulat sa impluwensiya ng maka-Diyos at malakas ang loob na mga magulang at kapatid (talata 23). Ang mga magulang ni Moises ay nanatiling matatag sa kanilang paninindigan na itago siya sa paningin ng mamamatay-taong Paraon. At sila ay nagtagumpay at nabigyan siya ng pagkakataong mabuhay. Sinuong din nila ang panganib nang sila’y makipagkasundo sa anak na babae ng Paraon at lumakad ng may pananampalataya sa Diyos nang hinayaan nilang maitaguyod si Moises sa ilalim ng sistema ng Ehipto. Ang Diyos ay hindi nagpabaya at iningatan si Moises upang sa hinaharap ay maging kagamit-gamit sa Kanyang mga layunin.
Kailangan nating mga magulang ang lakas ng loob ng mga magulang ni Moises. Kailangan nating manatiling malakas kahit na ang mga nangyayari sa ating paligid ay pilit na pinapahina ang ating kalooban. Kailangan nating isaalang-alang ang ating iiwanang patotoo. Naiisip ko ang isang magulang na nananatili sa kasalanan na nagpalaki ng isang anak na babae na ngayo’y mali ang pananaw sa kanyang kasarian at lulong sa pagnanakaw. Ngunit ang ama’y nananatili sa kanyang kasamaan at tumatangging kilalanin ang kanyang mga kasalanan. Anong masamang pamana ang kanyang iniwan sa kanyang anak!
Pinahindian niya ang mga pribilehiyo ng pagiging kasapi ng pamilya ni Paraon (talata 24). Hindi ba’t napaka-impraktikal ni Moises nang tinanggihan niya ang mga benepisyo ng pagiging apo ng Paraon (batay sa pagiging ampon niya)? Bakit niya ginawa ito? Dahil ayaw niyang sumalansang sa plano ng Diyos, kaya’t ipinagkait niya sa kanyang sarili ang mga benepisyo ng pagiging kapamilya ng Paraon upang maganap niya ang layunin ng Diyos sa kanyang buhay. Ang mga pangyayaring ito sa kanyang buhay ay patunay ng higit na pagpapahalaga ni Moises sa kalooban ng Diyos kaysa sa kanyang pananatili sa palasyo.
Bilang mga Kristiyanong mga magulang, ang mga gawain na pinapayagan nating gawin ng ating mga anak ay nagpapakita kung anong uring karakter ang nais nating makamtan nila. Kung minsan ay pinoprotektahan natin sila laban sa ilang paghihirap sa buhay, tulad ng pag-ulit sa antas ng pinag-aralan dahil sa katamaran o di kaya ang pagharap sa kahihiyan dahil sa maling ginawa. Ang mga maling pamamaraan na ito ay siguradong makakaapekto sa kanilang buhay sa pagtanda.
Mas ninais niya na danasin ang paghihirap na nakaugnay sa pagiging kabilang sa mga tao ng Diyos (talata 25). Mataas ang kanyang pananaw sa mga paghihirap na nakaugnay kay Kristo (talata 26). Ang paghihirap ay natural na inaayawan ng ating katawan. Iniiwasan natin ang anumang makakasakit sa atin. Ngunit hindi alintana ni Moises ang pakikisama sa mga Israelita kahit na ito’y nagdudulot ng sakit sa kanya. Ang tingin niya sa mga pasakit na iyon ay marangal at nakalulugod. Ano ang nagtulak sa kanya upang gumawa ng kakaibang desisyong ito sa kanyang buhay? Ang marangal at ang panghinaharap na gantimpala sa langit. Anong dakilang lingkod si Moises!
Ang mga batang nakaranas ng paghihirap sa buhay, kahit na iyon pang mga nasa ministeryo, ay may inklinasyon na tanggihan ang tawag ng Diyos sa ministeryo. Bakit? Dahil ayaw nilang maulit ang nakaraan. Ito ang mga taong hindi nakita ang dangal ng pagsisilbi sa Panginoon. Ang nakikita lamang nila ay ang paghihirap hindi ang mga gantimpala sa gawain ng Panginoon. Kaya’t nahihilig silang makisama sa mga ‘di ligtas o sa mga taong kinu-kompromiso ang Salita ng Diyos upang maibigan ang buhay at maiwasan ang paghihirap. Ito ay hindi tunay na kristiyanismo!
Mas takot siya sa galit ng Diyos kaysa sa pagkainis ng mga tao (talata 27). Dahil dito ay iniwan niya ang Ehipto at pumunta sa lugar na kung saan siya itinakda ng Diyos na manatili. Ipinakita ni Moises ang kanyang tapang at lakas ng loob nang iniwan niya ang maling lugar upang hanapin ang tama. Pinagtagumpayan niya ang tukso na manatili sa maling lugar dahil lamang sa benepisyong natatamo niya rito.
Mga magulang, mas binibigyan ba natin ng halaga ang mga batikos ng ating mga kamag-anak kaysa sa pangangaral ng Diyos o turo ng mga lingkod Niya? Nakakalungkot na isipin na para sa marami sa atin, mas matimbang ang sinasabi ng mundo kaysa sa sinasabi ng ating Pastor.
Nabuhay siya ng may pananampalataya at pinangunahan ang Israel patungo sa Diyos (talata 28-29). Una, sinunod niya ang tagubilin ng Diyos ukol sa Paskua sa talata 28. Pangalawa, pinangunahan niya ang Israel na tawirin ang Pulang Dagat (Red Sea) kahit na ito’y imposible sa mata ng tao (talata 29).
Tunay ngang nabuhay siya sa pananampalataya. Iniwan niya ang kasiguraduhan ng buhay sa Ehipto upang sundin ang Diyos sa isang buhay na walang katiyakan at puno ng panganib. Ngunit sa lahat ng mga ito ay sinagip siya ng Diyos. Gumawa pa nga ng mga milagro ang Diyos na kanyang nasaksihan at ikinatatag ng kanyang paniniwala. Anupa’t hindi magiging isang dakilang tagasunod ng Diyos ang isang pinuno kung hindi siya handang sumuong sa panganib o magbaka-sakali sa buhay. Hindi siya maitataas sa posisyon kung hindi siya handang tumahak ng buhay sa pananampalataya o buhay na walang katiyakan. Ang kapangyarihan at panustos ng Diyos ay magiging malinaw lamang sa gitna ng walang katiyakang buhay hindi sa isang buhay na nakasandal sa proteksyon ng kamunduhan.
Siya ay namulat sa impluwensiya ng maka-Diyos at malakas ang loob na mga magulang at kapatid (talata 23). Ang mga magulang ni Moises ay nanatiling matatag sa kanilang paninindigan na itago siya sa paningin ng mamamatay-taong Paraon. At sila ay nagtagumpay at nabigyan siya ng pagkakataong mabuhay. Sinuong din nila ang panganib nang sila’y makipagkasundo sa anak na babae ng Paraon at lumakad ng may pananampalataya sa Diyos nang hinayaan nilang maitaguyod si Moises sa ilalim ng sistema ng Ehipto. Ang Diyos ay hindi nagpabaya at iningatan si Moises upang sa hinaharap ay maging kagamit-gamit sa Kanyang mga layunin.
Kailangan nating mga magulang ang lakas ng loob ng mga magulang ni Moises. Kailangan nating manatiling malakas kahit na ang mga nangyayari sa ating paligid ay pilit na pinapahina ang ating kalooban. Kailangan nating isaalang-alang ang ating iiwanang patotoo. Naiisip ko ang isang magulang na nananatili sa kasalanan na nagpalaki ng isang anak na babae na ngayo’y mali ang pananaw sa kanyang kasarian at lulong sa pagnanakaw. Ngunit ang ama’y nananatili sa kanyang kasamaan at tumatangging kilalanin ang kanyang mga kasalanan. Anong masamang pamana ang kanyang iniwan sa kanyang anak!
Pinahindian niya ang mga pribilehiyo ng pagiging kasapi ng pamilya ni Paraon (talata 24). Hindi ba’t napaka-impraktikal ni Moises nang tinanggihan niya ang mga benepisyo ng pagiging apo ng Paraon (batay sa pagiging ampon niya)? Bakit niya ginawa ito? Dahil ayaw niyang sumalansang sa plano ng Diyos, kaya’t ipinagkait niya sa kanyang sarili ang mga benepisyo ng pagiging kapamilya ng Paraon upang maganap niya ang layunin ng Diyos sa kanyang buhay. Ang mga pangyayaring ito sa kanyang buhay ay patunay ng higit na pagpapahalaga ni Moises sa kalooban ng Diyos kaysa sa kanyang pananatili sa palasyo.
Bilang mga Kristiyanong mga magulang, ang mga gawain na pinapayagan nating gawin ng ating mga anak ay nagpapakita kung anong uring karakter ang nais nating makamtan nila. Kung minsan ay pinoprotektahan natin sila laban sa ilang paghihirap sa buhay, tulad ng pag-ulit sa antas ng pinag-aralan dahil sa katamaran o di kaya ang pagharap sa kahihiyan dahil sa maling ginawa. Ang mga maling pamamaraan na ito ay siguradong makakaapekto sa kanilang buhay sa pagtanda.
Mas ninais niya na danasin ang paghihirap na nakaugnay sa pagiging kabilang sa mga tao ng Diyos (talata 25). Mataas ang kanyang pananaw sa mga paghihirap na nakaugnay kay Kristo (talata 26). Ang paghihirap ay natural na inaayawan ng ating katawan. Iniiwasan natin ang anumang makakasakit sa atin. Ngunit hindi alintana ni Moises ang pakikisama sa mga Israelita kahit na ito’y nagdudulot ng sakit sa kanya. Ang tingin niya sa mga pasakit na iyon ay marangal at nakalulugod. Ano ang nagtulak sa kanya upang gumawa ng kakaibang desisyong ito sa kanyang buhay? Ang marangal at ang panghinaharap na gantimpala sa langit. Anong dakilang lingkod si Moises!
Ang mga batang nakaranas ng paghihirap sa buhay, kahit na iyon pang mga nasa ministeryo, ay may inklinasyon na tanggihan ang tawag ng Diyos sa ministeryo. Bakit? Dahil ayaw nilang maulit ang nakaraan. Ito ang mga taong hindi nakita ang dangal ng pagsisilbi sa Panginoon. Ang nakikita lamang nila ay ang paghihirap hindi ang mga gantimpala sa gawain ng Panginoon. Kaya’t nahihilig silang makisama sa mga ‘di ligtas o sa mga taong kinu-kompromiso ang Salita ng Diyos upang maibigan ang buhay at maiwasan ang paghihirap. Ito ay hindi tunay na kristiyanismo!
Mas takot siya sa galit ng Diyos kaysa sa pagkainis ng mga tao (talata 27). Dahil dito ay iniwan niya ang Ehipto at pumunta sa lugar na kung saan siya itinakda ng Diyos na manatili. Ipinakita ni Moises ang kanyang tapang at lakas ng loob nang iniwan niya ang maling lugar upang hanapin ang tama. Pinagtagumpayan niya ang tukso na manatili sa maling lugar dahil lamang sa benepisyong natatamo niya rito.
Mga magulang, mas binibigyan ba natin ng halaga ang mga batikos ng ating mga kamag-anak kaysa sa pangangaral ng Diyos o turo ng mga lingkod Niya? Nakakalungkot na isipin na para sa marami sa atin, mas matimbang ang sinasabi ng mundo kaysa sa sinasabi ng ating Pastor.
Nabuhay siya ng may pananampalataya at pinangunahan ang Israel patungo sa Diyos (talata 28-29). Una, sinunod niya ang tagubilin ng Diyos ukol sa Paskua sa talata 28. Pangalawa, pinangunahan niya ang Israel na tawirin ang Pulang Dagat (Red Sea) kahit na ito’y imposible sa mata ng tao (talata 29).
Tunay ngang nabuhay siya sa pananampalataya. Iniwan niya ang kasiguraduhan ng buhay sa Ehipto upang sundin ang Diyos sa isang buhay na walang katiyakan at puno ng panganib. Ngunit sa lahat ng mga ito ay sinagip siya ng Diyos. Gumawa pa nga ng mga milagro ang Diyos na kanyang nasaksihan at ikinatatag ng kanyang paniniwala. Anupa’t hindi magiging isang dakilang tagasunod ng Diyos ang isang pinuno kung hindi siya handang sumuong sa panganib o magbaka-sakali sa buhay. Hindi siya maitataas sa posisyon kung hindi siya handang tumahak ng buhay sa pananampalataya o buhay na walang katiyakan. Ang kapangyarihan at panustos ng Diyos ay magiging malinaw lamang sa gitna ng walang katiyakang buhay hindi sa isang buhay na nakasandal sa proteksyon ng kamunduhan.
Elisha’s Preparation as Servant Leader
2 Kings 2:1-15
Leadership is a significant role to play in the ministry of the Lord. Very few are born as leaders. Some became great leaders not because of their birth origin but because of their family exposure. Leadership is not inherited. It is learned through various means. Education is only one of the basic preparations. It is not the qualifying aspect into leadership function. If it is learned then it can be acquired. It can be lost as well due to non-usage. Leadership is a skill. It is a product of repetitively doing the various aspects of leadership. At times people are drawn into leadership roles by the glitters and glories of the office. Some have fallen as they were launched too early into it without the necessary preparations. Some have grown too old to lead and have been overwhelmed by the fear of its consequences. For the saved, nothing really happens which will not be divinely used as preparations into future leadership roles.
Elijah was a great servant leader of God in the Old Testament days. He was a man of faith. He was so courageous to face the false prophets. But he was also too fearful and presumptuous of being alone in the battle God has placed him in. He was greatly used of God. It seems that he was unsurpassable by anyone. But he himself knew well that when he goes someone has to carry on the tasks he received from the Lord. In short, he was faced with the need of succession. In the business world, this is called as the passing of great leadership.
We, too, face the same problem in every church ministry as we deal with various causes of moving out from the task we used to do. But the local church must continue. So she must be prepared in providing fit leadership for the future. Our current generation must prepare the next towards leadership tasks they will face. How do we do it? In my search from the word of God, I stumbled over this Elijah-Elisha succession which exemplifies godly servant leadership succession. I wish you, brethren, would look into other biblical evidences for further corroboration of this biblical study. Both the departing and succeeding leaders will learn much from it.
Elijah chose Elisha out of the working field to serve him. We see this in 1 Kings 19:19-21. Studying the text closely will reveal some important elements in the selection. First, Elisha was busy plowing the field (v.19). Second, Elijah searched and chose him (v. 19). Third, Elijah signaled to him as he passed by (v. 19). Fourth, Elisha left his work and followed Elijah (v. 20). Fifth, he sought permission from Elijah to inform his parents before departure (v. 20). Sixth, Elisha kept his word and followed Elijah (v. 21). Finally, he served Elijah (v. 21).
The narrative does not show evidence that Elijah specifically detailed with Elisha the tasks he would do. But, he fully understood the meaning of the older prophet’s signal. I think there were many risks involved in the action of Elisha in committing to follow Elijah. There lies the first greatness of this rising servant leader of the Lord.
Another evidence of Elisha’s greatness is his urgency to follow Elijah though he sought parental information prior to his all out obedience to the older prophet. Further, the text also indicates his dedicated service to Elijah, a task not specified but probably presumed and carried on by Elisha.
I admire Elijah in his discernment to get Elisha though he was divinely directed in the process. We can not absolutely claim similar guidance from the Lord. However, we can rely upon His word and prayer for discernment to achieve similar ends. The older prophet was also prudent to prepare for the future need of his ministry successor.
To those who will be chosen to serve, consider the circumstances of Elisha prior to his selection. You ought to emulate the same as lessons can be learned as well there even in a secular and neutral field!
Elisha remained with Elijah until he was taken by the Lord. This is mentioned three times in 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6 where the former always said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. What does this mean? Is it disobedience on Elisha’s part or indication of his dedication to the older prophet? Elijah must have tested him to leave him and go elsewhere even for ministry’s sake. But it seems that the young prophet passed the test. Elisha was stony dedicated to serving Elijah. His commitment to serve Elijah in 1 Kings 19:21 remained. He was unaffected by the ups and downs of Elijah’s ministry including his upcoming departure.
As a servant of the Lord to have Elisha’s spirit, attitude, and action nowadays is a great asset in the ministry. Such a fellow church worker is indeed a precious possession. I would rather have one such church worker than five people who do not have such commitment. Thus, it is my diligent prayer and preaching that God will mercifully multiply Elisha’s model in our local church. Such is not developed alone by asking the Lord. We have the duty to teach, to preach, and to model such pattern among our leaders and members. Consider this, mission workers and pastors! Your failure to define this goal and work hard to achieve it will lead to ministry defeatist attitude.
Cornerstone members here and there, you ought to imitate Elisha in your ministry at the church. Be privileged when you are chosen to serve by the Lord through the local church authority. Stick to it until your leader is gone before the Lord. May you be described in the future or in eternity as one who remained faithful and uncompromising until the end of our leader.
Elisha received the most potent provision (vv. 9-10). Elisha did not demand from Elijah any favor. But in God’s providence, the older prophet saw the need to ask Elisha about what he desired in life before the former left him. With humility and readiness, perhaps with no confusion, he asked for the very power behind Elijah’s ministry success or faithfulness. Elisha knew what to ask that matters most in his current life and work. He was not worldly neither lustful in requesting for favors. He showed a mature and godly character by this request. Elijah readily granted his permitted request (v.10). What a great possession Elisha received!
What would you like the Lord to give you in the ministry you are currently engaged in? Would this indicate Elisha type of character or the world? As parents, what do you desire most for your children? In such longings do we demonstrate Elisha’s character or that of the world? As youth and single, what do you long for in life? Would the Savior be pleased with your desires and longings in thoughts and prayers?
Think of what the Lord might be thinking of us Cornerstone people as a local church. What do we desire as a church and why? Would the Lord be honored with our prayer request, plan, and prodding?
Finally, Elisha received the very mantle of Elijah (vv. 13-14). The mantle symbolized the older prophet’s authority which the young prophet received both by divine delegation and Elijah’s turning over. Elisha mourned over the departure of Elijah as he would be surely missed. The authority also includes the prophet’s power which he inherited by divine transfer. This authority and power received were both manifested in Elisha’s life and witnessed by people (v. 15). This is the climax of Elisha’s succession to the office of the prophet.
Elisha did not aspire for the mantle even if he knew he was the chosen successor. This indicates his humble character even in managing the glories of promotion. He was not mesmerized by the nobility of power. He was not also blinded by the very authority inherent in his office. He knew this must be used to minister to Israel the very words of God. Elisha was prepared well so he was greatly exalted by the Lord into succeeding Elijah.
Cornerstone leaders, let us indeed be servants of the Lord according to Elisha’s character in matters of dealing with promotion. Let us use our divinely given power to advance the local church of Christ. Wait until the Lord gives you the exaltation into the ministry office. Let us think less of ourselves even as we think more of the church people to build them up until the Savior comes. Amen!
Elijah was a great servant leader of God in the Old Testament days. He was a man of faith. He was so courageous to face the false prophets. But he was also too fearful and presumptuous of being alone in the battle God has placed him in. He was greatly used of God. It seems that he was unsurpassable by anyone. But he himself knew well that when he goes someone has to carry on the tasks he received from the Lord. In short, he was faced with the need of succession. In the business world, this is called as the passing of great leadership.
We, too, face the same problem in every church ministry as we deal with various causes of moving out from the task we used to do. But the local church must continue. So she must be prepared in providing fit leadership for the future. Our current generation must prepare the next towards leadership tasks they will face. How do we do it? In my search from the word of God, I stumbled over this Elijah-Elisha succession which exemplifies godly servant leadership succession. I wish you, brethren, would look into other biblical evidences for further corroboration of this biblical study. Both the departing and succeeding leaders will learn much from it.
Elijah chose Elisha out of the working field to serve him. We see this in 1 Kings 19:19-21. Studying the text closely will reveal some important elements in the selection. First, Elisha was busy plowing the field (v.19). Second, Elijah searched and chose him (v. 19). Third, Elijah signaled to him as he passed by (v. 19). Fourth, Elisha left his work and followed Elijah (v. 20). Fifth, he sought permission from Elijah to inform his parents before departure (v. 20). Sixth, Elisha kept his word and followed Elijah (v. 21). Finally, he served Elijah (v. 21).
The narrative does not show evidence that Elijah specifically detailed with Elisha the tasks he would do. But, he fully understood the meaning of the older prophet’s signal. I think there were many risks involved in the action of Elisha in committing to follow Elijah. There lies the first greatness of this rising servant leader of the Lord.
Another evidence of Elisha’s greatness is his urgency to follow Elijah though he sought parental information prior to his all out obedience to the older prophet. Further, the text also indicates his dedicated service to Elijah, a task not specified but probably presumed and carried on by Elisha.
I admire Elijah in his discernment to get Elisha though he was divinely directed in the process. We can not absolutely claim similar guidance from the Lord. However, we can rely upon His word and prayer for discernment to achieve similar ends. The older prophet was also prudent to prepare for the future need of his ministry successor.
To those who will be chosen to serve, consider the circumstances of Elisha prior to his selection. You ought to emulate the same as lessons can be learned as well there even in a secular and neutral field!
Elisha remained with Elijah until he was taken by the Lord. This is mentioned three times in 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6 where the former always said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. What does this mean? Is it disobedience on Elisha’s part or indication of his dedication to the older prophet? Elijah must have tested him to leave him and go elsewhere even for ministry’s sake. But it seems that the young prophet passed the test. Elisha was stony dedicated to serving Elijah. His commitment to serve Elijah in 1 Kings 19:21 remained. He was unaffected by the ups and downs of Elijah’s ministry including his upcoming departure.
As a servant of the Lord to have Elisha’s spirit, attitude, and action nowadays is a great asset in the ministry. Such a fellow church worker is indeed a precious possession. I would rather have one such church worker than five people who do not have such commitment. Thus, it is my diligent prayer and preaching that God will mercifully multiply Elisha’s model in our local church. Such is not developed alone by asking the Lord. We have the duty to teach, to preach, and to model such pattern among our leaders and members. Consider this, mission workers and pastors! Your failure to define this goal and work hard to achieve it will lead to ministry defeatist attitude.
Cornerstone members here and there, you ought to imitate Elisha in your ministry at the church. Be privileged when you are chosen to serve by the Lord through the local church authority. Stick to it until your leader is gone before the Lord. May you be described in the future or in eternity as one who remained faithful and uncompromising until the end of our leader.
Elisha received the most potent provision (vv. 9-10). Elisha did not demand from Elijah any favor. But in God’s providence, the older prophet saw the need to ask Elisha about what he desired in life before the former left him. With humility and readiness, perhaps with no confusion, he asked for the very power behind Elijah’s ministry success or faithfulness. Elisha knew what to ask that matters most in his current life and work. He was not worldly neither lustful in requesting for favors. He showed a mature and godly character by this request. Elijah readily granted his permitted request (v.10). What a great possession Elisha received!
What would you like the Lord to give you in the ministry you are currently engaged in? Would this indicate Elisha type of character or the world? As parents, what do you desire most for your children? In such longings do we demonstrate Elisha’s character or that of the world? As youth and single, what do you long for in life? Would the Savior be pleased with your desires and longings in thoughts and prayers?
Think of what the Lord might be thinking of us Cornerstone people as a local church. What do we desire as a church and why? Would the Lord be honored with our prayer request, plan, and prodding?
Finally, Elisha received the very mantle of Elijah (vv. 13-14). The mantle symbolized the older prophet’s authority which the young prophet received both by divine delegation and Elijah’s turning over. Elisha mourned over the departure of Elijah as he would be surely missed. The authority also includes the prophet’s power which he inherited by divine transfer. This authority and power received were both manifested in Elisha’s life and witnessed by people (v. 15). This is the climax of Elisha’s succession to the office of the prophet.
Elisha did not aspire for the mantle even if he knew he was the chosen successor. This indicates his humble character even in managing the glories of promotion. He was not mesmerized by the nobility of power. He was not also blinded by the very authority inherent in his office. He knew this must be used to minister to Israel the very words of God. Elisha was prepared well so he was greatly exalted by the Lord into succeeding Elijah.
Cornerstone leaders, let us indeed be servants of the Lord according to Elisha’s character in matters of dealing with promotion. Let us use our divinely given power to advance the local church of Christ. Wait until the Lord gives you the exaltation into the ministry office. Let us think less of ourselves even as we think more of the church people to build them up until the Savior comes. Amen!
On Being a Servant of the Local Church
Romans 16:1-20
Paul wrote this epistle to the believers residing in the city of Rome. The epistle is strongly doctrinal in nature. The theological discussion is the foundation of the letter. From chapter 12, Paul began to discuss the moral and practical implication of his theology. Finally in the last chapter he enumerated the people who worked with and for him. It is a long list of names of people. He mentioned them for commendation. He seemed to make them for others’ emulation. At the start he called them servant of the church.
As an inspired book aimed at building up the readers, it is of great importance that we modern readers take a serious look at this Pauline servitude principle. He wanted the readers to imitate these named people so local churches may also be strengthened through the life and work of such people. Clearly, the Lord wants every church member to be a servant of the local church. But how do we express such desire to serve? As I consider the text, there are some clear and noticeable serving principles.
Be a servant of the local church like Phebe in verse 1. As such you would have to make yourself available in any type of work in the local church even without remuneration. Servitude is doing whatever task is assigned by the Pastor or his duly designated representative. It involves work of whatever nature, i.e. physical, mental, occupational, and spiritual. You will not demand the work and how it will be done. Someone in authority will delegate it to you.
Be a succourer of people as said in verse 2. Choose to help needy church members whether they ask for it or not. Consider being a help to the Pastor and to his family. Typically, the latter is expected to do all. And they do not easily complain as they are church leaders expected to work hard. So your help to them will serve as a consolation and reinforcement in life and ministry. To do this you must discover the need of the needy. Exercise discernment in learning their problems and needs. You would not wait to be told to help others. Upon seeing the need you will prepare to be of help and implement the prepared aid.
Be sacrificing for the ministry as exemplified by the married couple in verses 3-4. There is less evidence that this couple were ordained missionaries. However, there is much indication that they were great helpers in Pauline missionary tasks. They did so much to help the apostle. They willingly risked their lives to secure the apostle’s life and ministry. This is unlikely to happen in humanity even among the saved. We call this Christian heroism. Others are envious to hear and to see such church members. They undermined them as religious fanatics.
Such envy is developed due to the absence of their own people to be biblical. It shows the Lord’s purpose for their lives is to readily commit to die serving the apostle in the mission field. Do you have the same attitude as married church member couples? There will be no church advancement to occur until the church members are becoming more like this married couple. Life will pass anyway. When life is consumed in the advancement of His church it will count for eternity.
Be sowing much labor as called upon in verses 6 and 12. These people work to exhaustion. They get so weary in rendering the ministry required labor of whatever kind. They were unlike the youth who will escape from hard labor but will linger at easy engagement. Service at the local church requires investing much labor of all kinds. Labor involves spiritual, physical, and financial, too. Some singles and adults who failed to master this principle while young are in a mess for failing in their current roles. The Lord’s ministry at the church necessitates greater work than in the secular field.
Be a supportive household as said in verses 10, 11, 13-15. The writer mentioned various family names by their fathers who exemplified very supportive attitude and actions towards the work of the local church. These families did acts that enabled missionaries to do church planting work as well as build up the churches started. Another aspect of church life is how to maintain the members in which some leaders are quite weak. So in this ministry aspect some families are needed to reinforce the weaker areas and prevent them from failing. By the grace of God, I could also enumerate family names at Cornerstone who have shown similar actions. But I continue to minister that all of you families both here and at the mission churches may be found as such. Fathers and mothers, your leadership is crucial in creating a supportive household.
Be separating from divisive brethren as declared in verse 17. This is hard to do as many would not want to carry this on. But, we are under obligation both by the Lord and our church commitment to keep this injunction. Divisions will never strengthen the local church. It will weaken its resources and power. Thus, to the doctrinal and ministerial deviants, we must sever relations. We do not enjoy this action. But we are to humbly do it for Christ’s sake and the preservation of the church. Note well the actions and words of some brethren. Counsel them to repent and return to the godly and historical position. We must do this even among fellow professing fundamentalists who failed to walk in a holy manner and attempted to lead us away from the doctrines and practices we learned before. Discern how some are indirectly suggesting less militancy in the perspective of verbal preservation of the entire Bible in the name of scholarship. Some are commencing to suggest the advantage of using versions other than the historically tested and providentially preserved King James Version in the English language. Analyze how the nationals are indirectly subjected into educational dependency by the foreign workers. Some less militant nationals are being used for their missionary work. Division is being sown among the militant fundamentalists. Non-fellowship with some sectors of fundamentalists is viewed as extremism or branded as departure from the sound position! Beware of such false views. Let us return to the strengthening of Cornerstone local church and its daughters and replicate the same in other like-minded churches. The battlefield must be drawn at the local church. Beware of working to build up a para-church institution at the neglect of the local church unity and primacy.
Be speaking to build up the young ones as exhorted in verse 18. The deceived are enlisted by fair speeches. The Western and more educated are deemed more authoritative than the ones taught elsewhere. This is plain educational and religious imperialism. When the youth sit under such environment expect future parroting of the acquired message. The latter is not encouraged to be critical towards the more authoritative ones. So when someone speaks contrary to the masters’ view, without similar educational acquisition, they are undermined. Religious assemblies are organized to build up the foreign workers’ dominance instead of the nationals. The rural church people are on the sidelines while the urban foreign leaders are in dominance though they enjoy the presence of the former for statistical uses. The themes are hard to reach the lowly ones as they are geared towards the religiously advanced ones. Even the medium used is of the foreigner as the nationals’ way is deemed inferior. Let us start and keep on correcting these great errors of our environment and our forebears. We enjoin you into the wagon of reformers who will stand up to build up the lowly and young nationals instead of merely pleasing the foreigners. One day they will leave and it is you Cornerstone people and our countrymen who will keep on laboring to preserve the church!
Be submissive to local church authority as taught in verse 19a. With Paul hearing the Romans as being insubordinate is discouraging. He boasted upon learning that their submissiveness is publicly known. In the same manner Cornerstone people, there is joy in my heart to hear that everyone of you submits to local church authority led by the missionary pastor. Workers labor hard to teach this principle. Correct those who violate this. Boast in the Lord those who practice this diligently that others may emulate the same. I had few experiences from some Cornerstone members who were indirectly influenced by another to leave Cornerstone through various religious gimmicks. But I thank the Lord for His mercies in preserving them as the target prey remained. Such is demonstrative of indirect encouragement of a church member not to be submissive to pastoral authority. Glory to God! Woe to the deceivers!
Be simple to evil things as encouraged in verse 19b. Servants ought to know well the godly way with implementation in view. But they must avoid mastering the details of how evil works to keep them from getting influenced in the process. The Bible is clear that we must avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thess.5:21-22). It is dangerous to study well how prostitution is committed and not be contaminated by its details. All ages must exercise discernment in such situation. In counseling ministry, servants of the Lord, must exercise utmost care! Parents reject the world’s way of subjecting your children to their ways for educational advancement’s sake! Such is contrary to injunction among the Thessalonians.
Be struggling to victory over Satan as enjoined in verse 20. God has assured us victory over Satan. This is possible through the death and resurrection of Christ. See 1 Cor.15:55-58 as basis for this. Our part is to claim the promised victory and implement His commands in our daily lives. Service to the local church is a command. It is a godly and noble ministry in whatever capacity. Refusal to serve Him according to the above guidelines results in defeat by Satan. Serving Him by our own strength is victory for the Devil. Start serving the Lord as church member in certain area of ministry. Serve Him faithfully through Cornerstone where God has placed you until death. Such is the norm for all of us beloved brethren here and there! Amen!
As an inspired book aimed at building up the readers, it is of great importance that we modern readers take a serious look at this Pauline servitude principle. He wanted the readers to imitate these named people so local churches may also be strengthened through the life and work of such people. Clearly, the Lord wants every church member to be a servant of the local church. But how do we express such desire to serve? As I consider the text, there are some clear and noticeable serving principles.
Be a servant of the local church like Phebe in verse 1. As such you would have to make yourself available in any type of work in the local church even without remuneration. Servitude is doing whatever task is assigned by the Pastor or his duly designated representative. It involves work of whatever nature, i.e. physical, mental, occupational, and spiritual. You will not demand the work and how it will be done. Someone in authority will delegate it to you.
Be a succourer of people as said in verse 2. Choose to help needy church members whether they ask for it or not. Consider being a help to the Pastor and to his family. Typically, the latter is expected to do all. And they do not easily complain as they are church leaders expected to work hard. So your help to them will serve as a consolation and reinforcement in life and ministry. To do this you must discover the need of the needy. Exercise discernment in learning their problems and needs. You would not wait to be told to help others. Upon seeing the need you will prepare to be of help and implement the prepared aid.
Be sacrificing for the ministry as exemplified by the married couple in verses 3-4. There is less evidence that this couple were ordained missionaries. However, there is much indication that they were great helpers in Pauline missionary tasks. They did so much to help the apostle. They willingly risked their lives to secure the apostle’s life and ministry. This is unlikely to happen in humanity even among the saved. We call this Christian heroism. Others are envious to hear and to see such church members. They undermined them as religious fanatics.
Such envy is developed due to the absence of their own people to be biblical. It shows the Lord’s purpose for their lives is to readily commit to die serving the apostle in the mission field. Do you have the same attitude as married church member couples? There will be no church advancement to occur until the church members are becoming more like this married couple. Life will pass anyway. When life is consumed in the advancement of His church it will count for eternity.
Be sowing much labor as called upon in verses 6 and 12. These people work to exhaustion. They get so weary in rendering the ministry required labor of whatever kind. They were unlike the youth who will escape from hard labor but will linger at easy engagement. Service at the local church requires investing much labor of all kinds. Labor involves spiritual, physical, and financial, too. Some singles and adults who failed to master this principle while young are in a mess for failing in their current roles. The Lord’s ministry at the church necessitates greater work than in the secular field.
Be a supportive household as said in verses 10, 11, 13-15. The writer mentioned various family names by their fathers who exemplified very supportive attitude and actions towards the work of the local church. These families did acts that enabled missionaries to do church planting work as well as build up the churches started. Another aspect of church life is how to maintain the members in which some leaders are quite weak. So in this ministry aspect some families are needed to reinforce the weaker areas and prevent them from failing. By the grace of God, I could also enumerate family names at Cornerstone who have shown similar actions. But I continue to minister that all of you families both here and at the mission churches may be found as such. Fathers and mothers, your leadership is crucial in creating a supportive household.
Be separating from divisive brethren as declared in verse 17. This is hard to do as many would not want to carry this on. But, we are under obligation both by the Lord and our church commitment to keep this injunction. Divisions will never strengthen the local church. It will weaken its resources and power. Thus, to the doctrinal and ministerial deviants, we must sever relations. We do not enjoy this action. But we are to humbly do it for Christ’s sake and the preservation of the church. Note well the actions and words of some brethren. Counsel them to repent and return to the godly and historical position. We must do this even among fellow professing fundamentalists who failed to walk in a holy manner and attempted to lead us away from the doctrines and practices we learned before. Discern how some are indirectly suggesting less militancy in the perspective of verbal preservation of the entire Bible in the name of scholarship. Some are commencing to suggest the advantage of using versions other than the historically tested and providentially preserved King James Version in the English language. Analyze how the nationals are indirectly subjected into educational dependency by the foreign workers. Some less militant nationals are being used for their missionary work. Division is being sown among the militant fundamentalists. Non-fellowship with some sectors of fundamentalists is viewed as extremism or branded as departure from the sound position! Beware of such false views. Let us return to the strengthening of Cornerstone local church and its daughters and replicate the same in other like-minded churches. The battlefield must be drawn at the local church. Beware of working to build up a para-church institution at the neglect of the local church unity and primacy.
Be speaking to build up the young ones as exhorted in verse 18. The deceived are enlisted by fair speeches. The Western and more educated are deemed more authoritative than the ones taught elsewhere. This is plain educational and religious imperialism. When the youth sit under such environment expect future parroting of the acquired message. The latter is not encouraged to be critical towards the more authoritative ones. So when someone speaks contrary to the masters’ view, without similar educational acquisition, they are undermined. Religious assemblies are organized to build up the foreign workers’ dominance instead of the nationals. The rural church people are on the sidelines while the urban foreign leaders are in dominance though they enjoy the presence of the former for statistical uses. The themes are hard to reach the lowly ones as they are geared towards the religiously advanced ones. Even the medium used is of the foreigner as the nationals’ way is deemed inferior. Let us start and keep on correcting these great errors of our environment and our forebears. We enjoin you into the wagon of reformers who will stand up to build up the lowly and young nationals instead of merely pleasing the foreigners. One day they will leave and it is you Cornerstone people and our countrymen who will keep on laboring to preserve the church!
Be submissive to local church authority as taught in verse 19a. With Paul hearing the Romans as being insubordinate is discouraging. He boasted upon learning that their submissiveness is publicly known. In the same manner Cornerstone people, there is joy in my heart to hear that everyone of you submits to local church authority led by the missionary pastor. Workers labor hard to teach this principle. Correct those who violate this. Boast in the Lord those who practice this diligently that others may emulate the same. I had few experiences from some Cornerstone members who were indirectly influenced by another to leave Cornerstone through various religious gimmicks. But I thank the Lord for His mercies in preserving them as the target prey remained. Such is demonstrative of indirect encouragement of a church member not to be submissive to pastoral authority. Glory to God! Woe to the deceivers!
Be simple to evil things as encouraged in verse 19b. Servants ought to know well the godly way with implementation in view. But they must avoid mastering the details of how evil works to keep them from getting influenced in the process. The Bible is clear that we must avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thess.5:21-22). It is dangerous to study well how prostitution is committed and not be contaminated by its details. All ages must exercise discernment in such situation. In counseling ministry, servants of the Lord, must exercise utmost care! Parents reject the world’s way of subjecting your children to their ways for educational advancement’s sake! Such is contrary to injunction among the Thessalonians.
Be struggling to victory over Satan as enjoined in verse 20. God has assured us victory over Satan. This is possible through the death and resurrection of Christ. See 1 Cor.15:55-58 as basis for this. Our part is to claim the promised victory and implement His commands in our daily lives. Service to the local church is a command. It is a godly and noble ministry in whatever capacity. Refusal to serve Him according to the above guidelines results in defeat by Satan. Serving Him by our own strength is victory for the Devil. Start serving the Lord as church member in certain area of ministry. Serve Him faithfully through Cornerstone where God has placed you until death. Such is the norm for all of us beloved brethren here and there! Amen!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Sin of Procrastination
By Pastor Jed Raquintan
As Filipino Baptists we lack the heritage of devoted giving to the work of the church. We do not have generations of great giving legacy of our forebears. Children are scarcely taught to be generous in giving their tithes and offerings which belong to the local church. Hence, expecting children to give beyond the regular tithes and offerings is not usual. When these kids become adult members in the church it would take a divine miracle or a chastisement for them to become great givers.
As a family man I always desire my children to have a legacy of giving beyond the regular tithes and missions offerings. By this they will develop the habit and hopefully a godly culture of generous giving for the temple needs. The same desire runs in my blood as your pastor. I realize that most of us never had such godly culture prior to salvation in Christ. If we believe in the culture of generosity of giving beyond the tithes and offerings then we must start it in ourselves, in our family and our relatives.
Practically, ministers and churches resort to external sources to sustain the work. Indigenous ministry is defeated. Servants wanting the church to be strengthened through the biblical indigenous method are disheartened. However, before we fully accept ministerial discouragement, we must first exhaust the word of the Lord in providing solutions to such lack. The passage provides prevention of a repeat of similar want in our local church if we diligently heed its truth. The passage teaches that God wants His people to prioritize and not to delay the needs of His temple. If we fail on it then He will surely show it in our economic life.
Prophet Haggai was God’s man of the hour. He was divinely tasked to preach the word of the Lord. He was chosen to encourage the disheartened workers of the temple who longed to see the temple rebuilt. He was assigned to rebuke the insensitive and indifferent Israelites towards finishing the temple building. I think his work must have been quite difficult. For 15 years the temple work ceased as ordered by law through the influence of oppositionists. The indifferent ones found justification in the cessation order for their sin of procrastination.
God judged the people’s neglect of the temple building work as untimely. While the temple building was unfinished they prioritized their houses. They returned from exile to rebuild the temple. God provided their needs through the trip from Babylon to Jerusalem. But, soon, they succumbed to the hardship of opposition and settled themselves in finished houses. What a great irony! The divine provisions were used on their residences instead of the construction of the temple. They used the permission to return for self enrichment.
God permitted them to have economic insufficiency. They invested so much time and resources for their agricultural businesses expecting to get good harvest. But the actual yield was almost nothing! They spared much for their basic necessities, i.e., food, clothing, and retirement yet after some time they did not get what they expected. How did these things happen? Probably, God influenced the harvest yield. Perhaps, He allowed natural causes to affect their life that the overall yield was meager! They did not notice that their resources were placed in unsafe and unyielding investments. In their human minds the efforts and investments were sound and certain. But by procrastination of the temple building work God caused their investments to fail.
God strongly urged His people to actively finish the temple building work. They needed to exert hard labor by going up the mountains to get the necessary materials. They needed to stop procrastination. They needed to finish the temple building work. They must stop the work in their houses and continue rebuilding the house of the Lord. This task would earn the pleasure of God. It was glorifying to Him. In the same manner, when God’s people prioritize the work of the Lord in the local church, He is honored. When we work to finish the church building where we assemble for the ministry, He is pleased. The beauty of the meeting place reflects the glory of the Lord. The degree of involvement and size of generosity of God’s people will always cause His name to be extolled.
Finally, God sent chastisement upon the people. This divine action was prompted by their indifference to finish the temple building work. The indifferent justified their inaction and procrastination with the hardship of the times. However, their economic hardship was a result of divine hindrance. God closed the windows of heaven to keep the blessings from them.
Some implication of this sin of procrastination is evident. First, as church people we are to prioritize the church building work and its ministries than our residences. For a Christian to get busy building his house while neglecting the needs of the local church to build its edifices for the ministry is grossly sinful. It is the plain relevant message of the prophet. If you find home at Haggai’s rebuke then you are exhorted to stop and start building up the church. Second, did Haggai build his house too? That would be unlikely as he would be found hypocritical. Imagine the great love and sacrifice of this servant of the Lord who found joy only in seeing the temple building rebuilt even if he had no permanent residence!
Third, we must realize that our livelihood now and in the future will always be affected by our attitude towards the priority of church needs. God greatly rewards faithful labor focused not on selfish interest but on the interest of the local church. May I forewarn you people of God to cease from the sin of procrastination! Stop delaying what you are prompted to bring into the local church building needs.
Finally, we must learn that as the church building is being built we need to get involved in generously providing for its materials. Our tithes and offerings, as another prophet spoke about it, are for the temple workers’ provisions. It is the Lord’s temple maintenance provisions. Since God has moved the heathen kings to provide for the temple building then God‘s people are highly expected to do greater than them.
As New Testament people of God, let us seriously consider the needs of the church building to finish it that God’s glory may be displayed. I believe, according to facts and history of Cornerstone’s giving attitude, we can finish this unfinished worship place if every member and partner will heed God’s call to Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified…. Only the sin of procrastination will keep us from finishing this church building.
As your pastor, at the parsonage I daily see the unfinished tasks. My heart trembles and longs to see the glory of God be displayed in our worship place! Not having much funds, I have asked Him to use me, like the prophet, to finish the church building of the Lord. I thanked God that He enabled us to help the missions work. But must we allow such noble task to keep the glory and the pleasure of God displayed among the people, the worshippers, and the observers? Would you join me in prayer, in partnership, and in prompting one another in this renewed zeal to finish the temple of the Lord? Amen!
As Filipino Baptists we lack the heritage of devoted giving to the work of the church. We do not have generations of great giving legacy of our forebears. Children are scarcely taught to be generous in giving their tithes and offerings which belong to the local church. Hence, expecting children to give beyond the regular tithes and offerings is not usual. When these kids become adult members in the church it would take a divine miracle or a chastisement for them to become great givers.
As a family man I always desire my children to have a legacy of giving beyond the regular tithes and missions offerings. By this they will develop the habit and hopefully a godly culture of generous giving for the temple needs. The same desire runs in my blood as your pastor. I realize that most of us never had such godly culture prior to salvation in Christ. If we believe in the culture of generosity of giving beyond the tithes and offerings then we must start it in ourselves, in our family and our relatives.
Practically, ministers and churches resort to external sources to sustain the work. Indigenous ministry is defeated. Servants wanting the church to be strengthened through the biblical indigenous method are disheartened. However, before we fully accept ministerial discouragement, we must first exhaust the word of the Lord in providing solutions to such lack. The passage provides prevention of a repeat of similar want in our local church if we diligently heed its truth. The passage teaches that God wants His people to prioritize and not to delay the needs of His temple. If we fail on it then He will surely show it in our economic life.
Prophet Haggai was God’s man of the hour. He was divinely tasked to preach the word of the Lord. He was chosen to encourage the disheartened workers of the temple who longed to see the temple rebuilt. He was assigned to rebuke the insensitive and indifferent Israelites towards finishing the temple building. I think his work must have been quite difficult. For 15 years the temple work ceased as ordered by law through the influence of oppositionists. The indifferent ones found justification in the cessation order for their sin of procrastination.
God judged the people’s neglect of the temple building work as untimely. While the temple building was unfinished they prioritized their houses. They returned from exile to rebuild the temple. God provided their needs through the trip from Babylon to Jerusalem. But, soon, they succumbed to the hardship of opposition and settled themselves in finished houses. What a great irony! The divine provisions were used on their residences instead of the construction of the temple. They used the permission to return for self enrichment.
God permitted them to have economic insufficiency. They invested so much time and resources for their agricultural businesses expecting to get good harvest. But the actual yield was almost nothing! They spared much for their basic necessities, i.e., food, clothing, and retirement yet after some time they did not get what they expected. How did these things happen? Probably, God influenced the harvest yield. Perhaps, He allowed natural causes to affect their life that the overall yield was meager! They did not notice that their resources were placed in unsafe and unyielding investments. In their human minds the efforts and investments were sound and certain. But by procrastination of the temple building work God caused their investments to fail.
God strongly urged His people to actively finish the temple building work. They needed to exert hard labor by going up the mountains to get the necessary materials. They needed to stop procrastination. They needed to finish the temple building work. They must stop the work in their houses and continue rebuilding the house of the Lord. This task would earn the pleasure of God. It was glorifying to Him. In the same manner, when God’s people prioritize the work of the Lord in the local church, He is honored. When we work to finish the church building where we assemble for the ministry, He is pleased. The beauty of the meeting place reflects the glory of the Lord. The degree of involvement and size of generosity of God’s people will always cause His name to be extolled.
Finally, God sent chastisement upon the people. This divine action was prompted by their indifference to finish the temple building work. The indifferent justified their inaction and procrastination with the hardship of the times. However, their economic hardship was a result of divine hindrance. God closed the windows of heaven to keep the blessings from them.
Some implication of this sin of procrastination is evident. First, as church people we are to prioritize the church building work and its ministries than our residences. For a Christian to get busy building his house while neglecting the needs of the local church to build its edifices for the ministry is grossly sinful. It is the plain relevant message of the prophet. If you find home at Haggai’s rebuke then you are exhorted to stop and start building up the church. Second, did Haggai build his house too? That would be unlikely as he would be found hypocritical. Imagine the great love and sacrifice of this servant of the Lord who found joy only in seeing the temple building rebuilt even if he had no permanent residence!
Third, we must realize that our livelihood now and in the future will always be affected by our attitude towards the priority of church needs. God greatly rewards faithful labor focused not on selfish interest but on the interest of the local church. May I forewarn you people of God to cease from the sin of procrastination! Stop delaying what you are prompted to bring into the local church building needs.
Finally, we must learn that as the church building is being built we need to get involved in generously providing for its materials. Our tithes and offerings, as another prophet spoke about it, are for the temple workers’ provisions. It is the Lord’s temple maintenance provisions. Since God has moved the heathen kings to provide for the temple building then God‘s people are highly expected to do greater than them.
As New Testament people of God, let us seriously consider the needs of the church building to finish it that God’s glory may be displayed. I believe, according to facts and history of Cornerstone’s giving attitude, we can finish this unfinished worship place if every member and partner will heed God’s call to Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified…. Only the sin of procrastination will keep us from finishing this church building.
As your pastor, at the parsonage I daily see the unfinished tasks. My heart trembles and longs to see the glory of God be displayed in our worship place! Not having much funds, I have asked Him to use me, like the prophet, to finish the church building of the Lord. I thanked God that He enabled us to help the missions work. But must we allow such noble task to keep the glory and the pleasure of God displayed among the people, the worshippers, and the observers? Would you join me in prayer, in partnership, and in prompting one another in this renewed zeal to finish the temple of the Lord? Amen!
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