Now it’s Syria. Conflict and protest movements continue to rattle peace in the Middle East. And there’s still the concern of nuclear fallout in Japan. We’re indeed living in difficult days.  But difficult days provide us with a golden opportunity to demonstrate faith to people whose hearts are fainting with fear. In fact, Jesus said in verse 13 of Luke 21, “This will result in you being witnesses to them.” In order to do that, we must do what Jesus said in verse 19, we must stand firm. In a time when this old world is shaking, rattling, and rolling, we must stand firm in our faith. And when we do, the world will take notice. They will want to know why we aren’t worrying, or why we aren’t afraid. And we can tell them it’s because of Jesus.

This is the ultimate purpose of all these things. When the world is comfortable and everyone says that there is no need of God, it is hard to share the hope of Jesus Christ. When prosperity abounds, people forget God. When people have no fear, they also do not fear God. When life is comfortable, God is irrelevant to most people. Jesus said that the coming of troubles will be an occasion to testify. The world will ask ‘why’ and look for hope. We may not be able to answer ‘why’, but we can answer the ‘what’. What is the meaning of life? What is our purpose? We can explain that we live in a world filled with sin and men controlled by sinful human nature. Those who hope in this world will always be disappointed and have foundationless lives.

Many of the ancient Greek philosophers, taught that like a wheel, history repeats itself. Some said each cycle lasted 3,000 years. They really believed “What goes around comes around.” But the Bible doesn’t teach History is like a circle. The Bible teaches all of history is moving in a linear direction toward one final cataclysmic event. (Don’t you have a sense deep down inside that something BIG is going to happen? It is).

The events of this world are not happening by chance. History shows us the story of mankind is His-story. Something big is going to happen– it is the return of Jesus Christ. He is going to return to planet earth whether one believes that or not, or whether one accepts that or not!

So, beloved people of God, whatever happens, don’t be afraid, and say, “I’m going to stand firm in my faith, even if everything around me is crumbling to pieces.” When He comes, will you be found standing firm? Yes, we’re facing some tough times in the 21st century, but we need to remember fearful people actually seek God during tough times. It’s our time, Christians, to shine!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• The BEREAN GETTING DEEPER class will resume this Tuesday, March 29.
• COVENANT KEEPERS tonight, March 27 at 6:30 pm here at CCD.  Inviting couples to come and join us for a time of fellowship and instruction. Ptr. Ken Pascua will be our speaker.

UPCOMING SUMMER EVENTS:

A. KIDS’ CAMP 2011— April 14-16

• Venue: Calvary Chapel Training Center
• Registration Fee:  P700
• Registration: March 20 until April 3
• Limited to 50 kids only, from Grade 1 to 6 and currently attending our English and Visayan Sunday School.

B. RESURRECTION SUNRISE SERVICE—April 24 at 5:00 am.

• The venue will be at the FREEDOM PARK. (NO regular English and Visayan services to be held here at Motong)

C. HOPE FOR YOU SIQUIJOR —May 4

• Prayer and Fasting/Team Building for the SIQUIJOR H4U TEAM – April 29-30 from 6:00rom 6:00
  English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
  Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
  
  WP-Bible plugin pm Friday till 10:00l 10:00
  English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
  Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
  
  WP-Bible plugin am Saturday at CCTC

D. YOUTH CAMP—May 16-21

In the light of the Japan earthquake and tsunami aftermath, seeing images of devastation, desperation and death, one can’t help but ask, “Where are You Lord in all these?” “Lord, if you had been here . . . ” These are the words of Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus in John 11. There, at that moment in time, when death was cruel and vile and heartless, they stood before what seemed an unbreachable valley of darkness. And so when Jesus came to them, they said it, “Lord, if . . . if you had only done this or that . . . ” It is the perfectly human response of a heart that is broken because hopes have been dashed and their world shattered. Someone they loved has been taken away. Life as they knew it was now different. They stood on the cliff of that dark valley and peered into the blackness and thought, “Lord, if . . . ”

They are battling the unmerciful giant called grief and, like Mary and Martha and every human soul who has waged that battle, they are losing. “Lord, if . . . ” is the cry of every forsaken moment, every unsaid word, every failure to perfectly love the ones we love and now can only remember. “Lord, if . . . ” is how we ask God, “Why?”, when we know He won’t answer, when we are unsatisfied and frustrated by “seeing through a glass darkly.” “Lord, if . . . ” echoes in the darkness and, like all echoes, it returns with no answer.

So where is Jesus? We ask, “Lord, if I must drink this cup of grief, where are You?” To that, we have an answer in Psalms 139:8-12Psalms 139:8-12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; ¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. ¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. ¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. hideth...: Heb. darkeneth not the darkness and...: Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light  

WP-Bible plugin (Please READ) For Mary and Martha, the darkness and grief for Lazarus was temporary. Jesus allowed it so that His power over death could be made known at the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus was there, orchestrating His plan. Out of the darkness of that tomb came a foreshadowing of His own resurrection, which would give light and hope to all  the world now that death was defeated.

Where was Jesus? He was there in the darkness of that tomb. And before raising Lazarus, He was with Mary and Martha, weeping with them! Where is Jesus? He is forever in the midst of our darkness, in the black caverns of our life. He knows the pain of the journey. “He is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3Isaiah 53:3
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3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. we hid...: or, he hid as it were his face from us: Heb. as an hiding of faces from him, or, from us  

WP-Bible plugin). It is comforting to know that our sorrows are His sorrows and that He knows the aching sense of loss and grief. God never promised to remove our grief, only to give it purpose. Mary and Martha were united with Jesus in sadness, the grief of loss. And Jesus entered into that grief.

How sweet and comforting to know our God is with us in our moments of desperation. He is the King who bears the full, blunt force of our “Lord, ifs . . . ” and then sits next to us with a loving arm around our shoulder and weeps. It is in these moments with Jesus that we come to know that the darkness only hides His face. One day, when the darkness is gone, His face will be the light of heaven. But for now, His promise to be with us, His peace that passes all understanding and the hope of heaven are all we’ve got. And those are enough.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

• No Berean “Getting Deeper” class this Tuesday, March 22. But there will still be the IBS Class with Ptr. Ronnie. The Getting Deeper class will resume the following Tuesday, March 29.
• MISSIONS FELLOWSHIP on March 25 at 7:00 pm here at CCD.
• COVENANT KEEPERS on March 27 at 6:30 pm here at CCD.  Inviting couples to come and join us for a time of fellowship and instruction. Ptr. Ken Pascua will be our speaker.

UPCOMING SUMMER EVENTS:

A. KIDS’ CAMP 2011— April 14-16

• Venue: Calvary Chapel Training Center
• Registration Fee:  P700
• Registration: March 20 until April 3
• Limited to 50 kids only, from Grade 1 to 6 and currently attending our English and Visayan Sunday School.

B. RESURRECTION SUNRISE SERVICE—April 24 at 5:00 am.  The venue will be at the FREEDOM PARK.

C. HOPE FOR YOU SIQUIJOR —May 4

In regards to the H4U Siquijor preparation, if you are part of the Band, the Choir, the Drama team, the Technical team, the Stage Crew, Committee Heads, Elders and Wives, and the Hospital Ministry, please mark your calendar:

1. General Meeting – March 26 (Saturday) at 9:00 am here at CCD
2. Prayer and Fasting/Team Building – April 29-30 from 6:00rom 6:00
   English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
   Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
   
   WP-Bible plugin pm Friday till 10:00l 10:00
   English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
   Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
   
   WP-Bible plugin am Saturday at CCTC

D. Youth Camp—May 16-21

After New Zealand, last Friday Japan was hit by 8.9 magnitude quake that seismologists in our country raised a tsunami alert over at least 19 Philippine provinces. My heart breaks for those who died. Never did they imagine it’s their last day. It’s a sobering thought the idea how many of them slipped into eternity without Christ. Much more important than the physical devastation is the eternal destination of souls. This is why beloved the call to tell others about Jesus Christ our savior, world’s only hope.    Now, I know this should not surprise us for Jesus warned us that these things will come to pass. It’s easy and normal to be afraid but we’re not to fear as if we have no hope. For whether we live or die we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8Romans 14:8
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8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Now the Bible says that there will be a great final shaking and God has appointed that this great final shaking be preceded by smaller earthquakes and other calamities to give notice of something awesome, the way contractions and labor pains precede the birth of a child and tell us that it’s coming (Matt. 24:7-8Matt. 24:7-8
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7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.  

WP-Bible plugin).

Consider a woman having labor pains. The labor pains warn a mother and father to get ready and go to a safe place to have the baby. God means to give birth-pangs to the world so that the world wakes up and knows something is about to happen. This is mercy with all the tragedy that there is in all the calamities of the world.  It’s the loud, clear voice of a holy God saying “Get ready, there is a shaking coming that will leave no house standing, no building standing, no place to stand but the throne.” That’s the meaning – they’re warnings.

Divine shaking separates the shakable from the unshakable. When God shakes the world, people will know what things will last, what will not.  Shakable things will be removed and replaced by the unshakable. John says the same thing. In 1 John 2:171 John 2:17
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17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  

WP-Bible plugin he states, “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” Divine shaking intends to bring to an end the worldly system to bring about the kingdom rule of Christ. Again and again He is shaking people to awake to the reality of the instability of this world. And not only that, but the reality that life is short and fragile and that death can come unexpectedly. Oh, the urgency of the gospel!  Precious church, wake up! Die to self, live for Christ! Yes, we’re so secure in Christ and no matter what happens we’ll end up in His loving arms. But so many will end up in the fires of hell!

Rom 13:11-14Rom 13:11-14
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11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹³ Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. honestly: or, decently ¹⁴ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.  

WP-Bible plugin – “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

ANNOUNCEMENT:

KIDS’ CAMP 2011 will be on April 14-16!

• Venue: Calvary Chapel Training Center
• Registration Fee:  P700
• Registration: March 20 until April 3
• Limited to 50 kids only, from Grade 1 to 6 and currently attending our English and Visayan Sunday School.

PRAY FOR OUR UPCOMING SUMMER EVENTS:

• Kids’ Camp – April 14-16
• Resurrection Sunrise Service—April 24
• Hope For You Siquijor—May 4
• Youth Camp—May 16-21

Because today is Communion Sunday, meditate on this truth: It was thirty feet wide, sixty feet tall and woven as thick as a man’s hand. It hung between the holy place and the Holy of Holies. As Jesus hung on the cross that afternoon, this thick curtain was suddenly ripped apart from top to bottom (Lk.23:45). In other words, no one standing on the ground ripped it. Only a Hand from above could rip it that way. The rending of this curtain has tremendous spiritual implications for us. Because the curtain was torn, there are three important truths we can embrace:

1.No more barriers –  The Jewish Temple was a series of barriers or walls. If you weren’t a Jew, you could only go into the court of the Gentiles, if you were a Jewish woman you had to stop before you came to the court of the men. If you weren’t a priest, you couldn’t enter into the court of the priests.  Only a few priests were allowed to enter the Holy Place, which was the room outside the Holy of Holies.  On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the Jewish High Priest would lift the corner of this massive blue curtain and slip into the holy of holies with fear and trembling. Once inside, he would take the blood of a lamb and sprinkle it on the seat of the Ark of the Covenant. He was there as a representative of the Jewish people to seek forgiveness on their behalf. But when Jesus died on the cross, this curtain was torn! God was saying, “There will no longer be any barriers between you and Me!” Now, you and I can approach God freely. (see Heb.10:19-23).

2. No more sacrifices – The Jewish priests had slain thousands of bulls and lambs in the Temple area.  The temple was built on Mt. Moriah, where centuries before Abraham prepared to kill his only son Isaac. Instead, God provided a ram as a substitute. Jesus died as the Lamb of God, and there is no need for anymore animal sacrifices. Aren’t you glad we didn’t have to bring a lamb or a goat to be slain today? The Lamb of God has already made the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The curtain was torn in two to show us we no longer need a Temple in which to make sacrifices because Jesus made the final sacrifice for us when He died on the cross. So, no more barriers, no more sacrifices —

3. No more mediators – The average Jewish person could never enter the Holy of Holies. They needed a priest to enter in for them. But when the curtain was torn God was telling us we don’t need anyone as a mediator between us except for the Lord Jesus Christ. The curtain was torn open so we can approach God on our own. You don’t need to confess your sins to anyone except Jesus. He is our high priest, and through Him we have access to the Creator of the Universe. The Bible says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:51 Timothy 2:5
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5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  

WP-Bible plugin)“  Hebrews 4:16Hebrews 4:16
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16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  

WP-Bible plugin says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.”

So as we break bread today and drink the cup, let’s thank Him for such salvation, access and freedom He bought for us through the cross!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

• The CCD CHOIR will resume practice this Wednesday, March 9 at 6:30 pm here at CCD.
• 8410 USHERING MINISTRY will have a Prayer Fellowship this Saturday, March 12 at 9:00 am here at CCD.

In Luke 21:9Luke 21:9
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9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.  

WP-Bible plugin Jesus said, “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Timely reminder as we hear and see conflict, wars and chaos in Middle East today. The prophetic passages of the Bible aren’t intended to frighten you–but to encourage you. Jesus predicted the time would come when people’s hearts would fail them from fear. That sounds like today. But then again, Jesus says to us, “Don’t be afraid.” He didn’t say it once, He repeated it frequently: “Do not be afraid. Be of good cheer! Do not let your heart be troubled.”

The purpose of prophecy is to show us that God is in control so that we will not be afraid. We can see and have confidence in God. His plan does not center around our comfort, but our hope in our eternal reward.  If our hope is in God and if we believe that He is in control, we can be confident – even in a world gone mad. When trouble strikes, our foundation is revealed. Those who build their houses on sand never have peace in the storm. In our modern culture, even Christians have been persuaded to place their hope in things and circumstances instead of in God. When people lose their sense of false security, they begin to search for something stable. That is our opportunity to point to the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

How proudly the enemies of the Cross have challenged Christian values. However, atheism only prevails when the sailing is smooth. You notice that in tragedy, you never see people proclaiming atheism. Instead we hear a plea for prayer and a search for spiritual help. They always search for peace and look to God or someone who knows God. So our job is to point them to the hope found in Jesus Christ. He is the only lasting peace anyone can have. Even in trouble, we have hope, security and peace. That is a powerful testimony in a world whose sense of security has been shattered.

So, during times of great trouble, we have the greatest opportunity to evangelize. When people are afraid, insecure and have shattered hope in mankind, we can use this as a platform to share the hope of Jesus Christ. And because He is our hope, our focus is never on the trouble, but fulfilling our purpose.  Only a Christian whose hope is eternal can have peace when trouble is around them. Our calling and command is to bring others into that same hope. When we see tragedies, instead of becoming fearful as the world is, we should focus on the Word of God which tells us the higher purpose. The world is passing away and all that is in it. Those who hope in the world will be troubled and distressed. We who hope in Christ have peace, and our peace becomes a testimony to draw others to the solid Rock, Jesus Christ!

Come Friday, February 25, our nation celebrates the 25^th anniversary of the People Power revolution (or Edsa Revolution) that toppled the dictatorship of the Marcos regime. I could say I’m privileged to be part of it, among those who went to the streets, not shouting and venting anger towards the person of Marcos necessarily, but to pray. I remember fellow Christians praying together and asking God to intervene and bring a change. God answered. And the rest is history.

What disturbs me since then is that the freedom we gained is attributed to the power of the people! Granted it’s the strength of united citizenry that forced Marcos to step down, but really who’s behind all that? The sovereign God who controls the affairs of men! “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.” (Daniel 2:20-21Daniel 2:20-21
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20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: ²¹ And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:  

WP-Bible plugin) It is by the power of God that kings and kingdoms from generations past come and go. And what’s tragic is that if there’s a mention of “god” to whom we should give thanks for the success of people power, it’s not the true and living God of the Bible – it’s to a “religious god” man made! Heartbreaking! May God be merciful to us as a nation.

Proverbs 14:34Proverbs 14:34
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34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. to any...: Heb. to nations  

WP-Bible plugin – “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” This should be written in the walls of the Senate, the Congress and in Malacanang or to every government offices! Righteousness among any group of people has a very beneficial effect. History confirms the principle, that a nation’s true greatness is not based on its numbers, its military, or its political structure. Nor is it a nation’s intellectualism, progress, or cultural greatness that determines its true greatness. What determines a nation’s greatness is its private, public, and international conduct. Whether a nation’s conduct is in accordance with the standards of God and according to His moral guidelines will determine the greatness of any nation.

But here’s something else I see: I believe that the sin that is contributing to the reproach of any nation is also found in the church rather than the culture. Yes, our culture is rotten; our society is eaten up with evil. Yes, the devil is alive and well causing conflict. But where’s the church of Jesus Christ that supposed to be the salt of the earth? When the church lives, talks and thinks like the world – who will show them the difference Christ makes? When the church compromises her standard, who will tell them and demonstrate the truth – the truth that set people free?

2 Chronicles 7:142 Chronicles 7:14
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14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. which...: Heb. upon whom my name is called  

WP-Bible plugin – “If My people, who are called by My name, shall 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 will heal their land.” The work of revival always begins with God’s own people first, why? God must first renew His people before the real work of winning the world can take place. Where are you in your walk with God today? Have you compromised? Have you lost your saltiness? If so, repent and He will forgive and heal! Now, the work of revival must begin with God’s own people but is never meant to end there. For revival to be lasting and to truly make an impact on the world, we must reach out! Church, stand up and be counted! Wake up from your slumber! This is our time to shine for Christ…so shine!

We seem to be hearing much of it these days. It wasn’t long ago that a CBA student in Silliman took her own life. Recently, the former secretary of Defense, the late Gen. Angelo Reyes. And the rate is growing all over the world. But suicide is only a symptom. The issue is there’s a growing sense of hopelessness in people today thinking suicide is the answer. Sad. Tragic. The more I interact with people from all walks of life and see many in the midst of crisis, the more I realize that people need something to hang on to, some glimmer of hope that things will get better, or that there is a hope for a better life, if not here, then in the afterlife. We by nature are a people energized by hope.

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope! Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should its effect be on our lives.

We need hope. It’s as simple as that. But what kind of hope? There is a hope that is just that – a hope. A hope like, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” Such hope is wishful thinking. It’s an unfounded desire for things to go as we wish. The help of such hope is minimal at best, or misleading and damaging at worst.  The hope that helps the most is hope grounded in reality and based on a sure thing. And that is Jesus Christ! There is no other source of eternal hope. Many world religions and philosophies offer some kind of hope for this world and the next, but all ring hollow and are empty promises. But Jesus Christ dealt with the very root of hopelessness – sin and separation from God – when He died on the cross, rose again from the dead, reconciling us to the Father, the author of life. And it’s by believing in Him that our sins are forgiven receiving hope in this life and the life to come.

And this hope is an Anchor for the Soul (Heb. 6:19Heb. 6:19
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19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  

WP-Bible plugin). Godly hope offers stability and security which keeps us secure although the winds of adversity and uncertainty may blow. This anchor is sure. The Greek word translated sure (secure, certain) is the word from which we get our English word asphalt. This anchor of hope will not slip. This anchor will never fail us if we trust it enough to use it.  Our Hope is in a Person, Jesus Christ!

Beloved, having this hope, it’s our responsibility to sow the seed of hope in others (1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15
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15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: fear: or, reverence  

WP-Bible plugin). We walk among people who are without hope. They are busy filling their lives with substitutes to attempt to make some sense of this life. Let’s get busy sowing seeds of hope in this hopeless world around us.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are a teaching church so we place the highest priority on teaching God’s Word in an environment where people can focus and understand it.  Therefore to minimize disturbances

• If you need to use the CR during the message time, you can but you may no longer go back to your seat.  Ushers will provide a seat for you at the back.
• Please turn off the sound of Cellular Phones when you enter the Sanctuary.

It’s been rainy, windy and cold in the past days. Pretty unusual but not surprising with the changing weather patterns we have globally. Just like life, it’s not going to be summer all the time. There will be rainy days too. And that we cannot control. It’s the normal pattern of life. You may be in a storm right now. It may be raining trials and difficulties for you right now. But it is part of God’s plan to bring us all to spiritual maturity. Without suffering in our lives, and without God’s accompanying comfort, how proud, how unconcerned, how rebellious, how immature we would be.

There is an old Arab parable that says: “All sunshine and no rain makes a desert.” If you never have any down times, dark times, gloomy times in your life you’ll be dried up. You’ll have no depth to yourself, no maturity. It takes good times and bad times to make a mature person. God knows the balance of sunshine and rain to grow us up. Life is a mixture of pain and pleasure, of victory and defeat, of success and failure, of mountain tops and valleys below. Peter says, “These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Pet.1:7) So he says, “This is no accident — it happens to prove your faith…”

God wants to build your faith in the valleys of life. We love to enjoy the mountain tops, but you don’t build faith on the mountain tops. You build faith in the valleys of life. When everything is going fine and great you don’t really need God. But when you come face to face with a dark valley, you get on your knees. Faith is strengthened in the valleys. Every problem has a purpose. Even the little tiny ones, the inconsequential ones, the things that seem like mere irritations. They have a purpose. God can teach you character. He wants to change you, mature you. God wants to build your character. He is far more interested in your character than He is in your comfort or your convenience. God’s goal in life is not to just make life comfortable for you. He wants to build character – to be like Jesus.

And know this: In changing seasons of life, Jesus’ love never fails. The Christ who today reigns on the throne of heaven is the same Christ who sat and shared meals with the worst of sinners. He loves as much today with the crown of glory on His head as He did when He wore a crown of thorns on His head. Jesus’ situation has changed from 2000 years ago, but His love has not changed. Our world has changed in the past 2000 years, but Jesus’ love has not changed. If you’ve been embraced by Jesus’ love and have shed His blood to pay for your sins, then you can be sure that He will never stop loving you and that absolutely nothing can separate you from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39Romans 8:38-39
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38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

WP-Bible plugin).

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Please PRAY for LIVING VESSELS FELLOWSHIP’S AFFAIR OF THE HEART on Feb. 11 (Friday), 6 pm at the Spanish Heritage. Inviting all young adults for a night of acoustic music & dinner buffet. Speaker will be Ptr. Joseph Jo. Tickets are available at P150—limited only. Please approach Jun Lapatha, Popong Geconcillo, or Bem Martinez.
• WHAT: MARRIAGE SEMINAR with Ptr. Jo
  WHEN: Feb. 12 (Saturday) from 9:00rom 9:00
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  Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
  
  WP-Bible plugin am till 11:30l 11:30
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  30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.  
  
  WP-Bible plugin am, and 2 pm till 4 pm. Lunch will not be provided.

Unexpected. Unplanned. Untimely. Stranded in Siquijor. Because of strong winds, high waves and choppy waters, boat trips were cancelled that day.  But it turned out to be good for me and the team. It just means extended fellowship and what a memorable experience we had that we all shared. Do you ever feel sometimes that your life is stranded, stuck, due to circumstances we cannot control? Prov.16:9 – “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

We can plan, dream, and hope, but the final outcome is from the Lord. And this really is comforting because even though your plans may not turn out the way you want it, God who is sovereign will lead us to what really is best for us. For what we think is best for us may not be the best for us, and what we think is not good for us may turn out to be the best for us!

And if you are right now “stranded” in your circumstance, embrace it and use it to cultivate your relationship with the Lord. He’s preparing you for something good He has for you. Submit to God’s will and pray, “Not my will but Yours be done.” Submitting to God’s will makes us open to the Lord’s RE-direction and correction; making us flexible allowing Him to RE-arrange our lives. We just go with His flow – and this shields us from frustration and disillusionment.

“I would give my life to the Lord, but I’m afraid,” a perplexed teenager told his pastor at a church youth conference. “What are you afraid of?” the pastor asked. “I’m afraid God will ask me to do something dangerous!” “The dangerous life is not in the will of God, but out of the will of God,” the pastor replied. “The safest place in the world is right where God wants you.”

So think, pray and plan – but always open to the Lord’s re-direction, be flexible to His modifications, and accept the change. Don’t be stubborn like Jacob, instead keep an attitude in your heart that says, “Not my will but Yours be done!” For He is in control of our lives and our Father in heaven knows best!

Prov. 3:5-6Prov. 3:5-6
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5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  

WP-Bible plugin – “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Did you ever notice how much of life is full of warnings, full of cautions? You can’t drive from here to home after church today, without seeing something that’s a direct warning or caution, or at the very least, a law or a limit with an implied warning. There are all kinds of warnings in life. Most products we purchase have labels warning about improper use. Cautions, and warnings, can be our friends. They exist to keep us well, sometimes they exist to keep us alive.

The same is true of our life in Christ. While we rely completely on the grace of God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for our eternal destiny, we Christians often do stupid things to mess up our lives on earth. We can all think of things we’ve done, or not done, things we’ve seen others do, or not do, things that had at least some short-term negative consequences, or often, even long-term, or life-altering consequences.

The Word of God is first and foremost a book revealing God’s love plan for us. It’s first and foremost a book that details His eternal plans for our salvation. But the Word of God is also a book full of caution and warning. You see, God doesn’t just tell us in this book how we can be saved, but He tells us how we can live godly lives for Him, and in doing that, escape the consequences of what we’d otherwise have to classify as foolish, or even stupid, behavior. While I believe that this fallen, sinful world we live in, just about guarantees some measure of trouble, illness, or hardship in our lives, I also believe that by walking wholeheartedly with Jesus, by devoting our lives to Him, we can escape some of the things we’d otherwise have to deal with in life.

Eph.5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” The words, “Be careful” literally means, “exactly, uprightly.” It’s to keep our eyes wide open, looking around, and discerning the times. The Christian’s walk is to be one that is given careful consideration. It is one that is to be the outgrowth of thought, of purpose, of deliberate and disciplined action. The opposite would be walking carelessly and without proper guidance and forethought.

Just like the story about the senseless injuries and deaths of men and women soldiers after the Persian Gulf War ended. It happened because these soldiers were lulled into a false sense of safety and security. Sometimes in the course of duty, and other times in the pursuit of souvenirs, soldiers carelessly went about in places where mines and booby traps had been placed by the enemy. And this carelessness led to injury and death for some. Christians live in a fallen world, in a hostile and dangerous world. We dare not live our lives in a haphazard fashion. We must give careful thought to our attitudes and actions and decisions. This is what God’s Spirit calls for, nothing less.

So, precious people of God, be wise. Look down the road before we make our choices, to consider the consequences of our actions before we act. Read and heed the warning signs. The days are evil but you don’t have to fall into its trap.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

• If you received a 25^th Anniversary and Hope For You Concert DVD that is defective, you may return it to the office and we will replace it for you.
• H4U T-SHIRTS are now available at P250 each!  For orders please approach the Youth table at the back after the service.  This is a fundraising for the upcoming Youth Camp this year.
• BEREAN “GETTING DEEPER” CLASS and IBS CLASS has already resumed every Tuesdays and starts at 7:15 pm here at CCD.

Last Monday we buried the body of our dear ate Clarita Singh. What a life lived out for the glory of God. One commented to me how really different it is when a Christian dies, compared to non-Christians…where there is joy in the midst of death because of the hope that we have in Christ.  Death has a way of reminding us of the truth that life is indeed short.  What are we doing with this gift God has given us called LIFE?  The difference lies in people’s response to that truth. We can’t control the LENGTH of our lives, but we can control the DEPTH. As somebody once said, “The measure of life, after all, is not its DURATION, but its DONATION.  Williams James: “The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”

Do not waste your life, do not run after every titillating experience, every empty pleasure that life may fling at you. Do not seek after comfort, but significance. What are you living for? What are you dying for? What is the purpose of your existence? Why are you here? What is it all about?

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish Chemist who invented dynamite and other explosives in the 19th Century. One day he opened his paper and read his own obituary! It said, “Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite died yesterday. He devised a way for more people than ever before to be killed in war, and he died a very rich man!” He was shocked to read those words. Actually, it was Alfred’s older brother who had died and the newspaper made a mistake. But the obituary had a profound effect on Nobel. He didn’t want to be remembered as a man who got rich by selling explosives. He changed his will to award money each year to people who promote peace.

Today when you hear the name Nobel you don’t think of dynamite, you probably think of the Nobel prizes. Nobel later wrote, “Every man ought to have the chance to correct his obituary in midstream and write a new one.”  If you could read your obituary tomorrow, what would it say and what would you want it to say? A newspaper obituary only runs for a couple of days and then it’s forgotten, but your choice regarding Jesus Christ has eternal implications. You have the power to choose to accept God’s love and mercy and forgiveness and to rewrite your eternal obituary!

SUPPOSE YOU HAD ONLY TWO MONTHS TO LIVE? Wouldn’t you take time to visit and speak with those you love and tell them how much you loved them? Wouldn’t you make the most of every opportunity? Of course you would. And so would I. Why don’t we live this way? Life is an opportunity to know Jesus, to make Him known and to demonstrate His love. If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real, what’s most important and necessary, what lasts for eternity and what is not. Anything we do, we want, we dream, we wish, we hope to be that do not count for eternity and for Jesus’ glory are to be thrown aside. Concentrate and focus only on the things that will outlast us – for there is “ONLY ONE LIFE, AND IT WILL SOON BE PAST; ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.”

ANNOUNCEMENT:

• ATTN: Elders/Wives and Ministry Leaders — PRAYER/FASTING & YEAR-LONG PLANNING this coming Jan. 21 till 22, starting from 6:00rom 6:00
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  Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
  
  WP-Bible plugin pm Friday until Saturday 10:30 am. This is an overnight at CCTC  If you need a ride, please be here at the church at 5:30 pm, Friday. Be ready with your ministry’s year-long activities.
• For those who ordered our 25^th Anniversary and Hope For You Concert DVDs, they are now available at the back after the service.
• H4U T-SHIRTS are now available at P250 each!  For orders please approach the Youth table at the back after the service.  This is a fundraising for the upcoming Youth Camp this year.
• BEREAN “GETTING DEEPER” CLASS and IBS CLASS resumes this Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011Jan. 18, 2011
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They say it’s the year for the strong-willed, those who persevere. Though I don’t look to “animals” to guide my life nor be guided by psychics, astrologers, etc., I find in the rabbit a characteristic that is necessary in the life of a Christian – perseverance. You see following Christ is not compared to a wind sprint, but to a marathon. It’s not a 50 or 100 meter dash, but a marathon. In a wind sprint you run as fast as you can for a short distance, and speed is the critical factor. But in a marathon, endurance is the critical factor.

Hebrews 12:1Hebrews 12:1
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12 ¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  

WP-Bible plugin says “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The word “race” is from the Greek ‘agon’, from which we get the word agony. In other words, the race of faith is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, sometimes agonizing race.  It takes a massive effort to finish strong!  So this word “perseverance” is a strong word that refers to the ability to keep in stride when the competition is the hardest, and the road is the roughest.

Marathon runners tell us that there are two critical times in the race. The first one is at the beginning. When you begin to run you feel so good, and the temptation is to run too fast too soon. So you expend all your energy and don’t have enough left for the end of the race. Some Christians have done that, too, haven’t they? They started out with great promise but didn’t finish the race.   The second critical time in a marathon is at the half-way point. You suddenly realize that you still have as far to go as you’ve already run & you’re already very tired. Runners call it “hitting the wall.” You’ve come to the end of your endurance & you’re not sure you can put one foot in front of the other anymore. I’ve seen it happen in the Christian life, too. You’ve been around for a while & you’ve fought the battles, but you’re not sure there is enough energy left to make it to the end, & the temptation is to quit. But we are to persevere! How?

The word “persevere” means “hupomone” – to abide under pressure” or simply “stick-to-it-ness.” Perseverance is developed through trials and difficulties – “…you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (Jam.1:2-4).” “We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Rom.5:3-4).” But that will have no lasting effect without this: “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. (Heb.12:1-2). The key to perseverance is to focus on Christ, to trust Him and rely on His sufficiency.

We don’t know what’s ahead for us this year, but we know that God’s grace is sufficient for all our weaknesses. Besides, He goes ahead of us. He is around us and is our rear-guard. He covers us from above and He holds us on the palm of His hand.” MAY THE LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO GOD’S LOVE AND CHRIST’S PERSEVERANCE (2 Thess.3:5). Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

• ATTN: Elders/Wives and Ministry Leaders please mark your calendar — PRAYER/FASTING & YEAR-LONG PLANNING will be on Jan. 21 till 22 starting at 6:00 pm Friday night. This is an overnight at CCTC. Be ready with your ministry’s year-long activities. Please sign up at the back after the service.
• For those who ordered our 25^th Anniversary and Hope For You Concert DVDs, they are now available at the back after the service.
• H4U T-SHIRTS are now available at P250 each!  For orders please approach the Youth table at the back after the service.  This is a fundraising for the upcoming Youth Camp next year.
• BEREAN “GETTING DEEPER” CLASS and IBS CLASS resumes on Jan. 18, 2011Jan. 18, 2011
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Holidays are the most lonely time of the year.  People are told everywhere they’re supposed to be happy and they realize they’re not.  They see everybody else acting happy, and they feel so lonely.  Success can make you lonely.  You often hear it’s lonely at the top.  Old age makes you lonely.  You can be lonely in a big crowd.  You can be lonely in a mall.  Loneliness, one of the chief maladies of our age, but Jesus has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb.13:5)  When I am discouraged, His presence sees me through.  When I am lonely, His presence cheers me up.  When I am worried, His presence just calms me down. And when I am tempted, His presence will help me out. We need just to practice the presence of the Lord this new year.  And when the devil comes and knocks at our heart’s door, we can just simply say, “Jesus, please go answer the door.”  The Lord is there with us to take care of us.

 

Rom.8:32 says, “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?”  When God has already given you the best, His Son, He will willingly give you everything you need in life! Can you imagine a husband giving his wife a beautiful diamond necklace maybe for Christmas or Valentine’s Day or for a birthday or anniversary and she opens the box and there is this beautiful diamond necklace. She says, “Oh, sweetheart! Thank you so much. I know this is expensive. Thank you…and you know what, dear, I love the box too.” And he says, “Oh, you can’t have the box. I want the box for myself. The box is mine.”

That would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it? When he gives you something as expensive as a diamond necklace, sure he’ll give you the box. God has already given us the precious diamond of His Son, and now, anything else He could ever give to us is just like the box the diamond comes in. Everything else is so much less valuable than His Son; He willingly and graciously gives us all things.  So why be afraid?

Knowing we belong to the Lord is a wonderful answer to fear. We can know that He holds us, protects us, guards us, and cares for us. We can know that He would not have created, redeemed, and called us unless He intended to finish His work in us. How can we be afraid when we know this God is for us, is looking out for our interests? The issue is not what you have or don’t have, but to whose you belong!  So, why fear…when you belong to Him?

Beloved, put it down big and put it down plain and put it down straight, you can go into a new year with this kind of a promise.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• For those who ordered our 25^th Anniversary and Hope For You Concert DVDs, they are now available at the back after the service.
• H4U T-SHIRTS are now available at P250 each!  For orders please approach the Youth table at the back after the service.  This is a fundraising for the upcoming Youth Camp next year.
• PRAYER MEETINGS resume this Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011Jan. 4, 2011
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• BEREAN “GETTING DEEPER” CLASS and IBS CLASS resumes on Jan. 18, 2011Jan. 18, 2011
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Here we are at the door of 2011. Counting this day we are 6 days to go into the New Year. Just like many of you I’m amazed at how time flies. It seems that with each passing year time just speeds up. I’m very grateful though, to the Lord Jesus, of how this year indeed has been great! What a journey! What an adventure! Great things He has done! Praise to His holy Name!

Now, we all can do one of two things this coming year: We can waste it away by sitting around and worrying about the things we failed to accomplish this year, or the mistakes we made throughout the year; we can sit around and have a pity party because things didn’t go the way we wanted them to; OR, we can decide to make the most of this coming New Year. Besides there is nothing we can do to change this year. The good news is we can learn from this year and today we have the opportunity to start over and make some changes.

God brings life to us in small pieces that we know as hours, days and months. At the beginning of every year He says, let’s wipe the slate clean and let’s start with a brand new year. It’s like God is saying, “Let’s start over. ” And that’s good news! But one thing I exhort all of us among many others for the new year is – COMMIT YOURSELF TO RESTORE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. Romans 12:18Romans 12:18
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  

WP-Bible plugin – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” “As far as it depends on you”. God is personally challenging each one of us to do everything we can to restore any relationships that have gone wrong in our lives.

If you have caused a rift in a relationship then you have a responsibility to do everything you can to restore it. That everything includes the one thing we all probably find most difficult, asking for forgiveness. Are you among those people who find it hardest to say “I am sorry” to the people you’re closest to? I wonder how many marriages are not all they should be or could be simply because someone won’t say “I was wrong, I am sorry, will you forgive me?” Maybe God is saying to some of you that this change of year is the right time to restore that relationships broken by going and sincerely saying that you are sorry for those angry words or those selfish and un-thoughtful actions.

Make no mistake it will be hard to do but one of the most significant things that you can do to mark the New Year is not set off a firework but to admit your past errors in relationships and humbly seek forgiveness from the one you have hurt. Remember, God has forgiven you in Christ and the demonstration of that truth in your life is that you learn to forgive as well. And the result? Joy and peace in your life!

Will you rise to that challenge and make a commitment to restore your broken relationships in this New Year, even today? I pray so.



ANNOUNCEMENT:

• For those who ordered our 25th Anniversary and Hope For You Concert DVDs, they are now available at the back after the service.

• YEAR-END SERVICE this coming Thursday, Dec. 30, at 6 pm.

• H4U T-SHIRTS are now available at P250 each! For orders please approach the Youth table at the back after the service. This is a fundraising for the upcoming Youth Camp next year.

• Note: The OFFICE will be closed on Dec. 27 till morning of Dec. 30.

• No PRAYER MEETINGS on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. Resumes on Jan. 4, 2011Jan. 4, 2011
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• BEREAN “GETTING DEEPER” CLASS resumes on Jan. 18, 2011Jan. 18, 2011
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Saying goodbyes are not necessarily what I’m looking forward to. There’s always that feeling of “death” inside of you, the prick in the heart, that sense of emptiness or void. This is how I felt when we sent off Pastor Jerry, Marisa, Dani and Jessica at the airport last Tuesday. 12 years of faithful and dedicated service. 12 years of God’s faithfulness in their lives that result in lives challenged and changed for the glory of Christ! Now the Lord moved them on to continue to do God’s work in a different place.

And yes, no matter where we are, we are His instruments – His hands and feet, mouths and ears. The location is not the question but our obedience to the call is. And all of us are called to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
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8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you  

WP-Bible plugin). But before you think of getting a passport, flying on a plane and learning a foreign language, there’s your neighbor, your classmates, your officemates even you’re family members to share God’s love to!

Especially during this Christmas season when many people’s attention are upon the birth of Christ, it’s a great opportunity to tell them the reason behind the season – that Christ was born to die for our sins. That those soft little hands fashioned in Mary’s womb were formed so that nails might be driven through them. Those cute little baby feet would one day walk up a dusty hill carrying a cross. That tender head would one day bear a crown of thorns.

That tender head would one day bear a crown of thorns.

Yes the baby grew up, died on a cross, was buried for three days, and rose again so that anyone can have a personal, intimate relationship with Him. God gave the most precious gift He had so that we could have a precious relationship with Him. There’s no greater news than that and there’s no better gift than to give them Jesus! And yes, the greatest gift one can receive is not found under the Christmas tree, but the One who was hung on a tree – called the cross!

So beloved, wherever you find yourself this Christmas, whoever you’re with, whatever you do, with gifts or no gifts, with much food on the table or no food at all, be a witness of Christ, and let Jesus and His gift of salvation be the center and focus of your celebration. For the truth is, there’s no other way and no other reason why we do what we do.

A CHRIST-CENTERED AND LOVE-FILLED CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

• Our 25th Anniversary and H4U Concert are now available in DVD. One DVD for the Morning Anniversary Service, and one DVD for the Concert. Each DVD cost P80 pesos. If you want a set, that is P160. You may order with Sara after the service. Please pay as you order.

• For those who already ordered last week, you may get your DVDs at the back table after the service.

• CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING FOR OUTREACHES – everything is already covered. Thank you for your quick response. The Women’s Fellowship will be packing the goods this Monday, Dec. 20 at 9:00 am. If you want to help out, you are most welcome

PLEASE TAKE NOTE on the following schedule:
• CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE on Dec. 24, Friday at 6 pm. (There will be no Thursday Bible Study on Dec.23.)
• YEAR-END SERVICE on Dec. 30, Thursday at 6 pm.

• No PRAYER MEETINGS on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. Resumes on Jan. 4, 2011Jan. 4, 2011
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• BEREAN “GETTING DEEPER” CLASS resumes on Jan. 18, 2010Jan. 18, 2010
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After a very busy but very fruitful and memorable anniversary celebration as a church, we now enter into the Christmas season. How time flies so quickly indeed. We’re entering that season again when to merchants it is the busiest time of the year. Stores stay open longer, & hire extra people to accommodate all the shoppers. It means more profit, hopefully enough profit to see them through lean times ahead. For some employees it means a Christmas bonus, a little more money in their pockets to do things that they want to do. For many teen-agers & adults it is a time of fun & parties. For children it is a time of impatience, with time seeming to pass so slowly, as they wait for that morning when they can open their gifts.

It’s a blessed thing — but it’s also a major period of increased stress for many people. So before we get into the hustle-bustle of the time, before we get caught up in the web of stretched schedules and non-stop feasting….just a pastoral reminder: Stop! Chill! Relax! Don’t forget what it’s all about! Sometimes I get the feeling that we are like the people who decided to throw a party to honor a very special friend. They sent out invitations, decorated the hall, & had the food catered. All the people came together at the designated time, but to their surprise, the guest of honor was not there. Finally, they made the embarrassing discovery that no one had ever invited the guest of honor!

I wonder if that happens at Christmas time. Do we go through all the decorating, and buying presents, and preparing elaborate meals, but somehow forget whose birthday it really is? Yes I know, Christmas is not really Jesus’ birthday, but it is wise to redeem the season to focus our attention to one of the greatest miracles of all time, the Incarnation, God becoming man – to save us from our sins!

Yes, that’s why Jesus came. God ‘in the flesh’– was born to die. He was born to take to Himself our brokenness and guilt and shame. Christ came to deal decisively with all the things that we want to escape this holiday season. You can only understand what is going on at Christmas if you see the road Jesus will travel. It is a road that will take Him to Egypt, to Nazareth, and throughout Palestine. But it will end only a few miles from Bethlehem. On a hill outside Jerusalem. At a cross. Only if you see that the road winds its way to Calvary will you understand why this Holiday Season is a holy season. Only if you understand the cross will you understand Bethlehem’s crib.

So, don’t get caught up with what the world views as a great Christmas. It’s not about gifts. It’s about God’s greatest and best gift – His Son, Jesus Christ! If you already have received that gift, if you already have Him, then you already have everything!

Announcement:

• Our 25th Anniversary and H4U Concert are now available in DVD. One DVD for the Morning Anniversary Service, and one DVD for the Concert. Each DVD cost P80 pesos. If you want a set, that is P160. You may order with Sara after the service. Please pay as you order.

• Last day to sign up to be part of the THAILAND MISSION TEAM will be today, Dec. 12. For those who signed up, please fill up the APPLICATION FORM provided at the back table. Last day to submit it will be on Thursday, Dec. 16.

• We are now accepting donations in cash or in kind for our yearly CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING for our dear brothers and sisters from our outreaches. Please refer to the flyer for details.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE on the following schedule:

• CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE on Dec. 24, Friday. (There will be no Thursday Bible Study on Dec.23.)
• YEAR-END SERVICE on Dec. 30, Thursday.

PLEASE COOPERATE WITH OUR PARKING PERSONNEL. Please park properly, no double parking; park on the west side and don’t block any driveways. If possible, share a ride, car pool, or ride a pedicab.



It was a great 25th anniversary celebration we had that culminated in the Hope For You (H4U) concert. It was indeed a display of His greater works! And that only is a preview of the greater things to come, of the greater works He will do in our midst for the coming years. Praise be to Jesus Christ the miracle-worker, the life-changer!

It was a blessing to worship the Lord together as one big family. Not only to worship together but to serve together. Seeing the pictures, hearing the testimonies during the preparations, I couldn’t help but thank the Lord for you church. Everyone did their part, every gift exercised, every precious time given. It was indeed a display of unity and cooperation for one purpose and goal – for God’s greater glory!

So, as your pastor, along with my wife and kids, thank you so much for the partnership in the gospel through the years. “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6Philippians 1:3-6
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3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, remembrance: or, mention ⁴ Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, ⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; ⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: perform: or, finish  

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Yes, He’s not yet done with us. God never starts a work and leaves it unfinished, that would be a contradiction of His character. God is not like man. We start things but we do not finish them. Thank God that my hope in Christ does not rest upon my will power. It rests upon the fact that God would never have started the work in me if He had not decided to finish it. Paul says the same thing in Romans 5:10Romans 5:10
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10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  

WP-Bible plugin: “If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, how much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” In other words, if Christ died for you when you were an enemy and a rebel and hated Him; how much more, then, will God keep and sustain you and finish the work He began now that you are His child?! The character of God guarantees the completion of the work.

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We don’t just do good works as a result of the work of grace in our hearts, we are a good work ourselves—God’s own good work. The word in the greek is “poeima” where we get the word POEM. But it’s more than a poem, it’s a work of art.

You see, beloved, you are a work of art. If the work depended on us, we would fail. But it doesn’t. We are like a beautiful work of art, painstakingly designed and crafted by the Master Craftsman himself. We don’t yet see the final result, but God does. So we can trust Him when He gives us the promise, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

So, with one heart, one mind, one purpose – let Him continue to work in us and as we do, we shall see greater works done, for His greater glory!

ANNOUNCEMENT:



• H4U NIGHT OF TESTIMONY & THANKSGIVING on Dec. 9, Thursday at 5:30 pm, CCD! It’s a special night of testimony for the H4U Concert! Everyone is welcome, especially those who took part in the working committees:

- H4U Band & CCD Choir -H4U Counseling Team
- Physical Set-up & Aftercare - Security
- Transportation - Documentation
- Techical Team - Food
- Stage Crew/Stage Décor - Freaks Drama Team
- H4U Ushering Team - First Aiders

This is a lovefeast affair, so bring some simple snacks to be shared by everyone!

• ATTN: H4U Committee Heads Debriefing tomorrow night, Monday, at 7 pm here at CCD.

• Since we no longer have the parking area across the street, PLEASE COOPERATE WITH OUR PARKING PERSONNEL. Please park properly, no double parking; park on the west side and don’t block any driveways. If possible, share a ride, car pool, or ride a pedicab.

• We are now accepting donations in cash or in kind for our yearly CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING for our dear brothers and sisters from our outreaches. More details to be announced later.

• Berean Getting Deeper Class resumes this Tuesday, Dec. 7.

• We are now forming the team for next year’s THAILAND TRIP. Please be praying. There will be a sign-up sheet at the back.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE on the following schedule:

• CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE on Dec. 24, Friday. (There will be no Thursday Bible Study on Dec.23.)
• YEAR-END SERVICE on Dec. 30, Thursday.






Welcome! God bless you today! “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations (Psalm 89:1Psalm 89:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
89 Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. Maschil...: or, A Psalm for Ethan the Ezrahite, to give instruction ¹ I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. to all...: Heb. to generation and generation  

WP-Bible plugin)!” 25 YEARS! 25 years of God’s faithfulness! 25 years of His patient workings in us! 25 years of His love, grace and power manifested in our midst! It’s been an adventure, a journey. Yes, there were bumps along the way, stumbling blocks and hurdles on our paths but they just made us stronger and wiser as we learned to depend more on the Lord. And He always comes through! He always delivers!

It’s always good to look back and remember what the Lord has done in the past. It makes us appreciate more His goodness. And it assures us of what He can do in the present and what He will do in the future. It brings hope for He’s the same yesterday, today and forever! But, God is not finished with us yet, individually and as a church. There’s a lot of “growings” to do – there’s still a lot of lands to conquer. There’s more of Jesus we need to know and see; more of His will to be done in our lives. More lessons to learn His ways and be like Him in every way. There’s more giving up of ourselves to Him and His cause – more denying of self, carrying of our cross and following Him!

Paul wrote: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14Phil 3:14
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14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  

WP-Bible plugin).” Peter wrote, “…Make every effort to add to your faith goodness, to goodness, knowledge…knowledge, self-control, etc. (read the rest in 2 Pet. 1:5072 Pet. 1:507
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
 

WP-Bible plugin).” Also, he wrote – “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet:3:18)!”

Are we growing up or just growing old? God desires that we grow and bear much fruit (Jn. 156:16Jn. 156:16
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Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja!

WP-Bible plugin). How? Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing (jn. 15:5jn. 15:5
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5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. without me: or, severed from me  

WP-Bible plugin)!” Are we “abiding” in Him or “hiding” from Him? apart from Him we can do nothing! “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6Phil 1:6
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6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: perform: or, finish  

WP-Bible plugin).”

Come, glorify the Lord with me. He deserves all our worship, praise, thanksgiving, love and lives! He’s coming soon. When He comes may He find a faithful Bride in us as He is so ever faithful to us!



Two weeks from now we get to witness again God’s power and grace through our Hope For You concert. What a privilege that the Lord counted us worthy to be part of His harvest. I remember what Jesus said in John 4:35John 4:35
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35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.  

WP-Bible plugin. He said, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

The soul-harvest is a matter of immediate urgency. There are many who still need to be saved. It’s easy to lose the burden for the lost or think that the work is done! The truth is there’s a lot of work yet to be done! Jesus said the harvest is before us. The lesson for us is: The Time is NOW! The time is now to do God’s will. The time is now to reach out to the lost; the time is now to share the love of God.

What are we waiting for? To hear a voice from heaven? Don’t you know that thousands die and slip into eternal fire without Christ? I’m not saying that we could save the whole world but I’m saying that God has called us to participate in the harvest. And you know what’s God’s number one priority is? His glory in the saving of souls! We need to pray toward that end, we need to give toward that end, we need to serve toward that end.

Jesus continued in vs.36 of John 4, “Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” Notice the idea of rejoicing there. What great joy there is in serving God, in doing His will, in finishing His work – and hearing those words, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter in to the joy of the Lord!” There will be rewards for faithful service.

In John 4:37-38John 4:37-38
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37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. ³⁸ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.  

WP-Bible plugin, Jesus followed up, “Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” In other words, this is the work of everyone! Your prayer, your witnessing, your giving, support in anyway contribute to the work of spreading the gospel! One sows another reaps. And there’s joy, there are rewards for everyone!

The Bible says, “Now is the day of salvation! There is no day that God stops from reaching out to somebody needing His salvation! There’s a harvest out there – what is needed are faithful witnesses, faithful workers who will bring in the harvest to God’s kingdom! What is your priority? What is most important to you? Is your priority in line with God’s priority? Do you seek to know God’s will for your life, do it and continuing in it? This is God’s best for you, for us all. This is the secret of satisfaction!

As most of you know my voice was failing last week. Praise be to God that I was still able to preach His Word. But when I was on my sickbed, with my voice reduced to a whisper-like sound, I thought, “How can I preach without a voice?” Of course it’s only temporary but then I was thinking about the many voices that we hear today telling us how to live, what to do, what to wear, where to go. It reminded me of Proverbs 1:20Proverbs 1:20
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20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: Wisdom: Heb. Wisdoms, that is, Excellent wisdom  

WP-Bible plugin – “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square…”

Wisdom calls out at the entrance to the city to all of those who pass by and are heading into dangerous surroundings. There are a myriad of voices that are calling to us from every corner. The voices call out to people of every age group, in every race, and in every socio-economic class. Now among the chaotic choir of voices, enticing us and trying to lure us into what looks inviting, but is actually a dead end road, there is one voice that cries out with clarity for those who desire to hear—it is the voice of Wisdom. Wisdom is the voice of God. He calls out to us, He desires to teach us, and He wants to protect us from the destruction that comes to those who choose not to listen.

As second semester rolls, imagine the scenario: The young man has left the security of his home. He has left the safety of his surroundings with his mom and dad, and he has matured to the place where now he is headed to the city. As he arrives at the entrance to the city, Wisdom cries out. Wisdom cries out above the noise of the Deejay at the school dance. Wisdom pleads with those who are standing at the crossroads of right and wrong. God is speaking to us right where we live!

As the young man comes to the city, Wisdom is already there making her plea to those who are going to be eaten alive by city life, by those who will take advantage of anyone to get what they want. Wisdom shouts out her counsel. Wisdom cries out to the young who are tempted to roll their eyes at her advice and live life any way they desire. Wisdom also makes it very clear that those who reject her counsel will pay a heavy price.

Beloved, do not allow God’s voice, His Word to be drowned out by the voices of men – no matter how inviting and sounds exciting. This is a call to follow Jesus, the wisdom of God! It’s a call to let Jesus through His Word direct us in every area of our lives. Jesus is there to help us make wise choices with the big things and the little things of our lives. God makes wisdom available to us, but we must choose to respond to His direction and leading. We can either listen to God showing ourselves wise, or we can do our own thing showing ourselves to be a fool.

It’s a call to confess our sin—our simple-minded ways, our foolishness, and begin to live our life only for Christ – listening only to the one voice that comes to bless us, teach us, and lead us to safety and rest!