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| After Fire TFCA 2011-06-24 Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy at 151 J Ruiz Street in San Juan, Metro Manila, also the home of Tabernacle of Faith International caught fire last night. The Sanctuary has been completely burned as has been the mezzanine level. We are awaiting testing by structural engineers to learn about our options. Thank you for your prayers! God has a great plan! |
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Pics of TFCA after last nights fire.. click the thumb nail to go to the link
Monday, June 20, 2011
Prophecy is Important
I received a message quoting a pophetic word I had delivered a few weeks earlier at a Church in the USA. The word I had delivered to a young man during the service was "get close to God because you are going to face a life or death situation."
This was a prophetic encouragement to come close to God and it was also a prophetic warning of danger. Oh how I wish I could have spoken it with more clarity. Maybe I could have said, "son, you need to get right with God because you are going to die in a few weeks." The reason why I wish I could have done that is because they buried him just a few days ago.
Hind sight is 20/20 but prophecy is not. The Bible says that we all see in part and we all prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). Sometimes it is more direct, it contains more information than at other times, but we can only be faithful to speak what we are seeing or hearing in the spiritual realm. And we must especially be careful not to speak more than what we are perceiving. The Bible also tells us that God does nothing without first alerting His prophets (Amos 3:7). Nothing means not ever. God is faithful to warn. He is so merciful and kind even though His judgments are sure.
Maybe it wasn't a sure thing that this young man was going to die? I don't know. All that I do know is that I saw that he had better be ready because there was going to be a situation in which life or death were possible. And I do know that he was warned. Did he heed the warning? Did he get right with God? Did he stick to it? I don't know. My hope is that I will meet him in glory on the day that I arrive there. I hope it, though I don't pray it because his destiny has been set. The moment of death is the moment in which eternity is solidified for you. Nobody can pray you to a place that you are not already headed once you pass that point.
My main point in this discussion is that to prophesy, to warn is very important. The Bible tells us that if a watchman does not give warning, that the blood of those who are lost as a result will be upon that watchman himself (Ezekiel 3). We will be held accountable if we do not warn. Now I must insert this thought that I believe this does not only apply when giving or not giving prophetic messages. I believe this also applies in any situation where we should have given proper Bible instruction, even to our families but we did not.
For the Church that I Pastor, TFI Gateway, I am being stirred by God to raise up a Prophetic People, a Fiery Force who are God's instruments... His messengers who can receive and deliver specific messages from Him. Because Prophecy is Important!
1 Corinthians 12:31 encourages us to eagerly desire the greater gifts. That doesn't mean that some gifts are greater than others, but it means we need to desire more and more powerful giftings in our lives. Go for it my friend!! Become a mouth piece for God! Prophesy! Warn! Exhort! Encourage! Somebody's life may depend on it.
This was a prophetic encouragement to come close to God and it was also a prophetic warning of danger. Oh how I wish I could have spoken it with more clarity. Maybe I could have said, "son, you need to get right with God because you are going to die in a few weeks." The reason why I wish I could have done that is because they buried him just a few days ago.
Hind sight is 20/20 but prophecy is not. The Bible says that we all see in part and we all prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). Sometimes it is more direct, it contains more information than at other times, but we can only be faithful to speak what we are seeing or hearing in the spiritual realm. And we must especially be careful not to speak more than what we are perceiving. The Bible also tells us that God does nothing without first alerting His prophets (Amos 3:7). Nothing means not ever. God is faithful to warn. He is so merciful and kind even though His judgments are sure.
Maybe it wasn't a sure thing that this young man was going to die? I don't know. All that I do know is that I saw that he had better be ready because there was going to be a situation in which life or death were possible. And I do know that he was warned. Did he heed the warning? Did he get right with God? Did he stick to it? I don't know. My hope is that I will meet him in glory on the day that I arrive there. I hope it, though I don't pray it because his destiny has been set. The moment of death is the moment in which eternity is solidified for you. Nobody can pray you to a place that you are not already headed once you pass that point.
My main point in this discussion is that to prophesy, to warn is very important. The Bible tells us that if a watchman does not give warning, that the blood of those who are lost as a result will be upon that watchman himself (Ezekiel 3). We will be held accountable if we do not warn. Now I must insert this thought that I believe this does not only apply when giving or not giving prophetic messages. I believe this also applies in any situation where we should have given proper Bible instruction, even to our families but we did not.
For the Church that I Pastor, TFI Gateway, I am being stirred by God to raise up a Prophetic People, a Fiery Force who are God's instruments... His messengers who can receive and deliver specific messages from Him. Because Prophecy is Important!
1 Corinthians 12:31 encourages us to eagerly desire the greater gifts. That doesn't mean that some gifts are greater than others, but it means we need to desire more and more powerful giftings in our lives. Go for it my friend!! Become a mouth piece for God! Prophesy! Warn! Exhort! Encourage! Somebody's life may depend on it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
EMpower not OVERpower
At Tabernacle of Faith International (TFI) in the Philippines, we recently conducted our annual Missions Convention. This is a time in which we gather all of our Pastors from around the Philippines and invite those from all congregations who are able to attend, for a week of inspiration, training, strategy and testimonies. It is wonderful when delegates from multiple congregations gather together. The Lord moved powerfully!
We also conducted a Teachers Retreat prior to this Missions Convention in which all of the incoming teachers for the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy (TFCA) meet at a camp site in order to unite, prepare, strategize and be inspired for the upcoming school year. School for TFCA started on June 14. It was also a powerful time in the Lord!
In both events, the unity I saw has given me an incredible amount of expectation that greater things are in store for both the school and for the Churches. We know from scripture and from practice that unity lends space for God to dwell among us! The theme for both the Convention and the Retreat was "Unity and Accountability," and we used the wonderful book written by Tommy Tenney, "God's Dream Team" as our main reference.
One of the main points which touched many of us is the fact that in order for there to be unity within a group of people, every individual must first acheive something that Tenney describes as "Individual Unity" or Personal Unity. Another way of saying this is that to accomplish peace in a group, the individuals coming together must first be at peace within themselves. Those that the scriptures call "double-minded" (James1:8) are not unified within themselves and therefore cannot be unified with anyone else since they are unstable in all that they do.
Another point is that to be unified in any group including a family, we must learn to never OVERPOWER people, but instead to EMPOWER them. Easier said than done, especially for those of us who like to move quickly (lack patience).
I remember a great lesson which my Mother taught me many years ago. I was a new Father and busy. My son Chad was in his asking "why" stage of life. Anything that I told him, he would respond with "why." It was driving me crazy and I even felt like it was disrespectful. I got to the point that I was telling him things like, "Because I am your Father and I told you so!" I was overpowering him. My Mom saw this and said, "Hunny, everybody deserves to know WHY you are telling them to do something." This includes kids, spouses, employees, co-workers, Church members... everyone that you work with. Knowledge EMpowers while bossing people around without explanation OVERpowers.
We must empower one another in all arena's of life in order to acheive peace, effectiveness and unity. Ephesians 6:4 encourages Fathers to not frustrate their Children, but instead to raise them up by training and instruction in the Lord. What a slam on us Parents who struggle with getting frustrated by our Children. The Word turns it around on us and tells us to not frustrate our Children. Wow! The Bible also tells us several times that without knowledge or understanding, people perish.
My prayer for myself and I would encourage you to make for yourself is this. "Father, help me to never overpower anyone in my life, but instead, to empower them through clear communication with a spirit of love, with respect and in unity." Amen!
We also conducted a Teachers Retreat prior to this Missions Convention in which all of the incoming teachers for the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy (TFCA) meet at a camp site in order to unite, prepare, strategize and be inspired for the upcoming school year. School for TFCA started on June 14. It was also a powerful time in the Lord!
In both events, the unity I saw has given me an incredible amount of expectation that greater things are in store for both the school and for the Churches. We know from scripture and from practice that unity lends space for God to dwell among us! The theme for both the Convention and the Retreat was "Unity and Accountability," and we used the wonderful book written by Tommy Tenney, "God's Dream Team" as our main reference.
One of the main points which touched many of us is the fact that in order for there to be unity within a group of people, every individual must first acheive something that Tenney describes as "Individual Unity" or Personal Unity. Another way of saying this is that to accomplish peace in a group, the individuals coming together must first be at peace within themselves. Those that the scriptures call "double-minded" (James1:8) are not unified within themselves and therefore cannot be unified with anyone else since they are unstable in all that they do.
Another point is that to be unified in any group including a family, we must learn to never OVERPOWER people, but instead to EMPOWER them. Easier said than done, especially for those of us who like to move quickly (lack patience).
I remember a great lesson which my Mother taught me many years ago. I was a new Father and busy. My son Chad was in his asking "why" stage of life. Anything that I told him, he would respond with "why." It was driving me crazy and I even felt like it was disrespectful. I got to the point that I was telling him things like, "Because I am your Father and I told you so!" I was overpowering him. My Mom saw this and said, "Hunny, everybody deserves to know WHY you are telling them to do something." This includes kids, spouses, employees, co-workers, Church members... everyone that you work with. Knowledge EMpowers while bossing people around without explanation OVERpowers.
We must empower one another in all arena's of life in order to acheive peace, effectiveness and unity. Ephesians 6:4 encourages Fathers to not frustrate their Children, but instead to raise them up by training and instruction in the Lord. What a slam on us Parents who struggle with getting frustrated by our Children. The Word turns it around on us and tells us to not frustrate our Children. Wow! The Bible also tells us several times that without knowledge or understanding, people perish.
My prayer for myself and I would encourage you to make for yourself is this. "Father, help me to never overpower anyone in my life, but instead, to empower them through clear communication with a spirit of love, with respect and in unity." Amen!
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