Restored

A story of a burned out Christian and how God bring him back to life

Ezekiel 37:9-10 (NIV) Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, `This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " [10] So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet---a vast army.

My story I was born of a group of people who strictly observe sabbath and the laws of eating food in accordance with the book of Leviticus. We go to chruch every sabbath and we prayer everyday at home. We have the belief that violating the sabbath and eating unclean foods is a sin as written in the scriptures. But despite of having a strict doctrine, i was involved in fortune telling and witchcraft, i used to drink alcholol and cigarettes and even drugs before inspite of no unclean foods have ever tasted in my mouth. I have lots of girlfriends at that time and i was involved with sexual immorality, and yes, I used to be an addict of pronography, just like most worldly people have, I have a collection of sex scandal amd othernporn in my cellphone and in my computer. But inspite of this sinful activities, I go to church on sabbath and dont eat unclean foods, and I even criticize other denomination who violated sabbath and eat any foods which are prohibited in Leviticus. I know a lot in the scriptures and history of every church because my denomination trained me to know the scriptures. I was very proud and arrogant that time. Not until I was invited for a cellgroup or a bible study. The topic that time was the parable of the sower, after the sharing, he then asked me if what kind of ground am I? And I could not answer for I know definitely that I am not a good ground knowing the sins I do. Then he told me : "you will know if that person is noranian or vilmanian bcoz you can see her favorite star in her but those who claim to be Christian, you cannot see Jesus Christ in them". Those words peirced my heart and I recieved Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was invited for a 3 day retreat and they told me that such retreat is priceless, but I was thinking, what would i do for that 3 day boring retreat? So I convinced my friend to join the same. Prior to that retreat, there came a man from manila (he is a prophet), i was shocked that whenever he says , he can read all the questions in my mind, he even answered my prayer the night before i came there. I realized later that it is not he was talking but the Holy Spirit inside of him. After he shared the message, he asked for an altar call, but i didnt came on front, but as he waves his hand, all the people on front fell down and suddenly the view was changed, i saw a 2 groups of people fighting. I dont know what it is that time and i was shocked. During that retreat, contrary to what i expected, it was fun and i learn a lot. At the last day of the retreat, when the topic was baptism of the Holy Spirit, as the pastor was sharing, i hear a thunder on a bright with no cloud that afternoon, then as we were praying, i huge wind came from heaven as if it was poured into the place, then i hear my neighbor who suddenly speaks ilocano when in fact that guy is not an ilocano, and another guy was speaking japanese when in fact that guy is not japanese. Then i observe, my mouth began to speak "abba" or "baba". I was scared, i said to myself, is this tongues mentioned in Acts 2? Is this the same occurence in Acts 2? Then i saw the devil- who wears black clothes and a handsome looking guy- said to me: "what kind of spirit who tries to enter you?" then i was so scared, but when i got scared, my mouth would say: "Jesus is Lord", "praise the Lord" or "halleluiah" and i could not control them. Then a verse popped out into my mind: "no one can says Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit", then i said to myself, "if i ask for God forq bread, why would He give me a stone? So if i ask for a Holy Spirit why would He give me a different one?" then i let go all of my fear, then i saw myself hanging on the cross, as looked at myself on the cross, i saw Jesus Christ beside me saying: "see, that was your old self, the old is gone and the new has come". After that, i felt high, far more high than drugs, its the most beautiful experience i ever had.

Fire inside of me After that experience, I saw signs, wonders and demonstration of power of God. I never have seen such like this before. I knew the Bible, I knew all the signs and wonders in the Bible, but I thought it's only in the past -where there the technology is still ancient. I experience the fire of God running through my veins, running through my bones, and running through every detail of my being. Seems like good works is instinct over my life. My life was changed. The lust for sin was gone and I dont want them anymore and I know what to do though my mind dont know but deep inside my spirit, I know what to do. And these verses have been very real in my life: Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV) "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [34] No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." And 1 John 2:27 (NIV) As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit---just as it has taught you, remain in him. I was so on fire for God that I want to share this with others. Though i know a lot in the Bible, it is as if I know nothing about the Bible, I just know that Jesus Christ is in me and I in Him. I dont know how to evangelize and what to share but the fire inside of me teaches me what to do - it is the Holy Spirit speaking through me. I went to my friends, to my classmates, office workers, and even to those people I dont know, just to share the love of God that is inside of me. I remember, I met a punk- whose hair was like a thorn and they are doing drugs and the moment I speak to them, releasing the love of God, I can see their joy and tears realizing that God loves them and He wants them to be back to Him. I remember what one of the punk said as we were sharing to them. He said "I have been to several churches, some of the churches dont entertain us because of our looks, some of them just dont allow us to enter in their church but they just gave us food, but I didnt realize that I am welcome into the house of God even if I looked this way". I said to them: "if they dont welcome you, you are welcome before God, and Jesus came for the sinners not for the righteous". Then he said: "when I look at you guys, it is as if I was looking at Jesus Christ". And we were laughing together with my friend in the ministry coz we dont know what to say. I went on the streets and as I share, they were all convicted, and I can see the tears from their eyes and I can see the Holy Spirit moves in my behalf.

Fire quenched 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV) Do not put out the Spirit's fire; One day, I told my friend, let's go to prison to share the Good News, as we went there we prayed for a parking space near the station coz it's in the city area where parking space was rarely available, and God give us a parking space saw another wonder. As we went in and shared to them regarding freedom, that they will be free in Christ Jesus even if they are confined in the prison cell, I saw their faces, focusing to me and listening to what I say, as I say that God loves them and what happened is not the will of God and that God wanted them to be reconciled back to them, they were so happy. As we report the incident to our leader on what happened to the prison cell, he then asked me if I led them to prayer of salvation, I replied no, what is that? Since I dont know how to led them into the sinners prayer. Later, we had a seminar on how to evangelize and how to end the sharing as you led them to Christ. Several lectures I have attended so that I may grow but i realize when I got burned out that i have eaten the wrong tree, the tree of knowledge. As written: 2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant---not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. One day, the Lord implanted into my heart to print a Gospel leaflet and give it on the streets, and then I asked permission to my leader. He then told me, we are on a church that has committed to win souls and make disciples, and we are a cell church, giving leaflet does not make you to open a cellgroup. Then I told myself, perhaps this inside my heart could not be from God. Three times, the Lord spoke to me to do that but i never listen. Little do i realize that i am becoming slaves of men, not to God. As written: 1 Corinthians 7:23-24 (NIV) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. [24] Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. Fear of men John 12:43 (NIV) for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. One time, we went on a Christian conference in Manila, as the speaker was sharing, the Lord told me: "lay your hand to that lady for I have healed that lady of cancer". Then, I was hesitant to go to that lady, arguing God and quoting scriptures to God that I should not go there, then suddenly, the speaker on that conference said: "God already healed you of cancer". Then I wept, asking God for forgiveness for being arrogant. It should be me that God wanted to use, but because of my arrogance, God used someone else. One sunday morning, as our senior pastor was sharing on how to hear the voice of God, he made an application on how to hear His voice. He said, ask God as to who are you before Him. Then I prayed, Lord who am I before You. Then the Lord said: "kneel down", I said: Lord, You know that i should love my neighbor as I love myself and kneeling down in front of several people makes me the center of

attraction. But the conviction inside my heart says kneel down, but I kept arguing, but then the Lord says: "ah ok". I got scared and immediately knelt down, and I saw myself inside the King's palace, kneeling down before the King in front of the throne, extending His scepter to me and said : "and I will lift you up". Later, as I meditate, I wanted to obey God but there is something inside of me that is resisting to God and I am desperately to make this thing out. I found out that even Apostle Paul have the same struggle as I have, he said: Romans 7:14-23 (NIV) We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. [15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do---this I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. [21] So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God's law; [23] but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. Good thing there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus all we need to do is to walk in the spirit not in accordance to our sinful nature. Competition Philippians 1:15-17 (NIV) It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. [16] The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. [17] The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. As I feel the fire of God, I convince other Christians that they should make their own 12 for it is Gods mandate and even discriminate others who dont have their own 12. In my mind, they are not doing the great commission as God mandated to every believer, and I saw the number of our church multiplied instantly and we became proud of our church. In a local Christian conference, I was inspired to hear that a revival break out in Brazil, one cell leader has his 100 cells and called that person a centoriun or a captain of 100, they patterned the name of the structure of a Roman soldier. I prayed to God that i too will have a hundred cells but all of my cell groups little by little they were gone. I saw other cell leaders who were excelling and that their cellgroups increase in numbers but my cellgroups were still the same and even lost. To our mind, you do not bear fruit if you dont have a cellgroup. I was so eager to form my 12 disciples and form a 100 cells, so then, I make a strategy, I made a deal with one of the cell leader, and the deal was to give me a cell leader and that I will fix his computer and his gadgets for free and he agreed. That night I am so excited that I am about to have my 12, I ask God for permission but deep inside my spirit seems like God says no, that this would be my own Ishmael, that I should wait on God has promised me, my Isaac. The day after, the other cell leader ask

me if when should he give his cell group to me but i was avoiding answering the same knowing that deep inside my spirit says no. My leader was worried about me that I bear no fruit, I have no cell groups. He also findeth a way so that I can form my 12 but deep inside of me says no, he adviced me to be an encounter guide so that the delegates in the encounter would be my cell leaders after encounter. Later I realize that the Gospel becomes competition and no longer from the heart. I realize that I am not the Shepherd but Jesus is. If the sheep dont follow you, perhaps the shepherd is not in you because the sheep knows the Shepherds voice. I also realize that God will make an accounting on whoever sheep that has been lost that is in you. As written: Ezekiel 34:10-12 (NIV) This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. [11] " `For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. [12] As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. One sunday afternoon, it was a School of Leaders gruaduation, our se nior pastor shared on why some people dont bear fruit. I was having a self pitty on why am I not bearing fruit for I have no cellgroups, I said: God I dont bear fruit for I have no cellgroups then the Lord spoke to me: "what about your family, your wife, your mom and dad, your aunt, your classmates, your friends (the Lord enumerated all of the people that were result of the ministry that God has given me) , arent they your fruit? They are not your fruit before men, but for Me they are your fruit and they will last". From that moment on, I said to myself that I will not be dictated by the pressures of men but I will truly rely on God for it is He who will bring the people, it is He who will promote and it is He who will demote.

There were Two Trees in the Garden And the LORD God said, The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever. - Genesis 3:22 There were two trees in the Garden of Eden, one is the tree of knowledge between good and evil and the other one is the tree of life. Before man ate that forbidden tree which is the tree of knowledge, there is no rule, there is no commandment, and there is no system. Its just man enjoyed Gods company. Man talk to God with no any hindrances, no condition and no rituals. Man has no sin because man is designed to be in the image and likeness of God man was created to have the same characteristics with God. Man at that time dont know what is good and what is bad they just being themselves before God and goodness in them are following them because the glory of God is in them. The only condition that time is not to eat that tree of knowledge coz if you eat that tree, you will know what is good and what is evil. The other tree is the tree of life, should man ate that tree instead of that tree of knowledge, man shouldve be immortal and live forever. Significance of the two trees: I remember after Ive got saved and experienced the love of God, I know nothing, I dont know how to evangelize, how to share the Gospel, all I know is Christ is in me and I in Him. I just love to pray, read the Bible, love to worship God, listen to the voice of God, share the Gospel, I mean all of these stuff that Ive never done before, seems like they are all instinct with me. Later, I was introduced to a system or a structure that were supposed to help me grow. I learn a lot from there, I learn the meaning of submission, do devotionals, that I should make also a disciples under me, do a cellgroup, etc. however, I noticed that little by little the fire was subsiding. There was one time that I forgot to pray early in the morning and a voice keeps telling me that its a sin not to pray. Prayer should be early in the morning. There was also one time, that I lost all of my cellgroups and all of the disciples under me and there was a false conscience keeps on telling me that I dont have fruit and that I am not a good Christian. Little by little I didnt knew that I tasted the tree of knowledge because Im doing everything for works and not by faith. When the 10 commandments came, there were 3,000 rebellious people killed because they worship the golden calf (Exodus 32), but when the Holy Spirit came, 3,000 rebellious people were saved and became born again (Acts 2). This number is no accident. This is a fulfillment to was written in the scriptures: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life 2 Cor 3:6b Consider this, lets represent the letter of the Bible as the tree of knowledge, when you dont know the Bible, you dont know any sin. You will know its a sin coz your conscience inside of you would tell you that its a sin but sometimes unbelievers dont listen to their conscience t hat is why they still keep on sinning. If you knew a lot of the Bible, you will know every sin written in the Bible, you will know the dos and donts of God. However, without the Holy Spirit, you will use the letter of the Bible to accuse your brother, th at is violating the scriptures. Like you would say: why is it that you are eating

pork? Pork is strictly prohibited in the Book of Leviticus you are sinning or say why is it that you dont have your disciples? The Bible says go and make disciples to all nations you are sinning. Please dont get me wrong, eating pork is bad for you and making disciples is a must for every Christians but these knowledge of the scriptures must not used to accuse your fellow believer and to condemn him. Jesus said: But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. John 5:45-46 This was happened to me, I didnt know that my hopes are set on my daily prayer or daily devotionals, spiritual gifts, etc, that if I forgot to pray that day or read the Bible that day, I felt condemned over myself. Not until the Holy Spirit taught me how to get out of this trap. Dont get it wrong, Im not saying that you should not pray but Im saying that you should not put your hopes on your rituals. Prayer is not a ritual but a communication with God. If you feel that youre burning out and said to yourself, oh, the experience of this author is the same to my struggles right now, I tell you, do not rebel against the structure. Jesus never rebelled against the Jewish structure, but He showed the correct way in applying the Scriptures inside the structure. The structure cannot contain Him. Therefore be filled with the substance to the point that the structure cannot contain you whatever structure or denomination you are now a member. The Bible says: Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 1 Cor 7:17 Be led by the Holy Spirit, not with your emotions nor the standard of your denominations. The Bible says: because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:17 If you are walking with the Holy Spirit, you dont need to know the legal basis or the reason behind, just walk with Him no more logical questions. Logic is one way to get you out in walking with God. The Bible says: The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8

The problem is not the structure or the system, the problem is with man and you need Jesus Christ to heal you.

Building the correct foundation 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV) By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [11] For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [13] their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each persons work. [14] If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [15] If it is burned up, the bui lder will suffer loss but yet will be saved---even though only as one escaping through the flames.

I know this is a hard topic and some might use this to accuse this revelation to other Christian and some will make an excuse not to go to church or a small group at all. Let me remind you that if you have a word of knowledge or a prophecy but without love, you are nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3). I have heard this several times, you need to go to church, connect to small groups so that you will grow. The Bible say s: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing John 15:5. Inorder for us to grow, we need to connect to Jesus Christ not by the works of the law. The Bible didnt say: you should go to church so that you will grow. Let us go back to the simplicity of the Gospel. The Bible says: I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Gal 3:2-3 Let me ask you this question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you go to church or you love to go to church after you have received the Holy Spirit? Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you read the Bible or you loved reading the Bible after you receive the Holy Spirit? Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you evangelize, open a cellgroup or do ministry or you love to evangelize and do mini stry after you have received the Holy Spirit? Many Christians are blaming people who were backslidden because they did not connect to a church or to a small group, I think being backslide has nothing to do in attending a church. Those people have been presented by a wrong Gospel or perhaps a right Gospel but a wrong foundation. Perhaps their foundation is their cellgroup or their local church and they have this wrong mindset that if you do not go to church, you are backslidden or they have been presented a wrong Gospel that if you pray the prayers sinner you will be saved. This is what I have observed: The more you impose rules on people like you should go to church or you should do ministry the more people wont able to do it. That is why when there was a conflict on the early church as regards on the food preparation of the table Peter said: We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Acts 6:3b-4. In short, Peters focus is on Jesus and what Jesus wants him to be done. Isnt this simple? We should focus our attention on Jesus Christ and what He wants us to be done. Isnt this message simple: Repent and turn back to God for the forgiveness of sins thru Christ Jesus? Isnt this what our forefathers did in the early church?

Wise man and foolish man Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matt 7:24-27 Many people are focused on one teaching and reject the other teaching. Like: you should remember the Sabbath and keep it holy yet forget all other teaching in the Bible that you should forgive those who have sinned against you; or you should preach the Gospel to all creation and make disciples of all nations yet forget to go to his brother who have sinned against him and point out his mistakes and say I have forgiven you (Matt 18:15-20), or say you should stop drinking and doing drugs yet forget to love his neighbor as he love himself, or say you should go to church with formal attire yet forget to help is neighbor who is in need. Jesus Christ clearly states that inorder to build a strong foundation, you should put into practice what Jesus Christ really teach there are so many of them but in summary that is Love the Lord your God will all that you have and love your neighbor a s you love yourself. If you have kept this, you will do well. You will be free from fear of man because you love God more than man. The Bible says: Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, [b][c] 8 and, A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:7-8 Mind you this, this Stone is so precious that it become our capstone for those who believe. But it should be noted that it says: The stone the builders rejected and a rock that makes them fall, that is why Paul said: No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize . (1 Cor 9:27). Paul see this in his time that there are people who preach the Gospel but later who reject the very Gospel they preach they are the builders who reject the stone which is Jesus Christ. This is the message: In Christ Jesus, there is forgiveness of sins whic h the law of Moses cannot justify and Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved that name is Jesus Christ Let us go back to the simplicity of the Gospel.

Test the spirit Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world 1 John 4:1 One time while I was praying and reading scriptures, a verse struck to me in 1 Peter 3:19-20 and then a spirit came to me and said (some called these as rhema), see how God is so merciful that He gave us several chance even if those who died on the flood are still given another chance in another life. I thought it came from God, but later on, I can feel in my spirit the heaviness and the distress deep inside my soul and as I review those verses above, I said, wait a minute, this is not what it meant, so I reject such school of thought. Later I heard a pastor who preaches that God is so merciful that he still gives another chance after you die even if you live without Christ. I said, I have encountered that same spirit. The Bible says: And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 Paul knew this for he himself encounter these things. Let me quote what Smith Wigglesworth wrote regarding prophecy and listening to voices or rhemas: -------------------As she took her into a room, the power of Satan, endeavoring to imitate the Spirit of God, manifested itself in a voice, and led this young woman to believe that the missionary enterprise would be unfolded that night if she would obey. This evil spirit said, Dont tell anybody but your sister. I reckon that everything of God can be told everybody. If you cannot preach what you live, your life is wrong. If you are afraid of telling what you do in secret. Some day it will be told from the housetop. Dont think you will get out of it. That which is pure cometh to the light He that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. The evil power went on to say to this girl, You go to the railroad station tonight, and there will be a train coming in at 7:32. Buy a ticket for yourself and your sister. Then you will have six pence left. You will find a woman in a carriage dressed as a nurse, and opposite her will be a gentleman who has all the money you need. She bought her ticket and had just six pence left. The first thing came right. Next, the train came in at exactly 7:32. But the next thing did not come. They ran from the top to the bottom of that railroad train before it moved out and nothing turned out as they had been told. As soon as the train moved out the same voice came and said, Over on the other platform. All that night until 9:30 these two young women were rushed from platform to platform. As soon as it was 9:30 this same evil power said, Now that I know you will obey me, I will make you the greatest missionaries. Always something big! They might have known it was all wrong. This evil power said, This gentleman will take you to a certain bank at a certain corner in Glasgow where he will put all that money in for you. Banks are not open at that time of night in Glasgow. If she had gone to the street this evil spirit mentioned, there probably would not have been a bank there. All they needed was a little common sense and they would have seen that it was not the Lord. If you have your heart open for these kind of voices you will soon get into a trap. We must ever remember that there are many evil spirits in the world. Were these two people delivered? Yes, after terrible travail with God, they were perfectly delivered. Their eyes were opened to see that this thing was not of God but of the devil. These two sisters are now laboring for the Lord in China and doing a blessed work for Him. If you do get into error on these lines,

praise God there is a way out. I praise God that He will break us down till all pride leaves us. The worst pride we can have is the pride of exaltation of self. ---------------Dont get me wrong, Im not saying that you reject the rhema word but rather put them to the test if such came from God. Im not injecting any doubts but if doubts are playing your thoughts right now as you read this, rebuke it in the name of Jesus. As I was praying, a voice came to me and said, kneel down, so I kneel down, then a voice said, stand up and then I stand up, and then I can hear several voices laughing. One time, on a corporate meeting, the same voice said to me, kneel down, so I kneel down. One of the leaders there, discerned that it is not from God, so he came to me and ministered to me. I realize that it makes me look stupid. Such action has nothing to do with my spiritual growth, but it makes me religious. It didnt give glory to Jesus Christ but it gives glory to the action itself. The Bible tells us on how to test the spirit, the Bible says: This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:2-3 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 2 John 1:7 Dont be fret and dont be scared. We have our confidence in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Bible says: You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit [a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son [b] into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 1 John 4:4-16

Knowing your status before God

This revelation helped me a lot in standing once again. I once thought that doing ministry makes your status before God, but God revealed it to me that mans work are like filthy rags before God and our righteousness comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew the simplicity of the Gospel, he said: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20, in these, there are no rules. As written: Jesus said, Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. John 20:17 This revelation strikes me when Jesus said: I am returning to my Father and your Father. I said to myself: wow God, Jesus Father is also my Father because I believed in His son Jesus Christ. Then I knew my real identity of who am I before God. As written: In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:26-27 Can you imagine what Jesus is telling? Jesus is telling that it is no longer Him who will ask on our behalf but we can go directly to our Father in heaven and ask in Jesus Name and He will give it to us. The Father himself will give what we ask because we love Jesus Christ and we have believed that He came from God. It means we can have a direct access to our Father who is in heaven and that relationship with God and man in the Garden of Eden that has been destroyed because of sin will be restored thru Jesus Christ. The verse quoted above is hard to explain but you need to experience it so that you can explain it yourself. After this, I said to myself, I will not be moved by what other people is saying, I just trust Jesus Christ for He said: No one can take them away from My hand so I said to myself: No one can take me away from Jesus hands.

Jesus is in the right hand of the Father also praying for us Can you imagine this verse? Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 It surely states that Jesus Christ who is now in the right hand of God also praying for us so that we can stand. He loves us so much that He wanted us to be with Him, and not only that He paid

everything on the cross, He also gives us His Holy Spirit as a deposit of our inheritance. Isnt this awesome? As written: set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 1:22 I then remember on what happened to the Israelites when Haman plotted to kill all Israelites and tricked the king that day (Esther 3), Haman didnt knew that the queen is also a Jew and it is very stupid for a king to kill his own wife the king was so in love with queen Esther for she was very gorgeous and the kin g couldnt resist the beauty of queen Esther. Mordecai went to the queen and reported all this, so they fasted and prayed, then the queen went to the king and invited the king for a party. The queen found favor from the king for the king couldnt resist hi s love for his queen (Esther 5:2), that time, it is their culture that you need to be invited by the king so that you can enter his palace, if not you can be dead. But because of the beauty of the queen, he could not resist. Then the queen pleaded for her life to be spared by the law that the king had signed. Then the king was really mad and ask who then is the man who dared such thing? Then the queen replied, it is Haman. (Esther 7:1-6), the king was mad and ordered Haman to be executed. However, the kings order cannot be revoked and the Jews are in great danger, since the same cannot be revoked, Mordecai was placed in the highest honor (Ester 8) and have Mordecai sign a decree in behalf of the king for the protection of the Jews, they were given equipment and weaponry to fight back against their enemies and they are allowed to plunder the enemies goods and treasures. They have all the support from the king to protect them and their enemies feared them. This is the same with us today, we are supposed to be condemned and face death because of sin but since God loves us so much that He gave His only Son on the cross to pay for our sins and not only that, He gave us His Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. God has given us the full equipment and weaponry to protect us from the attack of the enemy. Can you imagine we have all the supplies and armaments from heaven? Can you imagine that God deployed angels to fight for us and carry His word?

When you are weak then you are strong How many months have passed and I don t understand what I am going through right now, I can feel that the enemies are injecting unclean thoughts into my mind. I needed help, I cried to God but no answer from heaven. I then realize that Jesus is with me al l the time when I have experienced all the pain. as written: "I will be with you till the end of age" - Matt 28. I went on to my friend - who is a pastor of a small church - for an advice or help. He then told me, your not the only one who is struggling the same problem. As we had our conversation, The Lord used him to rebuke me, he said: "Jesus must become greater and you must become less". John the Baptist said also the same thing. But sometimes, pride is like a vine that creeps unnoticed not until the Holy Spirit reveals it to you. I realize that pride is indeed creeping in to me. Thank be to God thru Jesus Christ - He reminds me. As I went home, the same struggle came out into my mind. I can feel all the heaviness. All the unclean thoughts and negative things about me just pop out into my mind. I said to myself, God, I m not worthy anymore to go into ministry - I just want Jesus, not ministry. It's too heavy for me and I dont know what to do. Until one day, I dropped by a Christian bookstore and saw a book entitled "When God tells you to rest", as I read all along, the experience of the author is the same also to what I am struggling right now. As I read the book, I reminded of this verse: "But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it aw ay from me. 9 But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. " (2 Cor 12:6 -8) This is to remind me to humble down. Then I was reminded a verse after the above verse, it said: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:8-10). Sometimes (I guess all the time), most of us, after receiving great revelations from God or after great success, becomes prideful of himself unknowingly. In the outward, seems like your giving God the glory but deep inside you want a glory for yourself too. Like King Uzzaiah, before great success, He was very humble and obedient to God, but after God promoted him, comes there great pride and do the things God hates. This is very common for us. God loves us so much that He does not want pride to creep in us. That is why He always remind us because He loves us. I learned that when I am weak, I am strong - for I fully depend on God, not on my gifting, anointing or whatever God has given me. I just rely on God. I just rely on His promises. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Learn this: You cannot trust your own feelings, you cannot trust your own mind, but you can trust God. Thorns in the flesh are given to remind you not to become conceited.

Learn from the story of Job

One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, Where have you come from? Satan answered the LORD, From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. 9 Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. 12 The LORD said to Satan, Very well, then, everythi ng he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger. Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. - Job 1:6-12 When you are facing trials and hardship, it means that God is bragging you before His angels and yes even to the devils. The devil cannot touch you unless God allowed it. As what happened to Job, satan answered God: But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. Satan thinks that the reason why Job praised God is because he is well protected by God and being blessed by God. But even if how many trials Job has faced, he stands til the end, and we know the ending of the story, the Lord blessed Job twice as much as he have at first. God is a God of justice, what the enemy has taken away from you, the Lord will make the thief pay double (Exodus 22:7) and even seven times on what he has taken from you (Proverbs 6:31). Can you imagine that God is bragging about you? If your earthly father is bragging about you and you feel flattered, how much more is your heavenly Father brags about you? I have heard this from several Christians that when trouble comes, they always blames the devil yes the devil come to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10), but they bring slanderous accusation against the things they didnt know and slander celestial beings, the Bible says: But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, The Lord rebuke you! 10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals these are the very things that destroy them Jude 1:9-10 Dont you know that if you are a Ch ristian the devil cannot touch you? You are part of the New Covenant and God will never break His covenant with man, unless you break your covenant with God and make another covenant with man instead of God. You are covered by the blood of Jesus. So stop blaming others. Stop blaming even yourself. Blaming cant do you anything, it will make you stop and unable to go to what God has promised you. Just focus on Jesus and in Him alone. But delight if you suffer from doing good. It is better to suffer for doing good rather than for doing evil. The reason why you suffer is because the world hates you because you no longer belong to the world but mind this, the world cannot hurt you, the world cannot touch you, and the world can do nothing to you because you are well protected under Gods hand. It is time to renew your mind. This is what I have learned: to delight on my weakness so that Christ power may rest on me.

The New Covenant Covenant defined An agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified; the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. (dictionary.com) Covenants are more than contracts, an agreement between God and man. They have conditions, promises and penalties in cases of violation. It is an invoidable agreement and it cannot be break by any man nor will God break His word. Covenant in the scriptures are initiated by God and man only responses on what God offers unto us. Throughout the history, God loves humanity so much that He intended to make a covenant with us so that He could be with us and us in Him. The Covenants in the Old Testament Throughout the Scriptures, you can see that God made a way so that humanity will be back to Him. We never seek God but rather God is seeking us just like in the parable of the lost sheep. Its like there is an intensive search and rescue for humanity by God. When you speak of covenant, there is always condition, promise, warning, sign and a seal. As you can see, covenant in the scriptures are always sealed by blood. Its like its the signature between two parties. There can no covenant without shedding of blood. It means that should you violate the covenant, it has great consequences. Here are the covenants made by God in the old testament: 1. Noah (Gen 6:18) 2. Abraham (Gen 17:3-4) 3. Moses (Exodus 6:2-5) Let us make a brief summary of these covenants. The Covenant under Noah It is the time when humanity grew in number on the earth and daughters were born to them. It is when the sons of God saw the daughters of men were beautiful and they married any of them they choose, and the result is, nephelims were present they were heroes of old (Gen 6:1-5). The inclination of men that time were all evil and Lord was grieved that He made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain (Gen 6:5-6). Can you imagine that? Isnt it the same at our time today -just as our Lord Jesus Christ foretold? And the Lord said: My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for He is mortal; his days will be a hundred twenty years. God was grieved that He made man.

So, God said to Noah: I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them But heres the best part: Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Gen 6:8) its called grace. Since God loves us so much, He didnt wipe of the entire humanity. He made a covenant with Noah that is to build an ark so that they will be saved (Gen 6:18). The condition is to bring two of all living creatures, male and female into the ark. And so God made a promise to them: that is to be fruitful and fill the earth and that fear and dread of humans will fall upon all animals, fish and birds. Everything that lives and moves will be food for humans just as God gave us the green plants. (Gen 9:1-3). God made a promise that He will never cut off all life by waters of the flood, and there no more flood to destroy the earth (Gen 9:11). Sure there was flood that almost wipe the entire humanity. After the flood, God made the rainbow as a sign of His promise (Gen 9:13)

The Covenant under Abraham Many years later after the flood, God loves us so much that He wanted us to be back to Him, so God made a covenant in man thru Abraham (Gen 17:3-4) and God promised Abraham to be the father of all nations and that He will give the entire land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession to Abraham and his descendants forever (Gen 17:8). The condition and the sign of these covenant is to circumcise every male son. The Old Covenant The Covenant under Moses Almost five hundred years (more or less) had past after God made a deal with Abraham, His people were being enslaved with Egypt and God heard their cry and remembered His covenant (Exodus 6:2-5). God chose Moses to free the Israelites from the slavery with Moses, with great signs and wonders, God delivered His people from Egypt. That time God, established a covenant with the Israelites thru Moses to be Gods people, the condition is to faithfully obey the 10 Commandments (Deuteronomy 4:13). God made a wonderful promises to His people if they faithfully obey His command (Deuteronomy 28:1) but God also gave them a warning should they forgot to obey His command (Deuteronomy 28:15). This time God made a sign between the Israelites that they should remember, and it is the Sabbath that they should rest on that day (Exodus 31:16-17). For God created the heaven and earth in six days and on the seventh day, He rested from work. For hundreds of years, during slavery, they never rest, they work 24/7 as slaves and this is to remember that this day is the day that they experience rest from slavery. It should be noted covenant are signed with a blood, as written: Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said: this is the blood of the covenant that the Lord h as made with you in accordance with all these words.

The New Covenant

Several years had passed since the covenant under Moses took place, the Israelites always forget to obey the 10 Commandments they worship idols and other gods which are strictly prohibited by God. In short, they werent able to obey the 10 commandments. As a consequence thereof, they were being defeated by war, and were being conquered by several nations including Babylon, Persia, and Rome. But when the Israelites humble themselves down and turn back to God, God is faithful to restore them gently. God is faithful to His word. He always honor His covenant. During the time of Jeremiah, the Israel became proud of their status and neglected justice and equity. They were being proud for the Temple is in Jerusalem they were all thinking that they will never be defeated by the enemy for the Temple is in them, when in fact, they forgot to observe the commandments of God. As a result they were defeated by the Babylonians. But during that time, God saw that people because of its sinful nature, man will never to obey Gods command on its own (as explained by Apostle Paul in Romans 7), that is why God made a promise that the time will come, God will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, and this covenant is not the same with the old covenant when God rescued the Israelites from Egypt thru which all failed to obey the Lords command, with the new covenant that God is going to made, this time, God will put His laws in to our minds and write it on our hearts. God will be our God and we will be His people. This time, no longer will a man will teach his neighbour to know the Lord because all people will know God, and this time, God will forgive our wickedness and will remember our sins no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Isnt this awesome? No longer will a man always there to remind to love God but instinctly under this covenant man will truly love God. This new covenant will not be the same with the old covenant. Then the time has come for the fulfilment of the aforesaid prophecy the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As written: For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 God made a new covenant with man and this time its with His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ became the mediator between God and man, and come to think of it, He is now in the right hand of God praying for us, and He is the image of the invisible God isnt it cool? All the favour is on us right now. This is truly a Good News. This is truly a Best Good News. And this covenant has a condition and that is: Love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34), so unlike with the old covenant with so many rules, God made it easier for us and that is faith in Christ Jesus and every good works or every commandment written in the Bible will be instinct on us. And its not done yet, God gave us His Holy Spirit to be our teacher, mentor, guide and will always remind us on what the Lord Jesus Christ had taught us. And come to think of it, He is also praying for us. Isnt this more awe some?

And with this covenant comes with the best promise ever, and that is reconciliation back to God thru Christ Jesus not counting our sins against us (2 Cor 5:19), and with this we will be with God till eternity.

The Effect of the New Covenant by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace. Ephesians 2:15 By calling this covenant new, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13 I remember before I came to know the Lord, I used to think that one should kept the 10 commandments, specially the Sabbath for it says: remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, so Sabbath should always be remembered, and most Christians go to church on Sundays not on Sabbath (Sabbath is Saturday; Sabbath means Sabbatho, or in Spanish Sabado). Though, I know these things, I thought I have observed these things for I go to church every Sabbath and rested from physical work, but without knowing, I am violating this very commandment that said: remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. You might says Sabbath is for the old testament but Sunday is for the new testament, but the question is: Is Sunday is written in the New Testament? Can you quote a verse that one should go to church every Sunday? There is none, so all of us had violated this command. You might ask why? Its because no had ever kept the Sabbath holy. Keeping the Sabbath holy does not mean you sho uld go to church on Sabbath or resting from physical rest but rather, its about keeping it holy . As mentioned by Apostle Paul in Romans 7, the law is spiritual and we are not sold as a slave to sin, we love to obey it but we cant. So has anyone had kept it holy? If you go to church, you are not keeping that day holy but rather you are just sitting there and listening to sermons there is no holiness in Sabbath by listening to sermons after sermons . But you might say now, whats the relevant between Sa bbath and the New Covenant since no one had ever kept the Sabbath Holy? The Good News becomes really good. In Christ Jesus, there is forgiveness of sins and through Him who believes is set free from every sin, a justification that we can never obtain under the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39). See, one is not justified if you observe the 10 commandments for no one had ever perfectly obeyed the 10 commandments since child. This is because of our sinful nature, we are inherently sinful because we inherited this from Adam and Eve who ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. And this time, God made a covenant with us so that we will be free from this sin thru Christ Jesus. There was one time, when we made a covenanting with each other to submit to the vision or structure of the church, and that we will have each other to help each other and to love each other. We just have a vacation and made a little prayer and vow. But after some time, almost all who made such covenant disappear and was not able to fulfil that covenanting we made. Some of them were backslidden but some of them were still in the church. But my point is we were not faithful to obey our covenanting. Why? That is because man is sinful in nature, man is helpless and man is nothing without

God. This is man-originated covenant not God-originated covenant. When it is man-originated, there is no support from God, but when it is God-originated covenant, all of the supplies and support from heaven are all available. Since history, it is God who made a way so that we will be back to Him. Man, never seek God throughout History. It is not man who seek God but rather, God is like a having intense search and rescue for humanity. God always initiate and man responses. Our only work is to response. That is why God made a warning not to engage with other covenants in the Old Testament (Exodus 23:32) for there is only one true God. Mind you this, mans sinful characteristics is to exalt himself, he wanted to up in Gods temple, and even to proclaim himself to be god (2 The ssalonians 2:4). That is why Paul said: I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live but Christ lives in me. That is why there is danger when you make another covenant other than the covenant offered by God thru Jesus Christ. With this Covenant, you are covered and protected thru the Blood of Jesus Christ, you are already clean, no need to struggle but to be set free, no longer you will follow good works but rather you will be amazed that good works are following you, no longer need a person to teach you but rather the Holy Spirit Himself will teach you, with this Covenant, the enemy cannot touch you you are well protected by God, no one can curse you for as written: what the Lord has blessed no man can curse d, and all the benefits of the previous covenant are now available to you. So now, your main concern is not to focus on your sins, not even to focus on the works of the enemy, but rather, you should focus your attention on Jesus Christ and in Him alone. I pray that you will not focus on your situation not even on negative thoughts, not even on man, not even on your church activity, but on Jesus Christ alone. As my fellow believer of Jesus Christ you are part of the New Covenant. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit just as it has taught you, remain in him 1 John 2:27

Lawlessness?
1

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Dont let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Dont you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
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But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you[b] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings [c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
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In this part of Pauls letter, he wanted to clear things out not to be alarmed by some prophecy or report saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Paul explained that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed and he will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, and he sets himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming to be God. This is a brief history of the former revival here in Davao City, this is in account of my several friends testimony that Ive gather and includes mine after Ive got born again. Former Revival: Wayback 90s there was a great revival here in Davao City, I was still young at that time and I was brainwashed by my religion no t to join such cultic group citing: in the end of days, many false

prophets will appear showing false signs and wonders deceiving even the very elect, and that the sign of a true Christians is the Sabbath or they interpret it as people who go to church e very Saturday. During that time, many people who were brought to the Lord and the Holy Spirit freely moved, people were in awe in the signs and wonders of God and the gifts of prophecy were released to Gods people. They experienced the accuracy of gift of prophecy and several gifts of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in 1 Corinthians. At the peak of revival, there came a point where leaders in the church wanted to consolidate all their church members and wanted to adopt a structure so that they can win more people to the Lord. Though it seems to be good but pride creeps in unnoticed. They are too proud of their group to the point that they think that small churches should join them, and that small churches would looked at them with great numbers admiring the anointing that God has given them. Then a structure of making disciple and fatherhood was introduced. When the structure was adopted, they adopted a structure with a vision of to win souls and make disciples of all nations under the Great Commission. However, such structure has to deal with great submission from a disciple to the mentor to the point that the voice of the mentor is somewhat a voice of God himself. The disciple cannot question the leadership of a leader for he will be called a rebel and will be cursed as exampled in Numbers 16 where Koarh and team opposed Moses and the result thereof, they were eaten by the ground. The structure has also a fathership principle where the mentor becomes a father to his disciple quoting the verse which Paul s aid: you have many guardians in Christ, but in Christ, I become your father thru the Gospel. Anything what the father says, the children must obey for you should honor your father and your mother as written in the scriptures. The father should also discipline their children and they have this mindset that they are called spiritual fathers for their spiritual children (just a comment: even if they are in the flesh not as a spirit). Should the children question the fathership of the fathers, they will be dealt strictly quoting a verse on: submit on authorities (Romans 13:1). They have this mindset that such verse was referring to the church leadership. They become too harsh for their members to the point that the fathers would decide whom their sons and daughters are going to marry, should the fathers disapproved the person on whom their sons or daughters wanted to be married into, it will have a great consequences. One of their member (who is my friend), asked permission to her father in the church to attend a birthday of her bestfriend but she was not allowed to do so because her friend was not a member of their church and so her friend was considered as unbeliever, and since the bible says : do not be equally yoked with unbelievers so she was not allowed to do so. She was upset to her father in the church. One day, she had a quarrel between her father in the church who happens to be her subordinate in the office, to the extent that they have a heated an exchange arguments so she decided to quit the church. She called her pastor but she was not entertained. That time, her eyes were opened to the truth. Their teaching went extreme, to the point that they teach God in me principle, they have this teaching like: dogs children are also called dogs, and Gods children are also called gods. And this time, they dont listen to any other churches. Little by little, their members flee from them till they dissolved the name of their church.

Another Revival: In this revival I was swept: Our pastor (former pastor), was a result of that previous revival, he was one of the leaders of that revival during that time, however, when their church was about to be extreme, he wrote a letter to the leadership of the church stating the wrong teachings of the church, however, before he could set an appointment to his former pastor, there was a leaked of his letter and he was immediately kicked-out of the church because it was considered as rebellion. He then gathered his follower and planted a church, the church grew larger and larger as the Holy Spirit freely moved, signs and wonders were done by God and the people were full of awe seeing the wonders of God. Since he was kicked out by his former pastor, he searched for another pastor as his covering he found an American pastor from the US as his covering. He then adopted the structure of his new pastor which is also similar to the structure of his former church, like fathering principle and submission to church authorities without the teaching of God in me principle. At first, the move of God was great, the Holy Spirit freely moved and the name of Jesus Christ was lifted high. Signs and wonders were just normal healing the sick was normal, deliverance from demons was normal, miracle money was normal; I mean all supernatural was normal. Such revival fired up, that people gathered and joined the structure that we adapted and I can see people who wanted to be a downline in our church. Thousands of people were saved and were born again. Until, we observed the same mistake as the previous revival: we became proud of our church unknowingly. I invited my friends not to Jesus Christ but to our church, and to be part of our church, thinking that if he goes to church, he will be born again. One under me says: How awful are the other churches?, I asked why?, he then responded Coz they dont have like we had (he meant the Encounter Retreat and the Discipleship), I was angry for hearing that and said: If God disciplined the previous revival because they have that ki nd of mindset, He will also discipline us. That time, we have this mindset to conquer Davao City for Jesus Christ but unknowingly, it is to conquer Davao City for the name of the church. So then, we have this goal setting on how many people one member can bring to the Encounter with God retreat. Zeal was still there and we went on house to house inviting people to our local church. Til we have this unknowingly condemnation implanted unto our hearts, that should one cannot bring a number that was on our goal, he will be called unfruitful and his position will be downgraded (for ex: if he belongs to the 12 of the pastor, he will be put under the 12 of the 12 of the pastor or the 144). That moment, majority of the members got burned up and the fire was gone. On one conference of our group church (or so called vision), one person from other church asked us if what church did we came from, and we told the name of our church, and she said: wow,

your pastor and church is very anointed, and we responded: not just only our pastor or our church but also yours. Our local church became more popular to other Christian churches that some criticized and some admired. One group or denomination just conducting a seminar criticizing our church and that called us a cult but how funny is that their upline of pastors are friends of our pastors in which they criticized they didnt knew that their upline is our pastors friend. And we responded, yes we a cult cult (or called) to win souls. Some also admired the anointing that God has poured into our church and some are willing to connect to our church. I remember one time, a seminar was conducted into our church and we were amazed that several pastors from different denomination joined some of them were from Baguio, and some of them are from Europe they just came here just to learn the structure of our local church we adapted. I remember one of my friend said: Can you imagine how the structure (or so called vision) of our church really worked? They just came to the Philippines just to learn the structure. One time, our pastor had a conference in Thailand where he was the speaker, but he got sick (dengue) and was not able to speak at the conference; also, a lady who just attended our mini retreat spread a false rumor that 3 of her relatives got an accident while they were about to attend our church activities and that they were all dead upon the arrival at the hospital, we were all shocked, thinking that it was true, however, we found out that there was no accident really happened and that the names she mentioned died a long time ago and she confessed that a voice keeps on telling her what to do and thus she just obeyed that voice. People just ran out from us and little by little, some members dont go to church and some went backslide and at that time, I had also a struggle on not going to our local church. I was disturb that everytime I saw my pastor, there was anger inside of me and seems I hated the church and the structure (or the vision), but I was confused, I keep on renouncing the same and keep on rebuking it but it wont came out. I remember a verse that when a brother sinned against you, you should go to him and point out his mistakes and if he will listen, you have wins his heart back. Till one day, I had an opportunity to speak with him, I then said: pastor, I was confused on why is it that I hated it when in fact as I meditate there is no reason to hate, my pastor replied: its just a rebellion, just renounce it, I responded: I have tried to rebuke it several times but it wont come out, and besides the Bible says what the Son sets free is free indeed, then why would I be chained with rebellion? Until one day, our pastor was kicked out by his pastor (his covering) for adultery and we were all shocked. I cant believe it, I thought that it was only a rumor but many of our church member knows about it but they just hid it because of fear of being charged of rebellion. Till all was exposed in the light, but thank God our church didnt split up and we are s till united and still under the same church though we had to change the name of our church coz the name of our previous church was registered under the name of our previous pastor. Right now, I have heard that some praised the structure of the church (or what we called vision) for not because of our structure, our church would be dissolved long time ago instead of thanking God for His mercy. Realization:

This is what Ive realized as Ive studied the previous revival throughout history. The moment that people are giving more glory to the church instead of giving glory to God, that church will eventually destroyed. Though some might not admit it thinking that they are still giving glory to God but in action they are giving glory to the church name. For example, a mother of a church member was still chained into sin and the child would say to the mother: mom, please go to our church so that you can overcome your sin. In the childs mind, he was preaching the good news for he knew that should his mom would join the church, eventually his mom would be born again. But that is not the result of this case. Most of it, mom would never go to the church of her child. You might asked why? Its because people are tired of religion, even if you say that your church is not a religion but your actions tells otherwise. People have this mindset that if you invite people to a church, you are inviting a people to his religion. Instead, one should say to his mom: Mom, Jesus loves you so much, He paid everything on the cross, including your sins and mine, why not accept Him right now?. In this scenario, the name of Jesus was glorified not the name of the church. This was happened to me, several people had invited me to their church but I never went to their church, in my mind that time, our church keeps the law of God and others are not for our church is one of who keeps the Sabbath holy - for we go to church every Sabbath and others are going to church every Sunday. To our mind, you are a Sunday worshipper and you worshipped the Sun not God. Until one day, a friend of mine invited me for a cellgroup (not a church), I was hesitant at that time thinking that it is another religion but my friend told me that it is not a religion and that the members of a cellgroup came from different denominations. And I agreed to join the same. It is a long story, but in short, God used that cellgroup to rescue me from the dark. Almost all churches today was a result of a revival in the past, but most of them became religious and some of them became a cultic group. Gods Temple The Bible tells us that Gods temple is us our body for our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. On the verse quoted on the first it says: He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 The 3:4). What do you think throughout church history wanted to set himself up in Gods temple which is our body? Isnt it the name of the church? In the past, they called it religion or denomination but in the modern times they called it church or vision but the actions are still the same there is no difference. It is the name of the church wanted to be God and wanted to be worshiped. Who holds him back? And the continuation of the above verse it says: And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way (2 The 3:7) . Who do you think that this person who holds this lawlessness back? It is the Holy Spirit. God uses people to hold religiosity away from the church, that is why it is important to let the Holy Spirit move freely, as Paul said: I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live but Christ lives in me. It means that Paul no longer live but it is Jesus Christ thru the person of the Holy Spirit who freely moves in him.

Counterfeit signs and wonders It also says The comi ng of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders (2 The 3:9) , when the Holy Spirit was put in the box or when the people contained the revival in their church, then Satan will do his work and will produce a counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders though this is not a genuine miracle. Then the verse which says: having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Tim 3:5) will become a reality. The church will have no power to say no to sin though they have this form of godliness like going to church every week, attending a conference, joining a short school course of the church, or a summit but it has no power to deliver people out from darkness. They think that doing such activities will make you more holier and that should you failed to attend of the aforementioned activities, people in the church would think you that you are a backslider and that you are not loyal to your local church (though they would tell you that its ok not to join for it is not compulsory but their actions are telling you otherwise). In continuation it also says: and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved (2 The 3:10) . Take note that the Bible also says: And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). The devil will not come wearing an ugly dress to deceive but rather he will pretend as an angel of light, that is why the Bi ble says: Beware of wolves who dress like sheep, they are not sheep but they are wolves who are acting like sheep. The devil will not tell you not to go to church but he will tell you give more glory to your church rather than Jesus Christ. This time, people will love the lie more rather than the truth. They wanted to hear what their itching ears wanted to hear not the truth and they will reject anything that is against their mindset without even thinking. Its like a programmable mind which has an auto rejection. Have you ever wondered in the old testament that there are more negative prophecies than good? It is because God loves us so much and He wanted us not to be astray. But these people wanted to hear good prophecies and they automatically reject bad prophecies without judging the prophecies or confirming the same. They will love the teaching of the leavened of the Pharisee rather than the tree of life itself or Jesus Christ Himself. Take note that the Pharisees teach also what is good, they also teach the Bible but they have no power to transform people. Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us to beware of the leavened of the Pharisee. The delusion It also says: For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness ( 2 The 3:11) . Have you ever wonder that almost all modern churches claimed that they are the true church? Some of them would have false humility and would tell you that their church cannot save you but only Jesus, but they would require you to join into their denomination inorder for you to grow and this is not Biblical. Jesus said: I am the vine and you are the branches and Paul said: I planted the seed, Apollos watered but God made it grow. This time people would love weird teachings and will distort God's message or they will interpret Paul's letter without the help of the Holy Spirit. They will focus in this teachings like: Common Misapplication: A.

"salvation is thru faith alone" when in fact the Bible also says: James 2:14 (NIV) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" It is safe to say that Salvation is thru faith but the result of faith is good works. It is impossible to say that you have faith yet good works cannot be seen in you. B. or they would say: "submit to authorities" and they interpret it as if they are the ones who are in authorities, when in fact the bible says: "submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7)" it didnt say: "submit to men", the Bible says: "Acts 5:29 (NIV) Peter and the other apostles replied: We must obey God rather than human beings!" C. They will feed their pride and quote this verse: "1 Corinthians 4:15 (NIV) Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel."; they will make it appear just as Paul became like father to Timothy, they too will love to be called "father" or "leader". Paul didnt say to Timothy: "hey Timothy, you should call me father or else I will declare you a rebel". Jesus said: Matthew 23:8-10 (NIV) But you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And do not call anyone on earth father, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. [10] Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah." D. Some of them would become extreme and forbid people to marry and some would forbid their people not to eat certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3), and they will quote the verse in Leviticus that those foods are unclean. Although there is nothing wrong if you dont eat unclean foods as written in Leviticus but they would make it appear as if its a mortal sin if you eat unclean foods, the Bible says: Romans 14:14 (NIV) I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is uncle an.; The Bible also says: 1 Corinthians 10:23-26 (NIV) I have the right to do anything, you say --- but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything---but not everything is constructive. [24] No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. [25] Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, [26] for, The earth is the Lords, and everything in it.

Should the church give glory to its name other than Jesus Christ, it is not surprising that people will have no power over sin. As written: Romans 1:25-26 (NIV) They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator---who is forever praised. Amen. [26] Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. Rebellion? If some leader would get out from their church, most of the people would say that person is a rebel or he has a rebellion spirit without judging properly if he rebel s against the church. I have seen people who rebel against God given authority and their end result was destruction but there are people who were burned-out because of the pressure in the church yet they were called a rebel. If the subordinate have misunderstanding with their leader, the leader would automatically call that person a rebel and they would tell their members not to communicate with that subordinate who have misunderstanding with the church leaders; and worst it, members would automatically say AMEN without really judging the situation. Its like they have an auto program in their mind to judge a person a rebel. Here are few guidelines to determine if that person really a rebel (this is not absolute but a guideline): a. Have you ever heard that p erson said: The church that I am in (before) is purely Satanic? b. Have you ever heard that person said: Cursed is that church to which I (formerly) belong? c. Have you ever seen an action that the person is against that church? Eg. Radio broadcasting the fault of his (former) church? d. Does that person goes to court and sue his (former) church? Let me quote this verse: Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Acts 15:37-40 In this story, Paul and Barnabas had a quarrel. Paul didnt agree with the leadership of Barnabas, in short, Paul didnt submit to Barnabas demand- which is to bring Mark with them; In the common eye, it seems like Paul starting to Barnabas command b ut in the scriptures, never can you see Barnabas accuse Paul of rebellion. Let me quote you another verse: When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? - Galatians 2:14 In this story, Paul cannot take Peters hypocrisy when Peter first eat with the gentile but when the Jews came in, he withhold himself from the gentile, that is why Paul stand up in front of everybody and rebuked Peter. But in this story, you can never see Peter accusing Paul of rebellion. Peter never said to Paul: Hey Paul, I was with Jesus for how many years yet you come to me and reprimand me in front of

everyone, who are you Paul? That is rebellion!. No, Peter never said that, in fact in Peters letter he even acknowledge Paul (2 Peter 3:14-16). Let me enlighten you what happened in the popular previous revival: When Martin Luther opposed the wrong teachings of the Roman Catholic church, he was called a rebel and was being excommunicated by the church leaders in his time. Church members are barred to communicate with him and whoever person together with Martin Luther will be also dealt strictly by the church. John Wesley was an Anglican, when he attacked the church because it failed to bring sinners to repentance and that he felt that clergymen were corrupt and people were perishing in their sins. He was also called a rebel and was called a promulgators or wrong doctrines. Church leaders in his time are the ones who persecuted him. William Seymour, when God used him to broke the Azuza revival, the church leaders in his time also criticizing him and called him a heresy and a rebel. Protestant churches discriminates him that time but look at the result of his ministry, many people turn to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and most Pentecostal churches and evangelical churches today were birthed from that revival. What I am saying is this, dont jud ge automatically as if you have pre-programmed thoughts. You are free in Christ Jesus. Judge correctly, see if that person really rebels or he wants revival in the church. I personally believe that Martin Luther didnt want to establish a denomination on his own but rather it is in his heart that Roman Catholic be reformed and turn back to Jesus Christ and not to men. When I encounter the Lord, I have no intention at first to join another religion or church but my heart is that my friends would experience what I have experienced and that is encountering Jesus Christ himself. Remember, Jezebel a wicked queen of Israel, accused Naboth before the elders of Israel for he didnt submit to the Kings demand which is selling his vineyard (see 1 Kings 21) and th e result of disobedience to the Kings demand was death, but God sees the injustice made by Jezebel and she receives the payment she deserved (see 2 Kings 9). What man thinks a rebellion, God thinks otherwise. Accusing someone of rebellion is one of the greatest tool of the church during the dark ages to kill Gods servant. When someone spoke against the Roman Catholic church, they called them a rebel or a heresy and put them to death. They manipulated the church as if they are the voice of God himself and if you spoke against the leadership of the church, you will be dealt strictly. What the church is saying, the members should say AMEN even if its wrong, worst is, the members doesnt know that the church doing is already wrong. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ tell us that we should see the fruit if it is good or bad, no good tree bears bad fruit and no bad fruit bears good fruit. These fruit does not mean how many numbers do you have in your church but rather the Bible explains this as fruit of the Hol y Spirit which is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Assuming arguendo that fruit refers to church members, but what kind of church members do they have? Are they burned-out Christians? Do they still have joy in their hearts in serving God or they are just afraid that they will be called a rebel should they leave the church? Do they still have love in serving one another? If someone who is in need, do they still help them as if they would help their brother or

they would condemn them to death? God is not about into the numbers of fruits but He is referring into the quality of the fruit, it is good or is it bad? What to do? Our Lord gave us this instruction: Stay in the vine not stay in the church. In short, stay in Gods love. One could stay in the church but has lost in Gods love. The sign of a true disciples is not membership of a Christian church but rather loving one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:35). Some might think since staying in the church is not a sign of a true disciple then I should go and find another church but again that is not the Bible says. It says: each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. -1 Cor 7:17. Do not seek another church unless God called you to be there. The problem is not the church per so or the system of the church or the structure of the church but the real problem is when man controls the church. Going to another church is not the solution, there is no such thing as perfect church, only God is perfect. As written: Let God be true and all human beings a liar (Rom 3:24), in short, all men are liars. That is why we should crucify ourselves daily so that Christ righteousness will shine upon us. When I was burned-out, the a man of God told me: Dont rebel against the structure, but rather, be filled with the substance so that the structure cannot contain you . Learn the word Submit to God (not men) or in other words Surrender. Trust in God, He knows what He is doing. If you are a real Christian, you can hear Gods voice and you will know deep in your heart what is Gods direction into your life. Remember Joseph when his brothers sold him to Egypt, his brothers meant it for harm, but God turned it around and make it good. All things work together for good for those who love God. Do not automatically agree what others have said but rather seek Gods wisdom. Test the spirit if it came from God. Judge correctly. Even to what was written here dont automatically say Amen, read the scriptures, study the scriptures, judge correctly, seek Gods wisdom and you will know what was written here is from God or not. You will know if it is from God or not because you are Gods sheep and His sheep knows His voice. If it is not from the Shepherd, you will ran away because you dont recognize strangers voice. God will not bring you to harm. No harm will fall from you if you trust God with all of your heart. As written: Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach other than the one we preach to you, let them be under Gods curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under Gods curse! Gal 1:7-9; In short, Paul is trying to say, if he and his colleagues preach a different Gospel other than they already preached, condemn that guy. Paul is confident to say that should he preach another gospel other than what Galatians receive when they were Baptized by the Holy Spirit, ignore that guy he even used the word condemned. As also written: Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ Gal 1:10. Paul never promoted his own church, he never build his church and put it with a name, he knew that such church belongs to Jesus Christ. But most people build his own church, put the name of the structure or the vision of the

church and claim it as his own yet these people claimed that such church belongs to Jesus Christ, not them. Paul doesnt even care if you join another group or if you join Barnabas group or Peters gro up, he said: What after all is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord assigned each his task 1 Cor 3:5. So then, what after all is your local church? They are mere Gods structure to which you came to know the Lord. But then, these people pervert the gospel and bring you such rules and prohibit you to join other churches for if you do, you will be called a rebel. This is the difference between a religion and a church: The final authority in religion whe n interpreting the scriptures is the leader or founder of the church other than that they are called heresy; but the final authority of the church is the Holy Spirit and the scriptures. You belong to a church not a religion; dont act as if you are a rel igion. Most importantly, apply what the Bible says. When the Bible says: love your enemy then you should love your enemy. When the Bible says: Bless the ones who curses you then you should do something to bless those people who cursed you. You cannot say hes a rebel and I dont deal with rebels, no, do what the Bible says. Stay in Gods love, in this you will never be led astray. God is your shepherd and you dont want anyone else to be your shepherd. God loves you with an everlasting love, He really does. As you were reading, one might says, I have the same experience as what the author had been experienced, I tell you, trust God, the day will come when God will lift you out of the grave and will revive you. That time is coming and now has come. Be excited on what God has been doing in your life. Some of the people who were reading this might say, is this true? Search the scriptures and study it diligently. Ask God for direction. Do not misinterpret what was written here. You will know what the perfect will of God is in your life. Some might even think that I am rebelling against the structure that I am in. God forbid it! I have learned that the problem is not the structure of the church but rather it is when men try to take over the church and put the Holy Spirit aside. What would I gain if I attack the structure? None and that is not my mission. I know my calling before God and I am faithful with it as God is my strength. Though I am not perfect but Gods grace is sufficient or me. Only God is perfect. Some might be curious on what denomination I am in, well, it doesnt matter to know my church. It is important that you should know God personally. I didnt mention any names coz I dont want names be glorified but only Jesus Christ and Him alone. May Jesus Christ becomes greater and me and this book becomes less.