Pilgrims

PILGRIMS
We are mere pilgrims, transients in this decadent and temporary world. This is not our final destination. Likening it to a trip, the earth is just a temporary stop over to our final destination which is eternity. Whatever we do here will determine whether we will enjoy eternal life with the Lord or eternal death and separation from Him. Man acts as though this world is his final destiny. He works himself to death, laying up treasures and securities for himself and his loved ones but has pitifully neglected laying up treasures in heaven. He may be filthy rich here on earth but a spiritual mendicant in the afterlife. Jesus asked His hearers what would a man exchange for his soul? And what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet suffer the loss of his soul? We should not only prepare our children for their future. We should prepare them for eternity.


Tags: Pilgrims, Eternal Life, Eternal Death, Soul, Afterlife, Temporary World, Final Destiny, Treasures In Heaven, Gospel, Word Of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

Fear Of The Lord

FEAR OF THE LORD
What is the fear of the Lord? Why did the Bible say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom? Is it possible that we can love God and fear Him at the same time? Fear connotes a negative picture in everybody's mind. Fear connotes a tyrannical disposition that breeds fear and contempt. But what really is the meaning of fear of the Lord? Fear of the Lord is that sense of reverential awe that a creature feels when faced with a great Creator of the universe, the giver of life and death, the sustainer of everything seen and unseen. Fear of the Lord is the acknowledgment by puny and mortal man of what he is in relation to the greatness and awesomeness of God. Have you ever seen the great love, devotion and awe that our pet dog show to us whenever we are in its presence? If that is the love and awe our pet dog show to us, think of the great difference between ourselves and God. Have you ever thought of how would you react if the president of the most powerful nation on earth called on you personally in your most unguarded moment? You would probably be embarrassed and agitated no end because of the great importance of your unexpected visitor. How much more about the Creator of that person who hold the lives of the most powerful men on earth at the palm of His hand? Fear of the Lord is the acknowledgment of God's great love for us who sent His only begotten Son to die in our place so that we can have eternal life. It is the fear to displease Him and dishonor His name, for we can only give back to Him the unfailing love He first gave us.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Fear of The Lord, Awe, Reverence, Love, Greatness, Awesomeness, Mortal And Puny Man, Grace, Cross, Salvation, Eternal Life, Joy, Gospel, Word of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

Soul Winning

SOUL WINNING
Soul winning is the desire in the heart of all Christians to save his fellow brother from the danger of eternal death and separation from the presence of the Lord. The born again Christian, who has experienced the joy and thrill of attaining eternal life through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, has this overwhelming and unquenchable desire in his heart to tell the good news of their salvation. It is not a question of converting a non believer to his church or religion for neither of them can save an individual from eternal death. Only the acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior assures any person of eternal life with the Lord. The burden of soul winning is placed by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all earnest Christians. It is as though a fire will burn them up if they will not witness for the Lord. The Lord wants that none should perish but wants all to attain eternal life through the saving grace of the Gospel of the Lord. The Gospel is the never ending story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His eventual return to earth to judge the living and the dead. CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD AND BE SAVED.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Soul Winning, Witnessing, Born Again, Christian, Salvation, Eternal Life, Gospel, Word Of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

Spiritual Revival

SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
The antidote to backsliding and spiritual coldness is spiritual revival. Spiritual revival is accomplished through intense and earnest prayers and supplication to the Holy Spirit who is the author of all spiritual revivals. It is the revival of one's fervor and passion of love and devotion to the Lord characterized by a second outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The flickering love and commitment to God and His kingdom are relighted to a burning and smoldering fire that will sustain the child of God through his moments of trials and temptations. Prayer and daily reading of the word of God are regularly maintained as the renewed Christian is strengthened by the love and grace of God. Regular fellowships with other Christians are also revived with renewed fervor and enthusiasm. Witnessing for the Lord becomes so easy as narrating the events of the previous day. All Christians need spiritual revival from time to time to keep the flames of love and devotion to the Lord be ever burning in their hearts. Woe to the Christian who will not seek spiritual revival in times of spiritual coldness and backsliding. Theirs is the real danger of losing their heritage of eternal life with the Lord and going back to their former world of sinfulness and eventually, eternal death.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Revival, Backsliding, Fervor of Love and Devotion, Burning Fire, Regular Fellowships, Renewal, Gospel, Word of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

Borderline Christians And The Art Of Compromise

What are borderline Christians? Borderline Christians are so called Christians whose one foot is stuck out to heaven and whose other foot remains steadfast on earth. They are so called Christians who want to have their cake and eat it too. They profess loyalty to their church and religion but remain totally uncommitted to Jesus Christ. And what is the art of compromise to a borderline Christian? Compromise means dilution of the pure doctrine and teachings of Jesus Christ. Some so called Christians embrace compromise by synthesizing their Christian beliefs with principles and beliefs of other religions or philosophies. In our country the Philippines, you can see some altars (mostly Chinese ones) that feature statues of different Buddhas and the statue of the Baby Jesus Christ which Filipinos fondly call Santo Nino. Devotion to the Santo Nino embraces a wide repertoire of different folkloric practices like pagan dances called the Ati Atihan to quack practices of medicine (similar to a shaman) claiming powers from divine intervention from the Santo Nino, Mother Mary, different dwarfs and gnomes and other spirit guides. In the provinces, those who can heal against witchcraft are practicing witchcraft themselves. Like Buddhist and Hindu temples, good and evil forces sit side by side in the pantheon of gods, goddesses and demigods. A true and faithful follower of Jesus Christ cannot be contaminated with these kinds of beliefs and practices. In order not to be sidetracked or deceived, a true Christian must engrossed himself to the unadulterated truth in the word of God contained in the Holy Bible.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Borderline Christians, Art of Compromise, Church, Religion, Dilution of The Pure Doctrines and Teachings of Jesus Christ, Synthesize, Principles, Beliefs, Buddha, Santo Nino, Mother Mary, Spirit Guides, Witchcraft, Demigods, Unadulterated Truth, Word of God, Gospel, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

Christian Stewardship

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP
Christian stewardship is acknowledging that everything that we have and owned are not our own to keep and do as we please, but we are just faithful steward of the Lord who created everything seen and unseen. Even our children were just given to us by the Lord to protect, nurture and sustain in their growing and nurturing years but they belong to the Lord and not to us. By having this positive frame of mind, we should not be unduly attached to everything we have and own, and like Job, we can rightfully say, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21). Those who are attached too much to their so called riches and possessions never really have peace of mind and a good night's sleep because they are always fearful that their material possessions may be robbed or they may become bankrupt. How many suicides and mass murders were committed in the US and other advanced countries during the height of the depression that hit these affluent and powerful countries where the bubble burst in the make believe world of US economic invincibility? Many saw their lifetime savings and stocks securities vanished into thin air as the stock market took an almost irreversible free fall. Big and giant companies declared bankruptcies and hundreds of thousands if not millions of employees lost their jobs and their mortgaged homes as well. There was so much fear and uncertainty and people held on to their hard currencies instead of plunging into their accustomed buying frenzies. But those who look to God for their sustenance and provision never worried for the Lord was never amiss in providing for all their needs.
"AND MY GOD WILL PROVIDE ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES AND GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS" (Philippians 4:19)


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Christian Stewardship, Divine Providence, Creator, Heaven, Earth, Possessions, Family, Children, Depression, Bubble Burst, Free Fall, Bankruptcy, Restoration, Gospel, Word of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational

Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The most important event that could happen to a Christian is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is the time when the Holy Spirit descends from heaven and enlivens the long dead spirit of man. This normally occurs immediately after a person accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior and become born again. Or a Christian can attend a life in the Spirit seminar and at the conclusion of the seminar, the presiding pastor or priest lay his hand on each participant who then receives the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is different from the water baptism whereby a Christian is immersed in water to symbolize his death to this world (and all things worldly) and a new life in Jesus Christ. The original baptism of the Holy Spirit was during the Pentecost wherein the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples of Jesus Christ and where all of them immediately spoke in tongues. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is characterized by the outpouring of His gifts to the newly baptized Christian for the edification of the church. The onrushing of the powers of the Holy Spirit is characterized by an indescribable feeling wherein people would simultaneously laugh or cry and feel elation and bliss all over. Their eyes are opened to the realities of heaven and God's kingdom. They receive wisdom in understanding the words of God in the Bible as though these words are alive with new found meanings and they leap straight out of the Bible into their hearts and minds. Their hearts sing in joyous expectations and in the knowledge of the reality of God in their hearts. They readily fellowship with other Christians as they feel their oneness with the whole body of Christ as they sing in one voice in joyous worship and praises of the Lord.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Baptism in The Holy Spirit, Water Baptism, Outpouring of Gifts of The Holy Spirit, Speaking in Tongues, Prophesy, Divine Wisdom, Gospel, Word of God, Holy Bible

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational/Motivational