I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.1 Reality check! There will be a day […]
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.1 God was faithful to David; he kept his covenant with him—known as the Davidic Covenant2, a promise from God to establish a descendant of David as the king of Israel. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your […]
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.1 Paul emphasizes the importance of knowing the truth. He echoes the Shema2—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD […]
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”1 For our […]
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but […]
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.1 Paul wrote this verse—the same Paul who was previously persecuting the church.2 He was so filled with anger and hate until he had an encounter with Jesus.3 Previously, Paul exhibited zeal in his pursuit to eradicate the Christians; now after his […]
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.1 Scripture is the sacred writings of Christianity contained in the Bible,2 which consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament.3 Literally, […]
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.1 The whole Christian faith revolves around Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. In […]
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.1 The Samaritan woman mentioned that their fathers worshiped on this […]
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generation.1 To love someone likeable is natural; but to love someone undeserving is unthinkable. This uncanny way of love is what God reserved for you and me. He proved it by sending his only Beloved Son to die for us. […]
“Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book to do according to all that […]
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and […]
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.1 Our bodies need food and so does our soul. We need to surround ourselves with people who strengthen, encourage, and comfort us. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.2 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins […]
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall […]
When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. […]
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.1We have three personalities: A shepherd boy; a son of a king; and a virgin. They were David, Manasseh, and Mary, respectively. Jesse and his sons were invited. Samuel considered Eliab. But the […]
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!1 You have set your glory above the heavens. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son […]
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.1 How can David make a preposterous claim? Is this bold claim merely positive thinking or is it reality? By what means do I, likewise, confidently claim, believe, and declare this […]
No unbelief made [Abraham] waiver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.1 How do we grow in the faith? All growth is a process. There is a start, the continuous intentional walk, […]
But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”1 Victory just celebrated its 40th year […]
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified, in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, […]
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!1 Over the weekend I had an insightful conversation. He said, “I realize that God is constant; we are the ones who aren’t. If we feel God is distant, it is we who gear away from him.” […]
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!1 As a nation we commemorate our Independence Day every Jun 12; it is a reminder […]
You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; […]
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.1 […]
Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake.1 The word remember is repeated throughout the Scriptures. Literally, […]
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.1Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of […]
And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has […]
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to […]
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.1 The Scriptures have stern warnings about our lack of knowledge. Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses the way.2 . . . they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.3 What is referred […]
In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.1 We are free to choose which path to go; but there is only one path that leads to life. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.2 Indeed, the lure […]
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.1 It is not man’s bent to be subject to rules and regulations due to our sinful nature2; thus, our need for diligent teaching,3 training,4 discipline,5 and […]
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. . . The voice of […]
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.1 We can trust the LORD for he is all-powerful,2 holy,3 good,4 and trustworthy—God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he […]
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.1 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son […]
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”1 Like Paul, […]
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 1 All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has […]
Today marks Valentine’s Day, highly commercialized, and celebrated by lovers. Not that it is wrong to do so; but weightier is God’s love that we should be celebrating daily. This is my beloved Son; listen to him.1 Why should we listen to Jesus? Who is Jesus? What has he done for us? And as Jesus […]
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.1 The bible is God’s word. Throughout the OT prophesies were proclaimed about the coming Messiah; and Jesus was the fulfillment of those prophesies. I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your […]
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”1 The term […]
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.1 Who is our helper? What is his name? He is no other than the creator of heaven and earth.2 When he sends forth his Spirit, they are created, and the face of the earth is renewed.3 And he is before all […]
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.1 We draw confidence from knowing that we are doing God’s will, since it comes with a promised reward. What is God’s […]
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.1 How can the writer make such boast? Who is he? On what basis can he claim that every word of God proves true? By observation, what is stated in the Proverb is that the writer is Agur son […]
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called […]
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.1 Selah There were five compilations or books of Psalm in its original—(Book 1, Chapter 1-41; Book 2, 42-72; Book 3, 73-89; Book 4, 90-106; and Book 5, 107-150)2 Psalm 42-72 is a compilation of the Hope for the […]
Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! For you, O God, have heard my vows, you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.1 Immediately, the first sentence seems to be a contradiction—at least from my knowledge and experience with tents. Tents […]
Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together! My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.1 The more we apply […]
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, . . . I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you […]
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.1Benefitting from God’s wisdom is conditional. If you are willing to receive instruction from the LORD, then he will oblige. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; […]
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very […]
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus […]
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. […]
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.1 Isn’t it interesting that the author credits Daniel’s excellence due to a spirit? Yes, it takes effort to achieve excellence. By experience we know that much accomplishment is not without effort. There are the physical […]
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every Day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.1 Why is David so passionate for God? How can he claim God as […]
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.1 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.2 What works of the LORD are spoken of by the Psalmist? Further, Paul claims that […]
I am praying for them, I am not praying for the world but those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.1 Knowing that he was about to accomplish the work that his Father had given him to do, Jesus […]
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.1 We have no excuse to remain ignorant of the Truth; with every media to our disposal, God’s Word written in various languages, through forms that we desire, adapted to our learning mold—visual or auditory. To remain ignorant is a choice. God […]
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?1 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.2 The fear of man is a snare. Samson gave in to Delilah because he was afraid of losing her sexual relationship.3 Saul disobeyed God […]
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.1 God is good. He is unchanging; thus, we can trust him. He cannot lie.2 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and […]
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and […]
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the LORD, […]
O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.1Amidst the blatant evil that pervades, is God actually silent? Or […]
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.1 In Christ by grace our past is erased and we morphed into something entirely new. Just like brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)2; yet reversing the process is near to impossible. In biology we learn how […]
Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”1 David was lamenting the wicked around him. His soul was tormented; yet his spirit would declare God’s goodness, righteousness, and everlasting love. He pleaded as much as he could with God. Hear my cry, O […]
O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.1 How could David exhibit so much passion? Surely, he knew the object of his prayers! He knew his God, reverentially and lovingly. Twice he says, O God. Who is […]
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.1 Through observation […]
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s […]
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.1 The verse reveals two conditions that catches God’s attention—an understanding of the fear of the Lord and his steadfast love. Seems like two opposing characteristics, doesn’t it? How can a loving God be in the […]
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.1 Thus, the need to learn the fear of the LORD; the entire OT was written as a progressive teaching on God’s holiness and man’s pathetic sinfulness. The complex “ceremonial” laws2 were enacted to explicitly show that […]
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.1 The promise seems like a paradox. Actually, there is no contradiction as we are not except from trouble; but […]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.1 Indeed it takes grace to acknowledge that we need a […]
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.1 It is important to understand context when reading the Bible. Be discerning; we may be deluded by latching on a verse that is used out of context. The teachings in the NT were in a huge part counter cultural. Examine Philippians, Chapter 1: […]
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.1 It is quite daunting that I am expected to have a demeanor that reflects well of our Lord Jesus Christ. For if left to my own strength, I would fail miserably. […]
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.1This verse is packed with the assurance of God’s promises. Whenever a shield is mentioned, I am reminded of Paul’s encouragement to the saints of Ephesus: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the […]
The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.1 Why must this search for men who understand and seek after God alarm the LORD? Are there none who do? What brings about understanding? Does seeking God precede understanding? Where may we […]
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!1 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; […]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.1 The glory of God is beyond compare. From the […]
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether […]
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LOD God is an everlasting rock.1 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.2 Because of our desires we are easily swayed and distracted. […]
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.1 During my conversations I often hear the statement, “I love God.” Disheartenedly, many of those who claim to love God, exhibit […]
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.1 What does a servant do? What does it connote to be a servant? Are they not to be subservient to a master; and whose loyalty is […]
[Uzziah] set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.1 The history books in the bible are very interesting. Particularly, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles tell of the various kings who ruled Israel; and how […]
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.1 Wouldn’t it be great to receive favors? Can you picture goodness and mercy following you all the days of your life, and dwelling in the […]
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holly name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, . . . who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.1 It’s an exciting year for Victory. Last year, the theme […]
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.1 […]
I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will […]
But as for me my prayers is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.1 It was David who uttered these words in desperation. Earlier he likewise declared, But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, […]
At the start of the year, it has been a practice and a tradition by Bible believing churches to consecrate themselves and set aside time for prayer and fasting. This is a time that we bring to submission our flesh and incline our ears to hear what the Spirit directs. For us, as a church, […]
This year we had the chance to marvel once again at the fireworks. It is always a thrill to watch and be entertained by the vibrant, colorful lights and sound-bursts that fill the sky. Indeed, it has become a global tradition to display well-crafted fireworks as we hit midnight, the 31st of December, to greet […]
Another year is about to pass by. Depending on how far one sees, 2022 may have been challenging or expectant. How was it for you? Was it a drudgingly daily-grind or a challenging one yet full of hope and contentment? Whatever the circumstance we are not left to ourselves. Oh, the depth of the riches […]
Do you prefer a gift that comes as a surprise or a gift that is expected—a gift, just the same, wrapped and concealed in a wrapper? Christmas is a season that people look forward to. Yes, we do anticipate the festivities, get-togethers, exchange gifts, and even travel. Customarily, we give and receive gifts during Christmas. […]
If you had a business and would be launching a product that would spur your brand name, what marketing enticements would you employ? Would you inaugurate with much pizzazz? Jesus was different. No funfare! But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to […]
We can all agree that there was someone that helped us make a crucial decision and prompted us to take a step forward towards our calling. Could you recall that instance? In my case, there were several.Aside from close family and friends, I am most grateful to the leaders of the body of Christ that […]
A famous management consultant said, “If you think training is expensive, try ignorance.” We prefer a company that does home service for car batteries; their customer-care is a game-changer. We likewise know of a reliable mechanic whom we call whenever we have car trouble; he provides home service. Because of his knowledge and experience, he […]
Among the many inventions Waze is amazing. It helps us navigate the roads in real-time based on live traffic updates. Then it provides us options to choose from. Wouldn’t life be simpler if we had a similar App for crucial life decisions that we have to make and our options are laid out for us? […]
During the Spanish rule in the Philippines, land was simply acquired by enconmienda or Royal Land Grants.1 There came a need for more accurate measure. Thus, the Torrens system was adopted on November 6, 1902, under Act No. 496 or “The Land Registration Act.” The two kinds of land registration are original registration and subsequent […]
What can be more ecstatic for a newly married couple than to confirm that they are pregnant? A sudden sense of expectation is birth. From then on a lot of changes and deliberate preparation takes place. Interestingly, the social norm now is to keep the baby’s sex a secret. A diligent effort is done to […]
The book of Psalms is filled with songs and prayers offered to God. Categorized as a wisdom book. A bulk of the writings were authored by King David. Although diverse in content, it is unified in the sense that it is centered upon the true1 and living2 God. It is stylized but straightforward; the verses […]
You know you have lived long years when you have first-hand experience of the different mores from different eras and people groups. Cultural influence is so pervasive. We as a people attempt to be politically correct and water down words, so as not to offend. Yet we skirt the issue of sin. For whoever knows […]
