The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
The entire study on the book of Galatians is available here to listen to or download. To download this sermon Right Click on the link below and Choose “Save Target As…” or “Save link as…”
39 people obeyed the Lord in water baptism! Another evidence of what His grace can do!
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A few disclaimers before I start.
1. This is my testimony
2. I’ll be speaking for only the Karens that I have met.
Here’s my testimony in two questions, “What I got from God through the Karens, and what they took away from me.”
Who knew, I’d be a part of this missions trip? Who knew I’d even have a heart for missions, a heart for people not of my own, a heart for refugees, a heart to live for a greater cause? Who knew that God would use the suffering of these people to touch my heart? I didn’t, but God did!
Before I go deeper, let me share a little background of the Karens. They are an ethnic group that settled within Burma close to the Thai border. They are peaceful people and not to mention very easy to love. Ever since then, there were already maltreated, abused, taxed heavily, oppressed and persecuted by the Burmese. These were observed by the pioneer Baptist missionaries in the 1800’s who went into Burma. Long before the missionaries came to them, they believed in one Eternal Almighty God, and this made them not to worship any idols unlike many cultures. Another, because they don’t have writings, there is an interesting old story that says they came from Noah’s son, Shem. They believed that their forefathers had the Word of God — a book that has been stolen from them and they are waiting for someone to come with that book.
And so when Adoniram Judson and the other missionaries that later followed him came in contact with them, they openly and with joy accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many Karens came down from different regions of the mountains to hear the good news! And do you know that one of the first Karen pastors in early 1800’s was tortured and killed by the Burmese by hanging on the cross! This fact encouraged me that with the few and simple words that the first Karen Christians learned, they took the Gospel as simple as it is, to spread it to the other Karens! That is primarily one reason that most of them are Christians. And soon after the World War 2, they have been facing genocide until now.
What I got from God through the Karens:
1. Suffering as part of God’s design.
On a pedestal in the camp inscribes, “True ‘till death – Rev. 2:10Rev. 2:10
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10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
WP-Bible plugin”, A verse that is addressed to the church of Smyrna which is known for its myrrh. A spice used in perfumes and in incense that is highly prized in the ancient times and often more worth than gold by weight. You can only get its worth when it is pressed, squeezed, crushed. As Peter says, “These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold may be proved genuine..”. I got to an understanding why suffering is one of God’s design for His glory, to bring about good. They are a living testimony to show God’s sovereignty through persecution and suffering as how Paul writes in his letters (2 Thess 1:42 Thess 1:4
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4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
WP-Bible plugin) saying, persevering (abiding under pressure) and keeping the faith in all persecutions and trials they are enduring. Through them, my faith IS being strengthened, to praise God in all circumstances. And have received the promise of Jesus, as the final authority, that “He will be with me until the end of age (Matt 28:20Matt 28:20
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20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
WP-Bible plugin).” I say, WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR?
2. Passion for God’s word.
My job description there was to simply teach conversational English, but I thought would it be fun if I incorporate IBS (Inductive Bible Study) in the lesson plan! A simple desire to help them, who have very limited vocabulary understand what they are reading. For the reason that, they would not be persuaded by anybody that is preaching a gospel other than what they’ve accepted (Gal 1:9Gal 1:9
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9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
WP-Bible plugin). As I’ve noticed that there has already been an infiltration of Catholicism within the community. In reference to Nehemiah 8:8Nehemiah 8:8
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8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
WP-Bible plugin, My desire is that they’ll learn how the Word be made clear, and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Imagine, with what little I know about IBS and the Bible, by grace, it was being used by God to teach them how to observe, interpret and apply the Word to their lives. I thought that teaching them this would go a long way. In my class alone, there are about 4 that wanted to be missionaries after they graduate, to mention K’neh Mee Wah and Ly’Dia.
They hunger for God’s word! They have daily 5 AM devotions, daily 7:30 AM service and evening Bible studies. It was hard to walk up and down through the slippery mud at the darkness of the night to do Bible studies, even though tired “I prayed, Lord, You have brought me this far. This is what you want me to do. Grant me grace Father.” And on Sundays, 4 services in the morning and 1 in the afternoon! Such a blessing to be used by God to share His Word! Through them, I got a deep passion for God’s Word! And this convicts me every time that we are in a church gathering, and if we are not looking into God’s Word and in prayer, then we are missing something big time! These people wanted it every time! That makes me ask myself, what am I doing and how am I responding to God’s grace?
3. JOY in all circumstances.
I’ve learned that many of them have sleeping disorders resulting from the horrors that they’ve seen. The uneasiness of thought that what if the soldiers come suddenly. Many lost their families and loved ones. One evening, I shed tears when I was listening to Saw Hsa K’pru Htoo’s testimony, hearing a girl being raped on the nearby village and he was completely powerless as a boy. I prayed, Lord, have mercy! On another occasion, I asked Phu’ Dhe if she’s angry/bitter with the SPDC (Social Peace and Development Council, Burmese soldiers for short), she said, Jesus says in the Bible to forgive, to love our enemies and bless them who persecutes us. Those words convicted me! How can these people forgive? How can they sing hymns and praise God after all they have been through? How then, that they are still hopeful for things that are unseen? How then they have JOY inspite of? The peace in their faces through those little smiles? Then, it must be God, no one and nothing else! The peace they have WITH God, and OF God, and that peace that transcends all understanding has been giving them that JOY!
4. Awakening.
At the age of 30, I always thought that I’m too late for anything. I admire those whom God called early on. But then, the Lord proved me wrong, He awakened me to a reality that I haven’t seen before. An awakening not to waste my life chasing after things that pagans do. An awakening for a greater calling, counting the cost of being a follower. A deeper understanding and deeper perspective. And most of all I just entered into that place of SATISFACTION and COMPLETENESS with God.
In closing,
The one thing that the Karens took away from me is…
My heart… They will always be a part of me…
A VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION DAY! Calvary Chapel Dumaguete celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It means the promise of life after death! It means hope of a better life. It means forgiveness, it means joy and peace with God!
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CCD Resurrection Sunrise Service 2011 from Calvary Chapel DGT on Vimeo. |
“Return to your 1967 borders…” says US President Barak Obama to the nation Israel, which means, return some lands to the Palestinians, which actually do not belong to them but to Israel. This prompted Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu to strongly reject Obama’s call. Netanyahu was able to give his speech concerning the issue to the US Congress, pledging to make “painful compromises” to achieve peace with Palestine.
You may be wondering why I’m writing about this update on Israel. For 2 simple reasons: 1) As Christians we are to pray for Israel (Psa.122:6-9). 2) Israel is the divine time-clock of world history. By watching what is happening to the Jewish people, it’s possible to determine what stage has been reached in the Last Days program of God. When Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 the Jews were dispersed and scattered worldwide. A century ago there was no Israel. The world and even many of the Bible scholars during that time would never thought nor imagine that Israel would become a nation again. Yet God is true to His promise. On May 14, 1948 the world witness the re-birth of the nation Israel. As soon as the state of Israel was proclaimed in 1948, Jews from the 4 corners of the earth – north, east, south, and west went home. After almost 2,000st 2,000
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Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z 1! Vrstica 0 ne obstaja!
WP-Bible plugin years the Jews again had a national homeland. It was a restoration unique in human history. Today the nation Israel is a fact of history with her own Prime minister, her own leaders, her own government and her own well-trained army, air force and navy.
No other nation has a history like the history of Israel: Twice she has been exiled and twice she had been re-gathered. The 2nd exile lasting 1900 years and being a worldwide dispersal; twice she has lost her land and twice she has regained it. No other nation has been dispersed among the nations for at least 2,000st 2,000
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Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z 1! Vrstica 0 ne obstaja!
WP-Bible plugin years and was restored to their homeland and still remain an identifiable ethnic unit. They never lost their identity and nor their language. Hebrew is now the language spoken by the Jews of Israel. It’s the only dead language in history that has been restored. The existence of the nation Israel today is an undeniable evidence of God’s sure word of prophecy!
Have you ever wondered why there is so much media attention given to a country, as far as land size is concern, smaller than Luzon? The question is, “Why so much media attention given to Israel?” It is because God said thousands of years ago during the end times there would be a nation of Israel and they would play a prominent role in world events. I’m not Harold Camping who falsely predicted the rapture of the church last May 21, 2011. But the fact is Jesus is returning very soon. The signs are undeniably clear. The question is are you ready?
“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.” (Rom.13:11)
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Please start praying for our 2011 Thailand Mission this coming July.
TO EASE OUR TRAFFIC EACH SUNDAY, WE NEED EVERYBODY’S COOPERATION:
If you’re reading this and you’re still here on earth this day, then Jesus had not come yesterday. Wrong again, that false prophet who proclaimed that Saturday, May 21, 2011 is the day the Lord will rapture the church! His name is Harold Camping and he is a false prophet! He once proclaimed the Lord’s return would be in 1994 and never happened. And some believed him! When will people learn? Jesus is clear…no one knows the day or the hour (Mk.13:32)! Whoever claims that is a false prophet by the standard of God’s Word!
Now as much as we do not believe such false claims, it did bring to mind again of the fact of Jesus’ return anytime. And in the light of that He said, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap (Luke 21:34Luke 21:34
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34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
WP-Bible plugin).” Jesus mentions three things that can crush your heart.
First, DISSIPATION – Dissipation means “excess.” Is there anything in your life you are doing “in excess?” For instance, eating is fine, overeating is dangerous; using the internet is okay, but being addicted to it is dangerous. Being hardworking in a job is good but becoming too busy with it makes your life imbalanced. Having a business is good, but business replacing God has spiritual consequences. Is there anything excess in your life today? Whatever that is, it’s weighing you down! The only thing you and I should be doing in excess is loving, praying, and serving God!
2nd, Jesus mentions the danger of DRUNKENNESS as well. Dissipation or excess, leads to drunkenness which leads to dissipation. It’s a vicious circle of cause and effect. Drunkenness represents the desire to dull ones senses by artificial means. Sometimes, life gets so tough many people try to escape from reality by drugging themselves with alcohol or drugs.
A third danger Jesus lists is ANXIETY or WORRY. Some people who would never get drunk or live an excessive lifestyle are eaten up with the cancer of worry and anxiety. Drunkenness can destroy you physically, but worry will destroy you emotionally and mentally. Why did Jesus tell us not to be weighed down by these things? “…And that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap (vs.34b) – In other words, when Jesus returns you don’t want to be found to be unfaithful and lazy servant – busy building your own kingdom but lazy in building God’s kingdom!
Instead, He wants us to KEEP WATCHING AND PRAYING (Luke 21:36Luke 21:36
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36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
WP-Bible plugin) – God is up to something very important in the world right now, and if we don’t see it, we won’t know how to pray. Like the disciples, many of the followers of Christ are asleep in the light right now, and while we slumber, God is working. We need to wake up and start watching and praying. If you aren’t watching, you won’t know how to pray. If you aren’t praying it doesn’t matter what you see. It doesn’t mean we’re literally and constantly looking up at the sky…but it means always expect that Jesus is going to come any time, any day, so we want to be ready and be found faithful! As Paul wrote to Timothy, we should be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13Titus 2:13
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13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; glorious...: Gr. the appearance of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ
WP-Bible plugin). Are you looking?
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Those people will never be the same again. H4U Siquijor is once again a victory we all share! Thank you church for partnering with us in this battle that was already won by Christ 2,000st 2,000
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Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z 1! Vrstica 0 ne obstaja!
WP-Bible plugin years ago. It will continue to rage until the end of time, but we are always assured of victory. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Rev.12:11)
1) THE BLOOD OF JESUS – When Satan comes sneaking up to you and starts whispering in your ear and starts accusing and telling you how dirty, rotten, sinful you are you just turn to him and you tell him, “Satan, my sins have been placed under the blood of Jesus Christ.” That’s how you overcome him according to the word Calvary.
The victory is NOT in ourselves but faith in the blood of Jesus! It’s not how loud we shout nor whatever religious calisthenics we do or how many catechisms we attend – it’s only through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ! When we confront Satan with the blood of Jesus, he remembers the cross – the sacrifice of Jesus that ultimately disarmed, dethroned and defeated him!
2) THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY – This is the 2nd weapon we believers have for defeating Satan’s attacks – the mouth that testifies of God’s goodness! You see the devil will use every clever devise to keep us from being willing to share our faith with others. He’ll say, “You’re inadequate!” “You don’t know the Bible!” “You’re too young,” “You’re too old!” etc… So many excuses! But beloved, you don’t have to know everything in the Bible to be able to witness. Do you have a testimony? How did you become a Christian? Start there! Every Christian has a testimony. What is a testimony? Acts 4:20Acts 4:20
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20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
WP-Bible plugin – “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
3) THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES SO MUCH –When the Roman Empire was expanding and sent out legions of soldiers to conquer new lands, every piece of property within sailing distance, they sent two or three ships to these remote countries and remote islands and they would bring their ships up on the shore. Then all the soldiers would get out with all of their weapons and all of their horses and all of their supplies. Then they would set their ships on fire and push them out into the water and watch as their ships would burn. The natives of those countries and those islands laid down their weapons and surrendered in the face of such commitment. The Roman soldiers said, “We did not come to retreat. We came to conquer or to die!” That’s commitment.
When you start burning your boats and start burning your bridges, you start discovering the kind of commitment that really does overcome the devil! This is what offends many people. We like Christ’s invitation, “Come and dine with me,” but when He says, “Come and DIE for me,” we think twice! But this is the cost! Because Jesus gave His life for us, “To live is Christ, to die is gain!” You live for yourself, you lose in the end; you live for Christ today, you gain even more in the end!
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” (Prov. 31: 28-29Prov. 31: 28-29
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28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. have...: or, have gotten riches
WP-Bible plugin) Husbands, Dad, Kids, you need to tell your wife and mom what a blessing they are. You need to tell them that what she does for you really matters, not because it’s Mother’s Day, but because they really do matter! You need to express appreciation for everything she’s given you through the years. Everything she does for you is because she loves you. They say that a woman’s work is never done and that’s especially true of a woman’s work at home. Do you know what the most demanding job in the world is? Being a mother and a wife.
Think about it. A mother has to be a nurse, a teacher, a dietician, a housekeeper, and a cook. It takes hard work to build and maintain a family! Rise up and call her blessed! It’s in the ten commandments: ’Honor your father AND your mother. Teenagers and children, God forbid this to happen, but suppose your mom was killed in a car accident this afternoon and you had to go to her funeral Tuesday. What would you wish on Tuesday you had told her today? Tell her before today is up.
And what about you husbands? Would you say these words if you lost your wife this week: “Why did I get upset over such stupid little things? Why didn’t I encourage her more? Why didn’t I build her up and let her know how much I love and appreciate her?” O how we need to live in the light of our dying! Death puts everything in perspective! Husbands, teenagers, and children, praise her while you have her.
For you ladies: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised (Prov.31:30).” It is interesting that there’s very little emphasis in the Bible about the woman’s sexuality. That’s because it’s not the woman’s sex appeal that makes her attractive. It’s her character that makes her attractive! It’s what’s on the inside! How do I know that? Because 1 Peter 3:31 Peter 3:3
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3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
WP-Bible plugin says that “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should come from your INNER SELF, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” Peter is not saying that you can’t ever wear nice clothes or make up. But he’s saying that true beauty is deeper than that.
As you know, every physical body has an enemy that will ultimately win—AGE! Physical beauty will pass away with the years no matter how many creams or treatments we use to try to prevent it. The good news is that the fear of the Lord brings lasting beauty to a woman’s soul. Without this inner attractiveness, physical beauty is merely superficial and temporary.
Precious Women of God, seek to be truly beautiful by honoring God above all else in your life. And as a parent, purpose to pass on a spiritual legacy that values true feminine beauty: the love of the Lord.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
1. H4U Siquijor Committee Head Debriefing next Sunday, May 15 at 7 pm here at CCD.
2. YOUTH CAMP 2011 is fast approaching!
3. The Sunday School Ministry will be holding an Outreach Seminar on May 28, 2011 here at CCD, from 8:30rom 8:30
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30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
WP-Bible plugin am to 3:30 pm. It is a seminar/workshop on the different creative gospel presentation methods. This is open to all CCD ministries, fellowships, and outreaches. Lunch and training materials are free. Please sign up at the back after the service.
It was a great 25th Anniversary celebration Calvary Chapel Dumaguete had that culminated in the HOPE FOR YOU Concert last Nov. 28, 2010 at the Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City. It was indeed a display of God’s greater works! Praise be to Jesus Christ!
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CCD 25th Anniversary & Hope For You Concert from Calvary Chapel DGT on Vimeo. |
