The Trip to the Philippines, April 2009

Greetings to you again, in the most precious name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. It is with joy and deep respect for the things that are laid up before us, that we again are starting on a journey overseas, serving the Lord to the best of our knowledge. We don't know to the full extent what is laid up before us, only that there is a great desire in the people here in the Philippines to see the hand of the Lord in operation on a regular basis. That is truly reflected in their hearts through a daily devotion of prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord. It is said in God's Word; 'Ask and it shall be given'. I am told that there have been sessions of prayers almost every day in Church; for months now. It is a deep concern for a spiritual up building for this last generation. This world is coming apart now. Financial as well as spiritual downfall; is shown on every level. The Church is in desperate need of Spiritual guidance. It will take nothing less than an involvement; with all our hearts to stay right with God, and to listen to His voice for further information and directions for the final summit of this dispensation.

We have received a wonderful truth for this hour. There have been devoted spiritual people who have walked the mile before us. They have shown a special example in conduct and behaviour, and that should set a standard for every Christian to day; in how to press on for the future events. One thing though, is that none of us can take their example, and just copy it down for our own use. We can read our Bible and study about the conduct of every believer, and even have the greatest desire to copy their example, and still not be able to please our Lord in our efforts to walk with Him. He doesn't want any copies. He just made originals. Before the foundation of the World, when He created us, He spread us out on His spiritual time chart, and He measured out every challenge and trial that we would ever meet in this world. He looked through every angel of challenge that we would face, and He designed us to be able to meet all the pressure from this world; that would ever come our way. We are created in Him, to overcome in this world.

(Eph.1:3-11) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

You may ask, 'Are we really created for that purpose, and then; what about the idea of the free will?' Well the free will is still there, we can choose to do His will, and we can also deny Him and go our own way. That is also the wisdom of God. His predestination is based on fore knowledge.

(Rom.8:27-30) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestine, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Some times our frail mind does have a problem with understanding God's overall purpose in everything. In some Scriptures of the Bible; your mind may be guided towards a certain way of understanding, and then; at other times it may look differently. But God's purpose is still to make us overcome in this world, so that we can fulfil His great plan for the eternal age that is to come.

(2 Pet.3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Spiritual walk can only be understood by Spiritual minds. When Jesus spoke to the people of His hour, they often ended up in misunderstanding his sayings. Most people just wanted to find an easy solution for their own gain. They pressured the Master with different questions. They did not really want to walk in truth. They just wanted an easy way out of their problems. In many cases the lord did not even rebuke them. He just said. 'Not every one understand these things, only the ones to whom it is given.

(Matt 19:11) But he said unto them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given.

If something is too hard to understand for someone, then their responsibilities are also limited. Another thing is; when things are understood, and not received.

(Matt 21:24-27) And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

These things are telling us that we can manipulate situations, to make it sound right, even when it is not the proper thing to do. God sees our motives, and we cannot fool Him. This brings me to the thought that I am starting on here in the Philippines. 'How do I judge others' It is a theme in where it is a warning, and also a comfort. It is a warning to us; in not being so judgmental towards others. Remember, they may not have the light in the Scriptures that the Lord has given you. And even if things look easy to understand on your behalf, it may not be as easy for another to se eye to eye with you; on the same matter. God is the only one who understands the heart of a person, and He is the only one who knows what a man really sees. When Jesus walked around in his day, the Scripture says:

(John 2:24-25) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men], And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

It was necessary for Him, to have the Father showing him every thing he needed to know.

(John 5:19-20) Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

When I started out for the Lord, I had no concept of understanding spiritual walk. I did not know how to please Him. But when He spoke to me, I felt I had to do exactly what He told me to do. I did not understand anything about the Spiritual world, but realised that there is one, after He revealed Himself to me. I bought a Bible and started reading. Everything I read and understood; started coming out from that Bible, and it challenged me to take action. I know there a lots of people who have studied the Word of God their whole life, and they have also developed an understanding on how to walk with the Master. But when it comes to the things you feel the Lord is inspiring you to do, then it is your solemn responsibility to take action towards the thing He tells you to do.

The Prophets of the Bible were also just ordinary men. Then suddenly; The Lord started speaking to them, and their responsibility was to bring out what ever the Lord told them to do. But there were other priests and prophets in their midst, like what you would read in Jeremiah 26, and a lot of other places in the Bible, but the real prophet were challenging anyone; based on what they felt the Lord was inspiring them to say; and to do. The other men threatened to take their lives, and some of Gods messengers were actually killed. But they stood their ground and was not afraid to bring the message that the Lord gave them. What ever the Lord gave them, that they understood, was their solemn responsibility to bring out. They could be killed for it, but their spiritual life and conduct was depending upon it. They did not want anyone else?s blood on their hands.

It is like you would read in (Heb.11:35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. They had a vivid and real faith in a better resurrection. They were working for the new world to come, in which mortality and shortcomings would be done away with. They were pressing on for the perfect age to come. If we are going to stand our ground to day, we need the same type of revelation in our lives. There may be other priests and prophets in this hour, who could go against the things you see; and are opposing the things that you are told to bring out. They may even threaten to take your life. May be not literally, but at least kill off your reputation, so that everyone else would be afraid to look you way. That is the part of life you just have to count on, and even accept. But if you have the message from above, then you will just go on smiling and keep praying for them.

I cannot judge others based on; what I think God has revealed to them. I just don?t know what God has revealed to them. And if they don?t see it, then who am I; to condemn their ways and actions. We have to let God be the judge there. The main thing though; is for you and me to do exactly what God told us to do. If we see something that the lord want us to do; and to stand for, then it is our responsibility to do it, no matter what other people may say. We cannot get mad at them for not understanding our walk with God. If God really want them to see what you got from Him, then He will have to reveal it to them also. When two people are walking together in unity, it is because God has given them the same revelation; on the same level. Then they won?t have any problem understanding each other.

If every person only had one agenda, and that was to uplift the name of the Lord, and to live Christ like in every angel of life, then we would not have many disputes and quarrels among us. The problem comes when personal feelings and mortal hang-ups want to blend in with spiritual walk. Suspiciousness is a pathway to destruction, and it has destroyed a lot of people over the years. Just think about King Saul in the Bible. He was afraid to stand on the message that Samuel brought to him from the Lord. He was more serious about making friends around him, than to stay steadfast on the things that the Lord had manifested before him. When God finally did let him go because of it, then he got jealous; because of David's devotion towards the Lord. The rest of his life he used to try to get rid of David. What a pity to dedicate your life to try to get rid of someone, or to mare their image. (Prov.17:9) He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends. (Matt 1:19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

It is a fact that everyone just don?t see completely a like, or on the same level. God has just not revealed it to them. In Mattew 19, the Lord is saying. (Matt 19:11-12) But he said unto them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].

When I felt resistance from other groups of people, then it was at my liberty to take an attitude like anyone else. I could do like Saul; and get mad and jealous, and start to fight a war against my predators. But I could also take another example, and be like David. David had to run for his life several times, because of Saul's jealousy. But he never touched God?s anointed ones, even if they got mad at him. He just let God do the protection of his life, and left it to Him to anoint; and manifest the calling that was upon his life.

If God has given me something to rejoice about, something very valuable, a treasure worth living and dying for, then what resistance is there around me; that should be able take my joy and my crown of life away. (Rom.8:35-39) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Such a statement from the Scripture is very bold, but at the same time very true. This should be the aim and goal for our life. This is what brings the Devil on his knees, and it troubles him; in his efforts to destroy us. Why should we let him toss us around with his scam and his lies. He is not preparing himself for an eternal bliss. We are, and we will work humbly and hard to be able to get there. The time is short, so let us get to work. God bless you all.