God's Reserves Are Never Empty

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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 have a burden to preach? but do I know Christ? A preaching without Christ is a 'tinkling cymbal.' The first commandment is not, 'thou shalt preach.' but 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' (Matthew 22:37) To desire to preach, apart from a love for God first, is idolatry. Some in the past have joined our group chat expecting sensational prophecies and tips to preach. But when I tell them, 'our primary goal in this group is to study to know Christ more than anything,' they leave. 

Ministry is not merely an external 'thing to do,' a burdensome task set upon the unwilling shoulder. Nay, it is a glorious response, an absolute and necessary overflow born of seeing the beauty of Christ revealed in His Holy Word. It is the spontaneous consequence of a life intimately dedicated to the endeavor of knowing Christ, and, in turn, being known of Him. I might expend my entire earthly existence in preaching, yet if this effort does not proceed from a deep, spiritual acquaintance with Christ, I shall have simply thrown my life away. I would be found guilty of merely describing a beauty that my own soul has never truly beheld.

But one might ask: 'What? You have not yet died, and yet you claim to have seen the beauty of Christ?' To which I firmly reply: 'Oh, assuredly! I see it daily in His Word! I believe that testimony with the same certainty as if I had seen it with my physical eyes. I stake every promise upon my life and upon my death. Though I have not yet entered the gates of Heaven, I am, by faith, already living within its reality this very day. I have yet to stand before the judgement seat of Christ, yet I strive daily to live as if the judgment were already passed! The glories of Christ are mine now; they are here, though not yet fully consummated.' Just as there was never a man who willed himself to be born in this world, neither will a man who understands nothing of the narrow path Christ trod, will choose that arduous life with his sound mind. He may, perhaps, desire it for the passing novelty of experiencing it for a short season (I have met many), but he shall not persevere. For Perseverance is one of the chief children of Faith. Where true Faith is absent, there can be no continuing, no genuine enduring.

I cannot recount the multitude of times my flesh hath cried out for ceasing and rest, yet the grace of God alone sustains me. Am I then a slave, forced to obey? No! I am renewed with a free heart—a heart that is, paradoxically, heavier than before, burdened by the love and weight of His unmerited goodness. The prophet knows of this burden and said it perfectly, 
O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I prophesy, I must cry out, “Violence and destruction are coming!” This message from the LORD has made me an object of continual insults and derision. Sometimes I think, “I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.” But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it. 
Jeremiah 20:7-9  
Hence to see laborers sent to the harvest is as refreshing to me as rain in drought. Saith the LORD to Paul in scripture, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:9-11) God has not left Bulacan in darkness. He called and sent this man. I am humbled to stand with Pat. May the name of the LORD prosper in his labors.

You may follow him here. (Facebook)(Youtube)



Comments

  1. Jeff ChavezJuly 23, 2025 at 6:06 AM

    Blessing to your ministries, brother.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. . : dragozinho : .July 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM

      May the work of the LORD prosper more in your hands brother.

      Delete

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