Lesson I Learned From Hannah Montana

Before anything else, I would like to make a disclaimer. I am not a Hannah Montana fan but my 2 little girls are.  So when they told me that they wanted to watch the Hannah Montana Movie last Monday, I easily gave in to their request.

In the movie, Hanna learned a valuable lesson.
“Life is a climb but the view is great.”

This statement stuck to me until the end of the movie. It speaks of the reality that there will be struggles in life but we should not despair because they all will pass. Jesus told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He has given us an overcoming spirit for everyone born of God overcomes the world. We may be going through some problems in our relationships, finances, health, career and many others. We just need to hold on and never give up.

When God told Joshua that he is giving them the promise land, he did not say that it would be a walk in the park. In fact when the spies went to do an ocular inspection, they saw that it was flowing with milk and honey but there are giants in the land.  Many times, when we receive a promise from the Lord, problems come before the provision. It doesn’t mean that it is not God’s will. It simply means that we are called to overcome something. But in the end, the struggle is worth it.

So, when you feel like you are going uphill, just hang on because when you get to the top, you’ll eventually enjoy the view!

The Best Advice I Ever Got

If you are the richest man in the world with a net worth of $50 billion, what would you consider as the best advice that you ever got?

Bill Gates created the Microsoft empire and has amassed a huge fortune since 90% of the world’s computers run on their operating system. (Unfortunately, I belong to the 10% who don’t use the Windows platform.) Last June 2009, he stepped down from the day to day operation of Microsoft to focus on philantrophy. He is now running the world’s largest charitable organization – the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation valued at $27.5 billion. He co-chairs with his dad, Bill Gates Sr.

When asked [by Fortune magazine, July 6, 2009] what was the best advice he ever got, his response was his dad encouraged him to do things that he wasn’t good at –in sports like soccer, swimming and football. (This is contrary to some leadership teachings that says you only focus on things that you are good at.) What it did to him was to be exposed to different leadership opportunities and it also showed him that he wasn’t good at a lot of other things. Talk about teaching humility the hard way.

Bill’s father, Bill Gates Sr. made sure that he would get along with and encourage the right things with his kids. Family traditions and values are observed. His dad and mom even took parent effectiveness training in their church.

We can see two things:
1.    As a parent, don’t underestimate the impact of your influence over your child.
Prov. 22:6  Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

2.    As you are growing up, never cut your ties with your parents for advice. This is still seen now in their foundation since Bill’s dad co-chairs with him. Bill Sr. is still considered as the voice of wisdom for Bill.
Prov. 19:20  Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

I remember asking my mom and dad for advice many years ago as I was making a decision whether to go to business or become a pastor. They said, “Never make decisions based on money.” I decided to be a pastor and never had any regrets. Thanks for your wisdom, Mom and Dad!

What about you, “What’s the best advise you ever got?”

Sunday Recall

We just finished our second installment in our series www.victory last weekend. I am posting my sermon notes last Sunday. Our topic was: Make Disciples.

Matt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matt. 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

These are the last words that Jesus said.
It speaks of importance.
He did not say: feed the poor, fix your marriage, build houses, build schools and hospitals

But make disciples.

Discipleship starts by having a heart for God and a heart for people.

Discipleship is a way of life. It’s the way they live. Other people see their lives and get attracted by it.

What does that way of life look like?
Matt. 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
A disciple is somebody who follows God, fellowships with believers and fish for men.

Discipleship is relationship. It is impossible to disciple apart from relationships.

FOLLOW JESUS
Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

•    What’s the cost of following Jesus?

Following Jesus is going to cost you. It is not a safe game or little church-ianity.

There was a time when following Jesus would cost you your life. There are, in fact, some countries where persecution is still so severe.
o    It may cost you your job, a promotion, maybe relationship with family or friends or even popularity.

FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS
(done in the context of small groups)
•    Jesus started a small group. There was even a Judas in his group so don’t expect to have perfect members.

Why are people sometimes not willing to be discipled?
•    Imperfect people
•    I don’t like the people in the group.
•    Fear of opening up
•    Lack of time and resources
•    Added responsibility
•    Fear of being controlled and manipulated

Benefits of being discipled in a group:
•    Easier to talk in small group than big group.
•    You realize that others face similar circumstances.
•    Use of gifts to minister to others
•    Encourage others to grow in faith.
•    Hold each other accountable and pray for one another.
•    Can help one another in tough times.
•    Friendship can start.

FISH FOR MEN
Jesus loves the lost. He will seek and save the lost.
ILL. If you were to disciple 1000 a year, within 36 years you’ll have 36,000.
But if you teach everyone to make one disciple each then maybe in 36 years we would evangelize the world. That is if we all do our job.

MAINPOINT: FOLLOW JESUS AND HELP OTHERS FOLLOW HIM.

2Tim. 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Many people all over the world was impacted in one way or the other by the ministry of Billy Graham. Who impacted Billy Graham? Billy graham found Christ in a revival meeting led by Mordecai Ham. How did Mordecai Ham know Christ? He met the risen Christ through a revival meeting led by Billy Sunday. Billy Sunday was led to the Lord in a revival meeting by J. Wilbur Chapman. Who discipled J. Wilbur Chapman? It was D.L. Moody. But who influenced D.L. Moody? It was a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball.

You don’t know whom you will reach. You just have to be faithful in discipling people.

Jesus’ words still keeps on ringing in my ears – Go and make disciples.

Honor God with Moolah

Prov. 3:9  Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Prov. 3:10  then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Contrary to a religious mindset that money is intrinsically evil, we can honor God through our wealth. Maybe, the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about this is tithing. We definitely honor the Lord when we give the tithe or 10% because it is a reminder that everything comes from Him. Giving it is a way of saying to God – thank you and an acknowledgment that He is the source.  He does not need it. But the tithe is His anyway. We are merely returning what belongs to Him.
But guess what, it is not only the tithe that is His. The whole amount of our wealth is His.
Psa. 24:1  The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

The money in your bank account is not yours but God’s. Your house, your car, your clothes, your computer, everything that you own is really owned by God. He owns everything. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and yet He doesn’t eat burger. He does not need it. Yet He owns it.

What this is saying now is not only is our giving honoring to God but how we steward our wealth should be honoring to God.
God does not just look at our giving but even our spending, saving, investing, etc. We are not owners. We are stewards. God is the title deed holder.

Every time God gives us income, we have five uses for it.

-    Tithing
-    Taxes
-    Support a lifestyle
-    Debt repayment
-    Savings and investment

Three of the five uses are consumptive (tax, living expenses and debt) which means that money you use is gone or consumed. Only two uses are productive in nature (namely tithing and saving) which means that the money you use here grows exponentially. Savings earns through compounding interest whereas tithing is a seed that multiplies in the supernatural realm and will come back as a great harvest in the future.

God always looks at the whole pie and not just the 10% that we give Him.

First question, “Are we honoring God through our giving?”
Next question, “Are we honoring God in handling the remaining amount?”

More of these in my next blogs.

Not Now I’m Busy

Have you ever felt like running out of gas in your walk with God? You’re doing a lot for Him and yet you feel so distant. It’s like riding a stationary bike – you are busy spinning and sweating but you are not going anywhere.

When a religious leader asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is, Jesus answered “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And he followed up and said the second is like it, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

Jesus used the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate how to love our neighbor (Luke 10:30-37). Then he used the story of the two sisters Mary and Martha to illustrate how we should love God.

Luke 10:41  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about MANY THINGS,
Luke 10:42 but only ONE THING is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

An insight that comes to mind when I read these verses was the difference between many things and one thing. When we find ourselves doing many things to please God, it is really born out of duty. But we need to just find the one thing to get to Him. That is born out of our pure devotion to Him.
Martha wanted Jesus to tell Mary to help her.  But He said that Mary has chosen what is better. God is not pushing us to do many things. He is calling us to do just one thing and that is to enjoy him.
Remember, ministry is just an overflow of our relationship with God. Not the other way around.
Matt. 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS will be given to you as well.
When we seek the ONE THING, then ALL THESE THINGS will follow.

I Love You Three Times A Day

A happy marriage can be elusive to some but a reality to others. I married Shirley in 1990 at the age of 22. And God gave us wonderful children after almost twenty years of marriage- Bea, Jerome (+), Ana and Andrea. I am so grateful to God for the wife that He’s given me. We realize that marriage is not just something that we coast along with. It takes a lot of hard work in order to build a strong marriage.
We are called to honor God in our marriages. We need to protect our marriage vows. After God, the most important human relationship we need to keep and prioritize is that of our spouse.

What you honor, you value.  And what you value, you prioritize.

Eph. 5:22  ¶     Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Eph. 5:25  ¶     Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Some of the ways that we can honor our spouse and help boost our marriages are:

•    Everyday you need to listen to the most important voice in heaven. Likewise, we need to listen to the most important voice on earth – your spouse.
•   Meet your spouse’s needs. Don’t just look at your needs.
•    Have a regular date night. Many of the conflicts can be avoided when you have a consistent time together just to bond.
•    Engage in meaningful conversation – one that has emotional connection. This requires talking and listening (on both sides).

•    Respect your spouse’s opinion. You don’t monopolize all the world’s wisdom.
•    Say “I love you” at least three times a day. No, its not a title to a movie but it’s one good habit that we need to have.
•    Kiss passionately. Yup! You heard me right. It bonds you almost instantaneously. Medical science gives several benefits of kissing. It releases tension. It aids in weight loss. It slows the aging process. It increases fitness. It boosts self-esteem. And it prevents tooth decay (I think you have to do it with brushing.) Just to name a few.
•    Have sex regularly. I’d rather not elaborate on this one.

A good, no, a great marriage not only honors God but is also the most precious gift that you can give your children.

Michael Jackson Theology (Re-mix)

Shirley and I were watching the memorial service for Michael Jackson this morning. We were  touched by the eulogy given to him by his friends and family.  I was inspired to write something. Here goes:

We are called to HEAL THE WORLD, to make it a better place

It doesn’t matter if you’re BLACK OR WHITE

Whether you’re BEN or BILLIE JEAN

You’ve got to make a difference

But first you have to look at the MAN IN THE MIRROR

You want to start to make a change

Because you realize that you’re BAD

And that inside you look like a THRILLER

But that’s just HUMAN NATURE

Temptation says, “I want to ROCK WITH YOU.”

You’ve got to BEAT IT

Don’t BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE

You know that you WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’

And DON’T STOP ‘TIL YOU GET ENOUGH

WORKING DAY AND NIGHT

Many times you want to say “LEAVE ME ALONE”

Because you feel like a SMOOTH CRIMINAL

But God is saying YOU ARE NOT ALONE, I’LL BE THERE and  I WANT YOU BACK

You PRETTY YOUNG THING

You might respond, “LEAVE ME ALONE.”

But He says, “I NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE.”

I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU.

Bye Mj. Thank you for the music.

When Cool Is No Longer Cool by Craig Groeschel

I am reposting a blog by Craig Groeschel. He is the Senior Pastor of Lifechurch.Tv in the U.S. – a cutting edge church that ministers using internet as a medium. They produce top calibre videos to make the gospel easy to understand and relevant for our times. He emphasizes that while the modern church needs to be relevant in its preaching method, it should not replace substance with style and dependence on the Holy Spirit with gimmickry. A good reminder for all of us who are called to pastor. The blog goes:

The [American] Church is not lacking for “cool” pastors. Like a single guy who is trying just-a-bit-too-hard to impress a girl, some churches are simply trying too hard to be cool.
I’m very encouraged to see a shifting in direction. For years, many of us seemed focused on:
* Designing relevant church experiences.
* Producing entertaining videos.
* Creating inviting environments.
* Crafting sermon series to draw a crowd.
* Writing sermons with shock value and plenty of humor or stories.

While all of the above can be effective tools, many of my friends are intentionally moving in a stronger direction. So many great Christian leaders are seeing far better results with:
* Bathing a sermon in prayer.
* Fasting regularly.
* Practicing personal confession and repentance.
* Preaching from the overflow of time alone in God’s word.
* Caring deeply for others in biblical community.

I’m thrilled so many leaders are placing less emphasis on being cool and more emphasis on being like Christ.

***

We are called to disciple, lead and preach. Not just to entertain people.

I Love This Church!

I am so grateful for this church. I got saved  23 years ago as a sophomore student and got involved in the life of the church. I’ve seen the church grow from a handful of people to now almost 40 thousand (in Metro Manila) in 13 locations. Back in 1986, we knew everyone in church by name (no kidding). It was so small that during a mid-week service if the worship team would go to the stage to sing, about five people would be left sitting in the congregation (a little exaggerated here).  I knew as a young believer that the honor of God is to be pursued at all cost – even in the way we do church.

By honoring God in church, it means that we build this church around God and not around a pastor or a group of pastors. We want to give God the credit always. We give God the honor by honoring one another – by not keeping offense and spreading it like wildfire. By God’s grace, we have not seen any church split after twenty five years of doing ministry. We may not agree on everything in a meeting in the conference room but when we go out (after a decision is made) we are in full support with one another.

We honor God in church by realizing that this is His body and that we need to walk united and connected with one another. Jesus will not come back for  mutilated bride but a glorious church without spot, blemish or wrinkle.

Eph. 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Jesus loves His church. He gave His life for His bride. Let us honor Him by keeping the unity of the faith.

I love this Church!

Honor God

Had a great time in church service yesterday. The presence of God was there. We started with a new series entitled www.victory (The what, why and who of Victory). This month we are celebrating 25 years of Victory as a church. We are culminating it with a celebration in Araneta Coliseum on July 24. Get your tickets now. We hope to see you there.

Yesterday, we talked about honoring God. This is the ultimate motive of why we do what we do. We give God the credit. We honor God because He is worthy. We worship him for who he is and not just for what He does or give us. We are to honor God not just in church on Sunday but everyday in every way. We honor God in our marriage, in our family, in our work, in our finances and even with our body.

One of the verses that stuck to me is found in Malachi 2:2 If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me. The Israelites were in a backslidden state and was warned by God through the prophet Malachi.

We are to set our hearts to honor God. Not because we fear that He will curse us but out of reverence and gratitude.

Before doing anything, ask yourself the question ,”Will this thing honor God?”