He asks, I answer

           Are you a decisive person? I bet many of us are, because I am and so Elijah. I find Elijah’s journey being a follower of Christ as one of the most fascinating stories in the Bible. For one, we have the same personality when it comes to decisions. Most of the actions I make come from a well thought steps, before I do it. However, I must say, I began to analyze myself as one of those who easily get controlled but with the idea of eliminating my own judgment as a human being towards others. As I walk the new life God has given to me, God has been teaching me how to respect the behaviors of others as well as their ideas without judging them by always putting their position in mine because that’s exactly what Jesus did for me on the Cross. Through Him, I've been cleansed and fixed. In Him, I found purpose, contentment and life.

Pre-note: Read 1 Kings 18.

There was Ahab, a wicked king who was easily controlled as much as I am. God, on the other hand, used Elijah to perform a great miracle on Mount Carmel (this happened because Elijah has rhythmic relationship with God and because Elijah responded to God’s command). Many of us can’t really relate to Elijah’s response for the reason that we actually do not know if we’re in the same ‘rhythm’ with God. But I believe, many can relate to Obadiah. Obadiah has a devout character. He has been faithfully serving God having a harder job than Elijah’s; even risked his own life. Through Obadiah, I learned not to overlook ordinary obedience. Just maybe, you may be called by God like Obadiah.

But along the way, I have acquired knowledge that in order for transformation to take place, trouble has to be made; transformation and trouble go hand in hand. This is the benefit of reading the Word of God because the Bible genuinely points us to learn who God is and what God is like. By means of Elijah, I learned that if we are not willing to be misunderstood by others, we cannot really be used by God. One of the well said statement by Pastor Steven Furtick from the podcast where I get to write things such as this one was Isn’t it crazy how in this world tend to give all the credit to ourselves as human beings for all the advancements and creativity but give God all of the blame for adversity and trouble?. I even admired his preaching of Elijah’s speaking as “Don’t you go blame in God for the hard times because you surely didn’t glorify Him on the good times”. God surely does a great and amazing job in putting gifts to His chosen ones, right? 

What about you? Who is your source and your help comes from? Is it the same God Elijah talked about? Or a god who only you would know exists? Because God isn’t scared, He isn’t nervous! He isn’t intimidated at all. We may confuse God’s work in our lives at times, times that He wants to do it in unreasonable way; in ways where there is no way human beings could do it, then He will do it. God is good under pressure, but He is good at everything.

I believe now is the perfect timing to start the right thing to do—applying Elijah’s decisiveness in actuality, from the first activity you do as you wake up in the morning until the time you go sleep at night. The Bible clearly says that our indecision—wavering between two opinions is an insult to God and He isn’t going to have it. Every time we come to God and say to Him, “I want to love You and serve You but I want to keep my options open.” know that God’s answer will always be “I am not an option. I am the lord, and beside me, there is no other.” By this, He is not requiring you to be perfect but He wants you to be wholehearted. Know that whenever God speaks to you, it is not an opinion but a command. That means when he speaks, it is certain and irrevocable. It frustrates the heart of God when we become so fickle. When we call into question His ability to provide, He is hurt. Besides, the only thing He asks, How long will you limp between two branches? Will you rather choose the strong, sturdy, stable branch that will sustain you and will give you true life over the twig that isn’t design to bear the weight of your life? If not, the only question that indeed matter is, Is He God or is He not? Mull over and answer God with an exposed heart. It is now to stop hopping between those opinions. It might be a hard time to answer however identifies that every day God receives a reply from you whether He is God or not from the way you respond to everything. Yes, it is a daily decision, Is Christ enough or is He not? So remember what you will do first thing as soon as you wake up, and ask yourself again, am I serving God only? Or Am I serving God and *insert whatever*? Dear friend, do what you need to do. Start from the smallest and simplest things. Act now! 

We believe that God can get us to heaven. The question is, “Do we believe and trust that our God can be trusted with our life on this earth?”

God is not a little twig; He is not a cosmic kill joy; He is not an item on a menu; He is not a backup plan: He is not stiff. Our God is GREAT. And if the Lord that Elijah and Obadiah worshipped is your God, get up on your feet and thank Him. Don’t just talk about the goodness of God; demonstrate the glory of God. He always has His way and your identity is established by the decisions you make.

The Worst Greatest Story Ever Told

No word. No word could ever describe how much He loves us.

                In mathematics, we all encounter topics like sets, sequences, series and such. More often, we find a pattern in it. Likewise, infinity nowadays becomes somewhat cliché. In contrast to what math believes in, infinity seems more like just an empty conception though proofs have been presented that there is an infinite thing. It’s just that our mind cannot comprehend it because it is an abstract and goes beyond our imaginations. However, in here, we will only tackle what we should know about what God said and didn't say—limiting our ideas what we could grasp and understand about His Word. And Pastor Steven Furtick clearly and directly pointed out through celebrating the eight graceful years of Elevation as a church that exists to connect lost people to Jesus so they can have a personal and intimate relationship with the Father. Pastor Steven further gave title to each sermon so as to remember the goal in each week with the series named INFIN8.

Passage: Read Genesis 3.

                Notice that the serpent posed a question to Eve that eventually created a doubt leading Eve to disobedience. Yet, he didn't issue direct problems because he is the master question-asker and he is smart. But, as much as humans have limitations, the enemy has some things that he also could not do. The enemy is hanging question marks but he cannot take God’s promises away. All he can do is to put question marks over God’s promises, and to doubt God. He kills, steals, and destroys. (My mind: I figured that a lot of times we were defeated by the enemy not because we have so little faith but because we tend to forget the promises of God for us. Even our friends sometimes play the role of ‘enemy’ and we so give up very swiftly just because we are outnumbered and they seemed ‘right at the moment’.)

1 Corinthians 2:11 CEV says, “You are the only one who knows what is in your mind, and God’s Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God’s mind.” Therefore, if you want to know what God’s will is for your life, go, open and read your bible. Don’t just read but meditate in it. The Bible is awesome, seriously speaking though.

Everyday, we choose side.
He has gifted us free will for He is love.

                One thing I love in this sermon is when Pastor Steven challenged everyone to discontinue having a conversation with the enemy. We need not walk away from the enemy because the key to winning the battle for all of the things that God has called us to enjoy, first we've got to understand, recognize and see how the enemy is working to lead us away from it. Remember that the only thing the enemy wants from us is to doubt God’s intention. He can go from straight to crooked but God wants us to become generous towards Him first and then enjoy the blessings that He is giving us. Our Father wants us to seek Him first and then enjoy our lives.

After all, the first commandment of God is a commandment of liberty (Genesis 2:25). The only limitation God will ever place in us is a limitation designed to protect our life, to enhance and bless us.

Let's learn to distinguish whom voice we listen to.
It changes everything knowing His voice.

As much as one word can change the whole meaning of a sentence, one lie can possibly cover the truth. And that’s exactly the expertise of the father of lies—to cover the goodness and kindness of God in our past so that the bright future God has ahead of us, he can ruin. But actually, when we really think about it, when we deeply sink our minds and souls into it, we will realize Hey, God didn't get me this far to leave me now and just drop me off. He will surely carry me. So, I dare you, get that serpent out of your heart and out of your mind. God is everywhere. There’s no fig leaf big enough for you to cover and hide from God. Hiding to God is a bad strategy. You know, He made this place so He knows where to look. The mistake that Adam committed was that he didn't know where God was. Thank God that He is so gracious knowing that disobedience dislocates us, removes us from His love and crumbles us to His signal so we cannot hear Him yet He is still the one who initiates to call us in our looseness and rebellion. The question is, Where are you today?. [Find time to answer this before God, then reflect if in your heart you believe you went a little off His path.]

The voice of the Lord is calling to His children, talking about the truth, about restoration, about recovery, redemption, life, freedom, wholeness, provision, protection and tells you “where are you, my child?” and meets you in your place of shame. He showed it through Adam and Eve that in spite of their sin, God clothed them (Genesis 3:21) for the love of God is to cover them. The same love poured to Adam and Eve is the same love given to those who believe and being offered to hard-hearted ones. Romans 5:17 CEV declares, Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has treated us with undeserved grace, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.

I am an avid cloud-fascination person! When I see the vastness of it, I see His vastness as my Creator.

See, Jesus will always find a way to get you back! His faithfulness stretches to the sky!