SCRIPTURE:
“For, as I have told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Philippians 3:18-19, NIV)

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what sticks out in these verses?
What stuck out to me is that Paul writes these verses with tears.

I asked myself why does Paul write with tears in his eyes?
Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

I asked myself how do people live as enemies of the cross of Christ?
1. Their destiny is destruction.
2. Their god is their stomach.
3. Their glory is in their shame.
4. Their mind is on earthly things.
 
INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself why is it significant that Paul had tears in his eyes?
I found it so interesting that Paul had tears in his eyes not because people were living as his enemies but because people were living as enemies of Christ. That was so significant for me to realize that Paul wept because others were not following Jesus. He wanted people to follow Jesus so badly and not let their destiny be destruction, their god be their stomach, and their glory be shame! He did not want their mind to be on earthly things.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. As a believer in Christ, there is nothing wrong weeping for those that do not know Jesus and proclaiming Jesus Christ. It should be so important for me to tell others that they should not allow destruction to be their destiny, their stomach to be their god, their shame to be their glory, and not focus on earthly things.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING T.E.A.R.S:
I want others to know Jesus Christ, gain Jesus Christ, and be found in Jesus Christ so the four things listed above do not become a part of their life. Jesus wept for Jerusalem because Jesus loved the crowds there so much and wanted them to come to Him. Jesus wept for others and so did Paul. I have wept and shed tears when loved ones have left the earth. But, Jesus & Paul also wept for the state of people's souls. Their weeping moved them to action. Their tears were for other's sake. I should have that type of attitude wherever the Lord Jesus places me because people are dying all around us spiritually and they need a Savior to deliver them and redeem them. They need a Master who is loving and kind to take care of them. Jesus will be that Master. I need to be more concerned about people's spiritual health because if they die without knowing Jesus, gaining Jesus, and being found in Jesus, they will die a double death: here on earth and cannot reach heaven. I don't want that for any one I know.

I also know that I cannot save anyone no matter how many tears I shed but this I know, the tears shed turned into prayers to Jesus Christ will have a mighty impact. Jesus will guide me and lead me to reach those He wants me to reach so they can be saved.

As school is about to begin, there will be thousands of students excited to come to college and be independent of their parents but it is so important to me that they are never independent of Jesus Christ. The world around them will give them opportunities for destruction, for gods of the world, and even for shame to live for earthly things but it will end without joy or Eternal Life.

On the other hand, I know Jesus loves every student and non-student that steps into any campus. Jesus wants them to have Eternal Life and I thank the Lord Jesus for choosing to use me to reach those He has placed in my sphere of influence as I leave the results and outcome in His hands.

I learned that my job is not to get results but be faithful, available, compatible, and teachable for the Lord to use me in a F.A.C.T check. I cry inside for so many of my friends because I know the Lord Jesus can give them a spiritually healthy life only if they turn to Him. He waits for them just as He waited for me to come to Him even when I went my own way. Jesus used so many people in my life and I want to do the same even if it means shedding tears for them.

Recently, Pastor Hugo shared with tears about a friend named David who gave it all up to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others who needed to hear it. David did not wait until his seminary degree was over but used the time he had to let others know about Jesus because he did not want the 4 things listed above to be a description of those he met. His heart cried for the people he met and his heart also knew their joy will have no limit with Christ in their lives.

He did not think some other time but used the opportunities he had realizing that if he were to die before finishing seminary then he would not be able to share. Sadly, after sharing with a lot of people, he did leave this earth but there was rejoicing in Heaven because of all the souls, he touched here on earth. I want to do the same for Jesus Christ. I want to proclaim the love of Christ to all those around me in word and deed so their destiny does not become destruction, their god does not become their stomach, their shame does not become reveling in their own earthly glory, and their mind is not on earthly things alone. For that to happen sometimes tears have to be shed. I don't want others to be living as enemies of Christ and neither should you.

I ask you now dear friends, why shed your tears for others in life?
Weeping for those that do not know Jesus shows how much we love Jesus that we cannot stand others not knowing Jesus. We cry because we see others going the pathway of destruction because they are enemies of Jesus Christ. Tears are shed for many reasons but Paul shed tears because others did not know Jesus Christ and were dying spiritually!

The Lord Jesus has called us to such a time as this to reach out to others. When we see our friends engaging in tarot card readings, etc and we do not do anything to help them we are sending a implicit message that it is ok for them to be enemies of Christ. That is so wrong and I have been guilty of that!

I hope you don’t follow in the same mistake I have done. On Halloween night,  when a place I work at had Tarot Card readings, I should have set up my own table to read poetry about Satan’s tricks and Jesus’ treat but I did not do that even though I had the opportunity. I had sadly leaned on to my own understanding and was giving people fun  by hosting silly games at the time.

Just dressing as a priest with a cross on me and telling others to have a blessed day did not do much as it would have if I had also given them a poem and asked the Lord to use that to minister to them.

Sadly, I let the classic reasoning, “they may not be interested so why bother and make them uncomfortable”. I should have ministered to them depending solely on Christ and leaning not to my own understanding.

So, that night I felt so miserable at home including the next morning because I had opportunities to reach out to students who were dabbling in the occult, etc but I did not. I was miserable because I did not take the opportunity to reach out to those who acted as enemies of Christ by their actions. For a lot of people tarot card readings may seem fun but the Lord reminds us of the dangers of engaging in anything that has Satan's approval.

I have prayed to the Lord and hoped I would get a second opportunity to reach out to all those I missed reaching out to on Halloween day and night. I kept reliving flashbacks of when I could have done my part. But the Lord in His grace kept reminding me to put the past behind and move forward. So, I forced myself to forget the past.  I am so glad for the Quiet Time I had because the Lord has given me ideas on how I could reach out to others.

Friend, I do not know if you weep for others who do not know Jesus but there is nothing wrong having tears for those who are lost. On the contrary, as we seek the Lord in our tears, it will move us to action to do our part and leave the results in the Lord’s hands.

I am reminded that it is not up to us to reason whether they will listen or not, but sow the seed and leave the results in the Lord’s Helping Hands.

For only Christ can save others through His pardon, purpose, power, and promises giving others peace. We need to be faithful, available, compatible, and teachable for Jesus to use us to remind others everything Jesus did for them which will be explained in the poem below which was written as if the Lord were talking to you:

Treat of the Savior
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Love to see you in my presence, I am the Holy One
Love you so much, for you I gave my only begotten Son
Believing in Him you will have Eternal Life.
Being delivered from the deadly power of sin’s strife
No matter what the sin virus has done
With my antidote, in life, you can victoriously run
My Son went to the cross to produce it
As His hands and feet, with 3 nails, were pierced with
And his body, for you, was bruised & broken by every hit 
Now for humanity His cleansing blood flowed bit by bit
He died and came back to life to save you from Hell’s pit
Heaven and Hell are real and it is no myth
In Heaven, at my Right Hand, my Son does sit
Jesus is His Name!
For your redemption, He came.
To save you from Hell’s flame
And to give your life a new aim
His antidote of blood can rescue you from sin’s deadly game
But you gotta make a choice whether Satan or Jesus, you pick
Remember all of Satan’s ways are a trick
Jesus wants to deliver you from the sin that makes you so sick
Won’t you accept His free gift of Grace?
Letting His Spirit help you overcome the virus you face?
His grace is what sets you free to win life’s race
His precious cleansing blood will  deliver you from sin’s ways
It is by grace you are saved through faith
Not of any works that you should boast, Jesus saith
You coming to me, Satan does hate
Because Satan is all evil to this date
Upon me He does not want you to wait
For He knows I can deliver you from Hell’s place
And set you on Heaven’s base
Come to me my child
No matter how your life has been wild
For I am gentle and mild
You, with love, joy, & peace I want to treat
And One day in Heaven personally greet
I want to receive you with the power of my love
Giving you Holy Spirit that came upon me like a dove
Sin separated you from me
But my blood was shed to set you free
So together we can once again be
Life with me you gotta experience and see
Though trials and tribulations come, I will be your Key
Whether you are a child, adult, or teen
No matter how your life has been
I want to take you by my side
In my presence, you can abide
For you I came back to life after I died
My love for you is so deep, high, and wide
You are special and precious in my sight
I want to help you in life with all my might
Helping you do what is right
To escape sin’s destructive bite
Now Satan’s ways you can fight
And come into the beautiful Light!
Amen!

May you feel for those that you see as enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ to the point that you cannot help be moved to action to let them see it is not worth it to be an enemy of Jesus Christ when Jesus wants to be their best friend! Amen!

"Tears Engage Action Remembering Savior! (T.E.A.R.S)/”Why shed your T.E.A.R.S for others in life?"

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being our friend. Lord, there are so many lost that I know personally. They do not know you and are living on their own. They need your help so please help them Jesus. You know what they have turned to and where their minds are focused. I pray you would use us to reach out to them. I thank you Lord that you do not ask us to do anything you won’t do. Thank you for loving your enemies. Thank you for desiring to reach out to them. I give myself to you Lord and ask you to help me reach out to others. I am so sorry for using reasons not to reach out. Lord, one day so many people stood in line for tarot card readings and looked to the cards for their future without looking to you who know their future. Please forgive them Lord and forgive me for not standing up to what was happening and doing my part. Holy Father please give us opportunities to reach out as we seek you. Fill us with the power of your love. Thank you Jesus for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!