“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” - 1 Peter 4:10

As children of God, we are called to serve others through our giftings, skills, resources, and talents. Truth be told, di lang pala meant for our own convenience ang ating mga kakayanan. They are meant to further God’s Kingdom and to edify the church through various means.

There are three things that we can examine from this verse in line with service. 

God has spiritually gifted each follower of Christ. Marahil iniisip mo na wala kang gifting, pero kapatid, God has given you something unique that you can use to contribute for His glory. It could be eloquent speaking. It could be singing, dancing, or even visual artistry. Not to mention, meron ding kaakibat na spiritual gifts ang pag-abide mo kay Lord continually. All these gifts are designed to reflect God’s grace, and are meant to draw people closer to Him.

Faithful stewards use their gifts to serve others. Tinuturo dito ni Peter na dapat nating gamitin ang ating mga kakayanan para sa kapakanan ng iba. In a way, iniimpart ni Peter ang mga paalala sa kanila ng Panginoon when it comes to serving other people (Luke 22:24-27). Ang ating service ang syang magpapakita ng ating faithfulness at pagmamahal sa Panginoon. Additionally, our respective gifts reveal our roles in God’s Kingdom, kaya keep seeking the Lord and keep desiring His gifts para dakilain Sya!

God’s grace is revealed to us through our faithfulness. Tulad ng nasabi natin kanina, through our gifts, nagiging extension tayo ng grace ng Panginoon, all because we remained faithful to our walk with Him. Ang ating mga gifts din ang magpapatunay ng kapangyarihan ng Ebanghelyo sa ibang tao, kaya the more we use these giftings, the more na makikita ng mga tao si Lord sa iyo!

Kaya kapatid, let us encourage you: Keep serving. Keep abiding. Keep fanning the flame of God’s grace and love. In due time, we will bear much fruit, if we do not give up!

Panginoon, maraming salamat dahil pinili Mo kami na maging vessel ng Iyong grace. We do not deserve these gifts, yet You chose us for such a time as this. Help us serve other people mightily, and may the sanctifying power of Your Gospel be seen in our service. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

“Return to your home and your family, and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you.” So the man went back and preached to everyone who would listen about the amazing miracle Jesus had worked in his life." - Luke 8:39 TPT

We all know that every person in this world has a story to tell that can give an impact to someone.

Today, the Scripture encourages us to “tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." It's good that we feel inspired by someone who shared his/her testimony but it's time for you to speak up and boldly share what God did for you. Ikaw, anong kwento mo?

Testimony is an act of thanksgiving and worship to God. It is the evidence that Jesus is alive, and only through Him, our lives have been saved, freed, and continually changed and transformed. Sharing testimonies also edifies the listener because it has a way of stirring up faith in people's lives and it encourages them especially when they are going through the same situation you went through. In this way, you are letting someone know the truth and exposing the lies of the enemy by the power of your testimony, that the enemy is already defeated. The Lord is eager to do greater things in your life in the same way that all of us are hoping for more testimonies to come. So don’t get tired of sharing and testifying what Jesus has done to you. 

We need to understand that as we worship God through our testimony it should not only prove by our words but also through our actions. Allow the Holy Spirit to help us not to go back to the way we used to be and by proving that the enemy has no power to destroy or steal the story that God has written for your life. Let your story be His story that it will give an impact to this generation and to the next generation and that our God will be exalted not just in our lives but also to them. So do not underestimate the power of testifying of what God has done for you. It’s time to testify to everyone.

Let us pause and let the verse for today sink in. Are you willing to be used by God by sharing your testimony? How does the scripture and today's devotion encourage you? How will you respond to all the wonderful things God has done for you?

Heavenly Father, we worship You, we exalt You on earth and from above. We praise You for who You made us to be. Help us God to be faithful and to powerfully share  our life testimony in ways and with people who might come to know You. In this we pray, AMEN.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” - John 4:23, NIV

Worship is the highest form of prayer. To truly worship our Father entails having the power of the Holy Spirit ignited in us. This means letting go of our flesh— the worldly thoughts and behavior. And, letting the Holy Spirit fuel our mind, body and soul. 

God knows us until the depths of our heart, He knows when we are truly worshiping Him through our lifestyle. 

Singing is one of the popular ways of worshiping God. It is also one of the powerful ways to connect and communicate with the Lord. However, the intention of worshiping should be applied not only to singing but most importantly, to our daily lives.

It is very important to be intentional about how we live our lives— the way we think, speak and act. So, are you aware of how your lifestyle impacts you and others around you? 

I get it, sometimes, we get overwhelmed just thinking how we can  become better versions of ourselves in many aspects. But, come to think of it, it’s actually not that complicated. Jesus died on the cross for us to save us all and sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts, into our lives. When we are intentional to live a spirit- led life, we will be amazed of how God works wonders and miracles in our lives.


Dear God, nothing compares to the unconditional love you continuously give me. I may not be worthy of it all, especially having your Son, Jesus, die on the cross to save someone like me. I ask for forgiveness for everything I have done in the past when I did not know you yet. Now, I claim it— as your child, I surrender all my life to you. Today and moving forward, I ask for you to keep the Holy Spirit ignited in me. I pray for a spirit- led life that will give purpose for my living and that will glorify You, Jesus.  In Jesus’ name we pray,  Amen.

“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”  - Psalm 104:33


Worship is more than singing. It is more than lifting your hands, dancing, singing hymns and tunes. Worship is a declaration from a grateful heart. It is expressing your gratitude to an Almighty God that He had created you for a purpose. It is giving praise wherever and whatever you are doing. Worship is giving Him all the glory that He deserves. 

In this passage, the Psalmist is saying how wonderful, beautiful, and glorious God’s creation is. He’s so thankful to the point that all he can do is to sing his heart out to the Lord. For out of his abundant love for God – he worshiped!

Worship songs are prayers with accompanying melody. That’s why you’ll notice that after singing unto God you have peace and joy. It’s an enjoyable and practical way we can connect and communicate to God. And it’s even better when done together. Thus, being in a local church is important; it is a mandate that we have fellowship and we worship corporately with other believers. 

What’s your favorite worship song? Are you a praise person or a worship type? Are you excited to sing a little longer this time? Are you ready to sing praises to the Lord for as long as you live?

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me. Thank You for all your glorious works. I want to worship You today and declare how great You are. May everything that I do give glory to Your name. Guide my ways and teach me to worship You in spirit and in truth. All the honor, power and dominion belongs to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. - Hebrews 13:15

“Keep an attitude of gratitude.” Maaring halos lahat tayo narinig or napagsabihan na ng timeless saying na ito. In fact, there are numerous medical researches proving the impact of a grateful or thankful heart to a longer and healthier life. Some people even keep a personal journal to write down the top five things they are thankful for each day to help them practice the attitude of gratitude.

But let’s go beyond the science of being thankful! Let’s dive deep into some biblical truths about giving thanks to God as our act of worship.

In Hebrews 13:15, the author directly tells us how to express our thankfulness: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name."

Giving thanks to God is a continuous act of offering praise to Him. But is it always easy to be thankful continuously, especially when you are in the lowest, most painful, and most devastating state of your life? The Word does not discount these personal realities; that’s why it emphasizes, "... continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise."

Nawalan ka ba ng minamahal sa buhay ngayong taong ito? Are you growing weary and tired of contending for God’s promises in your life? More than 10 years ka ng nagdarasal para sa career promotion or dream marriage, kasama pa ito sa prayer and fasting mo taon-taon, pero wala pa ring breakthrough.
 
Any major grief, loss, deepest pain, or disappointment has a way of keeping our eyes and ears from sensing the goodness of God.They even have a way of making us spiritually mute. Note that the enemy is taking advantage of these situations. He locks us down to our life’s circumstances so he can isolate us from The Father and silence our worship. In the highs and lows of life, we need to be vigilant in offering God our thanksgiving and praise simply because it is due to Him.

To maintain a thankful heart before the Lord, we need to renew our minds as our spiritual act of worship. In Romans 12:1-2, the NIV says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

We don’t settle with the world’s quick fixes. We do not conform to the solutions it provides. Rather, we depend on Jesus through the Holy Spirit alone!

Ask the Lord, “Father, what are you teaching me about this situation? What do you want me to learn about Your nature through this situation? How do you see me in this situation?”

Ask God to give you His spirit of revelation and wisdom so that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened to see the purposes He called you into through your situation (Ephesians 1:17–18). When we have a renewed mind in Christ, the Holy Spirit enables us to face life’s difficulties with wisdom, joy, and a thankful heart.

What are you thankful for? Don’t just keep a gratitude list in your journal. Speak to the Lord with what’s in your heart in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4-5 NIV exhorts, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Let us worship God continuously in thanksgiving, even in sacrificial praise, as long as we live. May we resolve to live out the truth of Psalm 104:33: "I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!"


In highs and lows of life, O Lord be magnified!
You’re Holy, Holy, Holy!
I offer up my life, as a living sacrifice.
You’re Worthy, Worthy, Worthy!
Jesus, You reign on high.
With You I live this life, ascended into Your glory!
Oh Holy Spirit come, renew, transform my heart to worship into the glory!
Father, we praise Your name on high for You are worthy!
Yes, You are worthy!
Amen.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” - Colossians‬ ‭3:23-24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do you find yourself burnt out, complaining about work, seeing a pile of reports that needs to be submitted, deadlines coming, and more and more tasks adding? Or have you ever had those times that you found it unfair when you were not getting that promotion, thinking that you worked the hardest, that you were better and more deserving than everyone else? And then you just find yourself in an endless rant. I know kapatid, I know.. And perhaps most of us would answer yes to the above questions.

When we truly know who God is in our lives and stand on our identities as children of God, it would be easier for us to divert our focus on Whom we truly are serving. God acknowledges the fact that there are earthly masters: the president in your class, boss in your workplace, leaders in your church and political authorities, etc. But we must keep our eyes on our True Master: God. This verse does not say to not give respect and recognition to our earthly leaders but it is a great reminder that in everything we do, we should do our best wholeheartedly despite the challenges because we give glory and honor ultimately to the Lord by doing so. Without warranting external validation, we willingly do the works with excellence and integrity because we know it pleases our One True God.

Kaya kapatid, kung pagod na pagod ka na at pakiramdam mo wala pa din nangyayare, it may be a good time to have a heart check. Are you fixing your eyes only on your human masters or do you have your eyes fixed on Jesus? Don’t worry, no work for the Lord ever goes in vain; we serve a faithful God. For He said, “A reward of inheritance will be given to those who truly serve Him.” It may not be in the way that you want it and it may not be as soon as you expect it but one thing’s for sure, your reward is great in Heaven!

Our Father, thank you for reminding us about how faithful you are to your promises. Help us to fix our eyes on you, Lord, and to honor you in everything that we do. Thank you, Jesus, for the overflowing grace to go through our daily lives with a grateful and willing heart. Empower us for we are not just serving our human masters but ultimately we are serving You. All honor, glory and praises are yours! I seal this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV


Do you agree that the Bible is one of the best gifts that God has given us as we walk through life? Ano man ang kalagayan at pinagdadaanan natin, ang Salita ng Dios ang nagsisilbing primary guideline natin sa buhay!

Let’s face it. Life on earth is a blessing but it also comes with challenges. Kadalasan, these challenges steal the best life and peace that the Lord wants us to enjoy. Minsan, sa sobrang kakaisip natin ng mga problema, mga posibleng solusyon, or even those things na nakakaexcite for our future, hindi na rin tayo nakakatulog ng maayos. Sometimes, we also fail to spend quality time with God. We become so anxious about so many things! Kapag tumagal pa, it may seriously affect our overall health, wellness, relationships, and spiritual life!

Kamusta ka, kapatid? What struggles are you facing in life lately? Are you currently struggling on how to pay off a huge debt? Kahit anong gawin mong todo kayod sa work, you still can’t make ends meet. Parati nalang kapos! Is critical illness taking a major toll on you and your family? Do you cry yourself to sleep because your marriage is too hard to keep or your family feels like it’s breaking apart?

Ano nga ba ang kalooban ni Lord sa mga hinaharap natin sa buhay? Paano ba dapat ang posture ng mga puso natin as we come to HIm in prayer?

Whether we’re in a good or bad situation, God’s Word has a guideline for us to live by! Through Apostle Paul’s letter in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Lord is instructing us three things: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

As we pray in Christ Jesus, kalooban ng Panginoon na harapin natin ang bawat sitwasyon at pagsubok ng buhay ng may kagalakan! Why? It is because when we are in Christ, we are assured that He is with us and will never forsake us. He is Sovereign at nasa Kanya ang sagot o solusyon na inaasam-asam natin! Isn’t He the Way and the Door? When we are in His presence, there is fullness of joy! Patunay lamang ito na there’s no need to worry because our God is superior and far bigger than all our concerns in life!

It is the Lord’s will for us to pray continually! Contend in prayer. Make decrees and declarations of God’s promises about our situation. Pray in solitude. Pray in the spirit. Pray with songs Listen in prayer. Make room for the Holy Spirit to speak. Pray unceasingly! God has unlimited attention span for His children! Our Father’s ears never grow tired of listening to our prayers. He loves the communion and the worship we offer as we abide in Him through prayer!

The Lord is more mindful of our concerns and well-being than we are. Bago pa naman natin alalahanin ang mga matitinding needs natin sa sarili or sa family, or even sa work or school, may plano na ang ating Ama! The provision for our needs, and even wants, are available in the riches of His glory! Health-related man ito, need for relational breakthrough man or financial deliverance, His answers are already on the way! There’s no other appropriate response to these but to give thanks! Praise the Lord for His goodness!

If there is one word that will summarize the totality of God’s will over all the good and bad situations we face in life, it is WORSHIP. Sometimes, when we pray to the Father, there is a pure sacrifice of praise. Because our God is greater, we exalt Him even at the throne of our aching hearts instead of dwelling lowly in painful circumstances. It is the Lord’s will and delightful desire for us to come to Him in prayer with joy, trust, and thanksgiving! This is worship!

Heavenly Father, thank You for being mindful of us. We acknowledge that You are superior and bigger than all that we face in life. Holy Spirit, each time we come to the Father in prayer, help us to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. May our hearts gladly offer a sacrifice of praise as our act of worship. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
- Genesis 22:1-2

Picture this: You’ve intently prayed for something you’ve always wanted for so long. Pinag-fast mo pa ito at inilaban in the spirit. Then, after a long season of praying and seeking, God answered your prayer. You leaped, jumped, and shouted in joy after you saw how God honored your desires!

But what if God asks you to give that blessing up? Paano kung ang nais ng Panginoon upang matupad ang Kanyang purpose ay ang isuko ang bagay na ipinaglaban mo sa panalangin patungo sa Kanyang mga kamay? Would you choose to obey?

Ganito ang nangyari kay Abraham sa latter years ng kanyang buhay. After waiting for Isaac’s birth for so long, God tested Abraham and asked him to offer his promised child as a sacrifice. Hindi ba masakit? To think that the Lord would ask you to kill the very breakthrough He gave you and offer it as a burnt sacrifice. 

Higit sa malamang, may naramdamang burden si Abraham upon hearing God’s command, but instead of resisting, he immediately obeyed without hesitation. 

What compelled Abraham to obey our Lord? Simple lang: He remembered what the Lord promised him. 

Nangako ang Panginoon sa kanya na maraming salinlahi ang uusbong mula kay Isaac, at pinanghawakan nya ang pangakong ito hanggang sa huli. Ito din ang dahilan kaya inilaban ni Abraham na bubuhayin ng Panginoon si Isaac kahit na ialay nya ito (Hebrews 11:19), and God pulled through! At the last moment, He stopped Abraham and released the true provisional offering: a ram caught in the thicket of a bush. Not only that, God assured him that He will honor His promises, all because he believed and obeyed.

True worship isn’t just about singing and dancing. True worship is defined by our faith and obedience to God. True worship is defined by our capacity to surrender everything we have unto the Lord’s hands, carrying the belief that His ways, plans, and purposes are greater than anything we can possibly imagine.

Take some time today and ask yourself: What’s in your hands that you need to surrender to God today? If you can release what’s in your hands, then God will release what’s in His loving palms. 

Panginoon, maraming salamat dahil patuloy Mo kaming tinuturuan na manampalataya nang totoo at sumunod sa Iyong mga salita nang walang hadlang. Gabayan Mo kami at tulungan na panghawakan ang bawat salita na Iyong winika, dahil ikaw ay tapat sa Iyong mga anak. Ito ang aming dalangin, sa ngalan ni Hesus, AMEN.

¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
 
When you came to know Christ and started reading the learning the Word of God, na-overwhelm ka ba with the changes that need to happen in your life para maging maayos sa harap ng Lord? Na-feel mo ba na dahil Christian ka na ay dapat wala ka ng weakness at struggle sa character and in other areas of your life? Kalma, friend. Huwag ka ma-pressure and ma-overwhelm sa dami ng bagay na dapat bitawan because that’s not what the Bible wants you to feel.

The whole message of the Bible is that, because of our sin, we are estranged from this Holy God; our sins and iniquities have come between us and God. Sin, therefore, had to be dealt with - and that was a great problem for the human race: our sin. God loves us, but God is a holy God and He cannot violate His own nature of holiness because holiness and unholiness cannot dwell together.  God cannot have any unholy thing before Him.  So how then can He dwell in us who, when we come to Jesus, bring with us much sinful baggage of past habits?  It is by the grace of God that He gives us His Spirit to make us holy.  It is what theologians call, “sanctification.”   The work of the Holy Spirit to make men holy.  
Jesus did not just die to cleanse our sins in the past, but He died to give us power over sin, so when we get saved, God gives us a divine nature. Why? Because you see, we simply live holy lives in and of ourselves - that's why we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 
The Bible says that we are changed, transformed, transfigured into His image by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transforms a person. Peter, who had betrayed the Lord three times was transformed into a powerful preacher after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And by his anointed sermon, 3,000 people were saved.  The apostle Paul, after His encounter with the Lord, had been transformed from a former executioner of Christians into one of the two prime movers of the New Testament church along with Peter. Paul wrote most of the NT; he established many churches; and discipled and raised up leaders despite having been flogged, chained, imprisoned, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, and many more horrendous and painful experiences for the gospel – all because of the power of the Holy Spirit in him.
 
Yes, hindi tayo si Paul at si Peter, and other great men and women in the Bible. Pero kapatid, the same Holy Spirit is in us, and He never gets outdated. In fact, He always wants to commune with you; He always wants to be involved in all areas of your life. Decide now to be intentional with your prayer life, with your worship life, with your study of the Word, and with living out the Word. Decide to obey the Word and the Holy Spirit will help you. Every. Step. Of. The. Way.
 
Heavenly Father, thank You for your grace that abounds in my life. Holy Spirit, help me to walk in Your ways. Help me to live right before You, Lord. I choose You. I choose Your ways, for apart from You, I am nothing. Transform me, Lord, from glory to glory, and bring me to maturity. This I pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-14

From time to time, we get tired of living, don’t we? After all, most of us are determined to spend it by striving for a pleasure-filled life. The kind where we would probably indulge in. Yung tipo na, kahit anong mangyari basta’t para sa pangarap gugustuhin nating suungin ang lahat. However, most often than not, our own desires tend to let us down. Eventually, we reach this point where not even money, power, or anything this world has to offer can satisfy us. Yet sadly, many still fall for this trap.

After gaining it all, how come we still feel that void? After reaching for the stars, how come many of us still wonder if happiness is ever truly a thing? After everything we have been through, how come nothing still makes sense? We were wrong, we thought we figured out life. Akala natin, ‘pag nakuha natin yung mga bagay na gusto natin magiging okay na lahat.
We chase everyday things that we think would fill us. We start our mornings dreaming for that kind of life and yet ending up feeling disappointed. We become thirsty for more, eventually trapping us in believing that we should settle for this – that life is meant to be this. But all along, without realizing, that “good life” we had been chasing, was the one chasing us after all. Love was running after us all along.

Kapatid, ‘di mo na kailangang tumingin kung saan-saan pa; maghanap kung kani-kanino pa; at higit sa lahat, maghabol ng kung anu-ano pa. Hinihintay ka Niya dahil umpisa pa lang naman, alam na Niya kung anong mga gusto mong maranasan at makita. Yung mga bagay na tingin mong kailangan mo? Makakapagpasaya sa’yo? Maniwala ka man o hindi, pero Siya lang ang tanging makapupuno sa’yo. Only God can satisfy this longing; only God can fill us up with this Love we have all been looking for. Only God can quench our thirst; Only God can fill this God-sized hole in our hearts.

Abba, we submit our hearts to You. All our desires, we lift them up to Your Throne. But with all this, we crave for Your presence more – help us to crave for Your presence more. We long for You. Open our hearts that we may seek You more than anything else in this world. For only You can satisfy us. In times when we chase worldly things more than You, oh God, may we be reminded by the Spirit that You are more than enough to quench our thirst; that Only your Love can complete us. Pray for us, Lord Jesus Christ, that we may thirst for You more and more; that we may pursue You more all the days of our lives. Amen.

"David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." - 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Truth be told, there will always be giants headed toward our path. It could be an annoying colleague. It could be an authoritarian boss. It could be an overwhelming project or creative endeavor. It could be a debilitating illness. It could also be your dwindling finances or a dying business. Or pwede ring marital or relationship obstacles.

Giants come in varying forms and are things we shouldn’t really be surprised with in our spiritual walk. After all, hindi naman nagsinungaling si Jesus noong sinabihan nya ang Kanyang mga disciples na palaging may kaakibat na panganib o gulo ang ating buhay. Hindi na dapat tayo nagugulat kung may mga nagaganap na bagyo o suliranin sa ating daan, pero dapat nating tandan ang immediate assurance ni Jesus matapos Nyang sabihin iyon.

“Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Let’s look at the life of David. When he was a young shepherd, marami syang naencounter na beasts in the wild at mga mapanganib na areas while taking care of his father’s flock. Yet, amid the dangers he saw on his way, David’s faith in the Lord did not waver. He trusted God even more, and that allowed him to survive all those situations. That same faith allowed David to declare na hindi magwawagi si Goliath sa kanya. The young boy knew that he has the Lord in Him in the spirit, and He is faithful to fight our battles for us. Sabi nga ni David, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands.” Inevitably, the Lord empowered David through the Holy Spirit to slay the giant, paving way for Israel to crush the fleeing Philistine army.

Sa mga panahong binabagyo ang ating buhay, hindi ba’t mas maganda na sa halip na magpatalo tayo sa agos ng tubig at sa hampas ng hangin ay ideklara natin ang kapangyarihan ng ating Diyos? It is when we choose to hold on to God’s hands and declare His greatness that He is compelled to move in our lives. There is a great shift whenever we change the way we look at things from fear’s perspective to a lens of faith. Choose to trust the Lord in every situation, for He is mighty to triumph in every battle. He has never failed a fight, and He is sure to win the ones you are facing now. All you have to do is surrender, and declare.

Take some time with the Lord at isuko mo ang mga bagyo ng iyong buhay. As you allow the Lord to minister through you, begin declaring what the Lord can do in your life. Magugulat ka na lang at how things will turn out, piece by piece. After all, God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him.

Panginoon, maraming salamat dahil hindi nagbabago at nagmamaliw ang Inyong pag-ibig sa amin. Salamat sa pagbabahagi ng Banal na Espiritu, na Siyang aming katuwang sa aming mga suliranin at gagawin sa buhay. Nawa’y aming matayuan ang aming pananampalataya sa Iyo, at ideklara nang walang takot na Ikaw ay palaging magwawagi sa bawat sitwasyon. Sa ngalan ni Kristo Hesus, AMEN.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” - Isaiah 43:2

One of my mentors told me a truly sound reality. And that is - sometimes you have to go through pain to get to the beauty. I’ve passed through dark tunnels that had no light in sight for long periods of time. I’ve realized that when you’re going through something like this, dying to the flesh becomes so real. In my experience, dying to the flesh meant letting go of my idea of what is perfect and what works. On a deeper level, it meant letting go of the identities the world and my pride have somehow silently created in the very center of my soul. Ultimately, it meant letting go of my idols. Idols are the things that pass away, take the place of God and prevent Him from freeing us from the destructive consequences they bring.

Letting go is not easy. It can be painful. However, the beautiful part of this process is having the Holy Spirit as my all in all. In my experience, having a relationship with Him meant allowing Him to work in my heart while I go through this inevitable process. It meant relying on God’s sovereignty, love, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit’s enablement to carry me through every season of uncertainty. It meant holding His hand instead of the world’s hand. It meant making His Word the center and anchor of my soul.

By relying on the Holy Spirit as my Comforter and Helper, only then am I able to see things for what they are and not for what I thought they were; only then am I able to see what truly matters; only then am I able to experience the beauty. And this beauty is our infinite God Himself and the display of His glory.
 
Takot ka ba sa kinakaharap mo ngayon, kapatid? Get to know the Holy Spirit and nurture your relationship with Him through prayer, worship, and devotion. Involve Him in every area of your life. Siya ang siguradong kasama mo sa lahat ng bagyo ng buhay.

Heavenly Father, I am imperfect and still learning Your ways. I am amazed at how far I’ve come walking with you but extremely humbled knowing that I cannot live without You. Father, forgive me for the times I trusted in my own understanding. Help my unbelief. I need You to empower me in ways that surpass my understanding. I want to be aligned to Your will and the plans you have for me here on earth. Thank you for Your consistent and unconditional love that continues to become my source of strength. I pray that I grow in my faith relying in You as I pass through waters and walk through fire knowing that You are the stronghold of my life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. - John 14:26 ESV

Have you ever been in a situation where you don’t know what to do? You’re either confused with options, or just don’t know what the next step is? Or have you been in a situation where you don’t know how to react or what to say? Maybe you have been in a situation where you need to decide on the right thing to do, how did you make a decision?

There was a time when I had to do a presentation to the CEO about the evaluation of the teams and the processes of the company. I was so nervous walking into that meeting. Before starting my presentation, I whispered under my breath, “Come Holy Spirit,”  and the fear was gone and I was able to present confidently. The reaction wasn’t very good because I was talking about the problems of the team, but the peace of God just washed over me, securing me and guiding me in what I was saying.

In John 14:26, it says that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is sent by the Father and will teach us all things and bring into remembrance Jesus’ teachings. The great news is that the Father gave us a Helper - the Holy Spirit! The word Helper describing the Holy Spirit in the verse is paraklētos in Greek which means, “the one who walks alongside.” How blessed we are to have the Spirit of God walking with us! He is here to guide us and teach us, we just need to ask Him to come and listen to Him. It takes humility and dependence on God to ask help from the Holy Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit is here to walk with us, the question is - are we walking with Him? Are we asking Him for help, for direction, for guidance, for wisdom, for what to say… or are we walking on our own?

The Lord loves us so much and He wants to walk with us! He is Emmanuel, God with us!
The Holy Spirit is here and He wants to help us and teach us. Ask Him to come in the morning when you wake up, in the evening when you close your eyes to sleep. Ask Him to come on your way to school or to work, in your day to day activities, in difficult situations, in moments of confusion or fear. Ask Him and He will come, and He will teach you all things.

Lord, I thank You for the Holy Spirit! Thank you for giving me someone who is always available to guide me and teach me. I ask for You to come, Holy Spirit, and teach me what to do, what to say or what to choose. Give me wisdom and guidance at work, in school, in my family, in my relationships, in my ministry, in reaching out to others and discipling people. This I pray in Jesus Name, Amen.

“Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV

Fire is one of the common symbols of the Holy Spirit. Naturally, we extinguish a fire so as not to cause damage to properties and prevent  loss of lives. However, Scripture teaches us that we should not quench the Spirit - do not put out the fire. This means allowing the Holy Spirit to move freely and become responsive to His work and guidance in our lives.

The Holy Spirit lives in us and desires to actively work in our lives. He wants to guide and instruct us into all truth - thus the Holy Spirit brings clarity not confusion; He gives us spiritual gifts to be a blessing to others; and transforms our character to produce His fruit in us. He can do all these amazing things and much more, but He needs our active participation. We can choose to ignore His promptings, disobey His leading, continue sinning, rely on ourselves, reject His activity in us, thus quenching the Holy Spirit. Or we can make room for His power to work in us, acknowledge His authority, rely on Him, obey Him, and give ourselves fully to Him.

We need to understand that as true believers yielding to and making room for the Holy Spirit’s work in our midst is not to be feared but fostered. May we all have a renewed mind today in how we view the Holy Spirit, because we can’t accomplish the greater works that God said we could do without Him. Let us all be encouraged to have more life-changing experiences of the Holy Spirit’s transforming power.

Let us pause and reflect on our devotion today. Are there areas in your life in which you have restricted the Holy Spirit’s leading? Are you willing to let Him in and allow Him to accomplish His work? How will you respond to the Holy Spirit’s work and guidance in your life starting today?


Heavenly Father, we come to you in humility asking that you would purify our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Make us willing to submit to His leading in every aspect of our lives. Help us overcome the lies and temptations of the enemy. Help us acknowledge His power and authority. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

³⁶ As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. ³⁷ When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. ³⁸ “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” ³⁹ But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” ⁴⁰ He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” Luke 19:36-40

In verse 36, we see that the people honored the Lord with their clothing (garments), that is, with whatever they had. No matter how poor a man is, he at least has some clothing with which to cover himself. We need to honor the Lord, King Jesus, with whatever we are. No matter what our condition may be, we have something with which to honor Him; most likely the garments laid were not fine linen nor expensive, but they laid down at the feet of Jesus all they had in reverence and respect to his coming and entering to their city. The Lord is always honored and moved by what we offer as worship. 
 
In the following verses, we see how they worshiped Jesus because of all the wonderful miracles they saw Him do. He did these miracles before, and He can do it again; He did it yesterday, and He can even do more tomorrow! The people worshiped Him saying, “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Sounding similar to the songs we use during our Services that bring a pleasing aroma as he is glorified on His throne. Unfortunately, just like our generation today, there will always be people like the Pharisees or even situations trying to stop and hinder us from giving praises to our King; Jesus had the best reply to their nonsense, that if these people kept quiet and stopped singing, the stones on the road (non-living things) would burst into cheers, worshiping Him! To cut to the chase, nothing and no one will ever be able to stop the worship and praise our Jesus deserves. Even the stones along the road won’t be able to help themselves but worship their Creator.

Reality? We sometimes are our own hindrance, and today’s reminder is: “Don’t be like the Pharisees.” BE WHO YOU ARE, A CREATION OF GOD, WORSHIPING HIM EVEN OTHERS WON’T WORSHIP. Laying down your garments, everything you have to offer at the feet of Jesus; nothing is either big or small in His eyes, what matters most is a heart that is surrendered, broken, and all-out in reverence to Him.
 
Lord Jesus, I commit to you my days, open my heart to worship you in all that I do. I surrender my life to you and everything I am and have as worship, I desire to live for you because you died for me. Thank you for giving me life today and may I use every moment to bring you glory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water."  - John 7:38 AMP

In this passage Jesus promises the Living Water. When He said, “living water,” He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. Have you ever felt extremely parched under a hot, sunny day when all you can think of is a glass of a cold drink? And somehow, someone suddenly hands you a glass of a cold drink –  a sip of your favorite slushy and it just quenches your thirst that you even end up sharing the experience with someone and that drink that brought you “back to life” suddenly becomes everybody’s favorite.

Same goes when we meet Jesus and have a true encounter with the Holy Spirit. Only the Lord can satisfy your thirst. One drop is never enough. You want an overflow of His presence. You keep on coming back for more. When you're full, nothing can stop you from sharing how good the encounter is. Everyone you run into would have the same desire and seek that drink. Your passion creates a hunger and thirst in someone's heart.

Just like in John 4 where Jesus promised to the Samaritan woman at the well that she  will never thirst again after drinking the living water, you too, would be a vessel of the overflow of His presence. Take Jesus’ Word for it, trust and rely on Him that the living water that He offers can sustain us in this life.  After her encounter with Jesus, she becomes a witness - she brings the message to the whole village and all of them believe. Just imagine how many vessels were created and have been poured into by just a single sip of the living water.

Have you tried this living water, kapatid? If not, seek the Lord at siguradong ipapatikim ng Panginoon ang tubig na nagbibigay-buhay sayo and for sure, you will tell the world about it too.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”  Acts 2:1-4

Have you seen a fire? A fire that consumes? A fire that not only consumes but gets out of your control? Kapag tayo’y nakakakita ng sunog, lalo na kung ito’y malapit-lapit sa ating tinutuluyan, Agad nating naiisip na isalba ang ating mga pamilya, ang ating mga naipundar, at mga mahahalagang dokumento na makakatulong sa ating pag bangon. Different shades of anger, rage, disbelief, and hopelessness fill our hearts and minds. At the same time, sinusubukan rin nating maging positibo. Ang bawat pamilya, magkakaibigan, magkakapitbahay ay nagtutulungan at nagkakaisa upang maagapan ang sitwasyon. In the Philippines, March is the month of Fire Prevention. A time to raise awareness. Dito, ang lahat ay inaasahang maki-isa sa paghahanda at mas maging maalam upang mapanatiling ligtas ang ating mga pamilya.

But did you know that back in the day of the apostles, forty days after the resurrection of Jesus, followers and believers of Jesus gathered to celebrate Pentecost as one family? When suddenly, a wind from heaven filled the entire place. Nagulat ang lahat sa lakas ng hanging naramdaman at may tila bagang mga apoy na nakapatong sa kani-kanilang mga ulo. Everyone was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Ang lahat ay nagsimulang magsalita ng iba’t ibang lenguahe. The people were praying. At kahit na iba’t-ibang lenguahe ang gamit ng bawat isa, people were praying in unity. At imbis na takot, pangamba, at kalungkutan ang maramdaman dala ng apoy na parang kumukunsumo sa kanila, saya, pananabik, at punong-puno ng pag-asa ang nanahan sa puso ng bawat isa.

In our devotion for today, we are reminded of what happens when people gather in unity. The presence of God dwells in our midst. Sa Presensya ng Diyos, may labis na kapahingahan, sayang di maunawaan, at galak na nagbibigay ng kapayapaan sa puso ng bawat isa. Know that the Lord desires to fill us with His presence. It is His desire to reveal himself to us in the most intimate way. Let us continue to be aware of His presence and experience the goodness of His great and flaming kind of love.

With your family, meditate on God’s goodness in your lives, pray in one accord, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal himself to all of you.

When Moses was still alive, Joshua was not really a superstar amongst the Israelites. As in fact, in many of the early references to Joshua, we read that he was called the servant of Moses (Exo 24:13, Numbers 11:28, Joshua 1:1).  In his youth, Joshua was not one of the leaders of Israel, nor did he come from a priestly family.  He did not look like a promising leader. In modern terminology, we could say that he was not an associate pastor or a son of a pastor. Joshua was like a ministry member whom God chose to promote and make the next senior pastor!  Even Moses did not realize that Joshua was God’s choice to be the next leader until the Lord showed this to him near the end of his life (Numbers 27:15-21).

But what happened to Joshua? How did he become the successful leader of God’s people? It was because Joshua caught the anointing that he needed in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

As seen from the passage above, he began to gain the anointing as he developed his OWN relationship with the Lord – when Moses, the one who spoke with God face to face, was done communing in the tabernacle or the Tent of Meeting, Joshua would stay even longer.  Imagine how long Moses must have already spent time with God, yet his spiritual son, Joshua, would linger longer because he had desired to know, to seek the face of God on his own. Joshua learned to wait upon the Lord  and to draw near to Him; he wanted to develop the same intimate relationship with God that Moses already had.

Kapatid, kamusta ang personal prayer and worship life natin? Yung behind closed doors, kamusta secret place natin with God? Attending corporate worship, life groups, seminars, classes, etc. are all important.  But what happens in the secret place ang talagang nagbibigay buhay sa atin, ang nagpapalakas tuwing nanghihina, at nagbibigay kapayapaan tuwing nag-aalala tayong mga anak ng Diyos.   Let us bear in mind that all our natural talents and abilities will be useless if the Holy Spirit is not working in and through our lives to accomplish the works of God.  Spend time in the tabernacle first bago ang lahat, stay in the presence, linger longer everyday, that the full armor of God may be strengthened and renewed, and that you may be ready to stand and fight your battles sa bawat araw na kakaharapin mo.

“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. Numbers 14:24

If you haven’t heard of Caleb, he was one of the two spies who gave a good report to Moses after scouting the Promised Land; the other spy being Joshua, who would later be commissioned to succeed Moses after his passing. During the time that the spies had returned to Moses, there were ten spies who totally disagreed with them. Imagine going through so much opposition as there were only two of them who were firm in their belief -- that although the land was indeed “flowing with milk and honey,” it was also inhabited by giants who were obviously much stronger than they were – this fact did not frighten Joshua and Caleb at all.  

Caleb reasoned with the people, “We are not to fear the enemy nations living there, for that would be to rebel against God. Because God is with us, those people are bread for us. Their protection is removed.”, (Numbers 14:7). For that kind of implicit trust, God said of Caleb… “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”

The ancient meaning of CALEB is “whole hearted,” contrary to what common name books and websites list the meaning of CALEB as “dog.”  When we read the exploits of Caleb in Numbers 13 and 14, you would see that he was not simply faithful, but he served God with his whole heart, thus he was able to “follow God fully.” Kapatid, let me be clear. It was not just the name that made Caleb obedient to God, it was because he had a different spirit or a different attitude (NLT) in him! Caleb was a man like this -- he had a rare spirit because he knew God deeply, and he threw his whole heart at God, and his life followed.

Kapatid, alam mo ba na we are called to BE DIFFERENT? To be different from the rest of the world! Why? Because we are not of this world; dumadaan lamang tayo dito. In Matthew 5, Jesus said that we are to be “salt and light” in this world. In a world full of hate, we are to love; in a world full of anger, we are to forgive; in a world full of selfishness, we are to give. At saan nagmumula ang kakayanan na yan?? It’s from the Holy Spirit, kapatid. Hindi yan galing sa atin dahil kung tayo lang bilang tao, sobrang limitado ang ating kakayanan magmahal, umunawa, magpatawad, at magbigay.  The Holy Spirit in us makes us different from the world because He guides our path, He guards our tongues, our ways, our thoughts towards Christlikeness.

Let us remember that we are only able to obey the Lord because of the Holy Spirit in us. He was given to us to be all that we need to live victorious lives. Kapatid, tayo ay may kapangyarihang taglay dahil ang Holy Spirit ay nasa atin. Kung patuloy tayong magpapasakop at magpapabago sa Kanya, we are destined for breakthrough!

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are called to be free but what does it mean to be truly free? What is freedom?
Freedom is to be free from the chains that hold us back— unforgiveness, bitterness, envy, jealousy, worries, anger and the list of our worldly and sinful nature goes on…If we do not choose to break those chains, it will not only lead us to speaking and desiring death towards our neighbors but also to our own lives as well.

The good news is if chains are broken, we get to experience God’s peace, joy, goodness and of course His love no matter life’s situation— and that is freedom. In effect, being kind, good, righteous, gentle and most of all being faithful would come naturally. Loving your neighbors even those hard to love won’t feel like a burden anymore.

So, how do we choose to break the chains and let go of the desires of our flesh? Open your heart and let the Holy Spirit lead you. The Spirit and the flesh can never go together, be mindful. Free yourself from your sinful nature and worldly desires. Focus your eyes on God to experience overflowing love, peace and joy that you could share with your neighbors. God gives us the opportunity to be reborn and renewed. Claim it! Our flesh will only fail us but the Spirit will always amaze us. Choose a life that is spirit- led because as we say “where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!”

Picture yourself as a student joining a college organization. Nakitaan ka ng adviser ng organization ng potential, so he has given you a big project to lead. However, you felt na parang kulang ang details na binigay sayo and you do not have the know-how to fulfill such a tremendous task. Di ba troubling? Di rin ideal na gawin ito agad without the proper wisdom and know-how.

The same thing happened with Jesus’ disciples. Prior to His ascension, the Lord gave them a huge task - to serve as witnesses of the Gospel through the ends of the earth. Truth be told, it’s not an easy responsibility, considering the struggles, persecution, and hardships they’ll face. Moreover, hindi naman edukado ang mga nasa inner circle ni Jesus. It’s a mixed group filled with former fishermen, a zealot, and even a tax collector! Clearly, walang qualified sa kanila to do it!

However, they chose to wait. The disciples recognized na di nila kayang gawin ang pinapagawa ng Panginoon, so they fervently waited sa pangako Nya ng pagpapadala ng katulong sa kanilang ministeryo: Ang Holy Spirit. Alam ni Jesus ang kakaharapin nila as they take on this huge task, so He assured that they will receive wisdom, power, and anointing through the Holy Spirit. Di na nila kailangang mangamba, pagka’t makakasama pa rin nila ang Panginoon in Spirit. All they had to do is to wait.

May we all have the patience and fortitude to wait for the Holy Spirit’s green light in all of our endeavors. As we wait on the Lord to act, let us keep our hearts beating expectantly. He will surely grant us the strength and the boldness to carry out the things He is asking us to do. Just wait for it. Makakaasa ka na kapag oras na to GO, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
List down all the things na pinapagawa sayo ng Panginoon this year and pause. Ask the Lord for wisdom sa mga gagawin mo, and He will surely answer. Balikan mo sila at the end of the year, and give praise to God for how He pulled through.

Lord, thank you for always assuring us that we have the Holy Spirit as our source of strength, wisdom, and boldness in our endeavors. May You always grant us the anointing to fulfill the things You’re asking us to do. Truly, we cannot do them on our own, but with You as our anchor, nothing is impossible. May we see Your imprints in everything we do, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

River of God Galleria held its first discipleship conference for the year 2021 dubbed Equip & Empower, July 3. The event sought to encourage leaders and interns in their bid to share the love of God and make disciples of all nations, as our Lord taught in the Bible. Around 100 leaders and interns attended onsite, while 72 participants joined the event online via Zoom.

The day kicked off with an icebreaker segment courtesy of Ps. Tin Corpus and Angelu De Leon - Rivera to stir the attendees’ enthusiasm for the event, followed by an intimate worship session to invite the Holy Spirit’s presence through the entire conference. Attendees soaked deeply in the Lord’s presence as they were eagerly expectant for a great move of God during the event.

Lifegroup leaders Cheryl Cabanos Del - Rosario and Mike Fernandez gave their testimonies on how discipleship molded their lives for the better. Cheryl mused how God used her mightily in bringing souls to His Kingdom amid the issues she faced in the past and how social media could be an effective tool in evangelizing to people. On the other hand, Mike shared how his discipleship journey remained fruitful despite the limitations placed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bishop Chito Sanchez opened the event proper by teaching the attendees the importance of discipleship in our current season. He echoed Paul’s words in line with the five-fold ministry and emphasized that its functions matter more than gaining titles. Bishop added that we should channel God’s love to other people and aid in bringing His children into the fullness of Christ. He concluded his preaching by ministering and praying for the disciplers and interns onsite.

Ps. Rachel Sanchez followed suit by talking about the role of the supernatural in discipleship. She taught that signs and wonders are meant not to exalt oneself, but to honor and glorify God, to evangelize to the lost, and to avoid depriving the people of the Lord’s might. Ps. Rachel cited abuses in the supernatural ministry and why we should veer away from such activities. She also preached that leaders should teach their disciples to have faith in the miraculous and imitate Jesus by following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Ps. Rachel then guided the attendees into a short ministry activity. The leaders were asked to join in pairs and pray for each other in the spirit. The attendees received new revelations and spiritual insights as the presence of the Holy Spirit remained thick all throughout the corners of the ROG Galleria center.

Shortly after the ministry time, Ps. Rico Ricafort of Victory Church took the pulpit and expressed his gratitude to Bishop Chito for allowing him to encourage the leaders of River of God. He taught the attendees to return to the basics and make new disciples out of sheer love for the Most High. Ps. Rico recognized that discipleship can only end on the day of our Lord’s return. He told all leaders and interns to teach the value of obedience, impart ministry skills, and trust their disciples’ capacity to lead. Ps. Rico also encouraged the attendees to build and strengthen each other’s faith.

Bishop Chito, Ps. Rachel, and Ps. Rico led a short question and answer segment to entertain the attendees’ queries in line with discipleship. Several questions were raised during the Q&A segment, including matters on disciples’ faithfulness as well as dealing with former LGBTQ+ members.

Right after the Q&A, River of God officially launched the ROG smartphone application. Developed by a team led by our very own Andrea Parrocha, the app works to consolidate all materials applicable to discipleship. Users may also use the app to access upcoming ROG events and classes, worship albums, photos, articles, and even a directory for all affiliate churches across the Philippines. The app is now available for download via Google Play and the App Store.

Ps. Greeko Villanueva wrapped up the event by commissioning the first batch of interns for the year 2021. He ministered to the newly commissioned leaders and prayed for their success in their endeavours as disciplers and stewards of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I grew up in a Catholic home. My family would often take me to church every Sunday, while my mom taught me the fundamentals of Catholic faith. At a very young age, I've had an idea who God is and what Jesus did. I even competed in Bible quiz bees and joined the campus ministry.

Amid my Biblical knowledge, I never really got to know God, at least on a personal level.

I never really felt the love of God like how Christians did back in the day. Perhaps because I tend to magnify our family's issues rather than looking at God's direction. I even blamed the Lord at one point for all the misfortunes we've had when I was a kid.
I never really knew God back then.

During my collegiate days, I learned to become more liberal with my insights. I acquired a very secular lifestyle and perspective in life, thanks to the people I met in school. While I fairly succeeded with my academic endeavors (and failed in some aspects), I was totally distant from my Catholic roots. I didn't even bother to pray a single day during those years.
I never really knew God back then.

After college, I found myself drifting from one job to another. I was a sales manager, a layout artist, an associate editor, and a trainer. I never knew my purpose because I was narrowly fixated on the idea of earning money. My career zeal slowly dissipated. I even got to various vices and tried occult for a while. I wasn't happy and I've had a pretty skewed purview when it comes to relationships.
I never really knew God back then.

I remember that moment when I got really drunk out of depression during an out-of-town trip. I relied on alcohol alone to wash off all the frustrations I've felt that night. I initially thought that it will help fix my emotions, but things certainly got worse. After puking a whole lot and getting sick the following day, I've had an epiphany. This kind of lifestyle had to end. The week after, I promised myself that I will veer away from all these vices and focus on becoming better, which I did. I became active in running and quit alcoholism altogether. While I slowly got my life back on track, I never really acquired any semblance of true joy.

Fortunately, God led me to meet an old friend of mine at a lifestyle event. She introduced me to her then-boyfriend, who eventually became my discipler. He prayed for me and taught about our Lord's great love for us. I felt truly happy, because I never experienced being prayed for the past few years. I only relied on myself, and nothing more.

On my way home, I decided to turn away from my old life. That isn't the kind of life God intended for me. It took me long enough to come across that realization, and once I truly did, I was invited by my future discipler to join a lifegroup. I was desperate more than ever to reconnect with God, and I immediately said yes. Through our Bible studies, I slowly realized all the mistakes I've had in the past and felt the outpouring of love from our Lord. I even began watching preachings and doing personal devotions during my free time.

Little by little, I get to know God. My relationship with the Lord has been restored anew, and I have never been this joyful. While I regret all the years I've wasted, I learned through the Lord that he simply leveraged those dark times to steer me back to Him.

As the Apostle Paul puts it, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 ESV.

If you feel like you're stuck in your situation and living an aimless life, let me tell you: your story isn't over. God has something better in store for you, and He will always lay in wait to embrace you in His arms once again.The events in your life are meant not to drive you towards evil, but to lead you straight to your true path.

Try Jesus. There's true joy when you dwell in His shadow.

Scientifically, it is a common knowledge that food is essential to every human body; for without food, our body weakens, and if our body weakens, we slowly die. In other words, we need food to survive. Similarly, just as we feed our bodies with physical food, we also need discipleship to feed the spirit. In fact, engaging in discipleship does not only condition one spiritually, but holistically: physically, emotionally, mentally, and psychologically among many others.

       

EVANGELISM – Evangelism, by definition, is the act of sharing the gospel, especially to those who are lost, and who has not known Jesus Christ yet. Evangelism may take place anywhere; whether it be in the workplace, in the university, or even just along the streets as sharing God’s word is not restricted in specific places.
 
“Before, I was just no one--literally no one. I do know God during those times, but I do not know him in depth, but one day, I joined an outreach and eventually joined the discipleship that also took place during that time, then my life started to change. Essentially, discipleship helped in many ways not just spiritually, but it has also helped me be more accountable.”
                                                          - Eugene Manahan, 17, Student from San Juan National High School

FOLLOW-UP - After evangelizing and having met all the people one has shared the word with, the next act is to constantly check on them. Checking on them will pave the way for the establishment of one’s relationship with the people, which in effect would further help one to draw these people near to God. Follow up is basically ensuring that the people whom one has met will be literally “followed up,” letting them realize that they are welcome in the loving arms of God, that despite what they’ve done and who they are, they are welcome and that they belong.

“I felt like I matter, because someone checks on me. I feel that follow ups make me more important and that I matter to my spiritual family, and it just feels good to be remembered and loved.
                                   - Kyle Vincent Andrada, 19, Student from Polytechnic University of the Philippines

TEACHING – After one has been followed up, the next step is to teach the people biblical knowledge, enriching their foundation in faith through the word of God. On the other side of evangelizing, teaching is focused on elaborating more about the scripture so that one may grow in maturity biblically. This is to establish the truth amongst the people--instilling in them the difference of right and wrong in the real world and in the word of God, so that people may realize that sometimes, what the world considers right may be deemed by God wrong.

“It helps us to grow up in the presence of Jesus until we can be ready to spread his word. Also, the bible enlightens us by correcting our flaws by developing us into the Christ-like image,”
                                                                       - Ervin P. Villanueva, 18, Student from Golden Faith Academy
 
BUILDING RELATIONSHIP – As the phrase suggests, this stage is the act of building relationships with the people by being with them, always; whether it be in their saddest times, or in their happiest ones--in all their moments one could possibly be in. Many are thankful for being part of a discipleship group because through the relationship they have established with their group, they are able to share all the events in their lives.

“The benefit of belonging in a discipleship group is having a family to share one’s happenings in life and not be condemned for the problems one had faced. Instead, they even help you get through it and be the best person I can be.”
                                       - Christian Abillon, 17, Student from Technological Institute of the Philippines

       

Yes! Definitely. Discipleship is conducive to a better life because it helps us understand the teachings of God. It enables us to see the world through God’s eyes, hear people’s needs through God’s ears, and understand others through God’s heart. Discipleship does not only contain mere words of encouragement, but it undoubtedly changes lives; from a sinner to a believer, from who you were to who you are now in Christ. With all the problems our world faces today, people now more than ever need evangelists like you to give them hope that despite what one is facing, God is able--to love you, to help you, and to be with you in every step of the way.

       

I, too, have undergone each and every stage; from evangelizing to building relationships. And now, as I look back, truly so much has changed about me. However, honestly, from time to time I forget the Lord’s teachings, but then again, that is the purpose of discipleship--to remind us of the real reason why we live: to give him praise, honor him, and spread his word to save more people who have lost their way and draw them back again in the loving arms of the father.
                                                                                          - Paolo Manalac, 17, Student from De La Salle University

“I found companionship on discipleship.”
                                                                                         - Catherine G. Daniel, 24, Accountant, Manila, PH
 
“Discipleship taught me to trust people. It also taught me that I can be trusted by them. Real friends are found in discipleship.”
                                                                                          - Claricel L. Flores, 25, Associate R&D Engineer, Yokohama, JP

“The environment or the people around you affect your pursuit with God, sometimes its slows you down sometimes it create more fun. Discipleship creates an environment that won’t make you lonely at this journey and make your steps one step closer to your calling. Discipleship creates belongingness of your true identity.”
                                                                                         - Lance A. Traigo, 28, Software Engineer, Manila PH