129. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, servants of God are with a seal.

20 March 2021

Servants of God are marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

Revelation 9

 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 

4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses. 2 Corinthians 6:4

The Holy Spirit. The seal of the servants of God.

Have you ever been shaken in prayer? Have you ever been lost for words in prayer? Have you ever been speechless before God?

It could be the grave threat at the moment. It could be the long time of waiting; you have lifted up the situation to God and you have not seen any sign of hope.

I cannot describe my prayers during the period of 5 years that I was in severe famine and affliction. I was brokenhearted having to sell the cars because we had been borrowing money for daily expenses. Payment for the house mortgage was past overdue for 6 months. There was a prospective buyer for the house who gave earnest money then came back to request for the return of the earnest money because the husband had sudden severe illness, I obliged. So the anxiety again that the house would be foreclosed by the bank. 

It was praying for days, then weeks, months, a year and longer.

Then my eldest daughter was to start college. When she was to take the entrance examination, we prepared an application letter for scholarship. After waiting for the result, the offer was 50% free tuition, so we had to appeal that it be 100% and by God's grace it was granted sometime before enrolment schedule.

Then the following year, it was my second daughter who will enter college. I faced the awkward situation of making another application for scholarship in the same university as that of my eldest, among other schools. Another waiting for the decision, then word came, it was granted 100% free tuition, my wife Marlou and I were really shaken and in tears, amazed and in awe of God's grace.

Then again God's grace through Christian couple friend who lent money for the house amortization to be updated. Yet my mind was still disturbed that unless the house is sold, the amortization payment would go to the drain.

It was during prayer at home with the cell group of the Christian couple friend that I poured out my heart to God, yet it was groaning, mumbled words that came out, along with tears and runny nose.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

The Holy Spirit interceded for me in prayers, my petition was granted; another Christian couple friend going out of retirement from military service bought the house, I was able to pay back the money lent earlier by the other Christian couple and all other debts.

Looking back I do not know how I persisted in prayer, what I know, the Holy Spirit interceded for me in my weakness, when I was utterly speechless before God.

Now the question, “when are the servants of God sealed?”

From christianstudylibrary.org website/article/revelation-71-3-till-we-have-sealed-servants-god

"In a very real sense, the servants of God were sealed at the cross. There our sins were paid for! There our sins were removed! There the wrath of God was placated! There the justice of God was satisfied! There the payment was made! There it was said, “It is finished!” There our redemption was pur­chased! There we were sealed! Redemption has been accom­plished! We were sealed at the cross.

But in another sense we are sealed as redemption is applied to us. We are sealed as God effectually calls us, regenerating our hearts, granting us the gift of faith and repentance, declaring us not guilty, adopting us as His sons and heirs, sanctifying us in holiness, and preserving us through union with Christ even unto glory itself! We were sealed at the cross, but that seal is then applied to us in time by the Holy Spirit through the Word. In that connection, I re­mind you of Ephesians 1:13-14,

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the pur­chased possession, to the praise of His glory."

I was reminded yesterday of the intercession of the Holy Spirit, it was the birthday of our eldest granddaughter, Giliw, at 4 years old.

During my crisis about 18 years ago, I was at a point thinking I would not see my eldest daughter Vannie graduate college, I suffered psychosomatic depression. Giliw is the daughter of Vannie; the Holy Spirit interceded for my life and my health, and God allowed me to see my children's children; my wife and I now have 5 grandchildren. God's grace is truly amazing!

Sharing my prayer, part of my reflection 3 November 2017.

"Lord, "Now it is God who makes each one of us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Lord, "I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws" (Psalm 119:125, 76, 105, 108). This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen."

One day, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; for him, servants of God are with a seal.

May you be blessed with God's Word. Amen.

Maraming salamat.