Lord, Teach Us to Pray

by: Pastor Jose V. Velasco

   Jesus’ praying must have impressed the disciples so deeply that one of them asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1). Prayer is the human part in our conversation with God. In prayer we present to God our requests (Phil. 4:6). So, we begin considering some characteristics of prayer.

We will mention 3 types of prayer, but other types may be added also.

1) Individual personal prayer. You alone are with God. Jesus practiced this. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mk. 1:35). After feeding the 5,000 ”he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Mt. 14:23). Peter prayed alone (Acts 10:9). Jesus taught people to pray alone (Mt. 6:6). Here you may pray for things that are so personal and private. And no one will bother how long you pray.

2) Corporate/group praying. Jesus taught praying with others. Jesus promised that where several people pray together He will be in their midst and hear them (Mt. 18:19-20). Group praying is supportive and encouraging.

3) Casual praying. This is unplanned for praying. Out of the blue a very important concern pops up in your mind and you pray silently. You could be at home, on a train or bus, at work, but you pray silently. Surely God hears your prayer. Which type should we use? All these types, and others, should be used according to circumstances and needs. God hears them all as long as they come from a truly believing heart. Jesus promised, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt. 7:7).

Paul’s admonition was, “Pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17). Praying must be regular. To fulfill this it helps if you designate a specific time and place in your home to pray. Being alone it may be in your own bed room. As a family the dining room may do. It would be ideal for a family to pray together. The saying goes, “a family that prays together stays together.” If this is not possible each may pray individually according to the convenient time each has. I encourage praying daily. Some devotional pamphlets are helpful like the Daily Bread, Upper Room or Today.  In the home children and youths must be taught to pray.

 How do we learn to pray? The Lord’s prayer is our perfect pattern for prayer. What are some aids in learning to pray? We can learn from the prayers of others, written or spoken. We must actually pray to learn. Much could only be learned by actual doing. We do not learn swimming by just reading a book on swimming. You have to actually swim. Be simple in your praying. In public do not be shy. God looks at the sincerity of your heart, not how elaborate and polished you pray is. Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you how to pray. He is the best teacher. Prayer is the power line that connects us to the Source of power, peace, joy, guidance and all heavenly blessings. You must pray regularly.

Prayer: Thank you, dear God for the gift of prayer. Help us to love and learn how to pray. May we make prayer a very important and regular part of our daily lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks To Us

By: Pastor Jose V. Velasco Jr.

We speak to God in prayer and God listens to us. But God speaks also to us in various way. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (Heb. 1:1). He spoke through dreams and visions, through thunders and a burning bush, through angels like Joseph and Mary. God, with two angels and all three appearing in human forms, went to speak with Abraham (Gen. 15).

Photo by Jun Taccad

  In this reflection we will see how God speaks and reveals Himself in and through nature. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Ps. 19:1). Since this is poetry we will not take it literally that the heavens speak with audible words. But in their own ways the heavens, and all nature for that matter, tell us something about God. 

  What are some of the things God tells us about Himself in nature which is His creation? 1. He is a God of order. He perfectly organized His creation. The sun always rises in the eastand sets in the west. The planet earth rotates on its axis every twenty four hours, and orbits repeatedly around the suncompleting each orbit in exactly the same length of time.  The laws of nature are very precise and persistent. 2. He is a God of beauty. This is very apparent in the lovely mountains, rivers, oceans, shining stars at night, birds, butterflies, etc. 3. He is a God of great power and wisdom. The ever astounding magnitude of the vast universe and its operation is enough to prove God’s greatness in His wisdom and power.  

  Physically, humans are also a part of nature. Biologically they exist just like any other living creatures. Their physical components and systems are the same. Thus God reveals His great power and wisdom as well in humans. However, humans have a characteristic absent in other creatures that reveals a nature of God. This is the moral nature of humans. Humans have an instinctive sense of right and wrong, good and bad. And intuitively they feel they must choose and follow what is rightand good. Thus in their decisions and actions they are guided, not only by their biological instincts, but by their sense of moral obligations. If a person is hungry, he/she will not just eat any available food around. He/she asks, “Is it right for me to eat this food? Maybe not, because it belongs to someone else.” This moral nature must have been imprinted by God Himself in themwhen He created them. God did this because He Himself is a moral being. In fact, He is the one who determines what is good and bad, what is right and wrong. And God wanted humans to be like Him in this aspect. This distinguishes humans from other living creatures. 

  From nature we understand that God is supreme in power and wisdom. He deserves our praise and worship. We must humble ourselves before Him and honor Him as our Lord God.

Prayer: Our Lord God, we acknowledge that you are our great God. We humbly bow down before you and extol your Holy Name. Help us to show our worship, not only in words, but in a life that glorifies and pleases you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

THE GIFT OF PRAYER

Pastor Jose V. Velasco

  Anything we freely receive as a favor to benefit us is a gift. The act and practice of prayer is a gift because we human beings did not invent or devise it. As far as anthropologists can reachback into history they say that, regardless of culture, there have always been some signs that human beings worldwide generally worship and pray. The conclusion is it is instinctive to pray to a god. God-believers would say that the creator has infused into the human system the capacity to pray. It is a given, a gift. It is commonly known and understood that prayer is speaking withGod or a god. 

 Prayer was practiced by the people in the Old Testament. Jesus practiced and urged people to pray. The early Christians prayed. Paul advised believers to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17). He also said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God” (Phil. 4:6). This is how intensely important prayer is in life. 

  There are some confusing misconceptions about Prayer. One is prayer is to inform God about our ideas and needs. Is God ignorant of our ideas and needs that He must be informed? No. “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord” (Ps. 139:4). Regarding our material needs Jesus said, “- - do not worry about it. - - your Father knows that you need them” (Lk. 12:29-30). As a loving Father, God is more than pleased to grant us our needs. Two is to pray to remind and urge God to answer our desires. This is what the prophets of Baal were doing during the sacrificial contest on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:26-29). But Baal, their god, seemed reluctant to answer. In contrast we believe God knows what is best for us and He is ever willing to grant them to us. Three is praying to change God’s mind and purpose. We may feel our ideas and plans are better than God’s so we ask Him to reconsider His plans. But the merits of His plans for us are super. “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 a hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). ​

  Now if God knows our needs, even better that we do, why do we still need to pray? First, to acknowledge God’s supreme power and wisdom, unconditional love and unfailing provisions of all our needs, materially and spiritually. This is the part of prayer where we thank and glorify God for His greatness and goodness. So we say, hallowed be your name. Note that thisprecedes everything else. Second, to affirm God’s will in our petitions. We pray for physical health because Jesus healed the sick. We pray for the life and ministry of the church because Jesus established it to carry on His continuing ministry on earth. We pray for world peace because all people are God’s children and must live in love and harmony. And so on. So our prayers of petition must conform to Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Third, to tighten, deepen and vitalize our relationship with God. Even in human relationship regular pleasant communication accomplishes this. Without it the relationship slowly wanes and disappears. It just remains

dormant and nominal in the mind. Sadly this is the quality of relationship a lot of people have with God. But it doesn’t make much difference in their life.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to pray. Create in us the fervent desire to pray. Through prayer transform and empower our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

JESUS IS THE TRUTH

By Pastor Jose V. Velasco, Jr. 

  

This is a continuation of the “I AMS” of Jesus in John 14:6. In the trial of Jesus by Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus what the truth is. (Jn. 18:36-38). 

  The Bible does not necessarily define truth. But it identifies truth. We may simply define truth as reality or fact. There are Bible verses that identify truth. “—your law is truth”; “- -all your commandments are truth” (Ps. 119:142, 151 NKJV). “- - your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). All these express the same thing: God’s will and thoughts. These comprise the truth. All things contrary to truth is error, fallacy and ungodliness.

  What are some functions of the truth? 1) Liberates us from errors and ignorance. “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32). 2) Sanctifies our lives. “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). If we take God’s truth seriously, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we are made saintly or holy in character like God. 3) Guide us in our daily lives. “Send us your light and your truth, let them guide me” (Ps. 43:3). Hence, we will not get lost. 4) The truth purifies us if we obey it. “Now- - you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth- - “ (1 Peter 1:22). By applying the truth in our lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit, it purges us. This complements sanctification which is becoming more like God in holy character. Purification is cleansing from things that are ungodly. 

  In our Bible text Jesus claims to be the truth. Jesus said to Pilate during His trial, “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (Jn. 18:37b). Like the other two entities in this I AM, (way and life) it should be interesting to note that He uses the article the implying being unique and unequalled. In His life and teachings Jesus embodied God’s truth. To know God’s truth you must know Jesus Christ. He came to reveal God’s truth, not through a book or abstract lectures, but through a tangible human life and down-to-earth words. His truth is absolute, meaning there is no error and lie in Him. In this case He should be the main point of reference of all truth. Revelation is not limited to the Bible or Jesus Christ. God reveals His truth through nature, dreams, visions, experience, inner impressions, etc. But all revelations must be tested by the truth we can know in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, everybody can claim his/her own truth. This could lead to theological anarchy and trouble like the ISIS and other terrorists claiming their own truth.

  In Jesus Christ all has an access to God’s truth. But those who reject God’s truth shall be condemned. “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. - - and so all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thess. 2:10b, 12). May we all open our lives to Jesus Christ that God’s light of truth may flood our hearts and souls?

Prayer: O God, thank you for sending your Son to be the light of the world. Help us to look to Him as the living truth in our lives. Through the guidance of your Holy Spirit may we understand more clearly your will as revealed in Christ Jesus. In His precious Name. Amen.

MAKING DISCIPLES

  by: Pastor Jose V. Velasco

    Kindly read our text taken from Matthew 28:19-20. Supposedly, this was one of Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He left them. It is commonly called The Great Commission. This is not an option. It is a mandate. If we are truly followers of Jesus Christ we must obey it. The seriousness and diligence in which Christians carry out this mandate will determine to a large extent the increase of Christian believers and growth of the church. Churches and denominations that are actively making disciples are fast growing, while those which neglect it are shrinking.

   At the outset, what is a disciple? Commonly understood a disciple is a follower of Christ.  Christ invites, “Come and follow me” (Mt. 4:19; Lk. 5:28). You are His disciple if you follow Him in love, obedience and trust. Literally a disciple is a student of Christ. Jesus said, “Learn of me” (Mt. 11:29). One who is eagerly learning about Christ and His teachings is a disciple. You are truly a disciple if you have accepted Christ as you Lord and Savior and learning to live like Him and according to His teachings.

   The Great Commission mandates “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Christians must reach out to all regardless of color, culture, social status and nationality (Acts 10:34-35). We hear people, and even ministers, in the church saying that we do not need to share the Christian gospel to other people in respect to the religion they already have. It is an insult to their religion to do so. Jesus never taught and did that. Jesus reached out to a Canaanite woman (Mt. 15:21ff), and a Samaritan woman (Jn. 4). Philip went to preach to the Samaritans who were not pure Jews (Acts 8:5). God designated Paul to be a missionary to the Gentiles (Acts. 9:15). Peter went to preach to a Gentile centurion (Acts 10:23ff).

   To go does not necessarily mean we have to go to other places to become missionaries. Some may. But in your daily dealings with people you can share them the gospel in your ordinary conversations. You may begin with your relatives who are not yet truly committed to Jesus Christ. Then move on to your friends and neighbors. You may give your financial support to organizations and ministries that are spreading the gospel to make disciples. If your church is intent on making disciples support it as you are able.

   The common word for spreading the gospel to make disciples is evangelism. A minister said that the word evangelism has become a dirty word in his denomination, and thus has no program to evangelize. And yet his denomination has been steadily declining numerically for years now. This is a sad failure to fulfill the Great Commission. It is a dishonor to the Christ who mandated it. Are you as an individual, and as a church obeying this last command of Jesus to us?

Prayer: Lord, our passionate obedience to your Great Commission to us is a test of our love and faithfulness to you. Guide, help and empower us to make more disciples for you. For your glory and honor we pray, Amen.

JESUS IS THE WAY

By: Pastor Jose V. Velasco

  In John 14:6 Jesus describes Himself in three words. We will ponder on these in the succeeding three reflections. First, Jesus says, “I am the way.”

 The word way may mean many things, like system, method or manner of doing things. But we can know the particular meaning here by the context. Jesus was talking about a home He is going to prepare for His followers. And He said, “You know the way to the place where I am going” (Jn. 14:4). Then in verse 6 Jesus said that He is the only way to the Father. So Jesus was thinking of a route or passage to a destination. Commonly understood this destination is the eternal home where God is awaiting His redeemed children.

  There are false ways people believe could bring them to God and to eternal life. One is their good deeds. If they could follow all God’s laws then they are certain to go to heaven. The problem is no one is perfect enough to fulfill all God’s laws. Paul says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). And “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). So by good deeds no one will reach heaven. Some claim also that the church is the way to heaven. A particular church in the Philippines claims that it is the only true church and if you join it you are save. They claim Romans 16:16 refers to their church. But the churches of Christ here were the early Christian congregations meeting mostly in homes- not any modern church today. The fact that Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” rules out any good deeds, churches or organizations, persons and rites as a means of accessing God and heaven. Jesus alone brings us to God and to that eternal place. 

  How does Christ act as the way to God and to eternal life? We want to understand two words in the New Testament that would explain this. 1) Reconcile. Sin separates from God and makes us His enemies. But “we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Rom 5:10). In Jesus we become friends of God again if we repent and forsake our sins (1 Jn. 1:9). 2) Mediator.This word also connotes a spiritual gap between a holy God and a human sinner. But Jesus become the bridge in that gap. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). The two words are saying the same thing, that Jesus Christ is the only one who brings us to our Father God and to His eternal home. But the idea and work of relating sinners to God does not belong to Christ alone. In fact it was the Father who sent His Son to save the world (Jn. 3:16). Paul says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ- -“ (2 Cor. 5:17). He did all of this out of His unconditional and unmerited love.

  How can we take Jesus Christ as the way? By believing in Him. But to believe in Him is more than an intellectual agreeing that Jesus Christ was a real historical person. It is committing one’s whole life to Him, loving, trusting, and obeying Him. It is accepting Him as your Lord and Savior. Have you taken Jesus Christ as your way to God and to eternal life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there is no other way to God and to eternal life except you. I welcome you into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  May you empower me to walk and live faithfully with you unto eternity. In your precious Name I pray. Amen.

  

Why Did Jesus Die?

 

  Why is Jesus’ sufferings and death so important to Christians that they are the focus of their reflections during the period of Lent? Why did Jesus suffer and die? We will mention two reasons. 

  First, He died because of our sins. In a Bible study a lady commented that she could not see how Jesus in His death could have borne the sins she is committing two thousand years after. This a very relevant question. Of course, Jesus died because of the sins of those who killed him. They are the sins of bigotry, jealousy, hatred, envy, selfishness, pride and fanaticism. But how about our sins in the 21st century? Yes, the Bible says when we sin we crucify Him again (Heb. 6:4-6). Peter who had nothing to do with the crucifixion says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree . .” (1 Pet. 2:24). All sin inflicts sufferings on God (Gen. 6:5-6). Even our sins today cause God to suffer. But Jesus also bore the sins of people hundreds of years before Him. Long before Jesus Isaiah said, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). Jesus’ sufferings and deathcovers the sins of all people in  human history. 

  Second, Jesus died because of God’s unconditional and supreme love for us sinners. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Jesus could have avoided death. When He was arrested Peter tried to defend Him by cutting the ear of Malchus, the priest’s servant. But Jesus stopped him saying, “Put your sword back in its place, - - . Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Mt. 26:52-53). A legion at the least is 3,000 army men. This is all Jesus could have done to defeat forever His enemies. But He did not do this out of love. Jesus said referring to His death, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). Jesus’ dying for sinners is the greatest show of love in the world.  

  It is for us sinners that Christ suffered and died on the cross. He did not condemn us to eternal damnation where we fit. But “God our Savior, - - wants all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:3). “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet.3:9). God in Christ did not hesitate to go to the cross to give us an opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness. But you can either reject or accept His offer. What are you going to do with that ever greatest offer in the world? To receive that offer of forgiveness and redemption you may pray thus:

Prayer: Thank you, O Lord Jesus, for your dying for my sins because you love me so much. I repent of all my sins and humbly, but gratefully, accept your offer of loving forgiveness. Come into my life and be my Lord and Savior.  In your holy name I pray. Amen.   

Pastor Jose V. Velasco