News From The Philippines - 3

Mar 30, 09:02 AM

The services at Faith Fellowship Church in Quezon City, Manila, were terrific this morning. Everywhere I go, I sense a profound hunger in people for the reality of God. They do not want more religious platitudes and empty rhetoric. They want to hear Biblical principles taught in an intelligent way which at the same time acknowledges and accesses the supernatural power of God. When given the opportunity to receive and walk in that reality, people readily respond as was the case this morning. The result is the impartation of God’s life and people are released into the flow of it. The power will remain and grow if the leadership and people continue to fan the flame and walk out Kingdom life.

Friday, I spoke at the graduation exercises of Shikina Bible College in General Santos City in the southernmost part of the Philippines. The President of that Bible College is one of my students. It is small and is located in a rural, largely poor area. Such Bible Colleges are common in developing nations. I lectured last summer at one in Arusha, Tanzania. Such colleges do an incredible work with precious few resources.Many of the students would have no other option for higher education; the colleges train Christian leaders in some of the most strategic locations in the Kingdom. I see first hand what happens to the pastors who are trained in these places. The work of God flourishes in the villages where these pastors serve.

There are no large endowments for such colleges. In fact, the President of Shikina has to spend a lot of time visiting neighboring churches, many of which are in poor mountainous regions, seeking support for the college. There is not much academic arrogance present in these places either. My heart goes out to them as does my respect. It was an honor being a part of their celebration. I wish more Americans would support them.

I am continually astounded and humbled that God would allow me to participate in His redemptive work. Certainly, God could do it without us, but He won’t. He continues to use us, our God-given creativity, intelligence and ability, to accomplish His purposes. Fallible as we are, He continues to work through us. As it says in 2 Corinthians 6:1, “Working together with Him, I urge you not to receive the grace of the Lord in vain.” Human beings do not find their true purpose in life until those God-given talents and ideas are released in the purposes for which they were given. Those purposes are never separated from the Creator who gave them and for whose plans and purposes they will be fully empowered and released.

So it is that I board the plane for the long journey home from the other side of the world. The Kingdom of God is truly made up of people from every nation, race and culture on earth. May the peace of God which passes understanding keep you in the knowledge and love of Christ Jesus our Lord.

News From The Philippines - 2 Dissertation Defense and Graduation