Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“God called to him . And he said, ‘Here I am’ ” (Exodus 3:4).
When God speaks, many of us are like people in a San Francisco fog, and we give no answer. Moses’ answer to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready.
Yesterday's blog, we talked about being ready to serve Him. Today, we will talk about the state of readiness. Readiness means having a right relationship with God and having the knowledge of where we are in life.
Because sometimes we get so busy telling God where we would like to go. Yet the man or woman who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the call comes.
A lot of us wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be coming our way, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, “Here I am.” Whenever we sense that Jesus Christ is about to take authority over some great task, we cry out, but we are not spiritually ready for the duty.
Readiness for God means that we are prepared all the time to do the smallest thing or the largest thing—it makes no difference.
It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans are, we are there and ready.
Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God’s voice as our Lord heard His Father’s voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him.
Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can place us wherever He wants, in major duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him should be the same as His union with the Father. “ that they may be one just as We are one ” (John 17:22).
Christians should be ready everytime for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready, because he is ready.
The burning bush Moses encountered in (Exodus 3:2) is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, it is on fire with the directions of God and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Be Ready!
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Many of us suffer from the tendency to “be ready” only “out of season.” The season does not refer to time; it refers to us. This verse says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, we should “be ready” in all seasons whether we feel like it or not.
If we do only what we feel good to do, some of us would never do anything. There are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually lacking and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired, like receiving some kind of divine spiritual intervention from above.
The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our very best whether we feel inspired or not. We serve Him regardless of your current situation. One of the worst traps a Christian can fall into is to become obsessed with his own moments of inspiration.
When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, “Now that I’ve experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God.” No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the spiritual gift's of God.
You cannot give them to yourself when you choose or want. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become a burden on Him.
You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times.
If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that your are serving your own best moments and God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed for you to do, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those moments He has given you.
So, be ready in all seasons because God needs you to preach His truths for we live in times when, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" (2 Timothy 4:3) God needs you to, “Be ready in season and out of season”
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Many of us suffer from the tendency to “be ready” only “out of season.” The season does not refer to time; it refers to us. This verse says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, we should “be ready” in all seasons whether we feel like it or not.
If we do only what we feel good to do, some of us would never do anything. There are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually lacking and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired, like receiving some kind of divine spiritual intervention from above.
The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our very best whether we feel inspired or not. We serve Him regardless of your current situation. One of the worst traps a Christian can fall into is to become obsessed with his own moments of inspiration.
When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, “Now that I’ve experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God.” No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the spiritual gift's of God.
You cannot give them to yourself when you choose or want. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become a burden on Him.
You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times.
If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that your are serving your own best moments and God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed for you to do, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those moments He has given you.
So, be ready in all seasons because God needs you to preach His truths for we live in times when, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" (2 Timothy 4:3) God needs you to, “Be ready in season and out of season”
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Promise
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go”
(Jeremiah 45:5).
This is the firm and solid secret of the Lord to those who trust Him—“I will give your life to you .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the most essential thing. “ your life as a prize ” means that wherever you go, even if it is into the most hellish place, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it.
So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and material possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go and be put aside.
There is something greater that can never go—the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally letting go and let God? The true test of surrender is in our refusing to say, “Well, what about this?”
Beware of your own ideas and speculations of this question. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender to Him, you will no longer think about what God is going to do, but what you can do to serve Him.
Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize.” The reason some people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything—they have not been given their life “as a prize.”
The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. Every morning when I get up, I thank God for even allowing me to wake up and breath the air another day. Once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most thankful and delightedly humbled person on earth.
God will honor you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go”
(Jeremiah 45:5).
This is the firm and solid secret of the Lord to those who trust Him—“I will give your life to you .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the most essential thing. “ your life as a prize ” means that wherever you go, even if it is into the most hellish place, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it.
So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and material possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go and be put aside.
There is something greater that can never go—the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally letting go and let God? The true test of surrender is in our refusing to say, “Well, what about this?”
Beware of your own ideas and speculations of this question. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender to Him, you will no longer think about what God is going to do, but what you can do to serve Him.
Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize.” The reason some people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything—they have not been given their life “as a prize.”
The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. Every morning when I get up, I thank God for even allowing me to wake up and breath the air another day. Once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most thankful and delightedly humbled person on earth.
God will honor you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Supreme Test
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“Take now your son and offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2).
I firstly, am in awe, and greatly humbled by the support our readers have shown in our requested need of prayers for our son, who is suffering from stage 4 Sarcoma cancer. When I reflect upon our ministry, I sometimes feel like Abraham in that my time is so involved in sharing God's Word, that I am sacrificing time I should spend on my son.
But I believe in the goodness and promise's of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
A person’s character determines how he interprets God’s will (see Psalm 18:25–26). Abraham interpreted God’s command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of this heart wrenching ordeal.
God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him.
There are many such beliefs which must be removed—for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil’s lie and a travesty on the true nature of God!
If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme test and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.
The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God, despite his love for his son. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience.
Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic.
If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Having stage 4 cancer in traditional or conventional belief is a walk down death row, which most people walk unknowingly.
I believe in the miracles of God and I believe in miracle healing's through the power of intercessory prayers, lifestyle changes and a good wholesome healthy non-animal fat diet.
God did not create our bodies to fall apart, but rather miraculously heal itself when injured. There are simple principles of God's original diet intent for man for example that can build our immune system, but we have so neglected that we have instead eaten food's that feeds cancer and all other sickness.
He said in (Genesis 1:29) "I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." A simple plant based diet that can heal our illnesses. No chemotherapy, no radiation, no surgeries, and no amputations.
Like Abraham when face with the choices, don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement—he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith and saved his son.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“Take now your son and offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2).
I firstly, am in awe, and greatly humbled by the support our readers have shown in our requested need of prayers for our son, who is suffering from stage 4 Sarcoma cancer. When I reflect upon our ministry, I sometimes feel like Abraham in that my time is so involved in sharing God's Word, that I am sacrificing time I should spend on my son.
But I believe in the goodness and promise's of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
A person’s character determines how he interprets God’s will (see Psalm 18:25–26). Abraham interpreted God’s command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of this heart wrenching ordeal.
God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him.
There are many such beliefs which must be removed—for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil’s lie and a travesty on the true nature of God!
If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme test and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.
The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God, despite his love for his son. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience.
Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic.
If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Having stage 4 cancer in traditional or conventional belief is a walk down death row, which most people walk unknowingly.
I believe in the miracles of God and I believe in miracle healing's through the power of intercessory prayers, lifestyle changes and a good wholesome healthy non-animal fat diet.
God did not create our bodies to fall apart, but rather miraculously heal itself when injured. There are simple principles of God's original diet intent for man for example that can build our immune system, but we have so neglected that we have instead eaten food's that feeds cancer and all other sickness.
He said in (Genesis 1:29) "I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." A simple plant based diet that can heal our illnesses. No chemotherapy, no radiation, no surgeries, and no amputations.
Like Abraham when face with the choices, don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement—he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith and saved his son.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Please Pray For Our Sick
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma leaso
"the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15)
Our son Tuito'o was diagnosed earlier this year with stage 4 "Sarcoma Cancer".
It is a soft tissue bone cancer with a football size tumor pushing up against his spine, that is too critically near for surgery or radiation to remove. His only hope, the doctors says, is for the tumor to be reduced to the point where it can then be surgically removed.
There is no higher comparable threshold of pain you feel in your heart and crushing blow to your faith as parents, then to be tested when illness becomes your children. Knowing the painful suffering they are going through, while feeling inadequately, hopelessly unable to relieve his pain.
As people of faith, we must hold firmly to the belief that the same God who healed in Bible times, can do it again in our times. We Christians must believe that Christ is the same compassionate physician now as He was during His earthly ministry. In Him there is healing for every disease, restoring power for every withering body. Uplifting of every damaged spirit and restoring of every faith.
His disciples in modern times are to pray for the sick as surely as the disciples of old. And as in the past, recoveries will follow; for the bible says, "the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15)
We have been given freely the Holy Spirit's power, the calm assurance of faith, that can claim God's promises. The Lord's promise, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18), is just as trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles.
It represents the honorable privilege given to God's children, and remember that our faith should lay hold of all that it embraces. Christ's faithful servants are the channel of His working, and through believers, He desires to exercise His healing power.
It is our work to present the sick and suffering to God in the arms of our faithful and sincere prayers. We should teach our sick and loved ones to believe in the Great Healer.
The Saviour requires us to encourage the sick, the hopeless, the afflicted, to take hold upon His strength. Reach for His loving hand of mercy.
Through faith and prayer in any sickroom, it can be transformed into a Chapel (house of prayer). In word and deed, physicians and nurses may say, so plainly that it cannot be misunderstood, "God is in this place" to save, and not to destroy.
A great writer once said that, "Christ desires to manifest His presence in the sickroom, filling the hearts of physicians and nurses with the sweetness of His love. If the life of the attendants upon the sick is such that Christ can go with them to the bedside of the patient, there will come to him the conviction that the compassionate Saviour is present, and this conviction will itself do much for the healing of both the soul and the body." (EGW)
And yes, God does hear our prayers. Christ has said, "If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Again He says, "If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." (John 14:14; 12: 26) If we live according to His word, every precious promise will be fulfilled.
He has given all to be fulfilled in us. We are undeserving of His mercy, but as we give ourselves to Him, He receives us. He will work for and through those who follow Him. Jesus says, "...thy faith hath made thee whole..." Please remember our son, Tuitoo G. Anoa'i in your prayers.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15)
Our son Tuito'o was diagnosed earlier this year with stage 4 "Sarcoma Cancer".
It is a soft tissue bone cancer with a football size tumor pushing up against his spine, that is too critically near for surgery or radiation to remove. His only hope, the doctors says, is for the tumor to be reduced to the point where it can then be surgically removed.
There is no higher comparable threshold of pain you feel in your heart and crushing blow to your faith as parents, then to be tested when illness becomes your children. Knowing the painful suffering they are going through, while feeling inadequately, hopelessly unable to relieve his pain.
As people of faith, we must hold firmly to the belief that the same God who healed in Bible times, can do it again in our times. We Christians must believe that Christ is the same compassionate physician now as He was during His earthly ministry. In Him there is healing for every disease, restoring power for every withering body. Uplifting of every damaged spirit and restoring of every faith.
His disciples in modern times are to pray for the sick as surely as the disciples of old. And as in the past, recoveries will follow; for the bible says, "the prayer of faith shall save the sick." (James 5:15)
We have been given freely the Holy Spirit's power, the calm assurance of faith, that can claim God's promises. The Lord's promise, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18), is just as trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles.
It represents the honorable privilege given to God's children, and remember that our faith should lay hold of all that it embraces. Christ's faithful servants are the channel of His working, and through believers, He desires to exercise His healing power.
It is our work to present the sick and suffering to God in the arms of our faithful and sincere prayers. We should teach our sick and loved ones to believe in the Great Healer.
The Saviour requires us to encourage the sick, the hopeless, the afflicted, to take hold upon His strength. Reach for His loving hand of mercy.
Through faith and prayer in any sickroom, it can be transformed into a Chapel (house of prayer). In word and deed, physicians and nurses may say, so plainly that it cannot be misunderstood, "God is in this place" to save, and not to destroy.
A great writer once said that, "Christ desires to manifest His presence in the sickroom, filling the hearts of physicians and nurses with the sweetness of His love. If the life of the attendants upon the sick is such that Christ can go with them to the bedside of the patient, there will come to him the conviction that the compassionate Saviour is present, and this conviction will itself do much for the healing of both the soul and the body." (EGW)
And yes, God does hear our prayers. Christ has said, "If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Again He says, "If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." (John 14:14; 12: 26) If we live according to His word, every precious promise will be fulfilled.
He has given all to be fulfilled in us. We are undeserving of His mercy, but as we give ourselves to Him, He receives us. He will work for and through those who follow Him. Jesus says, "...thy faith hath made thee whole..." Please remember our son, Tuitoo G. Anoa'i in your prayers.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Monday, April 25, 2011
What Do You Want?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“Do you seek great things for yourself?” (Jeremiah 45:5).
Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts—He wants you to get to know Him.
Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you.
If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms.
You protest, saying, “I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected.” And instantly God puts His finger on the reason—you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you ” (Matthew 7:7).
Ask God for what you want and do not worry about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether.
“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him.
Are you seeking great things for yourself? Have you said, “Oh, Lord, completely fill me with your Holy Spirit”?
If God does not, it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him; there is something you still refuse to do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it?
God always ignores your present level of completeness in favor of your ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfection for you—“ that they may be one just as We are one ” (John 17:22).
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“Do you seek great things for yourself?” (Jeremiah 45:5).
Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts—He wants you to get to know Him.
Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you.
If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms.
You protest, saying, “I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected.” And instantly God puts His finger on the reason—you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you ” (Matthew 7:7).
Ask God for what you want and do not worry about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether.
“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him.
Are you seeking great things for yourself? Have you said, “Oh, Lord, completely fill me with your Holy Spirit”?
If God does not, it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him; there is something you still refuse to do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it?
God always ignores your present level of completeness in favor of your ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfection for you—“ that they may be one just as We are one ” (John 17:22).
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Sunday, April 24, 2011
What’s Going On?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? (Luke 24:18)
The question is interesting for Jesus was the only one who knew what was going on here.
Pilate Didn’t Know What Was Happening. To him Jesus was only another trouble-maker to be gotten out of the way. He had his doubts, though. He asked Jesus, “Are you a King?”
He did have guards to stand watch over the tomb to make it secure as they could (Matthew 27:62-65). But Pilate had no idea he was sending to the cross the Savior of the world.
Herod Didn’t Know What Was Happening either. He thought he was getting rid of a rival and a troublemaker. He didn’t know that he can never get rid of Jesus. He thought his puny little guards could keep Jesus in the tomb. He didn’t know it was impossible to keep Jesus in the tomb.
The Women Didn’t Know What Was Happening. If they had, they won't have wasted money buying spices to embalm Him (Mark 16:1). If they had known, they would not have worried about rolling away the stone from the opening to the tomb (Mark 16:3).
If they had known, Mary would not have been weeping (John 20:11). If they had, Mary Magdalene would not have said, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him” (John 20:13).
The Disciples Didn’t Know What Was Happening either. To some, faith was now finished. The two in our opening text put their faith in the past tense; “We had hoped,” they said. To others faith was only fairytale. When the apostles heard of the resurrection the story “seemed to them like nonsense” and they did not believe (Luke 24:11).
We Often Do Not Know What Happened Here. Most of us don’t know that His resurrection gives assurance of the judgment (Acts 17:31). We don’t realize that His resurrection gives assurance of the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Most of us don’t realize that His resurrection gives us our only hope (1 Corinthians 15:18, 19).
In this morning blog text, the One who knew helped those who didn’t know by
(1) teaching them the Scripture,
(2) walking along the way in fellowship with them, and
(3) by breaking bread with them.
Today we come to faith through Scripture (Romans 10:17) just as they did long ago. Today our faith is confirmed in the breaking of the bread (Communion).
Today Our faith is completed when we walk in fellowship with Him. Then by His Grace alone, we will finally know whats going on.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? (Luke 24:18)
The question is interesting for Jesus was the only one who knew what was going on here.
Pilate Didn’t Know What Was Happening. To him Jesus was only another trouble-maker to be gotten out of the way. He had his doubts, though. He asked Jesus, “Are you a King?”
He did have guards to stand watch over the tomb to make it secure as they could (Matthew 27:62-65). But Pilate had no idea he was sending to the cross the Savior of the world.
Herod Didn’t Know What Was Happening either. He thought he was getting rid of a rival and a troublemaker. He didn’t know that he can never get rid of Jesus. He thought his puny little guards could keep Jesus in the tomb. He didn’t know it was impossible to keep Jesus in the tomb.
The Women Didn’t Know What Was Happening. If they had, they won't have wasted money buying spices to embalm Him (Mark 16:1). If they had known, they would not have worried about rolling away the stone from the opening to the tomb (Mark 16:3).
If they had known, Mary would not have been weeping (John 20:11). If they had, Mary Magdalene would not have said, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him” (John 20:13).
The Disciples Didn’t Know What Was Happening either. To some, faith was now finished. The two in our opening text put their faith in the past tense; “We had hoped,” they said. To others faith was only fairytale. When the apostles heard of the resurrection the story “seemed to them like nonsense” and they did not believe (Luke 24:11).
We Often Do Not Know What Happened Here. Most of us don’t know that His resurrection gives assurance of the judgment (Acts 17:31). We don’t realize that His resurrection gives assurance of the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Most of us don’t realize that His resurrection gives us our only hope (1 Corinthians 15:18, 19).
In this morning blog text, the One who knew helped those who didn’t know by
(1) teaching them the Scripture,
(2) walking along the way in fellowship with them, and
(3) by breaking bread with them.
Today we come to faith through Scripture (Romans 10:17) just as they did long ago. Today our faith is confirmed in the breaking of the bread (Communion).
Today Our faith is completed when we walk in fellowship with Him. Then by His Grace alone, we will finally know whats going on.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Uplifted Christ
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)
It is only a coincidence that our Lord was crucified on a hill. His death would have been just as effective if He had died in a valley. But his death on a hilltop is a very animated coincidence—and His death by crucifixion was no coincidence at all.
We Feel the Pull of the Cross. We are familiar with personal magnetism. There are those whom people are naturally drawn. There is a force in their personalities, but that is not what Jesus is talking about. We are familiar with the magnetism of influence.
People are drawn to power figures: political leaders, business leaders, physicians, preachers. That is not what Jesus is talking about. Jesus is talking about a spiritual magnetism that we experience every time we encounter the cross, whether in song, or sermon, picture, or thought.
Conversion occurs when people are drawn to Christ. It is not accomplished by driving people to Christ. It is not accomplished by luring people to Christ. It is only accomplished when they are led to Christ by their admiration of His character and unconditional love.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)
It is only a coincidence that our Lord was crucified on a hill. His death would have been just as effective if He had died in a valley. But his death on a hilltop is a very animated coincidence—and His death by crucifixion was no coincidence at all.
We Feel the Pull of the Cross. We are familiar with personal magnetism. There are those whom people are naturally drawn. There is a force in their personalities, but that is not what Jesus is talking about. We are familiar with the magnetism of influence.
People are drawn to power figures: political leaders, business leaders, physicians, preachers. That is not what Jesus is talking about. Jesus is talking about a spiritual magnetism that we experience every time we encounter the cross, whether in song, or sermon, picture, or thought.
Conversion occurs when people are drawn to Christ. It is not accomplished by driving people to Christ. It is not accomplished by luring people to Christ. It is only accomplished when they are led to Christ by their admiration of His character and unconditional love.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Light That Never Fails
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord ”
(2 Corinthians 3:18).
A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never realizes he is alone. In the early stages of the Christian walk, disappointments will come—people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away.
We have to get used to it that we will not even realize we are standing alone. Paul said, “ no one stood with me, but all forsook me . But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me ” (2 Timothy 4:16–17).
We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When “important” individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do—to look into the face of God for ourselves.
Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself and your doctrine. And every time you preach to people, make sure you look God in the face about the message first, then the glory will remain through all of it.
A Christian servant is one who habitually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to ministers to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware—“ Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34:29).
We are never called on to display our doubts openly or to express the hidden joys and delights of our life with God. The secret of the servant’s life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord ”
(2 Corinthians 3:18).
A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never realizes he is alone. In the early stages of the Christian walk, disappointments will come—people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away.
We have to get used to it that we will not even realize we are standing alone. Paul said, “ no one stood with me, but all forsook me . But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me ” (2 Timothy 4:16–17).
We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When “important” individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do—to look into the face of God for ourselves.
Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself and your doctrine. And every time you preach to people, make sure you look God in the face about the message first, then the glory will remain through all of it.
A Christian servant is one who habitually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to ministers to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware—“ Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34:29).
We are never called on to display our doubts openly or to express the hidden joys and delights of our life with God. The secret of the servant’s life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Monday, April 18, 2011
Is there a good end to all that is wrong in the world?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"There lived in the land of Uz a man named Job—a good man who feared God and stayed away from evil. (Job 1:1)
We can have faith in God’s goodness despite our circumstances. As we see calamity and suffering in the book of Job, we must remember that we live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished.
When we see a notorious criminals prospering or an innocent child in pain, we say, “That’s wrong with this picture?.” Sin has twisted justice and made our world seemingly unfair, unpredictable and ugly. You might even think the bad guys are winning.
The book of Job shows a good man suffering for no apparent fault of his own. Sadly, the reality of our world is like that. But Job’s story does not end in despair. It ends with victory.
Through Job’s life we can see that faith in God is justified even when our situations look hopeless. Faith based on rewards or prosperity is shallow.
To be unshakable like Job, faith must be built on the confidence that God’s ultimate purpose will come to pass. Despite the circumstances we find ourselves in, if we truly believe in God's will for us will come to pass, as in the story of Job, then God’s ultimate purpose will come to pass.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"There lived in the land of Uz a man named Job—a good man who feared God and stayed away from evil. (Job 1:1)
We can have faith in God’s goodness despite our circumstances. As we see calamity and suffering in the book of Job, we must remember that we live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished.
When we see a notorious criminals prospering or an innocent child in pain, we say, “That’s wrong with this picture?.” Sin has twisted justice and made our world seemingly unfair, unpredictable and ugly. You might even think the bad guys are winning.
The book of Job shows a good man suffering for no apparent fault of his own. Sadly, the reality of our world is like that. But Job’s story does not end in despair. It ends with victory.
Through Job’s life we can see that faith in God is justified even when our situations look hopeless. Faith based on rewards or prosperity is shallow.
To be unshakable like Job, faith must be built on the confidence that God’s ultimate purpose will come to pass. Despite the circumstances we find ourselves in, if we truly believe in God's will for us will come to pass, as in the story of Job, then God’s ultimate purpose will come to pass.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Sunday, April 17, 2011
From Bad to Good!
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“When Jesus heard that , he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” (John 11:4)
God’s ability to do good is not limited by our understanding. As their brother grew very sick, Mary and Martha turned to Jesus for help.
They believed in his ability to help because they had seen his miracles and he was a good friend of the family.
We too know of Jesus’ miracles, both from Scripture and through changed lives we have seen. When we need extraordinary help, Jesus offers extraordinary resources. We should not hesitate to ask him for assistance.
Any trial a believer faces can ultimately bring glory to God, because God can bring good out of any bad situation, just like Joseph. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
When trouble comes your way, do you stumble, complain, and blame God, or do you (like Joseph) see your problems as opportunities to honor him? because, when you honor Him with your faith, God can turn any bad situation unto good for His glory.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“When Jesus heard that , he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” (John 11:4)
God’s ability to do good is not limited by our understanding. As their brother grew very sick, Mary and Martha turned to Jesus for help.
They believed in his ability to help because they had seen his miracles and he was a good friend of the family.
We too know of Jesus’ miracles, both from Scripture and through changed lives we have seen. When we need extraordinary help, Jesus offers extraordinary resources. We should not hesitate to ask him for assistance.
Any trial a believer faces can ultimately bring glory to God, because God can bring good out of any bad situation, just like Joseph. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
When trouble comes your way, do you stumble, complain, and blame God, or do you (like Joseph) see your problems as opportunities to honor him? because, when you honor Him with your faith, God can turn any bad situation unto good for His glory.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Good To Them That Love God!
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"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." (Romans 8:28)
Today and all this coming week we will continue with the "Good Friday" concept and highlight more of the good things God has in store for us, as in these inspiring bible stories.
As you will see, God is involved in all aspects of life to bring about his good ends. God works in “all things”—not just isolated incidents—for our good.
This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good.
Note that God is working in our lives to fulfill his purpose. Note also that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are fitting into God’s plans. There are many who are called, but only a few are chosen.
Those who are “chosen” are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ despite all worldly obstacles. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set on life.
They trust in God, not life’s treasures; they look for their security in heaven, not on earth; they learn to accept, not resent pain and persecution because God is with them. "Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2Corinthians 5:17)
They have excepted that the things of this earth is only temperal, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1Corinthians 2:9 )
They who are called seek first the kingdom in heaven, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"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." (Romans 8:28)
Today and all this coming week we will continue with the "Good Friday" concept and highlight more of the good things God has in store for us, as in these inspiring bible stories.
As you will see, God is involved in all aspects of life to bring about his good ends. God works in “all things”—not just isolated incidents—for our good.
This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good.
Note that God is working in our lives to fulfill his purpose. Note also that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are fitting into God’s plans. There are many who are called, but only a few are chosen.
Those who are “chosen” are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ despite all worldly obstacles. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set on life.
They trust in God, not life’s treasures; they look for their security in heaven, not on earth; they learn to accept, not resent pain and persecution because God is with them. "Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2Corinthians 5:17)
They have excepted that the things of this earth is only temperal, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1Corinthians 2:9 )
They who are called seek first the kingdom in heaven, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Good in Good Friday
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)
In spite of evil, God is working out his good purposes. When Joseph became a slave, Jacob thought he was dead and wept in great despair (Genesis 37:30). But eventually God’s plan allowed Jacob to regain not only his son, but his grandchildren as well.
In celebrating this "Good Friday", we must remember the sacrificial purpose of Jesus unselfish atonement. The very same reasons he came and died, was what He meant for good, against a evil and downtrodden world, which we live in.
Let us look at some of these "good" stories, to realize His loving purpose for you, and for me. Circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond God’s help. Jacob regained his son. Job got a new family (Job 42:10-17). Mary regained her brother Lazarus (John 11:1-44). We need never despair, because we belong to a loving God. We never know what good he will bring out of a seemingly hopeless situation.
In Joseph’s life, God brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the cupbearer’s neglect, and seven years of famine. Joseph’s experiences taught him that God brings good from evil for those who trust him.
Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about his intended results.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)
In spite of evil, God is working out his good purposes. When Joseph became a slave, Jacob thought he was dead and wept in great despair (Genesis 37:30). But eventually God’s plan allowed Jacob to regain not only his son, but his grandchildren as well.
In celebrating this "Good Friday", we must remember the sacrificial purpose of Jesus unselfish atonement. The very same reasons he came and died, was what He meant for good, against a evil and downtrodden world, which we live in.
Let us look at some of these "good" stories, to realize His loving purpose for you, and for me. Circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond God’s help. Jacob regained his son. Job got a new family (Job 42:10-17). Mary regained her brother Lazarus (John 11:1-44). We need never despair, because we belong to a loving God. We never know what good he will bring out of a seemingly hopeless situation.
In Joseph’s life, God brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the cupbearer’s neglect, and seven years of famine. Joseph’s experiences taught him that God brings good from evil for those who trust him.
Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about his intended results.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Why do we face testing in our life?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"There was at that time a terrible famine in the land: and so Abram went on down to Egypt to live." (Genesis 12:10)
Tests throughout our life can teach us to think clearly and to constantly trust in God. When famine struck, Abram went to Egypt where there was food. Why would there be a famine in the land to which God had just called Abram?
This was a test of Abram’s faith, and Abram passed. He didn’t question God’s leading when facing this difficulty. Many believers find that when they determine to follow God, they immediately encounter great obstacles and question themselves.
The next time you face such a test, don’t try to second-guess what God is doing. Use the intelligence God gave you, as Abram did when he temporarily moved to Egypt, and waited for new and right opportunities.
Tests show us that making one good decision may not always prevent another bad decision. Having trusted God and moved to Egypt for a while, Abram immediately made a bad choice.
Acting out of fear, he asked Sarai to tell a half-truth and say that she was his sister. She was his half sister, but she was also his wife (see Genesis 20:11-12).
Abram’s intention was to deceive the Egyptians. He feared that if they knew the truth, they would kill him to get Sarai. She would have been a desirable addition to Pharaoh’s harem because of her wealth, beauty, and potential for political alliance.
As Sarai’s brother, Abram would have been given a place of honor. As her husband, however, his life would be in danger, because Sarai could not enter Pharaoh’s harem unless Abram was dead.
So Abram lost faith in God’s protection, even after all God had promised him, and told a half-truth. This shows how lying compounds the effects of sin. When he lied, Abram’s problems multiplied. Because of his lie, his tests became real trials. Would you trust in God?
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"There was at that time a terrible famine in the land: and so Abram went on down to Egypt to live." (Genesis 12:10)
Tests throughout our life can teach us to think clearly and to constantly trust in God. When famine struck, Abram went to Egypt where there was food. Why would there be a famine in the land to which God had just called Abram?
This was a test of Abram’s faith, and Abram passed. He didn’t question God’s leading when facing this difficulty. Many believers find that when they determine to follow God, they immediately encounter great obstacles and question themselves.
The next time you face such a test, don’t try to second-guess what God is doing. Use the intelligence God gave you, as Abram did when he temporarily moved to Egypt, and waited for new and right opportunities.
Tests show us that making one good decision may not always prevent another bad decision. Having trusted God and moved to Egypt for a while, Abram immediately made a bad choice.
Acting out of fear, he asked Sarai to tell a half-truth and say that she was his sister. She was his half sister, but she was also his wife (see Genesis 20:11-12).
Abram’s intention was to deceive the Egyptians. He feared that if they knew the truth, they would kill him to get Sarai. She would have been a desirable addition to Pharaoh’s harem because of her wealth, beauty, and potential for political alliance.
As Sarai’s brother, Abram would have been given a place of honor. As her husband, however, his life would be in danger, because Sarai could not enter Pharaoh’s harem unless Abram was dead.
So Abram lost faith in God’s protection, even after all God had promised him, and told a half-truth. This shows how lying compounds the effects of sin. When he lied, Abram’s problems multiplied. Because of his lie, his tests became real trials. Would you trust in God?
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Testing your Resolve
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
Later on, God tested Abraham’s [faith and obedience]. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes, Lord?” he replied. “Take with you your only son—yes, Isaac whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I’ll point out to you!”
(Genesis 22:1-2)
Tests are intended to make us, not break us. God tested Abraham, not to trip him up and watch him fall, but to strengthen his capacity to obey God and thus to develop and build up his character.
Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances in life. When we are tested, we can moan and complain, or we can try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character.
Testing brings our real priorities out into the open. Why did God ask Abraham to perform human sacrifice? Pagan nations practiced human sacrifice, but God condemned this as a terrible sin (Leviticus 20:1-5).
God did not want Isaac to die, but he wanted Abraham to “sacrifice” Isaac in his obedient heart so it would be clear that Abraham loved God more than he loved his promised and long-awaited son.
God was testing Abraham. The purpose of this testing is to strengthen our character and deepen our commitment to God and his perfect timing. Though this was a difficult experience, Abraham strengthened his commitment to obey God. And through his faithfulness, he also learned about God’s ability to provide.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Later on, God tested Abraham’s [faith and obedience]. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes, Lord?” he replied. “Take with you your only son—yes, Isaac whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I’ll point out to you!”
(Genesis 22:1-2)
Tests are intended to make us, not break us. God tested Abraham, not to trip him up and watch him fall, but to strengthen his capacity to obey God and thus to develop and build up his character.
Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances in life. When we are tested, we can moan and complain, or we can try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character.
Testing brings our real priorities out into the open. Why did God ask Abraham to perform human sacrifice? Pagan nations practiced human sacrifice, but God condemned this as a terrible sin (Leviticus 20:1-5).
God did not want Isaac to die, but he wanted Abraham to “sacrifice” Isaac in his obedient heart so it would be clear that Abraham loved God more than he loved his promised and long-awaited son.
God was testing Abraham. The purpose of this testing is to strengthen our character and deepen our commitment to God and his perfect timing. Though this was a difficult experience, Abraham strengthened his commitment to obey God. And through his faithfulness, he also learned about God’s ability to provide.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Trust in The Lord
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust involves heartfelt confidence in God. Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone—not even God.
But God knows what is best for us. And he knows even better than we do what we really want. We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others.
We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer, use the Bible as your guide, and follow God’s leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you.
Trust includes giving God our future plans. To receive God’s guidance, said Solomon, we must acknowledge God in all our ways. This means turning every area of our life over to him.
About a thousand years later, Jesus emphasized this same truth (Matthew 6:33). Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? In what areas have you not acknowledged him?
What is his advice? In many areas of your life you may already acknowledge God, but it is the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence that will cause you grief.
Make him a vital part of everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust involves heartfelt confidence in God. Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone—not even God.
But God knows what is best for us. And he knows even better than we do what we really want. We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others.
We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer, use the Bible as your guide, and follow God’s leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you.
Trust includes giving God our future plans. To receive God’s guidance, said Solomon, we must acknowledge God in all our ways. This means turning every area of our life over to him.
About a thousand years later, Jesus emphasized this same truth (Matthew 6:33). Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? In what areas have you not acknowledged him?
What is his advice? In many areas of your life you may already acknowledge God, but it is the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence that will cause you grief.
Make him a vital part of everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Monday, April 11, 2011
Are You a Reformer or Conformer?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
Christians must resist the pressure to conform to their environment. Christians are called to “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world” with its behavior and customs that are usually self-centered, selfish and often corrupting.
Many Christians have already wisely decided that worldly behavior is off-limits for them. Their refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than behavior and customs—it must be firmly grounded in our minds—“be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
However, it is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant, like Lot.
“Get out of our way,” they replied. And they said, “This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.”
In this story, they kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. (Genesis 19:9)
Christian believers should not let their social environment shape their lives. Lot had lived so long and so contented among ungodly people that he was no longer a believable witness for God.
He had allowed his environment to shape him, rather than him, armed with God's biblical truths shaping his environment. He played along, to get along.
Do those who know you see you as a witness for God, or are you just one of the crowd, blending in unnoticed? Are you a noticeable visible witness for Jesus, or have you quietly compromised your Christian duty?
Lot had compromised to the point that he was almost useless to God. When he finally made a stand, nobody would listened to him. Have you become useless to God because you are too much like your environment?
To make a difference, you must first decide to be different in your own faith and conduct and express it in your lifestyle. Only when we allow the Holy Spirit to renew, reeducate, and redirects our mind, are we truly transformed, to be the reformers we were called to be.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
Christians must resist the pressure to conform to their environment. Christians are called to “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world” with its behavior and customs that are usually self-centered, selfish and often corrupting.
Many Christians have already wisely decided that worldly behavior is off-limits for them. Their refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than behavior and customs—it must be firmly grounded in our minds—“be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
However, it is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant, like Lot.
“Get out of our way,” they replied. And they said, “This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.”
In this story, they kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. (Genesis 19:9)
Christian believers should not let their social environment shape their lives. Lot had lived so long and so contented among ungodly people that he was no longer a believable witness for God.
He had allowed his environment to shape him, rather than him, armed with God's biblical truths shaping his environment. He played along, to get along.
Do those who know you see you as a witness for God, or are you just one of the crowd, blending in unnoticed? Are you a noticeable visible witness for Jesus, or have you quietly compromised your Christian duty?
Lot had compromised to the point that he was almost useless to God. When he finally made a stand, nobody would listened to him. Have you become useless to God because you are too much like your environment?
To make a difference, you must first decide to be different in your own faith and conduct and express it in your lifestyle. Only when we allow the Holy Spirit to renew, reeducate, and redirects our mind, are we truly transformed, to be the reformers we were called to be.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Why We Lack Understanding
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9).
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you—until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth.
When you grow and develop the right condition inside you, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you didn't grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).
We must be one with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandably clear to us.
God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit living in us. And our own headstrong opinions will prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“ tell no one.” But so many people tell what they saw on their Mount of Transfiguration—they tell their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live.
Their empty lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them.
Facebook is a good example of our insensible thinking. Many people on fb are more concerned with other peoples posted old photo's and recipes then they are concerned with the signs of the times. Therefore, their lives are full of clutter that won't allow the spirit of God to enter and enrich their spiritual lives.
Jesus said, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;" (Luke 21:2)
How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and lives in you and in me? "Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. (John 4:48) Look around us people, the signs are everywhere.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9).
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you—until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth.
When you grow and develop the right condition inside you, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you didn't grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).
We must be one with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandably clear to us.
God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit living in us. And our own headstrong opinions will prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“ tell no one.” But so many people tell what they saw on their Mount of Transfiguration—they tell their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live.
Their empty lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them.
Facebook is a good example of our insensible thinking. Many people on fb are more concerned with other peoples posted old photo's and recipes then they are concerned with the signs of the times. Therefore, their lives are full of clutter that won't allow the spirit of God to enter and enrich their spiritual lives.
Jesus said, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;" (Luke 21:2)
How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and lives in you and in me? "Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. (John 4:48) Look around us people, the signs are everywhere.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Way to Permanent Faith
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“Indeed the hour is coming that you will be scattered ” (John 16:32).
Jesus was not rebuking the disciples in this verse. Their faith was real, but it was disorganized and unfocused, and was not set on the important realities of life. They were scattered about.
The disciples were scattered to their own minds and concerns and they had other interests apart from Jesus Christ.
When we obtain the perfect relationship with God, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, our faith must be tested and exercised in the realities of life.
We will be scattered, not into service right away, but into the emptiness of the bottomless pit of our lives where we will see ruin and darkness, just to know what internal death to God’s blessings means. I was tested this very day from an unruly neighbor of this same experience, but with the reality of disappointing results of my own sinful nature and tendencies.
I asked the question to myself, am I prepared for this? Even though it is not of our own choosing, but God maneuvers our circumstances to take us to these depths in life. Until we have been through that experience, our faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings.
But once we get there, no matter where God may place us or what inner emptiness we experience, we can praise God that all is well. That is what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of life. Living experiences in the real world.
“you will leave Me alone.” Have we been scattered so much that we have left Jesus alone by not seeing His ever-loving care for us? Do we not see God at work in our own personal circumstances? Or, are we so shallow that we only see what we want to see for our own well-being?
Dark times are allowed and come to us through the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do what He wants with us? Are we prepared to be separated from the outward blessings of God, so we can truly see His real light?
Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord and saviour, we each will continue to have goals of our own which we pursue and serve. Our faith may seem real, and you may convince yourself so, but it is not yet permanent.
But God is never in a hurry. If we are willing to wait, we will see God pointing out to us that we have been interested only in His blessings, instead of in God Himself.
The sense of God’s blessings is fundamentally simple and sound. He simply says to you, “ In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“Indeed the hour is coming that you will be scattered ” (John 16:32).
Jesus was not rebuking the disciples in this verse. Their faith was real, but it was disorganized and unfocused, and was not set on the important realities of life. They were scattered about.
The disciples were scattered to their own minds and concerns and they had other interests apart from Jesus Christ.
When we obtain the perfect relationship with God, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, our faith must be tested and exercised in the realities of life.
We will be scattered, not into service right away, but into the emptiness of the bottomless pit of our lives where we will see ruin and darkness, just to know what internal death to God’s blessings means. I was tested this very day from an unruly neighbor of this same experience, but with the reality of disappointing results of my own sinful nature and tendencies.
I asked the question to myself, am I prepared for this? Even though it is not of our own choosing, but God maneuvers our circumstances to take us to these depths in life. Until we have been through that experience, our faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings.
But once we get there, no matter where God may place us or what inner emptiness we experience, we can praise God that all is well. That is what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of life. Living experiences in the real world.
“you will leave Me alone.” Have we been scattered so much that we have left Jesus alone by not seeing His ever-loving care for us? Do we not see God at work in our own personal circumstances? Or, are we so shallow that we only see what we want to see for our own well-being?
Dark times are allowed and come to us through the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do what He wants with us? Are we prepared to be separated from the outward blessings of God, so we can truly see His real light?
Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord and saviour, we each will continue to have goals of our own which we pursue and serve. Our faith may seem real, and you may convince yourself so, but it is not yet permanent.
But God is never in a hurry. If we are willing to wait, we will see God pointing out to us that we have been interested only in His blessings, instead of in God Himself.
The sense of God’s blessings is fundamentally simple and sound. He simply says to you, “ In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Friday, April 8, 2011
God's Special Creation
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)
Being the most special part of God’s creation gives us dignity. How important is it to believe God created the earth? In these modern times, this has become a subject of great debate amongst scholars and scientist.
Some say that there was a sudden explosion (Big Bang Theory) and the universe appeared. Others say God started the process, and the universe evolved over billions of years. Some say we are descendants of Apes.
Almost every ancient religion has its own story to explain how the earth came to be. And almost every scientist has an opinion on the origin of the universe. But only the Bible shows one supreme God creating the earth out of his great love and giving all people a special place in it.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)
God reveals himself through creation. In this psalm, David’s meditation take him from creation, through God’s Word, through David’s own sinfulness, to salvation.
As God reveals himself through nature (19:1-6), we learn about his power and our smallness. As God reveals himself through Scripture (19:7-11), we learn about his holiness and our sinfulness. As God reveals himself through daily experiences (19:12-14), we learn about his gracious forgiveness and our salvation.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
Creation points to God’s existence and our responsibility to declare it to the world. Does anyone have an excuse for not believing in God? The Bible answers an major no.
God has revealed what he is like in his creation. Every person, therefore, either accepts or rejects God. There is no in-between. Don’t be fooled. When the day comes for God to judge your response to him, there will be no excuses.
We will never know all the answers to how God created the earth, but the Bible tells us that God did create it. That fact alone gives worth and dignity to all of His created people. Give your devotion and worship to him today.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Being the most special part of God’s creation gives us dignity. How important is it to believe God created the earth? In these modern times, this has become a subject of great debate amongst scholars and scientist.
Some say that there was a sudden explosion (Big Bang Theory) and the universe appeared. Others say God started the process, and the universe evolved over billions of years. Some say we are descendants of Apes.
Almost every ancient religion has its own story to explain how the earth came to be. And almost every scientist has an opinion on the origin of the universe. But only the Bible shows one supreme God creating the earth out of his great love and giving all people a special place in it.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)
God reveals himself through creation. In this psalm, David’s meditation take him from creation, through God’s Word, through David’s own sinfulness, to salvation.
As God reveals himself through nature (19:1-6), we learn about his power and our smallness. As God reveals himself through Scripture (19:7-11), we learn about his holiness and our sinfulness. As God reveals himself through daily experiences (19:12-14), we learn about his gracious forgiveness and our salvation.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
Creation points to God’s existence and our responsibility to declare it to the world. Does anyone have an excuse for not believing in God? The Bible answers an major no.
God has revealed what he is like in his creation. Every person, therefore, either accepts or rejects God. There is no in-between. Don’t be fooled. When the day comes for God to judge your response to him, there will be no excuses.
We will never know all the answers to how God created the earth, but the Bible tells us that God did create it. That fact alone gives worth and dignity to all of His created people. Give your devotion and worship to him today.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A Priviledge and Responsibility
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name."
(Romans 1:5)
And now, through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us undeserving sinners; and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done for them, so that they, too, will believe and obey him. God offers us forgiveness. We have both a privilege and a great responsibility.
Paul and the apostles received forgiveness (“grace”) as an undeserved privilege. But they also received the responsibility to share the message of God’s forgiveness with others.
God through His mercy and grace forgives our sins when we believe in him as Lord. In doing this, we are committing ourself to a new life. Paul’s new life also involved a God-given responsibility—to witness about God’s Good News to the world.
God may or may not call you to be an overseas missionary, but he does call you to witness and be an example of the changed life that Christ has begun in you.
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)
Thanks to Christ, by faith we can enter directly into God’s presence through prayer. We know we’ll be welcomed because we are God’s children through our union with Christ.
Don’t be afraid to talk to God. Talk with him about everything. He is waiting to hear from you.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name."
(Romans 1:5)
And now, through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us undeserving sinners; and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done for them, so that they, too, will believe and obey him. God offers us forgiveness. We have both a privilege and a great responsibility.
Paul and the apostles received forgiveness (“grace”) as an undeserved privilege. But they also received the responsibility to share the message of God’s forgiveness with others.
God through His mercy and grace forgives our sins when we believe in him as Lord. In doing this, we are committing ourself to a new life. Paul’s new life also involved a God-given responsibility—to witness about God’s Good News to the world.
God may or may not call you to be an overseas missionary, but he does call you to witness and be an example of the changed life that Christ has begun in you.
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)
Thanks to Christ, by faith we can enter directly into God’s presence through prayer. We know we’ll be welcomed because we are God’s children through our union with Christ.
Don’t be afraid to talk to God. Talk with him about everything. He is waiting to hear from you.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Keep Running The Good Race
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you , and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake...Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
Our life-style should be a reflection of God’s kingdom. With Jesus’ recent announcement that the kingdom was near (4:17), people were naturally asking, “How do I qualify to be in God’s kingdom?” Jesus said that God’s kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms.
In the kingdom of heaven, wealth and power and authority are not important. Kingdom people seek different blessings and benefits, and they have different attitudes. Their entire life-style ought to be different. Are your attitudes a copy of the world’s selfishness, pride, and lust for power, or do they reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, your King?
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain... And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.(1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
Our life-style should be disciplined. Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.
As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward. The daily disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with endurance and stamina.
Don’t merely be a looker and observe from the grandstand; don’t just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train earnestly—The race is not a sprint, but a marathon, so pace yourself, your spiritual progress depends upon it.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you , and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake...Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
Our life-style should be a reflection of God’s kingdom. With Jesus’ recent announcement that the kingdom was near (4:17), people were naturally asking, “How do I qualify to be in God’s kingdom?” Jesus said that God’s kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms.
In the kingdom of heaven, wealth and power and authority are not important. Kingdom people seek different blessings and benefits, and they have different attitudes. Their entire life-style ought to be different. Are your attitudes a copy of the world’s selfishness, pride, and lust for power, or do they reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, your King?
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain... And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.(1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
Our life-style should be disciplined. Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.
As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward. The daily disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with endurance and stamina.
Don’t merely be a looker and observe from the grandstand; don’t just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train earnestly—The race is not a sprint, but a marathon, so pace yourself, your spiritual progress depends upon it.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A Cultural Question
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food." (Daniel 1:15)
Yesterday, we talked about how culture can sometimes conflict with Jesus teachings. As Samoans, we are part of a "living culture" passed down through generations that is miraculously maintained even today. As Christain's however, changes in some of our culture require adjustments.
In (Daniel 1:15) story, the Babylonians were trying to change the thinking of these Jews by giving them a Babylonian education, their loyalty by changing their names, and their life-style by changing their diet. You see, the Jews kept and honored God's original diet for man. (see Genesis 1:29)
Without compromising, Daniel found a way to live by God’s standards in a culture that did not honor God. Wisely choosing to negotiate rather than to rebel, Daniel suggested an experimental ten-day diet of vegetables and water, instead of the royal foods of meat and wine the king offered.
Without compromising, Daniel quickly thought of a creative solution that saved his life and the lives of his friends. As God’s people, we also may adjust to our culture as long as we do not compromise God’s laws & principles.
There is real beauty and excellence recognized in any culture. Daniel and his friends learned all they could about their new culture so they could do their work with excellence and honor.
But while they learned their new culture in Babylon, they maintained steadfast allegiance to God, and did not compromise their allegiance. And God rewarded them with skills and wisdom, which the King of Babylon so impressed, he elevated Daniel and his friends to high positions in government.
Culture doesn't have to be God’s enemy. If it does not violate his commands or principles, it can aid in accomplishing his purpose, even elevating your status as in this story. There is a term we hear often in Samoa, "Ua ao Samoa" (Samoa has received the light of understanding).
However, as a Christian nation, part of our Samoan cultural we practice today are based from pagan traditions and practices. For example, the (Sua)
We who follow Jesus are free to partake and be competent leaders within our culture, but as baptized Christians, we must be careful, as we are required to pledge our allegiance to God first, and not compromise Jesus teachings, through pagan rituals.
If you have any doubts as to what to partake or not to partake of in your cultural traditions, just ask yourself this question. What would Jesus do?
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food." (Daniel 1:15)
Yesterday, we talked about how culture can sometimes conflict with Jesus teachings. As Samoans, we are part of a "living culture" passed down through generations that is miraculously maintained even today. As Christain's however, changes in some of our culture require adjustments.
In (Daniel 1:15) story, the Babylonians were trying to change the thinking of these Jews by giving them a Babylonian education, their loyalty by changing their names, and their life-style by changing their diet. You see, the Jews kept and honored God's original diet for man. (see Genesis 1:29)
Without compromising, Daniel found a way to live by God’s standards in a culture that did not honor God. Wisely choosing to negotiate rather than to rebel, Daniel suggested an experimental ten-day diet of vegetables and water, instead of the royal foods of meat and wine the king offered.
Without compromising, Daniel quickly thought of a creative solution that saved his life and the lives of his friends. As God’s people, we also may adjust to our culture as long as we do not compromise God’s laws & principles.
There is real beauty and excellence recognized in any culture. Daniel and his friends learned all they could about their new culture so they could do their work with excellence and honor.
But while they learned their new culture in Babylon, they maintained steadfast allegiance to God, and did not compromise their allegiance. And God rewarded them with skills and wisdom, which the King of Babylon so impressed, he elevated Daniel and his friends to high positions in government.
Culture doesn't have to be God’s enemy. If it does not violate his commands or principles, it can aid in accomplishing his purpose, even elevating your status as in this story. There is a term we hear often in Samoa, "Ua ao Samoa" (Samoa has received the light of understanding).
However, as a Christian nation, part of our Samoan cultural we practice today are based from pagan traditions and practices. For example, the (Sua)
We who follow Jesus are free to partake and be competent leaders within our culture, but as baptized Christians, we must be careful, as we are required to pledge our allegiance to God first, and not compromise Jesus teachings, through pagan rituals.
If you have any doubts as to what to partake or not to partake of in your cultural traditions, just ask yourself this question. What would Jesus do?
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Monday, April 4, 2011
Culture And Christ
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
The Samaritan woman said to (Jesus), “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:9)
Cultural traditions and practices must be evaluated by Christ’s standards, not ours. This woman (1) was a Samaritan, a member of the hated mixed race, (2) she was known to be living in sin, and (3) was in a public place.
No respectable Jewish man would even talk to a woman under these circumstances. But Jesus did. The gospel is for every person, no matter what his or her race, culture, social position, or past sins.
"In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman." (1 Corinthians 11:11)
We as Christians must live within but not be of our culture, or of the world. In talking about head coverings and length of hair, Paul is saying here that believers should look and behave in ways that are honorable within their own culture. In many cultures long hair on men is considered appropriate. In some others, it is inappropriate.
In Corinth, it was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labeled prostitutes. Paul was saying that in the Corinthian culture, Christian women should keep their long hair.
If short hair on women was a sign of prostitution, then a Christian woman with short hair would find it hard and even more difficult to be a believable witness for Christ.
Paul wasn’t saying we should adopt all the practices of our culture, but that we should avoid appearances and behavior that distract from our ultimate goal of being believable witnesses for Jesus and demonstrating our Christian faith.
We must be personally prepared to witness and share the gospel at any time and in any place, in any culture. Jesus crossed all barriers to share the gospel to the world, and we who follow him must do no less.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
The Samaritan woman said to (Jesus), “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:9)
Cultural traditions and practices must be evaluated by Christ’s standards, not ours. This woman (1) was a Samaritan, a member of the hated mixed race, (2) she was known to be living in sin, and (3) was in a public place.
No respectable Jewish man would even talk to a woman under these circumstances. But Jesus did. The gospel is for every person, no matter what his or her race, culture, social position, or past sins.
"In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman." (1 Corinthians 11:11)
We as Christians must live within but not be of our culture, or of the world. In talking about head coverings and length of hair, Paul is saying here that believers should look and behave in ways that are honorable within their own culture. In many cultures long hair on men is considered appropriate. In some others, it is inappropriate.
In Corinth, it was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labeled prostitutes. Paul was saying that in the Corinthian culture, Christian women should keep their long hair.
If short hair on women was a sign of prostitution, then a Christian woman with short hair would find it hard and even more difficult to be a believable witness for Christ.
Paul wasn’t saying we should adopt all the practices of our culture, but that we should avoid appearances and behavior that distract from our ultimate goal of being believable witnesses for Jesus and demonstrating our Christian faith.
We must be personally prepared to witness and share the gospel at any time and in any place, in any culture. Jesus crossed all barriers to share the gospel to the world, and we who follow him must do no less.
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Are You Open to Change?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
Many from the Samaritan village believed [Jesus] was the Messiah because of the woman’s report: “He told me everything I ever did!” (John 4:39)
God can change the worst in us. The Samaritan woman (who is from a hated neighboring clan) immediately shared her experience with others who believed her. Despite her bad reputation, many noticed the changes in her and took her sincere invitation and came out to meet Jesus.
Maybe there are sins in our past of which we’re ashamed of. But Christ changes you. Often times, those things for which we are most ashamed become the very changed areas that catch other people’s attention. As people see these changes in you, they become curious.
They want to know what happened to you, they want the light that emanates from you to fill and light up their lives. God will bring people who are searching to you and you can use these opportunities to introduce them to Christ.
How do people change? From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying and slander. (Matthew 15:19)
Naturally we are born with a sinful nature, consequences of Adam fall,"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). God desires to save and change His people on the inside. That is why the Bible says that "he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) to give us a second chance.
We work hard to keep our outward appearance looking attractive, but what is in our heart is more important. The way we are naturally deep down inside (where others can’t see) matters the most to God.
What are you like on the inside? When people become true Christians, God makes them change and view the world differently from the inside. God will continue the process of cleansing change inside only if you ask. It is a loving process that grows from day to day, "give us this day our daily bread".
You will stumble along the way, but God wants us to get up and seek healthy thoughts and motives to witness for Him.
Jesus didn’t condemn the Samaritan woman at the well, accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in your life too, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart.
He said to her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:...But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13,14)
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Many from the Samaritan village believed [Jesus] was the Messiah because of the woman’s report: “He told me everything I ever did!” (John 4:39)
God can change the worst in us. The Samaritan woman (who is from a hated neighboring clan) immediately shared her experience with others who believed her. Despite her bad reputation, many noticed the changes in her and took her sincere invitation and came out to meet Jesus.
Maybe there are sins in our past of which we’re ashamed of. But Christ changes you. Often times, those things for which we are most ashamed become the very changed areas that catch other people’s attention. As people see these changes in you, they become curious.
They want to know what happened to you, they want the light that emanates from you to fill and light up their lives. God will bring people who are searching to you and you can use these opportunities to introduce them to Christ.
How do people change? From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying and slander. (Matthew 15:19)
Naturally we are born with a sinful nature, consequences of Adam fall,"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). God desires to save and change His people on the inside. That is why the Bible says that "he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) to give us a second chance.
We work hard to keep our outward appearance looking attractive, but what is in our heart is more important. The way we are naturally deep down inside (where others can’t see) matters the most to God.
What are you like on the inside? When people become true Christians, God makes them change and view the world differently from the inside. God will continue the process of cleansing change inside only if you ask. It is a loving process that grows from day to day, "give us this day our daily bread".
You will stumble along the way, but God wants us to get up and seek healthy thoughts and motives to witness for Him.
Jesus didn’t condemn the Samaritan woman at the well, accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in your life too, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart.
He said to her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:...But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13,14)
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Are You Trapped In Darkness?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:5)
The darkness is sin and its effects on us. “The darkness has not understood it” means the darkness of evil whick lurks among us will never and never will overcome or extinguish God’s light. Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and His life brings light to all mankind. In the brightness of His light, we see ourselves as we really are (sinners in the dark who are constantly in need of a Savior).
When we sincerely follow Jesus, and give our lives to Him the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into the luring darkness of sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives only if we allow Him to cleanse us. You must invite Him into your heart to purify you.
Have you allowed the light of Christ to shine into your life? "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Darkness is opposed to light. It is the opposite of light. Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable. Darkness represents sin and evil. The statement “God is light” means that God is perfectly holy and true and that He alone can guide us out of the darkness of sin.
"Oh, send out your light and your truth—let them lead me. Let them lead me to your Temple on your holy mountain, Zion. (Psalm 43:3)
If you sometimes feel lost and entangled by the snares and depths of darkness. Remember darkness can be defeated by depending and casting all your burdens on Him. The psalmist asked God to send His light and truth to guide him to the holy mountain, guide him to the temple, guide him where he would meet God.
God’s truth (1 John 2:27) provides the right path to follow, and God’s light (1 John 1:5) provides the clear vision to follow it. So, if you feel the darkness and uncertainty creeping in on you this very day, follow God’s light and truth. Let Christ guide you, and you’ll never need stumble in darkness again. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalms 23:4)
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:5)
The darkness is sin and its effects on us. “The darkness has not understood it” means the darkness of evil whick lurks among us will never and never will overcome or extinguish God’s light. Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and His life brings light to all mankind. In the brightness of His light, we see ourselves as we really are (sinners in the dark who are constantly in need of a Savior).
When we sincerely follow Jesus, and give our lives to Him the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into the luring darkness of sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives only if we allow Him to cleanse us. You must invite Him into your heart to purify you.
Have you allowed the light of Christ to shine into your life? "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Darkness is opposed to light. It is the opposite of light. Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable. Darkness represents sin and evil. The statement “God is light” means that God is perfectly holy and true and that He alone can guide us out of the darkness of sin.
"Oh, send out your light and your truth—let them lead me. Let them lead me to your Temple on your holy mountain, Zion. (Psalm 43:3)
If you sometimes feel lost and entangled by the snares and depths of darkness. Remember darkness can be defeated by depending and casting all your burdens on Him. The psalmist asked God to send His light and truth to guide him to the holy mountain, guide him to the temple, guide him where he would meet God.
God’s truth (1 John 2:27) provides the right path to follow, and God’s light (1 John 1:5) provides the clear vision to follow it. So, if you feel the darkness and uncertainty creeping in on you this very day, follow God’s light and truth. Let Christ guide you, and you’ll never need stumble in darkness again. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalms 23:4)
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
Friday, April 1, 2011
Are You Helpful or Heartless Toward Others?
Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“It is Christ who also makes intercession for us the Spirit makes intercession for the saints ” (Romans 8:34, 27).
Do we need any more arguments than these to become intercessors—that Christ “always lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25), and that the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints”?
Are we living in such a relationship with others that we do the work of intercession as a result of being the children of God who are taught by His Spirit?
We should take a good look at our current circumstances. Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country, or elsewhere, seem to be crushing in on you?
Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship?
If so, we must put a stop to these distractions and get into such a relationship with God, that our relationship with others is maintained through out the work of intercession, where God works His miracles.
Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We sometimes run so far ahead of Him, becoming too burdened with people and problems that we forget to worship God, and we fail to intercede on His behalf.
If a burden and its pressures come upon us while we are not in an attitude, or frame of mind of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls.
God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God, the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them.
We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go on with our busy life.
A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord. Are our lives in such improper place that we forget how to participate in the intercession of our Lord and Saviour? Are you helpful or heartless towards others? What would Jesus do?
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
“It is Christ who also makes intercession for us the Spirit makes intercession for the saints ” (Romans 8:34, 27).
Do we need any more arguments than these to become intercessors—that Christ “always lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25), and that the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints”?
Are we living in such a relationship with others that we do the work of intercession as a result of being the children of God who are taught by His Spirit?
We should take a good look at our current circumstances. Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country, or elsewhere, seem to be crushing in on you?
Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship?
If so, we must put a stop to these distractions and get into such a relationship with God, that our relationship with others is maintained through out the work of intercession, where God works His miracles.
Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We sometimes run so far ahead of Him, becoming too burdened with people and problems that we forget to worship God, and we fail to intercede on His behalf.
If a burden and its pressures come upon us while we are not in an attitude, or frame of mind of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls.
God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God, the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them.
We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go on with our busy life.
A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord. Are our lives in such improper place that we forget how to participate in the intercession of our Lord and Saviour? Are you helpful or heartless towards others? What would Jesus do?
Ia manuia,
failauga p. anoa'i
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