04/06/2026
Neither!: A Call to Repentance for Our Nation
“Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
And the Commander of the LORD’s army answered, “Neither.”
— Joshua 5:13–14
There are moments in a nation’s life when we are forced to ask painful questions.
Where is God in all of this?
Whose side is He on?
Is God on the side of the administration?
Is He on the side of the opposition?
Is He on the side of one political party, one family, one personality, one movement?
Joshua once asked a similar question before the battle of Jericho: “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
The answer was not what he expected.
“Neither.”
Hindi Partido ang hinahanap ng Diyos.
Hindi kulay.
Hindi apelyido.
Hindi posisyon.
Ang hinahanap ng Diyos ay puso.
The issue was never whether God was on Joshua’s side. The real question was whether Joshua was on God’s side.
And perhaps that is the question we must ask today.
Not, “Lord, are You on our side?”
But, “Lord, are we still on Yours?”
Today, many of our elected officials openly say that they love God and love the nation. They speak of service. They speak of patriotism. They speak of faith. Some quote Scripture. Some pray in public. Some use the name of God in speeches and campaigns.
But the painful reality is this:
Marami ang nagsasabing mahal nila ang Diyos, pero ang bunga ng buhay nila ay hindi nakikita ang takot sa Diyos.
Marami ang nagsasabing mahal nila ang bayan, pero ang bayan ang nasasaktan.
Marami ang nagsasabing naglilingkod sila, pero ang tanong ng taumbayan: Sino ba talaga ang pinaglilingkuran nila?
We must be careful. The Word of God does not lose its power just because the person speaking it is imperfect.
The power is not in the preacher.
The power is not in the politician.
The power is not in the platform.
The power is in the Word of God.
As Isaiah 55:11 declares, God’s Word will not return to Him empty. It will accomplish what He desires.
God can use anyone.
He used Moses, though Moses was afraid and hesitant.
He used David, though David was deeply flawed.
He used Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king.
He used Pharaoh, even through his hardened heart.
God is never limited by the vessel.
Kaya kapag may politiko na nagsalita ng Salita ng Diyos, hindi ibig sabihin na mali na agad ang Salita dahil marumi ang kamay ng nagsasalita.God's word is still Holy
God's word is still powerful
Ang Salita ng Diyos ay totoo pa rin.
But Scripture also teaches us this:
Do not judge a person merely by what he declares.
Look at the fruit.
Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits.” -Matthew 7:16
Ang tunay na sukatan ng pananampalataya ay hindi lang ang ganda ng pananalita.
Hindi lang ang dami ng Bible verse.
Hindi lang ang public prayer.
Hindi lang ang pagbanggit sa pangalan ng Diyos.
Ang tunay na sukatan ay bunga.
Una, bunga sa personal na buhay.
May humility ba?
May repentance ba?
May integrity ba?
May fear of God ba kapag walang camera, walang crowd, walang applause?
Pangalawa, bunga sa trabaho at pamumuno.
May justice ba?
May accountability ba?
May malasakit ba sa mahihirap?
May katapatan ba sa kaban ng bayan?
May tapang ba na itama ang mali, kahit sariling kampo ang masasaktan?
Because words can inspire. But fruit reveals the root.
Madaling sabihin, “Mahal ko ang Diyos.”
Madaling sabihin, “Mahal ko ang Pilipinas.”
Pero ang tanong:
Kung mahal mo ang Diyos, bakit walang kabanalan?
Kung mahal mo ang bayan, bakit may nakawan?
Kung lingkod ka ng bayan, bakit ang bayan ang nagdurusa?
This is not a call to hatred.
This is a call to repentance.
This is not about destroying people.
This is about asking God to restore what sin has broken.
Let us pray for our nation.
Let us pray for the President.
Let us for the Vice President.
Let us pray for our Senators.
Let us pray for our Congressmen and Congresswomen.
Let us pray for our Governors, Mayors, Vice Mayors, Councilors, Barangay Officials, and every person entrusted with public office.
But our prayer should not be merely that they succeed politically.
My prayer is that they repent deeply.
Lord, expose what must be exposed.
Cleanse what must be cleansed.
Break what must be broken.
Heal what must be healed.
Panginoon, dalawin Mo ang aming bansa.
Dalawin Mo ang Malacañang.
Dalawin Mo ang Senado.
Dalawin Mo ang Kongreso.
Dalawin Mo ang mga kapitolyo, munisipyo, city halls, at barangay halls.
Dalawin Mo hindi lang ang kanilang mga opisina, kundi lalo na ang kanilang mga puso.
Let every leader who invokes Your name tremble before Your holiness.
Let every leader who claims to love this nation remember that leadership is not ownership.
Ang posisyon ay hindi trono.
Ang kapangyarihan ay hindi laruan.
Ang kaban ng bayan ay hindi personal na kayamanan.
Ang taumbayan ay hindi alipin.
Ang Diyos ay hindi props sa politika.
God is not asking our leaders to use His name.
He is calling them to bow before His name.
But before we point fingers at the government, the Church must also listen.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says:
“If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Notice where the call begins.
Not with “if the politicians.”
Not with “if the opposition.”
Not with “if the administration.”
God says, “If My people.”
Tayo muna!
Before we cry out against corruption in government, we must ask God to expose corruption in our own hearts.
Before we demand integrity from leaders, we must walk in integrity ourselves.
Before we ask God to heal the land, we must humble ourselves before the Lord.
Because the Philippines does not ultimately need another political savior.
We already have a Savior.
His name is Jesus Christ.
Our hope is not in one president.
Our hope is not in one vice president.
Our hope is not in one senator, congressman, mayor, or governor.
Our hope is in the King whose throne cannot be bought, whose justice cannot be bribed, whose holiness cannot be compromised, and whose kingdom cannot be shaken.
So today, let us pray.
Lord, have mercy on the Philippines.
Not because we deserve it, but because You are merciful.
Lord, bring repentance to our leaders.
Not shallow regret.
Not a public relations apology.
Not political damage control.
But true repentance.
Repentance that returns what was stolen.
Repentance that confesses what was hidden.
Repentance that repairs what was destroyed.
Repentance that bears fruit.
And Lord, begin with us.
Begin with your people.
Begin with your Church.
Begin with our homes.
Begin with our hearts.
Because in the end, the most important question is not:
“Lord, are You on our side?”
The question is:
“Lord, are we on Yours?”
Hindi partido ang mahalaga.
Hindi kulay ang mahalaga.
Hindi apelyido ang mahalaga.
Ang mahalaga ay ito:
Are we standing before God in humility, truth, repentance, and obedience?
May God visit our nation.
May God cleanse our leaders.
May God awaken His Church.
And may the Philippines once again learn to fear the Lord.
