The Man of God...

(1) Flees Sin

I need to be relentless in running away from evil. There is no cowardice in running from things that dishonor the Lord. In fact, it is actually wise. Great illustration from Pastor Ed: When you meet a bear, you do not confront it. Instead, you RUN!!

(2) Pursues Virtue

I need to spend time in things that make an eternal difference. I need to be spending time in prayer, the Word of God, serving, worship.

(3) Keeps God's Commandments

Obedience to God waiting for the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(4) Fights the Good Fight

In a world of lies, as the apostle Jude declares, I need to earnestly "contend for faith" that was once delivered for all the saints. We take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and destroy every false idea and speculation raised up against the knowledge of God (2 Corin. 10:3-5).

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17

I mess up so many times. I hate living a life of hypocrisy. I still feel the war that goes on within my soul everyday between the flesh and the Spirit of God. It is so easy to fall into unbelief and believe the lies of the devil. And when you sin, the devil immeditately comes to accuse you night and day, "Look at you, your abusing the grace of God", or "how can you lead people when you are so sinful," "You are living a double life", "God will not use you because of your sin, you need to be holy and blameless." This is how Christians fall into despair. This is how I fall into depression and do not want to serve God anymore because of my sin.

But how foolish of me to look to myself rather than Christ to cleanse me. "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again" (Proverbs 24:16). There really is a spiritual war going on everyday. We do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual forces of darkness (Eph 6). When Satan comes and tells me all these things, I need to say, "You are right, I am guilty. I am unworthy. But I have an advocate with the Father. I have One who has satisfied the wrath of God on my behalf. In other words, I have the risen Savior who stands on behalf of my failures and shortcomings. God can accept my failures because Christ did not fail. Christ can take my sins that I commit because he died on the cross for me. Flee from me Satan in Jesus Name!"

Father in Heaven,
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

By the grace and blood of Jesus, make me righteous,
Amen

• What is Faith? By Gershem Machen
• Preaching with Passion by Alex Montoya
• Deep Preaching by Kent Edwards
• Tactics by Greg Koukel
• The Emotionally Healthy Church
• By Grace Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
• Basics of Biblical Greek by William Mounce
• Philosophy of Religion by William Lane Craig

SUMMER READING HERE I COME!!

Maturity in life is when someone is living joyfully within their God given limits

Much of burnout is a result of giving what we do not possess

Christian leaders all too often allow themselves to be disrespected, allowing people to speak to them and about them in ways that are inappropriate-Emotionally Healthy Church

These quotes really spoke to my heart. I have been a horrible steward of maintaining boundaries these past two years. I thought I could do everything. I really love Jesus and want to serve Him in anyway I can. But I do not possess all the gifts. God has given me limits so that the body may function properly. I felt like I needed to go after every straying member, disciple every person, and teach constantly while at the same time working and going to school full-time.

Alex, it's ok to say no. You are not god. God is good and sovereign. It is not what you do for God that brings you salvation. It is what Christ has done for you. You must serve of out gratitude found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lord, teach me to say "no" and embrace my limits and set proper boundaries. If your Son said "no" to people, how much more do I who is flawed and sinful? Teach me to trust you and really discern what my gifts and joy are. In Jesus Name, Amen.

We live in a fallen world. Furthemore, we are sinful human beings needing grace everday. No one is perfect (Romans 3:23). How can we endure the crazy trials of life? How do we deal with financial, marital, familial, and spiritual brokeness?

WORSHIP. I need to understand the work of my Savior. He came into this world to free me from the bondage of self, the flesh, and the devil. I need to look at him who was crucified for me. I need to find my satisfaction in His love above all earthly pleasures. I sin and fall so many times. But I can rest assured that my Jesus has loved me and gave his life for me. At the cross, I can come back asking for forgiveness for my moral and spiritual failures. I can embrace God the Father because Jesus was the revelation of the Father (John 14:6). I can come to the Father because Jesus died on my behalf to make me holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

Lord, teach me to worship. In Jesus Name, Amen.

I do not need anything except Christ. It's when the gospel becomes theoretical and my heart becomes cold, dull, and calloused when I start seeking for lesser things. Sin is so enticing and deceptive. Why does it seem so pleasurable at times? I think it's because I do not have a healthy theology of suffering and the cross. I want short term gratification rather than suffer in obedience. But when I give in to whatever sin, it ALWAYS leaves me empty and wanting more. It's so crazy to see that the Christian life is one of growth, sometimes very painful. I do not like my sin and hypocrisy, I hate it. I want to be completely obedient to the Lord and lay down my life for him. However, Peter said the same exact thing and left the Lord. Peter was very sincere, but sincerely wrong. He trusted in himself. Only Jesus can transform a sinner like me. Only Jesus can give me strength.

Lord, as you prayed for Peter's faith not to fail, please pray for me as well. I think I can do things apart from you, but the curve balls of life show me otherwise. Would you keep me? Would you use me? Would you become more real to me? You desire truth in the innermost parts. Search me and know my heart, see if there is any wicked way in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

I just watched the film Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders and it was a slap to my face. I have been disillusioned with living in America nelgecting the injustice of millions of people around the world. How can I just sit here comfortly thinking about my own career, my success, and future when there are millions around the world living in poverty?? This movie brought me back to my missionary experiences in the Philippines and Colombia and reminded me that there are many oprhaned children who have no medical resources, money, and do not ultimately have Christ. Satan is so deceptive and smart to make the American church fall asleep and settle for pleasure, entertainment, and comfort. John Piper's book title puts it well, Don't Waste Your Life. I do not want to waste my life and stand before the Lord on Judgment Day hiding my talents in the ground and not using it for his glory.



This movie also reminded me to not waste my money foolishly. How can I live in luxury when that money can be used to fight oppression and injustice? I am ashamed of myself for being seduced by the comfort of the American Dream. I say I hate it outwardly, but it lures the innermost parts of my heart. CHANGE MY HEART GOD! OPEN MY EYES TO REALITY OF INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD. I cannot be your disciple if I do not forsake all: posessions, family, wealth, career, success, and marriage to do what you are calling me to do. Please forgive me for being complacent.



I need to stop having a theoritical theology, and have an applied theology of action. James puts its very clear that a faith that does not show no works is not a faith at all. James says, "religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:27).

If I want to be used by the Lord, I have to count the cost. I have to see that Christ calls me to die to myself and take up a cross of suffering. Christ becomes real when we experience the fellowship of his sufferings and walk a lonely road. But there is a Resurrection three days later.

God, I am tired of theorizing about you. I am tired of being just a hearer. I am discontent with my own walk. I am such a talker and not a doer. Please change this. Please give me perpective. Please give me vision. Please give me a greater obedience to you. Help me see what you see. Help me know you from my heart, not my head. Teach me and lead me and help me ACT. I am so complacent and lukewarm. Help me steward your money wisely.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

I learned today how much I need to be in the Word. The Word is what sanctifies me and conforms me to the image of Christ as I behold the glory of the Savior. I was also reminded that I need to spend much Secret Time with the Lord. My passion for God on Sunday will show how passionate I was during the week. If I am only passionate about God on Sunday, I will end up living a double life, which is hypocrisy. Professor Saucy also said that WORSHIP will keep us from sin. This is so true. Sin blinds so that we end up desiring trash rather than infinite treasures of delight in God.

How can I be a better worshipper of God?

1. Listen to Music that exalts Him
2. Spend time in Secret with Him
3. Ask Him to open my heart to receive His Word
4. Acknowledge my emotions before Him and not suppress them.
5. Embrace the Cross as the sufficient and display of God's grace to me a sinner.
6. Ask things from God boldly because Christ has purchased my acceptance before Him.

What do I love to do? I need to figure out and specify my passion in where God wants me to serve Him. Well, I love how early theologians were not only committed to their local church, but were pastors, professors, scholars, philosphers, theologians, scientists, mathematicians, conselours, evangelists, apologists, and godly men. It is abosultely amazing to see how brilliant early theologians were like Augustine, Calvin, and Luther.

I think I am called to be a Christian apologist (2 Cor. 10:3-5). I love TRUTH. I love how UNCHANGING TRUTH IS. I love REVEALED TRUTH. God has made himself known in history, archeology, science, and the person of Jesus Christ. I confident that the claims of Christianity can stand the attacks of skepticism.

Secondly, I also love to teach the Word of God. The Word of God is life-transforming. It has changed my life and has changed the lives of millions throughout history. As the Psalmist says, "I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation, I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts" (Psalm 119:99-101).

Third, I love the the local church. The local church is sanctifying me and has been a great joy to be in fellowship with the saints bought with the blood of Christ, and indwelt by the Spirit of God.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of scoffers,
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,
And on his law he meditates day and night.

I have been neglecting my meditation time because of the busy-ness of life. School and Ministry have crowded out my prayer time and personal bible study. But I am realizing that meditation on the Word of God is essential to my spiritual growth and spiritual health. I have already seen the fruits of my past meditations, how much more do I need to seek after an infinite eternal God that I will never figure out? God, grant me a desire for Your Word. Your Word keeps me from sin, keeps me close to the Savior, and gives me wisdom that no human philosophy can destroy, for the knowledge of God's mystery is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Help me become a doer of the Word, and experience the reality of your unchanging truth.

Father, what are you calling me to do? How do you want me to apply your Word? What areas have you opened to practice mercy, kindness, justice? Grant me wisdom.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Summer school has started and I am taking Theology I, which is Doctrine of the Word and Doctrine of God. I was so amazed to see how incomprehensible, mind-blowing, and awesome God is. I was worshipping in class and was seeing what a privelege for me to studying theology. I learned again that the creation of the University was to train Christian men in practice and godliness. University comes from two words, Unity and Diversity. What united all the different disciplines (i.e. biology, physics, cosmology, anthropology, philosophy) was Theology, which was the highest discipline one could study in the University. Today, the university system has a completely different mindset of how to train people. Today, people can be an expert in a specific field, without having character and being "empty" inside. Earlier universities promoted not just knowledge, but wisdom, teaching people how to live life. Studying theology is so important because it is "training in godliness." Sound Doctrine and Teaching is suppose to lead people to godliness, not just give them intellectual assent. How I need to take doctrine seriously.

The irony of study theology is that the petri dish is the one studying the Scientist. The only way the petri dish can study the Scientist is if the Scientist reveals himself. And that is what exactly God did, "And the Word became Flesh."

I also learned today that everything we do must be in the Trinitarian model. To know God the Father, we must know Christ the Son. To know the Son, the Holy Spirit must illumine our hearts to see the beauty of Christ. So Christ is next to us, the Holy Spirit is in us, and we worship the Father who is above us. WOW! Praise the LORD!

God, teach me to be like you! Your thoughts are too wonderful too me to conceive! Thank you for revealing yourself in Your Son by Your Spirit. Thank you for the privelege of getting to know you deeper. Thank you for being a seeking God when I did not seek you (Luke 19:10). In Jesus Name, Amen.