SANDWICHED

SANDWICHED
Gershon Lumugdang
29 May 2011


Sandwiched /ˈsændwɪtʃ/

[1] insert or squeezed tightly between two people;
[2] consumed by a situation (e.g. relationships, health, finances) or by somebody;
[3] being in between troubles.


Time comes in life that we get sandwiched—standing at the middle of a storm or at the middle of a chaotic situation. However, let us lay first the foundation that Jesus Christ is not against you.

Romans 9:33 NKJV
Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.

This stumbling stone is not actually a stumbling block for a believer but a rock, a stepping stone. It only becomes a stumbling block when one does not believe in Him. Note that this scripture talks about Jesus and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations. [AMP]

In another translation it says,

Isaiah (again!) gives us the metaphor for pulling this together: Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can't get around. But the stone is me! If you're looking for me, you'll find me on the way, not in the way. [MSG]

The Israelites, God’s chosen people, were once sandwiched in a big time trouble. The Pharaoh let them go but later decided to chase them to bring them back to Egypt. With the red sea infront of them and the Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen behind them, what did they do?

Exodus 14:10-12 [NKJV]
10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

The Egyptians were marching after them. Sometimes people are haunted and taunted by the events in their past; but now is the day of your salvation! Regardless of what happened yesterday, God can change situations around.
They were very afraid and they cried out to the Lord. Fear, confusion, and panic can come to the hearts of men when faced with trouble. To cry out is to call upon God. Note that the Israelites cried out but were not praying at all, they were complaining [v11,v12]. Through Moses, God wanted to save them and give them freedom but, sandwiched by the situation, they would rather die serving the Egyptians than sojourn in faith. Crying out in fear is of no use. Crying out to God with your complaints is not praying in faith. Faith pleases God. It is your faith that makes your crying out to God effective.


What to do when you are sandwiched by situations in life?

Exodus 14:13-16
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” 15 And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

Do not be afraid.

Jesus is there to help you. It is true that problems don’t get solved like magic, but God has given you His Word. You shall move forth with His wisdom.
Stand still. Stand still in the presence of God.

Romans 5:2
Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We stand on the rock. We stand on Jesus himself. He is our very foundation. We shall never be moved nor be removed.

See the salvation of the Lord.

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

If we will just allow our thoughts, we will be sucked in by the memories of the irresponsible decisions we made in the past. But we have to forgive ourselves and say Jesus is my Savior. We can no longer undo the past, let Jesus heal it.

Lift up your rod.

Rod in the Old Testament symbolizes the Word of God; that is why you need to have a firsthand revelation, firsthand information about His Word. Your rod, your Word, your revelation. Stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. It’s you who’s going to divide the sea with your hands stretched out and your rod lifted up. Yes, the Lord will fight for you but He is going to use you with the wisdom that comes from the Word.

When pressed between situations that sometimes you think there is no way out, think it over. Jesus is your way out. He is alive and His love never fails. He sees you and knows your situation. He will bring you out of it. In fact He has given you that power already. He saved you and He wants you to realize today that you can be a winner, that you are victorious!

Build not Destroy

We build friendship with words, we tear it down with the same.

THE HELPER

2010-11-18 Ministered in BCC with my wife and Daughter - Santiago M. Lomugdang Jr. - Picasa Web AlbumsThe Holy Spirit Our Comforter/Helper


JESUS SPOKE OF HIM AS "ANOTHER COMFORTER."

This word "another" is the clue to the meaning of the word "Comforter."

The word used here means another of the same kind.

The Holy Spirit is not another kind of Comforter, but another of the same kind as Jesus had been.

Whatever Jesus was to that little band of disciples, the Holy Spirit would be to them. In fact, Jesus said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (Jn. 14:18).

The words translated "comfortless" here literally means "orphans." Jesus did not leave His disciples as orphans; in fact, He did not leave them at all.

JESUS SAID OF THE COMFORTER, "THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOR EVER."

The promised Comforter was given in a permanent sense. He abides with the believer forever.

As long as there is a Church, there will be a Comforter. We may expect that the Spirit's permanence in the Church will result in the same works of power and blessing as in all ages. It is through the Spirit that Jesus is to us "the same, yesterday, and today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

THE COMFORTER - "advocate," "helper," and "one called to one's side to help."


Prayer: That you may found help today by the power of Jesus name and in the help of the Holy Ghost.

The Ability of Grace

 

And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance. (Act_20:32)

Grace has such marvelous ability:
1. Giving us eternal inheritance
2. To build us up here on Earth for greater service and increased fruitfulness

We who believe in Jesus are God's children, "and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom_8:17).

We are blessed beyond measure to know that heavenly treasures of fellowship, worship, and service await God's children in glory above. All of these eternal riches are ours by the grace of God alone.

God's amazing grace also has the ability to build us up as we await our inheritance here on earth below. It is essential to remember, however, that God's grace is what accomplishes the building up process. "The word of His grace, which is able to build you up."

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
(2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV)



Picture: having coffee break while ladies scouring the mall.

Under Grace not Law

 

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under law but under grace. (Rom. 6:14)

Sin dominates every one's life, unless they are learning of God's remedy. Walking under LAW projects sin, GRACE is our only hope that sin will no longer dominate our lives. Furthermore, grace is a sufficient hope that sin need not exercise a dominating influence over us.

Knowing Jesus Christ and who we are in Him (MADE RIGHTEOUS). It will then empower us to live RIGHT. If you know you are a prince will you think and behave like a pauper?

Dimensions of Grace

 

Ephesians 1:7
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
NKJV

Ephesians 2:7
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
NKJV

Ephesians 3:8
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
NKJV

God is so rich in GRACE that it will take all eternity for you to enjoy its benefit yet never to be able to exhaust its blessing. Our oceans are remarkably vast but measurable, its bottom are great in depths but they can be fathom. The dimension of God's GRACE cannot be measured but you and I can receive and experience it both now and forever.


Picture: Tacloban City (fish port)

IN Christ

 

2 Corinthians 5:17-19
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
NKJV


In Christ: new life, old is gone, reconciled, forgiven and will not be accused or condemned of our sin.

We have a given privilege to TELL the world THE GOOD NEWS!


Today I got this picture of a spinach i planted yesterday... budding fast (cuttings was left in a watered drinking glass for a couple of days that's why its budding already).

BELIEVERS, we are in-Christ and growing from glory to glory. Go read your Bible and underline or highlight all the "in-Christ" you get to see, you will be amazed of revelations God The Holy Spirit will give you as you study them.


In-Christ,

PG