THE TRUE MEANING OF THE WORD "COMMEND" IN ROMANS 5:8

I have known and have been familiar with the verse Romans 5: 8 -

"But God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

But only this time I have discovered what it really means why it said, "commended." Some even used the word "commanded" mistakenly. But the word used was "Commended." I thought the meaning of this word just means -

        - demonstrated;
       -  gave;

But when I traced back to its original Greek word, it's Greek word is "sinustemi." You will be amazed what it means. The word actually means -

- to place together;

- to put in the same place;

 - to stand or near side by side;

Isn't this amazing to discover? So Romans 5:8 means more than we usually understand. What God is saying to us through this verse is that God did not gave us love, but He stand near to us side by side, and this is through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is different when He just gave the gift of eternal from He himself became the gift, became human, and stood with us side by side. "Commended" means that His love was ultimately demonstrated when Jesus came down and died on the cross for us.

So now we can fully understand why His name "Emmanuel" means "God with us." He promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. It means, "Jesus is with us- side by side." It means that no matter what happen in life, Jesus is with us side by side. It also means "no more condemnation." God the Father cannot condemn us because Jesus is with us side by side. And the most amazing thing about this was He chose to stand with us side by side while we were yet still sinners. So meaning, Jesus loves us fully and unconditionally. This means too that your victory is sure and secure because it depends on you holding Him, but Him holding you. Yes, we are with Jesus all the time, side by side.

That is the meaning of the word "commend."

- Art Roy Remy

GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH ME YET

To all who thought that I can never rise up from falling,
To those who thought I can never make a comeback,
To those who thought it is the end of the line for me,
To those who thought I can never have a victorious life,


You are all wrong.
Grace has picked me up.
God's grace is better than any failures.
God's plan is better than what we think.
God's grace has given me breakthroughs that I haven't think of.
Grace has given me favor, blessings, riches and happiness.
Yes, rock-bottom really rocks.
My old self was buried in that rock-bottom.
And all you see right now is- grace.
It is all Him, not me.


All because God is not finished with me yet.

"There is hope for me yet
Because God won’t forget
All the plans He’s made for me
I’ll have to wait and see
He’s not finished with me yet
He’s not finished with me yet."

- Brandon Heath, Wait and See

[To all who failed in life and people thought it's your end, this is for you -

God is not finished with you yet.

“The Christ

who is our Hope of glory

is not a matter of theological debate

or philosophical speculation.

He is not a hobby,

a part-time project,

a good theme for a book,

a subject,

 or a last resort when all human effort fails.

He is our life,

the most real fact about us.

He is the power and wisdom of God

dwelling within us."

- M a n n i n g

“Are you tired?

Worn out?

Burn out on religion?

Come to me.

Get away with me and you'll recover life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me - 

watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and

you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

- J E S U S

recorded in Matthew 11: 28 -30

A RADICAL AND REVOLUTIONARY LOVE. [LOVE .. BY JAESON MA WITH LYRICS]

Now Hollywood wants to make you think they know what love is. 

But I'll tell you what true love is. 

Love is not what you see in the movies. 

Its not the ecstasy its not what you see in that scene you know what I mean? 

I´m telling you right now true love is sacrifice. 

Love is thinking about others before you think about yourself.

 Love is selfless not selfish. 

Love is God and God is love. 

Love is when you lay down your life for another 

whether for your brother your mother your father or your sister 

Its even laying down your life for your enemies. 

That´s unthinkable but think about that. 

Love is true. Think.

I´ll put you in front of me

So everybody can see

My love, this is my love

I know that I´ll be alright

As long as you are my guide

My love this is my love

Love is patient love is kind. 

It does not envy it does not boast it is not proud. 

It is not rude. it is not self-seeking it is not easily angered 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes 

it always perseveres.

Love never fails. 

Love is everlasting its eternal it goes on and on it goes beyond time 

love is the only thing that will last when you die 

but ask the question why? Do you have love?

There is no greater love than this than he who lays down his life for his friends. 

Now are you willing to lay down your life for your friends? 

You´re probably willing to lay down your life for your mother your father or your best friends but are you willing to lay down your life for even those that hate you? 

I´m going to tell you who did 

that the definition of love is Jesus Christ. 

He is love. 

The nails in his hands the thorns in his brow 

hanging on a cross for your sin my sins that is LOVE he died for you and me 

while we still hated him that is love. 

God is true love and if you don´t know this love 

now is the time to know perfect love.

- Jaeson Ma

Indeed this is now the generation of artist-preachers, radical preachers who are passionate for Jesus, freed from sin and the law by God's grace, preachers who are for relationship with the Lord and not for organized religion, preachers who are not proud of their goodness, but of the love of God, revolutionary preachers who are creative though despised by religion, preachers who are full of love for all, preachers who exalts JESUS in their own culture. This is my generation. - Art Roy Remy

SOCIAL NETWORK CHRISTMAS

This is a very touching video of the nativity of Jesus Christ told through social network Facebook.

CHANGING OUR "JESUS-LOVES-YOU-FAMILIARITY"

"Jesus loves you."
"God loves you."

Words we are so familiar with. It became so familiar that to many it is just an expression or a quotation. The worst thing is that these words have been used by religion and churches in their own context and perspectives. Oftentimes, the comfort "God loves you" is just given to the lovable but not to the unloveable. We can say outright to good people these words, but to the worst of sinners who are annoyance to our society, we are taciturn to say this. We have seen religious people with a "cause" rallying in the streets condemning some "evil" people declaring that there is hell, and somehow they can never use these words, "God loves you." Somehow, we can just say "God loves you" to religious people but we think twice if we can say these to the fallen, to the unchurched or to people who sinned. To the "worst of sinners" whom we branded - the prostitutes, the "gays", the criminals, the corrupt, and others - we cannot declare these words to them. The religious people became so familiar with "Jesus loves you" that we cannot share it to those who are not familiar with it.

Somehow, these words are but for the sweet and for the lovable. We never realized that these words, "Jesus loves you," is not an expression nor a sweet quotation. These words were written in blood. This is not a sweet word but a "dirty" word so to speak. Jesus became "dirty" as he carried that cross, as he was spit upon by people, and as he hung on that cross. Jesus did all of these declaring that Jesus loves everybody!

Saying "Jesus loves you" is not based on our own context and perception who qualifies to be covered with God's love and who is only worthy to hear these words. Jesus loves everybody - the most sinful and even the religious people.

Maybe it's time to be enlightened and move from what is familiar.
How?
Get out to the street, look for someone who is branded as worst of sinners by our society, and start by whispering as if you are speaking to that person and say, "Jesus loves you."
This is the start and you will discover that the used-to-be familiar words "Jesus loves you" to you will come alive and will have a deeper meaning. Your prejudice will be gone, your legalistic mindset will be gone, and your selfishness will be gone.

Now, then let us change the spotlight from those "worst of sinners" to -

   you.

How many times you can easily declare the words "Jesus loves me" just because you are faithful in the church? or just because you have done good things in your life? or maybe you have been performing nicely in your religious activities? But why you can't declare these words, "Jesus loves me" when we fall into sin? when we became inactive in the church? when we made a shameful sin?

Now, let us get out of the familiar and let us make these words real in your life. Think for a moment the worst sin which you have done in your life and the sin for which you have been ashamed of, and declare verbally with boldness -

"Jesus... loves me."

God loves you not based on your performance. Remember, God loves you already even in your worst.

"Jesus loves you." The "you" here represents all kinds of people. Change the "you" with any kind of sinner you can think of, and the words will still fit because it is Jesus who loves, not us. And when we see these people how Jesus loves them, then we can move out from the familiar, and love them with authenticity.

LIFE DOESN'T BRING YOU JOY; YOU BRING JOY TO LIFE

Photo courtesy: Kirsten Paulick

When your expectation of joy absolutely rests in what life can give you, you will be disappointed. Life is not all good days, there will be bad days. Life is not all riches, there will be scarcity. Life is not all laughter, there will be crying. Life is not all mountains, there will be valleys. Life varies.

This is our common mistake why we cannot have true happiness - we expect that it is life that will bring us joy. Well, here's a radical truth and here is the understanding of how you will truly have joy in this life, and it's this -

Life doesn't bring you joy; you bring joy to life.

This means - joy is a choice not a circumstance.
It is not what happens to you but what you make happen in life.
It is not how someone or something in this world has made you happy; it is how you bring joy to someone's life.
Meaning, joy is not from outside-in, but from inside-out.
This also means that joy comes from within first.
From the joy you have within your heart, you will be the one to give joy to this life.
And how can this be? Or how can you have joy within your heart?

Well, it's none other but to have the Very Source of all joys. It is having Jesus in your heart. No wonder Jesus said, -

"These things have I spoken unto you, that MY JOY will remain in you , and that your JOY will be FULL." - John 15: 11

Without Jesus in your heart, you can never be happy even you have everything in these world. Life can never make you happy because the only one who can give you joy is  the One who made life. The only way to have joy and to truly enjoy life is to have Jesus. This is why joy is from inside-out.

Thus, you are the one to bring joy to life because Jesus is in your heart as your joy.
Since Jesus is in your heart, you are not dependent on life to bring you joy but rather you are the one who brings joy to this life.
You bring joy to good days and bad days, to riches and scarcity, to laughter and crying, to mountains and valleys. You can fully enjoy life because of who you have and not what you have. And you can enjoy life to the fullest, as what Jesus said, because you are the one who bring joy to life.

"No wonder I am enjoying life to the fullest."

HOW DO YOU PERCEIVE JESUS?

Yes, Jesus smiled; yes, Jesus laughed. Jesus smiled wider and laughed heartier than any human being who has ever walked the planet. He was young. He radiated good cheer. The real Jesus was a man of such merriment, such gladness of heart, such freedom and openness, that He proved irresistible. He became known through Galilee for His genuine strength, the sparkle in His eyes, the spring in His gait, the heartiness in His laugh, the genuineness of His touch; His passion, playfulness, excitement, and vitality: His JOY! He made a dazzling display of love. He set hearts afire. He was an elated, triumphant young man with an incredible quality of life . . . so different from the solemn religious types He constantly encountered...

CHOOSE GOD'S POSSIBILITIES OVER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

The reason why we are oftentimes disheartened is because we allow the circumstances and the situation determines our joy when it should be vise-versa- our joy determines our circumstances and situation. Yes, I understand, hard times and difficult circumstances happen in our lives. I have my big share in the past of how it is to have difficult times. I have experienced how it is to be in the rock-bottom.

- I have experienced to sleep in a bus terminal because I was a vagabond;
- I have experienced to be in the streets, drunk and broken;
- I have experienced to be in bad places and lived with no direction.

But I finally realized just like what a certain writer said, "No one cares of you being miserable, so rather, be happy." And freedom and blessings came into my soul when I fully embraced that in all these difficult situations, there is a gracious God who loves me and planned my life to be abundant, prosperous and victorious. When I started to shift my sight from the circumstances to the possibilities, from crisis to where Christ is and from defeat to triumph, my life also started to shift towards fulness.

This is what I have learned-

Circumstances and situations should not break me but mold me.
Circumstances and situations are but platforms where God will bless me.
Circumstances and situations are but a stage where God will show His power in my behalf.

There is a verse in Isaiah which said -

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." - Isaiah 35:1

The circumstance and the place was unlikely and difficult - wilderness, solitary place and a desert. But what God was implying here was this -

when you chose to embrace God's possibilities and power, and you chose to be a winner no matter how your hard your circumstances are, time will come that even these circumstances will be glad and will rejoice for you.

Yes, God's grace picked me up and I chose to be victorious. Since then, I lived a forgiven, fulfilled, happy life with love and direction from God. I have experienced now the upward way of life. I have discovered my potentials and purpose. I have renewed relationships. I have found fulness in using my talents, time and potentials to help many people. Yes, I am living now a victorious life.

And you know what? One time I visited those places where I used to squander my life, and somehow I felt the truth of the verse. The circumstances and the situations where you once in will be glad and rejoice for you because they were not victorious over you, as if -

- the bus terminal is telling me, "You won. We didn't have you."
- the dirty streets are telling me, "You won. We didn't have you."
- the bad places are telling me, "You won. We didn't have you."

You know what got me?
God's grace.

You may have bad times, but the bad times ought not to have you.
You may have failures, but failures ought not have you.
You may have tough situations, but tough situations ought not to have you.

And what the next verse has said was true to me -

"they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God." - Isaiah 35: 2

This is the actual bus terminal where I used to sleep six years ago- miserable, rebellious and vagabond. I took these photo when I recently visited the place. Just imagine what I look like at that time.

And this is where I am now - happy, forgiven, enjoying life and touching the lives of many. GOD IS GREAT!

My Revolutionary Jesus, My Lord and My King

This is a radical, powerful and revolutionary declaration of who Jesus is. He knows you and loves you much. Hope you will know Him too personally. He wants to give you relationship not religion.

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. 

He's the King of Israel. He's the King of righteousness. 

He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. 

He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. 

That's my King. I wonder...Do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. 

No means of measure can define his limitless love. 

He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. 

He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. 

He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. 

Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. 

He's God's Son. He's the sinner's Savior. He's the peak of civilization. 

He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. 

He is the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. 

He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. 

He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Savior.

 I wonder if you know Him today.

He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. 

He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. 

He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. 

He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. 

He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. 

He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. 

He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. 

He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meager. 

I wonder if you know Him.

He's the key to knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. 

He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. 

He's the roadway of righteousness. 

He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. 

Do you know Him?

Well, His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. 

His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. 

His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. 

His reign is righteous, and His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

I wish I could describe Him to you. 

Yes, He's indescribable. He's incomprehensible. 

He's invincible. He's irresistible. 

You can't get Him out of your mind. 

You can't get Him off of your head. 

You can't outlive Him, and you can't live without Him.

Well, the Pharisees couldn't stand Him but they found out they couldn't stop Him. 

Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. 

Herod couldn't kill Him. 

Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. 

I wonder if you know Him.

That's My King!

THE LORD WILL NOT JUST DO SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE; HE WILL DO GREAT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE

Oftentimes, we address God just as the "Someone" up there in heaven. Addressing God like that just shows how one's relationship to God is not so personal. I cannot imagine addressing my father as "someone" instead of addressing him as my father. Same thing with our relationship with God, why address Him as the "Someone" in heaven when you can address Him as your Father?

Observe this well, when a person addresses God vaguely like using the word "Someone," it will usually be connected to how this Someone can do "something." Usually, you can hear these words - "Someone up there in heaven can do something in your life." Observe how unspecific and impersonal it is.

It is far different when you declare "My God, My Father." It is declaring that you have a personal relationship with the One you are addressing to. And when you say those things which God did in your life, you cannot just say that it is just something but -

      - great things.

These two statements are far, far different from each other-

"Someone up there will do something in my life."
"My Father God will do great things in my life."

In Joel 3: 21, God promised us with these words -

"Fear not o land; be glad and rejoice for the Lord will do great things."

Wow! What an assurance for us to declare that indeed our God will do great things in our lives!
God said to us not to fear. Fear only happens when you do not know who you trust or you don't know fully whom you are calling. If you know God just as the "someone who is up there" then it just shows how little you know God. This explains your fear. You don't know the God who can do great things for you is a very loving God, a very caring God and a God who blesses well.

Fear is the result of less knowledge of God. I am not pertaining here of deep theology in the study of God's word. I have seen lots of people who have deep head-knowledge of God but so less with heart-knowledge of God. What I mean is a mixture of heart and mind- an experience with God.

So when you recognize God not just as that someone but your loving Father God, then you can boldly declare and believe that the Lord will not just do something in your life but will do great things in your life.

When your faith becomes specific to a specific God, your blessings will also become specific.

For me, who I have is not just someone up there in heaven. Who I have is the Almighty God, the King of kings who is my loving Father, and this is why I believe that He will not just do something in my life but He will do great things in my life.

"Something" is not specific. It is vague and small.
"Great things" is specific, big, huge, wonderful and awesome.

When your relationship is personal, your faith becomes specific.

Declare - My Lord will not just do something in my life; He will do great things in my life.

- A r t  R o y  R e m y

FROM WITHERED HANDS TO WINNING HANDS

[Message delivered September 26, 2010 about the story of Jesus healing the man with a withered hand.]

Mark 3:14 - "And he[Jesus] entered again into the synagogue,

and there was the man with a withered hand."

The man with a withered hand can represent people whose

heart has already withered from serving God.

It is a representation of withered relationships, withered finances,

withered passion, and withered life.

It can also represent a church whose heart has withered

from being passionate for Jesus.

But Jesus came to heal the man with a withered hand.

Jesus will come to you to heal you

in a time people least expect[Sabbath] for

He will defy the norms. He will defy the wrong things that has

been said about you. He will defy the impossibilities.

God will change your withered hands into winning hands.

All you got to do is:

SHOW UP

You don't have to bring anything, just show up.

It is not complicated as you think, just show up.

What happened if that man didn't show up where Jesus was?

You will miss many things if you don't show up where Jesus is working.

Show up though it may be common.

show up though there is crisis.

Show up though there are critics.

Show up because it is for Jesus Christ.

STAND OUT

God will use the setbacks of your life to be the set-up of God's blessing in your life.

You were not designed to blend in. You were designed to stand out.

Stand out even in bad situations.

Stand out in boldness.

Stand out in the blessings of God.

STRETCH FORTH

Jesus asked from him what he has never done before.

Jesus will ask you what you have never done before.

Stretch forth though it is hard.

Stretch forth though it hurts.

Stretch forth for it will heal you.

The withered hands became winning hands.

It was just one hand he stretched out but both hands were healed.

When you show up, stand out and stretched out in faith,

God will heal your both hands.

God wants to heal your withered hands to become winning hands.

The question is-

Will you show up?

Will you stand out?

Will you stretch forth?

- A r t  R o y  R e m y

I ALWAYS SEE YOU IN FACEBOOK. I WILL BE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU IN MY BOOK - GOD

This is what it takes to be included in the Book of Life- confirm your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just like as Facebook is free, so is salvation. It is not by your good works nor by your religion which you can have a new life and salvation. It is only placing your faith on Jesus love for you which He showed for you on the cross. So, will you accept Jesus?

Christianity Is More Than Just An Idea; It Is All About A Person

He took all our sins and became sin for us.

He became the filth so that we can become clean.

He became poor so that we become rich.

He suffered so that we can live abundantly.

He took all the negatives so that we can live positively.

Grace. Love.

These what made the difference.

We live positively and victoriously in life

not just because it is an idea

but more so, it is because

A Real Person died for us.

Grace is not an idea.

Grace is what God did.

Love is not an idea.

Love is who God is.

The difference we have as children of God from the rest of the world is that we live not because of an idea

but because of a Person who loves us personally.

And this is the reason why we can live 

in freedom, happiness and love.

We worship together not just because it is an idea

but because of the Person who is worthy to be praised.

We serve not because it is a religious idea

but because of the Person who loves us and is worthy of our service.

We volunteer not because it is an idea

but because of the Person who loves us.

We lead people not because it is an idea

but because of the Person who motivates us.

So you see, living a victorious life is not just because of an idea

or because it is the cool thing to do,

but because of the Person who paid all what it takes

just for us to make us live victoriously.

This what makes us different.

What we have is not just an idea.

We have a Person who personally loves us.

May this world sees us not of just of our ideas,

but more of the Person who changed us.

“God wins us to Him

not based on threats,

but based on His love and grace."

- A r t  R o y  R e m y

WHY JESUS DID NOT SAY, "SEEK ME FIRST" BUT RATHER HE SAID, "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD"

Jesus could have said,

"Seek me first" 

rather than

"Seek first the kingdom of God." 

Saying those words could still be right, valid, and righteous, but since He did not say it, he means something different why He emphasized that we must seek His kingdom first.

Actually most believers thought that it is what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 but it is not. Many preachers and teachers misused the verse by saying "Seek God first" when actually what He said was specific as "Seek first the kingdom of God." God is different from the kingdom of God.

What do you think why He didn't said, "Seek me first" instead He said, "Seek first the kingdom of God?"

Answer is given after this photo.

Let me ask you - "Did you already accept Jesus as your personal Saviour?"
If the answer is, "Yes," let me ask you, "Where is Jesus?"
Most probably you will answer, "He is in my life. He is in my heart," and that is right.
So, let me answer the question above with a question -

So, why will you seek Someone who is already in you?

Get the point?

Truth: You will not seek Someone who is already in you.

Jesus even promised that He will never leave nor forsake you. He will always be in your heart. So the reason why He didn't said, "Seek me" because He is already in you. He said, "Seek first the kingdom of God" is because this is the thing you need to discover in your life while you live here on earth. The kingdom of God is not something to be received in heaven, but to be lived and enjoyed here on earth. The kingdom of God is right here and present now but you need to seek it in your life by having a victorious life, sharing the love of God to others, helping the poor, passing peace and kindness to others and experiencing the abundant life in Him. This is what we seek.

Jesus is always in you. You don't seek someone whom you know where he is.
You know where He is. What you and I were told is to seek His kingdom.

Get this radical truth?

radical quote | art roy remy

It is not religion who died on the cross.

It is not religion who raised up from the dead.

It is not religion who will come back for me.

It is not religion who loves me.

It is not religion who gave me life.

It is all - Jesus.

A Radical Message Why We Need Jesus

“You have an oil lamp that's got no oil,

you have an oil lamp.

But it won't behave like one.

You might as well put it in the trash can.

And of course if you detach man from God,

you still got a man on your hands,

but he won't behave like one.

The only thing you can do for an oil lamp

that hasn't got oil is put oil in it.

And the only thing you can do for a car

that hasn't gas is to put gas in it,

AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO FOR A MAN

THAT HAS'T GOT GOD

IS TO PUT GOD IN HIM.

And when you put the oil in the lamp,

it isn't so the lamp can try harder,

and when God gets back into the man,

it isn't that the man

might try harder.

You put oil in the lamp so the oil can be oil,

functionally.

You put gas in the car so the gas can be gas,

functionally.

And you put God in the man

so God can be God,

functionally.”

- I a n  T h o m a s