July 10
________________________________________
IF ANYONE IS WILLING TO DO HIS WILL
17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.– John 7:14-18
________________________________________
Jesus warns humans of pride and self-seeking schemes in this gospel account of John. It is natural and automatic for us all to boast of knowledge and think it comes from our own mind. James 1:17 says that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Proverbs 8:33 says that we ought to listen to instruction and be wise and not ignore it. Surely, these two verses points us to the source of every good gift coming from the Lord and that we ought to listen to his instructions in order to be wise. If we neglect to follow, we become fools.
Jesus tells us the benefits of doing the Father’s will. He says that they will know the truth and it will set them free. Free from what? We are by nature sinners and bent towards serving our flesh. It is only by God’s Spirit that we get revelations of truth. If we abide in Him, the Spirit of the Lord makes us aware of truth and gives us the ability to understand it. It is also the Holy Spirit that points to the source because that is His role in the Trinity. He brings glory to the Father and to the Son. He will not bring humans glory because that is not His purpose. In this account, Jesus tells us that we must never do anything out of our own will but that we should do things aligned with God’s will. Verse 18 clearly says that if we make it about us, then we are not seeking to give God the glory but to ourselves. When we seek to bring God all the glory, we are operating in sync with the purpose of the Holy Spirit which is to worship and praise God alone. Jesus calls them true followers and there is no wickedness in them at all.
How many Christians are really willing to follow God’s will? Some deceive themselves to think that they are followers, but in reality, they are manipulating God to get what they want and then claim that they are following God’s will. Only the Holy Spirit will make them realize that they are wrong because He will never tolerate idolatry. He is part of the triune God and will not compromise his role which is to bring glory to the Almighty God. He serves God and Jesus alone. He cannot serve any man.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How do you know if you are really willing to do God’s will? How does that show?
Monthly Archives: July 2020
WISDOM FROM HIS FATHER ILMA’S VLOG
July 9
________________________________________WISDOM FROM HIS FATHER
10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. 11 So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?” 12 There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.” 13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews. 14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.– John 7:10-16
________________________________________
In this story, we see how the Jews obsessed to catch Jesus and also find the perfect occasion to expose Him. Jesus on the other hand was doing his best not to be seen for it wasn’t his time yet. While they were searching for him, the crowds were all grumbling to each other trying to figure out Jesus. Some were saying he was a good man, but others claim that he was a false teacher. Yet, they didn’t openly speak about him because they feared the Jewish leaders. The leaders kept wondering how Jesus had so much wisdom when they knew he had never been schooled? This time Jesus gave them an answer. He told these Jewish leaders that his teaching is not his but comes from the One who sent Him.
How many of us point to the Lord when we get praised for some wisdom that we are acknowledged or praised for? Human nature automatically makes us take credit for what is actually a gift from God. Isn’t it amazing to see Jesus, who was God Himself, still acknowledged His Father for something that He could easily take credit for? We can learn humility from Jesus in this story. In Psalm 16:2, David acknowledges that we are no good without God. When we take credit for the wisdom we have been given without acknowledging the source, who is God, we are boasting and praising ourselves. When we do this, we serve ourselves and not God. We become our own idol. We know very well that God hates idols. Even though He created us all, He wants us to acknowledge the Giver, not just the gift. Those who truly knows the Lord and serves Him, always ensures that God increases and he decreases.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it easy for man to claim wisdom as his and forget the source of it?
• What happens when we rely on our human thinking and give glory to ourselves?
THE WORLD HATES IF YOU TESTIFY TO ITS EVIL ILMA’S VLOG
July 8
________________________________________
THE WORLD HATES IF YOU TESTIFY TO ITS EVIL
After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” 9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. – John 7:1-9
________________________________________
In this account, we saw Jesus avoid the Jews wanting to kill Him. How can the Son of Man be afraid of these leaders? When he avoided them, it doesn’t mean he was afraid. It just meant that he does not do impulsive things, but always consults His Father and ensuring that nothing He does will interfere with the fulfillment of the will of God. The Jews were telling Jesus to leave and go to Judea so that the other disciples may see the works He is doing. They think that Jesus thought like them, wanting all the attention and honor. They are actually suggesting to Jesus things that they themselves clamor for such as recognition by the public. Jesus humbly answers them in verse 6 that His time hasn’t come yet. How many of us think and act in line with God’s will and timing? Jesus was following the Spirit of God even though He himself had all the powers that God and the Holy Spirit have. He expounds on verse 7 that the world cannot reject them if they do what they want but He will confront evil, so the reactions of the people for Him will be very different from what it would be for those who actually propagates wickedness. The Lord replied to their suggestion very differently from how humans would respond. In verse 8, he says that he will abstain from being in these feasts as He won’t dishonor the timing of His Father. After telling them these truths, he remained in Galilee. What an amazing wise person Jesus was during the time He was here on earth. He never operated on His own, but ensured that He wasn’t messing up any of the plans of God. Do we even consult God’s Spirit in making small or big decisions? Do we always act in behalf of God the Father like Jesus did? These verses tell us how believers need to isolate themselves from evil ways of the world.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do unbelievers hate to be told about their wickedness?
MANY DISCIPLES WITHDREW FROM FOLLOWING JESUS ILMA’S VLOG
July 7
________________________________________
MANY DISCIPLES WITHDREW FROM FOLLOWING JESUS
66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.
– John 6:66-71
________________________________________
The previous verses before this led to many disciples withdrawing from following Jesus. They heard Jesus’ revelation of how everything comes from God and that He is the one who chooses who will be his people. Unbelief consumed some of the other disciples that hindered them from hearing truth. Isn’t this so true today with some Christians? We commit our lives to Jesus without counting the cost of what it takes to be a true disciple. Many of us heard wrong gospels that do not speak truth about who really Christ is and what are the requirements of being a disciple. It is sad to watch many churches cater to numbers to rise up instead of bringing the true gospel. I have observed many churches that looked more like organizations and clubs rather than a place for the body of Christ to grow in order to bring glory to the Lord. Many just grow in population, some members come and go as they please, other churches just have programs and fund-raising or projects to achieve. In a church I became a member of for six years, there was even no vision. In verse 67, Jesus asks the twelve disciples whom he personally chose if they also wanted to go? It is a test whether despite what he revealed to them, they will still choose to continue to follow His way. Once again, we witness Jesus’ divinity when he made a statement in verse 70-71 about Him personally picking the twelve of them and yet, one of them is going to betray Him. Of course, He knew already who was to betray despite Him not telling them which one of them is of the devil. This revelation leads us to a deeper analysis of the character of Jesus worth emulating. It shows that despite His deity, He never boasts about it. He kept quiet because He is operating in God’s timing, it wasn’t the right time yet. We also see how He does things in accordance to God’s will and never on impulse or of His own will. Obedience, humility and total surrender to God are evident here.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Have you count the cost of being a disciple? What are your struggles as a disciple?
NO ONE CAN COME UNLESS THE FATHER GRANTS IT ILMA’S VLOG
July 6
________________________________________NO ONE CAN COME UNLESS THE FATHER GRANTS IT
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
– John 6:60-65
________________________________________
There were many of Jesus’ disciples who cannot comprehend the truth He was revealing to them. Jesus was also aware of the grumbling taking place among them. He told them that if these truths He was laying down on them cannot sink into their hearts, how can they be able to see the Son of Man go up to heaven right before their very eyes. In verse 63, he explains that they cannot understand spiritual things by the physical alone. Unbelief causes them not to understand the truth. Once again, in verse 64, we are presented with Jesus’ omniscience. He knew already who would betray Him even before they do the act. He spoke that He knew who are those who believe and those who didn’t. He reminds them that it is not their choice to believe, it is the heavenly Father who chooses who are His and who aren’t. In other words, we cannot do anything unless it comes from the Father’s will and unless we are chosen by God, we cannot even come close to Jesus.
Isn’t this a fact and truth that many of us, even those who claim to be believers, fail to understand? Many religious individuals and unbelieving people don’t accept truth because they are not in the first place chosen by God. We think that it is our choice, when really, it is God’s. We have no power to meddle in God’s plan. What we experience in life is because it is the will of God. We are given free will to accept His gift of salvation and obey what He commands, but it is up to us to take it or leave it. Even the will to accept Him does not only happen because we choose Him, but even our unbelief is also an act of God. In other words, humans have no power. Only God has.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do some Christians think that they are in control of their belief in Jesus?
• What are the proofs that God is the only one in control?
TRUE FOOD AND DRINK ILMA’S VLOG
July 5
________________________________________
TRUE FOOD AND DRINK
52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
– John 6:52-59
________________________________________
Once again, in this account, we get a glimpse of the unbelief and blindness of the Jewish leaders who claim to be knowledgeable about the laws and doctrines of their religion. Despite Jesus’ revelation of Him, being the bread of life earlier, they still grumbled and expose their narrow minds and continued unbelief. They take the statements of Jesus superficially and literally. Their hearts are not involved when they hear the truths because they are so concerned with self-protection. They wanted to ensure the people’s esteem and honor are on them and not on anyone else. They couldn’t bear the thought that what Jesus was saying was true and they are wrong. No matter how much Jesus explained to them about the requirement to have eternal life, they still couldn’t understand it.
Jesus declares that life forevermore is only through partaking of His body and blood and those who do so, gets to know Him deeper. He explains that it is only by doing so can we claim that we abide in Him and He in us. His flesh is the true food and His blood is the true drink that leads to life everlasting.
Do we partake of the true food and drink that only comes from Jesus’ sacrifice of his body and blood? So, often, we fail to partake of Christ’s body and blood which draws us away from being intimate with Him. We fail to get close to Him, so that we can remain intimate with Him. We lose life when we forget to abide and commune with Him. The world has corrupted and distracted our main purpose in life: to be united with Jesus and thus glorify the Father. We become so immersed in living isolated from Him and we begin to build walls to protect our own images and agendas.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important to feed on the true food and consume the true drink?
GRUMBLING AND UNBELIEF ILMA’S VLOG
July 4
________________________________________
GRUMBLING AND UNBELIEF
41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” – John 6:41-51
________________________________________
In this part of the story, we witness once again the inability of the Jewish leaders to comprehend what Jesus was saying. Because they studied for so long to understand the laws and history of their forefathers, they cannot believe anything Jesus said. It is ironic that they spent many years of studies so they can maintain their prestige and honor yet they fail to understand truth that Jesus reveals to them. They knew that Jesus was a carpenter’s son who didn’t have the education and accomplishments and prestige that they have. It is beyond their understanding to accept what Jesus had been saying to them. They were stuck in the narrowness of their thinking because their minds are only focused on power, law and to get the respect from others. Jesus didn’t think or act like them. He thinks out of the box. They couldn’t accept someone who didn’t have accomplishments because they have worked so hard to get where they were. Their legalistic thinking and prejudices made them fail to see truth. Isn’t legalism the reason why we fail to get revelations? Their minds and hearts were all hardened because they clung to control and power. In verse 44, Jesus kept telling them that only God chooses whom to give such wisdom. He had been telling them all along that He is the Son of God, but they are blind to see it.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Share an experience that shows legalism can hinder one from knowing truth?
THE BREAD OF LIFE ILMA’S VLOG
July 3
________________________________________
THE BREAD OF LIFE
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”– John 6:30-40
________________________________________
In this revelation of Jesus, he corrects the belief of the people that it was Moses who gave them the bread out of heaven and told Jesus the story of their fathers who ate the manna in the wilderness. In verse 32, Jesus reveals to them that it is His own Father who gives the true bread out of heaven and not Moses. He himself is the bread of life. In verse 36-38, Jesus reminds them that despite all the signs he made for them to believe, they still didn’t believe. Christ reveals the will of the Father in verse 39-40, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life and will be resurrected by Him on the last day.
It is interesting how Jesus spoke the truth to all these people who wanted to have the bread of life so dearly and yet fail to understand what Jesus was actually revealing to them. Don’t most of us fail to get the meaning of the truth presented to us? Sometimes, we don’t understand things because we allow the worldly things to hinder us from those teaching moments that Jesus gives us. We do not see the spiritual side. We fail to understand spiritual things unless we believe that Jesus is the only One who can actually reveal truth and make us understand it as well. It is a divine work, not human.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can believers constantly feed on the bread of life?
EVERLASTING NOURISHMENT ILMA’S VLOG
July 2
________________________________________
EVERLASTING NOURISHMENT
22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”– John 6:22-29
________________________________________
There were five thousand men and probably women and children as well, who were fed by Jesus during the multiplication of bread. It must have been hard to get some quiet time to spend with his Father in seclusion from everyone else. The crowd wouldn’t stop following and looking for Jesus because they want more signs and wonders. What was really in their hearts? Was it because they wanted eternal life or they just wanted to be fed again? In verse 26, Jesus reveals their hearts. They didn’t seek Him because of the wonders and signs that he was doing. Jesus exposes their motives for going after Him; the need to get more nourishment. He warned them and told them not to be concerned only with earthly matters, but to care more for what is important: to feed their spirits with foods that do not perish. Once again, Jesus reveals His divinity in verse 27. He told them that He is the source of such food and if they believe in Him, they will have everlasting nourishment. He reveals God’s will to them which comes from doing the works that God wants them to do; to grow their faith in Him.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What kinds of food lead to everlasting nourishment?