The Shepherd of Psalm 23

I just want to share this great sermon. May you be blessed by it.

http://www.rejoicetv.org/Services/Audio/012614_The_Shepherd_of_Psalm_23.mp3

Psalms 23:
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Learning Curve

I'm an accountant. And back in college, we studied about "the Learning Curve".
Last week, I was pondering about some things in life and I remembered about this "theory" and kind of associated it with things.

But what is this LEARNING CURVE?

A common learning curve shows that the cumulative average time to complete a manual task which involves learning will decrease 20% whenever volume doubles. This is referred to as an 80% learning curve.

Let's illustrate the 80% learning curve with a person learning to design and code websites of similar size and complexity. If the first website takes 100 hours, then after the second website the cumulative average time will be 80 hours (80% of 100 hours). The cumulative average of 80 hours consists of 100 hours for the first website plus only 60 hours for the second website resulting in a total of 160 hours divided by 2 websites. After the fourth website the cumulative average time will be 64 hours (80% of 80 hours). After the eighth website the cumulative average will be 51.2 hours (80% of 64 hours). In other words, the total time to have completed all eight websites will be 409.6 hours (8 websites times an average time of 51.2 hours).

- http://www.accountingcoach.com/blog/what-is-a-learning-curve



Well, basically, the idea is that it gets easier for man to do something as the task is repeated.
Okay maybe the "theory" of Learning Curve isn't as fitting to what I'm gonna say as I thought it would, [for those other CPAs out there may disagree to how i'll associate it..]

You can associate it with a lot of things actually.
But, I kind of associated it with SIN.


Can we remember back in the day when we were just so innocent?

Ezekiel 28
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.




There were times when we don't know about death, about sex, about lies, about jealousy, about stealing, about drinking, about smoking, etc, until we learned about them.

When we were kids, when we first lied to our parents, we were so guilty right?
Then we committed our second lie. Yeah, we're still guilty but not as like the first time.
Then our third lie, fourth, fifth, sixth...... 10,009th lie and we do it as easy as breathing.

"It's just a little white lie!"

Or when you started drinking alcoholic beverages.
You almost vomited your intestines out when you tasted it the first time and now, you can drink several bottles of liquor and still be able to stand straight.

Or when you first smoked.

Or when you first had pre-marital sex with your girlfriend/boyfriend.

Or when you first cheated during exams at school.

Or when you first started skipping church.

Or when you first neglected your bible reading.

Or when you first cursed.

Or when you first hit your wife.

Or when you first cheated on your spouse.

Or when you first started stealing.

I can go on and on.

My point is that we can live licentiously and get our hearts hardened by sin, grieve the Holy Spirit to the point that doing certain sins, can't convict us anymore.

I pray that it won't happen to us, may God forbid.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

1 John 1
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.



Sin may promise us a lot of things, but it only brings pain, suffering, problems and death.


John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Let us ask the Lord Jesus to keep us from sin.
Amen. 

The Cost of Following Jesus

Luke 14
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Probably most of you be like, "There's a price? But I thought salvation is the gift of God? Free?" 

Oh yes! Praise God our salvation is the gift of God. It is free. It is by grace through faith!

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 6

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Salvation is free and available to anyone who would call out to Jesus. 

John 10

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 2

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But I'm not talking about salvation here. 

I'm after DISCIPLESHIP. 

Luke 14

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Those verses did not say, "he cannot be saved..." 

Jesus was talking about discipleship here. 

Now what is a disciple? 

A disciple is a follower of Christ. Someone who learns from God day by day as he go and follow Him. 

He walks with God. 

Amos 3

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

You see, it's really easy to be saved.
Salvation through Christ only needs faith, even faith as big as a mustard seed.
And that faith changes the person to become a new creature.

But following Jesus in a world such as where we live, is difficult.

Ephesians 6
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

John 15
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Luke 6
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

People will mock you. People will make fun of you.
This world will try to make you doubt the Bible, to make you think God doesn't exist and everything we read in the bible is a lie.

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Philippians 1
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;




As we try to live for God, to live according to the bible, this world will hate us.

The bible is against homosexuality. If you live according to the Bible, you ought to hate it too.
It's a sin against God.
Will you have the courage to stand firm on that belief when people ask you why? When they start saying that you are a hater and very much close-minded?

The bible is against divorce, abortion, premarital sex, polygamy, drugs,etc.
When you go against these, people will hate you, people will avoid you.
Are you ready for that?

People will think you are foolish because you believe that a man (some don't believe Jesus is God) died 200 years ago and rose up from the grave. They'll think you're insane for believing that!

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.


Being a disciple of Jesus won't make you popular in this world.
The world will hate you. 
But who cares?

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 16
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Colossians 3
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

2 John 1
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Revelation 22
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

We are serving the Almighty God.
We are on the winning side.
So be not afraid of the reproach and sufferings that you shall go through.

Philippians 1
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Hebrews 6
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

There are hundreds of verses in the bible that encourage us believers as we follow God in this evil world.
This is one of my favorites.

Psalm 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Hang in there brothers and sisters.
Jesus is coming soon.

2 Timothy 1
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you.
AMEN.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Job 1
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Surely, there are times in our lives where we feel like God abandoned us. Or when things are not going well, we think as if God is punishing us or maybe God hates us.

When things are not going the way we want them to, do we have the faith to still worship God and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"?

I pray that we all do.
When things are going well and God blesses us with marvelous things, even things we didn't ask Him, we don't question Him "Why are You blessing me?"

So why should we question Him when He allows trials and problems in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

God is love. 
If you are a Christian, you should know that He is your Father.
He wants what's best for us. We may not always understand, because of we do, then we'll be like God, all-knowing.

He knows the beginning to the end. He wants us to trust Him and believe that what we are made to experience is necessary to be Christ-like. Isn't that our goal?

It's not going to be easy to live by faith, so why don't we ask Him to increase our faith and praise Him in this storm? To praise Him while we are in the wilderness?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If you are reading this and you are being tested by the Lord, if you are experiencing hardships and you feel so down, I am praying for you.

Remember, this is not our home. We all know how it ends. We'll be with Him.

2 Corinthians 4
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

May the grace of our Lord be upon you.
Amen.