Tonight we want to teach you one of the most at least in my mind revolutionary lessons. Many of us we are scared of life and yet we don’t see the lion. What do we see? Our husbands, our wife akala natin yun ang kalaban eh, when in truth and in fact this lion the real one that wants to get you is the devil. Now if you are married or if you are single, if you understand we’ve been saying this for a while now may kalaban po tayo and it’s not your spouse and it’s amazing that in the testimony of Roanne about her father see when she realized na yung demonyo is involved you will now look at your father differently. We got to beat this lion. Tonight we want to share with you a simple yet profound way that we can truly combat this enemy. Where does he work? in your mind. So turn your bible with me we’ll do a quick review how can I live my life when things are in the midst of suffering when there are problems in my life. Matthew 16, or Luke 9. Luke 9:18, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?" and then in Luke 9:20,"But who do you say that I am?" And we’ve been studying this for a couple of weeks, what’s your answer to that who is Jesus to you? The Savior, maybe tonight you will say the lion killer, but it’s going to be very personal and then he begins to tell them. Once they know the story, once they know who Jesus is. What does Jesus do? He begins to instruct them, He begins to tell them that Jesus Christ will suffer many things in v. 22, He must be rejected by the elders and the chief priest and be killed. Do you know that this are the things that you and I go through? Jesus, the bible say Jesus has gone through every temptation that you and I can ever think of. And in this verse makikita mo yung mga sakit ng tao. The first one is we suffer many things. What is suffering, how many have suffered? In other words you’re just like Jesus kaso lang yung kanya, intense, tayo most of the time we suffer, why do we suffer? Why do our marriages suffer like that? because we made a wrong choice to begin with, we did not follow the bible or maybe we stole something or nangaliwa tayo, nagkaroon ka ng masamang experiensa you suffered because of what you did. Most of us are like that, figure out your suffering and more or less some of them are caused by your own stupidity, your own foolishness, si Jesus did He ever do anything foolish? Wala eh and yet notice did He suffer? Many times us believer we think God loves me, will He sent suffering to me? Most of us have been fooled by this devil lion to believe things like that, that if God loves you, you will never said you’re suffering, the reason why you have suffering because God does not love you. That’s wrong, the battle is where? In your mind. Because if Jesus Christ the son of God suffered many things what makes you think God does not love Him, Does God love Jesus? Why did He allowed Jesus to suffer many things then? You know one of the reason is us, to show us an example, to show us what to do, and so we have been studying, how do you combat this devil? You must understand that si Jesus Christ, He won over the devil and the way that He did it is in the midst of suffering, One of the greatest suffering that you can ever have in your life is the second one, what’s that, be what? Rejected. Why does Mel feel so bad if her husband commits adultery? Because that is a form of rejection, why do so many CCF single males, why they’re scared to proposed to women? Fear of rejection. When does rejection hurt the most? When it comes from people whom you are expecting to accept you. Did you notice in the bible, you know if you just meditate on one verse we can preach on this verse for two days eh, notice sabi niya, suffer many things, iniwan niya yung rejection eh, rejection is different. We can suffer many things, our hair can get burn down, whatever pero pag nireject ka ng minamahal mo or when somebody that you expect positive reaction from… that really scary, that’s why some people they rather remain single than to ask somebody, pero sabi naman nung iba, it’s better to have love, to have lost and yet have love ano at least I tried, malay mo umoo. Now think of Jesus eto siya God, the creator, who’s rejection would be most painful? If Jesus was rejected by Ceasar, painful ba yon? Bale wala yon eh. Who rejected Him? Look at the bible, by the elders and the chief priest and the teachers of the bible. Lahat po nito nag-aaral ng biblia, they knew the bible, they knew old testament, they had read about everything there, these were the people who should have known Jesus the best, they should have been the one who accepted Jesus Christ, sila yung mga religious eh. Go to the end of Luke 24:25-26, He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" In other words before you can get glorified what must happen? Suffering. Glory cannot come without suffering, no pain no gain, that’s the rule. Look at v. 27 Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Bakit Moses? Moses was the one who wrote the first five books of the bible, kaya sabi niya "And beginning with Moses, ibig sabihin nag-umpisa sa Genesis, Exodus… And beginning with Moses nag-umpisa sila sa old testament and then all the prophets he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. In other words who is the old testament about? It’s about Jesus, Did you know that? Many people think Jesus only came in the new testament. Jesus himself said, "From the time of Genesis hanggang dun sa kadulu-duluhanng prophet, who is that talking about? Me, talking about Jesus. Is Jesus in the old testament? Yes! It’s all about Jesus both old and new. Then jump down. In v. 37, They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Where do the doubts come from? In your mind. Isn’t it true for those of you who have ever encountered bitterness, hatred for your husband or whatever, saan ang problema? He raises doubts in your mind. And si Jesus para ma-erase yung doubts nila, look at my hand, look at my feet, it’s I, touch me, hinde ako ghost, ghost do not have flesh and bones and He showed them his hands. Luke 24:41-44, And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate it in their presence. [44] He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." What’s Jesus saying? Sinabi ko sa inyo ito nung buhay pa ako: Lahat ng mga bagay na nakasulat from Genesis hanggang sa kaduluduluhan must be fulfilled. And all of this is about who? Jesus, that’s why ladies and gentlemen, one good way to study the old testament you must always ask the question. You have to look for Him. Many people read the bible but you know what? If this guy, if and this lion behind you and no reading, mahihirapan ka. The bible is the only book in this entire world where the geniuses of this world cannot understand. It’s a special kind of book, it’s God’s book for you to understand that book hinde basta basta binabasa. What must happen? Luke 24:45-46, Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [46] He told them, "This is what is written: So for you what must happen first? Kailangan buksan ni God ang isipan mo, pag hinde binuksan ni God ang isipan mo maski ilang beses mong basahin yung bible hinde mo maintindihan, you will never follow it. it’s a different kind of book. What is blocking the understanding? See it is our values, our old nature, our old system. There is so much in your mind that is wrong, there’s so much junk in our head na mali kaya pag binasa mo yung scripture you don’t agree, you know why? You have your own set of bible inside you. "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. What are we saying? There is so much in us, back to Luke 9, There’s so much junk in us, the battle is in the mind and how do we win this battle? We will be in the midst of suffering for sure, we will be rejected by people, the people that you believe should be closes to you just like Jesus was rejected then what happen to Jesus, He was killed so He suffered many things, he was rejected by the religious people and then He suffered and die. If the bible ended there you would not even read this. The bible does not end with Jesus suffering and dying. What happened? He rose again from the dead. You will notice in the bible every time it talks about the suffering of Jesus, laging nakakabit dun yung resurrection, every time the bible talks about Jesus suffering and dying laging nakabuntot dun He rose again because many times saan tayo naka focus sa problema, the hurts, the pains, the death, that’s what this lion wants us to focus upon but the greatest truth that can ever be known by you and me is that Jesus conquered death. The worst thing that can happen to man is to die in our minds it’s okay, Jesus is saying, you take the worst that can happen to you it’s okay that’s nothing because I can raise you up again not only can I, I will. Do you understand this? Many times when we are suffering where is the problem? In our minds and that’s why dun tayo dapat umatake and tonight I will teach you such a simple truth, How do you do it? We’ve been teaching you the how, you need foundation in your life, you need to be a disciple of Jesus. Most people when they suffer, they panic, you see them all in the movies, they panic. Did you notice Jesus is different from every other person that suffer, in the midst of suffering Jesus never grumble, Jesus never complain, tayo konting pitik lang sa iyo… the first thing that you and I do pag may suffering, we complain, we grumble. The solution you’ve got to be like Jesus, a disciple of Jesus. And we study the criteria so that you can go through any kind of suffering, you must have this inside your heart, these are the values that are important, we keep repeating it because many say, "I believe in Jesus, He’s my Lord!" then he goes to suffering anong nakikita mo? Complain dito, complain dun.. That’s why in the bible we have a new insight rather than call them believers do we call them what? Discipler. Disciple means follower of Jesus. You have to be prepared in suffering, how do we go through suffering? He was saying to them all, if anyone would come after me, in other words, anyone maski na sino, kung gusto mong sumunod kay Jesus, what is He saying? Let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. those are the simple guide line. To go through any suffering:

1. Selfless

Yung demonyo the lion, he will ask you to put your happiness ahead of all things, he will ask you to put comfort ahead of all things. See Jesus, He did not fight for his rights. Did He have rights? Of course. See the devil like to teach us, you fight, you fight for the wrong thing. Sabi ni Jesus, "You want to go through suffering?" You follow me I’ll show you the way.

1. Don’t think of self

If anyone wishes to come after me let him deny himself take up his cross. You’ve got to be selfless. Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, whoever loses his life for my sake, he’s the one who will save it. We learn here the other day the simple truth that your identity is so closely associated with whom? With Christ. To deny self means that you give up your own thing then you follow Jesus. You have nothing without Jesus. Think of it what will you have without Jesus? Nothing, because when you die you got nothing and then we said, the next one is Luke 9:25, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? You’ve got to have eternal perspective. If you have this two things deny self carry your cross and you have eternal perspective, you understand that suffering in this world is only a gate way to glory in the next then you can go through any kind of suffering with your head high. Sino yung nag-gagrumble, sinong iniisip niya? sarili niya, kaninong comfort ang iniisip niya, sarili niya. Do you see, may eternal perspective ba siya? Wala, anong perspective niya? Now the here and now, he does not think of the beyond. So bakit pinagalitan ni Jesus si Peter? Anong sabi ni Peter, may you never suffer Lord forbid, kasi saan siya nakatingin? Dun sa suffering. Huag kang tumingin dun sa suffering, you look at the glory. Will there be glory? Some of us have no picture of that glory that’s why hinde natin makita. Jesus continue and says, if anyone is ashamed of me and my words the son of man would be ashamed of him when he comes into his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Have you ever thought what it would be like to get to heaven? Its going to be a glorious time if you are a disciple of Christ, if you are not its not going to be a glorious time in fact you wont even be there. Think of the glory, why do many athletes, do they undergo pain? Have you ever seen gymnast practice? Sumasakit na yung mga kamay, sumasakit na yung mga paa sige pa rin ang practice, you cannot win the Olympic gold medal with one practice session. How long do they take to practice? Years, why are they undergoing so much pain? so that they can have glory. What glory are you going after? If you are going after glory here walang kuwenta. Now you and me sure we got nothing in the past but boy!, I’m telling you we got something in the future. Do you understand what glory means? Glory eternal perspective, we’ve got to have that. if I suffer for Jesus Christ here on this earth what awaits me? Glory. Let them all rejected me, I’ll be a fool for Christ because I know He will be the one to crown me. So eternal perspective means you understand the real profit, real glory can only be realize in Jesus Christ pag wala yon useless. Think of judgment day, you and I will stand in front of God, that’s real shame if Jesus says to you I never knew you. Do you understand? To be rejected by man is one thing, to be rejected by God that is eternally fatal and if God rejects you your played right into the lion’s mouth, you’ve allowed him to win, don’t let him eat you, he will win, he’s on the proud, he’s looking out and the best defense against him is to have Christ value in you. And you know Christ value can be summarize very simply, the most important thing in life is Jesus Christ, its that simple. If you are not for Him you are against Him. No look warm, Christ demands total commitment non partial. He did not make it easy. If you are now saying, I believe in Jesus, now is the time from this time forward is not gonna be easy but its going to be glorious. Many people you can get drunk with glory on this earth and it will feel good if you are the top and once you get there you got to have this kind of perspective. Play for high steaks, high steaks real profit means Jesus is most important to you so that everything that you do whatever it is it should be Jesus. Some people Christ might be present in their life and some Christian’s life Christ must be prominent in their life but a disciple of Jesus Christ is not only present, He is not only prominent, He is what we call pre-eminent, in other words takes first place in his life, got to be like that and once nandon si Jesus you can go through the suffering because He will be with you. As we close this evening let’s just turn to some very encouraging bible verses. Turn your bible please to Hebrews, the bible now encouraging us in Hebrews 12:, Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Anything that slow you down in glorifying Jesus or any sin you get rid of. How do you do it? Hebrews 12:2, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Don’t focus on your problems, focus on Jesus. Problems will be part of our life. Look at Him, sabi He’s the author and perfecter of faith, nothing can happen to me as a child of God that God does not allow. How can you endure? You have to think of the joy after, if you think of the pain you’re so selfish, you cannot think of others except you. Foolish, get out of that syndrome don’t pity yourself, if you’re suffering go through it God has ordain you for your good and He will give you the strength, how? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Did Jesus suffer? Yeah!, how did He get through it, He look at the joy. Turn with me for a closing verse. Turn to 2 Tim. 4:5-6 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. [6] For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; Notice how many fight should we fight? One, fight the good one. In other words I trusted God, tinapos ko yung karera na inilagay ni God sa harapan ko. 2 Tim. 4:8, in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. Ladies and gentlemen may I suggest to you that this should be your life verse. You look at the future, your present and your past must be align to where you’re going. Can you say this, in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which Jesus Christ himself the righteous judge will award to me on that day. You know many of us were scared of that day because we know we have not done our best for Jesus. Our priorities are not right, where are we spending our time, where are we spending our money? we dread that day rather than welcome it, kasi we think bagsak tayo that is why many people this is the picture, a scared man the devil has won, he scare us out of our wit, we’re scared of facing Christ, we shouldn’t be. Why we are scared to die? Because we know we are not ready, we know we have not done our best, we could do so much more and yet we did so little. Our suggestion tonight is simple truth. Deny self take up your cross, think of the glory, each one will run his own race. Don’t try to be like Paul, don’t try to be like Ricky Samson, don’t try to be like Peter Tanchi, God created you to be you. God has done so much in your life but we are afraid to be rejected by men, we are afraid of suffering, what will they say now? Will people praise you now? what will they praise you for? None of us are great shakes and you think of what will God say but you know if you are a believer in Jesus a real follower you will have a glorious future not only to Him but to whom? Sabi dito, hinde lang kay Paul but also to all who have long for Jesus to come, are you longing? I don’t care where you are, I don’t what you’ve done in the past you can have a glorious future, it does not matter what you’ve done in the past. Si Paul alam niyo ba kung anong ginawa niya? pinatay niya yung mga tao, you can’t be worse than Paul, he kill people, he killed the followers of Jesus and yet the crowed is waiting for you, you know why? Very simple when he learned Jesus Christ is Lord, he obeyed, he had the faith to obey, he just follow the bible. Do it in your life what ever God is telling you. Live with what God gives to you, thank the Lord what ever it is. If you are a believer of Jesus nothing can happen to you that God does not allowed. Think of the crown in heaven if you love the appearing of Christ. You fight the good fight finished the race, keep the faith don’t be shaken that is a reward for all of us. Let us pray.