Marbaniang, Domenic

"But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees." (John 10:12) Hirelings : Pastors who are more concerned about their own respect than the welfare of the sheep, who threaten to leave the flock if they don't listen. Teachers who have no compassion and kindness towards students, but act like terrorists and hi-fi intellectuals. Couples who are faithless and irresponsible and threaten to leave when storms arise. Parents who don't take personal responsibility for the godly upbringing of their children, but commit them to others. Children who neglect their duties towards their parents. Relatives who act in unneighborly manner. Friends who forsake and flee or jump in to only criticize in the time of adversity.

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (Jn. 1:5) "The light shines" is in simple present tense; the darkness did not comprehend it is in past tense (in Greek, aorist). This is a testimony about Jesus Christ. 1. It points to the eternality of Christ, the light, who always shines, has always shone, and will always shine. There is no shadow of turning in Him. Yesterday and tomorrow are as today for Him. Therefore, His voice through the Spirit is always in the today. 2. It points to the defeat point of darkness as in the past. There is no present or future possibility left for darkness. The Scripture does not say " The darkness will not comprehend"; it says that it did not comprehend. In other words, the defeat of darkness is a finished fact. Christians must rest assured that it is impossible for darkness to ever gain the upper hand. Its defeat is over forever. 3. It points to the fact that those who love darkness can ...

The No.1 qualification of being a Spirit-filled Preacher is not to have a degree from a "great" University or have the recognition of a "great" movement; but, it is to be Spirit-filled and totally in tune with the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today. SPIRIT-FILLED PREACHING 1. Convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (Joh 16:8 NKJ) Spirit-filled preaching will not speak about grace without first convicting the world of sin; it will not talk about divine blessings without first demonstrating the righteousness of God; it will not talk of eternal life without first warning the world of judgment. 2. Will guide the listeners into all truth "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (Joh 16:13 NKJ) Spirit-filled preaching doesn't ignore some truths and highlight others; it is not customer-orient...

In John 2:4, when the mother of Jesus shares with Him her concern that the hosts at Cana had run out of the wedding wine, Jesus replies to her that His time had not yet come. But, then He goes ahead and turns water into wine. So, why did He say that His time had not yet come? What did He mean by it? Again in John 7:6, when His unbelieving brothers suggest to Him to go to Jerusalem and show His works there so that people could see and believe, He answers that His time had not yet come but their time was always ready. Then, He tells them to go up to the feast and that He wasn't coming because His time had not fully yet come. However, when after they go, He secretly does go up to Jerusalem. So, what did He really mean when He said His time hadn't fully come? Did it mean that the time when He went up to Jerusalem was time He was actually talking about? Or did it mean something else? The Gospel of John has strong purposes in highlighting certain phrases and "time has not come...

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (Joh 4:7) ~This is not the first time when God asks someone for a favor, but actually intends to do great things for that person. We know the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Elijah asked this widow, who was hoping to only die, to bring him some water in a vessel, and then called out to also bring him something to eat (1Kgs.17:9-11). The widow felt this to be too demanding, but only later realized that she had been chosen by God to be saved in the serving of God's purposes. When Jesus approached Peter in his failure of having caught no fish through the night's vigilant toil, He first asked him to move the boat a little away from the shore so that He could teach the crowd; only after that did He do a miracle that completely transformed Peter's life and showed him the purpose he was created for. Do we recognize Jesus when He comes and asks us, "Give me a drink."?

"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (Jn.12:24) There comes a time when you have to stop being fruit and start bearing fruit; but, that only comes by dying to the compulsions that hinder us from falling into the bosom of God, the Ground of our soul.

Text : John 15:9-17 Friendship is God-ordained. It proceeds from God the Father – “as the Father loved me, I also loved you” (John 15:9) Friendship is Christ-patterned. He is the one true example of a True Friend – “as I have loved you…” (John 15:9) Friendship is a Sacred Tie/Bond.  “keep my commandments” (John 15:10) Friendship is a Choice to Love despite everything . “abide in My love… love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:9,12) Friendship is a Cup brimming with Divine Joy.  “that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) Friendship is Self-less and Sacrificial - “to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Friendship is Transparent and not diplomatic or formal. “No longer do I call you servants,… but,… friends…” (John 15:15) Friendship is Sharing.  “all things I have made known to you” (John 15:15) Friendship is Proactive. “I chose you” (John 15:16) (John 15:cf. Prov. 18:24) Friendship is Benevolent and Good Intentional. It wants...

Friendship is God-ordained . It proceeds from God the Father - "as the Father loved me, I also loved you" (9) Friendship is Christ-patterned . He is the one true example of a True Friend - "as I have loved you..." (9) Friendship is a Sacred Tie/Bond  - "keep my commandments" (10) Friendship is a Choice to Love despite everything - "abide in My love... love one another as I have loved you." (9,12) Friendship is a Cup brimming with Divine Joy .. "that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (11) Friendship is Self-less and Sacrificial - "to lay down one's life for his friends" (13). Friendship is Transparent and not diplomatic or formal - "No longer do I call you servants,... but,... friends..." (15) Friendship is Sharing - "all things I have made known to you" (15) Friendship is Proactive . "I chose you" (16) (cf. Prov. 18:24) Friendship is Benevolent and Good Intentional....

1. PURIFIED HEART "Every [branch] that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." (John 15:2,3) 2. PRODUCTIVE LIFE "I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) 3. PRAYERS ANSWERED "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7) 4. PROVEN DISCIPLESHIP "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:8) 5. PROXIMATE RELATIONSHIP "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." (John 15:9-10) 6. PERFECTED JOY "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may b...

Author Name: John “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, “son of thunder” Father: Zebedee, Matt.4:21 Mother: Salome (guess cf. Matt.27:56; Mk.15:40; Jn.19:25, perhaps a sister of Mary, mother of Jesus) [1] Brother: James House: Jerusalem, Jn.19:27 [2] Profession: Fishing business in Capernaum, but after the call, disciple of Christ, apostle of love; had been a disciple of John the Baptist (Jn.1:35,40) Note: Rejection of John as the author of the book and attributing the work to a certain John of Ephesus undermines the book as a testimony to the Deity of Jesus. The rejection is based on inadequate evidences. [3] Date About 90 AD, Purpose An eye-witness’ testimony of the things which took place; a testimony to the Truth, so that the readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing they may have life in His Name. (Jn.21:24; 20:31) The Text In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all ...