June 28
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36 But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.37 And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38 You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.– John 5:36-38
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In these very words of Jesus, we become witness to the superiority of Divine testimony against any human testament. Jesus talks about how much greater his own testimony is which is manifested in obeying the work that the Father wanted Him to finish. Verse 36 reveals to us that the actual work Christ is doing for the Father who sent him is in itself the proof that He is the Son of God, sent to save mankind. Both the Son of God is a divine testimony to humankind to witness and God the Father also gives his own endorsement of his witness to His Son’s obedience and completing His work. Verse 38 warns us that unless we believe in the Son of God, His word will not live in you. The faith is a pre-requisite for us to have revelations from God’s word. Without believing in Jesus Christ, we will not be able to live the truth that comes from the word of God. It is when we accept Christ as our Lord and Master that we receive the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Only then can the Spirit of God live inside us and empower us with the truth from Scriptures.
Studying the word of God without believing in Jesus Christ does nothing for the reader who may just be curious about what they can get from it. Although it may pierce the reader’s heart as they read, it is a divine choice that makes them accept Jesus as their Savior. John 15:16 says “you did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you.” When we get invited to his kingdom, he also gives us the ability to receive it. Nothing is from our own choice. The only choice we have is if we accepted him, we must choose to follow and obey Him and give up our lives for Him. When we live holy lives for Jesus, we become a testimony for Him and we will surely get a testament from the Father Himself for doing so. Wouldn’t you want to hear how God will give a testimony of how you have stayed loyal in fulfilling his requirements to receive eternal life? Faith is essential in getting revelations from the Holy Spirit himself. It is like we get downloaded with all the truths that once was kept from us when we were still living a life without Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer not be so concerned about what other people say about them? Why should they be more concerned about Divine testimony?
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TWO RESURRECTIONS ILMA’S VLOG
June 26
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TWO RESURRECTIONS
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.– John 5:24-29
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In this account, we hear Jesus continue to reveal what God has in store for those who hears His word and believes Him who has sent Him. He talks about two resurrections in this exposition to the Jewish leaders who have been constantly hounding him when He healed a man on a Sabbath day. He emphasizes the importance of believing the Father who has sent Him so mankind will have eternal life. In verse 25, He explains that even those who have physically died will come to life if they have believed in the Son of God, in other words, they will be resurrected just like Jesus is going to be resurrected. Jesus was speaking of things to come to these Jewish leaders who cannot comprehend any of these truths He was speaking about. Their unbelief hinders them from understanding truth. They were stuck in their obsession to persecute this man who claims that he is equal with God. Jesus further expounds at more revelations in verse 28-29 where he presents the two resurrections, one will be for those who did good deeds and another one for those who did evil. He talks here of consequences of believing and following Him and the aftermath of continued evil deeds. In other words, Jesus talks about hell and heaven here.
I do not know of any other religion who has a god who became human in order to save mankind from their sinful nature and won over death by coming back to life after he was crucified. In my quest for God, I tried many other religions in my youth and nothing can ever compare to what Jesus Christ offers. No other religion offers eternal life by believing that God came in human form to cleanse those who believe him from sin and re-unite with their creator.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when people deny the existence of hell?
RELIGION HINDERS TRUTH AND FAITH ILMA’S VLOG
June 25
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RELIGION HINDERS TRUTH AND FAITH
17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. – John 5:17-23
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After Jesus healed a man who couldn’t walk for 38 years on a Sabbath, the Jewish leaders couldn’t stop looking for reasons to convict the man who healed on a prohibited day. So, as soon as they learned that it was Jesus, they didn’t waste time but to interrogate him. What really irked these legalistic leaders more was Jesus’ reply that He is the Son of God and that he can do anything that the Father can. They couldn’t believe that a man would claim equality with the God they knew who was all about following the law. It is sad to watch people bound by religion and laws. They couldn’t see beyond the law. They lost sight of what is truth and became prisoners of following rules. Jesus’ calm reply made them go berserk at nailing down this man and adding more reasons to convict the Lord. Interesting how Jesus showed them that his work was to follow what the Father does and also claimed that God has given him the same power as Him. The religious couldn’t see how it is possible that this uneducated man who has no position of high esteem can be the Son of God. Isn’t this story telling us how religion and legalism can actually keep us from salvation? Many people have gone off course in their Christian walk. Religion destroys our relationship with God and others. When the law comes first than your obedience and faith, it hinders you from living a free life.
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REFLECTION
• How does religion contribute to growing one’s faith in God?
• Why do many people think that relationship with God is done through religion?
SIN NO MORE ILMA’S VLOG
June 24
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SIN NO MORE
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” 11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
– John 5:10-16
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In this miracle, the man who suffered for 38 years was able to walk because Jesus healed him. A bunch of Jewish leaders were concerned about who healed this man for it is not permissible in the Jewish law to heal on the Sabbath. Interestingly, they were grilling him to tell them who didn’t follow the law not to work on the Sabbath. They interrogated the healed man and didn’t stop until they found out who did the healing on the day that wasn’t allowed. They didn’t even care if the healing relieved that man from his 38 years of suffering because they were more concerned with following the law and ensuring that other Jews do so. Jesus had slipped away from the crowd so the man couldn’t remember who healed him. Later, Jesus found the man in the temple and reminded him that since he had been healed, he should not sin anymore so that he will be spared from the worst. This was a warning for that man. In those days, illness or sickness was a result of sin. Jesus reminds him that God’s wrath may come upon him if he continues to sin. Long suffering is nothing compared to the consequence of continued and habitual sin. Jesus is referring to the eternal punishment of those who continue to walk in darkness.
Our sin nature automatically comes out in us, but in the Spirit, we can let Jesus rule over our minds and hearts and soul. This is the miracle that he brought to this man who couldn’t walk for 38 years. It is symbolic of salvation for his entire soul even though it manifested physically by his inability to walk. We need to remember that hell is far worst than any affliction or suffering we will encounter if we don’t give up sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it easy for those who are saved to forget the gift and miracle of salvatio
THE HEALING AT BETHESDA ILMA’S VLOG
June 23
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THE HEALING AT BETHESDA
After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.– John 5:1-9
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The Easton bible dictionary says that Bethesda means a house of mercy, a reservoir or “a swimming bath” with five porches, close to the sheep-gate or market mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1 as well as John 5:2. Eusebius the historian (A.D. 330) calls it “the sheep-pool.” It is interesting that there were a multitude of sick people here waiting for the moving of the waters for them to get healed.
There was a man lying there who had been ill for 38 years according to verse 5. Why do you think Jesus picked this man among those many ill and sick people? The man was very vulnerable. He wasn’t able to get near the water and no one is helping him. Doesn’t it remind us of how many of us can be spiritually ill and have been many years unsaved, helpless to overcome our sins? Jesus asked the man if he wished to get well? Why did he have to ask that question when he knew very well the answer to that? We see that the desire to be healed was important for the miracle to happen otherwise, Jesus didn’t have to ask such question. If we are willing to rise up from our helplessness and follow the invitation of Jesus to be healed, we will receive a miracle. Acknowledging our helplessness is an act of humility. When Jesus asked the man to get up and walk, he followed and he was able to get healed. Three factors are important for miracles to happen. Faith that you will receive it, humility in your helplessness without God, and obedience to what He says.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think faith, humility and obedience are important in order for God to bring about miracles?
HEALING OF THE OFFICIAL’S SON AT CAPERNAUM ILMA’S VLOG
June 22 I
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HEALING OF THE OFFICIAL’S SON AT CAPERNAUM
46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” 49 The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. 54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
– John 4:46-54
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After Jesus came from the city of Sychar, in Samaria where he stayed there two days, he headed for Galilee and while he was by Cana, a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum which was 16 miles from Cana, where he met Jesus, begging him to heal his son. In verse 48, Jesus commented that unless they see signs and wonders, they will not believe. It is interesting that this royal official still humbled himself to come to the Lord for healing of his son. It just goes to show that no position, titles or wealth can protect us from diseases or calamities. This father was diligent to track down Jesus’ whereabouts. It was 16 miles and yet he had the faith that Jesus will heal his son. There was no distance needed for Jesus to heal that boy. The father’s faith was enough for Jesus to do that miracle. His obedience to go home and his trust in Jesus’ words “Go, your son lives”, were key ingredients in the miracle. Trust and obey the Lord seems to be the formula for miracles he had done. Faith is essential in order for God to move into the situation. It didn’t indicate that the official was still worried after he talked to Jesus nor did it say that he rushed home to make sure he got his miracle. He seemed calm enough and sure that his son was healed and knew it was at that seventh hour when Jesus told him so. What confidence! Do we have this faith that brings about miracles?
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think trusting and obedience are key to bringing about miracles?
A PROPHET’S HONOR ILMA’S VLOG
June 21
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A PROPHET’S HONOR
43 After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. – John 4:43-45
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Bibleref.com explains the context of this statement of Jesus about prophets not honored in his own country. In John 4:3-5 we hear that Jesus left Judea to go into Galilee and had to pass through Samaria in a city called Sychar. In John 4:40, we learn that Jesus stayed in Sychar for two days. In verse 43 which is the beginning of this study, he leaves this place to go back to Galilee. Verse 45 says He was welcomed. When Jesus has His next confrontation, it will be with the Pharisees in Jerusalem as recorded in John chapter 4. All of this raises the question of what John means by this remark, and why he included it in this place in his gospel. Scholars offer several ideas. The most reasonable is that Jesus is returning to the region of Galilee, but not to His local hometown of Nazareth. The ensuing verse 46 says that Jesus returned to the town of Cana, where He had performed His first miracle (John 2:11). Nazareth, however is closer to Sychar than Cana – Jesus would have passed right by it. Once Jesus arrived in Cana, He was there long enough for a local official to hear about His arrival and make a journey to see Him (John 4:47). Cana and Capernaum are about 25 miles apart, so this wasn’t a short time. This would put John’s remark about a prophet’s honor in context. Jesus is going to Galilee, the region, but bypasses His hometown of Nazareth, since the people there have no particular interest in His message.
From this scholars’ source, we get to understand the context of Jesus’ statement about prophets not being honored in their own town. It is an irony how someone gifted with prophecy is looked down upon those who actually know that prophet. Isn’t this so similar when our own family do not recognize some of our spiritual gifts and reject them? It is interesting how Jesus skipped going to his hometown since they aren’t interested in His message. How often do some Christians force evangelizing those who are not interested in salvation? Jesus never chased people to listen to His message. So, why do we make a mission field of those who reject His gift of salvation?
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REFLECTION
• Why is it harder to evangelize to those closest to us like friends and family?
THE GIFT OF BELIEVING ILMA’S VLOG
June 20
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THE GIFT OF BELIEVING
39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of His word; 42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”– John 4:39-42
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John continues to expound on the miracle of the Samaritan woman at the well in the following verses. Notice that most of those people who are recipients of the miracles of Jesus were unnamed: the healing of the widow’s son, the royal official’s son in Capernaum, the paralytic at Bethesda, the blind man at Bethsaida, the boy at the feeding the feeding the 5000 who gave his one piece of bread and fish that Jesus multiplied. It is immaterial who receives the miracle. The important thing is who performs the signs and wonders, Jesus himself.
In John 20:30-31 says that “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
We witness another radical change that Jesus did when He approached a Samaritan woman at the well. He broke the long tradition of Jews not speaking with the Samaritans. He didn’t care about the laws and rules created by man because He is above them. He is God himself. The gift of salvation was not only for the Jews but for mankind. It is interesting how the Samaritans responded to the declaration of the woman at the well when she said that Jesus was the Messiah. They all believed and wanted Jesus to stay in their town. It was a miracle, a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we see many people who won’t even care to receive the gift of believing. They reject Jesus, just like the Pharisees and Scribes did. “To believe that Jesus is the Son of God” is to have access to eternal life. We are given a choice to accept or reject the greatest act of love by God, to believe that Jesus is His son so that we may have eternal life with Him.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think the source of unbelief is?
• Why do some Christians manifest unbelief in their lives even though they claim that they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior?
ONE SOWS AND ANOTHER REAPS ILMA’S VLOG
June 19
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ONE SOWS AND ANOTHER REAPS
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”– John 4:35-38
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The symbolic meaning of harvest in Scripture encompasses two main areas: God’s provision for us and God’s blessing for others. An article from gotquestions.com says that throughout the Bible, the harvest carries spiritual significance. It is used in parables (Luke 8:4–8) and as a metaphor for spiritual growth and health (2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18). The harvest has always been a beautiful and important part of life on earth, the time when the year’s work bears fruit and the people are fed. It is symbolic of bounty, health and abundance. Israel celebrated the time of the harvest with a feast, appropriately called the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16).
Previous verses relate Jesus talking to the woman of Samaria. What was Jesus talking here of in verse 17 that one sows and another reaps? He purposely passed by well because he knew that the Samaritan woman would be there. The sower here is Jesus. He was sowing spiritual salvation to this woman who was looking for something to fill her life. Jesus offered salvation to her and defied the gap between Jews and the Samaritans. He tells his disciples that He began to do the work of his Father, that is to bring salvation, even to these lost Samaritans. Jesus tells them to continue to harvest that which he has started. In other words, he is asking his disciples to open their spiritual eyes and behold what he already begun and reap the spiritual harvest of his purpose to save all of mankind. Jesus has labored and he wants his followers to reap what he has done.
Spiritual growth is something that the Lord expects us to walk into. It is sad to watch many Christians not be concerned about their own progress in intimacy with the Lord. We sometimes forget that our role here on earth is to continue bring people to know Christ and make disciples of all nations so we can bring glory to God.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think John used harvest in this story as a comparison to spiritual growth?
DOING GOD’S WILL IS NOURISHMENT ILMA’S VLOG
June 18
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DOING GOD’S WILL IS NOURISHMENT
27 At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” 28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. –31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.- John 4:27-34
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At this point of the story about this Samaritan woman whom Jesus intended to meet at the well, we can observe the amazement of the disciples who watched Jesus defied the protocol not to talk to Samaritans if one is a Jew. They couldn’t even voice out their questions about the radical act of Jesus approaching and talking to a Samaritan woman. I am certain that Jesus knew what they were thinking. He is God after all. The disciples avoided the question and diverted to asking him to eat. They were offering Jesus food for the body but the Lord speaks to them about spiritual nourishment that comes from doing the will of God. Yet, the disciples didn’t understand spiritual things because at this point Jesus have not died yet on the cross, so they do not yet have the Holy Spirit living in their hearts to teach them about spiritual things. So, they were wondering if someone else have brought food for Jesus. This is an interesting conversation where the disciples are talking about fleshly things and Jesus is speaking about spiritual things. So, the disciples didn’t comprehend what Jesus was saying. Isn’t this what happen to most of us often? We miss out the lesson because we are looking at it in the worldly perspective? Because we are humans, we are limited in understanding, but once, we become believers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us who will make us see things beyond what we can understand. We are given the power to have discernment and wisdom to do the things that the Father ask us if we believe and obey. Once again, the writer John gives us an amazing picture of Jesus purpose when he came down on earth: salvation for mankind. The physical nourishment is not as important as the spiritual food that comes from doing God’s will.
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REFLECTION
• What has God been asking you to do for his will to be done here on earth?