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Sixth, the Lord is busy pouring out His Spirit on His people. " ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people...’ " (Acts 2:17). Do you want to know who are the people of God? In Romans 8:13-17, it is written, "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him, we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory." |
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Seventh, the Lord is busy protecting us and providing us a way out of our troubles. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, we read, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it." This is my story of how I was first called to serve through this ministry. In February l978, I was confined at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City for surgery of an enlarged and blocked heart. Before I lost all my strength and hope, God Almighty intervened and sent an angel to my hospital room. An hour past midnight, she came to me and said: "Mike Velarde, I’ve been watching you for the past three weeks. You are down and worried, for fear of a heart attack. But if you will allow me I will open the Bible beside you, and I will show you a way out of your predicament. Just read it over and over, and I assure you, it will help." And with that, the angel opened the Bible to 1 Corinthians 10:13. As I was meditating on this verse, my fear completely disappeared! Courage and joy were resurrected in me, and a new life began! The following day, my doctors were surprised to find the sudden positive change in me. I checked out of the hospital a week later, with a new and healthy heart! This God I am sharing with you is the One Who gave up His only begotten Son on the cross in His love for us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is the One who helped me in all my troubles, and He is ready to help you today! If you believe, He can change your life—now! I’d like to share with you three things you must do in order to experience the power, love and goodness of God. 1. Submit yourself to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you. How do we recognize the works of the evil one? His works are exposed in Galatians 5:19-21, which says, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God." If the sinful nature is still with you, you’re under the power of the devil. So, don’t ever allow the devil to enslave you! |