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The captives are the answer.

April 6, 2016 Selena Design Blessings blog

The prophecies of Isaiah and Jesus Christ: The captives are the answer. We read Isaiah 61:1-7. Then look again at the end of verse 3:

They will be called oaks of righteousness, They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities… foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

So who is Isaiah and Jesus (see Luke 4:17-19) talking about in these verses? We just have to look back on the previous verses…

Who were the poor, who were the brokenhearted, the captives, the prisoners, those who mourn, and those who grieve? You and me! Look at the transition on Isaiah 61 verse 3. Before we knew Christ, we were poor, we were broken-hearted, we were captives, we were prisoners, and we were the mourners. God wants to restore us. And when we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, we become the key to the restoration of the world.

“We will be called oaks of righteousness, We will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities… foreigners will work our fields and vineyards. And we will be called priests of the Lord, we will be named ministers of our God. we will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches we will boast. Instead of our shame we will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace we will rejoice in your inheritance. And so we will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be ours.”

The prophecy in Isaiah 61 and in Luke 4 is for us…now! Do not believe to the lies of the enemy that you cannot make a difference in someone’s life. Do not lose your confidence that you have nothing to offer to humanity. You are a threat to the kingdom of darkness and the enemy! If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we will be contributors to the restoration of our neighborhoods; we will be a part of the resurrection of the society, we will be a part of reformation of our government and we are a part of bringing heaven here on earth! We are called to bring transformation to our cities! This is because we received healing from Jesus Christ.

Is Jesus your Lord? In other words, are you a follower of Christ? Does your lifestyle reflect the values of the Kingdom of God? Does Jesus have authority over you? Does He influence your actions and emotions? Is He your King, and your Lord – not just your Savior?

Now, do you view your salvation merely as a means to being rescued from sin? In other words, do you just wait until Jesus comes back so you can go to heaven when you die? No! We are like the Jews who were in exile to Babylon. We are in exile to earth. We are aliens here on earth. God has bigger plan for us while we are here on earth. Jesus has assignments for us while we are here on earth – to heal the sick, to bring comfort to those who mourn and to free the captives. Our final destination is heaven. So do not lose sight while we are in exile here on earth.

Our salvation is not meant only for us to be saved but for us to be a part of the fulfillment of the promises of God. As Christians and followers of Jesus Christ, we have the most important privilege to work with the Holy Spirit to change the world. We are called to be history makers.

The next time you see the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the prisoners, those who mourn, and those who grieve, you are looking at your potential team members of restoration. Do not forget them. They, (the broken people), are the keys to restoration of our world as you and I! The broken are part of our team in the future! That’s why Jesus said in the Sermon at the mount in Matthew 5:3-6,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

image source: Captives of the Assyrians. From the palace of Sennacherib, approx. 680 b.c.e. (ref. 2kings 18:13-14)

Spiritual Journey

April 4, 2016 Merlin Gonzales blog, KIOM

A Confusing Spiritual Journey

Back in the late 1990’s, my lifestyle was a confusing spiritual journey.

I was unsure about my purpose in life. I studied different religions (and practiced some of them). I had a lot of baggage and I was broken spiritually. Maybe you can relate with me. I wanted to change the course of my life but could not find the right path. I prayed, I ask people to pray for me, I read self-help books and listened to books on tape (yes, there was no iPod then), I went to conferences and seminars but they did not have a long-term impact on me.

Getting Involved In Serving Others

Then God gave me grace to hear His voice clearly in 2000. Strange things happened when I started to get my hands dirty and got involved in serving others. I volunteered at my home church and attended Bible studies. I participated in different outreaches to the poor, the prisoners, the sick, the elderly and the orphans. After more than 2 years into this spiritual journey, God showed me some cool stuff and my experiences changed my perspective. Before, I only knew of Jesus but did not have a relationship with Him. Jesus became my confidant, my best friend and Lord of my life. I got to know Him deeper.

1 Thessalonians 1:5, “…because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”

I found out that inviting the Holy Spirit to walk with me and to work with me made all the difference. Whenever I am in tune with His presence, things seem to just happen! And, they just don’t happen, they happen with power and miracles become more frequent!

Consequently, my Bible studies become more meaningful through my life experiences. I learned that the teachings of the Bible have everything to do with my life. I hear more from God through my life experiences and through the people who suddenly pop up into my life. My thirst for God increases. The more I feast on His Word, the more I get hungry with the Word of God. I also experience more of His involvement in my life. I came to know more about Jesus.

Your Challenge – A 7-Week Experiential Study

If you long to hear more from God, to co-labor with Him and to see more miracles, signs and wonders, He is ready for you! He is ready to bring you to a place where the supernatural happens. It’s a matter of the condition of your heart and your resolve to take the big steps to experience God’s involvement in your life. I believe that God wants to reveal more of His nature to us. As much as we want to know Him, is nothing compared to His longing to reveal more of Himself to us!

On April 28th, we will start the Spring classes on “Living in God’s Dominion Here on Earth”, a 7-week EXPERIENTIAL study based on my book, “The Kingdom In Our Midst.”

We will take this spiritual journey together as we learn with and from each other. We will get our hands dirty and go out in the streets to see more of what God is doing in our midst. You will be challenged by thought provoking questions. You will discover the supernatural world within you. Together, we will tap into the unlimited heavenly resources available to us as we experience living out our faith.

It’s really working!

March 18, 2016 Merlin Gonzales blog, KIOM

Getting Involved

When I experienced the blessing in serving, I can’t stop getting involved!

I volunteered at my church. I volunteered at a hospital, I volunteered at an orphanage. I volunteered at nursing homes. I volunteered in prisons. I went outside the US to do short-term mission trips! I cleaned toilets, picked up trash, served in soup kitchens, washed feet of homeless, and shoveled snow for an elderly who was stuck in her house. I did street evangelism, I preached at elderly homes, I organized Easter egg hunt, Christmas gifts deliveries, Christian concerts at a Coliseum, closed the main streets in downtown Indy for prayer rally, mobilized thousands of volunteers and spoke at different churches.

As I look back, I have learned in the streets, in classrooms, in board rooms, in seminars and in conferences. I lost money from scams, gave resources to con artists and helped many people in need.

Teaching Others

Throughout the years, I learned and I applied what I learned. I started teaching others what I learned as well. I spoke at any place where people let me and I give my testimonial whenever I can. I teach, consult and coach pastors, community leaders and employees. I speak and preach in front of congregation, government officials, school systems and the general public.

I started companies, organizations and publications! I created manuals, procedures and teaching materials. I migrated from Asia to North America. I lived in Indiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi and back to Indianapolis. I visited several countries in Europe, Central and South America.

Preaching

Teaching

Serving

Through my exploration, I learned early in my career that experience is a great teacher. Conceptualizing a notion is good but you do not know for sure if it would work until you try it! You have to prove it by actually experiencing it. I have experienced a lot of ups and downs, successes and failures.

My journey to learn and to teach others started in early 2000’s. My ignorance and my enthusiasm got me quickly to places where many experienced people were not able to. I didn’t know any better so I was not afraid to try something new! Some worked, some not, but in the process I was accelerating my learning curve.

Now, I am passionate to reach out to others who are willing to invest their time, talent and treasure to make a difference and to leave a legacy for future generations. I love seeing people progressed because they start to believe in themselves. I like encouraging others because I normally see their potential even though they doubt themselves.

Your Challenge

I like to challenge my clients to reach out to others because in the process of helping others, they actually help themselves. They experience the teachings of the Bible that it is better to give than to receive. They come to see that in the process of healing is serving, that simple things can make a big impact in others. These things really work!

To benefit from my years of educations and experience, please contact me at [email protected] and receive a complimentary assessment. Or sign up for KIOM class registration here. Begins April 28!

Be Kind To Others To Demonstrate God’s Presence

March 9, 2016 Selena Design Blessings blog, Ministry

Read the full article here

Unexpected

October 10, 2015 Merlin Gonzales blog, KIOM

There many things in life that do not make sense.

The ministry that I founded, Faith Hope and Love Community celebrated it’s 11th “Mission Trip in Your Own Backyard” during the last full week of July through a week of community services with churches and ministries. Through food pantries, block party and other outreaches, hundreds of people were blessed.

A day after the week of missions, my wife and I were at a restaurant overlooking a lake to celebrate what God had done. Suddenly, we saw the dark heavy clouds moving in our direction. Just a few hours before this happened, my wife and I checked the forecast and there was no trace of rain for the day! The wind picked its speed and the waves got higher. Within a few minutes, we saw an incredible amount of rain poured like waterfall from the sky. It was amazing to see that kind of rain over the lake.

As we were mesmerized by the nature, we remembered that our office is in a flood zone and my 2 vehicles were parked near a creek. We rushed to our office while battling the downpour. By the time we reached our office complex, the parking lot looked like a rushing river. I saw both my vehicles in the flood path and decided to rescue them.

An unexpected downpour

I was able to start my truck and moved it to a higher ground. My van started but stalled after driving several feet. After letting it dry for a week, my friend and I changed the engine oil which was mixed with water. We tried several ways to start it but finally gave up. The van had high mileage and it has only third party insurance coverage which means that we lost a good running vehicle from a flood.

I asked God why He allowed it to happen, we just blessed hundreds of people and cannot afford to buy a replacement vehicle. We checked the forecast and we blessed the vehicles before this unfortunate incident happened! So many things ran through my mind. Maybe I should have just left it in the flood and let it dry later or I should have not left my vehicles in that parking lot! Maybe God will replace it and He is about to bless us with a nicer and newer vehicle.

It took me a few weeks to let it go and to stop asking why. I finally accepted that it happened and there’s nothing else I can do to bring back my van.

I was now looking forward to perform the marriage of one of our friends!

My wife had been busy for several months in the preparation of the wedding since she was the wedding planner. The bride and groom got us a nice hotel room for 2 nights so we could be close to the venue. Since the wedding started at 6pm, I had time to visit the town and to exercise at a gym. I stopped by Walmart to purchase weight lifting gloves.

I had a great time at the gym; I felt stronger and had more endurance. I went back to my hotel room, took a shower and had lunch at a fast food. Afterwards, I went back to the hotel and worked on my message for the wedding and reviewed the flow of the ceremony. I felt good!

It was now time to get dressed and go to the wedding venue. After putting on my clothes, I noticed that I was not wearing my wedding ring and my cross ring. I looked around the room and checked with the front desk! I called the gym and checked the room again but no one had seen my rings!

I was devastated to find out that I lost my rings – they represent my commitment to my wife and to the Lord! This loss was more than my van, not financially but emotionally! How could God allow this happen especially just before I officiate the wedding of my friends!

God gave me the grace to temporarily forget the lost rings during the wedding and the reception. It was a beautiful wedding and a magical night.

There are unexpected things and events that happen to us. Things that are good and things that are bad. We live in the tension between light and darkness, good and evil, choices and decisions. It is through those events that our faith is tested. Whether we think what’s happening to us is good or we perceive it as bad, our faith should be unwavering.

Think about Abraham, the father of faith. He left his home town to go to an unknown place. Joseph who had good intentions was sold as a slave by his own brothers and was put in a dungeon for doing what the right things. John the Baptist who proclaimed the coming of Jesus and was beheaded.

Hebrews 11:1-2, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.“

Please be encouraged that no matter what your situation is, God is still Sovereign, He is in control and He is God! Unexpected things happen to all of us and we do not have the answers to all of them, however, God does NOT cause bad things to happen. He is for us, not against us. Perhaps He would give us answers to all the unanswered questions we had here on earth when we see Him in the fullness of time.

PS. I will be doing a Book Signing on Saturday, October 17th from 11am to 2pm at The Living Truth bookstore located at 17665 Cumberland Rd, Noblesville, IN 46060. If you are in town, please come and visit me; I’d like to meet you in person and sign my book for you.

PPS. Let me know if you are interested in participating to “Living in God’s Dominion Here on Earth” class based on my book, “The Kingdom In Our Midst“; I will keep you posted as the class develops.

God bless,

Merlin