Reflection on Week 14

Now we arrived on our lesson about Christianity here in the Philippines. I was just amazed how God arranged everything so very well. Philippines from Jerusalem is quite far but the Gospel of Christ possibly in our country. It explains the power of being an Omnipresent God. He is everywhere and His gospel will someday reached every nation and even the very ends of the earth.

            It’s not new to me but I always amazed by missionaries who gave up their comforts and personal ambitions and desires just to reach out those people whom they don’t even know. Missionaries who risk their lives just to preach the gospel to innocent unbeliever. Life and death didn’t matter for them as long as they do it for the glory of God thinking that God already prepared a great place and life for them in heaven.

            When I know about missions, I receive a desire to become a missionary also. Different questions came up in my mind. “How can I go to Thailand when I don’t have any idea in raising a fund?” “Am I qualified to teach there when my English speaking skills goes everywhere?” Will I become effective there even if don’t have any teaching experiences for Thai people?” But time pass, I understand that this is what missionaries are for. They take the risk for the gospel of God. So this coming summer if God will really allow me to go there I will not make my incapability discourages me and stops me from pursuing Thailand ministry. I will put my whole dependence in the Lord.   

Reflection on Week 13

On this week, we studied some of the great men of God from the past. This include D.L. Moody, Hudson Taylor and William Carey. These people were believed to have done their part for the Lord although they were not successful in everything but they were considered good and faithful for God. These men also face a lot of trials in their Christian life but in spite of that, they stand firm and many made them as inspiration and model in their Christian living also.

            What made me realize from reflecting each their life, I can also do great things for the Lord. The problem many Christians today is that they are contented of what they are right now and limit themselves of what they can do for the Lord. God gifted each one of us different talents and abilities. It’s our par to develop and use it for Him.

            People see me as gifted in leadership and responsibility. Although I considered myself not fully equip on this. From time to time, I should not forget that God was the one who put this kind of gift in me. What must I do is practice it in school and during my FED assignments.

Reflection on Week 12

On this week, we learn so much about the benefits during “The Age of Reformation”. This age made great changes in cultural, social, and literature. I believe during this time different writers began to arise.

            I think it was great time in the part of those writers who are free to write. They took the opportunity of having freedom to write. As I continue to reflect to it, I realize that Philippines still lack of Filipino writers. We need Christian writers and authors who faithfully and passionate of spreading God’s word through writing.

            They are many different ways of spreading God’s Word and writing would be one of the examples. I should must not underestimate books that written by great men of God. I must read books that will to help in growing and strengthening my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Reflection on Week 11

Martin Luther, the Father of Reformation. This was our lesson during week 11. His life brought great impact to the many believers. His life was an example of endurance and faith. He was considered as one of the Great Men of God. He stand on his faith and did not deny it even to the point of death.

            What made me amazed of this topic was the life of showing concern for those people who were devoted to God like him. His realization of following doctrines struck me very much. I believe that God really put that in his heart and God knows that Luther would bring great honor to God. Even though Catholicism was in power during that time He did not care but stand in the truth. It’s a sad fact sometimes for me who has a less knowledge to defend God’s Word. I know the Bible but I admit that I cannot completely defend it from those who will try to give false interpretation about it.

            I still don’t know better ways to study the Bible. I’m still not sure what to answer if anyone challenge my faith. But as a Christian and as a Bible school student, it is my obligation to protect the Word of God from any heresies. I still have a lot privileges and at my age, I will use it to diligently stud God’s Word with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection on Week 10

Throughout this week, we learn that God’s providence was evidence in His church. Even though the church suffered painfully by persecutions and abuses, we can still say that He is still faithful in His   .

Painful events in our lives are part of God’s plan for us to be mature and become the person He wants us to be. God allows suffering because He wants to strengthen us from the inside out. As I reflect my whole life in BTC, I always arrive to the taught God’s providence sustained me throughout my school life. I can really that I’m very poor in many aspects but it through His loving provisions that kept me and made me this kind of person. Without His provision maybe from the beginning of my first year struggles I’m already out of the school.

I’m now coming to my last year in BTC and I believe that God’s providence will still be the source of my hope, faith, and strength. As a student, I should put give back to God what glorifies Him. He put me here and it is my role to be faithful and diligent in my studies. So help me God.

Reflection on Week 9

During this week, lessons about the 4^th and 5^th centuries were discussed. I learned about the seven sins that Antony the Great had mentioned. This sins caused trouble to the church which will to destructions.

            What reminds me in this topic was that sin is a serious concern to the church. When a member of the church have any unconfessed sins, it will give trouble to the church and eventually will cause pain to other members. Sometimes it is very easy to find sins to other people but we need to look at ourselves if were truly obeying God’s command in us.

            It led me to do daily confession to God. Humbling myself that I cannot really called righteous apart from His grace that saved me. This another aspect leads to understand more the importance of God’s commandment to be obeyed.

Reflection on Week 8

On this week’s lesson. This could be one the most sad events of the Christian history. “The Dark Ages in the Roman Empire”. It is the time where brutality, killing, persecutions, ad famine happened to the lives of these believers.

            I cannot imagine the bloody event that happened this time that made me think how blessed we are right now. We have the freedom to get together as a church. We can publicly do big events. We free to sing worship songs even with loud speakers. Our country our open to sharing of the gospel. No killing, no famine, and no worst trials that go towards us, but these blessing sometimes we take it for granted.

            I have decided to not just wait for another people to be used for the glory of God, but to act and to be used my life for great things and for great purposes of God Almighty. May this reflection may not only stay on this paper but also be applied 

Reflection on Week 7

This week we teacher Angel talked about the life of Constantine, and the great things and successes he had achieved.

One thing that made amazed in this topic was the idea of God of using greatly Constantine, a man who kills lives, for spreading the gospel. This story happened already in the event of the Old Testament. Although different story but had a similar theme. The story of the Captivity of Israel to Babylon. God used a sinful nation to punish the nation of Israel and to fulfill the great purposes of God to their lives. Truly, God uses different things, events, and people to carry out His purposes.

            The lesson that can be applied to me is that what happens, I will always put my trust to God. Even if it’s bad or good. I shall hold on to Him always. Sometimes God used unusual event for a big surprise and this surprise will always bring joy into believer’s heart if he/she truly put his/her full trust into the Lord. And it is my prayer to have the same view of God.

Reflection on Week 6

“Church and State” was our topic during this week. We talked about Constantine as the first emperor who allowed the practice of Christianity. Christianity during the early days was under the government of the state. And if a church is under the state they don’t have the total freedom to express what they believe.

            What I believe about this is that being under the state would hinder the growth of the church. Because what the state wants is what the church would obey. It is not the authority of the Bible that would the way it would be but the state. The danger is that, it’s a sad thing what the state decides contradicts of what the Bible says.

            One thing I could apply in this matter is that don’t let outside the teachings of the scripture would decide the way a believer should behave. Only the Bible was the written Words of God that has authority and power to change lives. The right thing to do for this is to let other people know the importance of God’s Word in our lives.

Reflection on Week 5

The 5th week of this semester was an unexpected event in my life. It was my first time that I encountered the destructive work of evil spirits. Sometimes many Christians are making fun of it but these enemies are very powerful that if we let our guard down it can disturb us anytime.

But I was also grateful because during that time God's power and authority was displayed to the life of the two ladies, and many of us witnessed it personally. It was an actual proof that the God who lives in us is more powerful than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Prayer in the name of Jesus is the most effective way in defeating Satan’s scheme.

            There are many things I learned that time. First, I learned not to be afraid of evil spirits because God’s Spirit is in me already. Demons cannot touch me nor harm me. It is the blood of Jesus that He poured on the cross for my sins. Another one was the prayer of many in the name of Jesus can torture Satan and his evil forces. We may have different feelings during that time but it’s God’s power that prevail. Last one was no matter how knowledgeable you are to the Bible if there is bitterness from your heart, you cannot leave peacefully. During that time, big revival happened. Each of us learned to humble ourselves and learned to asked forgiveness to one another.

Reflection on Week 4

On this week, we study how important the Word of God is. We were asked by teacher Angel “What is the Word of God for us?” Many of us said that the Word of God tells of who God is, who we are to God, and who God is to us.

What I see from the discussion was that there are still many Christians who neglect the importance of the Bible. It could be the reason why some churches are not growing it’s because not only members are ignored the Bible but also the leaders among the church. Leaders sometimes think that if they have the position in the church they are important to God. That is why these kind of people are on fire on being part of the office the church than on fire to the Word of God. Sometimes these people are the ones who leave the church when their pride were attack. The Holy Spirit works in the heart of a believer not in the position he/she had in the church.

These lessons prepared me for the bigger span of ministry in the future. If God wants me to become pastor, I must trained the church leaders to love God and His Word above all.

Reflection on Week 3

During this week, we had discussions about false teachings and teachers. Their part of the lives of the early Christians were to stir confusions among the body of believers. This led the early church fathers to stand for the truth and find the real foundations of their faith that was taught by the Jesus and the Apostles. If believers in the past will not stand what they believe, there would probably no gospel that will preached here in the Philippines,

The idea of false teachers and false teachings made me realize that Satan will not be tired of doing his work also. He will do everything to waver those believers from the truth. Even though he is not all-powerful and all-knowing he is still full time in doing his job. This reminds every believer to be full time also in the fellowship of God. I was said that “a part-time Christian cannot defeat a full-time devil.”  I think this is what happening nowadays. Many believers are easily trapped by the deceive of the devil and do the things they wanted even it’s not in accordance with the Bible already.

This ministry is not a joke. It requires complete submission to God to be used for his glory and being faithful to the commands that He gave in His Word. This fight is not only spiritual fight and it involves strong relationship with the Father. As a Christian, it’s my duty to spend time in reading and meditating the Word of God and to have strong foundation of what I believe.