Bonded by Belief

Following last week's sermon "Walking With the Holy Spirit" delivered by Pastor Sam Merigala at Grace Gospel church on May 18, 2025, this week (May 25, 2025) we will continue looking into the key concepts of part 2 regarding a believer's relationship with the Holy Spirit. The central theme explored in this sermon is the apparent struggle many believers face in hearing or sensing the Holy Spirit, despite the conviction that He is always speaking. Pastor Sam posits that the issue is not God's absence, as He never leaves His children, but rather a lack of awareness or diminished spiritual sensitivity in believers. Various "spiritual barriers" are identified as hindering this ability to sense and follow the Holy Spirit. One significant barrier discussed is the pervasive noise and distractions of the world, including social media, television, and endless entertainment. This external clamor makes it difficult to be "still" and listen, as Psalm 46:1...

Today we will look into the sermon "Walking With the Holy Spirit", given by pastor Sam Merigala on May 18, 2024, at Grace Gospel Church. The sermon addresses a common struggle among believers: spiritual inconsistency , characterized by experiencing seasons of deep connection with God followed by periods of spiritual dryness and distance. This fluctuation is described as a "battle between passion and emptiness" where prayers feel empty, passion fades, and faith weakens. Pastor Sam posits that this isn't just an individual issue but a "spiritual crisis that millions of believers face". According to the pastor Sam, this struggle often stems from treating the relationship with God "like an event rather than a lifestyle". Many depend on "emotional highs, powerful sermons, worship experiences or Supernatural moments to feel close to him", but faith, as quoted from C.S. Lewis, "is the art of holding on to things your reason has once a...

This post is based on the mother's day sermon that pastor Sam gave in Grace Gospel Church on May 11, 2025. The sermon explore the idea that the women who bear significant weight and burdens and who are seemingly "destined for greatness" often face intense adversity. However, this is presented not as a random occurrence or misfortune, but as having a deeper truth and a divine purpose . Trials as a Calling and Purpose, Not Punishment A key concept is that these trials are not a curse but a calling . They are seen as an opportunity for God's power to be revealed in unique ways. The sermon explicitly state that God does not allow people to go through pain for nothing; His purpose is always higher than human understanding . Trials are not viewed as punishment or signs of God's absence or disfavor, but rather as an essential part of God's divine plan for their lives. These battles are not random events but are deeply purposeful and divine in nature . How Trials...

Welcome back, brothers and sisters, to our blog. Today, we return to the majestic truths unfolded in Pastor Sam Merigala’s sermon on the book of Proverbs, aiming to summarize the glorious heights of chapter 8 before transitioning deeply into the monumental crossroads of chapter 9. If you have been following along in our teachings, you know that the eighth chapter of Proverbs stands as the breathtaking climax of Old Testament discipleship. In Pastor Sam Merigala’s sermon, we are powerfully reminded that Wisdom is not merely a set of pragmatic rules, but rather the God-centered wholeness of existence. Before we dive into the new territory of chapter 9, it is absolutely crucial to summarize the staggering truths we learned from chapter 8. The primary danger we face as human beings is fixing our hearts on earthly pursuits—like money, success, family, or even ministry—with an excessive emotional expectation that eventually leads to deep despair when these things inevitably leave us empty. W...

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ, today let us take a look into the glorious truths unfolded by Pastor Sam Merigala in his powerful preaching on securing satisfying and enduring wealth through wisdom. The sermon lifts our eyes to the very heart of life’s meaning, proclaiming that true wisdom is the God-centered wholeness of existence, and it is inherently joyous. The Grandeur and Climax of Wisdom Pastor Merigala explains that the focus chapter, Proverbs 8, presents a wisdom speech that serves to offer inspiration and encouragement to the disciple. This exposition of wisdom must be evaluated against the deceptive rhetoric and false promises of non-wisdom found in the opening chapters of Proverbs. It is in Proverbs 8 that the portrait of Wisdom and her ways reaches its majestic climax, recognized by commentators as "the summit of Old Testament discipleship". The danger we face, Pastor Merigala cautions, is fixating on earthly pursuits—such as family, money, success, ...

Greetings, today let us explore the profound truths presented by Pastor Sam Merigala regarding the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the coming judgment, and the eternal destiny of all souls. This sermon offers essential instruction, drawing deeply from the Scriptures, particularly the Gospel of John, chapter 5, and the ancient wisdom of Job. We must grasp these biblical principles, for they govern not only our understanding of eternity but our conduct in this present age. The Uniqueness of Christ’s Resurrection: More Than Mere Revivification Pastor Sam Merigala begins by establishing a crucial distinction: the resurrection of Jesus Christ was an event entirely unique, one that "had ever happened before, nor afterwards". Though one might recall miraculous raisings in Scripture, such as Lazarus in John 11:1–44 or the widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7:11–17, the nature of these events differs vastly from Christ’s rising. What Lazarus experienced was technically not resurrec...

Greetings! Today we will delve into the deep well of truth presented in Pastor Sam Merigala’s recent sermon on the glorious wisdom found in Proverbs Chapter 8. This profound teaching calls us away from the ways of death and sordidness described elsewhere, lifting before us a brightly positive, God-centered worldview that is inherently joyous. The overarching theme of this wisdom speech is to provide inspiration and encouragement for the reader to pursue life itself. Pastor Merigala reveals that although the sage is speaking, using the figure of speech known as personification to portray Wisdom as an elegant lady - the very antithesis of the adulteress in Proverbs 7 - the ultimate voice we are hearing is that of Christ Himself, our Creator-Savior. This glorious truth is presented in four divine movements, guiding us from the public call of wisdom to the necessary decision we must make. I. Wisdom Commands Us to Prize Her (Proverbs 8:1–11) The first movement of the wisdom spee...