3 Things you Need to do with Bitterness

By Sean

Ever had a time in your life when you got so offended that you were cringing with hateful emotions? Perhaps someone shamed you in public or a younger sibling disrespected you in front of friends with whom you hold good reputation? Or perhaps you are denied something – a material thing that you really wanted, or a relationship you were trying so hard to pursue. Unexpected things in life can trigger anger which can lead to hate – which can lead to bitterness.

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” - Hebrews 12:15

The Danger of Bitterness

Almost all murders that have happened in our world today is a result of unchecked anger which planted seeds of bitterness. This bitterness then grew its roots and tightly grasped into its host’s heart and soul – sucking out any good that the host could have done in its relationships with other people.

“Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” - 1 John 3:15

The root of a plant is something that is usually unseen. It is below the surface of the ground it is on. The root is an anchor for the plant – it enables the plant to take shape and grow. Bitterness has been attributed to a root. It goes deeper and deeper into your heart and emotions. And the more you try to weed it out, the harder it is and the more painful.

The plant will grow thorns in your heart – whenever people try to get closer to you, your bitterness will wound them.

Bitterness is a parasite that rots your heart – but the worst part is, it eats up other relationships too.

Bitterness needs two things to grow:

  • A hurting host
  • Time

Results of Bitterness

When you let bitterness grow and establish its roots in you, the plant that results can vary – from murder, slander, gossip, hatred, anger, impatience, divorce, irateness, death, sadness, sickness, depression, etc… Whatever the resulting plant is, it will consequently affect other relationships.

You don’t know it, but bitterness is an act of holding on to a hurt and anger until it has a hold on you. No one wants anything to have a hold on them intentionally – but you won’t recognize that it’s exactly what bitterness is already doing to you.

The Core of Bitterness

Bitterness needs special kinds of soil to grow on. And these can be identified as unforgiveness, being withdrawn, sulking, complaining, grumbling, having a critical spirit, ingratitude, absence of peace and joy, and other forms of self-centeredness. Having these things in your life prepares the way for bitterness to take root. You have to change your heart to good soil in order for you to avoid bearing bitter fruit – and bear good ones.

Consequently, if you allow bitterness to take root, you will lose intimacy with the Lord – making your bitterness an idol. And you will be unable to bear good fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” - Galations 5:22-23

As a Christian, we are called to bear good fruit. Meaning, you have to take away bitterness in you.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,  whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

“But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” - Psalm 1:2-3

Unrooting Bitterness

So just how do you weed out the bitter root? How do you unroot bitterness?

  1.  Surrender to God’s sovereignty. Bitterness drives you to your own desire to be bitter without surrender to anyone.
  2.  Ask for forgiveness from God.
  3. Forgive the offender.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” - 1 Peter 2:23

Jesus surrendered to God’s sovereignty. He did not harbor bitterness towards the people. He even asked God to forgive them – meaning He also forgave them. He did not allow even one inch of bitterness to take root in His heart.

Do not allow bitterness to take root and hold you. Free yourself. Surrender to God and forgive.

Citipointe Live Concert 2012

By Sean

Citipointe Live, as you well know has been in the Philippines last 2010 with the ‘My Soul’ worship concert. That was a good 2 years ago. And now they’re gonna be back in Manila this February 2012 with the ‘Hope is Erupting’ Tour! It will be a series of worship seminars and concerts held at these venues:

DATE / TIME – VENUES
CONCERT
February 16, 2012 / 7PM – Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(Pampanga)
February 20, 2012 / 7PM – Phil Sports Arena (former ULTRA)
SEMINAR
February 17, 2012 / 5-10PM – Plenary Hall, Paskuhan Village (Pampanga)
February 18, 2012 / 8AM-1PM – GT-Toyota, UP Diliman (Manila)

The first day at each venue will be devoted to intensive worship seminars, while the second day is for Citipointe Live’s concert. Multi-awarded local artist GLOC-9 will also be performing as the special guest of each concert.

Ticket Prices:
Concert
VIP A (Reserved Seating) – P1500
VIP B (Reserved Seating) – P1200
Ring Side (Reserved Seating) – P900
Lower Box (Free Seating) – P600
Gallery (Free Seating) – P300

Seminar Only
Regular Rate: P1200
Early Bird Rate: P1000 (Until December 31, 2011)

Seminar + Concert (Lower Box)
Regular Rate: P1800
Early Bird Rate: P1300 (Until December 31, 2011)

Aaron & Beck’s Shoutout about Hope is Erupting

Our 2011 album recording is FINALLY upon us. It seems like forever since we last recorded. 2 years to be exact. WAY too long!
This time around, we’re pretty excited and very calm about this project. I believe that’s because we have a killer team running the ship. Big shout out to everyone on our team. You’re the best!

We love what new songs do to the heart of God’s church. There is something powerful about a new anthem stirring and moving people to become so free and vulnerable in their worship to God.

This Sunday night is about common every day people coming together to pour their hearts out in worship to our King and Saviour. We are purposely creating a moment where the truth of Jesus can be revealed. A moment where people of all demographic and backgrounds, can once again allow the hope of Jesus Christ to erupt in their hearts. An experience where the hopeless, the lost and the broken can find refuge in their heavenly Father!

In all honesty, we don’t know what God is going to do on this night, but it’s going to be a life changing experience.
Let’s come together on this evening, hearts full of faith, determined to push the boundaries of our worship to God. Together, standing strong to bring forth the fame of His great and glorious name!

Nothin’ but BIG love
Aaron & Beck

To keep yourself updated, please join the Citipoint Live Facebook group.

Buy your tickets at http://smtickets.com

Hope is Erupting

Brought to you by Aspire Events Production

For the Benefit of JREV Now Foundation, Inc.

Why we Need Christmas

By Sean

In history, the ones who recorded events and dates and wrote the stories altogether were mostly people who were hired to write about it. They were employed by generals, kings, queens -powerful people. Of course, hiring a scribe to write your history comes with a special perk. You can SUGGEST things. You can suggest that they downplay your defeats and shameful moments or erase it altogether. You can also suggest to exaggerate and heroize specific moments of triumph and greatness.

Of course, if the Scribe believes in his or her employer, the scribe would have no problem writing the story with the suggestions.

Let’s look at Jesus’ history as written by Matthew.

Genealogy of Jesus – Only the book of Matthew started with a genealogy

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

- Matthew 1:1-6

It includes 4 very unpopular women:

Rahab the harlot, Ruth the moabite, Tamar the daughter-in-law of Judah who deceived him and the mother of Solomon who had been Uriah’s wife.

Now why did Matthew had to write about them? Wouldn’t you be writing all the good stuff when you want someone to look good? I mean, this is the Savior and Messiah Jesus Christ we’re talking about!

Two categories of unclean people:

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.” - Matthew 9:10

“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.” - Luke 15:1

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” – Matthew 9:11

Sinners and Tax collectors – that’s how bad tax collectors were. They had their own category. They were considered traitors to their own nation because they were collecting tax for Rome. And as long as the Romans were happy with the tax, they can add any amount of surcharge they wanted for their tax collecting.

Tax collectors have no other friends

Tax collectors know the extent of their ‘sinfulness’ in people’s eyes.

Matthew was a tax collector

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. “ – Matthew 9:9

Matthew was doing what? Praying in the Temple? No, he was COLLECTING TAXES. Jesus found him in his sin.

And yet, what did Jesus say? “Repent you… tax collector?” No. Jesus looked him in the eye, smiled kindly at him perhaps and told him two simple words: “Follow me.” Without any second thought, Matthew got up and followed him.

Matthew did not deserve to be even in the presence of God and yet God went to him, looked him in the eye and told him point blank ‘Follow me’ – ALL WHILE HE WAS IN HIS TAX COLLECTOR’S BOOTH

Ever had that experience? When God approached you in your tax collector’s booth, undeserving, and asked you to follow Him? Maybe you didn’t see God in the flesh asking you to follow Him. But He has. Someway, somehow He told it to you in a different light – that’s why you’re here. And that, for Matthew is what Christmas is all about.

Being called to follow Him, undeserving as we are. We will never be good enough but His grace covers all that up.

Just a disclaimer, for those who didn’t know: I’m not a tax collector. I’m not with the BIR.

Being called, undeserving, to follow Him. Christmas is the story of grace. It’s the story of sinners, of tax collectors, of redemption, of sacrifice and love. Christmas is the story of God in its best. This is why we needed Christmas. We need a story that can help us remember God and what He did in this Earth 2,000 years ago for you, for me, for tax collectors and sinners. For guys like Matthew and girls like Rahab and mothers like Bathsheba.

Christians still need Christmas. “And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:24

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” - 1 Corinthians 11:25

Remember Christ. Because you and I are the likes of Matthew. We are called, undeserving as we are, to follow Him.

What to do When you Feel Tired and Burned Out

By Sean

Have you ever felt like you’re really tired – but you’re not? Your body can still take it, but your emotions feel like it doesn’t want to go on. It’s as if you don’t understand yourself. You need to do something to be happy, and yet you don’t feel like doing it? This usually happens when you’ve burned yourself out. And you know, I’ve been there too.

This entry has been inspired by my discipler, Aumar Aguilar – during the time when I felt down and out and I needed help. To you I give my sincere thanks.

There was a week in my life when I was going here and there, doing a lot of things for a lot of people and for my own. I felt exhausted. I also felt weird coz physically, I didn’t feel exhausted. But there was something in me that was excruciatingly tired. What is it?

Deeper Exhaustion

Being tired goes further than physical. I realized that you feel most tired when your emotional tank is running empty in all aspects. Take note, I didn’t say EMPTY – I said RUNNING EMPTY. When your car is empty, it’s alright. Just go stop using it and put some gas to make it work again. BUT when your car is RUNNING EMPTY, not very soon, it will incur some serious damage.

Running an empty emotional tank with work, relationships, and your spiritual walk with God is one of the worst things that can happen to you.

Where’s the Gas Station?

How to overcome emotional exhaustion is not easy. You don’t need rest. And most people think that they just need to rest physically in order to overcome this. No, that’s not gonna work. You need a different source of gas to fill up your emotional tank. But the first step is – get pulled towards the gas station.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Obviously Jesus talks about the solution when you’re tired – spiritually. We are first and foremost spiritual beings. Every human culture in this planet believes in another world beyond ours and a higher being. We are spiritual beings because that is our design and that is the reality of our existence.

Jesus says “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – notice He doesn’t say get some rest. He says for us to take his yoke! A yoke is not for resting. It is a thing used for work – for oxes in the field. To plow the soil and make it ready for planting. It is a tool for the younger ox to be guided by the wiser, more experienced one.

Real rest does not mean to take a break from all your work and relax. It’s more than that. It means to align with God. You need to change your perspective, renew your mind, realize that there are things beyond this world. Know that we only have but one purpose in our lives – to glorify God.

You don’t need to do a lot of things. You don’t need to be mindful of the entire world. You just need to know what your purpose is and live it out. “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – the world will tell you differently. Living for Christ means that you walk with Him and His laws and commands. His statutes are designed for life and freedom. If you don’t live by His laws, you will live by another one – it is inevitable.

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” – Psalm 119:45

“Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 18:5

Why are You Tired?

Is it because you have put on the yoke of the world?

Is it because you have turned from the freedom of Christ and went after the ‘freedom’ of the world?

Is it because you have lost sight of your purpose and set your heart on other goals?

What is it that makes you tired?

Put on the yoke of Christ. Align yourself with His truths and your soul will be rested. Your emotions will come alive and you will find real freedom.

The Common Excuse When Falling into Temptation

By Sean

I’ve been reading Charles Stanley’s ‘Winning the War Within’ and I’ve come across a very intriguing argument in his book. Here’s what he has to say about the common excuse we make when falling into temptation.
“One of the most common statements people make to excuse failure in the area of temptation is this: “I’m just human, and besides, nobody’s perfect.” Let’s take a look at that for just a minute.

There is some truth to this statement. Only God is perfect. The problem is that this statement confuses present character with potential behavior. Let me explain.

When people say, “I am not perfect,” they are referring to their personhood or character. They are basically saying, “Since I am not perfect internally, don’t expect perfect behavior externally.” But in a discussion of temptation, character is not really the issue.

The issue is whether or not, at a given moment in time, people (in this case, Christians) have the potential to do the right thing. God says they do.

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is fathful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13

All people have the potential to say no to temptation, regardless of whether or not we are perfect. Pointing to character as an excuse for giving in to temptation holds no weight with God.

We are all in the process of developing character, but where we are in that process has no bearing on our potential to overcome temptation. It may affect our desire to overcome temptation, but not our ability.

Are you willing to exercise your potential as a believer and say no to temptation?”

- Charles Stanley
‘Winning the War Within’ (with my own edit and emphasis added)

An Antidote for Temptation

By Angelyn

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Special thanks to Charles Stanley for his ‘Winning the War Within’ book which has blessed me with these insights.

As I have been writing about temptation, this verse above all, brings delight to me. It first of all reminds us of our frailty. By this I do not just mean being weak, but also our tendency to become proud or lenient after being victorious in 2-3 instances of temptation.

It speaks about God’s faithfulness which makes Him the perfect candidate for us to trust. I don’t know about you but in my experience, when I’m most hurt, most sad, most frustrated, there I am most vulnerable to temptation. And as you reflect on God’s faithfulness, does it not give you comfort, and hope that there’ll be a better tomorrow?

And here it begins to get interesting; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. We know God is in control of everything. He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12: 2), why didn’t I ever think that He too has a say on our temptation?

In the book, Mr. Stanley writes that God is intimately involved in our lives. He stresses this by citing the Luke 22:31-32, when Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked for him. You see God sets the limit and boundary of how far Satan can go. God never promised we won’t experience trouble, in fact, He warned us about it. But He promises to never leave or forsake us. As what I’ve mentioned before to grow is to be tempted. So whatever temptation you’re facing, remember, by God’s grace you are a conqueror!

‘But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.’ Think of the last time you fell into sin. If you could have just paused for a while, thought things through, would you have acted differently? How about if you’ve planned it beforehand?

The Bible says in Proverbs 19: 2, ‘Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.’ Haste may be one of Satan’s tools to block your vision, to hinder you from the best plans into giving in to his substitutes. His tactic as always is for us to satisfy our desires and cravings in the fastest, least painful way.

What’s Next?

Now that you know more about How to Stop Temptation When It Starts, The 5 Weak Points of Man and How to Break the Unending Cycle of Sin, what do you do?

  • Remember

Don’t wait until Satan plans his next attack and you go “Shoot! What was that blog I read about this?” Start building your walls. Plan your defense strategies NOW. What areas in your life do you think needs to be surrendered to Jesus? Where are your weak spots?

  • Study God’s Word

This is where you get your knowledge. The Bible gives the best defense mechanisms. Some of which are prayer, meditation, seeking counsel, waiting on God. Wise up and read.

  • Be Accountable

Having godly mentors and friends who will track your walk is one of the best tools of assistance and protection in the Christian family. It is not meant to intrude but to influence. It not meant to control but to convict. More importantly, as we follow Jesus, He formed his disciples for them to sharpen one another and to share joys, trials, failures and triumphs.

How to Break the Unending Cycle of Sin

By Angelyn

You must have already encountered a sin in your life where you felt the weakest? Something you don’t want to get involved into but you can’t seem to get out from its grips? Be encouraged brother/sister in Christ, you are not alone.

Paul says in Romans 7 verse 15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” And continues on in verse 18 saying, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”

Special thanks to Charles Stanley who continues to inspire me in his book “Winning the War Within”

One of the chapters talked about the root of evil. As Christians, we know there are different roots for the varying natures of sin. There is pride, selfishness, greed, ungodliness and the list goes on. In this book, Mr. Stanley tells us that having the wrong source of significance or security can be a cause of  the cycle of your sin and mine.

Let’s start by reflecting what sin has a cycle in your life. For exemplifying purposes, let’s say the lack of self-control in the words you say. You’re the type who when hurt, tells your offender his/her faults on why you did a particular thing (tosses blame). Or you may be the one who raises his/her voice in order to prove a point to tell a person you’re certain about something and you’re right about it; Without consideration whether you’re hurting others.

In my previous article, I explained why your so-called personality is not an excuse for this behavior. Nothing is an excuse for our choice to act the way we do. But going deeper, have you ever asked yourself why? Is it because in your household, this was how anger was dealt? Or may it be because you feel more superior (smart, good) each time you win an argument?

The point is you fall into the same sin over and over again because you have the wrong concept of where your source of security and significance should be. We tend to create our own ‘world of fear’ where we get so conscious of what people will think or say about us when _____. In our example, your lack self-control of what words to say when you fear someone’s getting ahead in your particular niche, when he/she could not give you what you want and when things don’t turn out as you have wanted it.

Tonight, think about this sin and instead of feeling guilty, resolve to pull-out its roots from your heart. Charles Stanley posed a few questions to renew our mind with whom our true security and significance rests:

  1. Who is ultimately in control of all that goes on in the world today?
  2. Who sent His Son to die for you?
  3. Who promised He would never leave you?
  4. Who has given you eternal identity based upon His work?
  5. With whom, then, does your true security rest?

The 5 Weak Points of Man

By Angelyn

As mentioned from my previous article on temptation, the first step is choosing to say ‘No’. We ought to remember that inspite and despite the circumstances, people involved, ultimately it is our personal decision to do a certain behavior causing us to sin.

My special thanks to Charles Stanley’s book of Winning the War Within who has inspired me to share this to all of you.

Unfortunately, men and women have the tendency of passing the blame… “I couldn’t control it, he made me so mad!”, “If my parents raised us better, I wouldn’t be this way”; “If only my brother will stop playing that computer game, then I’ll totally quit!” Statements like these may be true but the response of cursing when you got mad, or the choice to follow in your parents’ footsteps and the decision of playing that computer game was YOURS.

Nobody can make you do something you don’t want to do. They can only go as far as to influence, tease, trick and even force you to doing it but not MAKE you do it.But you know, the cycle of tossing the blame to others has originated not from you, your baby sister or even that cheater seatmate. It started way back from Adam and Eve. Remember when God confronted Adam about his sin?

He responded in ” The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” - Gen. 3: 12

And Eve responded, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” - Gen. 3: 13

And how did God respond? They were banished from the Garden forever. It didn’t work the first time when God and Man were as close as eye level can ever get. So what makes us think we can get away now?

Here are 5 REALITIES from which we blame our sin:

  1. This is who I am- Personality
  2. Environment – The people you spend most of the time with
  3. Family Background – Culture and upbringing
  4. The Devil
  5. God – (He is in control of everything)

You may be the shy type but choosing to share your thoughts about Christ among non-believers may just be the best thing you can do to a lost person.

The whole team may be partying with drinks and girls but choosing to pass in this occasion may just be the testimony one of the players need to be curious in knowing Christ.

Your family may be the Spewer type (vocal/violent when mad), but when you choose to weigh your words, you might just influence the rest.

The Devil’s best and only tactic is to tempt you. But when you choose to be disciplined by it, you will learn endurance.

And God, yes, He is in control of everything but if you shut Him out of your life, you won’t hear His voice enough telling you ‘Don’t give in!’

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” -2 Cor. 5: 9-10  

We are all accountable to God for everything we do, whether you admit it or not. Change for the better: take responsibility