CITY ON A HILL

“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme.” (1 Peter 2:13) . We show our submission to Christ when we submit to governing authorities. Submission, as defined, is the act of accepting the authority or control of someone else. Submission creates obedience or compliance, respect, conformity and subordination. Without authority, there is unruliness, disorder, dishonesty, deception and immorality. . SHOWING OUR SUBMISSION. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1). Citizens should not be self-absorbed and careless not to be subject to authority. By this attitude, we pay for such mistake. . “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.” (Titus 3:1). This is written for our admonition. In our experience of being submissive and obedient to au...

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." To call is to speak in a loud distinct voice or make a request or demand. It may also mean an invitation. At all times it is our fault to be there—in a strange place, situation and unhappy circumstances. Maybe also because of waywardness or a foolish choice but God is also there to hear our call in prayer and when we confess, He will promptly deliver us. CALL ON THE TRUE GOD. We try to get in communication through prayer to elicit a good response to our appeal from God. THIS IS THE ADVANTAGE OF FIDELITY. Christians must model the action of calling to God not only in uncertain future. We know God is so near to us and He gives us a promise that is enough to entrust our expectations to Him. "Ang Dios mao ang atong dalangpanan ug kalig-on, Madali nga katabang sa atong kalisdanan." (Psalm 46:1). THIS IS GOD'S PROVIDENCE. He longs to lead ...

Matthew 26:67-75 Key verse: (v70) “But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.” Parallels: Mark 14:66-72, Luke 12:56-62, John 18:15-18,25-27 . To deny is to say that something is not true and refuses to admit the same. This also implies intentional opposition. Ways of denial are lack of knowledge about Jesus (Mt 26:70), swearing in Jesus’ name (Mt 26:74), lying (Mk 14:68), cursing self using Jesus’ name (Mk 14:71), deliberate ignorance (Lk 22:57,59-60) and distances from  meetings  where Jesus  is being preached (Jn 18:16). . DIFFERENT MANNER OF MAN’S DENIAL. To declare as untrue or to give a negative answer involves a firm refusal and disputing of truth.  A man says it in the open that he does not know what is being charged or presented. “Wala ko kahibalo sa inyong gipanulti.” (Matthew 26:70). With four gospels expressing different perspectives that complement each other and help fill out the picture of Jesus’ ...

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that is not of yourselves; it is a gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. In reality, we don’t show ourselves worthy of deliverance from sin since we are not in harmony with God’s unmerited favor but because of who He is, God being kind and loving, offered His forgiving treatment and attention to us—His creation. Divine kindness and mercy brought Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, to pay off our debts. THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS WE ATTAIN SALVATION. God promised to save His people through our faith in His son so that His loving gift will be surely given to all (Romans 4:16). God caused us who believed to come to Jesus by calling us first and by teaching us (John 6:44) He put His law in our minds and wrote it in our hearts. We then upon God as our only God and we become the people of His fold. (Jeremiah 31:33). THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS WE EXHIBIT VARIATION. We show a big change fro...

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Peter writes in his letter that “He who called (us) is holy, (we) also be holy in all our conduct, since it is written, and “You shall be holy, for I am holy." Holy, that is physically pure and morally blameless and consecrated to God, and that, is in all manner, in all aspects of our lives. With today’s modernity, every thing going hi-tech; all the environmental events—climate change and all, and with every type of people, it seems that practicing to be blessed or sublime seems easier said than done or challenging for a Christian but then again this is God’s demand for His would-be followers. The word “holy” is described in the dictionary as “Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense.” Somebody who is holy has a pure heart, temper or character; free from sin and sinful affections. We call a man holy, when his heart...

2 Corinthians 5:7 New International Version (NIV) “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Let’s talk about the Christian’s destiny. This verse presents a metaphor between a country and its citizens in exile or far away from home. The Lord is the distant homeland believed in but unseen. Travelling on, advancing by steps in the real course of life, Christians go on with bliss of our strong belief, trust and loyalty to our God. This second letter to Corinth occasssioned by events and problems that developed after Paul’s first letter to them. The letter is rich and varied in content. It tells of a crisis between Paul and the Corinthians, the resolutions and defense of Paul to his ministry. LIVING BY SIGHT. This gives the ability to see those worth seeing, which may be absurd or disorderly—an occasion for no joy or belief. The world at present is entangled into all kinds of wickedness and impiety as it features a bad character of unadulterated (pure) mischief and sin. Psa...

(Hebrew 12:1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (NKJV) Christians are to reflect on the word of God found in the letter of Hebrews and have the courage to continue struggling even to the point of death. Our sufferings now are the affectionate correction of God our father who loves us His children so much. Our Christian life is to be inspired by the men and women of faith in the Old Testament,  “the great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrew 11:39). But above all, it must be inspired by Jesus himself who endured the cross before receiving His triumph. THE INSPIRATION TO LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT. There is this heaviness that presses us down and others also although its overpowering force only has measureable influence. Peter lists these as malice, deceit, hypocrisy and evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1) James il...