Theme for August 2017

RISE
Living above the level of mediocrity (ordinariness, averageness, opposite of excellence)
FAITH & OVERCOMING LIFE MONTH
JIL Distinctive Emphasis: FAITH-FILLED CHURCH [We are a Church that puts our absolute trust in the
revelation and power of the Living GOD. As a Church, we live with absolute confidence on GODs
sovereignty (dominion, power, control) and guidance, acknowledging His power, knowledge and
presence in every part of our life.]

Faith is heeding (paying attention) to Gods call and promise for us to RISE in faith and obedience to
God over and above the circumstances that pushes us down away from God and pushes you toward
discouragement and disobedience to God.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To encourage Gods people to heed/folllow Gods call and promise for us to RISE in faith and
obedience to God over and above the circumstances and attitudes that pushes us down and
away from God and pushes us toward discouragement and disobedience to the Lord
2. To remind believers that we are born victors, not victims.
3. To deepen our spiritual understanding regarding the benefits of the cross.

Text: MATT.14:22-33
22Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He
sent the multitudes away. 23And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain
by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24But the boat was now in the middle
of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26And when the
disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost! And they cried out for
fear.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.
28And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.
29So He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to
Jesus. 30But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried
out, saying, Lord, save me!
31And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith,
why did you doubt? 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God.

TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 1:6-7 (NIV)

(6) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of
my hands. (7) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-
discipline.
IGNITE (POWER): REKINDLE THE FIRE WITHIN YOU
Central idea:
BEING PASSIONATE/ ABLAZE FOR GOD INVOLVES REKINDLING THE SPIRITUAL FIRE WITHIN US THAT
RESULT TO VICTORY IN LIFE.

1 John 5:4-5 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the
world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that JESUS is the
SON OF GOD.

INITIAL OBSERVATION:
-Like Peter in the story, many of us already knew who God is and what He can do in our lives yet many
times we doubt Him.
-why is this so? Because of different waves in our surroundings that takes away our focus to His words
and promises.

1tim.4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving
spirits and things taught by demons.
*the main reason why people abandon their faith is because of the enemy's deception
*One of the primary responsibilities of the priests under the Old Covenant is to keep the fire burning on
Gods altar perpetually. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:13
NKJV).

*WE MUST REKINDLE OUR PASSION FOR GOD if we want to become VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN
JOURNEY. Because you will only succeed in what you are passionate about. MAGBANTAY SA ANOMANG
MAARING PUMATAY NG IYONG ALAB SA DIYOS. Rekindle Gods power Gods power should be rekindled in
our lives!

HOW THE ENEMY DECEIVES/DISTRACTS GOD'S PEOPLE?

1. BY OFFERING things that are UNDENIABLY GOOD IN OUR SIGHT.
BIBLE CHARACTERS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS:
a. EVE/ADAM Gen.3:6
6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.,
b. DAVID, 2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof
of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
c. JESUS matt 4:88 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; 9 and
he said to Him, All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.)

*Lust of the eyes

*Lust of the flesh
*Pride of life

a. BY MAGNIFYING the NEGATIVE THINGS around us. (10 spies)

Numbers 13:27-28
 They reported to Moses: We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk
and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and
the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there.
*the problems, the lacking things
*WE SHALL NOT ALLOW ANY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS IN OUR LIFE
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink
about such things. (PHIL.4:8)
*WORRIES WILL ADD NO GOOD THING IN OUR LIFE.
MATTHEW6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

b. BY MAKING us see ourselves WEAK AND PITIFUL.

(MOSES exodus 6:30 But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would
Pharaoh listen to me?",
ELIJAH 1 kin.19:4 sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD,"
he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.",
GIDEON jud.6:15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is
the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.")
2 TIMOTHY 1:6-7
(7) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

c. BY DESTROYING EVERYTHING we have. (Job chapter 1 &2)

7
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the
sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he
was sitting among the ashes.
9
Then his wife said to him, Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have
it to the full. JOHN 10:10

*GOD never PLANNED ANY HARM in our lives.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future. JEREMIAH 29:11

HOW TO REKINDLE THE FIRE WITHIN YOU?

1. HAVE COURAGE.
(28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the
water.)
*GOD DELIGHTS IN ANSWERING OUR CHALLENGES.
*PETER ASKED THE LORD TO LET HIM DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.
 *WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE COURAGE TO FACE OUR EVERYDAY BATTLE IF WE ARE
FOUNDED WITH HIS WORDS.
(Psalms 23:4-6 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with
me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of
my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.)
*LOOK FOR EVIDENCE OF A FIRE IN YOUR LIFE. (You wont be able to keep quiet about the truth
of God, youll have a supernatural boldness and supernatural power to speak and do what God
leads you to say.)

*NO ONE AND NOTHING SHOULD ONE BETWEEN YOU AND THE LORD.
(Rom.8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.)

2. HAVE HUMILITY.
(30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried
out, saying, Lord, save me!)
*God understands our limitations
*Peter ask the Lord to Let him cry for help when he falls
*we should recognize our desperate condition like peter, disregard our own capablty to save
ourselves.
*Peter accepted his nothingness despite being a seasoned fisherman
(John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear
much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.)
*we can only survive the toughest issues in life if our life is anchored to Him who made it
(unhappiness, burnout, job dissatisfaction, break ups, addiction, poverty, bankruptcy, broken
families, and unmet expectations.)
*ASK THE HOLY SPIRITS POWER over our LIFE.
*DAVID after experiencing a downfall He humbled himself & prayed for a new heart.
PSALMS 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
*GET DOWN UNDER GOD means submitting every part of our life to the Lord. All of your day
to day decisions as well to Gods leadership

3. HAVE FAITH.
(31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of
little faith, why did you doubt? 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of
God.)
(Heb.11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.)
FAITH IS ABOUT
 ACCEPTING His LOVING HANDS to save
ACCEPTING His GENTLE REBUKE
ACCEPTING His GREAT REVELATION of Himself
*faith is ABOUT SEEING THINGS POSITIVELY beyond what our eyes can only see.
Heb. 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

DUMATING KANG KAYA MO AT WILLING KANG I LET GO ANG ANOMAN AT SINOMAN, HUWAG
LANG ANG DIYOS
*Abraham is willing to sacrifice Isaac. Binigay ng Diyos, pero huwag mong angkinin. Kapg hiningi
ng Diyos, kaya mo pa ring ibigay sa Kaniya. Kapag mayroon ka ng hindi kayang ibigay sa Diyos, ito
na ang nagiging balakid sa iyong relasyon sa Diyos.
*PLACE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD rather than your own abilities.

(Phil.4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.)

Conclusion:
I John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS
GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.

John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
* THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF A TIMID OR COWARDLY DISPOSITION, OR OF SLAVISH
FEARS. We will all experience different BATTLES in our DAILY LIFE. And there is no other secret in
WINNING these battles but to BELIEVE that we are all BORN WINNERS because of GOD.
*EXPECT GOD TO USE YOUR ORDINARY LIFE IN EXTRA ORDINARY WAYS.
*What a great thing know, that our God already knows what this world has (TROUBLES, TRIALS &
TESTINGS) and ASSURED us that He already OVERCOME IT!
TINAPOS NA NG DIYOS ANG ATING MGA LABAN!
WE ARE BORN WNNERS! WE JUST HAVE TO CLAIM THE PLAQUE AND REWARDS.
YES, 2,000 YEARS AGO WE ALREADY WON THE BATTLE!