i am SAVED BY GRACE

:(

 ”It doesnt matter if your tall, or small, thin or fat, old or young, or graduate ot fulltime or any position to lead people, its the matter of your heart.”

To grow as a disciple of Jesus is to experience Jesus. God has graciously and supernaturally given us an inspired holy Scripture that leads us into life-giving and life-changing encounters with Jesus. To follow Jesus means finding life in him and through his words. But how does that happen? Here are my insights:

ReNEWING OUR MINDS BY HIS WORDS

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1–2

The Bible presents a God-centered world in which his glory is the highest good and worth living for. This is a major realignment from the predominant individualistic outlook in culture that says, “It’s all about me.” Seeing the stories of transformation of people who are now living for God’s glory instead of their own is inspiring. Catching a glimpse of God’s glory is life-altering.

BY GIVING US DIRECTION

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

When Jesus is tempted (Luke 4), it was his prior exposure and time in the Bible that served him well. Embedding God’s word in our hearts is not so much a memory project as it is a project of encountering truth. We grow when our exposure to God’s word helps us to identify the subtle lies that lure us away from God and his glory. 

BY RESTORING OUR SOUL 

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalm 103:17–18

Every message in our culture invites us to recharge with “me time.” The Scriptures suggest that recharging is in rehearsing God’s great work of forgiveness, calling us his children, and inviting us into his kingdom work.

BY INFORMING OUR PRAYERS 

Jesus gives us many examples of how the Old Testament shaped his thinking and prayer life. We see that he took his understanding of what it meant for him to be our shepherd from Psalm 23. We see Christ’s prayer on the cross influenced by Psalm 22as he cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

We even see that Christ’s model of discipleship was influenced by his view of the word of God. In his prayer for his disciples in John 17, he says that he has sanctified them through God’s word.

WHAT DOES GROWTH LOOK LIKE? 

We grow as disciples as we learn to turn the expressions of our heart to God. So when you read the Bible, look for:

• Sins to confess
• Promises to claim
• Examples to follow or avoid
• Commands to obey
• Statements of significance
• Responses of awe, which is worship
• Lives lived in community, which support righteousness and life change in each other
• Your life used as a billboard to declare God’s invitation to life and to join him on mission.
• AND LEADING!

This is what it looks like to be a growing disciple. 

SO WHAT? 

The COST of DISCIPLESHIP:

Salvation costs you nothing, but discipleship will cost you everything. Salvation occurs in a moment, but discipleship takes a lifetime. Jesus asks whether or not you truly want to live a life of discipleship. If you are a disciple, do not quit. Everything that matters is hard. Everything that matters is costly. Do not quit. Don’t waste your life. Make your death count. Do not raise your hand unless you’re ready to see it through to the end.

“All of us have their own trials, circumstances and challenges in life, but it should not be an excuse to forget the greatest commission.”

(LUKE 14:25-35)

AND NOW: LEAD AS YOU FOLLOW JESUS

Today, we memorialize all those who gave up their own lives so that we can have freedom in ours. We are profoundly humbled and grateful and forever indebted. Moreover, we learn from their example, as Christ calls us to persevere in faith like soldiers do, to the end. We are praying for all currently serving servicemen and women, your families, and your faiths.

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.  Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

-2 Timothy 2:1–13

“Leading is not the best opportunity to lead or rule, it is an act of service.”

LEAD as you FOLLOW! :)

John 8:7

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and surely, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

I think the bible makes it pretty clear that we are to serve God by loving Him and, thus, loving others and bringing them to a point where they can begin a sincere relationship with Jesus. However, we have to be surrendered to God and allow Him to shine through every part of our lives.

• PRAY

We can’t just ask God to use us and tell Him that we’re ready to serve, and then go about our daily lives and forget about it. Don’t get me wrong, God can and will use us in His master plan when and how He chooses, but He also doesn’t force us to do things (freewill). We can’t earn our salvation or anything else by works or service, but we also can’t just sit around saying, “ok God, I’ll just be over here doing my own thing, let me know if you need me.” We have to allow our changed heart and mind (desiring to serve God daily) to influence our actions.

God has made most of us more than able (physically, spiritually, monetarily), but are we truly willing?

• PREPARE

WHY SERVE?

Is it really necessary to serve God? What is the purpose of changing our priorities to accomplish tasks that God could honestly do better and more quickly without us? Peter addresses the importance of serving God in 1 Peter 4:10-11: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” Peter makes it clear that we have received our gifts from God for two purposes— to serve others and to bring praise to God. Serving isn’t about us receiving attention or glory; it is for Him to receive glory.

• PARTICIPATE

I’ve been a volunteer in Victory Christian Fellowship (Victory Malate) Since 2009. I feel so complete in serving God through arts. 

in administrative

and in LIFEBOX High School.

WHY LEAD?

That’s what Making Disciples is all about. It’s about being a dedicated learner of Jesus Christ. These thing will challenge you and stretch you; they will equip and empower you to live a life full of meaning, purpose and glorious victory. Yes, the same humble carpenter from Nazareth that taught a bunch of simple fishermen to be His disciples, He will also teach you. They conquered the mighty Roman Empire through the power of love. And we too can bring the gospel of peace to our communities through the power of His love.

After graduating in TRAINING FOR VICTORY, I thought thats enough. Yes I’m a leader na daw, ganto ganyan. but wait, I feel so empty. Due to longingness in sharing the Gospel, I said to my self “theres something wrong” then I realized that worshipping and serving God is not enough. 

Back then last 2010,  Kuya Sean (My leader) said to me this: “Bro, I’d rather want to see you leading a smallgroup than serving in a volunteer ministry.” And I dont get the point.

Until LIFEBOX High School Ministry held an event. I realized that lots of people needs me, I mean needs us. but how will I respond?

September Sunday smallgroup

Sunday Small group: High School and College:

• PARTNERSHIP

To summarize: (as James 2:26 says) Faith without works is dead. This simply means that we have to put forth some effort on behalf of our faith. To “bear fruit,” we have to step outside of our comfort zone and start engaging; engaging nonbelievers and engaging in service opportunities that glorify our King. Becoming mentally surrendered and prepared to serve Him is the first step. The next is to back up our talk with some action; not haphazard enthusiasm, but directed passion. We can’t make an impact on the world if we just sit back and wait for the perfect conditions, or wait for our lives to calm down, or wait for God to launch us out into ministry (though he can, just not until we start trusting Him).

AKO, IKAW, TAYO!

We should work together! As we pray,prepare, participate and partnership. Let’s start looking for opportunities to engage nonbelievers, to volunteer, or to simply help someone out with something. Let’s not doubt every single opportunity God gives us to serve Him. Let’s step out on faith and trust God to work through us. Finally, let’s not waste this time of decreased stress and work (spring break), let’s make the most of it. Lets do our best and God will do the rest!

“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24 NIV) 

Which comes first? Serving or Leading???? in our priorities, do you ever try to ask yourself which these two is important?

In Christianity we dont only follow God, but we also used by Him. He uses us to help other peolpe to follow Him-Discipleship.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

—Matthew 4:19 NIV

As we follow Him, doesnt require anything, He just want your willingness :D

So what about DISCIPLESHIP?

For me you cannot give what you dont have. In my life God used people, and now God used me :)

As Christians, God wants us to serve Him. We do not serve Him in a legalistic works-salvation kind of way but we serve Him out of what He has done for us. Paul understood this very well. When God told Paul that His grace was sufficient because His power is made perfect in weakness, Paul didn’t reject that grace and go on to mope about what a lowly human being he was. He simply humbled himself and boasted in his weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon him. As a persecuted Christian, he was content with it because he knew he was serving a purpose greater than the one that transcended him.

When God wants us to serve Him, even if it seems like something we cannot do, we need to simply trust in Him. We need to trust that He will constantly give us the strength to do it. How did Paul serve God in such a way that no human alone could do? Paul had an intimate relationship with God and was able to trust that He would protect and lead him the whole way. As Paul lived this way, so should we live our lives as lights to the world.

Victory Weekend last August 4 and 5 @ Victory Malate 

Im one of the admin team during that event. I just reminded:

“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” – John 12:26 

As we serve to God, let us not forget that we serve also through discipleship. Me as servant, and I as leader.

So blessed to have my two members from my Victorygroup (cellgroup /smallgroup) Kenan and Levi participated this event. 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

VWEEK PHOTOs:

Saturday Sessions

Kenan’s Water Baptism

Levi’s Water BAptism

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

These two victorious men (Kenan and Levi), will also do the same :) 

WE WERE CALLED ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN NOT OUR PLAN.
SO WHEN OUR PLANS FAIL.. HIS, WILL PREVAIL.

(Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21)

ME as Victory Group Leader

August Victory Group

July Victory Group

and I as SERVANT

Lifebox MaSci (Manila Science Highschool)

Creative Ministry Malate

V-Malate’s Admin Team

——————————————————————————————

As we HONOR GOD and MAKE DISCIPLES

“Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” (Matt 16:24)That’s discipleship. We must be set apart - Discipleship is totally against everything else that everyone else will tell you in the culture in which we live. But Jesus says, “If I be lifted up I’ll draw all men unto myself.” (John 12:32) That is what brings true satisfaction. 

“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24 NIV) 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23-24

——-Thanks for reading:) ———

Genesis 8:7-12 is about Noah’s Ark.

Today is 8-7-12

Meanwhile, “Genesis 8:7-12” became the top trending topic locally and worldwide on Twitter Tuesday night as some netizens pointed to the uncanny coincidence between the date, August 8, 2012, and the Bible passage about the Noah’s Ark and the flood. In the Bible story, Jehovah sent a flood to cleanse the world of sinners.

The Bible passage talks about Noah sending a raven and a dove to find out if floods had receded after 150 days in the Ark. It ends with the dove’s failure to return to Noah, signaling that there was already dry land on the earth.

Many Netizens say that it is a coincidence that Tuesday’s date, August 7, 2012, can also be written as 8/7/12.

“God promised Noah he wouldn’t flood the earth again.”

“…I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
-Genesis 9:11

Instead we tweet / post this (and results into a panic level), let us 

TRUST GOD not in our own understanding :D

What part of “Go make disciples” do we not understand?

is Making Disciples Honoring God?

back then July 2010, I’ve Received JESUS as my Lord and Savior ,. Ive been leaded by someone

(Kuya Kenneth’s Victory Group, Erick and I July 2010)

and I thought hanggang dun na lang yun. Then I attended “Training For Victory”.

(April 2011 T4V Recognition with Sean Soriano) 

(April 2011 T4V Recognition with Kenneth De Guia) 

I just have a mindset, God only calls the qualified and in making disciples, Im not qualified.

Honoring God? Making Disciples?
What did these really meant? To honor God by making disciples? Yes? Maybe?
But not mainly! You can be serving in the church like me BUT DISHONORING GOD!
Until the reality.. the TRUTH of WHO God is and WHAT He has done for you hits you hard in the face,
you will never understand what it means to Honor God and make disciples!
It will only be a technical thing for you, a responsibility unless the truth hits you!

Naging part lang naman ako ng Discipleship group then akala ko ok na.

(May 2011 VG of Kuya Sean with Gervin, Kyle and kuya Levi)

(VG Network of Sean Soriano with Kenneth, Paul, Simon, Alvid, Justin, Paolo and Eli. 2010 Christmas Party and Youth Appreciation Night)  

(Kuya Ejay Cabral’s VG with Ej, Jake, Erick and I August 2010)

(Sean Soriano’s VG Network Christmas Party 2011)

tas alam mo yung may mindset lang ako na, ok naman ako sa ministry, through that nakakapagminister pa din naman ako. but it doesnt stop there.

Jesus expects all who follow Him to help others find and follow Him. Following Jesus does not mean that we cut off all contact with non-Christians. Rather, it means we actively seek to introduce them to Jesus.

          Bilang isang disciple ni Lord, mas higit na hindi dapat tayo lumayo sa mga kaibigan natin na unbelievers o yung mga nasa maling daan. Kasi that’s the time na mas kailangan nila tayo and that’s also the time na mas nagwowork si Jesus sa mga buhay natin.

          Discipleship, therefore, is a call to build relationships on three levels: with God, with God’s people, and  with lost people.

WE WERE CALLED ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN NOT OUR PLAN.
SO WHEN OUR PLANS FAIL.. HIS, WILL PREVAIL.

(Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21)

(With Jason Punzalan) 

(With Kenan Cardenio and Levi Osita, Level up2012)

Minsan sobrang mahirap din kasi una may mindset ka na “ang bata ko pa for this” but sobrang nakita ko lang din yung life ng mga taong nilelead ko na they need help.

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)

Here are some of the Bible characters God used mightily yet had their flaws…

Noah got drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Joseph was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Moses had a speech problem.
Gideon was a scardey cat.
Samson was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah & Timothy thought they were too young.
David had an affair with a married woman and murdered her husband.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah thought himself unworthy.
Jonah ran away from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
Martha was a perpetual worrier.
The Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus at the well was five times divorced.
Zaccheus was too small.
Peter denied Christ.
The disciples fell asleep while praying.
The little boy only had 5 loaves & 2 fish.
Paul was a religious fanatic.
Timothy had ulcers.
Lazarus was dead!

How about you? What’s your excuse?

“If we don’t share the gospel to other people, it’s either we are selfish or cruel. We may share it to some. But Jesus didn’t die for some. He died for ALL. The power of the gospel is the changed life.”

Discipleship is more than a decision; it involves a well-defined way of existence, that can be summed up in the phrase ‘the imitation of Christ’.

(VG 2011, with Kevin Andrade and Jason Punzalan)

(VG 2011 with Kevin and Iro, July Youth Service)

(VG 2011 Youth Service July 2011)
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows Him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.

”—

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

(My Victory Group, with James, Justin, Levi, Kenan and Japs. Vg @ Moonleaf June 2012)

(My Victory Group, with Ned, James, Levi, Kenan and Rommel. Vg @ KFC June 2012)

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)

Here are some of the Bible characters God used mightily yet had their flaws…

Noah got drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Joseph was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Moses had a speech problem.
Gideon was a scardey cat.
Samson was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah & Timothy thought they were too young.
David had an affair with a married woman and murdered her husband.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah thought himself unworthy.
Jonah ran away from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
Martha was a perpetual worrier.
The Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus at the well was five times divorced.
Zaccheus was too small.
Peter denied Christ.
The disciples fell asleep while praying.
The little boy only had 5 loaves & 2 fish.
Paul was a religious fanatic.
Timothy had ulcers.
Lazarus was dead!

How about you? What’s your excuse?

“If we don’t share the gospel to other people, it’s either we are selfish or cruel. We may share it to some. But Jesus didn’t die for some. He died for ALL. The power of the gospel is the changed life.”

Actualy mahirap sya,. kung self centerd ka at mali yung motibo mo, but because God is the One who called us, in a right season :)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23-24