Thou Art Faithful
Psalm 100:1-5
Psalm 100 A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Faithfulness is the quality that I love most.
1.This is needed in the ministry.
2.This is needed in our marriage
3.This is needed in the management of our children.
During the couples¡¦ seminar of Pastors and leaders, Pastor Clem Guillermo requested us to choose one of the qualities of our spouses that we love most and shout together. I shouted in a low voice ¡V Faithful. If your wife is sitting beside you- thank her of her faithfulness. Wife tell your husband-( Sana maging tapat ka rin). How I wish you will also be faithful.
Faithfulness is the quality that I love most.
This is needed in the ministry.
This is needed in our marriage.
This is needed in the management of our children.
Probably others shouted beautiful. Anyway, I thank God that He gave me a beautiful wife. And I believe that everyone will say that his wife is beautiful.
Pastor Joel Cortejo will say that his wife Leah is beautiful.
Pastor Jhun will say that his wife Novie is beautiful.
Pastor Jack will say that his wife Linda is beautiful.
Pastor Mark will say that his wife Gigi is beautiful.
Pastor Elmer will say that his wife Jenny is beautiful.
A piece of advice to all husbands please don¡¦t tell your wives that they are ugly, because probably you will be out of the house tonight.
There are lots of qualities that we can see and appreciate from our wives. But the best quality that I like most is faithfulness.
But most of all we must be faithful.
ILLUSTRATION:
A dying man said to his wife, I am about to die but before I die I would like to confess to you that I am not faithful to you as a husband. I have lots of women in my life, please forgive me. The crying woman said,¡¨ I knew it¡¨ and that is the reason why I poisoned you.
I am really very happy to be a part of this historic celebration, the celebration of the 25th year Anniversary of FICC. I should say that FICC has been a part of my life in many, many ways and I learnt to love this church. When I first came to UAE- in May 1988- I thought that I would be here only for just a year or two. But imagine I am here up to this moment , to join you in the celebration of our 25th year Anniversary of FICC. How I wish I will be the speaker of the 50th year Anniversary celebration.
Thank God for His faithfulness. We will not talk about the faithfulness of our leaders. This afternoon we are talking about the faithfulness of God in the life of FICC Church. I know we have lots of leaders who are faithful. I thank God for your faithfulness.
This afternoon we are talking about the faithfulness of God in the life of FICC Church. The theme is "Thou Art Faithful."
God is faithful in the life of FICC Church. And He is the Reason of this celebration.
I will be preaching this afternoon a 3 point sermon namely:
l. The Reason of FICC 25th year Celebration
ll. The Record of God is faithfulness in the life of FICC Church
lll. The Response to God is Faithfulness in the Life of FICC Church
l. The Reason of FICC 25th year Celebration Is the Lord Vv1-5
Psalm 100 is a hymn that was sung while entering the temple, and it probably was sung in connection with a thanksgiving ceremony. And 100th Psalm emphasizes¡K The Lord in their thanksgiving ceremony ¡Kin verse 1 we find the name of the Lord¡K ¡Kin verse 2 we find the name of the Lord in verse 3 we find the name of the Lord. In verse 4 it says, Enter His gates with thanksgiving and in verse 5 we see, For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. In like manner The Lord is the reason for our 25th Anniversary celebration.
ILLUSTRATION:
Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked why it is there Alex Harvey answered every time I write something significant every time I read my words and think they are wonderful, and begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on the top of the fence post and remember that he didn¡¦t get there on his own. He got some help.
That is the reason of our thanksgiving today. We reached 25th year Church Anniversary with the help of God. God was the one who started, supported and strengthened the church. He is sovereign in the life of FICC Church.
God is faithful and He is the reason of our thankfulness today. Let us track the record of God¡¦s faithfulness in the Life of FICC Church.
ll. The Record of God is faithfulness in the life of FICC Church
When we see FICC church existed for 25 years , we can say that it is because of God’s faithfulness.
1 FICC Church is the witness of His divine power.
2 FICC Church is the witness of His divine preservation.
3. FICC Church is the witness of God’s divine plan and purpose.
When we see FICC church existed for 25 years, we can say that it is because of His faithfulness.
1 It is the witness of His divine Power.
Saving us, calling us to Himself, connecting us together, bringing us to the church where we can live together, serve together and sing together.
2 It is the witness of His divine preservation.
God had preserved the church for 25 years. No church is exempt from problems.
Illustration:
There was a man who was looking for a church to be a part of. And finally he came to a church and he seemed to love it but he never became a member of that church until the pastor came to him and said, Sir I have seen you here in the church and you seem to be enjoying our ministry but what is holding you back. The man said, I¡¦m sorry pastor but I¡¦m looking for a perfect church, your church is fine but it seems that your church is not a perfect church.¨ A pastor with enough wisdom said, sir, l will ask God to bless you that you find a perfect church, but there is one request that I¡¦m making that if you find a perfect church, please don’t join it.¨ What’s wrong pastor? Because it will lose its perfection because of you.
You see it¡¦s the people that make up churches. And people are not perfect. When you come to FICC Church, don¡¦t look for perfect people. Because nobody is perfect like you and I.
FICC Church is a church of imperfect and problematic people. I wonder if there is someone who has no problem here. If you are problematic man or woman please come and join our church, because we have a God who solves problems. Despite of our imperfection, God used FICC Church mightily for His divine plan and purpose.
3 FICC is the witness of God¡¦s divine plan and purpose.
Where in United Arab Emirates you can find a Filipino Church that provides visas to different nationalities. When I was processing the visa of Bradley Hillman an Immigration Officer told me to call the Sponsor for signature. I took the stamp and signed it. One Arab looked at me and Bradley Hillman as if with the big question in his mind. As if he was saying, ¡§ How come this Filipino guy be a sponsor of this American?¨ I don¡¦t know- What I only know is, We have a wonder working God who is in control of this part of the world¨. He is a Faithful God.
I believe that God gave us visa privileges because God wants FICC Church to be the catalyst for His blessing in this part of the world. Today is the day we set to celebrate the 25th church founding Anniversary and probably we might be congratulating ourselves for the job well done, but don’t forget to thank God who gave us success.
There was a time when I had a problem renewing my visa because there was no record in the system.
The director of the visa section told me to go to Dubai. I told him that I don’t want to go to Dubai. He asked me, Why ?¨ I said, Because I love Sharjah most.¨ He said, Really?¨
And I asked him, Sir will you please help me?¨ He was silent in few minutes, took the pen, while I was praying, Lord show me your power by touching the heart of the officer to help me.¡¨ He signed and say, go to the Major.¨
After everything is finished officers told me I had a special license.
What does it mean? I processed visas of different pastors and they were approved.
Leaders from different religious groups called me how I got license. They tried to secure license but they failed.
Sharjah is quite strict because they apply Sharia Law or Islamic law, but in this part of the world the Lord gave us lots of privileges. I know for sure that God can do a miracle if we believe in Him.
Transition:
After tracking the record of God¡¦s faithfulness in the life of FICC Church.
What will be our response to Him?
lll. The Response to God¡¦s Faithfulness in the Life of FICC Church Vv. 1-2
A. Rejoicing-
1. Shout for joy.
v1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
V5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Bible Scholars believe that this Psalm was written for the Jewish people to remind them to always thank the God who delivered them from the Land of Egypt. ( From slavery) 430yrs. But thanksgiving is so deep and wide that it extends through all generations. And FICC is the part of the generation that praises God. Amen.
2. Worship the Lord with gladness.
Some folks attend the service as if the are attending a funeral service.
This is a celebration of joy because Jesus is alive.
Look at the people around you.
Do they look happy?
Tell everyone sitting beside you that Jesus is not dead , He is alive.
Be happy. ( Nudge them )
3. Come before Him with joyful songs. Vv. 1-2
ILLUSTRATION:
Clarence Darrow, the famous atheist lawyer once took part in a debate at a church in Chicago. In his attack on the Christian faith, he tried to play on the emotions of the black people who were there, and on their social misery. This is the heart of the depression he said no money, jobs and little hope. He amplified their despair and frustrations. In his speech Darrow said: I don’t understand it you sing such great music . I have heard you singing here today amid all the woes of life, how can you sing? What in the world do you have to sing about in the face of life like this?¨ Darrow had asked a rhetorical question, not expecting an answer; like a flash a woman stood up right in front of him and said, Why do we sing? What do we have to sing about? We have JESUS to sing about.¨ They all shouted ,amen."
B. Reverence V3
1. Know that the Lord is God.
Jesus is Lord and He is God. He was crucified and put to death because He claimed that He was God. He died was buried but after 3 days He arose from the dead. Because He is true truly God. One of the cultic leaders asked me. If Jesus is God why did God raised Him from the dead? Do you mean that only God can raise Jesus from the dead? Jesus said, Destroy this Temple and in 3 days I will raise it up. He said, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. If only God can raise someone from the dead? Who then is Jesus? The Lord Jesus is God. Let us give Him a round of applause.
Illustration: ( That will bolster our claim).
There was a man who said, Oh Evangelical Church¨ when he read the name written on our church¡¦s van. He said, Are you a Christian?¡¨ I said, Yes I am.¡¨ He said, Christian says Jesus died and rose again but it is not true.¨ I asked, " Why did you say that?¨ The book says so.( I presumed he was referring to their religious book) I asked him, Is the book you read reliable?¨ The Bible says that He died and rose again. Do you believe He is the prophet of God? And as a prophet He doesn’t lie? What does he say about himself? Destroy this temple and after 3 days I will raise it up.
John 2: 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, & in 3 days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken.
Song:
I serve a risen Savior,
He is in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He¡¦s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.*
C. Recognition
1. It is He who made us. V3
I heard someone in the TV program who said, If someone tells you that you are ugly don¡¦t easily believe. Take a mirror and look at yourself in a mirror and say, Tama siya¨ He is right. But I would advice you to take another mirror which is the Word of God and see who you are.
Genesis 1:26 (NIV) 26 Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.¨
We are all created in the image of God.
Evolutionists say that we came from monkey.
Just turn around if you can find someone who looks like a monkey.
We are all beautiful people because we are created by God.
Sister in Christ, you are beautiful. Because you are created by God. You are handsome brothers because you are created by God
Don’t tell a brother he is beautiful. It will send a wrong message.
God created man and woman.
Adam and Eve- not Adam and Steve.
2. It is He who saved us.V3
We were created in the image of God but that image was marred because of sin. We became a lost sinner. But Jesus came and paid the penalty for our sin. Rom.6:23 For the wages is death. He didn¡¦t have to do that but for mercy sake He did it. To free us from the bondage of sin. And when we respond by faith in what he did. We became the sheep of His pasture.
ILLUSTRATION:
The story is about a young man who lovingly built a little sailboat. Having finished it, he took it to a stream behind his house and put it in the water. The little boat sailed perfectly! But the wind blew hard and his boat was taken away and he could not find it. After he searched for a long time he sadly returned home. One day he was walking downtown and saw his boat in a store window. Having found out from the store-owner how much the boat would cost he returned home and got all the money he had. After paying for the boat, he was walking home and said to his boat, you are twice mine, I made you and I bought you¡¨.
This beautiful little story teaches a very valuable lesson. Jesus Christ lovingly created us in the beginning (John 1:1-2). Then man sinned and it brought separation from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) However, God loved us so much that He gave His only son, His greatest gift, and bought us back (John 3: 16). he did not hesitate to pay the ultimate price in order to redeem us. When we responded by faith to Him we became the sheep of His pasture.
In her classic autobiography The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of a time when she and her sister were forced to take off all their clothes during Nazi inspections at a death camp. Corrie stood in line feeling forsaken and defiled. Suddenly, she remembered that Jesus had hung naked on the cross. Struck with wonder and worship during that seemingly forsaken moment, Corrie leaned forward and whispered to her sister: Betsie, they took His clothes too.¡¨ Betsie gasped and said, Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked Him.¨ Wow!
Thanksgiving doesn’t require a bounty just a recognition of what our Savior has done for us!
D. Resolution Vv. 4-5
1. Be resolved to be thankful to Him.
As Richard Halverson noted, "THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE YOU MORE! THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE YOU LESS! HIS LOVE IN UNCONDITIONAL, IMPARTIAL, EVERLASTING, INFINITE, PERFECT!" THE PSALMIST PROCLAIMED: "GIVE THANKS TO HIM AND PRAISE HIS NAME. FOR THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER ..."
v4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. v5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
2. Be resolved to be faithful to Him.
Be faithful to Him as an expression of our thanksgiving to what He had done to us. Repay His faithfulness with your faithfulness.
Emil Boniog:
Shared a great lesson he learnt from an illiterate woman of the Mandaya tribe in Mindanao when I was serving as a missionary to the tribe. He said, I saw her shivering and I could tell that she had malaria. I approached her and said, You should have stayed at home. You have a good reason to stay home.¨ She looked at me in the eye and said, At home I shiver. In church I shiver. I’d rather shiver in church.¨ ( Sermon Central )
This is an illustration of faithfulness. Be resolved not to allow problems, or anything to interrupt our service to God.
1.Sickness
2.Work at home.
3.Visitors. Always prioritize God in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God.(Matthew 6:33) 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Conclusion:
We are serving a faithful God.
1.The God who is faithful to His Promises.
2.And the God who is faithful also to His Threats.
v 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.v 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
28 ¡§Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
C Ryle exhorts us... .
Beloved brethren, see that you refuse not Him who speaks to you this day.
1. If a letter came to you from the ruler of this country you would not despise it.
2. If you were sick, and advice came from a wise physician, you would not reject it.
3. Then hear the words that Jesus sends to you this day. Listen to the King of kings. Then body, soul and spirit shall be His. (Come Unto Me) Sinners, wearied in the ways of sin are invited to come to this Christ, and find rest. Those who are burdened with the load of sin come to Jesus and find rest,
All are invited to come, and all are promised rest.
If few find rest from sin and vile affections, it is because few come to Christ to receive it. (Comment:
How often we refuse to "Come" because we enjoy our sin more than we desire the Savior at that moment. God help us to "Come" quickly to Jesus!)
John 3:16-18 (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I will give Eternal life is a divine gift, but note that Jesus’ promise of Eternal life is conditional. It is conditioned on the individual making the personal choice to "Come" at His bidding! He is "gentle and humble in heart" and so He will not force us to come to Him against our will!
God is faithful to His promises, He is also faithful to His threat. Heaven is promised for those who come to Jesus. Hell to those who rejected Him. The one who said come will be the one who will say, depart from me you doers iniquity. I don’t know you.
But before it’s too late. Why don’t you come to him? Receive as the Lord and Savior of your life before it is too late?
Make this Celebration historical by placing your faith in Jesus. Tell Him Lord Jesus I want you in my Life. Forgive me of my sin and come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior.
Again I don’t claim originality. Some illustrations were taken from the net. The power point is also available at your request.
