Spirit Of A Sound Mind

Below is the transcript of Rev Mar’s sermon last Mar 29, 2020.

You can download PDF here: Spirit Of A Sound Mind

SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND/KARUNUNGANG ANGKOP (2 TIMOTHY 1:7)

Sumainyo ang kapayapaan at biyaya na kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan na matatanggap lamang, wala nang iba, kundi mula sa Panginoong Jesucristo, ang Dios Anak na nagkatawang tao, upang akuin Niya ang ating kasalanan at tubusin tayo mula sa ating pagkakasala sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalay Niya ng buhay ng Kaniyang katawang tao hanggang kamatayan, at sa Kaniyang pagkabuhay mula sa mga patay, ang sinomang sumampalataya sa Panginoong Jesucristo nang tuloy, tuwiran agad, tapat at walang pasubali, at tanggapin si Jesus na kaniyang lahat sa lahat, itong Panginoong Jesucristo na ito ang maging kaniyang kaligtasan, buhay na walang hanggan at kaluwalhatian magpakailanman.

In continuation of last Sunday’s message of the Lord, that to have the confidence of the Lord in our hearts and not be fearful and anxious, the Lord has given us the spirit of power and the spirit of love and the spirit of a sound mind. The importance of a sound (disciplined) mind cannot be overemphasized especially in these last days when the Lord Jesus said, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”(Mathew 24:42).  He also said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44).

1. The need to be wise. In these last days, the Lord is looking for faithful and wise servants to whom He will entrust His household (kingdom) when He comes the second time to establish His kingdom.

 

1. The Lord Jesus asks, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matthew 24:45-47).  But the servant who is not looking for the blessed hope (not watching, not getting ready for the return of the Lord Jesus, thinks the Lord will tarry further, like the scoffers^[1] in the last days), him shall the Lord cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: (where) there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (cf. Matthew 24:51;     2 Peter 3:3-4) There is a need to be wise and faithful because the Lord is looking for the wise and faithful servants who will reign with Him in His kingdom here on earth.^[2]

 

1. Being wise is being careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts.(Proverbs 4:23^[3]). In 1Kings 3:5-14, the Lord appeared unto Solomon who was recently enthroned and the LORD appeared to him in a dream and asked him, “Anong gusto mong ibigay Ko sa iyo?”  Solomon answered, “Bigyan mo ang iyong lingkod ng isang matalinong puso upang humatol sa iyong bayan, upang aking makilala ang mabuti at ang masama.” Ang hiningi ni Haring Solomon ay karunungan upang malaman niya kung paano pangasiwaan ang bayan na inilagay ng Panginoon sa kaniyang kamay. At nalugod ang Panginoon sa hiniling ni Solomon at ang sagot ng Panginoon, “Dahil hiningi mo sa Akin ang karunungan upang mapangasiwaan mo ang bayan na inilagay ko sa iyong kamay, ibibigay ko ang karunungan at kasama ang kayamanan at karangalan at mahabang buhay at walang maging hari na katulad ng iyong mga araw.”

 

1. Sa talinghaga ng mga alipin na pinagkatiwalaan ng salapi, (Parable of the Talents) kahit sino ka pa, maging ikaw ay hari o alipin, mayaman o mahirap, ang talent/talents (kakayahan o kayamanan) na ipinagkatiwala ng Panginoon sa iyo ay huwag mong sayangin o itago kundi paparamihin mo pa. Kaya lang, hindi mo magagawang ipangalakal ang talent mo upang maparami kung wala kang karunungan. Kaya lahat tayo na alipin ng Panginoong Jesucristo ay dapat maging marunong. There is no premium on ignorance in the kingdom of God and in the works of God. Sinabi ng Panginoon, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”(Matthew 10:16). Mangagpakatalino nga kayong gaya ng mga ahas (hindi sinabi na magpaka-ahas kayo) at mangagpakatimtimang (maging maamo) gaya ng mga kalapati.

 

1. Sabi din ni Paul patungkol sa huling mga araw, “Mangag-ingat nga kayong lubos kung paano kayo lumalakad, huwag gaya ng mga mangmang, kundi gaya ng marurunong; Na inyong samantalahin ang panahon, sapagka’t ang mga araw ay masasama.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

 

1. Ano ang karunungan (wisdom)? Wisdom is knowledge (kabatiran o kaalaman) rightly applied o kabatiran na iniangkop sa tamang kinauukulan. It is the ability to apply knowledge to right discernment and come up with good judgement.

 

1. Hindi sapat na dahil mayroon kang kabatiran o kaalaman, mayroon ka nang karunungan. Halimbawa, ang isang doktor, kahit na  alam niya na masama ang uminom ng alak, alam niyang masama ang manigarilyo subalit umiinom at naninigarilyo pa rin. May mga UP Diliman Communication Research students na gumawa ng survey tungkol sa bunga o resulta ng paglalagay sa mga pakete ng sigarilyo ng babala at larawan (Graphic Health Warning) ng mga sakit (cancer, emphysema, unwanted abortion) na resulta ng paninigarilyo. Ito ba ay nakabawas ng mga naninigarilyo? So far, there is only a perceived reduction of smokers and yet many of those smoking say that they are helpless in stopping their smoking. Ito ang aking sinasabi na hindi sapat na mayroon kang kabatiran o kaalaman na ikaw ay nagiging marunong na. Alam mo na mali pero ginagawa mo pa rin ang mali. Ang tawag diyan ng Bible ay foolishness, kamangmangan. Iba iyong walang alam. Higit na malala iyong mangmang.

 

1. Ito iyong kabaliktaran ng sound mind na ating pinag aaralan sa Ephesians 5:15-16. Ang pagkakaroon ng matinong pag-iisip ay mangyayari lamang kapag tayo ay nagpasiya na isuko natin ang ating buong buhay, espirito, kaisipan, kaluluwa at kalakasan, buong-buo sa Panginoong Jesucristo. Ang tanging makakapagpabago sa atin (2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5)^[4] ay ang Panginoong Jesucristo,  kapag inilagay mo na ang iyong buhay sa Kaniya. At sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Espirito na bumabago sa atin mula sa kaluwalhatian hanggang sa kaluwalhatian hanggang tayo ay mag mistulang kalarawan ng Panginoong Jesucristo. Ang tanging makakapagbago sa atin upang mapagtagumpayan ang kasalanan at bisyo ay ang Panginoong Jesucristo, kung isusuko natin ang ating lahat sa Kanya.

 

1. Hindi din ibig sabihin na kung mayroon kang kabatiran o kaalaman ay kontrolado mo na ang buhay mo. Halimbawa: pumayag na ang iyong ka-kontrata patungkol sa isang napakalaking project na billion ang halaga dahil kumbinsido ang iyong ka-kontrata sa kaalaman mo sa project na itatayo ninyo. Ngayon, pipirmahan na lang ang contract, subalit isang araw bago magpirmahan, inatake sa puso ang ka-kontrata mo. Dito ginawa mo na lahat ang magagawa ng kaalaman mo ngunit hindi natuloy ang pirmahan. Kaya hindi sapat na ang tao ay basta mayroong kaalaman.

 

1. Kahit alam mo ang lahat na kailangan, kahit may mga koneksyon ka, kahit may utak ka, kahit may kwarta (pera) ka, kahit may sipag ka, subalit hindi mo pa din kontrolado ang lahat ng mga sangkap ng pangyayari at hindi mo kontrolado ang iyong buong buhay. Kaya hindi sapat ang kabatiran o kaalaman dahil hindi mo kontrolado ang lahat sa buhay mo. Sa Bible, ang tanging may tangan sa lahat ay ang Panginoong Jesucristo sapagkat dahil mahal ng Dios Ama ang Panginoong Jesucristo, ibinigay ng Dios Ama ang lahat ng mga bagay sa kamay ng Panginoong Jesucristo.^[5] May karapatan ang Panginoong Jesucristo na Siya ang magmay-ari at may hawak at may kapasiyahan ng lahat ng bagay. Siya ang may control ng lahat ng mga bagay, sa sangkalangitan at sa sangkalupaan, ng mga bagay na nakikita at ang mga bagay na di nakikita, maging mga luklukan o mga pagsakop o mga pamunuan o mga kapangyarihan o ang mga bagay-bagay sa ating buhay, sapagkat:

 

1. Una, Siya ang lumalang ng lahat ng mga bagay (John 1:3, 10; Colossians 1:16)^[6];

 

1. Pangalawa, Siya ang itinakda ng Dios Ama na tagapagmana ng lahat ng bagay (Hebrews 1:2)^[7];

 

1. Pangatlo, Siya ang tumubos ng lahat ng bagay (Colossians 1:19-20)^[8]. Dahil diyan ginagampanan ng Panginoong Jesucristo ang Kaniyang tungkulin na Siya lamang ang may control o kapangyarihan sa lahat ng mga bagay sa buhay o sa daigdig man.

 

1. Ano ang karunungan na kailangan natin? Kailangan natin ang karunungan na higit pa sa karunungan ng mundong ito. Kailangan natin ang karunungan na may control sa sanlibutan na ito. The answer from the Bible – Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24). Has it ever occurred to you that if there is no Jesus Christ, God has no power and God has no wisdom? It sounds almost sacrilegious (lapastangan ) but what it really means is that the eternal purpose of God the Father was laid upon and fulfilled by Jesus Christ^[9] through the anointing of the Holy Spirit (oil of gladness, Hebrews 1:8-9^[10]). The triune God, has this “Everlasting Covenant” ay stated in Hebrews 13:20-21,  entered into among themselves; we have God the Father (God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus^[11]) and God the Son (the great Shepherd of the sheep, whose shed blood confirmed the covenant^[12]) and God the Holy Spirit (the eternal Spirit through whom Christ offered Himself without spot to God the Father) agreeing among themselves that the eternal purpose of God the Father is purposed in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:11) and testified to by the Holy Spirit (John 15:26)^[13]. For God the Father to work out His eternal purpose which He laid upon the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, should have eternal or infinite power (Omnipotence^[14]) and eternal or infinite wisdom (Omniscience^[15]) through the anointing of the Son by the eternal Spirit as Prophet (Hebrew 1:1-2^[16]; Revelation 19:10), Priest^[17] and King^[18] by the eternal Spirit^[19], that is the Holy Ghost, (Hebrews 9:14).

 

1. This is the wisdom and the power we need to take control of our lives.

 

1. Jesus is the wisdom of God and the power of God who takes control of the impossibilities of our lives. Ito ang karunungan at kapangyarihan na kahit impossible, magagawa Niyang possible. Kahit wala, mapagkakaroon ni Jesus. Kahit nawala, kung hindi ibabalik, magagawa Niyang palitan ng higit na maganda, higit na mabuti

 

1. Jesus is the wisdom and the power of God that is working together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Ginagawa Niya ang lahat, iyong masama, ginagawa Niya para sa ating ikabubuti. Katulad ni Joseph na siya ay sinalbahe ng kaniyang mga kapatid, pinagbili ng kanyang mga kapatid.  Dumaan si Joseph sa maraming pagsubok, siya’y napagbintangan, nabilanggo, at duon sa bilanguan laging sinasabi, “and the LORD was with Joseph,” hindi pinabayaan ng Panginoon si Joseph.  Kapag ang buhay mo iniukol mo kay HESUS, He will always work things together for your good. Kaya dun sa kadulo-duluhan ng book ng Genesis nabanggit duon ni Joseph,  “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; BUT GOD, meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”(Genesis 50:20). Kaya napakabuti ng ating Panginoong Jesucristo. He is the fulfillment of what is good for us as He is the fulfillment of the eternal purpose of God. So people may have meant it evil for you BUT GOD meant it for your good (Hebrew,  tob, welfare, benefit, good things) in the fulfilment of His eternal purpose in and through Jesus Christ.

 

1. Jesus is not only working for our good but He is the reason for our existence, the firm basis for the existence of all things for Colossians 1:17 says, “it is by Him that all things consist or hold together” and Hebrews 1:3 says, “Jesus is upholding all things by the word of His power.” In short, our existence is contingent on Jesus’ work of sustaining undergirding the existence of all things in this

 

11. Finally, Jesus makes all things new. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “…ang sinuman na na kay Cristo ay bago nang nilalang.” Sa Revelation 21:5 nuong malalang ng Panginoong Jesucristo ang new heavens and new earth, for the old heavens and the old earth have passed away, behold I make all things new. Siya ang gumagawa ng lahat ng mga bagay na bago, Hindi lang Niya binabago ang lahat ng mga bagay kundi “He makes all things beautiful in His time…” ayon sa Ecclesiastes 3:11. Ang ating buhay at daigdig ay pinapangit at sinira ng kasalanan. It has been marred, warped, twisted out of shape, distorted, disfigured but if you place your life in the Master’s hands and He makes all things new for you. Ilagay mo ang iyong buhay na sira sa kamay ng Panginoon at gagawin Niyang maganda ang kalalabasan ng sirang buhay mo.

 

1. How can we appropriate Jesus as our wisdom and our power in our life? We need the wisdom of God in a world which is full of tribulation, sin, disease, peril, oppression, injustice, disappointments, failures, destruction and death.

 

1. First of all, the word of God says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). For those who are in Christ, Jesus has become our wisdom, and also as our righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

…

 

2. Paano ang magsisimula ang pag-iral ng karunungan ng Dios sa ating buhay? Proverbs 1:7. Says it: The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (knowledge that is not only fully comprehended but it is and rightfully appropriated). Ang paggalang sa Panginoon ay simula ng karunungan, hindi lamang ang pagkabatid at pagkaunawa ng mga bagay-bagay kundi tamang pagpapairal ng kabatiran o kaalaman. Kapag isinaalang-alang mo ang Panginoong Jesucristo, tinatanggap mo na kung wala ang Panginoon sa buhay mo, wala kang magagawa (John 15:5). Ang Panginoon na ito ba ang Siyang may hawak o control sa iyong buhay. Kung totoo ito sa iyo, diyan pa lamang magsisimula ang pag-iral ng karunungan ng Panginoon sa iyong buhay.

 

3. Sa Mathew 11:28-30^[20] (may magkakahanay na paghahambing sa Luke 6:46-49 at Matthew 7:24-25) may tatlong hakbang kang gagawin upang ang karunungan bg Panginoong Jesucristo ay umiral sa atin. Sinabi ng Panginoong Jesus: (a) Come unto Me, (b) Take My yoke upon you, (c) Learn of Me.

 

1. Una, iyong sinabi ni Jesus na “Come unto Me.” Ang buong nilalang na sanlibutan ay dapat nakatuon sa Panginoong Jesucristo.

 

• The will of the Father. Ito ang pagkakasaalang-alang ng buong sanlibutan na lahat ng mga bagay ay inilagay ng Dios Ama sa kamay ng Dios Anak na si Jesucristo. (Refer to Footnote 4) Ito ay nangangahulugan na ang nararapat na magmay-ari at may kapasiyahan at may karapatan patungkol sa lahat ng mga bagay ay walang iba kundi ang Panginoong Jesucristo. Samakatuwid, kalooban ng Dios Ama na ang magmay-ari, masunod sa ating buhay ay ang Dios Anak. Kaya naman lahat tayo ay tinatawag ng Dios Ama na lumapit kay Jesus at makipagka-isa o makipagsalong-buhay sa Anak. The Father has called us to have fellowship with His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9)^[21]

 

• The work of the Holy Spirit. Ganoon din naman ang gawain ng Banal na Espiritu na Siyang Espiritu ng katotohanan ay papatnubayan Niya tayong lahat sa buong katotohanan^[22]. But the Lord Jesus Christ personified the whole truth and nothing but the truth when He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). Ngayon sa John 16:13 sinasabi na ang Holy Spirit ay “He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak.” Hindi mngunguaap ang Holy Spirit patungkol sa Kanyang sarili. Kaya kung tinatawag tayo ng Panginoong Jesucristo na “Come unto Me…” (Matthew 11:28), ang wika ng Espirito Santo ay “Huwag ninyong pagmatigasin ang inyong puso na gaya ng sa pamumungkahi, gaya nang sa araw ng pagtukso sa ilang.”^[23] In other words, the Holy Spirit is witnessing to the truth of the Son that we should not harden our hearts to the call of the Son but hearken to it.

 

• The call of the Son. The giving of all things by the Father to the Son was acknowledged by the Lord Jesus when he said, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father.”(Matthew 11:27). Kaya pinagdiriinan ng Panginoong Jesucristo na ang lahat na ibinigay ng Dios Ama sa Kaniya ay sa Kaniya magsisilapit, at ang sinomang lumalapit sa Kaniya ay hindi Niya sa anomang paraan itataboy. (John 6:37).^[24] Kaya welcome na welcome ka, kapag ituloy mo ang buhay mo sa Panginoong Jesucristo, tinatanggap ka ng Panginoon.  Anuman ang iyong kalalagayan, saan ka man manggaling sa sanlibutang ito, puno ng kasalanan, sinira ng kasalanan, lumapit ka kay Hesus. There is always room for one more, room for you, if you surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Ito rin ang ipinapatotoo ng Banal na Kasulatan. Sabi ng Panginoon Jesucristo sa John 5:39-40, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”  Bakit kinakailangang lumapit kay Jesus? Kailangan lumapit kay JESUS upang ang sino man na lumalapit sa Kaniya ay sumasampalataya na si Jesus ay ang Cristo at sa pagsampalataya ng sinoman sa Kaniya ay magkaroon siya ng buhay na walang hanggan na nasa Kaniyang pangalan (John 20:31)^[25]. Kung hindi ka nga nakikipagtipon sa Panginoong Jesucristo, kahit gaano ang pagsisikap mo, lahat ng pagpupunyagi mo ay mawawalan ng kabuluhan at iyan ay sasambulat. Bakit? Sapagkat ikaw ay kumakalaban sa Panginoong Jesucristo na Siyang kapangyarihan ng Dios at karunungan ng Dios. Iyan ay pagkakasala sa pagiging suwail at lahat ng pagkakasala ng tao ay siyang sumisira sa taong nagkakasala. All kinds of sin is self-defeating. Sabi ni Jesus, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30).

 

• Maliwanag na ang tatlong kabilang sa iisang katalagahan na pagka-Dios, ang Dios Ama, ang Dios Espiritu Santo at ang Dios Anak ay nagkakaisa na ang pupuntahan ng lahat at bawat nilalang upang hindi mawalan ng kabuluhan ng kanilang pagkakapangyari (coming into existence in this world) ay tanging ang Dios Anak na nagkatawang tao, walang iba kundi ang Panginoong Jesucristo. Hindi sinabi ng Dios Ama “Come unto Me” kundi this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him” (Matthew 17:5). Kung hindi ka lumalapit sa Panginoong Jesucristo, paano mo Siya mapapakinggan? Kaya ang masidhing payo ng Bible sa mga churches, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3: 6, 13, 22). Hindi sinabi ng Panginoong Jesus na “go to Mary” or “go to the saints”. Maliwanag na ang tawag ng Panginoong Jesucristo ay “Come unto Me.”

 

1. Pangalawa, “Take my yoke upon you” (Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok). Ang tawag ng Panginoong Jesus ay makibalikat tayo sa Kaniya. Hindi lamang magkapit bisig. We share the burden of the Lord. What is the primary burden of the Lord? Ano ba iyong pangunahing pamatok ng Panginoong Jesucristo? Ito ang sinabi ni Jesus:

 

• “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40).

 

• Ang burden ng Panginoong Jesus ay mahikayat ang lahat ng tao na lumapit sa Kaniya at magtalaga ng kanilang lahat sa Kaniya dahil nasa Kaniya ang lahat na kasagutan sa mga suliranin ng tao. Ikaw ba ay nagtalaga na ng iyong lahat sa Panginoong Jesucristo? Ang sabi ng Panginoon ay “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).

 

• Ang nais ng Panginoon na maibigay sa atin ay hindi lamang kasaganaan kundi higit na kasaganaan ng buhay na walang hanggan. Subalit may condition ang Panginoong Jesus upang ma-enjoy mo ang full blessings ng Panginoon. Ikaw ay makikisingkaw sa pamatok ng Panginoon.

 

• Sharing the burden with the Lord is an imagery of “breaking a cow” (you can watch this on YouTube) before it can be used as a beast of burden. Bago mo maisingkaw ang baka na hindi pa naturuan magpasan ng pamatok, kinakailangan ng training at discipline. Hindi mo basta maisisingkaw ang baka na ngayon lang maisisingkaw at susunod na sa amo niya. Ang baka sa umpisa ay pumapalag, umaayaw, lumalaban, hindi sumusunod. Ang larawan ng pagtuturo sa baka na sumunod upang matuto ang baka na tanggapin na mayroong puwersa na higit sa kaniya na dapat sundin ng baka. Gumagamit sila ng tinatawag ng mga cowboy na “cow halter”. Habang ang baka ay pumapalag, nakakaramdam siya ng paghihigpit ng cow halter. Ngunit sa kaniyang pagsunod ito ay nakakaramdam ng ginhawa. Ito ay pagpupuwersa ng may-ari ng baka ngunit hindi pagpapahirap. Ang tawag sa Ingles niyan ay “breaking the calf or the cow.” Ito ay katulad din natin, na kung tayo ay pumapalag sa salita ng Panginoon, tayo ay dumaraan sa paggipit ng mga pangyayari sa ating buhay. Pero sa sandali na tayo ay sumunod sa Panginoon, ang biyaya at ginhawa ng buhay ay ating matatamasa mula sa Panginoong Jesucristo.

 

• Ito ang larawan ng pakikisingkaw natin sa pamatok ng Panginoong Ito iyong sinasabi sa Hebrews 12:10-11, “For they (human fathers) disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he (Jesus) disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Tayo bilang tinatawag ng Panginoon na maisingkaw na kasama Niya ay nangangailangan ng training at discipline. Training is having the wisdom of the Lord to discern right from wrong while discipline is doing what is right. The real test for discipline is when you are in a place alone and no one sees you. Are you still going to do what is right?

 

• Ang pamatok ni Jesus ang humuhubog ng ating puso at isipan upang kontrolado tayo ng Panginoon. Iyon ang nagdadala sa atin sa pagsunod kay Jesus at hindi sa alok ng sanlibutan. Maaring mabigat sa una ngunit kapag tayo ay natuto na magpakumbaba at sumunod sa Panginoon, ito iyong sinasabi ni Jesus, “for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30).

 

• Most Christians have obeyed the first clause of Matthew 11:28, “Come unto Me.” How I wish that many more would have done the next step, “Take my yoke upon you”, i.e., to share the burden of the Lord’s yoke upon our shoulders. Marami ang gusto ay puro “rest” lang. There is danger in that situation. Because of the lack of training and discipline and by their disobedience to take the Lord’s yoke, they are insidiously influenced by the world. Kaya upang matamasa mo ang full blessings ng Panginoon, gawin mo muna ang condition ng blessings, “Take my yoke upon you…”

 

1. Kaya ang pangatlo, when you have come to Jesus and taken up His yoke, He says, “Learn of Me’”.

 

• In Luke 6:46-47, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like.” In a parallel verse in Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Simply put, learning according to Jesus is committing your all to Him, studying and meditating upon His words and, importantly, obeying His words.

 

• This appeal of Jesus to us to learn of Him is pictured in His work in our salvation. He humbly and willingly obeyed the will of the Father by offering the once and for all sacrifice acceptable for the forgiveness of sin of the whole world. He has to offer Himself as the Lamb of God, our Passover Lamb, who takes away the sin of world. (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7) Jesus took the yoke of a Redeemer and Savior when he came in the flesh (1 John 4:2-3) and dwelt among us (John 1:14). John 19:16b-18a speaks of Jesus bearing His cross, “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him…”

 

• Paul spoke of us having the mind of Christ, a disciplined mind. Philippians 2:5-8 is an illustration of how a person may appropriate the sound (disciplined) mind of Christ Jesus in ones The apostle Paul emphasizes the cross, the yoke Jesus willingly bore in Philippians 2:5-8^[26] for all of us in fulfillment of His function in the eternal covenant that by His once and for all sacrifice of Himself, Jesus becomes the fulfillment of His promise, “I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus, the Most High God, the name that is above all names, infinitely stooped to humble himself to do the work of a servant by taking the form of a servant and being found in fashion as man, He became obedient unto death, even death on the cross. Nothing can stop Him from fulfilling His work the Father has sent Him to do. Not even the most dreadful and most shameful and most excruciating death can hold Him from obeying the Father that Christ be the fulfillment of the exceedingly abundant life of man. Everything has been settled by the Lord Jesus Christ for us. He took our pride that we may be humble. He took our waywardness and our sinful ways that we may learn to be obedient. He took our unrighteousness that Jesus might be our justification. He suffered for our foolishness that we may have the mind of God by learning of Christ.

 

• Ngayon, ang ating bansa, ang buong daigdig na ating ginagalawan ay gipit na gipit dahil sa COVID-19. This is but a preview of what is worst to happen in the near future during the great tribulation when the judgment of God is upon this arrogant, disobedient and self-pleasing world. The Lord is showing that this world in its pride, arrogance cannot stand before an awesome God. This world can be shaken and dashed to pieces by just a nano-small virus. It is so small that you need an electron microscope to see it. But if a virus can shake our world, how much more when the Lord comes to judge this world. Anong ipinagmamalaki mo sa Panginoon? The Bible says, He came unto His own but His own received Him not. Receive Him as what? Not only as Savior, not only as Redeemer but your all in all. You go to nobody else but the Lord Jesus Christ for there is no salvation in any other for there is none other name given under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12) and that name is JESUS. Whosoever, therefore, receive Jesus, to them gave He the right to become the children of God.(John 1:12).

 

• Sa nararanasan natin ngayon, hindi lang ang buhay at kalusugan ng tao ang nanganganib kundi pati kabuhayan at ikinabubuhay. Kailangan ng ating bansa na:

 

1. lumapit at magpakumbaba at magsuko ng buhay sa Panginoong Jesus;

 

1. makibalikat sa Panginoon na lahat at bawat isa ay mahikayat sa buong pagtatalaga ng kaniyang lahat minsanan at panglahatan sa Kaniya; at,

 

1. matuto tayong sumunod sa Kaniya na walang ibang pinagsusukuan ng ating lahat at walang ibang sinusunod at pinaglilingkuran kundi ang Panginoong Jesucristo upang si Jesus na ang kasagutan sa anomang pangangailangan mo at Siya na ang katuparan ng pinakamagandang buhay para sa iyo, para sa akin, para sa ating lahat.

 

• Upang tamasahin mo ang sinasabi Niya na ibinibigay Niya na buhay at ng higit na kasaganahan nito, kailangang italaga mo muna ang iyong lahat sa buong pagsampalataya, pag-asa at pag-ibig sa Panginoong Jesucristo. Salamat sa Panginoon Jesucristo na sa dinami-dami ng lumalapit sa Kaniya na nangangailangan ng kalinga, pagkupkop at pagtatanggol, walang sinoman na Kaniyang itinaboy. There is always room for one more.Kaya kung lalapit ka kay Jesus, hindi ka Niya itataboy. Welcome na welcome ka sa Kanya.

 

• Kaya lang ang gusto ng marami ay puro kapahingahan, puro “rest”. Ayaw makibalikat sa Panginoon sa pagpapakumbaba at pagsunod sa Kaniya. Ngunit bago mo matamasa ang full blessing ng Panginoon, gawin mo muna ang condition ng blessing ng Panginoong Jesucristo, (a) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (b) Take my yoke upon you, and (c) learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”( Matthew 11:28-30).

 

1. Check-up:

1. Have you come to Jesus? Are you sharing the burden with Him? Are you learning your lessons from Jesus by being obedient?

 

1. Ikaw ba ay nasa matinding kalumbayan dahil sa kasalanan at kawalaan ng pag-asa? Lahat ng mga kagipitan na iyong dinaraanan ay dinaanan ng Panginong Jesucristo upang bayaran ang kadahilanan ng hindi natin pagtatamasa ng buhay at ng higit na masaganang buhay. He humbled Himself and became obedient and took all our sins, bore all our burdens and nailed them on the cross.

 

1. Come to Jesus, give Him all of you, learn submission and obedience to Him. By the authority of His word, I say that Jesus has nothing but the best for you. Ano man ang dinaraanan mo na kagipitan sa buhay, kung may Jesus ka, ang sinomang sumampalataya sa Kaniya, lumapit at magpakumbaba at sumunod sa Kaniya, si Jesus na ang iyong kapuspusan sa anomang pangangailangan mo sa iyong buhay, sa iyong sambahayan at sa iyong kabuhayan for the Bible says, “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in Him.” (Col 2:9-10) Be not afraid. You have nothing to fear. Jesus is your all in all and He is all for you.

 

 

LORD JESUS BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU DURING THIS TRYING TIMES!

^[1] 2Peter 3:3-4 – …knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

^[2] Revelation 5:10 – and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”(also, 2Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4-6)

^[3] Proverb 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

^[4] 2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new; Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

^[5] Joh 3:35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

^[6] Joh 1:3, 10, 11  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not; Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him; Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

^[7] Ibid

^[8] Colossians 1:19-20  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

^[9] Ephesians 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

^[10] Heb 1:8-9  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

^[11] Hebrews 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

^[12] Ibid

^[13] John 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

^[14] Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty; Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect; 1Corinthians 1:24

^[15] Colossians 2:3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; John 21:17  Peter, the third time, wasked by the Lord, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” And he said unto him, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee; 1Corinthians 1:24

^[16] Hebrews 1:1-2  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Revelation 19:10  “…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

^[17] Hebrews 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

^[18] Hebrews 1:8-9  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

^[19] Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

^[20] Matthew 11:28-29  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

^[21] 1Corinthian 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

^[22] John 16:13  Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.

^[23] Heb 3:7-8  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

^[24] John 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

^[25] Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

^[26] Php 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.