As posted in Chettedizon.net
It has been 9 years… in love with Jesus and through these years… I’ve learned a lot (still learning) about Christianity. So right now, I just want to share you these nine (9) things I learned / realized as I walk with God for these past few years.
9 things that I learned through my Christian walk:
1. That Christianity is all about a personal relationship with God
- I thought I understand this sentence, but every year God reveals little by little of what is the true meaning of this. And the real meaning is… God made Christianity- a personal relationship with him because he knows that we can’t be perfect that even though we are Christians, we can hurt others and other Christians can hurt us. (Even we tried not to).
I have seen and counseled a lot of people online that were rejected or got hurt from their former churches….and basically last 2009, I have experienced their feelings too. A friend once told me, “If your relationship is not deeper with God, you’ll backslide.” So that is why, I can’t blame other people who loves “Jesus” but does not want to become a “Christian.” I’ll quote it here. “Christians are the worst people on this planet” – Even though I am a Christian myself.
Come to think of it, even the people who yelled, “Crucify him” to Jesus Christ were believers and Pharisees (who does believe in God since they are priests) and some were the people who followed Jesus wherever he goes.
2. That Christianity is not about inside the church.
- A pastor from a “revival CD” once said that Christianity is not about being inside the four corners of the building. The Bible/Jesus even tells us that the Kingdom of God is in YOU. (Luke 17:21). It’s about growing your relationship with God. Though it is important for a Christian to have a fellowship with his co-Christians, but it’s not a requirement to have a relationship with God.
It’s not about “Oh I am a part of this big church and I am a part of this popular cell group so I am already a Christian!” They even say that going to church on Sunday doesn’t make you one. Going to bible study doesn’t make you one. It is within you, if you have accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.
3. Disobedience to God leads to disorder
- When I have accepted Jesus last 2002… There were times that I followed his directions, but there are times that I followed the church leaders even though God is telling me “NO. DO NOT DO THAT.” I still remembered that time when the leaders told me and the people within the inner circle to exaggerate the amount of people who are attending the church so that we can create a huge impact/report to the other churches. Yeah they have doctorate degree in magic (lolz). There was even a time that the pastor had to use the church money and we had to cover that up because they said, “We need to protect our pastor.” Oh… so are we going to lie to people? Hmm… well… we can’t lie to God right? But I have no choice but to follow them even though God is telling me. “NO.”
There were decisions that time in my life that contradicts what the church leaders were trying to make me do to what God has been telling me to do. And so in the end it led to disorder because of my disobedience with God. If only I obeyed Him that time when He said, “Find another Church.” I wouldn’t be able to experience what I have experienced before.
The worst part is… I’ve even became stranger not just to myself, but to my family and love ones.
Last February 2009, God visited me and shed a light on me. (See my testimony blog for details). As I recalled that incident, I kept telling everyone (church leaders) about that incident and I don’t know if they believed in me, because as I remembered they were calling us demons =p Anyway, I remembered they said that God rejuvenated me and even told me, “Baka sabi nang Diyos eh mananalo si ______ bilang presidente.” Well since I was blind that time, so I said “yes. He will win!” even though in my heart, I know that’s not it. As for me, I thought it was all about God wanting me to worship Him more and more.
I have never thought of that time that the reason why He visited me and shed a light on me was because He wants me to be free from the darkness of confusion and deceitfulness of those people and of their system. To open my eyes from all the deceit and lies through the system of this very corrupt church. I still remember that was February 2009… and I dreamed ‘Two snakes’ last January 2009.
I guess that time God told me… “Enough. Do not be blind anymore. Prepare yourself for a great change in your life. I do not want you to do this anymore.” After seven months of that year… August 2009, we were freed from that system.
And the thing that God has been telling me to make it grow instead of making others grow… the publishing house that we took for granted, we started it again and now we can see how God moves in this business.
4. That the biggest tool you can use to share God’s love is through your own life Testimony.
- The church we are in, right now… they don’t go witnessing and evangelizing people on the street just like the old days to accept Jesus Christ. They do not go out before the service to get people inside the church (so that people will think oh they are growing!). They do not even list the attendance of the people attending the church! The people come to them, the people see the light, the people become curious and they attend church. They don’t say anything, they just encourage people and remind people that God’s love is soooo amazing… that makes people bring closer to God, that’s how they work.
IT IS NOT THEIR EFFORT OR ABILITIES BUT IT IS GOD WHO BRINGS PEOPLE WITHIN THE CHURCH. THE ONLY RESPONSIBILITY THEY HAVE IS TO GIVE SUPPORT AND WITNESS AND ALSO ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW AND EVEN THE OLD. BECAUSE SO MUCH IN THESE DAYS THE CHURCH HAS GONE INTO PEOPLE’S LIVES TOO MUCH! EVEN BEYOND THE BORDERS AND THE PRIVACY THEY HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE ‘BIG BROTHER.’ THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE SHOULD CONDUCT OURSELVES. RATHER GIVE THEM SPACE AND TIME TO GROW. TREES PLANTED NEAR EACH OTHER WILL HAVE A HARD TIME GROWING AND WILL ONE DAY COMPETE EACH OTHER FOR THE SUNLIGHT AND WATER AND IN COMPETITION THERE’S ALWAYS A VICTOR AND A LOSER.
GIVING THEM SPACE AND TIME TO GROW GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW DEEPER IN CHRIST, JUST LIKE PLANTS AND SEEDS THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SEASONS AND EVEN PERIOD TO GROW. THEY DON’T GROW ON JUST ODD WATER THEORY. NOTHING IS INSTANT YOU DON’T EVEN FORCE A PLANT TO GROW IN A BIG TREE BY THROWING IT IN THE RIVER. TOO MUCH WATER, IT WILL DROWN, TOO MUCH SUN IT WILL DRY, TOO MUCH FERTILIZER IT WILL ROT… ITS ALWAYS IN THE BALANCE THAT IS WHY PAUL SAID ‘I TEND THE PLANTS, APOLLOS WATERED THE PLANTS BUT IT IS GOD WHO GROWS THE PLANTS (1 CORINTHIANS 3:6)’ – PHILIP
5. That you can serve God even outside the church
- You can serve God through your family. Your friends once they need your encouragement or advice. Your work, just by showing them excellence and good quality workmanship. If people say this is unbiblical, then why most of the characters in bible are not priest ? They are all people doing their best in whatever field they are. There was David the Shepherd, Peter the fisherman, Solomon the King, Daniel the prominent figure in the court of Babylon etc.
God doesn’t play favorites.
“Just because I am a servant inside the church that means I am more favored” No. That’s not the case. You serve God inside the church because you want to, not because you need to. But there is an underlying statement there: Where is your heart? You are maybe inside the church and you may want to serve God but your heart is not there, then it is useless. Or maybe out of the church, but your heart is on God, that is greater.
JUST LIKE THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR PARABLE. THE PHARISEE ALMOST LIVES IN THE SYNAGOGUE JUST TO PRAY AND FAST BUT HE HAS THE HEART OF PRIDE AND SELF-RIGHTEOUS, SEEING HIMSELF AS MORE FAVORED BY GOD. BUT THE TAX COLLECTOR KNOWING HE IS A SINFUL PERSON WHOLEHEARTEDLY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS THE HEART. GOD IS MORE PLEASED TO THE TAX COLLECTOR.
PEOPLE BEING IN CHURCH ARE HAVING ILLUSION THAT THEY ARE MORE HOLY THAN THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH. BUT REMEMBER WHAT CHRIST SAID BEFORE THAT THERE WOULD COME A TIME PEOPLE WOULD WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, NOT ONLY INSIDE THIS TEMPLE BUT EVERYWHERE. MEANING THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS NOT THE PHYSICAL WORSHIP PLACE BUT THE TEMPLE IS IN US, WHOM HE LIVES. – PHILIP
6. That God doesn’t just give us burdens, but shoulders.
- When someone rejects you, someone will welcome you in his/her arms. God will not let you live alone and rejected. His plans for you is the prosper you and not to harm you… to live victoriously because Jesus already “finished” your suffering at the cross. So stop suffering and embrace the joy of victory!
7. That you shouldn’t rely on your pastors or leaders all the time, they are humans too.
- So if they are trying to make you do things which you think that it’s a bad thing, do not follow them. I just found out that the divorce rates of Christian couples are bigger than the ones who are not Christians. Why? because their pastors intervene their decisions. The pastor/leaders are there to guide you but not to live your life.
UNDERLYING QUESTION: WHERE WOULD YOU STAND? TO THE TRUTH OR TO THE AUTHORITY?
ANSWER: ALWAYS CHOOSE THE TRUTH. GOD NEVER RESPECT AUTHORITIES THAT ARE CORRUPT.
You don’t have to follow their commands or advices all the time. I am not telling you not to follow them, We should respect them because they are our elders in faith.. however, God has given you common sense, discernment and freewill. Use it. It is your birthright. Ask God to guide you and show you the way and the truth.
We follow our pastors and leaders for order. Orderliness in the church, but when it comes to morality and your life making decisions, they are only there to help you find the solution and answers… HELP not ANSWER or DICTATE your Life’s decisions.
8. That some of the prophesy/dreams that God has given to you is not all about equipping the “Church group.” It is “Equipping YOURSELF” for you are HIS CHURCH.
- Yes. You point yourself and say, “I AM THE CHURCH. My Body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I AM THE CHURCH.” because before God can edify the whole flock, he must first edify YOU. “As His channel of His blessing” So that if God may have some certain message for the church, you… yourself is a proof that God is in work in your life and they should believe on what God is telling you to say or prophesy.
BUT BE WARNED. DISCERN, IF IT’S A PROPHESY FROM GOD OR SELF-PROPHESY/OWN IMAGINATION. BECAUSE MOST OF THE PROPHETS TODAY ARE ALL THE SAME LIKE THE THOSE OLD FALSE PROPHETS. THEY ALWAYS SAY THEIR DREAMS AND IMAGINATIONS, BUT GOD DIDN’T SEND THEM. OR HE DOES NOT HAVE A MESSAGE LIKE THAT. – PHILIP
9. His Visions and Promises will always be fullfill.
- Even though you may think that it was delayed. But God will fulfill it in your Life…. always. Your relationship with God will see you through for you to see the manifestation and fulfillment of God’s promises. So at the end of the day its still the relationship. “Your PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD.”
Thanks for Reading! God bless,
Chette
