Introduction

Last Sunday we studied four things that we should do when we are in the middle of a crisis:

1. Respect the Mystery of God’s Providence.
2. Request the Ministry of God’s People.
3. Rest in the Mastery of God’s Peace.
4. Rejoice in the Majesty of God’s Power.

Text: James 1:12

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Introduction

Illustration: A gardener took great pride in caring for his lawn. But one year it grew full of dandelions. He tried every method and product to get rid of them, but nothing worked. Exasperated, he wrote the Department of Agriculture explaining all he had done. “What shall I try next?” he wrote. “Try getting used to them,” came the reply. Times of trials will not go away. You are living in a world of crisis – you cannot avoid them. You cannot hide from them. You cannot run away from them. There’s only one thing you can do – face them and learn how to turn your crisis into crowns (rewards).

Since we cannot avoid crisis, we might as well turn them into something good.

Many people fail to stand firm in crisis because they fail to realize that crisis can bring about something good in their life and in the lives of other people. In order that you can turn your crisis into crowns, you must understand three very important things.

A. Understand that Crisis Brings Personal Improvement.

You have been hearing this truth in different ways and in different words since the last flood. It is the truth. Crisis will make us Christlike faster than comfortable times. Crises are character builders. Crises are molders of personality. Crisis are like chisels used by God to shape your character.

Character is forged in the fires of a fiery furnace not in comfortable circumstance. “Woe to them who are at ease in Zion.” (Hosea 6:1) Diamond is formed under intense heat and intense pressure over a long period of time. That’s why it’s precious. Character is more precious than diamonds. Character not charisma (charm) is what God is looking for. Character is who you really are.

“Christians are like tea bags. You do not know what’s in them until you put them in hot water.”

Illustration

Fame is a vapor,

Popularity an accident.

Riches take wings.

Only one thing endures,

Character.

Horace Greely

Crisis, rightly faced, breaks us into better persons.

Illustration: Peter Vance Havner said, “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to produce rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume . . . it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”

B. Understand that Crisis Brings Glory to God.

When we face crisis correctly we bring honor and glory to God. Facing crisis correctly means that we do not grumble, complain, blame or take it out on somebody else.

We must…

Suffer crisis silently.

Suffer crisis prayerfully.

Suffer crisis patiently.

1. Joseph from the pit to the throne. Genesis 37-41. The crisis of a SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. One crisis after another. Joseph dreamed a good dream. Joseph was thrown into the pit, sold into Egypt as a slave, falsely accused, thrown into the deepest dungeon, and forgotten for a long time. Yet in all these crises in his life we never find him grumbling, complaining or blaming God or his family for what was happening to him. The crises did not make him a bitter (angry and resentful) man, crises made him a better man. That’s why the Bible says that “God was with Joseph.”

2. Daniel in the Lion’s den of evil conspiracy. Daniel chapter 6. Daniel knew of the decree. He was faced with a crisis of faith, a crisis of loyalty. He chose to obey God rather than the king. A crisis-free life can be a sign of compromise. The Bible tells us that if we live righteous lives in Christ we will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

^{DA 6:25} Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly!

^{DA 6:26} “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The crisis of loyalty. Daniel 3.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

4. In the story of Job, it was not actually only Job who had a crisis. If you come to think of it, it was, in fact, also a crisis of God. What if Job failed? God would have lost face to the Devil.

Sometimes there is a larger crisis to our own personal crisis. The crisis of Joseph was actually the crisis of Israel. Without Joseph Israel would have been wiped out by the seven-year famine.

Job’s crisis was a crisis of God. God challenged the Devil. If Job failed, God would have been shamed.

C. Understand that Crisis Brings Defeat to the Enemy.

When we face crisis correctly we bring defeat to the enemy. We turn the table against the Devil. The devil brings crisis into our lives, but when we know how to face them, the very crisis that he brings to us will be the crisis that will defeat him.

Because Daniel stood firm, he did not give in to the pressure to pray to another besides God those who accused Daniel suffered the penalty of Daniel.

The Cross was supposed to kill the Son of God, but the Cross became the symbol of Salvation and the defeat of the Devil!

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. (1 Peter 2:15)

Conclusion

Turn your crisis into crowns. You can start by understanding that Crisis, correctly faced, can Bring Personal Improvement. It can Bring Glory to God and it can Bring Defeat to the Enemy.

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:17,18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Introduction

A trouble is anything that gives us distress (mental suffering), anxiety (worry) or danger. The flood and all its attendant consequences (muddy roads, disabled transportations, etc.), a sickness, somebody that gives us trouble, financial trouble, emotional trouble, etc. Many people are discouraged when they have troubles. They want to give up on life. They complain and grumble. They take it out on somebody else.

The early Christians at Corinth also faced many troubles in their life as Christians. Paul wrote them a letter (2 Corinthians) to encourage them in the midst of their troubles.

A. Paul’s perspectives on Trouble are as follows:

1. The Weight of Troubles: our Troubles are light. Light compared to the glory that is to be revealed.

1. The Length of Troubles: our Troubles are momentary. Momentary compared to the eternity that is waiting for us.

1. The Purpose of Troubles: our Troubles are achieving for us eternal glory. (The disciples said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. Acts 14:22.)

Troubles are part and parcel of our Christian life. We cannot avoid them. We cannot run away from them. We simply must embrace them and use them for our own advantage according to the purposes of God.

B. There are three things God can do with our troubles:

1. God can remove them.

Mary and Martha were troubled because their brother died. Jesus raised Lazarus back to life. (John 10) Sometimes God can simply remove our troubles.

2. God can lighten them.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28,29)

In the community of faith, as we help each other, loads are lightened. (Galatians 6:9,10) Carry each other’s burdens.

3. God can give you the grace to go through them.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We must remember: the Father did not remove the Cross from the path of the Son. God did not promise a trouble-free life, but God did promise Grace to see us through.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

C. The Blessings of Troubles

1. Troubles educate us. Teach us.

Someone has correctly said, “Trouble times are teaching times.” Trouble times are learning times. Those who have gone through the process of the death of a loved one has learned much which they can use to comfort others.

2. Troubles enlighten us. Open our minds.

There are things we only understand when we are in trouble.

3. Troubles equip us. Helps us face life better.

4. Troubles expose us. Troubles reveal weak spots, rough edges, cracks in our life.

Troubles bring to light invisible weaknesses.

5. Troubles enlarge us. Troubles, when faced properly, if we do not give up, if we do not give in, will bring blessings and enlargement into our life.

Job faced his troubles with faith in God. He did not understand what was happening, but he trusted in the Love and Wisdom of God. In the end Job had more than what the Devil stole in the first place! It is the devil who steals, but it is God who restores!

We do not understand what’s happening, but we trust that God knows what he’s doing.

Conclusion

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

]]> http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/the-blessings-of-troubles/feed/ 0 jlrcm2008 http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/understanding-your-relationhship-with-god/ http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/understanding-your-relationhship-with-god/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:31:49 +0000 jlrcm2008 http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/?p=238 ]]> By Pastor Norman S. Lao

John 11:1-46

Introduction

We said last Sunday that PRAYER IS A RELATIONSHIP. That’s the reason why we do not or should not pray only when we need something. The quality of our prayer is a reflection of the quality of our relationship with God. When we pray only when we have problems then we consider God only as Someone we USE. A useful God. This is a very poor understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus has introduced God to us as our Father in Heaven. Asking is only one part of prayer. Prayer is Fellowship. Maybe you should try praying without asking sometimes.

I would like to share with you some principles this morning, based on our text, that will help you understand your relationship with God so that you will not live in a state of false expectation or a state of false hope or in a state of condemnation as many Christians today do. For many Christians get discouraged when things do not work according to their own understanding. They complain, they quit, they backslide.

In the story of Lazarus we learn principles of our relationship with God that will help us understand our relationship with God better.

Lazarus was sick. Then he became critical. Mary and Martha prayed, but it seems there was no answer from heaven.

Principle Number One – You can Love Jesus and Still Get Hurt. Verses 1-2

This is not yet heaven. We get a taste of heaven here, but not ALL of it. Because of we have ALL OF HEAVEN NOW, then this not earth anymore.

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)”

Principle Number Two – Jesus Can Love You and You Can Still Get Hurt. Verses 3 and 5

³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

Our Suffering doesn’t disprove or discount the love of God.

Many people point to the sufferings of Africa… God loves us but will not go over our heads.

Principle Number Three – God’s Glory is More Important than our Comfort. Verse 4

^{JN 11:4} When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

God never promised us a comfortable life as Christians. God promised us His presence, His provision.

Principle Number Four – God’s Delays Have Purpose. Verse 6

⁶ “Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”

God’s delays may have:

Motive purifying purpose (purifies our motives)

Sin purging purpose (sin removal purpose)

Service training purpose (training for service)

Work completing purpose (completing something lacking)

Character building purpose (builds up our character)

Circumstance arranging purpose (arranging the whole) – The Rubix Cube illustration.

Principle Number Five – God’s Delays are Silent Times. Verses 17 and 21

^{JN 11:17} On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

^{JN 11:21} “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Jesus did not send word to Martha and Mary about what He was about to do. For four days they lived in worry over their dying brother and then, grief as he died. For them it was a silent time when they heard nothing from God.

Principle Number Six – Human Tragedy Does Not Prove Divine Inability.

One thing everyone agreed on- Jesus had the ability:

Martha: ^{JN 11:21} “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Mary: ^{JN 11:32} When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

The Crowd: ^{JN 11:37} But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus in Verse 15 – and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

The idea here is that if Jesus had been there, yes, He would have healed Lazarus. But since Jesus had not been present, they would see a bigger miracle, a resurrection. Ironically enough, Jesus is saying, ‘Good thing I wasn’t there!’

Principle Number Seven – God Does Not Meet Human Tragedy with Divine Indifference.
Verses 33-36

^{JN 11:33} When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

^{JN 11:35} Jesus wept.

^{JN 11:36} Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

The most sublime verses in all of Scripture: “Jesus wept.”

Principle Number Eight – The Lord Uses Tragedy and Impossibility to Reveal His Personality/Character. Verses 39-40, 25

³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

^{JN 11:40} Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

^{JN 11:25} Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…”

Many times we give up when the circumstance is difficult. That’s the reason why God cannot reveal Himself to us because we give up before he does.

Principle Number Nine – The Lord Doesn’t Do “Nothing” About Our Sorrows. Verses 11, 38a, 43-44

^{JN 11:11} After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

^{JN 11:38} “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.”

^{JN 11:43} When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

A lot of songs came out from sorrowful circumstances.

Principle Number Ten – Miracles Do Not Guarantee Faith. Verses 45 and 46

^{JN 11:45} Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

They saw it all and instead of believing it they went to the Pharisees and told on Him! Carnal people always resent a spiritual ministry.

Do not look for miracles in your prayer. Look for the Miracle-Worker. Do not look for blessings – look for the One who gives the Blessings.

Conclusion

Faith is praying and leaving the results to God. “Not my will but yours be done…”

By Pastor Norman S. Lao

Text: Isaiah 65:12

^{ISA 65:12} I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

Introduction

God is a God who calls. He is a caller. He is in the business of calling people. He called Noah. He called Abraham. He called Moses. He called Samuel. He called David. He called lots of people. Those who hear and respond to the call are blessed. Those who missed the call also missed God’s blessings for them. They missed God’s call because they were not interested in the call of God in the first place. That was the case with Israel in our text. They turned a deaf ear to God.

Life has become very fast in this century. And not only has it become fast, it has also become very crowded. Gone was the simple life of the 1970’s and the 1980’s. Our crowded life has somehow crowded God out. Of all things it is God who is crowded out. The more things we permit into our life, the more we are pushing God out. Of all the things that we sacrifice most often it is God who is sacrificed.

ILLUSTRATION: When a ship is sinking they have a way to help it – they throw things overboard. The things they throw overboard are those things that are not very important. Many Christians throw God overboard.

Life is so fast that we do not have time left for God. God has provided a connection – the Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19) – and He has been calling, but no one is answering. When you look at your spiritual cell phone there’s a missed call. That missed call came from no other than God.

Beyond the answer, beyond the power, prayer is a relationship with God. Prayer has been understood many times as a means of obtaining what we need – ask and it shall be given, of overcoming temptations, of obtaining God’s blessings, etc. But prayer is more than these – prayer is relationship. Prayer is what happens between a God who is in love and a people who are in love.

There’s an article entitled: When all else fails it’s time to pray. The idea given here is that prayer is only a band-aid to problems. When we have this mentality we will only pray when there is a problem. But relationships don’t just exist when there is trouble. Prayer is not something you do when you are in trouble.

Prayer speaks of closeness. That’s why in the Bible we are taught to call God Abba (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). Abba is the Aramaic for “tatay.”

This simple message is a call to go back to prayer.

It is not that God is silent, God has never been silent, but the fact is most often (masami) we are not listening when He calls. In modern language: we have missed calls from God.

The term “missed call” became more common (prominent) with the advent of the cell phone.

A Little Parable of the Missed Call:

1. Missed call means that someone called but you were away. Some Christians don’t hear God’s call because their hearts are far away from God. (Where your treasure is there your heart will be)

2. Or, your phone was turned off. Our connection to God is turned off. Sin disconnects us from God (Isaiah 59:1,2)

^{ISA 59:1} Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,

nor his ear too dull to hear.

^{ISA 59:2} But your iniquities have separated

you from your God;

your sins have hidden his face from you,

so that he will not hear.

3. Or, your phone was silent and you did not hear it ring. We are not sensitive to God.

4. Or, you were busy doing something that you were not able to hear your phone ring. We are so busy with so many things we don’t have time left for God.

5. The good thing about missed calls is that you can always return the call. If you have a missed call, it is not yet the end of the world – you can always call back. Thanks to caller ID.

I did not have time

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time”
Author Unknown

From the perspective of the caller a missed call may mean several things:

1. God wants to talk to you.
2. God misses you because you have been so busy you did not have time to talk with him.
3. God wants you to spend time with Him.

Conclusion

Poem Illustration: The Difference

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish, I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me and grew heavier with each task;
Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered; He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me – He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

by Grace L. Naessens

Did God miss call you? It’s time to return the call. Drop what you are doing and return God’s call.

May we commit ourselves again to prayer. May we revive our prayer life once again. May there be NO MORE MISSED CALLS from God in our life.

John 19:26-27

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Introduction
Mary witnessed the crucifixion from the foot of the cross. Can you even imagine how she must’ve felt? Jesus turns to John and says, take care of her, and looks at his mother and says, let him stand in my place as your son. John lived a very long life, and I believe he took care of Mary until she went to heaven.

Jesus is on the cross, bearing the weight of the sins of the whole world on His shoulders, yet He sees to it to make sure His mother is taken care of after He is gone! As God, Jesus is dealing w/ eternal matters, but as a man, He’s showing all of us today how important it is to take care and love our mothers!

You cannot be willfully wrong with your mother and be right with God. If your mother is still alive, regardless of your and her ages, you can love her in these 7 ways:

1. Love her verbally.

Esp. men have the philosophy—I don’t have to say I love you, you already know it. I have told you before, if I change my mind I’ll let you know! Or, I SHOW love, not just say it…and that may be true, but a woman needs to hear those words, “I Love You!” When was the last time you told your mother you love her? This morning I will give you the opportunity. Turn to your mother and tell her “I love you mom….”

Verbally…

2. Love her physically.

When’s the last time you gave her a big hug w/out her asking for it…or a kiss on the cheek, or a neck rub, or just sat on the couch and held her for a change?

She’s the first person who ever touched you…she wrapped you up in her womb for months, and you came out and first priority was to hold you, and she cuddled you, stroked your head, rubbed your feet, held your little cheeks against her, gave you a finger to grasp…in love she did all these things, including grooming you w/ a licked thumb!

When you were little she could say, “give me sugar”, and you’d pucker up and she’d accept your wet, sloppy kiss and even say thank you! You give her bear hugs so tight she didn’t have to hold on to you…you’d just cling to her as she walked around! She changed your diapers, potty trained you, and held the Kleenex for you to blow your nose! She wiped food off of your face years longer than she should have had to!

She constantly touched you! And she may have to hand you off to another, and her life may endure some heavy changes, but she deserves your touch and should never have to give that up completely!

It would mean more to her than flowers or candy, or eating out, or a diamond necklace….

I had to tell my wife the other day about several other ladies pawing at me. I had just come from a visit at the nursing home! I’ve spent countless hours in those places and when this ruddy, Opie faced kid walks in there’s not a single instance in which some of those precious old ladies don’t try to reach out and touch me, a total stranger! You can tell, she’s starved for that simple, innocent brand of physical love.

Physically, verbally…

3. Love her patiently.

Mothers have an incredible job w/ no pay. No position in the business world compares to the physical, emotional, and spiritual commitment she has in motherhood.

She is a nurse.

She is a manager.

She is a planner.

She is a budget officer.

She is a purchasing officer.

She is a caregiver.

She is a teacher.

She is a minister.

She is a carpenter, electirician, plumber.

She is an interior decorator, landscaper.

She is a laundry woman.

She is a chef.

And many ladies today have to work on top of the full time job they already have.

No Occupation
She rises up at break of day and through her tasks she races.
She cooks the meals as best she may and scrubs the children’s faces.

While schoolbooks, lunches, homework too, all need consideration…

And yet the census man insists She has— “No Occupation”

When breakfast dishes all are done
She bakes a pudding, maybe.
She cleans the rooms up, one by one,
With one eye watching baby.
The mending pile she then attacks
by way of variation.
And yet the census man insists
She has — “No Occupation.”

She irons for a little while, then presses pants for Daddy.
She welcomes with a cheery smile returning lass and laddie.
A hearty dinner next she cooks (no time for relaxation),
And yet the census man insists
She has—“No Occupation.”

Here’s the point, in spite of all she does for us, we often become impatient with her…we get so used to her taking care of things we come to expect it and are outraged that “those clothes are still dirty?” / that’s not ironed? / you’re out of my favorite cookies? / you know I like that over rice, where is it?
She’s picking you up at school because you don’t like to ride the bus, but she’s scolded for being 5 minutes late!

Teens / jr. ch. agers: it is unfair for you to be more kind, considerate, patient w/ your friends and your friend’s mothers than your own mother!

If you treated your friends like you treat your mom you wouldn’t have friends, and if you treated their mom like you do yours their mom wouldn’t let their kid have anything to do with you! Your mom deserves better…she’s not a rug to wipe every negative thought on!

Verbally, Physically, Patiently…

4. Love her attentively.

Mothers listen as you pour out your heart…she has a sympathetic ear, and always has…and even as an adult you’ve gone to her when you want someone who will really listen and understand…and she’ll always be on your side.

Illustration — documentary last year of men going to execution for capital crimes. They interviewed the men and their mothers, too. Invariably the moms would say, He’s such a good boy! Interviewer: yes, but he slaughtered 37 people with an axe!… “I know, but he has a good heart!”

It’s no wonder we like to talk to mom…she listens…but now she has issues, and now it’s your turn to be her “rock”…and take time to listen…it’s payback time!

“But, she’s always complaining”…yes, just like you did!
Talks about herself / asks same question over and over…

In their older days, our parents have many fears / anxieties…may we treat them as we’d hope to be treated when we are in their shoes!

Verbally, Physically, Patiently, Attentively…

5. Love her gratefully.

Illustration: An elementary science class had been studying magnets, and how metal objects are attracted to them. At the end of the semester the teacher put on exam this question: 6 letters, starts w/ “M”, picks up things, what am I? Over half the children wrote “Mother”!

Sometimes all the mothers need is a sincere “Thank You.”

She needs a sincere thank you, and not just today, but from a genuinely thankful heart when least expected!

Verbally, Physically, Patiently, Attentively, gratefully…

6. Love her generously.

There’s nothing too good for her, we could never repay her, but we ought to die trying before she does! She didn’t spend on herself unless all your needs were met…she could easily do without, and now it’s time for her to have something she wants!
She clears her schedule so she can run you around…she gives up opportunities so you can have more opportunities!

Illustration: math question, state your answer as a fraction: If there’s 10 at the table and one apple pie, how much does each one get? One ninth! / “Don’t you know your fractions?”/ “Do you know my mother? If there’s that many at the table and only one pie, she don’t want none!”

Verbally, Physically, Patiently, Attentively, Gratefully, Generously…

7. Love her honorably.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives you.

This is binding as long as your mother lives. Another command says children, obey…non-binding when you leave home, but “honor” is different! If the husband is the head of the home, then the mother is the heart…don’t break her heart!

“Yeah, but my mother wasn’t honorable!” Well, the Bible says nothing about that qualification…it only asks, is she your mother!

By the way, it’s the only one of the 10 commandments which includes a built-in promise of blessing!

Conclusion

When God created mothers
When the good Lord created mothers, He was into His sixth day of overtime, when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”
The Lord replied, “have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; Have 180 moveable parts … all replaceable; Run on black coffee and leftovers; Have a lap that disappears when she stands up; A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointing love affair; And six pair of hands.”

The angel shook his head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands? No way!”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” said the Lord. “It’s the three pair of eyes that mothers have to have.
“One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks ’What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t, but what she needs to know, and of course the ones in front that look at a child when he goofs up and say, ’I understand and I love you,’ Without so much as uttering a word. “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already, I have one who heals herself when she is sick …can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger …and get a nine year old to stand under a shower. Not only can she think, she can reason and compromise.”

Finally, the angel bent over and ran his finger across the cheek of the mother. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced, “I told you that you were trying to put too much in this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “it’s a tear.”

“What is it for?” asked the angel.

The Lord replied, “It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride.”

“You’re a genius!” shouted the angel.

With a sad look on his face, the Lord said, “I didn’t put it there.”

How about a hand now for the crowning jewel of God’s creation: our mothers! Let’s give our mothers a big, big hand!

Lord, help us never to be too busy for mom…if you could take time and great effort for her on the cross in your death, help us to love her while we have her in our life!

Text: Mark 4:35-41 (Luke 8:22-25)

Introduction

Good Morning everyone. This Sunday is an unusual Sunday (look at your program). We are holding our Sunday Service in a Funeral Home!

In view of our recent and common and shared experience, I want to use this text to encourage us to live in hope and to challenge us to trust in God in the midst of our storms. Permit me to point out several things from our text this morning. I will not preach today. Let’s just talk. There are several portions of this story I would like to underline here this morning.

1. The Journey: They crossed over to the other side. Jesus and his disciples were on a boat going to the other side.

We are on a journey and the destination is the other side. Of course the other side here in the biblical record referred to the other side of the lake (Lake Galilee). But it has spiritual meaning for us today.

Of course, in the biblical record it meant the other side of the lake. But it has meaning for us in the spiritual. We are all on a journey of crossing over to the other side. The other side for us refers to our heavenly destination, our heavenly Promised Land. We, who have turned away from our sins and have accepted Christ into our hearts, are traveling toward that destination.

But this journey requires two very important things from us: (1) that we leave the crowd behind and (2) that we take Jesus along.

^{MK 4:35} That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.

2. On the same boat: Sararama

Same boat and same storm but different perspective, thus different reactions.

While I was going out of our Subdivision after the flood I was observing the people I met. Most have given up in helplessness (they lost their home). Some were angry. Some were still in a state of shock. At least one cursed the President. Others blamed the government. And some were thankful that they all survived.

3. There were other boats with Him.

Other churches are travelling the same journey to the other side. It is comforting to know that there are others traveling the Christian journey with us.

4. Storm along the journey: In the course of the journey we will experience storms.

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.”

In the middle of their journey they experienced a severe storm (which, according to some scholars are common on the lake of Galilee because of its geographical structure).

However, in the between the here and there we will experience storms. Storms, of course, represent trials, hardships, difficulties in life. Notice that they were on a boat.

Those who think that life is trouble-free because they are in church, or that they are regenerated will be greatly disappointed. God never guaranteed a storm-free life. God guarantees his Power, Presence, Peace and Provisions.

According to PAGASA the Philippines experience an average of 24 storms a year. That’s about 2 storms a month.

5. The Silence of God

Sometimes God is silent. Silent for a purpose. When the flood was rising did you ask yourself, “Where is God?” “God, do you even care?” They felt helpless against the storm. That’s what I felt.

God cares about our character more than our comfort. God does not want to pamper us, but to perfect us.

6.Jesus woke up and calmed the storm

We prayed and water stopped and receded.

He cares for us.

Let’s talk about Jesus in the boat

1. Jesus is in your boat – you are not alone.

2. Jesus is in your boat – you are not without help.

3. Jesus is in your boat – you are not victims (helpless persons), you are victors.

4. Jesus did not immediately calm their storms, he waited for the right time. He waited for his disciples to exercise faith or expose themselves.

5. Storms give us the opportunity to become better people.

They educate us, enlarge us, and expose us.

Conclusion

This story is not about the storm – it’s about Jesus.   Jesus in your boat!  Jesus in us!

By: Pastor Norman S. Lao

Text: Exodus 20:12

^{EX 20:12} “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Introduction:

There can never be a father without a mother. The opposite is also true, of course. There can be no mother without a father. BOTH ARE IMPORTANT in the Home. I want to underscore or underline that. That’s how God, in His infinite wisdom, designed the home. That’s the reason why same sex marriages are not healthy for children. Many societies today are fast becoming a Fatherless Society. Researchers at the University of Newcastle in Great Britain claim they are on the verge of creating sperm cells from bone marrow. This would allow women to conceive children completely without men. According to these researchers, men might eventually become biologically unnecessary for women to bear children.

Healthy family life requires both Fathers and Mothers. Children growing up with only one parent are at a great disadvantage.

But since today is Father’s Day I want to focus on the fathers in this Father’s Day message.

Children need fathers. In Spain, a father was estranged from his son Paco. The son ran away. The father went to the city where he thought his son was. Not finding his son, he went to the newspaper to have an ad printed. The ad said, “Paco, all is forgiven. Meet me at this hotel tomorrow at noon.” The father waited. The following day more than 800 Pacos gather in the hotel. Many children are hungry for their father. Father Hunger.

The fathering difference is explained by fathering scholar Dr. Kyle Pruett of Yale Medical School in his book Fatherneed: Why Father Care is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child. Pruett says dads matter simply because “fathers do not mother.” Psychology Today explains, “Fatherhood turns out to be a complex and unique phenomenon with huge consequences for the emotional and intellectual growth of children.” A father, as a male parent, brings unique contributions to the job of parenting that a mother cannot.

Fathers, no matter how you feel about your role in the home, no matter who lowly you feel, you are IMPORTANT and you are NEEDED!

Fathers are POWERFUL!

I. The Power of the Father’s Presence in the Home

Fact: 90 percent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census).

Fact: 85 percent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Source: Centers for Disease Control).

Fact: 85 percent of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home (Source: Fulton County, Ga., jail populations, Texas Department of Corrections 1992).

Fact: 80 percent of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes (Source: Centers for Disease Control).

Fact: 75 percent of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes (Source: Rainbows for all God’s Children).

Fact: 71 percent of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools).

Fact: Over 70 percent of teenage pregnancies are to children of single parents (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

Fact: 63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census).

II. The Power of the Father’s Influence in the Home.

Of course, the father’s influence depends on his presence, for an absent father cannot positively influence his children.

Children always look up to their fathers. Children, both boys and girls, want to be like daddy when they grow up. I know I did. We want to be like dad (papa, tatay). Fathers were designed by God to be the greatest influencers in the home. That’s why father’s must be careful how they live.

However, it is not enough just to be present. Fathers must exert a positive and intentional influence on their children. Fathers must influence their children toward God. Fathers must influence their children toward godly things. Fathers must influence their children against evil.

The Little Chap Who Follows Me
A careful man I ought to be,
A little fellow follows me,
I do not dare to go astray
For fear he’ll go the selfsame way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,
Whate’er he sees me do, he tries;
Like me, he says, he’s going to be,
The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine
The base in me he must not see,
The little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go,
Through summer’s fun and winter’s snow,
In building for the years to be
The little chap who follows me!

Earthly fathers are the visible link between their children and their Father in heaven. Good earthly fathers help their children relate to their Heavenly Father.

British preacher C. H. Spurgeon once wrote, “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you. So carve your name on hearts and not on marble.” Fathers, carve your name on the hearts of your children.

III. The Power of the Father’s Authority in the Home.

The father is looked upon as the head of the home. It is very easy to submit to the leadership of the father. God designed the home that way. When the home has no head it is dead. When the home has two heads it is a monster. That’s why mothers must never undermine the authority of the fathers. Do not badmouth your husbands to your children.

The authority of the father gives order in the home. This gives children a sense of security.

When that authority is destroyed, children will lose respect for their father.

But sometimes we fail. We ask our children to forgive us.

IV. The Power of the Father’s Humor in the Home.

The father is the joker in the home. Good jokes give everyone fun. Fathers should make the home fun and interesting.

When fathers play with their children it’s a total adventure. Fathers play rough. When you were small, whose backs did you ride? Not mother! It was dad’s back! Mothers cuddle children. Fathers throw them in the air. It is the father who tickles, etc.

V. The Power of the Father’s Discipline in the Home.

The task of disciplining children has been reserved for the fathers. Even when mothers are present and father is still out, they will tell their children, “wait till your father comes home!” Undisciplined children are the problem of society. That’s why the presence of the father in the home is all-important.

The famous rapper Tupac Shakur grew up in a New York City ghetto. In 1996, he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Of his life he said:  “I know for a fact if I had a father, I’d have some discipline. I’d have more confidence. Your mother can’t calm you down the way a man can. Your mother can’t reassure you the way a man can. Your mother can’t show you where your manhood was. You need a man to teach you how to be a man. “

VI. The Power of the Father’s Strength in the Home.

Children need strong fathers. Fathers who can fix their children’s broken toys. But more than that, fathers who can stand up under problems and weather storms.

Father’s strength is not only physical, but also strength in ideals. According to some studies, the best protection of young girls against sexual abuse and sexual promiscuity is the strength of their father’s conservative stands.

VII. The Power of the Father’s Love in the Home.

Fathers do not usually say “I love you,” but they show their love in other ways. A preacher asked his son, “How do you know I love you.” You always say you do. “What if I cannot speak anymore?” By what you do.

Father’s Love

Fathers seldom say “I love you”
Though the feeling’s always there,
But somehow those three little words
Are the hardest ones to share.

And fathers say “I love you”
In ways that words can’t match -
With tender bedtime stories -
Or a friendly game of catch!

You can see the words “I love you”
In a father’s boyish eyes
When he runs home, all excited,
With a poorly wrapped surprise.

A father says “I love you”
With his strong helping hands -
With a smile when you’re in trouble
With the way he understands.

He says “I love you” haltingly,
With awkward tenderness -
(It’s hard to help a four-year-old into a party dress!)

He speaks his love unselfishly
By giving all he can
To make some secret dream come true,
Or follow through a plan.

A father’s seldom-spoken love
Sounds clearly through the years -
Sometimes in peals of laughter,
Sometimes through happy tears.

Perhaps they have to speak their love
In a fashion all their own.
Because the love that fathers feel
Is too big for words alone!

~ Author Unknown ~

Conclusion

We want to be a better father.

Text: John 8:32

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Introduction

Opening Illustration: There is a very interesting Children’s Story entitled THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES.

An emperor who cares too much about clothes hires two swindlers who promise him the finest suit of clothes from the most beautiful cloth. This cloth, they tell him, is invisible to anyone who was either stupid or unfit for his position. The Emperor cannot see the (non-existent) cloth, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing stupid; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they dress him in mime. The Emperor then goes on a procession through the capital show off his new “clothes”. During the course of the procession, a small child cries out, “But he has nothing on!” The crowd realizes the child is telling the truth and begins laughing. The Emperor, however, holds his head high and continues the procession.

Our Theme for this month is Standing Firm in the Truth. We have four Sundays to discuss our Theme and this morning is only going to be an introductory message.

A discussion of the Truth is very important these days because of the abundance of religious teachings claiming to be the truth. The Iglesia ni Cristo claims that there is no salvation outside of their church. The Roman Catholics also claim the same thing. So does the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Moonies. They cannot all be telling the Truth. There is a Teaching in America – Relativism.

John 8:32 is a very common verse among Born Again Christians. Many Christians use this verse to explain why they left their old church. By “old church” of course I mean the Roman Catholic church. “I knew the truth and the truth has set me free,” is what we commonly hear. I met an Iglesia ni Cristo who came from the Catholic church. He said, I searched for the truth and I found it in the INC.

That’s why we come to the question: What is the Truth?

If you look at the context of our text you will find out that the Truth mentioned in verse 32 is not simply a set of doctrines, a tenet of faith, a list of what we believe, or a creed. The Truth here is a Person – Jesus Christ. John 8:36. John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Truth…”

Before Jesus was crucified he was interrogated by Pontius Pilate. We remember Pontius Pilate asking Jesus the question: “What is truth?” (John 18:38) The Truth was in front of him but he did not recognize it.

This morning I am required by our text to share with you three things.

I. You will know the Truth…

In this part of the verse we are told what to do: know the Truth.

1. Truth is Available. Truth is available, it is not hidden. God has been trying to communicate the Truth to mankind for thousands of years. In the Last Days, the Truth was not simply communicated – it was Personified in Christ in the Incarnation. So, the truth is, we do not only search for the Truth, but the Truth searched for us!

2. Truth is Knowable. Jesus said we can know the Truth. With the Proper Attitude and the Proper Tools one can know the truth. The Scriptures provide us with the Basis of Spiritual Truth. God has given man the capacity to know the Truth.

3. Truth is Verifiable. When we say that the world is round we can verify (or confirm) it, we can check if it’s really true or not. When Quiboloy says that he is the “appointed son of God” just like Jesus Christ, we can check the Truth of that. When we say Jesus rose from the dead we can verify it using several sources: history, eyewitness accounts, universal phenomenon, personal experience. Faith is based on verifiable truth and not on feelings. I am a Christian because it is the most logical explanation of truth.

II. The search for Truth is a responsibility

Knowledge comes not from accident, but from a deliberate search for it.

A. The search for Truth should be a personal responsibility.

- This means that you are personally responsible for searching for the truth.

- The search for Truth should not be left to other people. You have to search for it yourself.

- In John chapter 4, you remember the woman at the well? Well, she brought her whole village to Jesus. This is what they said, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

- Many Christians have a second-hand knowledge of the truth. Don’t be content with a second-hand knowledge – Know and Experience Christ firsthand!

- The seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19).

B. The search for Truth should be an ongoing (continuing) responsibility.

- We got out of our previous churches because we sought the truth. But somehow we have settled down and stopped searching for the truth. We must always be critical.

- The search for truth should be unending. We should never reach a place where we are comfortable in relation to our search for the Truth.

C. The search for Truth should be a devoted (dedicated) responsibility.

- It’s not just a search when-you-feel-like-it, but a dedicated search.

- We cannot be lazy in our search for truth. We must confirm everything we hear and believe in. Many of those who went before us DIED for the Truth.

- The Bereans were of noble character because they were critical of the Truth. They checked the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).

III. “and the Truth will set you Free.”

In this part of the text we are told what the Truth can do. The Truth gives freedom.

1. Free from Sin.

Many people are bound by a lie. “I can do nothing against my weakness.” That’s why many remain in their sin. The Truth is, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).

“I cannot overcome temptations.” The Truth is, “¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Truth will set you Free!

2. Free from Guilt.

Living a life of guilt. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ.” (Romans 8:1)

3. Free from the bondage of Erroneous Doctrines

Religion of Fear.

Superstitions.

We need to know the Truth. We should not ignore the Truth or take it for granted.

4. Free from false beliefs.

You will amount to nothing.

5. Free from falsehood.

Conclusion

There are several commitments we need to make this morning:

1. Commit to seek the Truth.
2. Commit to believe the Truth.
3. Commit to live the Truth.

]]> http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/knowing-the-truth/feed/ 0 jlrcm2008 http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/no-parking/ http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/no-parking/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:53:18 +0000 jlrcm2008 http://jlrcm2008.wordpress.com/?p=211 ]]> by Pastor Norman S. Lao

Text: Philippians 3:12-14

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Introduction: We have a tendency to park. That is why there are signs that say, “No Parking.” Sometimes we park our souls.

Someone has rightfully observed that the Christian life is like an airplane, it can only go forward, it cannot go backward, and it cannot stop without falling down from the sky. It is also like biking. The moment you stop pedaling you begin to slow down (some Christians have already stopped pedaling and are simply living on the momentum they have created long ago – the time will come when the bike will use up its momentum and stop) and the moment the bike stops you fall down.

There are five areas where there is a NO PARKING sign.

I. Don’t park besides your Past (Nakaligad)

Because of ignorance and separation from God each of us has some very bad experiences in our past. There are things in the past that makes us feel very bad.

The Greatest Apostle of all time, Paul, also had an ugly past. The Bible says he was a persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ. He was responsible for the imprisonment of innocent men and women. He was responsible for the first martyr (Acts 8).

But Paul did not park in his past. His solution: Forget the past by reaching toward the future.

Here are some truths concerning your past:

1. You cannot change your past. There’s nothing you can do about it. You have to accept your past. But God can change you. “Your past is a cancelled check. The future is a Promissory Note. The Present is the only Cash you have, so spend it wisely.”

2. Your past cannot control your future if you don’t want it to. That is why we have a saying, “Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat its mistakes.” There are so many people in the Bible who had pasts which are not worth remembering: Mary Magdalene from whom 7 demons were cast out, the man at Gadara who ran naked and lived in tombs, Bathsheba who consented to adultery with the king, Rahab was a prostitute, but she is named in the genealogy of our Lord, etc.

We have people who were abused when they were children. That doesn’t mean that that seals your future! It doesn’t!

Like these people, we have done foolish things, wicked things, shameful things, but God can give us a better, brighter future.

3. Your past cannot condemn you. As far as God is concerned, your past no longer exists. It has been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

There’s no need to live in the past. Don’t park in your past.

II. Don’t park besides your Failures (Kapaslawan)

A. All the Mighty men of God failed at least once in their life: Noah (found drunk after the highest spiritual experience), Abraham (lied about his wife, married Hagar, became the Father of Faith), Moses (failed at helping a fellow Hebrew and yet God called him to help the whole Hebrew nation), David (numbered his soldiers, fell for Bathsheba, but went on to become the greatest king of Israel), Elijah (killed 700 prophets, but ran away from a woman), Peter (denied the Lord three times, and was, in another time of testing, a hypocrite Galatians 2, but went on to greatness), etc. They became great because they refused to park beside their failures.

B. Failures are stepping stones to success.

C. Judas parked beside his failure and he reaped the consequences of that action and decision.

D. Eli parked beside his failure and he died under the judgment of God.

E. Peter wanted to park beside his failure when he decided to go back fishing after denying Jesus three times. But the Lord said, “Don’t park here Peter…feed my sheep….”

If you are tempted to park besides your failure, remember

1. God is more than willing to give you a fresh new start. When you fail, pick yourself up and begin again. God is not a God of the second chance only! God is not like our teacher in Social Studies in Grade five who said, and I quote, “ONCE IS ENOUGH, TWICE IS TOO MUCH AND THRICE IS A POISON THAT CAN KILL A PERSON.” (Elidon Baterbonia) God is a God of the 70X7 chance. Believe in God’s forgiveness. God can forgive you. God has already judged your sin in Christ. There is only one thing left for Him to do – forgive you.

2. Forgive yourself. Sometimes the problem with ourselves is that we cannot forgive our own self. If God can forgive you, why can you?

Have you failed God? Your church? Your family? Yourself? It’s not too late. Don’t park there!

III. Don’t park besides your Success (Kadalag-an)

A. There is a tendency to stop at the first sign of victory. To feel content with what has been successfully accomplished. There is a temptation to rest and take it easy. A lesson is to be learned from the story of the rabbit and the turtle. No rest for the Christian until he reaches the finish line! The finish line could either be the Rapture or Death. Disability is never a Christian finish line.

B. This is what happened, I believe, during the time after the Pentecost. Peter preached his great sermon, the 120 disciples increased to 3,000, people were happy, the offerings were coming in, the church was growing, the people were loving, there were no problems. It seems they were successful. From a minority they were fast becoming something to contend with. They were beginning to park besides their success. They had no intention of going out to reach Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world! God shook their contentment with a severe persecution! God was sending them a very important message: NO PARKING HERE!

C. Paul was the man who outdid all the other apostles. He has pioneered more local churches than any of them, wherever Paul went a church is bound to be planted! He has written more epistles than any of the apostles (Romans to Philemon). Acts 1-12 is the story of Peter and Acts 13-28 is the story of Paul. He was the man who, shall we say, put all things together. Paul was an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, and a teacher all rolled in one! He was successful! But successful as he this was what he said, “I have not yet arrived!” (v.12) That should also be our attitude!

IV. Don’t park besides your Attainment

A. Learning never ends. You say you have been a Christian for 20 years and you have read enough. There is always something to learn from the Word of God. It is an inexhaustible mine of divine truths and practical advises. None of us can ever say, “I know everything there is to know.” Even Bible School students. Even Bible Scholars. That makes this book an exciting book.

That is why even when Paul was already old, he requested Timothy to bring his cloak and his Bible! (2 Timothy 4:13)

B. Growing never ends. There is always room for growth even if you have been a Christian for 20 or 30 years. You can never reach a point in your life where you could say, “this is enough.” When growth stops, death comes. When you stop growing you begin dying. Grow in love, grow in patience, grow in faithfulness, grow in holiness, etc.

C. Service never ends.  In 2000 Billy Graham was already 81, suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, but in August 2000 he preached to 10,000 evangelists in Amsterdam. When interviewed by Larry King on the program Larry King Live over at the CNN when he is going to quit preaching, Dr. Billy Graham said, “I will stop only when my speech is no longer understandable”. There is no retirement in the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

V. Do not park besides your Dreams

We have a dream in this church. A dream of a Truly Christian Philippines where peace, righteousness and justice reigns. We have a dream where Jesus Christ is truly Lord. We have a dream of a Christian Iloilo. We have a dream of a church sending missionaries all over the world. We have a dream of a church with maturing members, a church with active workers. We have a dream of a healthy, vibrant church actively and powerfully witnessing to the world of the love of God in Christ.

However, dreams must be translated into ACTION for it to become A REALITY. A dream is nothing unless it becomes real.

There are no rewards for Dreams. There are no rewards for Good Intentions. There are no rewards for Good Desires. Good Deeds are rewarded — not Good Thoughts. Dreams don’t make things to happen — Action does.

“I desire that my officemates will know Jesus Christ.” That’s a good dream, but the question is “What are you doing to make that dream a reality?” If all you do is dream, you are a dreamer nothing more.

“I desire that my classmates will serve God.”

“I desire that my neighbor will come to church.”

Dreams are useless until they become a reality. Don’t park beside your dreams.

Conclusion: If you have parked your Christian life somewhere, it is time to start your engine and move forward.

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

^{1TH 5:16} Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Introduction

There are three things we are told in this verse:

I. We are told what to do – give thanks.

II. We are told when to do it – in all circumstances.

III. We are told why we are to do it – it is God’s will for us.

The question is, was the recent typhoon with matching flash flood included in the “all circumstances” of this verse? We believe so. All circumstances means all. I told you last Sunday that when we went out of our Subdivision the day after the flood we observed different reactions to the flood: (1) Shocked silence, (2) anger, (3) blame, (4) panic, (5) hurt, (6) opportunity to steal, and (7) a few were thankful.

What are the things that we can thank God for in the recent flood?

1.  We thank God that this is not the situation always.

2.  We are thankful that the storm and flood are over.

3.  We are thankful that we are still alive and well.

What if you died like Bro. Magno? We are still thankful that Bro. Magno is in heaven with Jesus. The Bible is clear, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” “for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.” “For in my father’s house are many rooms. I go to prepare a room for you and I will return to take you home.” Even in death we can be thankful.

Together with Job in the Old Testament we say, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

4.  We are thankful that even if we lost a lot of things God can restore them back to us. God will restore them. In fact God is starting to restore them already. God did not cause the flood. God did not send the flood. It was the stupidity of man that sent the flood here. That’s why people must not blame God. You call it global warming, illegal logging, legal logging, negligence, the bottom line is that man is a greedy (dalok) creature who has no regard for others.

5.  We are thankful that people are sending us help. $1000 through the efforts of Julius and Lina Dureza, $300 from Bro. Solomon Magno, and 7 sacks of rice from Pastor Benito Sumpio.

6.  We are thankful that God is giving us the strength to do what we have to do. We do not know where we are getting the strength from.

7.  We are thankful that we are given the opportunity to be a blessing to other people.

8.  We are thankful that we are given the opportunity to exercise our faith. When the flood was rising we feared that it would reach our attic. We prayed. We agreed. We sang.

9.  We are thankful that the flood was not able to separate us from Christ.

Romans 8:37-39

^{RO 8:37} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

10.  Opportunity to evaluate faith (Dr. Gicana, cried, father cried). Many of the things we feared did not happen.

11.  We thank God for lessons learned.

a.  Material attachment (less material, less difficulty).

b.  Possessions really do not matter after all. Foretaste of the Rapture when we will leave everything behind.

c.  Relationships are more important than possessions. You can buy a new TV, but you cannot buy a friend or a brother or sister in Christ.

d.  Storms/Flood can work for our good if we permit it to.

e.  God is present with us in the storm and the flood.

f.  Exercise for the Rapture.

In other words we are NOT VICTIMS, we are VICTORS! That’s why we do not find someone to blame. We are not victims, that’s why we do not complain. We are not victims, that’s why we do not pity ourselves. We are not victims, that’s why we do not lose hope. We are not bitter. We are not victims, we are victors! That’s why we give thanks to God in spite of the flood.

§ Thankfulness helps us see things in their proper perspective.

§ Thankfulness helps our faith. Praise and Thanksgiving usher us into the Presence of God and we receive grace and mercy in our time of need. Thankfulness is focused on God not on the situation.

§ Thankfulness helps our focus. When we give thanks our focus is on God and His grace.

Conclusion: It is not what happens to you, but how you react to what happens to you that makes or breaks you. In all that is happening, be thankful. Give thanks to God in all circumstances!