Reflection # 5

 This week was a very interesting topic at the same it was also mysterious. It is the worst thing I've ever heard in church history. I really don't know that theses are the things that happen. The only thing I knew about the history is about the burning of the Bibles but not to the extent as I've seen in the video. I didn't know that it is more than that. It is more brutal, unmerciful people who killed them with that numbers. I was really shocked of those happenings in the past specifically the dark ages. I was surprised as I've watched the sufferings and painful events in church history. There were full of scarcity and corpses anywhere. By knowing those things I've learned that in times of darkness in life as a Christian I will continue to seek after God. I will continue to persevere and endure any difficulties in life and cling to the promises of God. I've learned that verily God works in the life of His people where He prove that no one is able to defeat Him and no one is able to oppose what He wills and plans. His Name will truly reign as the Word of God says and the truth will always prevail. During the black marks in Christianity is that God will not leave and forsake His people though He allow circumstances to happens but there is always hope in life. Despite of all the black death of Christians still the truth is spreading.

As a minister I should continue to encourage Christian to be more courageous and will not renounce their faith in God knowing that the people in Christian history fight for their faith in order for us to reach and know the truth. Though knowing the fact that those people in the dark times who destroy and ruin Christianity were lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. These are the characteristics of true darkness. I've realized that knowing these factors it urge me that there is urgency in sharing the Gospel and expect that there are many people who will continue to ruin Christians but the positive there is that God is always with me or with us and “He is greater than He that is in the world”. The promise of God is that He will hold us securely in His everlasting arms.

The steps to make into my personal life are to submit to the strengthening power and work of our Savior. My heart cries and was moved which spur me to continue praying for all the followers of Christ. The struggle that they face right now and the fighting of their belief in God even if it is in a means of dying. God is truly working for each people, the only thing is to fully lean on to Him and acknowledge His Name. I will continue to pray especially to those countries who are persecuting Christians that shared the Word of truth. I need to “Be on guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love”(1 Cor 16: 13-14). To be on guard means to be watchful which includes paying close attention that might caused factions within the church (which caused arguments and strife and not only weakened the church, but threatened to destroy it) that these reminds me to be on guard spiritually. I need to pay attention to my spiritual life and knowledge and devotion to God so that I will be inform and not to be spiritual ignorant and indifference. I must rely on Him as the firm foundation. More than anything in these troubled times, I as a Christian am called to be on guard spiritually, stand firm in the faith, allowing myself to be strengthened by the Word & Spirit of God, act with courage, and do everything in love. I must stand for the truth courageously and boldly opposing to what I know is false. I am encouraged to share these facts to my fellow believers in Consolacion Baptist Church so that they will be encourage to be more prayerful and to stand firm in their faith as well.

Reflection # 4

              Christian persecution is not good to hear about but it is a privilege of knowing that Christians are fighting for oneself in their identification of being a Christian. It is very hostile feeling towards fellow Christians but an encouragement to every Christians not to recant faith in God. Though physical torture and verbal torture is very much painful but God is amazingly working in the lives of His people. I've learned that as a minister of Christ, I should provide opportunity to help other Christians especially those people who are being persecuted. Helping them by praying and helping them in their needs in all aspects of their life. By knowing and studying the life of those people in the class about their contribution, about their faith and perseverance of being a Christians I've realized how important to be a channel of blessing because by doing it I can be the bridge to lead someone to the Lord. Either a Christian or nonbelievers God will use whoever you are so that the unbelievers will come to God. It could also by the position, a person can influence someone in whatever he/she say or do. I've also learned that God touches the heart whom he really called to go and to make a difference like the life of Ufilas and Patrick even the life of those people in the dark ages who made an influence in Christianity. In doing this, it is very important to know that it is not really easy. It is risking personal life in order to obey God's call.

               The fact that I knew these changes my behavior in which I should grab every opportunities to minister people. It helps my christian life in which it develops my learning and growth especially about my faith in God. This gives me a reason to serve more in the service of the King. My heart was moved as I've heard the situation and those circumstances they've encountered. This made me think deeply to accept the situation whatever it is, no complaining but willingness and availability in order to lead someone to Him. God indeed put into someone's heart the burden in sharing the love to those people who need Him. This really involves earnest prayer and extensive study of the Word of God because it implies that as a believer I'm not depending by my own will but by obeying the purpose and plan of God in each of our life. It changes my behavior which reminds me again to put someone else need first before my own. This bless me and encourage me to do more and not to be contented of what I did already but to do more. Service is allowing to practice what Jesus did when He was on earth. This connects me to other people. I should continue to become more passionate in spreading the Good News. The passion is to serve Jesus no matter what circumstances I may encounter. The lesson this week encourage to go on and to move forward for the sake of the Gospel even if is means of risking my life. Though following Jesus is costly but what Christ did is more than what I did.

                 It is an opportunities to serve God by serving other people. Serving by helping is an act of kindness that would pleased my Savior in a humbling way that these is for His glory and not for my own fame or praises. I will do as much as I can help whatever I have to those Christians in need. By doing this I can minister to them so that they will be more encourage and zealous in proclaiming the truth as I do. By praying them, it is a very big help and by helping them it would mean a lot as we bear the Name of Christ. This should be true to myself that I am glad to do these things so that others will be bless through me. I think in a simplest way I made an impact. These thing helps me to increase my motivation to help Christians as we are ought to love one another and building each other up. This truth inspire me to performed beyond what is asked and to do something more than that pleases God. I should be stewards of what God has given to me like my body, I should take care of this in order for me to do more for the Lord as long as I am alive, as long as my body is healthy. God is so amazing in working in the lives of His people. I pondered these matter in my heart in which it helps me prepare to stand firm and to defend what I profess. By these things I am encourage to share this to other Christians so that they will be bless how Christians endured and still flourished even persecution comes along.

Reflection # 3

 Knowing the facts and information about the Christian History is a very important matter to discuss. Believers is expected to be persecuted even the Lord Jesus Christ was persecuted. The Bible itself exposed many people who are trying to purged Christians, torturing them or make their life miserable but God is in control of everything. I've learned that nothing happens by accident but everything occurs for a purpose. God allowed it in order to reveal His miraculous acts in the lives of the Christians so that these unsaved people will lead to Christ. It is very important to understand the will of God or to understand the circumstances that we have encountered in our lives. By knowing this, the characteristics of God is made known. I also learned that God uses people to do things that are impossible to human comprehension. This is what we called miracles. God is at works in the lives of His people. By the threat of heresies, by what He has done God used it in order to unify His people to clarify issues that would truly disclose of who really He is. I've realized that in the church, whatever issues or rumors against a person it should be clarify so that we will stay to have a harmonious life as a body of Christ.

There are many things that made up in my mind as I stated the lesson that I have learned that changes my behavior and thinking. As a believer of Christ I think I should fight against the heresies especially about the statement of my faith. I need to fight in order to make things right and to stand for the truth. This is my opportunity to do the right thing even though it may be hard and there are many obstacles I might encounter as I journey my Christian life but with God's help and grace I will be able to passed over the difficulties in life. Christians should continue to pray for themselves and for other people so that Christians will not fall into heresy but be able to provide guidelines for maintaining truth and preventing error with the help of the work of the Holy Spirit in believers life. Being the member of the body of Christ the church should be guided to the path of truth so that His people will not be lead astray or fall away from the faith. It should be emphasize to the individuals who put their faith in Christ to really understand their belief. We need to really defend to the faith that we profess.

Being a Christian I am indeed vulnerable but in order to practice this in life I should continue to study and know about God through His written Word and be able to teach other Christians so that the people of God will not be snared by the false teachings or any cultic group or entangle any worldly values that is against in the Scripture. I need to guard myself by feeding my soul through spiritual food. The Holy Scripture is the foundation for the faith so we must persevere in our faith and earned trust on Him because it is the one of the key to be able to endure whatever we may hear about teachings. By feeding our soul we will not be turned away right away because we have the solid foundation in our soul though everyday we engaged ourselves in a spiritual warfare. Another step is to speak out against error and not to remain silent so that the God we serve will continue to reveal in humans heart. If I knew somebody within the church that someone must be corrected and be founded by the truth.

This is a serious matter in which every believer must take heed so that no one will fall away from the truth. As a Christians we need to continue to lead people in seeking to please God by devoting themselves to God in knowing the truth. We should not allow Satan to influence our mind by any false teachings but be able to defend our active and living God. We need to be alert and be careful of the danger that comes into our mind but filling our mind of God's Word and filling with the Holy Spirit.

Reflection # 2

 Learning the lives of the martyrs and apologist made me an impact on how these people gave up their lives for the sake of the Gospel. It made me think deeply where I am very emotional as I learned from them. I am very grateful that they did not surrender even though they are persecuted, tortured or broken into pieces. They did not recant their faith in God because if they do, probable we are not be able to hear and know the truth. I am blessed with these people because even though they are hard pressed or was falsely accused but they continue to defend their God. Their testimony encourages me being a believer of Christ to be confident, to be bold, to fear no one except God alone in sharing the Gospel. My faith on Him increases of what I know and how God works into their lives miraculously. God never sleeps and He is always at works in each of us. He never abandon His people but find favor on Him. Maybe in introducing these people to the church, I believe that they will be moved and will see the need of the people who doesn't know Christ yet.

There's a lot of changes the way I think. By knowing these things it changes my perspective. As a Christian we should not be lax or contented being a church goer but be able to make a difference in peoples lives. I was reminded by the song entitled “find us faithful”. I hope with myself that my testimony with Christ as my Savior will leave a legacy; that there is a legacy that will leave behind when God takes me home. This helps me to share courageously about the Lord Jesus Christ to the unsaved. Christ bought me at a price and my life is for God and now I am living for Him so I must give my all in all to God. I know that God wants to reach all the people and I believe that what happened in the past fulfills the purpose and plan of God. I hope and will pray that I will continue to serve God no matter what circumstances I may encounter. I exists to serve God!

Being a Christian is not really easy but living up for God and with God is a privilege. In order to put these positive changes into practice is to create ways that I will take so that these lesson I've learned will be apply in my life. As a believer I will share the Gospel to the unbelievers. There is no need to feel fear or afraid about knowing that God will not leave His children behind and alone without His help. It is to help other people in their physical, emotional, mental and above all their spiritual needs. I will serve and glorify His name in my life by helping other people. Also to obey the commands of the Lord in which everyone of us is involve in a mission. This mission is to proclaim the redemptive work of Christ and that is my mission; our mission. It is also my prayer to be rich toward God in my life.

The Bible clearly states that we Christians must be courageous and strong in whatever life may bring forth. God has created us to do good works and we are called to do mission and so we need to be bold especially in proclaiming about the love of God. The only thing is we need to trust that God will lead us in our way.

Reflection # 1

 Learning about the church history is a very important topic in which every Christian must know the history about the church. In this past two weeks I learned that even beforehand God's plan of redemption to these vastness of people worked out in a very special way. It accomplishes a lot of things where it happens in a real places and to a real people. It is not just an imaginary. What God wills according to His plan and purpose from eternity was surely come to pass. By this, I was able to understand where I came from. I realize that whatever circumstances that I've encountered is an act of God in time for the good.

By knowing this, I think I need to demonstrate the truth about Christianity to know what is significant and meaningful that would benefits to every Christians. As a believer of Christ, my attitude should be filled with gratitude of God's faithfulness in my life. It is not about what I am knowledgeable of but it is exalting the Name of our Savior and to be loyal towards Him. Learning the life of a person who made an impact in the lives of many people in our church history made me think to pursue the best as I can in order to do something for God.

In order to apply this, one thing I would do is to put theory into practice and to be aware of what is to be done. In myself I need to be determined to do of what God wants me to do. I need to be truthful in all I do and to passionate about the works of Him that involves sacrificing by leaving in the comfort zone and to become zealous in the business of God. I should live a life that will never be a waste.