"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist."

    

"Yesterday, we learned that we are in a spiritual war. Today, we begin to learn what is the armor of God that he wants you to wear to be victorious in this spiritual battle. 

    The good news is that "the champ is here." Those words are true of you. You came into this world as a champion. Victory was your starting point. From the very beginning of your life, God made you a champion, by having His Truth about your identity fixed into the very fabric of your being. 

    "Whenever you are having a bad day, just remember, "you are a champ." God chose you the day you were born.

    Today's Bible verse says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist" (Ephesians 6:14a). 

    It's interesting that the invitation is to stand, not to sleep or sit, but to stand. You have to stand up and stand tall like a soldier at attention. These are your marching orders. First, you have to take the "belt of truth buckled around your waist.". Of course, the truth in the Bible refers to the truth about your origin, your identity, your past, your present, your future. Later we will discover that the truth also refers to God's Word, the Bible. 

    So the first thing you put on as a spiritual solider is the belt of truth. This truth reminds you that you are the most precious and beautiful thing to God in this world. This truth echos the Bible's message from begining to end that "the Maker of all things wants you and loves you."

    You are not an accident, you are not a machine or a robot. Instead, you are a child of God. In order to go from victory to victory in this war, you have to live by God's truth, and not the popular things in culture or society. Society says, it's okay to drink, party, and have pre-marital sex. Yet God says, "Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit". 

    If you are going to be on Jesus' side in that all out war "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12), then you have to put on the belt of truth and spend time each day with Jesus in a daily devotional life. 

    In this spiritual battle and war, you have to keep standing, you can't sit. You have to stand up and decide to spend time each day with the Lord. If you do that, God will do the rest for you. He will fight your battles for you. 

    I hope that today, you decide to wear the first piece of equipment God wants to place upon you: "The belt of Truth". 

    God's Word says, "Sanctify them by Your Truth, Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). 

    Keep waking up each day and going before God in your private devotional time, and He will continue to help you to win all of your battles. 

    Let's see what tomorrow's "armor of God" teaches us. 

    See you then. 

    - Sir Sal Garcia

    PS, We want to spend 15-20 minutes each day in our daily devotional time. I invite you to read Ephesians 6:12-14 and ask yourself, "what does this passage teach me about My Best Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ?"

Devotions for Young Men: Called to Duty

"It's true. God wants you to have a devotional life and to walk with Him each day. It's not impossible. It just takes commitment and consistency. However, God will never ask you to do something that is impossible. He is calling you to ministry and to prepare your life for service for the Master and King, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.

"While it's okay to drop a large check as an offering to support a missionary or God's mission work, God is saying to you today, "My Son, I don't want your money, I want your heart." 

"God has placed a call upon your life for ministry. Are you living a life that is pleasing to God today?"

"I believe you can. How? By learning to have a devotional life with Jesus. For you see, it's not about going to church, giving money, or following a religion. It's about getting to know the person that gave His life on a cross for you, so that today you can live a life filled with purpose, freedom, and influence."

"Today's devotional is based on war imagery. For the Bible says, "There was war in Heaven" (Revel 12:7-9). First, we have to accept that we are in a spiritual war. You are in a war. I am in a war. If you have confessed with your mouth, and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father" (Romans 10), then you have a target on your back, a bullseye. The Devil is out to get you. He is going to send Women, Sex, Drugs, partying, money, false religion, etc., your way to get you to get off the path that leads to life, that is, the path that leads to Jesus. 

"Therefore, you have to get dressed each day for the war against the enemy. You enemy is the devil. Why? Because he is out to get you. Ephesians 6:11-13 tells us that we have to dress each day with the armor of God. 

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

So, every day and every morning, we have to go before God and get dressed and fitted for the spiritual warfare we are in. The good news is that God's armor is bulletproof. That does not mean that the enemy will not try to hit us with his fiery arrows, assassin bullets, and destructive ammunition. However, when you are in Christ and you have the armor of God on you, then the bullets and arrows will bounce right off of you. You can even go into a burning building, and as long as God still wants you for a special mission on this earth, He will bring you out of that fire unharmed without a hair of your head burnt. 

Today's lesson is simple: Go each day before God, and spend time in a Daily Devotional Life, so that he can dress you and equip you for that days's mission and duty. 

In fact, you are "Called to Duty". God calls you to be his representative on planet earth. The moment will come, when God will ask you to invite other to call and cry out the name of Jesus. Why? Because the name of Jesus is so powerful. No matter what religion or church affiliation people have may have, to those who are involved in the spiritual battle on planet earth, calling on the name of Jesus bring peace, deliverance, and assurance. 

So, be ready. When the opportunity comes, don't be afraid to invite those in the valley of the shadow of death, without hope and without God in the world, to cry out the name of Jesus. 

The promise is: "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13

Have a blessed day,

Sir Sal Garcia 

PS, tomorrow we will begin to look at the armor of God in Ephesian 6. It's so powerful to know that God provides everything that we need in this war. And the good news is that, "Jesus Wins". 

 

Let's Win: From Victory to Victory

            Let’s Win: From Victory to Victory Life’s most important lessons are learned when you are down and feel that you are in this battle and war alone. A wise writer once wrote, “The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness.” There it is! Your greatest battle and warfare is against self. Your mind, emotions, ego, feelings at any given moment, are your greatest battle and warfare. That is what stands between you and greatness, between you and victory.

            So, it’s time to get a spiritual self check up with Dr. Jesus. Let’s see what the doctor prescribes to start winning at life. First, Jesus says to you: “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” There you have it. Your self worth is not determined by what you possess, and by what you have or don’t have. We tend to measure ourselves by what we possess, don’t we? How much money do I have? How much is my car worth? How much is my house worth? How many college degrees do I have? How much money do I make a year? Etc. Jesus is telling you, “Your worth is not determined by how much money you make or how much money you have.”

            Second, Jesus reminds us that our worth is not based on how well we behave or how obedient we are. Our worth is based upon the fact that God loves us as His children. “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3 The reason is that we will never behave good enough or have perfect obedience. We are constantly missing the mark (sinning), and falling short of God’s standards. Don’t believe me. Instead, listen to the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:23. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Not some, but all. All means everyone, including pastors, elders, and deacons. 

        I used to believe that verse said, "“For all have sinned, except for pastor, and fall short of the glory of God.” Well, it doesn’t. We are not perfect, we are just forgiven. Notice 1 John 3:1: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Good news! Our self worth is based upon the fact that we are children of God. It’s not based on how I feel, or how well I perform. My perspective and vision needs to change. My prayer should be, “God helped me to see my life from your perspective.”

            Third, Jesus invites us to have faith, even when we doubt our standing before God. “ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22 We must learn to believe in Jesus, especially when we don’t feel like He loves us, or that we are accepted and forgiven of all of our sins. The book of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Jesus says, “Have faith in God”. Somedays, you may not feel like God loves you, but He does. Somedays, you may not feel like God forgives you, but He does. Somedays, you may not feel like God can save you, but He can. So today, let’s adopt a winner’s mentality. Let’s not be down on ourselves because we don’t have more money, a bigger house, newer cars, or because we did not get the promotion at work. Remember, your worth is independent of all of those things, as important as they may be. Today, Jesus says to us in Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

            Today, let’s trust God. His Word never fails. Let’s just revel and bask in the knowledge that God loves us. Plain and simple. There’s a saying that says, “When I try I fail, but when I trust, He succeeds!” Let’s be focused today, and set as our goal to know God more deeply and more intimately. Let’s make that the #1 goal in our life. The prophet Jeremiah records this beautiful invitation: “But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.” Today, let us seek to know God better. That, according to Jesus, is the important pursuit of a person’s life.

            Let’s pray together. “Dear Heavenly Father. Take now our lives of broken dreams, broken hopes, broken aspirations. Allow them to ascend into Heaven’s storehouse, where we will receive instead, “beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”. Thank you for seeing us with eyes of love today, because of the blood of Prince Emmanuel. As Martin Luther once said before the diet of worms, “Here we stand, we can do no other.” Lift us up from the pit of despair, despondency, and discouragement, and death, and place our feet and thoughts upon victory in Your Word, Your Promises, and Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Fill us with positive self esteem. We surrender our selfish ego and die to self. Allow Christ to resurrect us so that we can live to serve Him. We love you Lord, thank you for loving us first. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!”

While Daniel Garcia was on the pitch, He dominated Lighthouse Christian Academy

Reigning Omega League MVP, Daniel Garcia (MF #11), dominated, destroyed, and nearly obliterated Lighthouse Christian School. Leonel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Jordan and Tom Brady declared Daniel's performance,

"one for the ages".

Lebron and Bronny James who attended the small parochial Adventist School, crowned Daniel's Garcia game as

"top level" and "elite".

Daniel helped to lead the team to a 10-0 win. He showed great sportmanship, even though he was fouled and harrased by Lighthouse Christian Academy player, Morgan Miles. Daniel played a great game as a playmaker, and helped GAA to dominate the game from beggining to end. The fans in the stands chanted,

"MVP", "MVP", "MVP",

everytime Daniel touched the ball. Second hear Coach, Pastor Sal, gave the game ball to Daniel, as he was proclaimed the

"man of the match".

Ahe, Jiaro, and Kyler all did cartwheels at the end of the game, as Shaun, Rene, and Ryan carried Daniel on their shoulders around the GAA field. Overall, it was a dominant win. (This article is meant to only cause humor and laughter. None of the details may be 100% true)

El diablo no descanse Durante una Pandemia. Y nosotros, si lo haremos?

Haz notado algo? Durante la pandemia del COVID-19, se sigue cumpliendo la escritura: “y por haberse multiplicado la maldad, el amor de muchos se enfriará” (San Mateo 24:12). Donde quiere que vemos, hay maldad, sufrimiento, y dolor. Parece que el Diablo no descansa durante un Pandemia. El sigue causando sufrimiento y dolor en el mundo. 

La Parabola de el Trigo y la Cizana nos confirma que es el Diablo que causa dolor y sufrimiento durante una pandemia. La Escritura dice, “El les dijo: Un enemigo ha hecho esto” (San Mateo 13:28). Y mas adelante en la explicacion, Jesus mismo les dice a sus disipulos: “El enemigo que la sembró es el diablo” (San Mateo 13:39). 

Vemos que el Diablo no toma vacaciones. Solo hasta el periodo del tiempo profetico, del los 1,000 anhos o el Milenio, el Diablo podra tomar vacaciones. El apostol San Pedro nos recuerda acerca de la dedicacion y perseverancia del Diablo: “Sed sobrios, y velad; porque vuestro adversario el diablo, como león rugiente, anda alrededor buscando a quien devorar” (1 San Pedro 5:8). El Diablo no toma vacaciones. Es un constante trabajador para el mal. Dice el apostol San Juan en el libro de Apocalipsis, “Por lo cual alegraos, cielos, y los que moráis en ellos. !!Ay de los moradores de la tierra y del mar! porque el diablo ha descendido a vosotros con gran ira, sabiendo que tiene poco tiempo” (Apocalipsis 12:12). La razon por la cual el diablo no descansa ni toma vacaciones, es porque sabe que le queda poco tiempo. 

El Diablo no toma vacaciones. El tiene una meta y proposito: Llevar a la mayoria de las personas al infierno y a la perdicion. Pero que de nosotros? Hemos nosotros durante esta Pandemia tomado unas vacaciones espirituales? Hemos dejado de leer la Biblia como si nuestras vidas dependieran de ella? Hemos dejado de orar con perseverancia como si nuestras vidas dependieran de la oracion? Hemos dejado de testificar a otros de Cristo como si sus vidas dependieran del Evangelio?

Creo que necesitamos hacer una auto evaluacion para estar seguros que no estamos tomando unas vacaciones espirituales. Es facil, pronto Cristo regresara por sus iglesia, y entonces tendremos 1,000 anhos y mas para descansar en el cielo. 

Acutalmente, todavia hay una mision que cumplir. Hay un evangelio que predicar. Jesus dice en San Mateo 28:19-20: “Por tanto, id, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo; enseñándoles que guarden todas las cosas que os he mandado; y he aquí yo estoy con vosotros todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo. Amén.”

La iglesia no se puede cerrar, porque tu y yo somos la iglesia. La iglesia no puede dejar de existir, porque todavia a una mision que cumplir, todavia a un evangelio que predicar. 

Es tiempo de salir a dar estudios biblicos virtuales, orar por telefono con las personas, y testificarles del amor de Cristo. No te quedes en casa sentado y atemorizado por el Coronavirus. Mas terible y temereso es la espiritualidad tibia, y ocuparnos en cosas buenas pero no las mas esenciales. Hoy, hoy, hoy, es el dia de estudiar la Biblia mas con tu familia, hoy es del dia de orar mas por los inconversos, hoy es el dia de testificar a tus vecinos con amor y compasion. 

Jesus te invita y te espera con los brazos abiertos para que puedes ser un disipulo de Cristo, lleno de pavor y coraje. Toma la armadura de Dios, y quien sabe, Dios podria usarte para salvar a tu vecino, amigo, o familiar. Dios te bendiga!

Porque eres la Persona mas Especial sobre la faz de la Tierra?

"Cerca, más cerca, Cristo, de ti,
fiel Salvador y mí eterno solaz; guárdame junto a tu corazón;
siempre me abrigue ese Puerto de paz, siempre me abrigue ese Puerto de paz." 

Asi empieza el himno Adventista popular. 

O, cuanto anhelamos estar cerca de Nuestro amante Salvador!

Como te sentirias en saber que durante esta pandemia del COVID-19, tu puedes estar mas cerca a Jesus? Como te ayudaria con los problemas familiares o problemas financieros que enfrentas? Que seria de la depression y soledad? Si tan solamente podrias saber si en verdad estas mas cerca de Jesus durante esta pandemia, seria suficiente. Podrias enfrentar cualquier problema o situacion. 

Tengo buenas noticias para ti. Tu puedes estar mas cercas de Jesus el dia de hoy y durante el resto de esta pandemia. Asi es! Pero, tengo que ser honesto contigo. Tambien te tengo malas noticias. Tu enemigo, el diablo y satanas, no desea que tu estes cerca de Jesus. El va hacer todo lo posible para distraerte y ocuparte en todo, menos en estar cercas de Jesus. Sin embargo, la decision esta en tus manos. Hoy puedes estar mas cercas de Jesus. 

Hay una verdad eterna que nos ensena esta verdad presente. La doctrina Biblica acerca de la Trinidad y El Espiritu Santo, nos ensena una grande veradad para vencer al soledad, depresion, y tristeza. 

La Biblia nos habla acerca de las tres grandes personas celestiales. 

En 1 San Juan 5:7, dice:

"Porque tres son los que dan testimonio en el cielo: el Padre, el Verbo y el Espíritu Santo; y estos tres son uno."

Aqui encontramos la ensenanza Biblica acerca de la Deidad o la Trinidad. La Biblia nos ensena, que aunque existe solamente un Dios, hay tres personas divinas: El Padre, El Hijo, y El Espiritu Santo. 

Estos tres seres divinos son una unidad. Asi como puede haber muchos estudiantes, pero solo una escuela. Asi como puede haber muchos soldados, pero solo un ejercito. Asi como pueden haber muchos miembros de una familia, pero solo una familia. Dios es tres personas, pero un solo Dios. 

Por ejemplo, San Mateo 29:19 dice, 

"Por tanto, id, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo;

Jesus nos mande que seamos bautizados en un solo nombre. Son tres personas divinas, pero un solo nombre, y un solo Dios. 

Nota tambien lo que dice el Apostol San Pablo en 2 Corintios 13:14. 

" La gracia del Señor Jesucristo, el amor de Dios, y la comunión del Espíritu Santo sean con todos vosotros. Amén.

Esta es una ensenanza biblica semejante a un diamante o una perla. Esta verdad nos va a confirmar lo especial que tu y yo somos para Dios. 

En la Biblia, el Espiritu Santo es el representante de Jesucristo. Ahora que Jesus se a ido al cielo para preparar nuestras moradas celestiales, el a dejado al Espiritu Santo como su representante. 

Nota estos pasajes preciosos. 

Y yo rogaré al Padre, y os dará otro Consolador, para que esté con vosotros para siempre: el Espíritu de verdad, al cual el mundo no puede recibir, porque no le ve, ni le conoce; pero vosotros le conocéis, porque mora con vosotros, y estará en vosotros. No os dejaré huérfanos; vendré a vosotros. ( San Juan 14:16-18)

Mas el Consolador, el Espíritu Santo, a quien el Padre enviará en mi nombre, él os enseñará todas las cosas, y os recordará todo lo que yo os he dicho. ( San Juan 14:26)

Pero cuando venga el Consolador, a quien yo os enviaré del Padre, el Espíritu de verdad, el cual procede del Padre, él dará testimonio acerca de mí. ( San Juan 15:26)

"Pero yo os digo la verdad: Os conviene que yo me vaya; porque si no me fuera, el Consolador no vendría a vosotros; mas si me fuere, os lo enviaré ... Pero cuando venga el Espíritu de verdad, él os guiará a toda la verdad; porque no hablará por su propia cuenta, sino que hablará todo lo que oyere, y os hará saber las cosas que habrán de venir. El me glorificará; porque tomará de lo mío, y os lo hará saber." ( San Juan 16:7, 13-14)

Que precioso. Jesus, que siendo Dios, era omnipresente, podia estar en todos los lugares al mismo tiempo antes de su encarnacion como ser humano. Por amo hacia nosotros, se encarno y entrego el atributo de ser ominpresente para salvar y redimir a los seres humanos. Ahora Jesus, solo puede estar en un solo lugar en un dado momento. En el primer siglo, solo podia estar con los disipulos en Palestina, y cuando el murio y resucito, acendio al cielo. Jesus ahora no puede estar con nosotros fisicamente, pero atraves del ministerio del Espritu Santo, Jesus puede estar con cada uno de nosotros en manera personal. Atraves del ministerio del Espritu Santo, el veradero Vicarius Filii Dei, Jesus puede estar cerca de cada uno de nosotros este dia. En verdad, si tomamos esta ensenanza biblica de todo corazon, "Nadie sobre la faz de la tierra puede estar mas cerca de Jesus, que tu en este dia."

Si le pedis a Dios, el te dara el Espiritu Santo el Dia de hoy, y recibiras la presencia de Jesus en tu corazon. Estaras "Cerca, más cerca, de Cristo." Esa es la verdad mas preciosa de la Biblia el dia de hoy. Te invito a que ores conmigo para recibir la presencia de Jesus atraves del Espiritu Santo.

"Padre Santo,

Pido que me des la presencia de Jesus en mi corazon. Por favor, quita la depresion, la ansiedad, la tristeza, y soledad dentro de mi. Invito al Espiritu Santo, el Consolador, para que me ayude el dia de hoy a vivir mas cerca de Jesus. Abro mi corazon, y invito la presencia de Jesus para que yo este mas cerca de Jesus que nunca antes. Dame tu paz, tu perdon, y tu Espiritu Santo para vivir cercas de Ti. Oro en el nombre de Jesus, Amen". 

Vitaminas espirituales para evitar el Coronavirus Espiritual

Toma tus vitaminas espirituales para evitar el Coronavirus Espiritual

Estamos en una Pandemia. 

Hay riesgo de contagio y enfermedad.

Debes cuidar de tu salud física, y también de tu salud espiritual. 

Que hacer si te enfermas fisicamente? Ora, y sigue las recomendaciones bíblicas para tener buena salud y buena hygiene. 

Que hacer si estas enfermo espiritualmente por la enfermedad y el virus del Pecado? Necesitas tres vitaminas espirituales. 

Aqui estan: 

2 Samuel 7:8

Ahora, pues, dirás así a mi siervo David: Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Yo te tomé del redil, de detrás de las ovejas, para que fueses príncipe sobre mi pueblo, sobre Israel;

El Dios, El Senor, el que nos tomo del camino de vida donde caminábamos. El nos tomo, y nos a llamado a ser sus siervos y discípulos. A muchos, Dios nos llamo de barrer las calles, vender nieves of cafe, o de simplemente vagar por las calles. Estamos ahora en el lugar donde estamos, únicamente por la gracia de Dios. 

Nehemiah 7:14

Acuérdate de mí, oh Dios, en orden a esto, y no borres mis misericordias que hice en la casa de mi Dios, y en su servicio.

Hay que clamar y recordar a Dios que no nos olvide. El conoce nuestras circunstancias, enfermedades, y temores. Si aclamamos al Señor, el nos escuchara y responderá. 

Exodo 23:25

 Mas a Jehová vuestro Dios serviréis, y él bendecirá tu pan y tus aguas; y yo quitaré toda enfermedad de en medio de ti.

Los medicos y los hospitales pueden tratar los síntomas de enfermedad y el virus, Pero Solo Dios puede sanar tu enfermedad física y espiritual. Pídele a El que te sane, y que su mano de curación pose sobre ti. 

Dios nos ayude a tomar estas tres vitaminas espirituales cada mañana y cada noche. 

Pastor Salvador Garcia