September 28, 2022

Good News Today

Romans 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Friends, the good news today says CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IS ONLY ALLOWED WHEN CHRISTIAN IS BEING ASKED TO SIN OR DISOBEY GOD.

Today, I and my wife traveled from Bulacan to Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro. We passed by the skyway. Very noticeable, in the skyway, we can see the signage “60 km/hr or 80 km/hr, then followed by the phrase “violators will be apprehended”. But very few drivers follow that rule/policy. Almost everybody violates the rule. I’m sure about it because I’m looking at my speedometer and doing my best to follow it. It gives me an idea that if we cannot follow these simple rules how much more…I’m sure, you know what I mean, that’s why there is always chaos.

The bottom line is those in Christ should follow the rules set. We must understand every authority to have been placed in his or her position by God Himself and for God’s purposes. When these authorities set rules, we need to follow them. It’s should be the trademark of believers.

Christ’s kingdom may not be of this world (John 18:36), but that does not mean believers have a license to disobey earthly authority for any reason (1 Peter 2:13–17).

Anyone who resists someone in authority is, in truth, resisting God’s work. In general terms, human government is one of the ways God restrains the influence of evil in the world (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Resistance to that system will result in judgment. Those loyal to Christ are specifically instructed to be submissive to human government.

Friends, civil disobedience is only allowed when a Christian is being asked to sin, disobey God, or act in some ungodly way.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 27, 2022

Good News Today

Psalms 119:43 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.”

Friends, the good news today says WITHOUT CHRIST COPING WITH STRESS IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

This early morning, I drove from Francisco Homes, SJDM City to Centris Quezon City for my wife’s Doctor consultation. It’s just 26 km but it took us two and a half hours to reach our destination. The long traffic gives me so much stress fearing that we cannot be on time for my wife’s appointed slot. Stress, stress…

Life can have a fair amount of stressors just like what we experienced this morning. Stress has a variety of sources, from upcoming work deadlines or a sick family member to school or anything that put pressure on our feeling.

Stress can flare up in our day-to-day life
without even knowing the cause. Whether we know the reason why we feel stressed or are just experiencing an overall stressful period in our life, finding beneficial ways to handle our anxieties can oftentimes be another stressor in itself.

The Good News, the Bible says “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22).

No matter the type of stress in our lives, the starting point for dealing with it is Jesus Christ. Jesus offers us great encouragement in John 14:1: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” We desperately need Him in our lives. We need Him because He is the only one who can give us the strength to cope with the troubles in our lives.

Friends, believing in Jesus does not mean that we will have a trouble-free life or that we will not feel overcome by stress in our lives. It simply means that a life without Jesus Christ makes coping with stress next impossible.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 26, 2022

Good News Today

Psalms 147:15-18 He sends His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.He hurls down His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?
He sends His word and melts them; He stirs up breezes and the waters flow.

Friends, the good news today says THERE IS NOTHING THAT ESCAPES THE POWER OF GOD.

It’s typhoon season, just yesterday, we had typhoon KARDING sweeping the land. Alleluia, we are safe. So, today I proclaim GOD IS IN CONTROL.

The world runs by the power of God. It is the power of God that keeps us from disintegrating. It is the power of God that brings about both blessing and calamity.

We can read in Psalms 33:6-9 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

Are we in doubt? There is only one way to know God, that is through His Word. There is no magic formula to make us spiritual giants overnight, no mystical prayer to pray three times a day to mature us, build our faith, and make us towers of strength and confidence.

Friends, the word of God, will change our lives from the inside out. But it takes effort, diligent, everyday effort, to know the God who controls everything. If we drink deeply of His Word and let it fill our minds and hearts, the sovereignty of God will become clear to us, and we will rejoice in it because we will know intimately and trust completely the God who controls all things for His purpose.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 25, 2022

Good News Today

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Friends, the good news today says GOOD WORKS ARE EVIDENCE, NOT MEANS OF SALVATION.

When I open the gate this morning, an old lady who is passing by greeted me ” Bro Gani, how are you? I answered ” In Gods grace I’m good”. I know the old lady for quite a while and our “mahabang Kumustahan” happened to touch good works and salvation. I always take the opportunity to share the good news. I’m quite sure, because she knows me, she will listen. I shared to her the above text Ephesians 2:8-9.

The above passage of Scripture makes it clear that salvation and eternal life are not obtained through human effort (i. e. our good works, keeping the law, etc.), but is according to God’s mercy and grace bestowed on those who “believe” on Jesus Christ, His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and deliverance from hell.

Salvation is not only deliverance from the penalty of sin (which is hell after death), but also deliverance from the power of sin in this life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (cited verse).

Friends, our text is very clear, we are not saved by good works. In fact, before we are saved, our works are done in the flesh and cannot please God; even our most “righteous” deeds fall far short of God’s glory (Romans 3:20 and Isaiah 64:6). We can be saved only because God is gracious and merciful and has designed a way for us to be declared righteous when we are not (Psalm 86:5; Ephesians 2:4).

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 24, 2022

Good News Today

Psalm 119:48 I will lift
up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

The good news today says BELIEVERS NEED QUIET TIME TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD.

Quiet time is a one-on-one time with God and His word. It is meant to help us Christians to grow in our relationship with God. This can be through prayer or meditating on scripture.

It’s an important component of any Christians’s walk with Christ. It matters that we have quiet time with the Lord and use it intentionally.

Quiet time creates a stronger relationship with God. If we look at any relationship in our lives, with family or friends, they usually started by getting to know one another, either asking questions or doing something together. It takes time to form relationships.

The same is true with God, spending time with Him creates a stronger relationship with him. Meditating on the scripture is a powerful way to spend quiet time. As believers, we can often read God’s word and forget to take time to grasp all that his word has to say.

Friends, meditating on the word of God helps us to understand what God is saying to us.

God bless us all. Let’s all keep the faith.

September 23, 2022.

Good News Today

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another

Friends our good news today says WE NEED REBUKE FOR THE THINGS WE ARE DOING WRONG.

Today, I write about group Chat (GCs) to remind us that it is a form of fellowship, cooperation, easy access to friends, tracking activities, and many more. But most important is to have a good fellowship and at the center of that fellowship is our God.

We need this GC because it connotes good fellowship. Remember the phrase “No man is an island”. It means everyone needs another person in their life to encourage, uplift, correct, and rebuke them. From a Christian perspective, our verse today wants us to understand the importance of having fellowship with other believers. Christians should always spend time with other fellow believers and friends for it takes iron to sharpen iron. This means that a relationship should be two-way not only a one-way connection. As the other persons sharpen you, you are also sharpening them.

Having fellowship with other believers is having accountability and a relationship that is rooted in Christ. Having accountability does not only mean that we check up on those people from time to time but it is CARING for them and their spiritual growth in the Lord.

Friends, we need our GCs members, friends, neighbors, batch mates, and other believers in our lives to correct us and guide us on the right path. But, it is a must for us to understand that we need the Word of God. We will truly grow in the likeness of Christ if we immerse ourselves with the Word of God.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 22, 2022

Good News Today

Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Friends, the good news today says IF IT IS A LABOR FOR THE LORD, WE DO NOT LABOR IN VAIN.

As I woke up this morning, I read the above Bible verse posted by one of our hardworking Servants of the Lord, Pastor Ijit Dans. Immediately, there is a sudden surge of things in my mind, I need to write something about Galatians 6:9.

As a church worker in the field of evangelism, many times I experience things that are challenging. When things get to the unexpected, there is always a temptation to give up because the harvest is usually not immediate. But 1Corinthians 15:58 gives me so much inspiration to continue. We can read, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain”.

The verse suggests that when we feel like quitting, do not quit. In due time, we will reap if we do not lose heart, if we do not give up. If it is labor for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is not in vain. Though we labor week after week, if it is a labor for the Lord, we do not labor in vain.

Friends, the good work we do for the Lord may be tiresome and difficult but don’t give up, look up to God and live up to His calling.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith

September 21, 2022

Good News Today

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Friends, the good news today says WE NEED TO READ THE SCRIPTURES AND CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD.

The devil attacks us with discouragement and doubt. The devil wants to shred any assurance that we may think we have in Christ. The devil points out our failures, sins, and shortcomings that we have before the Lord. The devil points out that whatever is negative to lose confidence in the love of our Father. The devil tells us that we are not good enough and we are not going to heaven. And we are not worthy of God’s love.

Yes, we are not good enough, that is the reason why God the Father send His Son Jesus to die for the sins
of the world.

Friends, the devil will continue to attack us, so we need to put on the helmet of salvation to stand against the devil because it gives us hope and encouragement to continue to pursue the Lord as he gives us more grace.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 20, 2022

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (The Gift of Life).

Friends, the good news today says every time WE CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY, IT MEANS WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Almost every day as I read my various GCs, I always see greetings of Happy Birthday. Just today, everybody is greeting one of my batch mates in my elementary years and high school.

Today, I’m writing this issue of GOOD NEWS TODAY to remind us, that we need to celebrate our birthday for so many wonderful reasons. Foremost, our birthday is the beginning of our life. God created us to serve a purpose in this world. Every time we have a birthday, it is an indication that we still have work to do for the kingdom of God. Our birthday is a sign that we have not yet fulfilled our unique mission.

When we celebrate our birthday we are expressing our thanks to God for being born and still being alive. It is also an occasion to rethink our lives. Great time to reflect on our past, evaluate our present and make plans for our future. It is a time when our past intersects with our present and future.

When we celebrate our birthday, we acknowledge our existence on this earth. No matter what kind of family we were born into.

Friends, celebrating our birthday is a way to thank God for allowing us to be born and live to see another birthday.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.

September 19, 2022

Good News Today

Jeremiah 42:3 Pray that the LORD your God may tell us the way we should walk and the things we should do.”

Friends, the good news today says CHRISTIANS SHOULD DECIDE OR ANSWER QUESTIONS BASE ON WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.

Every time I do evangelism or spread the word of God, there are many questions i.e. salvation, true baptism, lord supper, giving, grace, and many more. I always look at the Bible (God’s Word). Then, I will answer their questions by saying “The Bible Says” and then I will read the Bible verse about the topic.

God’s Word promises to be the basis of truth for understanding all things (Psalm 86:11; Proverbs 30:5; John 1:14; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16). That includes history and science, as well as doctrine.

When we base our thinking on God’s authoritative Word, we can confidently answer questions about our world and our life. The question is not whether we can answer every question but whether the Bible is trustworthy in all that it teaches, and it is.

But sometimes people simply will not accept answers from God’s Word. For example, skeptics refuse to consider that a miracle of God could explain the origin of the universe.

Friends, people will only ever accept this truth by hearing the gospel and trusting in Jesus Christ, who is truth (John 14:6). Then the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth (John 16:13). Christian job is to point them to Christ.

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.