Hi dear Ya's! Thanks for posting! I wonder if there are others who have seen this blog already. Siiguro we should email blast this to all YA's no? Whatchathink? hmmm....
Friday, October 5, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
THE WATCHMAN
Ezekiel 3:17-21
(As spoken before the Vesper Congregation, Cosmopolitan Church on September 23, 2007 )
In the movie Spiderman, the main character said that great power comes with great responsibility. The dictionary defines power as the ability or capacity to perform or act effectively. It also means strength, force or might. Responsibility on the other hand is defined as a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible. Today, our main character Ezekiel will show us that a godly life is a life of power. He will also show us that anyone who receives the responsibility of a godly life, can change the destiny of a nation.
Ezekiel was a priest, the son of Buzi, and was in the land of Chaldea. Chaldea, in the early period was the name of a small territory in southern Babylonia. It extended along the northern and probably up to the western shores of the Persian gulf. When he was 30, at the prime of his young adult, he received his first vision and his call from God. As part of the priestly family, Ezekiel would have been eligible to begin his service as a priest. However, as an exile he would not be able to fulfill his priestly calling. Instead, God called him to be a prophet in Babylon.
In verse 17, God told him that he would be a watchman for the house of Israel. A watchman is someone who stood in the tower or on the walls or at the gates of the city and patrolled the streets. Besides protecting the city and its inhabitants from violence, he was required to call out the hours of the night. As a watchman, he was called to warn God’s people of incoming danger.
There are two roles of a watchman. The first one is to hear. The second part of verse 17 says “ so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me”. God tells Ezekiel that his role is to take the words of God and use them to warn the people.
Five years ago, I came to Cosmopolitan Church. I never knew anything about prophecies, or the power of prayer. I did pray but I did not know the kind of prayer that could usher in the power of God in my life. I used to sit in the back pew because I was the last one to come inside the church and the first one to go out. It was an obligation to go to church every Sunday and to pray every night. Everything was a routine.
But God’s call to me came in a strange way. He led me to the choir. I said strange because I don’t know how to sing. During my initial years with the choir, I was just opening my mouth and nothing was coming out. It took me almost four years to be able to sing confidently.
In those years of rigid training, God was not just shaping my voice; He was shaping my heart as well. I became involved with the other ministries of the church. I started attending different bible studies, the condensed world mission course, retreats and other prayer activities. I began to understand that just going to church every Sunday was not enough. Slowly God gave me the desire to grow in my faith. These activities and courses I attended opened my eyes to God’s Kingdom agenda. I realized that God’s Kingdom Agenda was not just about me. It was about His glory in my life and in the world. There is a big world out there waiting to hear the good news of salvation. I learned how to pray powerfully as God answered my prayers. I received prophecies, visions and revelations from the Lord. Though they used to sound weird and confusing, I saw how everything was being fulfilled as God’s plans unfolded in my life.
To be able to hear God’s voice, the heart must be prepared. When Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord, he fell on his face with all humility. He was ready to hear and ready to receive the Holy Spirit.
The second role of a watchman is not just to hear but also to speak. A watchman is called to speak both to the wicked and to the righteous. God expected the watchman to warn the wicked about their sins. If the watchman failed to do so he would be accountable in the eyes of God. The righteous man on the other hand should also be encouraged to continue to live in righteousness. Verse 20 says that when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, God will hold him accountable. Whether it was to speak to the wicked or to the righteous, what mattered was that Ezekiel could not rebuke people on his own. If you read further in verse 26 & 27, you will find out that Ezekiel’s mouth was closed. He could speak only when God put His words in Ezekiel’s mouth.
Last month, Pastor Chris asked me to preach in the Vesper Congregation on a youth Sunday. I thought she was joking. Why would they choose someone who never had a preaching experience? Speaking is something I never wanted to do. As a shy person I’d rather listen than speak, I’d rather read than speak. The mere thought of standing in front of people terrifies me. But God did not want me to stay that way. I could not remember if I said yes or no to the invitation, my mind went blank.
That Saturday night I had a prayer time with Pastor Bernie and she confirmed that the ministerial team was considering the CYF to speak in the morning services and the young adults in the afternoon services. She told me to pray for it. And just to make sure that it was for real I went to Pastor Bing and she confirmed that I would be the speaker.
God will not send me unprepared. I was invited to attend a preaching seminar with Pastor Bernie as the facilitator. She challenged us that if we feel we’re not ready to preach, when will we be ready? That day may never come. Those words rebuked me, it means I cannot say no to the invitation. After that seminar, my fear turned into excitement. Finally, God is opening my mouth and putting His words into it.
Ezekiel’s responsibility is to communicate the words of God. The purpose is to bring the exiles to a point of personal accountability for the destruction of Jerusalem and call them to repentance. As Christians, we are to communicate the words of God wherever we are and whenever God opens our mouth. It may be in our home, our school or in our workplace.
Yesterday, the Young Adults had a conference entitled Breaking Barriers, Breakthrough part 2. And it focused on workplace ministry. Workplace ministry is an intentional focus of equipping men and women in all spheres of work and society to understand and experience their work and life as a holy calling form God. We learned the two models – Jesus and Paul’s model in the workplace transformation ministry. It was encouraging to hear testimonies of workplace ministers.
Remember that we are accountable to God for both the wicked and the righteous. We should not be afraid because it is God who will put the words in our mouth.
Ezekiel ends with hope. The final chapters show a New Jerusalem rising from the ruins of the old. The book concludes the whole concept of God’s glory as it dwells in Israel. Ezekiel’s last verse says it all: “and the name of the city from that time of will be: “THE LORD IS HERE”. Indeed, this watchman heard God and spoke His words to the people. By listening to God and proclaiming His will, led his nation to their glorious future.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Let us all be excited. God wants us to see the glorious future. This is why God is raising up Ezekiels in our time. God is raising up modern watchmen and watchwomen – men and women who will hear God and speak the transforming power of His word.
Lets pray. O Lord, the trumpet has blown both to the wicked and to the righteous. Move our hearts to live godly lives. May we be able to hear and speak your words. I say a special prayer for the young adults of this congregation, push them from the crowd to the core that they may also receive and experience the abundance of your blessing, the might of your power and the greatness of our love and faithfulness.
All for Christ’s Glory, in whose name we pray. Amen.
(As spoken before the Vesper Congregation, Cosmopolitan Church on September 23, 2007 )
In the movie Spiderman, the main character said that great power comes with great responsibility. The dictionary defines power as the ability or capacity to perform or act effectively. It also means strength, force or might. Responsibility on the other hand is defined as a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible. Today, our main character Ezekiel will show us that a godly life is a life of power. He will also show us that anyone who receives the responsibility of a godly life, can change the destiny of a nation.
Ezekiel was a priest, the son of Buzi, and was in the land of Chaldea. Chaldea, in the early period was the name of a small territory in southern Babylonia. It extended along the northern and probably up to the western shores of the Persian gulf. When he was 30, at the prime of his young adult, he received his first vision and his call from God. As part of the priestly family, Ezekiel would have been eligible to begin his service as a priest. However, as an exile he would not be able to fulfill his priestly calling. Instead, God called him to be a prophet in Babylon.
In verse 17, God told him that he would be a watchman for the house of Israel. A watchman is someone who stood in the tower or on the walls or at the gates of the city and patrolled the streets. Besides protecting the city and its inhabitants from violence, he was required to call out the hours of the night. As a watchman, he was called to warn God’s people of incoming danger.
There are two roles of a watchman. The first one is to hear. The second part of verse 17 says “ so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me”. God tells Ezekiel that his role is to take the words of God and use them to warn the people.
Five years ago, I came to Cosmopolitan Church. I never knew anything about prophecies, or the power of prayer. I did pray but I did not know the kind of prayer that could usher in the power of God in my life. I used to sit in the back pew because I was the last one to come inside the church and the first one to go out. It was an obligation to go to church every Sunday and to pray every night. Everything was a routine.
But God’s call to me came in a strange way. He led me to the choir. I said strange because I don’t know how to sing. During my initial years with the choir, I was just opening my mouth and nothing was coming out. It took me almost four years to be able to sing confidently.
In those years of rigid training, God was not just shaping my voice; He was shaping my heart as well. I became involved with the other ministries of the church. I started attending different bible studies, the condensed world mission course, retreats and other prayer activities. I began to understand that just going to church every Sunday was not enough. Slowly God gave me the desire to grow in my faith. These activities and courses I attended opened my eyes to God’s Kingdom agenda. I realized that God’s Kingdom Agenda was not just about me. It was about His glory in my life and in the world. There is a big world out there waiting to hear the good news of salvation. I learned how to pray powerfully as God answered my prayers. I received prophecies, visions and revelations from the Lord. Though they used to sound weird and confusing, I saw how everything was being fulfilled as God’s plans unfolded in my life.
To be able to hear God’s voice, the heart must be prepared. When Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord, he fell on his face with all humility. He was ready to hear and ready to receive the Holy Spirit.
The second role of a watchman is not just to hear but also to speak. A watchman is called to speak both to the wicked and to the righteous. God expected the watchman to warn the wicked about their sins. If the watchman failed to do so he would be accountable in the eyes of God. The righteous man on the other hand should also be encouraged to continue to live in righteousness. Verse 20 says that when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, God will hold him accountable. Whether it was to speak to the wicked or to the righteous, what mattered was that Ezekiel could not rebuke people on his own. If you read further in verse 26 & 27, you will find out that Ezekiel’s mouth was closed. He could speak only when God put His words in Ezekiel’s mouth.
Last month, Pastor Chris asked me to preach in the Vesper Congregation on a youth Sunday. I thought she was joking. Why would they choose someone who never had a preaching experience? Speaking is something I never wanted to do. As a shy person I’d rather listen than speak, I’d rather read than speak. The mere thought of standing in front of people terrifies me. But God did not want me to stay that way. I could not remember if I said yes or no to the invitation, my mind went blank.
That Saturday night I had a prayer time with Pastor Bernie and she confirmed that the ministerial team was considering the CYF to speak in the morning services and the young adults in the afternoon services. She told me to pray for it. And just to make sure that it was for real I went to Pastor Bing and she confirmed that I would be the speaker.
God will not send me unprepared. I was invited to attend a preaching seminar with Pastor Bernie as the facilitator. She challenged us that if we feel we’re not ready to preach, when will we be ready? That day may never come. Those words rebuked me, it means I cannot say no to the invitation. After that seminar, my fear turned into excitement. Finally, God is opening my mouth and putting His words into it.
Ezekiel’s responsibility is to communicate the words of God. The purpose is to bring the exiles to a point of personal accountability for the destruction of Jerusalem and call them to repentance. As Christians, we are to communicate the words of God wherever we are and whenever God opens our mouth. It may be in our home, our school or in our workplace.
Yesterday, the Young Adults had a conference entitled Breaking Barriers, Breakthrough part 2. And it focused on workplace ministry. Workplace ministry is an intentional focus of equipping men and women in all spheres of work and society to understand and experience their work and life as a holy calling form God. We learned the two models – Jesus and Paul’s model in the workplace transformation ministry. It was encouraging to hear testimonies of workplace ministers.
Remember that we are accountable to God for both the wicked and the righteous. We should not be afraid because it is God who will put the words in our mouth.
Ezekiel ends with hope. The final chapters show a New Jerusalem rising from the ruins of the old. The book concludes the whole concept of God’s glory as it dwells in Israel. Ezekiel’s last verse says it all: “and the name of the city from that time of will be: “THE LORD IS HERE”. Indeed, this watchman heard God and spoke His words to the people. By listening to God and proclaiming His will, led his nation to their glorious future.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Let us all be excited. God wants us to see the glorious future. This is why God is raising up Ezekiels in our time. God is raising up modern watchmen and watchwomen – men and women who will hear God and speak the transforming power of His word.
Lets pray. O Lord, the trumpet has blown both to the wicked and to the righteous. Move our hearts to live godly lives. May we be able to hear and speak your words. I say a special prayer for the young adults of this congregation, push them from the crowd to the core that they may also receive and experience the abundance of your blessing, the might of your power and the greatness of our love and faithfulness.
All for Christ’s Glory, in whose name we pray. Amen.
PROPHECY
On July 22, 2006, the first Breakthrough of the young adults of Cosmopolitan Church took place. I received this prophecy….
The Lord is saying, “You are a Daniel – you will be known for your prayers. Just like Daniel, I will make known to many your achievements and brilliance. I am raising you up to be great in your generation. I will bring you to a position of honor. You will lead movement that will change the world! Receive my anointing!”
I did not understand it then. I only knew Daniel as the man who was spared from the Lion’s den. At that time I was the elected president of the Vesper Young Adults, a newly formed YA group, and all I did was to attend bible studies (Thursday Group & Sunday Vesper YA). I don’t know of any roles or duties that I must do.
The series of YA events (Impact, Breakthrough and Full Force) gave me an opportunity to meet other young adults of this church. I shared with their vision, prayed and worked with them. Little did I know that this was the start of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Just this year, I became the vice chairman of the Young Adults Coordinating Council. I am surprised to see myself in the front line; this is something I never did before.
Daniel was a prophet who has gift of visions and interpretation of dreams. This gift has been made known to many, and one of the reasons why he rose to the position of prime minister of Babylon. God truly honors those who are faithful to Him.
God is not done with me yet. I’m still His work-in-progress. I welcome the changes he is doing in my life. Indeed, he will make me a Daniel…I receive the Anointing!
September 22, 2007 – the second breakthrough come about. And I received this prophecy…
“The Lord wants you to master your emotions because these can deceive you. Do not allow it to take control of you. Let God’s power be your strength over anxieties and worries so that you will see and be able to respond to God’s perfect plans and purposes in your life”
I’ve been struggling with my emotions; somehow it has taken control of me and has affected my decisions. But thanks be to God that He want me to be free from deception of my feelings, worries and anxieties. My growth pains will soon come to pass. I will master my emotions by God’s grace.
by Maurice Carillo
The Lord is saying, “You are a Daniel – you will be known for your prayers. Just like Daniel, I will make known to many your achievements and brilliance. I am raising you up to be great in your generation. I will bring you to a position of honor. You will lead movement that will change the world! Receive my anointing!”
I did not understand it then. I only knew Daniel as the man who was spared from the Lion’s den. At that time I was the elected president of the Vesper Young Adults, a newly formed YA group, and all I did was to attend bible studies (Thursday Group & Sunday Vesper YA). I don’t know of any roles or duties that I must do.
The series of YA events (Impact, Breakthrough and Full Force) gave me an opportunity to meet other young adults of this church. I shared with their vision, prayed and worked with them. Little did I know that this was the start of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Just this year, I became the vice chairman of the Young Adults Coordinating Council. I am surprised to see myself in the front line; this is something I never did before.
Daniel was a prophet who has gift of visions and interpretation of dreams. This gift has been made known to many, and one of the reasons why he rose to the position of prime minister of Babylon. God truly honors those who are faithful to Him.
God is not done with me yet. I’m still His work-in-progress. I welcome the changes he is doing in my life. Indeed, he will make me a Daniel…I receive the Anointing!
September 22, 2007 – the second breakthrough come about. And I received this prophecy…
“The Lord wants you to master your emotions because these can deceive you. Do not allow it to take control of you. Let God’s power be your strength over anxieties and worries so that you will see and be able to respond to God’s perfect plans and purposes in your life”
I’ve been struggling with my emotions; somehow it has taken control of me and has affected my decisions. But thanks be to God that He want me to be free from deception of my feelings, worries and anxieties. My growth pains will soon come to pass. I will master my emotions by God’s grace.
by Maurice Carillo
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