Day 11: Exodus 36-40 and Leviticus 1-4

When too much becomes bad

Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more.

-        Exodus 36:6

Before I had many close friends and before I was given a ministry inside the church, people barely see me there. In fact, I’d only be seen in the center if its either Sunday or Friday, or for mentoring.  I didn’t like the idea of becoming a “tambay ng church” because not only that I hate idle time, i also hate going there for no reason and wait for not very important people. But then these past few months, the church has already been my second home. In fact, there is no day that I don’t go there even if we don’t count the Morning Prayer.

In other words, I have given much much of my time for the church, until it became wrong. People see me there every day now even when there’s nothing really that I should be doing there, at first I thought, “not that it’s a bad thing, right?”. But now God has revealed to me otherwise. I have given the church too much to the point that my time given there wasn’t useful anymore.

Command: Clear your purpose of making the church your second home

Warning: Too much can make you even more unproductive, thus can lead to destruction

Day 10: Exodus 29-35

Why is God a jealous God?

“Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.”

-        Exodus 20:23

This character of our god has always been confusing for some Christians; in fact, even those who have strong faith can’t always briefly explain this matter.

God, being a jealous God, actually compliments his character as a loving and merciful God.  It might not be as accurate as I imagine it to be but we can just put it this way. God and the enemy may have had a treaty where a person who worships anyone should be subject to whom or what it worships.

See, when Satan was named as the “king of the world”, it meant, anything that can be against the Lord is his’. For example, money, which is the common source of worship for pagans, happened to be under the enemy’s dominion. Thus, without further explanation, anyone who worship’s money is subject to the enemy and not to God.

Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.

-        Genesis 23:13

When God said that He was a jealous God, that meant He wanted you to be His’ and Him to be yours. It was actually an act of grace. Thus, with that thought, we must be very conscious of our priorities. Does God top it all? Is God always number 1 in your list or orders?

If we worship other people or things in this world other than Him, we deviate ourselves from god’s promises in life. But if we did receive God in our lives and prioritize Him over all, then, we receive His grace every day.

“Worship the Lord you god, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry of be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”

-        Exodus 23:25-26

Why God does require us of offerings when He owns everything?

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.”

-        Exodus 25:1

God created this world, even man, of course God owns everything. Even our lives. But because of His love and Grace, He gave us possession of His creation. The best example for this is our own lives.

In business, anyone who created or innovated something is the presumed owner of such thing, unless it is further sold to someone else. God never sold His creation to anyone. Nevertheless, He appointed man to rule over His creation. But that didn’t mean we own them. We are merely the possessors. In more concrete term, we are just care takers of His creation.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

-        Genesis 2:15

In business law, we have this Disputable presumption that anyone who bears possession of a thing is the owner of the thing. But the beauty of law is seen here. This is only a Disputable presumption. Why? As my Law Reviewer said, the Law of State respects the Law of God. Thus, this being a disputable presumption, we therefore derive the fact that the possessor won’t necessarily be the owner.

Bottom line is, anything we have right now is not of our own ownership. We are merely possessors of it.

Now, to answer the question, why do God requires us to, as I may give it as a term, return to Him what he requires us to return? Does He need it? What will he do with it? Give it to the poor?

Answer:

God owns everything, He doesn’t need it. But we do. We need to give it to Him.

Why? Because He loves us.

How’s that a basis?

1.      To refrain ourselves from the warning of the above topic/question

2.      To make ourselves selfless and be more transparent and/or submissive to God

3.      To be even more blessed

Day 10: Exodus 29-35

Day 9: Exodus 20-28

Why is God a jealous God?

“Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.”

-        Exodus 20:23

This character of our god has always been confusing for some Christians; in fact, even those who have strong faith can’t always briefly explain this matter.

God, being a jealous God, actually compliments his character as a loving and merciful God.  It might not be as accurate as I imagine it to be but we can just put it this way. God and the enemy may have had a treaty where a person who worships anyone should be subject to whom or what it worships.

See, when Satan was named as the “king of the world”, it meant, anything that can be against the Lord is his’. For example, money, which is the common source of worship for pagans, happened to be under the enemy’s dominion. Thus, without further explanation, anyone who worship’s money is subject to the enemy and not to God.

Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.

-        Genesis 23:13

When God said that He was a jealous God, that meant He wanted you to be His’ and Him to be yours. It was actually an act of grace. Thus, with that thought, we must be very conscious of our priorities. Does God top it all? Is God always number 1 in your list or orders?

If we worship other people or things in this world other than Him, we deviate ourselves from god’s promises in life. But if we did receive God in our lives and prioritize Him over all, then, we receive His grace every day.

“Worship the Lord you god, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry of be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”

-        Exodus 23:25-26

Why God does require us of offerings when He owns everything?

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.”

-        Exodus 25:1

God created this world, even man, of course God owns everything. Even our lives. But because of His love and Grace, He gave us possession of His creation. The best example for this is our own lives.

In business, anyone who created or innovated something is the presumed owner of such thing, unless it is further sold to someone else. God never sold His creation to anyone. Nevertheless, He appointed man to rule over His creation. But that didn’t mean we own them. We are merely the possessors. In more concrete term, we are just care takers of His creation.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

-        Genesis 2:15

In business law, we have this Disputable presumption that anyone who bears possession of a thing is the owner of the thing. But the beauty of law is seen here. This is only a Disputable presumption. Why? As my Law Reviewer said, the Law of State respects the Law of God. Thus, this being a disputable presumption, we therefore derive the fact that the possessor won’t necessarily be the owner.

Bottom line is, anything we have right now is not of our own ownership. We are merely possessors of it.

Now, to answer the question, why do God requires us to, as I may give it as a term, return to Him what he requires us to return? Does He need it? What will he do with it? Give it to the poor?

Answer:

God owns everything, He doesn’t need it. But we do. We need to give it to Him.

Why? Because He loves us.

How’s that a basis?

1.      To refrain ourselves from the warning of the above topic/question

2.      To make ourselves selfless and be more transparent and/or submissive to God

3.      To be even more blessed

Day 8: Exodus 11-19

PSP (Past Is Past)

                    In the last wave of the 90 days of challenge, I have been so disgusted by the way the Israelites were thinking and doing despite all the miracle God has been giving them every day in their journey, but then I thought, isn’t this a common mindset? See, Jesus has already saved us from our sins in the past and lets us experience His grace everyday but why is it that many Christians still turn their back from the church and their ministry? It is because of the hardships brought by this journey. But if we are going to broaden even more our way of thinking things through, we can see how naïve and ridiculously childish our minds can be. How can we turn our back to a beautiful future the Lord has already in stored for us? How can we go back to our dark past when we can just face these obstacles along with God?

Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians”? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.

-        Exodus 14:12

                    Because as human beings, we get to be so imperfect that we tend to be selfish and insensitive before the Lord. There are times in our lives when we get to glorify ourselves and other things other than God. Thus, what happens in the end is unavoidable. We still turn to our past even when God gives us a brighter future. But of course this is not an excuse. Our incapability and imperfections can never be an excused. Why? Because God sent His Son, Jesus Christ in this world not just to save us from our sins but also to be our model on how we must live as disciples. So what did God tell us to do?

1.      TRUST GOD

Moses answered the people “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

-        Exodus 14:13

A lot of obstacles may come our way during our lifetime as disciples. There will be temptations, there will be oppressions by this world but at the end of the line, we must always know in heart that the whole time, the Lord will deliver us to our own promise land.

He will help us be accepted by those people who reject our invitations.

He will give us hope even when this world rejects us.

He will accept us even when this world abandons us.

He will help us grow even when this world stops us.

He will protect us when the whole world is after us.

As the scripture says, “Anyone who trusts him will never be put to shame.”

-        Romans 10:11

2.    BE STILL

The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.

-        Exodus 14:14

We tend to be so anxious and panic most of the time when we are in trouble. Thing is, worry ends when faith begins. As a cell leader handling many young people in my group, every time I enter into slump in my personal life, I always tend to lose hope in my cell like I overwhelm my heart too much with my problems as turn away for some time from my responsibilities to these young girls. But that act alone is very much like an insult to God, not only that I didn’t trust Him, I also left out the responsibility He has entrusted to me.

God puts us in such a place, in such a situation which He knows we can handle, where such situation can mold us into becoming the better versions of our selves. And the best part of the whole battle that we are taking with the Lord is that, while we are working for Him, He fights for us. He never lets anything that brings us pain not be a part of our growth. He’d never contaminate our training as His children. Everything happens for a reason. Thus, any schemes of the enemy cannot affect us anymore because the Lord who created us protects us with His grace. That alone is our only and strongest weapon. Thus, we literally have no right to be afraid.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba , Father.”

-        Romans 8:15

3.    MOVE ON

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”

-        Exodus 14:15

Note to self:

Carry on with what you’re doing with God. This ministry, this responsibility, this truth that God has given you is all you have for you to live a life of righteousness. There’s no point of going back and being a slave again. God created you to be free. And in truth there is freedom. Thus, you can never deviate yourself from it. Live as if you past is buried down to the deepest oceans where you can’t find it. Learn from your past but never live in it. Remember, you were made a new in the presence of God. And if you continue on this great work, unlike Moses who only had a glimpse of the promise land because of self righteousness, you will have your promise land as long as you trust in Him and go on with this journey. God loves you, thus, carry on. Move on already.

Day 7: Exodus 2-7

What insecurity does

The Lord said to him, “Who gave men his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

-        Exodus 4:11-12

Moses was so full of insecurities at first. In fact, he’s always been doubtful of himself of why the Lord has chosen him. Moses was glorifying his imperfections before serving the Lord.

I have always been praying to God about forming my 12, and now that the Lord has seen me prepared for this, He is already putting a lot of people in my cell. At first I was confident that I might be able to complete my 12 sooner but now that I have been becoming more insecure and more conscious of myself, I feel like I’m losing confidence as a cell leader.

I’m not as good as my other sisters. I’m not as anointed as my leader wanted me to be. I’m not always available to my ministry. I am not 100% committed as a church leader. Also, the different situations of my cell members have kept me thinking that I might not be able to handle them to the process.

This evening, my spiritual mother told me, “Anong meron kay Kuya Ji at kay David na wala ka?”. If only I concentrated much on what she said and I wasn’t feeling physically bad, I would have cried that time. I feel like I lost all the confidence I had since I started handling my UC cell members. But God revealed to me another thing tonight. My reason for my inconsistency about my UC cell members was their different situations. That which most of them have their own churches on Sundays, some made their Sundays their family and rest days but then I thought, I might have spoken the same things as Moses did. See, the Lord was the one who has given me these young people. It was not out of my own will or my own plan. I never really thought that someone like Rhieca would be my cell member who would even turn out to be a great soul winner.

God has chosen Moses to lead the Israelites because it was HIS plan. Moses never wanted to go back to Egypt anyway, but still God has chosen him. Same thing with me, God chose me for the lives of these young people. Thus if I doubt myself, I doubt God.

Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

-        Exodus 6:9

Discouragement is truly bondage. I plan on completing my 12 on these 90 days of challenge because I believe the Lord has great plans after I pass my board exam. I don’t WANT to complete my 12, I NEED to complete my 12 and nothing must stop me, not my insecurities, not my in capabilities, not other people, not even my own will because I believe that this is my destiny.

Day 6: Genesis 45-50 and Exodus 1

Baguio City, the promise land

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by great deliverance

-        Genesis 45:7

I will be a CPA this October 2014. What happens next? Will I find a job here in Baguio where I can earn enough to pursue my studies in law? Won’t I need more experiences to qualify to that position that I want to earn enough for my family? What happens to my ministry after? Will I be able to serve God as I do now even when these things come to me?

I know not of His plans in my life but I am very excited about them. But one option has been ringing in my ear tonight. It might be necessary for me to move to some other place for awhile.

I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.

-        Genesis 46:4

At the start of Exodus, the Israelites multiplied in Egypt after many generations had passed Joseph’s death and his other brothers.  Did God plan the oppression that happened to the Israelites upon bringing them to Egypt?

So here’s what happen here. God planned the great famine that affected Canaan and so He made Joseph be in authority in Egypt to save the Israelites from this famine and adopt them. But their moving to another foreign land made them not only foreign to their own land (which was written in like, 3 books in the old testament regarding their journey back to the Promise land), but also, many generations of Israel has been greatly oppressed and harassed by the Egyptians. Come to think of it, Why did God allowed all these to happen?

1.     God  wanted to save the first generation

Why? Because if God left them in that famine in Jacob’s time, the Israelites wouldn’t survive it and die as one generation alone.

2.     God wanted the Israelites to multiply

… but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

-        Exodus 1:7

If the Israelites were stuck in Canaan and did not move to Egypt, they would’ve not multiplied greatly in Egypt.

3.     God was molding His people to be strong in faith

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.

-        Exodus 1:12

I’ve always wondered about God making the Israelites His chosen people. Why not the Asians? Or the Americans? Why of all people, the Israelites? Because this is the nation that has been tested by the Lord for many years in Exodus. Upon reading the rest of the chapters, we can really see how many times the Israelites has been tested in their faith. Some committed idolatry, some didn’t submit to God. In other words, God Himself oppressed the Israelites to make them strong. I believe that those who didn’t make it until the end were the ones who had issues with their faith. Moses (in the latter chapters) were even one of them.

In our generation today, indeed many were called but few were chosen. Why? Because although many of us call ourselves as “Christians” (Israelites), not all can finish the race, in fact, not all are in the race, in the battle, in the war. God showed us how He moved in the nation of Israel to show us how strong and prepared we have to be for the great tests of Faith that will come to us.

But God’s promise has always been there. He is with us and he will bring us to the Promise Land.