Author Archives: Cookie Puno

Because Jesus Came by Cookie Puno

Because Jesus Came by Cookie Puno

In the Philippines, our Christmas season starts on September 1 and ends around the second week of January the following year. Being a predominantly Catholic country, Christmas decorations are usually taken down after “Three Kings”, referring to when the Wise Men visited Jesus at the house and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as narrated in the Gospel of Mark. And so, as we say goodbye to the Christmas season completely, join me in my Filipino heritage by revisiting the Christmas account just one last time. And let the message leave us breathless and in awe for the rest of the new year.  

The Gospel of John does not begin the Christmas story with shepherds, angels, or a manger. He begins with eternity. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:14, ESV). Before Bethlehem, before history, before creation itself—Jesus already was. Christmas is the account of the Word who was with God and is God breaking into our world. It is the moment when eternity stepped into time and human history, when the Word became flesh, and God came near. Christmas is not simply the birth of a baby. It is the greatest breakthrough in history. Christ’s birth is a gift of breakthrough to all of humanity. 

 

Because Jesus Came, Nothing Is Impossible

The greatest breakthrough in history is the incarnation – God taking on humanity. The incarnation changed everything. Because of Jesus, impossible things are no longer impossible. Limitations are now broken. There is no more “cannot be.” This is the glorious breakthrough gift of transformation.

On that first Christmas, Jesus became what He was not, so that we can become what we can never be. Because the Word became flesh, real change is possible. Restoration is possible. Holiness is possible. New life is possible. Supernatural living is possible. Christmas announces that transformation is no longer out of reach — it is now available.

Where do you need a breakthrough? Remember this truth: nothing is impossible because of Jesus.

 

Because Jesus Came, No Darkness Can Win

Jesus’ coming echoes the opening words of Genesis. In the beginning, darkness covered the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:1-3). Then God spoke: “Let there be light.” John tells us that this same Light has now entered the world. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Darkness is never the final word. As the Spirit moved over chaos at creation, He still moves in the darkness of our lives today. Light breaks through. Light always breaks through. Darkness may resist, but it cannot win.

Jesus grew up to be the Messiah who overcame the work of darkness and trampled over it. Where Jesus shines, lies break. Fear breaks. Shame breaks. Bondage breaks. If darkness is hovering over any area of your life, Jesus’ birth invites you to declare the breakthrough of His light.

 

Because Jesus Came, You Have a New Identity

Jesus entered a world that rejected Him – a world hostile to Him. Yet He still came. And to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12-14).

This means you are no longer who the world says you are. You are who God has made you to be. Your identity is no longer rooted in your past, your failures, or your human origin. It is rooted in Christ.

Jesus gives us a new identity and a glorious destiny. We are no longer who we once were, and we are no longer headed where we used to be. Christmas reminds us that God is rewriting our identity.

In Christ, we receive a new nature. We are no longer defined by sin or shame, but carrying God’s life, God’s Spirit, God’s DNA. We are made a part of a new family. We now belong to God–included, adopted, and embraced. We are part of His household and His Kingdom family. We are given a new calling. As His children, we become His witnesses, carrying His light into the world and living out His mission with His authority.

The question is, will you receive this new identity? Will you pursue the glorious destiny He has prepared for you?

 

Because Jesus Came, You Will Never Run Out

John declares, “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16)  In Christ, we do not receive grace in drops or installments – but grace upon grace. Because Jesus came full of grace and truth, we live from fullness, and not from scarcity. Grace keeps coming. Strength keeps flowing. Mercy keeps renewing. Favor keeps multiplying. Supply never dries up.

You are not running on empty. You are living from His fullness. Jesus shares His fullness with you — you will never run dry, never lack, never run out.

 

The New Year Ahead

We can face the new year with confidence and joy. We have received the gift of breakthrough upon breakthrough because Jesus came. Nothing is impossible. No darkness can win. We have a new identity and destiny. We will never run dry.

Jesus Himself is the gift of breakthrough. Let the message of Christmas echo and ring true throughout the different seasons of the year. Because Jesus came, we receive breakthrough, live it out, and carry it into the world.

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Alive In The Grave by Cookie Puno

Alive In The Grave by Cookie Puno

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

1 Peter 3:18

The “grave” is defined as a place of burial for a dead body, typically a hole dug in the ground and marked by a stone or mound. In Jesus’ day, the grave looked like a cave with a stone covering the entrance.

“The grave” is also used as an allusive term for death. Jesus clearly experienced death just like all of us will. This is what we remember during Black Saturday. It was a day when Jesus was dead. Yet, even in His death, He still ministers to us. Let us learn three things that we can celebrate even at the time of “Jesus’ death.”

1) There is GLORY in the grave

Jesus’ body may have been dead but his spirit was very much alive! The grave is a place of death, darkness, and destruction. It is a place of decay and utter powerlessness. It is lifeless. And yet, if our lives are in Christ, even when in “grave moments,” we will not decay nor be destroyed. We are still alive!

Jesus was also in the grave. And yet, even before resurrecting, He was already alive in the spirit. You don’t have to fear the “grave moments” in life. In Christ, even in the grave, you can experience glory. We can be growing even in the grave, and that is what makes it glorious!

2) There is GOOD NEWS in the grave

The grave was a sign of something else that died that day. The old covenant no longer binds our lives. Jesus has ushered in the new covenant – a covenant for all. With His death, Jesus also ended the old way of relating to God and brought a new and living way. We praise God because Jesus made a new way.

3) There are GREAT BEGINNINGS in the grave

In the same way, your grave moments can also be a sign of a great beginning from Christ! He is the one who ushers in new things. He is the one who ushers in new seasons. In Christ, every ending is a new beginning. Don’t be afraid of the grave because it is only a sign of a better, brighter tomorrow in Him!

On Black Saturday, we mourn with those who mourn, but we are a people who know lasting joy comes in the morning!

Dearest Jesus,

Thank you for being alive in the grave 2,000 years ago. I don’t have to be afraid of the “grave moments” in my life. There is glory, good news, and great beginnings for me to look forward to. Mourning, disappointment, and pain will not last forever. My time in the “grave” is temporary, but my victory in you shall be forever! Thank you, Jesus! You deserve all the praise and glory.

In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

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Celebrate The Gift Of Righteousness by Cookie Puno

Celebrate The Gift Of Righteousness by Cookie Puno

Why celebrate Christmas? Now, more than ever, people find it hard to celebrate a joyful occasion. Does the message of Christmas — hope, peace, and joy — still ring true amid instability, crises, and seeming hopelessness? In the Philippines, we were hit by 6 typhoons in one month. There’s so much loss, so much pain, and so much death all across the globe. Some may say, they just can’t feel the Christmas spirit nor find it in themselves to celebrate Christmas. 

It is understandable how some people can feel this way, especially if we find the cause of our celebration in the trimmings of Christmas — the bright lights, the beautiful displays, the Christmas gatherings left and right. For me, the current global situation is a cause for us to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. 

The True Meaning of Christmas: A Gift Through Jesus Christ

What is it that we celebrate? The Bible, particularly the Apostle Paul in Romans, tells us that we received a gift through Jesus Christ when he was born on that first Christmas. 

Romans 3 21–24 But now, independently of the law, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One. This is the righteousness that the Scriptures prophesied would come. It is God’s righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in him receive that gift. For there is really no difference between us, for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God. Yet through his powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away his righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin! (TPT)

You might ask me, “Ptr. Cookie, I thought we were talking about Christmas and not Holy Week?” Well, that’s the beauty of it all. We cannot dissociate Christmas from the Resurrection because that’s precisely why Jesus came. Jesus came into the world as a baby, grew up, and experienced every kind of human emotion and experience possible so that when He went back to heaven with the Father, He could be our loving and faithful intercessor. The Christmas story includes the death and resurrection of Jesus and that’s what we celebrate every year!

Righteousness: The Heart of Christmas

In verse 22, we see Paul tell us that we’ve “received a gift.” Every Christmas we celebrate the gift of Righteousness we’ve received through Jesus Christ. Doesn’t sound so exciting?  I pray that at the end of this article, you will be so excited about righteousness and would be looking forward to celebrating it year after year, season after season and even day after day! 

Righteousness is dikaiosuné, δικαιοσύνη, meaning the approval of God (“divine approval”), which refers to what is deemed right by the Lord (after His examination), i.e. what is approved in His eyes. As I was saying earlier, the global situation of sickness, disaster, loss, and uncertainty is a reflection of how we live in a world cursed because of sin. What is happening now is a reflection of how bad and rotten the world is. That’s because of sin. Sin makes everything bad and ugly. It corrupts people, families, even nations and governments. We all see the effect of sin in the world today. And we all know that sin separates us from God. Sin and God can never go together. Sin is the exact opposite of God. 

It is in this backdrop that I want to situate this amazing gift of righteousness through Jesus. Verse 24 says, “His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!” You and I both know that we are guilty of sin. We have done many things that can cause God to be so far from us. But the Bible says that we are free from guilt, punishment, and power of sin. How can this be?

God gives us three truths we need to not only remember, but celebrate:

1) Celebrate: You are FLAWLESS in God’s eyes.

Romans 5:1-2 Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us.  What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory! (TPT)

The definition of flawless: having no defects or faults, especially none that diminish the value of something; having no discernible blemishes or shortcomings; or simply put perfect. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been described as flawless. It’s so hard to be perfect. So how can it be that in God’s eyes, I am perfect? Flawless, even. I know every flaw that I have, yet the Father sees something different. When we believe in Jesus, we receive the gift of being flawless. And this being flawless before God opens so many things for us. The verse says “we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God…” God is no longer angry with us. Remember, sin angers God. But because our sin has been removed and forgiven, He is no longer angry with us. We can be near Him! We have a relationship with God. We can say that we know Him and He knows us — by name! 

Romans 5:9 … For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. (TPT)

What’s more is because we have peace with God we have PERMANENT ACCESS to Him and His grace. We are allowed and permitted to approach and talk to God anytime — no holds barred. The Living Bible says it this way — “..he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand…” This is why we can really claim access to heaven. Righteousness is what qualifies us for an open heaven!  We are approved. We are flawless because we believe in Christmas’s promises — God became flesh to die and save us from our sins!

2) Celebrate: You are FILLED with the Holy Spirit

Romans 5:3-5 But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance.  And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope.  And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us! (TPT)

Christmas leads to the passion of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to us. When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate everything that Jesus’ coming has given us. I love what Romans 5:3-5 says. Even in times of trouble we can celebrate. Why? Because we have the Holy Spirit with us. The Holy Spirit is proof that God loves us beyond measure. In the NIV version it says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” In other words, in a time when you think you lack and don’t have enough, God is saying YOU ARE FILLED! Let that truth sink deep into your hearts and spirits. You are loved, you are cared for, you are not forgotten. What is your proof? The Holy Spirit is with us! We are not alone; we have the Spirit of God with us wherever we go. Even if we lose something or someone, we will be and are FILLED!

The MSG version says it this way, “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling short changed. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” God GENEROUSLY poured out the Holy Spirit into our lives! You don’t even have enough containers for the overflow. 

Earlier we talked about how we are flawless before God. It’s positional righteousness. Meaning, we are no longer enemies of God. But that doesn’t mean we will no longer sin. We all know that we still sin – and God covered that too! Through the Holy Spirit we have the power to be righteous!

Romans 8:9 But when the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit helps us to say “no” to ungodliness and “yes” to holiness! We can continue in our righteousness — a progressive righteousness — where we are better than we were yesterday. The Holy Spirit helps us to live just like Jesus did — holy and obedient to the Father.  God took care of our POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS and our PROGRESSIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

3) Celebrate: You are FAVORED because of Christ!

Romans 5:10 So if while we were still enemies, God fully reconciled us to himself through the death of his Son, then something greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion! (TPT)

10 If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! (MSG)

Favored means you are “preferred or recommended.” I don’t know about you but I like being preferred. You don’t have to line up. You’re always top of mind. You matter. It’s the same with God. We have VIP access to God. Imagine – we even have an open heaven. 

In Christ, There Is More

The world around us can seem dark and painful, beckoning us to look only at our own tragedies and shortcomings.  It is not the twinkle of the trimmings, but rather God’s light which reminds us to look up and celebrate this gift of reconciliation.  If when we were sinful and deserving of God’s anger, Jesus gave Himself so that we can be restored to God, how much more now that we belong to him? HOW MUCH MORE! We have so much to look forward to. 

Romans 8: 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (NIV)

32 For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give. (TPT)

32 Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else? (TLB)

In other words, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE! Righteousness is a gift that keeps on giving. It didn’t stop when Jesus was born. It didn’t stop when Jesus died for us and rose again. It didn’t even stop when the Holy Spirit was poured out unto us. God’s gifts are more than we can imagine.  More has come and will keep coming! 

This Christmas, whenever life gets you down, remember — In CHRIST, THERE IS MORE! 

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The Holy Spirit’s Work Through You by Cookie Puno

The Holy Spirit’s Work Through You by Cookie Puno

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:1-5 NIV

 

The gospel of John shares here how Jesus heals a man born blind. We find out later in John 9:32 that such healing has never happened before. This man didn’t have an accident that caused injury to himself, nor was he sick of something that caused him to lose his sight. If you think about it, it seems that he was stuck with this condition — from the beginning of his life until the very moment of encounter. That was his lot in life. But Jesus can reverse even the worst of situations. In fact, there was no previous situation to revert to because the man was born blind. And yet, Jesus with His mighty power showed He can truly do something out of nothing. Impossible is truly nothing to Him and His mighty power. Jesus says this of the situation:

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Hallelujah! Despite the worst of situations, God’s power will be displayed. The Holy Spirit continues to do His amazing work today! Isn’t that comforting?

The original Greek word used for “works” is ergon “ἔργον”, which means a work or worker who accomplishes something. It is a deed or action carrying out and completing an inner desire, intention, and purpose.

 

The Holy Spirit’s Amazing Work will PREVAIL for us!

The situation of this man born blind can very well echo our situation today. We cannot control what is happening, even if we try. We try to make sense of things but it is difficult. Why would God allow this man to be cursed with blindness since birth? Why would God allow such world events to wreak havoc in our lives today? Why, why, why? Jesus gives us a powerful insight in our passage today. 

v3-5 Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. (MSG)

In desperate situations, let us not look for someone to blame. Instead, let’s look for what God can do! He continues to perform His powerful work. Even in times when it is most difficult, the Holy Spirit continues to do His work because He wants Jesus to be known. In our account in John 9, the blind man came to know Jesus as Lord and Messiah. In verse 38, we see the no longer blind man worship Jesus. In desperate situations like today, don’t look for someone to blame. Instead, look for what God can do. He is still working!

But that’s not the best part. Let’s look at the next verse…  

4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me…(NIV)

Jesus talks about God’s mighty power and how he can display this. But in verse 4, Jesus says “WE must do the works of Him who sent me.” In this display of God’s miraculous and supernatural power, Jesus includes US!

 

The Holy Spirit’s Awesome Work is a PARTNERSHIP with us!

When He said this, Jesus was talking about the disciples. Even during that time, Jesus included His followers in the work showing God’s mighty power so that people can have faith in Christ. And today, this verse continues to speak to us as you and I are included in the “we” that Jesus was talking about. How wonderful to know that Jesus wants us to work with Him. He includes and involves us in this powerful work of displaying God’s power. 

This partnership with God means only one thing, we are meant to be supernatural! We cannot be God’s partners and not be supernatural. How could it be any other way when the one we are in partnership with is the source of supernatural power?! In other words, you and I are bearers of God’s supernatural power on earth to be used for His wonderful purposes. You and I become agents of change and transformation even in the darkest, most desperate times of our lives. You and I are partners of the Holy Spirit in doing His awesome work.

For us in our organization called Life-Growth Christian Network Inc. (LGI), I saw this happen during the pandemic. During the height of the pandemic, with lockdowns enforced, we were given the privilege to launch our Online Study Group (OSG) program. We empowered 72 volunteers, whom we called OSG Teachers to share God’s revelations and kingdom teaching to people from different parts of the world using our small group materials for free. These 72 were our students, prayer leaders, and ministry volunteers. At a time when the physical doors of churches were closed, the gospel continued to reach many homes through online study groups. Each of the 72 OSG teachers were the Holy Spirit’s partner in showing God’s mighty and awesome work. They were the Holy Spirit’s partners in sharing hope at a time of desperation, forming communities during a time of isolation, and providing stability through His Word at a time of disruption.  OSG Teachers did not only teach but released prophetic words — words that went beyond encouragement touching the hearts of people and bringing life even to dead and dying situations. We were able to impact over 1,000 people in the Philippines and beyond through these OSGs. Praise God!

5 As long as I am with you my life is the light that pierces the world’s darkness.” (TPT)

 

The Holy Spirit’s supernatural work can PIERCE the darkness through us!

What a privilege it is to be a partner of the Holy Spirit in His supernatural work! And how wonderful and amazing it is to know that we — even in the comfort of our homes, behind our phones and computers — can pierce the world’s darkness when we pray! Some people may look down on prayer, but for me, it is a powerful supernatural weapon making an impact far beyond what I can ever imagine myself doing. Prayer can exponentially empower weak and sometimes unintelligent words that we think and speak to impact the seats of governments, institutions, nations, and agencies wherever we are.

If we believe we are partners of the Holy Spirit in His supernatural work, then we can trust that every prayer that we utter in obedience to His prodding will create an impact, even beyond our lifetime. 

Brothers and sisters, we have access to a global ministry because of the Holy Spirit. Wherever you are, you can pierce the world’s darkness as you pray. Jesus Himself said so! His light is in us. His power is in us through the Holy Spirit and we can touch the far corners of the globe as we pray. 

So go ahead, Brothers and Sisters, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. OBEY what the Holy Spirit says and you’ll be surprised at what powerful impact you can have. Remember how the disciples began in the Roman province of Judea— ministering to Jews and Gentiles. They didn’t have the powerful and advanced means of transportation that we have today. They didn’t even have the internet that we have today. And yet their message and work from 2,000 years ago still impacts us today. They are proof that the Holy Spirit’s supernatural work can really impact the world. 

So let us continue to look to God in these uncertain times. The Holy Spirit’s amazing work will PREVAIL despite the toughest of times. The Holy Spirit’s awesome work is a PARTNERSHIP with us. And His supernatural work will PIERCE the darkness through us. In Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

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