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The Fallibility of Ministers

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Will not ecclesiastical rank and dignity confer infallibility? No—they will not! It matters nothing what a man is called. He may be a Preacher, Minister, or Deacon. He is still a fallible man! Neither the education, nor the anointing oil, nor the laying on of hands, can prevent a man making mistakes. Will not numbers confer infallibility? No—they will not! You may gather together princes by the score, and ministers by the hundred; but, when gathered together, they are still liable to err. You may call them a council, or an assembly, or a conference, or whatever you please. It matters nothing. Their conclusions are still the conclusions of fallible men. Their collective wisdom is still capable of making enormous mistakes. The example of the Apostle Peter at Antioch is one that does not stand alone. It is only a parallel of many a case that we find written for our learning, in Holy Scripture. Do we not remember Abraham, the father of the faithful, following the advice of Sarah, and takin...
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Part 3 - The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter

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Take heed to yourselves lest you should be void of that saving grace of God which you offer to others, and be strangers to the effectual working of that gospel which you preach; and lest, while you proclaim the necessity of a Saviour to the world, your hearts should neglect him, and you should miss of an interest in him and his saving benefits. Take heed to yourselves, lest you perish while you call upon others to take heed of perishing, and lest you famish yourselves while you prepare their food. Though there be a promise of shining as stars to those that turn many to righteousness (Daniel 12:3) , this is but on supposition that they be first turned to it themselves: such promises are made ceteris paribus, et suppositis supponendis. Their own sincerity in the faith is the condition of their glory simply considered, though their great ministerial labours may be a condition of the promise of their greater glory. Many men have warned others that they come not to that place of torment, ...
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Part 2 - The Minister Must First Be Saved

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To emphasize the standard is not to be mean-spirited, nor should it be viewed as censorious. We exercise the same judgement when trusting our health to the diagnosis of a qualified physician, or place ourselves under the knife of a qualified surgeon. But the ministerial office is qualified by God Himself. Theological schooling is very important. But how do you measure education when in our day, every school claims to be truthful while contradicting each other on doctrinal interpretation? And even so, to be proficient theologically, or to confess to a creed, does not necessarily mean one is spiritually born again. When this requirement is set aside, everyone is ministry is legitimately correct, and the line between mere human knowledge and heaven-sent unction is blurred. *************** We are not among those who accept the apostolical succession of young men simply because they assume it; if their college experience has been rather vivacious than spiritual, if their honours have been c...
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Part 1 - The Minister's Self Watch

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For years have I sat under emotional and academic yet lifeless preaching about repeated affirmations of basic truths. It merely stunted my growth. But I believed I had to sit through it because it was the program, and I convinced others to do the same. The glaring truth stared me in my face the whole time yet I closed my eyes because the system was set up as such, that I had to be bodily present, never mind if my spirit remained unfed. It was assumed that the Spirit was always present in the external exercises, but the lives of those who sat with me told differently as they remained lethargic and uninterested. In our first church, it was about the grandeur of gifts, achievements and humanism. In our second, comfort, richness, and identity. With our third, which professed to be reformed in doctrine but definitely not in deed, it was timidity and dead religion. There was rampant gossiping, backbiting, and taking sides. The pastor was then in a secret relationship with the youth leader wh...
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Song of Solomon Chapter 1

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April 2024 recording, Song of Solomon Chapter 1: Ito ang pinakamagandang awit ni Solomon:  Ang Unang Awit Babae: Akong ito'y pinupupog, sinisiil mo ng halik; ang dulot ng pag-ibig mo'y mainam pa sa alak. Ang taglay mong halimuyak, saan kaya itutulad? Simbango ng pangalan mong ang samyo'y malaganap, kaya lahat ng dalaga ay iyo ngang nabibihag. Ako ngayon ay narito, isama mo kahit saan, at ako ay iyong dalhin sa silid mong pahingahan. Tiyak akong liligaya ngayong ikaw ay narito, ang nais ko ay madama ang alab ng pag-ibig mo; pagsinta mo'y mas gusto ko kaysa alinmang inumin; hindi ako nagkamali na ikaw nga ang ibigin. Dalaga sa Jerusalem, ang ganda ko'y kayumanggi; katulad ko'y mga toldang sa Kedar pa niyayari, tulad ko ri'y mga tabing sa palasyo ng hari. Huwag akong hahamakin nang dahil sa aking kulay, pagkat itong aking balat ay nasunog lang sa araw. Itong mga kapatid ko'y hindi ako kinalugdan, nagkaisa silang ako'y pagbantayin ng ubasan.  Pinagyama...
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The March of the Sodomites

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Sodomites love quoting Ezekiel 16:49 to deflect the argument away from homosexuality into the toned down sin of neglect for the needy. Yet they always, always, stop at verse 49 - and shy away from the following verse. Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, PRIDE , fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  They were PROUD , and committed ABOMINATION before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Ezekiel 16:49-50 He who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who does not believe on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains upon him. John 3:36 He who believes on him is not condemned: but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he did not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:1...
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God's Reserves

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Pat, as he is simply called, is a servant of the Lord with a passion for the proclamation of Christ. I had the honor of meeting him and his beloved wife Sarah during the rebellion march at University of the Philippines last Saturday. This meeting has been long overdue. God is gracious indeed.  I have been with a handful of  men in the past who for a time preached Christ in public but went back to comfort and silence. They did not continue or persevere in it. It was just a phase. Perhaps the reason they did it was because it was a "Christian" thing to do and there were others to do it with. However, true calling is demonstrated when men follow through even when others have abandoned you. I have lost count the number of messages I've received along the lines of, 'I want to preach with you.' or 'do you have Facebook so I can follow because I want to preach?' Even, 'I have a burden to preach. Do you give instructions?'  The question is not, do I h...
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Sodomite March at University of the Philippines

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Two weeks upon learning there would be a sodomite rally on the 28th at Quezon City, we held overnight prayer meetings between the hours of 2AM to 4AM. We believe all battles in behalf of the kingdom of Christ is won on our knees, and that our Lord's victory on the cross was made possible by that pivotal moment He spent in Gethsemane the night before. Everyone wanted to participate, but our small car can only accommodate five people. Everyone else would have to endure the laborious effort of traveling from Makati and Bulacan. Some sacrificed the day off from work, while others traveled directly from a 5 a.m. shift. We weren't there to see the event or the people, but to witness for our Savior. The public proclamation of the word is grossly misunderstood by most, especially by religionists who think the practice is outmoded, impractical, and ineffective. I've read comments arguing that it drives people away, and it belittles their faith. In reality, they have never been cl...
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We Are Not Of This World

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In the gospel of John chapter 8 verse 23, when Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world." The Lord is expressing a sense of belonging that surpasses everything we have or will ever experience on this side of eternity. Christ is from above, and so are we, God's children. To read His words, "but I have chosen you from the world, that is why the world hates you," shows how incomparably special believers are in the eyes of the Lord. God the Father offers the entirety of who He is, in the person of the most valuable treasure in heaven - the Messiah, Christ Jesus.
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Lessons Through An Afternoon Encounter

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I almost did not speak with them, my flesh apprehensive as always. I had no words to say, no care to show. Two days with little sleep and a ton of things to attend to will definitely dull the senses. I just want to physically rest with my mind agreeing just for once.  Finding a place to park took me here after dropping off my wife and daughters at the hospital for a check up. St. Martin of Tours parish is located in Bocaue Town Proper. I had to pay a fee upon entry, and a small group of 12-year-olds ran up to my window, asking for change. I ignored them. I found a spot in the far corner of the lot hoping for some quiet but they followed me, hoping to get a few coins for it. "Come back later," I told them.  The impression to talk to them came gently. But I was too tired in my body and mind. Try as I may to ignore the tug in my gut, I tried making up excuses not to. But like always, I surrendered. Waited. "Help me please. What do I say?" I pleaded as I watche...
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The Urgency in 3AM Prayer Meetings

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Grace would have us conclude the church's three day prayer meetings deliberately held at 3AM to inconvenience ourselves and emphasize the dire urgency in petitioning the Lord's hand to bestow greater spiritual blessings upon us, most especially in the area of prayer. It is common to give what time we can spare to prayer but to see how evil these days are is to give the time we allot for rest and instead knock early in the morning on the door of the just Judge who not only does not slumber, but takes great pleasure in answering those who stand confidently at His courts, believing He will. Teaching the children's church, preaching, devotions, reading of Scripture in family worship: all these and more are dependent on God's hand moving. The desire to labor for God and the temptation to achieve it through the arm of the flesh steals from His glory. The work is His. The Christian is His. The power is His. Therefore the glory should be His. All the believer can claim as his i...
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Dumaguete - Ending

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We visited a dear brother in Quezon City on our way home who has been going through a difficult chapter in his life. He’s been struggling with severe back pain for months—pain that’s made even the simplest movements excruciating. On top of that, he’s now facing the possibility of losing his job because he can no longer keep up with its demands. Photo by K The visit wasn’t long, but it gave us the opportunity to share a meal as a family at a nearby ramen house. We didn’t talk much about work or the pain. I honestly zonked out at the table from the travel, having barely gotten three hours of sleep the night before. However, we concluded our time with exhortation for the brother to bear his cross, and prayer for the Lord's will in his sanctification.  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:71   Matthew Henry writes: That it has been the advantage of God's people to be afflicted. David could speak experimentally: It was good f...
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Dumaguete - Beginning

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This would be the first post of a very long backlog that I hope to fill after nine months of not blogging. Since my last post in August, a lot has happened, the majority of which has been related to daily Family Worship. Being overwhelmed and exhausted was what took up the greater part of the missing time. As things begin to wind down, I will try again to resume documenting from where I left off. Pastor Nate Sonner of Reformed Presbyterian Church Dumaguete sent me a casual invitation sometime last December, (if my memory serves me well) to a conference concerning planting biblical and reformed churches on May 19. Dr. Al Baker from Vanguard Presbytery will be speaking. I didn't think much of it but I went ahead and invited some of the brethren in our gathering. We started saving weekly in our make-shift piggy bank. By March we were already booked and every detail sorted out for us. It is sobering to learn how much of what we heard on Day 1 of the lecture corresponded to our view...
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