"Then the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.' But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else." Exodus 4:11-13

I got a lesson of humility during last Wednesday's prayer meeting. It was my turn to preach on the Parable of the Rich Fool. During my message, I was stumbling over my words and my thoughts were unclear. I started sweating and everyone noticed that I was so nervous. I wanted to finish quickly because I just wanted to be out of the spotlight. As I left prayer meeting, I ask the Lord, "What was that? Where were you Lord? I never want to do that again if you are not with me?" If I stand before God's people trusting my own wisdom, there will be no spiritual power and divine action. I need to trust God. I don't want to preach or teach if God will not go with me.

In this passage, Moses acknowledges that he is not an eloquent man. He does not want to do what God has called him to do. Yet, in the future, Moses will be one of the most eloquent preachers and powerful spiritual figures in all of biblical history. Why?

It was because God uses the weak to display his strength. God picks the nobodies to shame the strong. God doesn't choose people who trust in themselves. He chooses those who are broken, humble, and willing to listen to his voice.

Father,
I don't want to do anything if you don't go with me. What is the point? I will be humiliated or be in shame or puffed up in self-righteous pide. Don't make me do things where your not with me. I don't like it. Help me always be dependent on you. May I just be a vessel used for your glory, even if it means just teaching kids all my life. You use the weak, not the strong. You use the humble, not the proud.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

God reveals himself to Moses as the Great I AM. God hears the groanings of his people in Egypt. They are oppressed and sold into slavery. God also preserves the life of Moses. Moses fled into the wilderness because his own countrymen grumbled against him, yet God was with him. I found in interesting that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What is significant about this is that God is a God of promises. God promised Abraham to bless him through his son and God came through. I am reminded once again that God keeps his promises to his people because of his character.

"He was delivevered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification" (Romans 4:25)

I got the opportunity to stay with Ed and Lilia Soledad this week because their family is out of town and they needed someone to watch them. It has been like a little mini retreat to me. We wake up, pray, eat breakfast, read our bibles, pray, eat lunch, read our bibles, and share our faith with one another. I love it!! The Soledad's house reminds me of a monastery where I can read books all day and pray and talk to tita Lilia about my future dreams in honoring the Lord.

I am so blessed by this woman's life. She is a godly humble servant who was one of the church planters of CFBC in her jewelry store. She is also a missionary and has planted the Amazing Grace churches. Just observing her life while I was with her really blesses me. Here are some insights I got:

1. Be Prayerful
Tita Lilia is always prayerful of whatever she does. Whether its reading her Bible, eating breakfast or even going out to run errands, she is soaked in prayer.

2. Love God's Word
She showed me her lesson plans and they are SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY notes from the BIBLE ALONE. She does not rely on commentaries, but on the Holy Spirit to reveal new truths to her in the sufficient and inerrant word.

3. Dream Big
We were talking about maybe the possibility of starting an orphanage and Christian school in the philippines. It only cost $10,000 to get a school building up on that beautiful island they steward for the Lord. That's only the cost of one year of my Talbot Tuition!! Lord, do great things!!

4. Lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 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.

5. Let the Lord instruct me.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

6. Be Patient
Wait upon the Lord to renew my strength and lead me. Isaiah 40:31

7. Again, Be prayerful
Prayer shows your dependence on God. And I see it the life of Tita Lilia. She sees God's providence in all things. It is so encouraging. She definitely encouraged my faith this week.

"God sent me here" says Joseph. After being betrayed by his brothers, accused of sexual immorality, sent to prison, and forgotten, the Lord was with Joseph all along the way. Joseph rises to power in Egypt and becomes second in command. After many years, all the pain, hurt, and evil is made right when the Jacob's sons come to Egypt for the famine relief. Joseph weeps because he remembers all the pain he went through. Yet he still believes God is in control, sovereign, and good. "God sent me here." This is a profound statement that Joseph makes. He could've have said, "IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT MY LIFE WAS TAKEN FROM ME!" Instead, he sees God's good pleasure and goodness worked through all the evil and suffering he experienced.

Fast foward to the New Testament. Jesus is betrayed, beaten, mocked, misunderstood, treated unjustly, and ultimately crucified. Jesus in one sense, says "God sent me here." He left the Father's throne to come to the "Egypt" of our sin cursed world. His Jewish brothers betrayed him. Christ hanging on the cross could have said, "IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN I AM HANGING HERE!" Instead, he says, "Father, forgive them." Christ sees God's good pleasure working through the evil of the crucifixion. Christ believes that God is in control, sovereign, and good.

Now, I am a child of God because God sent Jesus to the cross on my behalf. I meant for evil against God, but God meant it for good. Now Christ calls me to do the same to a lost world. When people mistreat me, abuse me, mock me, betray me; I can also testify, "God sent me here."

Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom of God. How unsearchable are his ways! How profound his wisdom!

Profound words, "God sent me here."

I am amazed with all the blessings that Christ has purchased for me. I have a right standing with God because Christ lives on my behalf. I am a child of God because of Christ. I have access to the God the Father through the Holy Spirit. I dread no condemnation because Christ was condemned for me. I fear no shame because Christ was shamefully treated at Calvary. I fear no guilt because the penalty of sin was dealt with at the cross. I am a heir of God because Jesus was made like his brothers in every way, yet without sin. AMAZING GRACE!

I've been realizing what A FOOL I have been by trying to fight sin in my own strength rather then to surrender to Christ. You cannot fight sin by your own will power, or what Paul calls the flesh. It is impossible because you are trusting in your own self to deliver you from the power of the law. Only in Christ is there freedom because we do not have to earn our salvation. I am already unconditionally loved by Christ and accepted by God the Father because of Christ work on my behalf.

It is really important to understand justification. Faith in God's righteousness always precedes my personal righteousness and sanctification. I have been learning that what you believe about God is really important. Do I believe that I am unconditially loved despite my sin? Do I believe that God accepts me by the merits of Christ alone? Am I trying to gain acceptance with God through my personal holiness, bible study, prayer, meditation? Or Do I believe that God calls me His beloved already because of the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?

Good works will come from BELIEVING RIGHT THINGS ABOUT GOD FIRST! Alex, believe the precious promises of God! "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his pprecious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire" (2 Peter 1:3-5)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Galatians 2:20-21

Romans 13:13-14
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, thing about these things.

Ephesians 6:16-18
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perserverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Lord Jesus,
There really is a spiritual war out there. I need your grace to live a pure and holy life before you, pleasing. I know you have great things in store for me. Give my heart affections for you so that the things of the world will seem complete folly compared to the heavenly pleasures. Open my eyes to the reality of your Spirit. I need you Lord. Thank you for being my God. Thank you for being my first love. Thank you for your faithfulness despite my unfaithfulness. Thank you for taking my condemnation, guilt and shame at the cross. Thank you for the POWER of your Resurrection. I believe, help my unbelief.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God's thoughts after him: to deisre the things he desires, to love the things he loves, to will the things he wills. Progressively, we are taught to see things from his point of viee-Celebration of the Disciplines-Richard Foster

Listening to God is the necessary prelude to intercession...We must hear, know, and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others. Celebration of the Disciplines-Richard Foster

• God, Philosophy, and the University by Alasdair MacIntyre
• Celebration of the Disciplines by Richard Foster
• Genesis/ 2 Corinthians
• Grounded in the Gospel by J.I. Packer
• Gospel Christianity Notes by Tim Keller
• Tactics by Gregory Koukel
• The Lord's Prayer by R.C. Sproul

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers,
But his delight is on the Law of the Lord,
And on his law he meditates day and night-Psalm 1

Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God's voice and obey his word-Celebration of Discipline-Richard Foster

Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind...Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster

Otium Sanctum means "holy Leisure." Foster aruges that it is a sense of balance in the life, and ability to be at peach through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, and ability to pace ourselves (27). Our churches lack a deep experiental knowledge of God. We do not know how to commune with the living God. We do not know how to walk in day to day life with God. Instead, we have an external righteousness that lacks substance, depth. I picked up Foster's book to help me cultivate my intimacy with God. Distractions, Business, and Ministry crowd out me sitting at the Lord's feet, opening my heart to him, and learning from Him.

Why do Christians lack growth and fall into lukewarmness? (1) We harden our hearts because we have become "dull" of hearing the Word. As the apostle James says, We should be "doers" or the Word and not only "hearers" lest we deceive ourselves. Here are some important princples I learned from reflecting on this time:

1. Stop
Find places where you are not distracted from emails, phonecalls, people, and work. Be consciously telling yourself that this time you have is to have One on One time with the Lord.

2. Be Comfortable
Find a place where you can meditate freely. For me, this is the beach, my backyard, and my room in the evening.

3. Open Your Heart
Tell the Lord what is really going on in your heart: Anger, Betrayal, Anxiousness, Hurt, Pain, Joy.

4. Listen to God
Ponder on the Scriptures. Ask God to show wonderful things in His Law.

Application:
Morning Times-I get so distracted in the morning. The first thing that pops into my head is that I need to go running or get ready for work. I also want to check my email, facebook, or bank account before I start reading my Bible.

Afternoon-I rarely spend times with God in the afternoon. I get caught up with studying or meeeting with people or preparing lessons.

Evening-I believe this is my most important time of the day. I normally reflect in the Scriptures in Genesis. Playing Worship Music relaxes me. In other words, here are times where I am able to contemplate and open up my heart to God.

Lord, grow me in becoming more intimate with you. Open my heart to recieve your word. I confess to you that I have hardened my heart and have stop listening to you because I have become "dull" of hearing because I have been so "busy" serving you. Help me stop, think, reflect, and listen once again.

Thank you for grace, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Think: The life of the Mind and the Love of God: October 1-3, Minnieapolis, MN

2011 The Shepherd's Conference: March 9-13 Los Angeles, CA

2011 The Gospel Coalition: April 12-14 Chicago, IL

2011 Philippines Summer Mission Trip.

God, please provide the funds!!!

God gives coherence to all things. The Trinune God is the only reasonable explantion: One God manifested in three persons. God is one in essence, three in persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus said: "I and the Father are One" John 10:30

a. The Body of Christ.
One Spirit, many members. One Spirit, many gifts.

b. Univeristy.
One unifying Discipline (Theology), many diverse disciplines (Biology, Philosophy, Cosmology, Physics).

c. Essay.
One unfiying thesis, many main points that support the thesis.

d.Marriage
One flesh, yet two distinct persons: Male and Female

e. Sermons
One main unifying propostion, diverse main points.

f. Family
One family, different members: Father, Son, Children.

g. Art
One portrait, yet diverse color schemes and strokes of paint.

h. My Christian Relationship.
I am not God. Jesus did everything in obedience to the Father. Jesus accomplishes my salvation. When I obey Christ, I abide in Him, and therefore am one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father. There is the mystery of plurality and unity.

Romans 12:4-8
For as one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts taht differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contibutes, in generositiy; the one who lead, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

There is no such thing as a "Super-Christian." The only super Christian who had all the gifts was Jesus, who was God.

For me, I was called into one body with specific gifting. I cannot do everything. It will cause burn out. Here are some important questions I need to think about before considering my calling:

1. Is there a desire for me to preach the pure word of God?
2. Does the community of God affirm this gift?
3. Is this something I cannot live without doing?

Everything is still unclear to me right now. I am young and inexperienced. I am not mature and do not have enough life experiences to minister to my full capacities.

What do I love to do??

a. Teaching
I love teaching. I love teaching Sunday School classes in Apologetics, Bible, Theology, and Philosophy. I love interaction with students to get them thinking deeply of why they believe what they believe.

b. Studying
I find joy in reading. I love books. To love God, you must have to know Him. You have to know his likes and dislikes, his passion and his hatred for sin. You must think right thoughts about God for you to honor him. I can spend all day reading my Bible, books in Theology, Philosophy, and whatever interests are at the moment.

c. Preaching??
Not so sure. It takes a lot of work to be a deep preacher. You have to be immersed in prayer, be captivated by God's Word, transformed by it, and share it with others. I don't know, preaching is a high calling as you stand as a herald of God to correct, rebuke, reproof, and encouraged with the Word of God.

d. Defending (Jude 1:3, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Ideas have consequences. You are what you believe. A godless generation is rising because they do not know how to discern good from evil. They do not know how to critique false beliefs and gain true wisdom and understanding. I want every thought of my to be taken captive to the Word of God and obedience of Christ.

e. Shepherding??
I have failed many times in this area. I lack empathy and compassion at times. I sin by not listening to people. I fail to be sensitive. I need God's grace in this area of my life.

What now?
Right now, God is working even though everything is unclear to me. I know God has great things in store for me in the future. I just need to be faithful and have an enduring Spirit. God has me at the pefect place at the perfect timing. I am a student who gets to study philosophy and theology at seminary. I am also a teacher who gets to teach friday bible studies, sunday school, small groups, prayer meetings, and local outreaches.

Father,

Help me use the gifts you have given me for the edification of your church for the glory of your name. When praise comes to me, let it always be directed to the cross of calvary. To God be the glory both now and forevermore. Amen.

1. Why was this exegetical idea necessary for its original recipients?

2. What is God revealing about Himself in this text? (Godward)

3. What is God saying to ME in this text? (Application/ Inward)

4.What does God want to accomplish through this text?

5.What could negate the progress I have just made through this text?

taken from Deep Preaching

I have been trying to fight my sin and temptations in my own strength and I find out I fail miserably. I keep resolving to "try again" and try better but always end up coming short. I am reminded once again that I am a sinner. There is nothing righteous or good or lovely in me because I have rebelled against a holy and pure God. The only thing that is going to help me fight sin is reminding myself of the gospel and the full forgivness of Jesus Christ and his full atonement.

Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. He went to calvary, shed his blood, was buried, and three days rose again. By the power of his indestructible life, he lives forever as a High Priest who intercedes on my behalf. Not only that, he is coming back again to save us, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him" (1 Thessolonians 5:9). In other words, Jesus accomplishes salvation for us in the past, present, and future. How I need his present work to save me from the weakness of my flesh. I hate the guilt, and shame, and failures of sin. I hate griveing the Holy Spirit. I hate dishonoring the Lord. I find myself weak when I am not captured by grace.

I am glad that my salvation is not ultimately depended on my love for God, but God's love for me in Christ. My love fluctuates, His love remains the same. I change, God does not change. I am wretched, He bore my wretchedness on the cross. I am guilty of sin, he bore my guilt on the cross. I have shame, He was left naked on the cross to take my shame. I feel abandoned when I sinned, He was abandoned by the Father so that the promise "I will never leave your nor forsake you" will come true for in my life.

Father in Heaven,
Please forgive me of my sin. Forgive me for not living the life I should live. But thank you that Your Son lived the life I should have lifed. Thank you that he died the death I should have died. Thank you for his merciful blood that washes me and makes me holy and blameless and above reproach. Thank you for the gospel.

In the name of the Living Savior who is my High Priest,
Amen.

Great preaching starts with a great relationship with God.
Godliness starts with a great relationship with God.
Love for the Church starts with a a great relationship with God.
Love for believers starts with a great relationship with God.
Love for the lost starts with a great relationship with God.
Love for my family starts with a great relationship with God.
Love for the oppress starts with a great relationship with God.
Hatred for sin starts with a great relationship with God.
Hatred for unwise spending starts with a great relationship with God.
Hatred for selfishness starts with a great relationship with God.
Hatred for wasted time starts with a great relationship with God.

Everything starts with a great relationship with God. Just as human relationships need to be cultivated and maintained, how much more my relationship with God. Why do I feel weak spiritually? LAZINESS has made me become dry. I use to be attentive and was passionate to read the Scriptures and Pray and Memorize. But the relationship becomes dull when you forget doing the things you once did at first. Just as in romantic relationships, people forget to be kind and loving when they are married for awhile. Same thing with God. God desires me to find him fresh in new ways everyday and have my love for him increase daily.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

During my devotional, I was reminded that God is faithful. God had promised Abraham to make his name a blessing to all nations and to grant him offspring as great as the stars in the heaven. However, Abraham wavered in his faith before God. God promised Abraham a Son, and Abraham was becoming unsure of God's promise as he grew older. When Sarah started doubting, she asked Abraham to sleep with Hagar. So Abraham agreed. And Ishmael was born and Hagar was neglected.

We all know the story. God did come through with his promises. Sarah eventually became pregnant and had a child named Isaac. I was reminded that I should not doubt God's goodness and promises. Whatever God says, he will do; even if it does not make sense to us. More than that, God's promises is not ultimately depended on our faithfulness, but his faithfulness and character.

What promises can I believe now that seem hard to believe? God works out everything for good on our behalf, even the evil I have suffered. God promises to raise me from the dead because of Jesus Christ's Resurrection. God promises to present me blameless and above reproach and holy because of the death of Jesus Christ and his reconciling work. God promises to give me strength in weakness.

God, overcome my unbelief. Help me believe your promises and that you are good. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The primary duty of a Christian is not service, evangelism, ministry, or social justice; but worship. In other words, the primary duty of a Christian is to be happy in God. Why do we sin? We sin when we are not happy in God. We look for earthly pleasures when we are satisfied with godly pleasures.

I have seen in my life that even good things such as service, ministry, and evangelism can crowd out God. My duty as a Christian is to get my soul satisfied in Jesus Christ. To remember what he has done for me. That he has reconciled me to the Father through his atoning sacrifice at the cross. That I am guilt-free and there is not condemnation for me because of Christ (Romans 8:1).

Christian service, evangelism, ministry, and social justice will flow from a heart that is grateful in God (Eph 2:10). I do not have to earn my salvation because Jesus has already accomplished it at Calvary.

When I was a non-believer, I needed to repent of my immorality. Now, as a believer, I need to repent of my righteousness. Preaching, teaching, serving, and leading are not good indicators that you are close to God. In fact, it can be a disguise for self-righteous moralism. I am close to God because of Jesus. It is not Jesus plus something. It is Jesus alone by his grace alone. I am the beloved child of the Father because Jesus has done his work on my behalf and continually does it as my High Priest. He is my greater older brother. He is my greater prophet. He is my greater example. He is my Substitute. He is my divine lover. He is my God.

Here are some more great insights I got from Deep Preaching.

Meditation
There is a significant coorelation between great preaching and meditation. If I want to be godly, I have to meditate on the Word. As Kent Edwards says, it is easy to read the bible like how we eat 99 cent cheesburgers. I read my Bible in the morning as water flows through a pipe. It does not get the chance to settle in my mind throughout the day. The text has to be chewed over and over again until it becomes part of me. I have noticed that my Scripture reading has not been carried over to the rest of my day. Instead, I have comparmentalized my scripture reading to a morning and evening block without every affecting my daily life. In other words, I need to carry my scripture reading with me throughout the day.

Prayer
The Pharisees prayed, but not the way Jesus prayed. It is so easy just to pray before meals, a Bible Study, and Sunday Service. But if I am not nurturing a daily prayer life the way I breathe oxygen, then I have become like a Phariseee. When I am prompted to pray by the Holy Spirit, I must speak my mind to God. God, help me fight this sin. Lord, what would you have me do? Forgive me for being unkind. Teach me your thoughts. Be with me today. How does what you spoke with me this morning have to do with my situation right now as I work and study?

I bet the reason why our church is so lukewarm is because we don't pray and meditate on the Word. I am guilty of this as well. The apostles gave up a noble task (feeding widows) in Acts 6, to devote themselves to the priority of the Word and Prayer. We are spiritually immature because we do not spend time with the Son of God. We do not hear his voice in the pages of Scripture. Instead, we let facebook, emails, phonecalls, adminstration, and events crowd out the "closet work" of alone time with God.

Forgive us Father, help us spend time with you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

"Great preaching begins with a great relationship with God. It is impossible for a preacher to compensate for a relationship that has gone cold for the 'mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.'"- J Kent Edwards, Deep Preaching

"Do you want God or God's blessings? Do you want personal advancement or personal intimacy with God? Your honest answer to these questions will have a major impact on how you preach"

"God does not pastors or churches that are not passionately in love with Him. The prerequisite to deep preaching is a deep and passionate relationship with God for whom we speak."

"The goal of the preacher must not be to have a successful ministry. It is not wrong for people to swell and applaud your ministry, but it is dangerous when they gegin to distract you from what is most important. When some measure of fame comes knocking, it often holds the door open for pride to pay you a visit."

"If you are not enjoying a deep relationship with your heavenly Father--and you want to preach deeply--then you have to fake it."

How can we be better preachers? We should not remember our passion for God, but God's passion for us in sending His Son to die for an unfaithful people. It is not our faithfulness that drew God to us, but God's faithfulness that drew Him to us. In other words, God's character is what loved a sinful people. God wants us to be passionate about Him. He does not want cold lukewarm hearts. He wants hearts that are on fire for Him.

How do we get this fire burning in our lives? By remembering the love of God and his passion for us. He left heaven to come to earth. He left glory to come to a suffering world. He lived a perfect life. He died a criminal's death. The primary goal of a Christian is to be happy in God. When ministry takes over intimacy with the divine lover, you have lost sight of why you are doing ministry. Here is a definition of sin: You love yourself more than you love God.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments" John 14:15

God, consume me with a holy passion for you! Please!! FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE!!!

• Read a Chapter of Biblical Greek a day.
• Finish Philosophy of Religion Paper
• Finish memorizing Colossians
• Memorize Jude
• Pay off debt and save $$