Christ’s Word, Carries Great Power

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers...And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men... And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.  (Mathew 4:18-20)
 

Oh the faithful, unquestioning obedience of these men, with no promise of monetary rewards, no promises of riches and gold, they simply dropped everything they owned, and followed Him.  It just seem so remarkable to imagine, compared to modern day thought process.  But the Words of Christ were an invitation that carried with it great power..." And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” ...
 

Christ would make these humble unlearned fishermen, in direct connection with Himself.  The power of His Word took these men out of the service of Satan, and placed them in the direct service of God.
In His calling, they would become His witnesses to the world, to proclaim His truths unadulterated, from the corrupt traditions and worldly sophistication of men.  By practicing His virtuous teachings, by walking and working with Him, they were to be trained to be fishers of men....
For three years they labored in connection with the Saviour, and by His teaching, His works of healing, His examples, they were prepared to carry on the work that He began. By simplicity of faith, by pure, humble hearts, in their service, the disciples were taught to carry responsibilities in God’s work to a fallen world.

There are great lessons we can learn from the experience of the apostles. These men were solidly true to their principles. They were men who would not fail nor be discouraged by others. They were full of reverence and passion for the work of the Lord, and their cause was noble with a sense of great aspiration and purpose.
 

They were by nature as weak and helpless as any of us now engaged in the work, but they put their whole trust in the Lord.  Wealth they had, but their riches was of mind and soul; and this is what every one of us may have,  if we make God first and last and give Him the best in everything we have.  "... whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1Corinthians 10:31)
They toiled long and hard to learn the lessons given them by Christ, and they did not toil in vain. They bound themselves up with the mightiest of His divine powers, and were forever longing for a deeper, higher, understanding of heavenly things, that they might successfully present these truths, to a needy world.... 

 

Christ Word, was calling them to go and take the light of truth to a darken world.  Go and shine forth, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee"  (Isaiah 60:1), that hearts of harden man may be awakened and converted.  

 

In all parts of the world, the gospel is to be proclaimed.  God’s servants then and now, are called to labor in places near and far, enlarging the family of God.  If you hear His voice calling you, know that you are called to work, "while the day lasts; for the night cometh, in which no man can work".

 

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i

failaugaministry.org

A Thanks Giving Heart

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20)

Thanks giving should be on our lips every day for the blessings He so freely bestows upon us daily.  The blessings He gives so unselfishly in different ways and forms we sometimes forget to recognize and acknowledge to give Him the glory.  

It would please the Lord if you would make an effort to forget yourself. Begin to thank the Lord for your  home, family, friends and your pleasant surroundings, and the many more blessings He gives you. 

By returning thanks to the Lord for His goodness, you can do something for the One who has done everything for you. Think on the depths of compassion that the Saviour felt for you when He hung on that tree. 

For you He gave His life, suffering agony and cruelty of death on the cross.  Can you not praise the Lord in earnest thankfulness for this? If you will hide your life in Christ, He will receive you openly.

If you will show that you have a working faith, by trying every day to exercise your will power, you will gain strength in faith.  I know this by experience. Put your trust in Jesus.  Have faith in Him, and leave all in His hands. You will receive great blessing by making these changes in your habits....

These past few Months, I lost my son, my nephew and my brother in-law, all within a span of a few weeks apart.  Earlier this year, I lost two of my best and dearest friends.  The pain, the agony and the rush of emotions you go through, with a helpless feeling of you not being able to do anything to stop the cycle of death.  It makes you feel so weak inside and you realize in your heart an empty sense of worthlessness.

But to all this there is a cheerful side.  My Saviour seemed to be ever so close by my side.  I can feel His sacred presence in my heart lifting me up, and I was so thankful for it.  These past few months of mental and emotional tribulations were some of the most agonizing and at the same time the most happiest months of my life.   

The ever present companionship of my Saviour.... His love filled my heart.   All through my trials, His love, His tender compassion, was with me, His soothing presence was my comforter....He walked with me, He talked with me, He held me when I felt alone.

When we look unto Jesus,  our pitying, loving Saviour, you can feel Him sympathize with your every emotional roller coaster ride.  If you cast your helpless soul on Christ, He will bring joy and peace to your soul.  He will be your crown of rejoicing, your exceeding great reward.  Your Blessed Hope.

That's why thankfulness ought to be a major ingredient in all our relationships from the time that we awake to when we go to sleep.  Learn to appreciate the gifts he bestows upon you, and treasure the moments with every opportunity you have with those you dearly love.  God Bless and have a Happy Thanks Giving to all.

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i

failaugaministry.org

The Supreme Climb

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“He said, ‘Take now your son ’ ” (Genesis 22:2).

God’s command is, “Take now,” not later, or tomorrow.  It's amazing how we stall and debate this command! We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately.  If we are to climb to the highest heights God has planned for us, it can never be done later—it must be done now!

And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it. “So Abraham rose early in the morning  and went to the place of which God had told him” (22:3). Oh, the simplistic wonderful faith of Abraham! When God spoke, he did not “confer with flesh and blood” (Galatians 1:16).

Be careful when you want to “confer with flesh and blood” or even your own thoughts, insights, or understandings—anything that is not based on your personal relationship with God. These are things that will compete with and hinder your true obedience to God. 

Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be, nor did he know what the sacrifice demanded (his son).  But he continued to listen and be obedient to God  in faith.

My friends, always guard against "self-chosen service for God". Self-chosen sacrifice may be a disease that will impair your true service to God.  If God made your cup sweet, drink it with grace and thanksgiving; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him and thank him for your trials..."knowing this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience.. (James1:3)

If the divine will of God means a hard and difficult road for you, go through it with a humble heart.  But never ever try to decide the journey of your own, as if to say, “I will only go so far, but no farther.” 

God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor complained, but faithfully obeyed.  If you are not living in touch with the Holy Spirit of God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him when bad things happen in our lives.

Some people think that when we get into a church.  That you are somehow divinely protected now.  Well, if that was so, then everybody would be filling the church pews religiously!  

People just don’t understand that, the storms of life sometimes gets inside the church…yes, Jesus never promised that the ride would be smooth when we follow him!…he never promised that there won't be storms in our lives, because there will be.   He simply said… "I’ll be with you"…But think about this, when you are in a storm with Jesus…Its always better to be inside that little boat then outside…Amen?  (Mark 4:37-39)

We must go through trials before we have any right to pronounce our Christianity, because by going through trials you learn to know and appreciate Jesus better.  You'll learn 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)

God will work with and through you to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one.

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i
www.failaugaministry.org

A Changed Life

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power of attraction.

One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is—has God changed the things that really matter to you?  If you still yearn for the old things in your life, it is contradictory to talk about being born from above—you are just deceiving yourself.

If you are a true born again Christian, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in your thoughts and in your life.  And when a crisis comes, you'll be amazed at the wonderful difference in how you react.  Though your human emotions still feel the pain of  losing a loved one, the blessed assurance lifts you up with a calming surety, an assurance knowing God's plan of salvation will shed the light on your darkest of days.  It is trusting in this hope that manifest a complete change in you that is the very evidence that you are born again.

Many people claim they are born again but fail miserably in their Christian walk when being tested.  Jesus said to Nicodemus in (John3:6) "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

You see, their are two types of born again Christians, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus.  Those "born of the flesh; and those born of the Spirit."  There are those who go to church and do all the formal churchy stuff, pay their tithes, dress up in their best white garments every Sunday with a bible in one hand and a check book in the other, get drunk on Monday, party all week, kick the dog on the way home, go to church on the weekends and do it all over again the following week.  

They go to church but they won't let go of the worldly baggage they bring with them.  There is no renewing of the Spirit, and they bring the world into the church, thinking as long as you are praising Jesus everything is going to be alright.  These are those that are born of the flesh.

Now those who are born of the Spirit is a total spiritual renewing from above.  A good example is the two sisters Mary and Martha in (Luke 10:40-42)  While Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to His Word, Martha was busy cooking, cleaning  and getting everything ready, complaining to Jesus about her sister not helping out  v41 "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things...v42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Though both kinds of people are important members of the church regardless of their faults, they both have their roll.   It is those who are born of the Spirit Jesus says, who hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away.

What difference has my salvation and sanctification made?  True salvation, worked out in me by the Holy Spirit, frees me completely from worldly cares.  And as long as I “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7), God will see His Spirit working in every detailed part of your being.  A true Spiritual manifestation in you, will surely be reveal, "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”

Ia manuia,


failauga p. anoa'i
www.failaugaministry.org

Partakers of His Sufferings

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso 
“ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings ” (1 Peter 4:13)

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His work, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others, so that we can witness the word of God with compassion of understanding.

Because of this process, you should not be surprised by what comes your way.  We often say, “Oh, this is too much to bare, I can’t deal with this.” Why can’t you? God gave us sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about each problem; because there is not a problem we face today that he has not himself been through.   

"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:18.  But we often turn away, not heeding the lesson, because it seems foolish and irrelevant to compare old biblical days with modern day problems.  Friends, the bible says in verse 10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Jesus became all things and experienced all things, old and new, so He can be "the captain of our salvation, made perfect through his sufferings"

The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary folks. He suffered “according to the will of God” 1Peter 4:19, having a different point of view of suffering from ours.  It is only through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand why God's Son had to suffer on our behalf. 

But when it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. We want to know so we can be ready when bad things happen in our lives.

In the history of the Christian church, the tendency of people has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ.  Through the ages, people have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. 

We must come to a realization that God’s way is always the way of suffering—the way of the “long road home.”  "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience" James 5:10

"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  Philippians 1:29  

Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings?  Are we prepared for God to put aside our personal and emotional ambitions? Are we prepared for God to take away our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them to His will? 

My friends, it will mean not knowing why God puts us through trials, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through—we go through trials more or less without knowing or even understanding why?.  As Christians, our attitude should be "...Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Then in faith, suddenly we come to a place of soothing enlightenment, and we realize—“God has strengthened me through my trials, and I didn’t even know it!”

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i
www.failaugaministry.org

Stop And Look Before You Hit Rock Bottom

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso

When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “At home even the hired men have food enough and to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger!” (Luke 15:17)
 

Sometimes sorrow is the clue that convinces us we have sinned. The younger son in this parable, like many who are rebellious and immature, wanted to be free to live as he pleased, and he had to hit rock bottom before he came to his senses. It often takes great sorrow and tragedy to cause people to look to the only one who can help them.  The forgiving, loving father will come running to take you back despite our immature and rebellious ways.

 

My question for young people. Are you trying to live life your own way, do your own thing, selfishly pushing aside parental advice or any responsibility and commitment that gets in your way? I plea with young people to stop and look before you hit rock bottom.  You will save yourself and your family much grief and unbearable sufferings if you just stop and listen to that voice of reason.  The young man in the parable murmured to himself “At home even the hired men have food enough and to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger!”

Though he had no iPhone or android to call home those days, I can imaging the family in this story may have been deceivingly led to believe that the son was doing fine and making a good living investing his inheritance while away.

You may not have to starve of hunger, but if you find yourself in this young man's situation, young people please swallow your pride, be straight and honest with your self and loved ones and do the right thing while you're able.  Let someone know the hardship you are going through because your pride can blind you to the reality of your situation and procrastination sets into the point where you could find it too late to go back.   

Swallow your pride and remember the words of the great wise man Solomon, who said "pride [goeth] before destruction."  Proverbs 16:18

And when we do experience sorrow in life, because we will experience sorrow while here on earth.  Remember that someday, sorrow will be no more. "For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away." (Revelation 7:17)

In verses 1-8 we see the faithful believers receiving a seal to protect them through a time of great tribulation and suffering; in verses 9-17 we see the believers finally with God in heaven. All who have been faithful through the ages are singing before God’s throne.  This is a picture of what it takes to get there if we substitute our pride for faith.  If we confess our sins and give it to the father.

In his trying times, when he finally came to his senses, the son chose to came back to his loving father, ragged and torn as he was, the father took him in unconditionally and a loud call for celebration was put out, for the child was lost and is now found.

The son's tribulations and sufferings are over: no more tears for sin, for all sins are forgiven when we give our sorrows to the father.   On that great morning, our blessed hope will be realized when at last there will be no more tears shed, for all sorrows will be over; no more tears for death, for all believers have been resurrected to everlasting life "and God will wipe their tears away". Death and suffering, will be no more.  

Ia manuia

failauga p. anoa'i

www.failaugaministry.org

 

What does the Bible teach us about mourning?

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso

"And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days."  (Genesis 50:10)  

When they arrived at Atad (meaning “Threshing Place of Brambles”), beyond the Jordan River, they held a great and solemn funeral service, with a seven-day period of lamentation for Joseph’s father. 

Mourning takes time. When Jacob died at the age of 147, Joseph wept and mourned for months. When someone close to us dies, we need a long period of time to work through our grief. Crying and sharing our feelings with others helps us recover and go on with life. However, sometimes we need time alone to reflect on those precious memories, which we so often take for granted in this hurry up fast pace of life.

Allow yourself and others the freedom to grieve over the loss of a loved one, and give yourself time enough to complete your grieving process.

In 2 Samuel 1:11-12, David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s people, and for the men of Israel who had died that day.

Mourning is an appropriate human emotional response to the loss of a loved one. “They mourned and wept and fasted all day.” David and his men were visibly shaken over Saul’s and Jonathan’s death. Their actions showed their genuine sorrow over the loss of their king, their friend Jonathan, and the other soldiers of Israel who died that day. 

 They were not ashamed to grieve. And we should not be either.  Today, some people consider expressing emotions to be a sign of weakness. Those who wish to appear strong try to hide their feelings. But expressing our grief can help us deal with our immense sorrow when a loved one passes.

The most vivid example of the love and understanding of God the comforter, to us all who go through trials, sorrows and grief is displayed in (John 11:35)  It simply says that "Jesus wept".

Jesus experienced grief like you and I. John stresses that we have a God who cares. A God who feels your pain, and hurt when we hurt.  This portrait contrasts with the Greek concept of God that was popular in those days—a god with no emotions and no messy involvement with lowly humans. 

Here we see many of Jesus’ emotions—compassion, indignation, sorrow, even frustration. He often expressed deep emotion.  So we should never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to him.  He understands them, for he experienced them too. 

Be honest, and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. He cares.  Jesus did not hesitate to reveal his emotions. When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he too wept openly.  Maybe he sympathizes with their grief, or perhaps he was troubled at their unbelief.  In either case, Jesus showed that he cares enough for you and me in our mourning period, to weep with us in our sorrow.

Ia manuia

failauga p. anoa'i 

When I Cry, You Cry

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
"Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. Psalms 27:7

This is my first post since May 21 of this year 2011.  Sometimes regardless of your perceived strengths,  when hardship hits you personally, you are affected in diverse ways that are so unimaginable, that even words fail to describe it.  There is a song with such beautiful lyrics that describes vividly the feelings my wife and I experienced, when we lost our son in his battle with cancer on July 24th of this year at the tender age of 27.

Through transition of emotions, there are gentle moments of soothing reflection during the healing process when we look to the Lord for help.  In the book of Luke 9:11  It says that as the people followed him, "Jesus spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing."

Oh but how we reflect on the words of Job as we visualize the imagery of it piercing his heart when he lost all ten of his children in one day, "Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! Job 6:2

The poetry of King Solomon exclaims that the knowledge bestowed upon his servants in Ecclesiastes 1:18 does not necessarily buy you a get out of grief card either.  "For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.   Oh why oh Lord must we be entrapped in this cloud of dazed mournfulness, grief and sorrow?

  
"making a list of all the good things you done for me, Lord I never been one to complain, but right now, I'm lost, and I can't find my way......my worlds come apart,... and its breaking my heart,... but it helps to know, that your heart is breaking too, when I cry, you cry, when I hurt, you hurt, when I've lost someone, it takes a piece of you too, when I fall on my face, you fill me with grace, cause nothing breaks your heart, or tears you apart, like when I cry."

It is times like this in life, when we feel so abandoned and lost that he lovingly gives us a song, and remind us that we are not alone.  That he feels our pain and had experienced our sorrows.  He gives us a song of encouragement through His Word,  "so be truly glad! there is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for awhile down here." 1 Peter 1:6

So we press forward to that blessed morning, when Jesus comes back in the clouds to take us home, and to again be with our loved ones.  "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."   Matthew 14:27

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.   Revelation 21:4   

Soifua ma ia manuia

failauga p. anoa'i