Radical: My God Forgives And So Shall I

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My God Forgives and So Shall I

Message by Jeremy Sanchez

Written by Ashley Petallano

Ever had regrets in your life?

Wish you took that last nacho off the plate?

Still hoping that you didn’t leave immediately and missed your favourite action star?

Wish you could rewind time and said NO?

We’ve had our bag of mistakes in the present. Some of them, we just can’t bear to recall at because they were just too horrible or they just made us feel stupid. Others make us question ourselves: am I really a follower of Christ?

Sometimes, it gets too overwhelming that we just can’t accept the fact that we’ve done such things. Regret eats us up like a monster gobbling his first meat.

You might have even reached the point where you asked: Will God ever forgive me?

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9

The book of 1 John discusses two beliefs. The first belief assumes that since we have a good spirit, we must abstain from all things that will soil our bodies. On the other hand, the second belief believes that since they have a good spirit, it’s okay for the body to experience soiling as long as it is not affected.

What does it mean when Jesus cleansed us from our sins?

His sacrifice on the cross cast forth all the sins from our lives. During the Old Testament, the Jews sacrificed clean, perfect lambs and offered their blood to only cover their sins. When Jesus came in the New Testament, he became the sacrificial lamb. His blood did not only cover sins, it removed them.

"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember no more."

Jeremiah 31:34c

God promised His people that should they come to Him and confess their sins out of repentance, He will forget, not keep record of any of it.

"When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumsicion of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceles the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross"

Colossians 2:13-14

All of our sins have been forgiven through Christ. Confession our sins is to align ourselves with how God looks at sin.

Have you ever felt heavy guilt?

Ever done something you know is wrong but went ahead anyway? (e.g. lied to your parents, gone to a place you’re not supposed to be, etc.). All of us are familiar with that heavy feeling after we’ve sinned. God actually uses guilt to let us know the gravity of our sin.

So what should we do?

1. Confess to God

We can confess our sins directly to God. We don’t have to ask someone to apologize for us. Directly apologize to Him when you’ve done something wrong. It’s like when we apologize to our parents. We don’t ask someone else to say sorry for us. It’s a lot better when we apologize ourselves.

2, Confess to others

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

James 5:16a

Having someone to be there for you really helps out.

It’s best to have a friend to discuss matters such as this. Look for friends who know the direction of Christ and let them know what you’re going through. This will keep you accountable and firmed because your friends will pray for you and will keep on reminding you to do the right thing.

We should do the same for our friends. Rather than condemn them for doing something wrong, we should forgive and learn to pray for them.

When you ask for forgiveness, you will be healed.

Confess, pray and be healed.

How can we apply this more into our lives?

Just 2 simple ways:

- We must live a forgiven life

Dwelling on the past wouldn’t help. The mistake has already been done and continuously living in our guilt and not doing anything about it will keep us stuck. We must learn to ask for forgiveness from God and move on, do the right things. Don’t keep on hurting your siblings and just feel guilty about it. Do something. Ask for forgiveness and forgive yourself, then move.

¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Let go of the past. Move forward.

-  We must forgive others as well

We must also learn to forgive those who have wronged us.

That girl who snubbed you and purposely ignored you because she thinks you’re a loser?

The boy in school who keeps picking on you?

The bullies?

Your parents who seem to not care?

They also deserve your forgiveness.

When you do not forgive others, it is not literally mean that God will not forgive you. This just means that you will not experience the peace of forgiveness even though you do all things right.          

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Heavenly Father will not forgive your sins."

Matthew 6:14-15

Since God forgave us, it is only right that we forgive others. When you refuse to forgive others, it does not mean that God will not forgive you. He still will but you won’t experience the peace of forgiveness even though you do all things right.

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:30-32

The last three things we should always keep in mind:

- God forgave me

- Live a forgiven life

- Forgive others

Forgiveness is divine. Forgive others as God has forgiven you through His son Jesus Christ and live a forgiven life. 

Radical: Do Not Fear, God Is Here!

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Do Not Fear, God Is Here!

Message by Daniel Carandang

Blog written by Agatha Apolinario

Edited by Ashley Petallano

What’s your greatest fear?

Spiders?

Cockroaches?

Cockroaches AND spiders?

Being left alone?

Fears.

All of us have fears. These are things that will shake you up; something that you will always encounter in this world. It may be a person, an object, or probably an event in your life.

It is in our nature to fear something, to be afraid.

Now, the question isn’t whether or not we’ll encounter things that will cause us to be scared, but how we will overcome these and how we can have security.

Well, there is one answer.

GOD.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you ;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

This promise of His is actually the most repeated one in the Bible.

As His children, He reminds us that He is ALWAYS there for us which is why we must not be afraid. He is there to strengthen us; assure us that no matter how scary our fears may seem, there is nothing to worry about for we are not alone—we have Him.

Others choose not to draw close to the Lord because they think He’s too far beyond our reach. But let’s get this straight:

Our God isn’t a distant God. He loves us and has genuine care for all His children. And again, He is always with us even when we choose to believe otherwise.

Therefore, we can find comfort and security knowing that our God is with us.

And because God is with us…

I. We will not fear evil

Even though I walkthrough the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Shepherds guide their sheep when walking through deep and dark valleys. They do this with their rod and staff in hand. Although these valleys can seem very dangerous, the sheep can be rest assured that he is safe and secured with his master by his side.

Like these sheep, we can be assured that we are safe knowing that our good shepherd, God, is with us. Even when we stray away from the flock, He is there to yank us back to Him. He is there to prevent us from making decisions that will lead us to destruction.

Even when the devil attacks us, we will not fear. Because we know there is nothing too scary or malignant when He is by our side. Coming to Him isn’t an assurance that we won’t be facing any difficulties in life. But we can remember that when we will be faced to such, we won’t be alone.

We can face all the troubles and challenges of life with confidence because no matter how difficult or big they are, they will never be too big or too difficult for our God.

II. We will not fear for our needs

Money.

Gadgets.

Relationships.

These are some of the things in the world that we desire. At times, we can go overboard in order to have them. In our heads, we think that we can achieve satisfaction when we have all that we want.

We THINK we need them because we THINK they give us contentment.

But in reality, it is only God who we need. He is the sole cork that can fill the gaping hole in our lives. In Him, we can be contented and find that peace we want.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

In this verse’s Hebrew translation, “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” was written as “never, ever will I leave you, never ever will I forsake you.”  It intensifies God’s promise that He will always be there for us. It is like saying that He will not lose His grip on us, that He will not let us go, and that He will NEVER abandon us.

Knowing that we can find ALL we need in God, we can rest and fear no more.

III. We will not fear following God

Have you ever tried getting out of a boat in the middle of the ocean? Probably not, because it can be quite scary knowing that there’s a big (yes, very big) possibility that you’ll drown.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Sometimes, it is similar to what we feel when God tells us to share His gospel to a friend, a classmate, or probably a family member. Instead of instantly obeying Him, we don’t. This is because it is in our nature to fear rejection and persecution. We’re afraid that if we try to preach His word, a lot will condemn us. But we have an all-powerful and magnificent God who has authority over everything and everyone. He has authority over our friends, families, and even those who are in high positions.

Therefore, we shouldn’t be afraid for He will orchestrate everything. He will empower us to do what He wants us to do. He will never leave us alone.

And if ever you happen to be in a situation where you need to get out of a boat in the middle of the ocean, do not fear for He will not let you drown nor will He let you go.

Radical: My God Is For Me

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My God Is For Me

Message by Daniel Carandang

Blog by Ashley Petallano & Ana Andres

Radical.

“What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

Romans 8:31

The verse is a benefit for those who belong to Christ. Truly, if we are a member of His family, we are assured that no force on this earth can shake us if we are with Him. Christ’s sacrifice promised no condemnation at all.

What does this mean?

Yes our God is for us, He is with us, He forgives us and He can do anything! But sometimes we don’t believe so. Why? When tragedy strikes our life or when we feel we’re not good enough, our human understanding is that God might be against us, that perhaps He is punishing us but no this is not true because once we belong to Jesus, we are at peace with God. The greek construction is even better translated as “Since God is for us”. This just emphasizes that “God is for us” is not questionable because He truly and genuinely is.

And because God is for us...

I.  I can run to God

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Romans 8:15-16

Slaves have this constant fear of their masters. No, we’re not talking about the bone-chilling fear. It’s the type of fear derived out of respect and the mere fact that they know they do not belong to their master’s family. Slaves don’t casually take things from their master’s kitchen. They know that they have no right to do so because they have no relations to their masters.

It’s different for a son or daughter.

A child of the family can easily get anything he wants from the kitchen because he knows that he is a part of the family and has every right to do so.

Once we accept Christ and dedicate our lives to Him, we are considered His own children. We are not His slaves, we are His sons and daughters.

Hebrews 4:16

With confidence, we can approach God as we would our earthly fathers. We should not run from Him rather we should run to Him. Pursue an intimate relationship with the Father who is perfect in every aspect because His arms are waiting for you.

II. I can rest in God

Romans 8:26

How can all things work together for the good?

Can tragedies actually lead to something worth it?

It’s not easy to understand. In fact, it’s even difficult to believe. When circumstances are at their most terrible, it’s hard to see God.

When faced with trials such as losing loved ones, failing subjects, disasters and such, we ask ourselves: “Is God really good?”

Try and look at it from God’s perspective.

He is not mean. He does not intentionally send tragedy your way just to make you miserable or to punish you. We sometimes have this image of God as a big bully who takes toys away from kids. He’s not like that.

He allows such circumstances for us to grow stronger. Clay molded into pots cannot become pots unless they are brought over fire. Diamonds cannot sparkle unless they are lasered. Pain is a process we must go through in order to grow. We would never learn if things remain fine.

It’s also during times of trials that we grow closer to Him. God wants us to rest in His arms; to trust that He knows what He’s doing. He will never let anything happen when He knows it will harm us. God is always after our own good.

Sometimes our limited human capacity doesn’t know how to cope with our problems but God did not leave us to our own aid. He gave the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness and sometimes when we don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us. So then we should not fear because there is nothing that God won’t understand and as we pray, He will not only answer us but also reveal to us the things that are beyond our earthly mindsets. 

III. I can be secure in God

“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, Who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Romans 8:33-34

Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for us to pay for our sins and to redeem us, we can now run in to the arms of a loving God and be totally safe and sound in Him. Although sometimes we still stumble and fall short, that does not mean that we will be removed from the family of God. We were saved by Grace and not through our performance and hence it is also by Grace that we are in God’s family and that we perpetually continue to be so. We will never be found guilty as our sins have been completely washed away by the blood of Christ but that doesn’t mean that we should continue to sin because if we have genuinely understood the Gospel, it will show in our life—even though you're not perfect. In your words, actions, and life—there WILL be a difference!

When we please God, let us not do it out of compulsion. Don’t do so if you feel forced. It’s not worth it if it’s not genuine. We please Him because of love and gratitude.

You can rest knowing that you stay in His family because of His grace and not by your works.

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”^[a]) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Romans 8:35-37

The Prayer of Jabez

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The Prayer of Jabez

Message by Daniel Carandang

How is your prayer life?

Sometimes, when we’re asked that question, we can answer in two ways: either “It’s great!” or “Oh...uhm...hmmm....next question please.”

Admittedly, some of us are embarrassed to admit that we answer the second option more than we’d like to. In the world we live in, prayer is an act which is often ridiculed or forgotten. We only remember to pray when we need something from God like guidance for our exams or urgent material needs.

When we do such, it’s as if we’re treating God as a genie and our prayers become wishes.

Prayers are not meant only for asking the Lord to provide what we want. It’s actually a sign of our intimacy to our Dad up in the sky, our way of communication with Him. Prayers should come from the heart, they should be messages we want God to know rather than just requests we want Him to grant.

How’s your prayer life?

A man named Jabez once prayed a remarkable prayer to the Lord:

“Lord, bless me indeed,”

You might say: “But you just told us that praying to God about our wants and needs is quite off!”

But there’s more to the eye with this man’s prayer.

First off, let’s meet Jabez.

Jabez could only be found in the Bible ONCE. His story is basically summarized in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (yep, that’s only two verses for him).  In verse 9, his short biography is mentioned:

“There was a man named Jabez who was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.”

Jabez was named after PAIN! Ouch! Unlike the usual flowery meaning behind babies names, poor Jabez was named pain because he came to this world painfully. Can you imagine being named after something that hurts? But despite this, he was a man who prayed the remarkable prayer in verse 10.

“Oh that You would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!”

Let’s analyze his prayer.

I. “You would bless me...”

Bless in Hebrew is barach.

Humble yourself before the presence of the Lord: that’s what Jabez did when he came forward. He knew that only God had the power to give and take away. He asked his heavenly Father to bless him tremendously, to renew his mind.

Lately, we have this wrong idea of blessings. We think we are blessed when we are given new IPhone 5Cs, a wardrobe of beautiful, branded clothes, pockets always filled with money, relationships that we think would last forever, etc. These are not genuine blessings, we call them counterfeit blessings.

“The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

Proverbs 10:22

Not all that seems good is from God. You may think that money is a blessing because as the verse says, blessings from the Lord makes a person rich and when you have lots of money, you are rich. Money can be a blessing when no sorrow follows it.

What sorrow do we mean?

Today, we hear news of people who have the money to buy what they want: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Cory Monteith. They are financially stable but in the end, they are found dead. Rumors circulate, saying that they were experiencing trouble before their death. See, money doesn’t bring happiness if it’s not from God.

God’s blessings do not bring sorrow.

His genuine blessings are followed with delight from His glory.

II. “...and extend my lands!”

Does Jabez really meant actual lands when he asked this prayer?

Probably not.

Let’s go back to his background.

We know that Jabez’s name meant pain. It must have been hard for him to know that his mother considered his birth painful to her. No one likes being the black sheep. Being dubbed as one may force you to just rebel and stay away from those people, live your life without them.

But in Jabez’s prayer, we see him asking the Lord to extend his borders.

He was asking God to increase his responsibility of blessing others.

It was not about him being blessed alone. It was all about making the best of his life by living wisely and sharing what he had.

III. “May Your hand be with me...”

Everyone’s got problems.

Even though you’re a Christian, you’re not exempted from life’s trials. We dislike undergoing problems because we simply hate the pressure and stress that come along with it.

When we’re experiencing challenges, it’s not because God is punishing us. No. It’s because He wants us to learn to call out to Him and trust His might sovereignty to cover us.

¹⁷  

Jeremiah 32:17

We all need God’s hand in all aspects of our life. We have to keep in mind that we are not forever strong and capable of solving our problems. We need God.

Have we been trying to fix things on our own?

IV. “...and keep me from all trouble and pain.”

SIN is POISON.

Imagine yourself becoming a victim of food poisoning. All it took was one virus or bacteria to be included in your food and the next thing you know, you’re writhing in pain and vomiting.

That is how sin works.

It seems enticing at first (like the food) but little did you know, it will hurt you the next.

Pain and destruction comes to those who live a sinful life. They just don’t see it yet but as they say, the consequences of our choices do come after.

We have to mindful of staying away from Satan’s traps. It’s his way of hurting God: hurting us. God loves His children that it occurred to the devil that in order for him to gain some points against the Lord, he has to target those He loves the most.

FIGHT! Don’t let the devil get the upper hand. With God, we can fight!

¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

God will never give us something we can’t handle. Remember: with Him, we can

Let Jabez’s prayer be an example to how we communicate with our God. He is not a genie, rather, He is our Father who would want updates from us and to hear that we are willing to serve Him with what we’ve got.  

Written by Ashley Petallano (c) 2013