God's will...

"Knowing God's Will Part 1"

Scripture:

James 1:5-8

5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

We make decisions almost everyday.

Meroong simpleng decision, at meroong mabibigat na decision.

Simple things like when to wake up?

What to wear outside?

What to eat for breakfast?

Where to go after school or work?

What to dvd movie or series to watch before you sleep tonight?

These questions are simple, yet oftentimes we struggle when we are about to decide concerning them, kahit parang ang babaw nila. And this happens almost everyday.

Major decisions naman include, sino ba ang magiging partner mo sa buhay?

Magpapakasal kanaba?

San ka ba titira,?

Mangingibang bansa kanaba?

San kana magche-church?

What will you do with your money?

Ibubunyag mo na ba ang matagal mo ng tinatagong lihim about yourself?

These are but some of the more important things to consider in life.

In all of that, the christian is different from the unbeliever, because, before he makes a decision, he consults God.

Importante sa kanya, hindi lang ang opinion ng nakararami, kundi kung ano ba ang say ni God doon.

In other words, ano ba ang "God's will".

And how do we know kung ano God's will?

It begins with a REVELATION.

Revelation means, a message from God.

Puedeng as you read the Bible, as you listen to a Preacher, o dinaman kaya advice from Godly people. In some occasions, even circumstances can bear the thumb print of God. Mga pagkakataon na hindi sana mangyayari kundi rin lang sa divine intervention. Doors closing, and others opening. Put them all together, and they can be God's message for you.

A REVELATION.

That's why, from this verse, we gather, be prayerful.

Pray for wisdom. Ipag pray mo muna ang iyong situation before you jump into any major and important decision concerning your life and calling.

Pag gusto mo talaga ang God's will, magpe-pray kamuna.

Ask God to show you his revelation for your life.

"Knowing God's Will Part 2"

Scripture:

James 1:17

17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Knowing God's Will is a gift.

A gift from a loving Father in heaven.

He knows what is best for us, what is good for us, what is perfect for us.

And that is why, to know his will, it is not enough to have a REVELATION.

What do we mean by this?

God's will is known through a REVELATION, that is also verified to be true and real, by a CONFIRMATION, that he likewise sends, to assure the believer of the revelation's authenticity.

Kailangan may confirmation, kung ang iniisip natin, ay God's will nga talaga.

For example, nagpray tayo for a certain option or decision. We feel si Lord ang nagreveal sa atin nung decision na ito. Ang kasunod dapat nito ay confirmation mula ke Lord na yun na nga ang message niya.

Gaya ng verse na binasa natin ngayon, sabi ron "Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father in heaven."

Kaya isa pa sa importanteng dapat natin lahat matandaan, if you know your Father, you will know his gift!

Furthermore, if you know your Father, you will know his will.

Have you been thinking about something very important recently?

Has God been speaking to you through revelations?

Through messages, preachings, bible studies, friends?

Then if you really want to live a life that God blesses, that which pleases God, then seek a confirmation.

Be sensitive and observant to what will happen next in your life.

The people you will meet.

The things that will occur.

The places God will be sending you.

Because God is a God of purpose.

Walang aksidente sa Diyos.

Alam na alam niya ang ginagawa niya.

He is in full control.

Trust in God. Put your hope on him. He will show you the way.

Get your CONFIRMATION

"Knowing God's Will Part 3"

Scripture:

James 1:2-4

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

When God reveals his will, he confirms it.

And one way by which he confirms his will, is when there are trials and testings.

In other words, when God's will is being revealed, hindi puedeng mawala ang TENSION.

Already we have learned, that in knowing God's will, there must be REVELATION and CONFIRMATION.

Ano naman itong tension?

Hindi bat pag God's will dapat smooth ang lahat?

On the contrary, maraming beses sa bibliya, na me kwento ng mga tao, na even though they were doing God's will, pero, dumaan padin sa maraming pag subok.

Hindi laging smooth sailing ang pagtupad ng God's will.

Kadalasan pa nga, me struggle.

Why?

Because, in knowing and fulfilling God's will, there are (3) forces at work.

God's spirit, the human spirit, and evil spirits.

God's spirit wants to move us forward in life.

To do his will. And eventually, to live a life that is blessed by God.

But evil spirits despise this.

And they will do everything they can to deceive us in staying with the status quo, be lazy in our comfort zone, or worse, to do the opposite of what God wants us to do.

Kaya tuloy, yung human spirit, me struggle.

Depende na sa strength ng kanyang faith kung kanino siya sasama o susunod.

Ang hirap kaya non.

Parang kang pinupunit sa gitna!

And all of these things can happen, as a true believer in Christ seeks his will.

Yes, it is not an easy life.

But it can be so much worse if absent si God sa ating mga decision making.

We need to know and fulfill God's will in our lives.

Kahit na ito pa ay mahirap.

May struggles.

May conflicts.

May trials and testings.

We must now already realize, that in pursuing God's best for us, there will be tension.

Hindi siya basta basta nangyayari without us experiencing some form of struggle.

Akala nga ng iba heaven na agad pag naging christian na.

Lalo na kung ang foundation ng faith ay mababaw. Kung blessings oriented ang kanyang perspective. At kung hindi siya na disciple ng maayos, surely, he will be surprised, na serious matter ang pagiging mananampalataya.

But what is our point?

Don't be discouraged kung merong struggles sa life mo, lalo na kung ang struggles is about you fulfilling what you believe is God's will for your life.

In fact, rejoice, kasi isa yan sa indicator na nasa tama kang path.

And through all the tension, hold on to God, He will never let you go.

"Knowing God's Will Part 4"

Scripture:

James 1:12

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

In Knowing God's Will, we have studied at least (3) major points.

First, REVELATION.

If it is God's will, he will reveal.

Second, CONFIRMATION.

That if it is God's will, he will confirm.

And third, TENSION.

That even the presence of struggles can serve as a confirmation of his will.

And now, the fourth, in this (5) part series.

PROVISION!

Yes, eventually, kailangan ito bilang pruebe, ebidensiya, katiyakan, na indeed, what we are doing, is his will.

Sabi nga, if it's God's will, he will provide.

He will open doors.

He will pave the way.

He will soften hearts.

He will make you and your intentions known.

He will show you the money.

He will make the impossible possible.

Ganyan ang God's will, walang sino sino. Walang hadlang na hindi mabubuwag. Walang harang na hindi matatanggal. Walang pangangailangan na hindi niya ipagkakaloob.

Pag gusto ni Lord, walang puwedeng makapipigil.

Ang problema, pag ayaw niya?

O di naman kaya, hindi pa right timing.

Sa prayer, we can expect the following answers.

Yes, No, and Wait muna.

Sana laging yes or no lang, para malinaw agad.

Kaso nga lang, there are times that God wants us to wait first. Puwedeng dahil me trials and testings muna na alam niyang kailangan nating daanan. Or we have sinned against him, kaya kailangan natin muna ng cleansing. Minsan, wrong pa ang motive. Hindi tama ang katwiran o dahilan.

Maraming possible reasons why God opts to delay the fulfillment of his will in our lives.

Ang importante, ayusin natin ang ating puso, ayusin natin ang ating faith, ayusin natin ang ating buhay.

And when all is in their right place, at right timing na, you can expect, even God's abundant provision for all your needs.

Sabi nga, pag me vision, me provision.

"Knowing God's Will Part 5"

Scripture:

James 1:27

27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Knowing God's Will is about being Christian.

It's about making Christ the center and Lord of one's life. So much so, that we value and place at the highest importance and consideration, his say, on every major decision that we are to make in life.

That is why, a true believer in Jesus Christ, would always pray before anything else. He would always read the Bible before anything else. He would always ask fellow Christians before anything else.

Because, he knows, that is the right thing to do.

And in Knowing God's Will, we have discussed that it is important to have REVELATION, CONFIRMATION, TENSION, and PROVISION.

And now for the fifth, and final part of this series, we are reminded, that for anything that God wants a believer to do, there is always a purpose behind it.

In other words, to know God's will, we must see, how that decision, leads us to the fulfillment of our calling in God, our MISSION.

Yes, mission.

Sabi nga nung verse natin for today, "Religion, to be pure and faultless, should be about looking after orphans, taking care of widows."

Aanhin mo ang lahat ng ritwal kung wala naman itong epekto sa ating puso, pag iisip, ugali, katwiran, at pagtulong sa kapwa?

Ano kinalaman ng ating magiging decision sa buhay sa ating ministry?

Malaki. Because all christians must have a ministry.

And our ministry is because of our calling.

Because of our mission.

The one God has assigned for us to do on this earth.

The reason we exist.

Why we are on this earth.

Meron tayong lahat nyan.

Yung iba alam na. Yung iba hindi pa alam. Yung iba nakalimutan na. Yung iba nagmamaangmaangan pa din na wala.

Hindi puwedeng magtagal tayo sa pagiging Christian na hindi natin natutunton ang mission natin, ang calling natin, ang ministry natin.

Mamamatay ang faith natin pag nagtagal tayo na hindi natin alam, at hindi natin ginagawa ang ating mission in life.

Kaya, for any decision that you would have to make in life, always consider, "E ano naman ang kinalaman nito sa mission ko ke God?

How will this decision help me, in fulfilling God's calling for my existence on this earth?"

God's will, always includes, God's mission!