July 7, 2024

ONE DESIRE
Song by Hillsong Worship

You gave it all for me
My soul desire, my everything
All I am is devoted to You
How could I fail to see
You are the love that rescued me
And all I am is devoted to You
And oh, how could I not be moved
Lord here with You
So have Your way in me
Cause Lord there is just one thing
And that I will seek
This is my cry, my one desire
Just to be where You are Lord,
now and forever
It's more than a song, my one
desire
Is to be with You, is to be with
You, Jesus
How could I fail to see
You are the love that rescued me
And all I am is devoted to You
And oh, how could I not be moved
Lord here with You
So have Your way in me
Cause Lord there is just one thing
And that I will seek
This is my cry, my one desire
Just to be where You are Lord,
now and forever
It's more than a song, my one
desire
Is to be with You, is to be with You

This is my cry, my one desire
Just to be where You are Lord, now
and forever
It's more than a song, my one desire
Is to be with You, is to be with You,
Jesus
The one thing, the one thing that I ask
Is to be with You
The one thing, the one thing that I ask
Is to be with You
The one thing, the one thing that I ask
Is to be with You
The one thing, the one thing that I ask
Is to be with You
Is to be with You
This is my cry, my one desire
Just to be where You are Lord, now
and forever
It's more than a song, my one desire
Is to be with You, is to be with You
This is my cry, my one desire
Just to be where You are Lord, now
and forever
It's more than a song, my one desire
Is to be with You, is to be with You,
Jesus

Exalt: “One Desire”
Empower: Matt. 16:13-17;John 6:67-69; Ephesians 1:7

Knowing Jesus in an Experiential Way (Introduction)
Marahil noon, isa tayo sa mga tao na kilala lamang si Hesus intellectually (sa kaisipan lamang); kilala natin Siya bilang isang magaling na guro, a great leader or an important historical figure; alam ang kasaysayan ng Kanyang buhay dahil sa mga narinig, napanood o nabasa patungkol sa Kanya, subalit hanggang kaisipan lamang, wala tayong personal na kaugnayan sa Kanya. Hanggang sa narinig natin ang Mabuting Balita at tinanggap natin Siya bilang Panginoon at Tagapagligtas. Gayunpaman, dahil mababaw lamang ang ating pagkakilala sa Kanya (maybe in the past or at present), limitado din ang ating karananasan sa Kanya. [Ito ang layunin ng ating tema ngayong quarter na ito: to know Christ personally and experientially - ang makilala ng lubusan si Hesus (patuloy na maihayag sa puso natin kung sino Siya) at maranasan Siya sa araw-araw ng ating mga buhay (hindi lamang noong nanampalataya tayo sa Kanya at na-born again tayo.)]

Knowing Jesus intellectually (or knowing facts and information about Jesus) is different from knowing Jesus personally and experientially. Ang totoong nakakakilala kay Hesus ay yaong nakaranas ng kapahayagan mula sa Diyos. Tinanong ulit sila ni Jesus, “Ngunit para sa inyo, sino ako?” 16 Sumagot si Simon Pedro, “Kayo po ang Cristo, ang Anak ng Diyos na buháy.” 17 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, “Pinagpala ka, Simon na anak ni Jonas! Sapagkat ang katotohanang ito'y hindi inihayag sa iyo ng sinumang tao kundi ng aking Ama na nasa langit. (Matt.16:15-17 MBBTAG). Malinaw sa mga talata na ang pagkakilala kay Hesus ay hindi makukuha mula sa (karunungan) ng tao; ito’y kapahayagan mula sa Ama. Ang tawag dito ay divine revelation or revelation knowledge, where the Word of God (or the truth) becomes alive into our hearts (as quickened by the Holy Spirit). Unless the Holy Spirit reveals who Jesus is into our hearts (by hearing and hearing the Word of God), our knowledge of Him is just superficial.

Bakit mahalaga na patuloy nating makilala si Hesus?

(i) Knowing Jesus is knowing God. Makikilala lamang natin ang Diyos kung makikilala natin kung sino si Cristo. Kung kilala nʼyo ako, kilala nʼyo na rin ang aking Ama. At ngayon nga ay nakilala at nakita nʼyo na siya.”(John 14:7) (See also John 12:45; 14:9).

(ii) Knowing Jesus is eternal life. At ito ang kahulugan ng buhay na walang hanggan: ang makilala ka ng mga tao na ikaw lang ang tunay na Dios, at makilala rin nila ako na isinugo mo.(John 17:3) [see also 1 John 5:12] Eternal life is not living forever. It is having an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus.

(iii) Knowing Jesus captivates our hearts and transforms our lives. Isa ang buhay ni Pablo sa mga nabago dahil sa pagkakilala niya kay Hesus. Siya na dating umuusig sa mga Kristiyano ay naging tagapangaral ng pananampalatayang sinikap niyang wasakin (Galatians 1:23-14). Paul valued his “knowledge of Christ” above all. Ang lahat ng nasa kanya ay itinuring niyang walang kabuluhan o basura lamang makamtan lamang niya si Cristo. Ang pinakamahalaga sa buhay ni Pablo at ang pinakananais niya ay ang makilala si Hesus. (Philippians 3:8,10) Knowing Christ will never be exhausted. However long we live, we shall never overtake the finality of that knowledge. Ang makilala si Hesus sa ating buhay ay hindi natatapos; ito’y tuloytuloy. Habang ang puso natin ay nagnanasa na maranasan Siya, patuloy Niyang ipapakilala at ihahayag ang Kanyang sarili… kung sino Siya sa ating mga buhay. Katulad ng nasain ni Pablo, ito rin ang panalangin natin para sa bawat mananampalataya “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV)

Elevate: Application/Suggested Questions:

1. Pre-test: Who do you say Jesus is? (Sino si Hesus para sa iyo?)

2. Ano ang mga inaasahan (expectations) mo ngayong 3rd quarter sa temang “Knowing Jesus in an Experiential Way”?

Exalt: “One Desire”Empower: Matt. 16:13-17;John 6:67-69; Ephesians 1:7

Exalt: “One Desire”
Empower: Matt. 16:13-17;John 6:67-69; Ephesians 1:7