I am re-posting a blog from Pastor Steve Murrell:

Food is a powerful force. What, when and how much we eat can be a deadly and spiritual decision. Consider this:
- The first commandment was about food.
- The first temptation was about food.
- The first sin was about food.

Food and appetite – what we do with both is kinda important.

I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
(Phil 3:19, 20)

Could this “their god is their stomach” comment somehow be connected to the “enemy of the cross” idea? I’m afraid so.

I don’t want to be an enemy of the cross, so I’m intentionally dethroning the stomach god this week. And the process is brutal. I feel like if I drink any more water, I’ll grow gills, and scales.

I dethrone the stomach god at the beginning of every year – but somehow he manages to make a comeback – usually during holidays.

How do I keep him off the throne? Maybe the cross is the key. Gotta kill that false stomach god, before he gets too big.

Happy fasting everyone! See you in our prayer meetings!

In Joshua 2, Joshua sent spies to scout the city of Jericho. The spies entered the house of Rahab and she told them “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us.” Talk about a sure victory for the Israelites. On one hand, God said that He is with them and secondly, their enemies are quaking with fear because of them.

But Joshua did not respond in pride nor arrogance. In fact, in Joshua 3:5, we see Joshua calling the assembly to consecration. He said, “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” I believe we need to follow the example of Joshua. As we start this fast, we know that it is not our might, intellect, connections, past victories, nor abilities can help us win. We need to humble ourselves and consecrate – to set apart, to dedicate, to cleanse.

That is why we are fasting. We are humbling ourselves before the Lord. It’s not about having all our prayer requests answered. It’s having more of God in our lives. As we begin the fast, may we experience God more like never before. May we hear God’s voice even clearer and may our hearts be ready to obey.

So many things happened last year – both good and bad. For our nation as well, many triumphs and many tragedies. We saw about 13 typhoons hitting our country with Ondoy and Pepeng leading the highest number of casualties and damage caused. The Maguindanao massacre shocked not only the Filipinos here but also sent tremors abroad. But despite the tragedies, we also had our share of triumphs. Two big news were the following: Manny Pacquiao’s 7^th boxing title and the win of Efren Penaflorida as CNN’s Hero of the Year.

There are different emotions that come up at the beginning of the year. Some have fear of the future; others are filled with anxiety and worry not knowing how to pay the bills accumulated during the holidays; still others have wounded faith because of many unmet expectations during the past year.

But despite the ups and downs, one thing is still the same. God’s steadfast love never ceases! His mercies are new every morning.

Let us not put limits in a limitless God. No limits, no border, no boundaries. Let’s put our faith in God!

NO LIMITS WITH A LIMITLESS GOD.

Many people write faith goals and new year’s resolutions. But many of these are statements of “I will” – I will lose xx pounds. Or I will read my bible more this year. Or I will save this much in my bank account. Or I will finally get married this year. But instead of “I will”, maybe it is better to write a declaration of “God will”. When we focus on what we can do, it often results in frustration, failure and discouragement. But when we focus on what God can do, the burden suddenly shifts from us to Him. God is willing. He is able.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us (Eph. 3:20)

Heb. 6:2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

All saints and all souls day. This is the time that people remember their dead. I remember my son because it is just about this time that it happened. (Six years ago, he got sick of TB meningitis, got paralyzed and eventually died after two months)

So many participate in the pagan Halloween practice – Trick or treat (no biblical).

Thousands of Filipinos flock the cemetery to visit and pay respect for their dead.

Q. Why is there such a fascination to know more about the life beyond this life?

Many would like to unveil the mystery the spiritual world.

Why are we talking about death?

Tension: Your view of eternity will determine how you live today.

3 competing views of life after death:

1. Annihilationism – when you’re dead you’re dead (You can live any way you want)

2. Re-incarnation – better luck next time. If you did not perform well in this life, then you can come back in another life form i.e. dog, tree, mouse, mosquito, etc.

3. Resurrection – there is life after death. All the dead will rise up (not like zombies) and will either eternally live with God in heaven or will be eternally be condemned.

The resurrection of Christ is at the center of Christian faith!

What do we know about death and eternity?

1. Life is short.

Psalm 90:10 – The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

-        What are we living for?

-        Most of the things that we pursue are temporal in nature.

-        We need to fix our eyes on eternal things.

2. Death is certain.

Heb. 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Heb. 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

We are all destined to die.

According to the latest statistics the mortality rate is still 100%. Everybody will die.

What will happen in the judgment is determined by how you treated Christ in your lifetime. Why? Because our sin separates us from a holy God.

But there is good news: Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and He didn’t stay dead. He rose up again to save us. Those who call upon the Lord will be saved. If you ask Him, he will forgive your sins. If you are saved, then your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of life. Nothing can blot it out from there. And the angels in heaven will rejoice.

3. We will all face judgment.

The thought of being judged by somebody can be sobering/ scary. Can you imagine if God will be the one judging you?

John 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice

John 5:29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

What will take place in the judgment? (Separation of sinners and righteous)

1. Great white throne judgment – many Christian scholars believe that this is for the unbelievers; judged by works but we know that works cannot save us. We are saved by grace not by works. Those whose names are not found in the Lamb’s book of life will be thrown in the lake of fire.

Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

Rev. 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

2. Judgment seat of Christ – only for believers

2Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your eternal destination is not determined in the judgment seat of Christ. It was already determined while you were on earth and you put your faith in Christ.

What is being judged there? Good works, not salvation. This is the time when God will give rewards to Christians for the works they have done while on earth. Salvation has been given when we put our faith in Christ (while on earth). This is the time when rewards will be given.

1Cor. 3:12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

1Cor. 3:13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

1Cor. 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

1Cor. 3:15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

-        The day will bring it to light.

-        Fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

Will you receive a reward?

Don’t build your life on material things (sticks) but on things that endure to the end (costly stones). Our words, actions, and motives as Christians will be judged.

MAINPOINT: YOUR VIEW OF ETERNITY WILL DETERMINE HOW YOU LIVE.

I appreciate my early mentors in the faith when they emphasized the importance of the the Word of God. We were taught how to do daily bible readings and write our insights in a notebook. Regular meditation of the scriptures and doing the Word are part of our spiritual disciplines.

Another important thing we did was to bring our bibles to church as we study it when listening to the sermons and to take down notes in order to remember what we heard from the pulpit. I believe the retention of the sermon is a lot higher when you open the bible yourself and write on your own notebook. There is a greater impact and a bigger propensity to be a doer of the Word compared to one who merely hears it being preached. When you use more than one learning style i.e. hearing while combining it with reading and writing, the more of the Word will be remembered and applied.

Let’s take the Word of God seriously and realize that it is the Bread of Life that is able to transform our lives. I hope to see more and more people study, read, meditate, apply and share the bible. It is truly life-changing!