The Web Warrior

John 19:30 (NIV)
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Few weeks ago, I received a text message from one of our young people in our church. After reading her text message, GOD reminded me the last words Jesus have spoken before he gave up His Spirit, “It is finished.”

Wow! Despite of the physical pains Jesus got from the Roman soldiers, He kept on going till He died on the cross. He faithfully carried out the mission the Father gave Him. His goal is to die on the cross and pay the price for the sins of the world by His blood and save us from eternal death. But what if He decided to stop and pass it to others instead? Definitely no one is willing and worthy to accept that mission and nothing will be accomplished. There will be no salvation too.

Everyone of us has goals in life. There are no shortcuts in fulfilling these goals; there must be sacrifice involved. And when there is sacrifice, there is pain too. Let’s do not stop in pursuing our goals in life especially if it’s for GOD’s glory. There is no success and self fulfillment for an unfinished project. Our eternal goal is to get the eternal prize - the eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ. GOD is faithful to His promises. He will surely reward those who are faithful and obedient to GOD’s commandments.

Let’s keep on moving with the wisdom He is giving us everyday and with the help of the Holy Spirit till we succeed and then celebrate by shouting “It is finished!”

Psalm 6 (NIV)
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
  or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
  or O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

3 My soul is in anguish.
  or How long, O LORD, how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
  or save me because of your unfailing love.

5 No one remembers you when he is dead.
  or Who praises you from the grave?

6 I am worn out from groaning;
  or all night long I flood my bed with weeping
  or and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
  or they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
  or for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
  or the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
  or they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

What are some possible causes why people left the church and forget GOD? Family, relationship with the opposite sex or friends, studies or work are in the list but SIN is the most common cause why most believers left the church and lose their faith in GOD and follow their own sinful ways.

Last June 21, 2008, it was our Sold Out (young adult’s fellowship) when I volunteered to be their speaker. GOD led me to share my experience about my personal struggles and how Psalm 6 helped me to stay focus in Him in prayer. According to Life Application Study Bible (NIV), Psalm 6 is David’s prayer for deliverance. It’s one of the 7 penitential psalms David wrote where he humbly realizes his predicament or the result of his sin, expresses sorrow over it, and demonstrates a fresh commitment to remain close to GOD.

Whatever sin David has committed, I’m not pretty sure about it. It might be the sin he committed with Bathsheba. We do all know his story so I don’t need to write it down. Adam and Eve when they first committed their sin hidden themselves from the LORD because they disobeyed Him and they were ashamed for what they have done - they are guilty about it and GOD punished them in return.

Guilt can play an important role in bringing us to Christ and keeping us behaving properly, but it should not cripple us or make us fearful. During my days of struggle, I didn’t commit any sin but I was emotionally down that time. I have these tendencies not to read the Bible, not to pray, and not to go to our church. But I tried helping myself with the remaining strength and little faith and hope I have by reading the Bible and keep praying harder. Most of those nights I cried to the LORD that much and begging to save me from desperation and hopelessness by His grace and mercy.

Here are some points I got from Psalm 6:

1. On verses 1 to 5, David described GOD’s justice, mercy and grace, and His unfailing love. With His justice alone, we’re all gone in this world but with His mercy and grace He saved us all through His son Jesus.
2. Verses 6 to 7, David showed his honesty but with humility. GOD wants to hear praises from our lips but He is also interested in hearing about our true emotions especially if we feel angry or despair.
3. Lastly, verses 8-10, David expressed his confidence in the LORD. If we have deep relationship in Him, we must have this confidence that He always listens and answers prayer according to His will despite of our short comings.

Whether we are experiencing emotional or personal struggles or guilt from the sins we have committed, staying away from the church, keeping ourselves from praying and avoiding reading the Bible won’t help us. Let’s always remember that GOD is a gracious in forgiving. No matter how small is our faith and hope left in us, use it to call unto GOD and draw closer to Him. He will surely rescue us in His ways!

Genesis 15:6 (NIV)
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Job 1:8 (NIV)
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

According to the dictionary concordance of Life Application Study Bible (NIV), righteousness is defined as “acting in morally right manner”. Simply by keeping your reputation clean, doing the right thing or good deeds, abiding with the law, or doing tolerable sins, you can be a righteous person.

Question: Is righteousness sinlessness?
Answer: No.

Romans 3:23 says, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The definition of righteousness mentioned above is based only in human standards. So here’s the other meaning of righteousness from the same dictionary - “correct by divine declaration”.

Christians are confused on how to live a righteous life. The outward actions such as church attendance, prayer, devotion, fasting, or ministry involvement, can not define righteousness. It’s pretty easy to pretend though. These actions without repentance, love, faith, hope, trust, and complete obedience to GOD are in vain. Only GOD can tell whether we have right relationship with HIM or not. No human being can judge us unless the prophets of GOD are still existing. If we accepted Christ with all our hearts then the fruits of the Holy Spirit should follow.

We can be righteous in GOD’s eyes. But being righteous doesn’t exempt us from troubles, pains, or trials in life - consider the lives of Abraham and Job. Their experiences maybe worse than what we are experiencing now and yet their faith survived.

Psalm 23 (NIV)
A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
  he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
  He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk
  through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
  for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies.
  You anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
  all the days of my life,
  and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.

King David of Israel composed this music and contains six verses only and finally became one of the famous prayers of believers. When I was in second year high school, Ms. Sanvictores, my English teacher, required us to memorize Psalm 23. She wrote Psalm 23 in New King James version on the board and asked us to copy if we don’t have a Bible. That was the first and only chapter from the Bible I’ve known that time. Every time she entered the classroom we stood up and recited Psalm 23.

14 years has passed by, the LORD reminded me again Psalm 23. I just realized that every time I recite it (even I graduated from high school) I’m also praying for myself. I was 19 years old when I received Christ in my life. Although the LORD used my cousin to invite in a district camp last December of 2007, Psalm 23 was an answered prayer for me.

Now I’ve realized how powerful the chapter is as my personal prayer. Yesterday I started reciting again that chapter as part of my daily prayer and devotion in the morning. I recite it also every time I have a chance to talk to GOD specially in time of my loneliness, desperation, needs, struggles in temptations, restlessness, anger, insecurity, and whenever I’m alone.

Start memorizing Psalm 23 now and make it as your personal prayer too. God is listening. He wants us to trust Him wholeheartedly.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Time is very valuable for other people. Some thought that if only God created 48 hours a day they can do more for themselves. Others can’t wait to get things in due time such as finishing studies, getting adult, marrying, earning money, etc. It’s part of our human nature to worry. But we should not spend much time in worrying. What does worrying benefit us? Definitely nothing. We’re just putting too much energy thinking ahead of time and start worrying about it and we also become unproductive at the same time.

Paul believes that if we start to be anxious about anything, we should also start praying to God and ask not to fulfill our immediate needs but to give us peace through Christ Jesus. Only God knows what are our daily needs. We can tell God our personal requests but let’s also seek His will for us. Put your hope in Jesus Christ and believe that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

So what are you waiting for? Do the things what should be done for today. Always ask for wisdom and knowledge. Stop being a “future worriers” and start being a “prayer warriors”.