HOLY SPIRIT BLESS US
October 6, 2002
John 15: 12-14 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU?
Good morning my dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
I am delighted and thankful to the Lord and for Rev. J Wayne Vaughan for giving me this opportunity to preach the Gospel about the love of Jesus Christ.
For the past two years, I had joined the Rev. Brice Harris of the First United Methodist Church of Melbourne during the celebration of the World Wide Communion Service.
Praise the Lord! Rev. Wayne expressed his interest to lend me his pulpit, that is why I am here this morning ( and some of the members and supporters of the Filipino Mission Fellowship) all for the glory Jesus Christ.
I believe that Jesus Christ must always be the central focus of every Christian message.
If we try to analyze the situation nowadays, the name Jesus Christ is creating controversy among the people especially the so called non-Christian.
This past week on the episode at Bill O’Reilly show, he interviewed the student president of the San Mateo High School who gave permission to the organization of a group or a club… and believe me or not this group is Satan’s Club.
I could not comprehend why there are people who can allow Satanism as an organized group to exist within their premises.
But, what is sad to say is that if you use the word Jesus Christ…too many people will react… too many people will disagree because according to them it is a violation of their religious right. Some say it creates division.
I just received this paper and I was really saddened by their stand… Let me read a portion of this report…. (Read ACLU Report)
As Christians, how are we going to react on issues like this?
I will not wake you up my dear brothers and sisters. We are awake!
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It’s really happening in our present world. There’s a lot of shameful and shocking realities that is creeping in our society today.
We need to do something my dear friends.
We cannot afford to keep our mouth shut. We can’t just sit and let go of, the issues confronting our faith. We need to do something in our own little way.
Let’s pray to God to unzip our mouth so that we could share to the World that there is only one solution to all the troubles and dilemmas that is happening nowadays.
Do you know Him? His name is Jesus Christ- our forever Faithful Friend.
When I was still a child, our elders impressed, in our mind that American people are the most generous and helpful people living in this planet.
As a boy, not too long ago…because our house is situated less than a mile away from the Clark Airforce Base, everytime we saw Americans or White Guy, we shouted, hi Joe! or Hi Kano! Short term for Americano.
The Filipino people really admired the Americans, and we will never forget this brave gentleman who liberated us from the Japanese occupation and his famous statement; “I shall return.” by Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur.
That is why in the Philippines, our National Highway from North to South was named Mc Arthur Highway.
The Americans were the once who introduced the real meaning of faith and Christianity. We are forever grateful to the missionaries who unselfishly gave their life to introduce Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
I know some missionaries like Miss Walker and Miss Bergstain who preferred to stay in the Philippines to their last breath.
These American missionaries imitated and followed what Jesus Christ has done. They left the comforts of their native land and dwelt among us and accepted the way we are.
There were so many American missionaries that really laid down their lives for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I also believed that it’s worth mentioning to you that my fellow volunteers at the Seafarer’s Ministry at Port Canaveral- Mr & Mrs. Wally & Betty Poor who are with us today. They spent more than two decades as missionaries in Uruguay.
Obviously, these people (the American Missionaries) showed us the real meaning of love and suffering.
I tell you, they love and they suffered for the sake of the Gospel …because… they themselves have experienced the true meaning of love and the salvation from our True and Real Friend Jesus Christ.
This is a challenge to all of us!
Romans 5:5 says; “But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Also, In Philippians 2: 8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He (Jesus Christ) humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
Normally, we love people BECAUSE we gain favor from them- I love you because… you do this for me… you give me this and that and so forth and so on…
BUT, our Lord Jesus Christ never look at us as who we are. We are sinners… we are unlovable people but…He loved us so much that He died for our sins.
He gave Himself for you and for me…. That’s the good news!
He is offering the free gift of salvation to ALL.
John 1:12 says; “ But as many as receive Him to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
We are co-heirs with the Kingdom of God. Isn’t that wonderful!
John 14:1-4 says; “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” … I go to prepare a place for you.”
And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you for Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
How about that my friends!
A mansion for you and me. No more bills… water, power, telephone, cable, cell phone and many more bills…bills…bills.
Free of charge…no more monthly mortgage payment. Wow!
But I tell you my brothers and sisters, God loves you so much that you are so blessed to be born in this country.
You are enjoying the comforts of living in a great nation.
Food is plenty and cheap… that is why me and my wife gained weight.
You have a beautiful environment… you live in a centralized air-conditioned homes, beautiful cars, nice schools and other public facilities.
Name it and you have it here in America. That is why a lot of foreigners including Filipinos are dreaming to come to this country… to experience the comforts and joy that your beloved country could offer.
Do you realize and appreciate what a beautiful place of the planet you are now living….. God blessed America so much.
I know and I believe that America was blessed because of your forefathers who were so faithful in their faith. They lived up to the words printed in your money “In God We Trust’.
My beloved people of this church, I tell you, your forefathers are weeping with Jesus Christ right now!
Many people does not want to hear the word Jesus Christ.
Even Christians are afraid to utter the sweetest name of all.. that is Jesus, My Friend and my Savior.
Too many people tried to remove Jesus in their vocabulary. They tried to neglect the source of every blessing that we enjoy.
HE GAVE US ALL WE NEED, including His life?
My friends…..Have you tried asking yourself, WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU LORD?
God is waiting for you to give your THREE T’s- OUR TIME, OUR TALENT AND OUR TREASURES.
OUR TIME
Are we available to God? Pastors cannot do the work alone. They need available people who are willing to share the Good News of salvation to our troubled world.
What is the most popular word for Christians nowadays? I’m busy… too busy for many things except doing the work for Kingdom building.
Sometimes, they even say.. we have pastors and personnel who are salaried, they can do it anyway…
Remember what the Bible says, “the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few.” God needs you and me.
OUR TALENTS.
All of us is a gifted child in the eyes of God. Do you realize that there are many churches now that become graveyards… Why?… Because too many members bury their gifts.
And I hope and pray that Rockledge Methodist Church is not a graveyard.
You can sing in the choir, you can teach Sunday School, you help and serve in the many working committees of our church or simply, if you can’t sing and teach and serve in committees… you can be like Barnabas in the Bible which means- the encourager.
You can lift the phone and call a friend or church members to pray for them.
There are so many things that we can do in the Lord’s vineyard for the Glory of Jesus Christ- our Redeemer.
OUR TREASURES
One part of the Celebration of the World Communion is to give a special offering to raise monetary support for the welfare of the Ethnic Local Church, Education or Scholarship.
Many church leaders who are scattered around the globe serving God were product of your generous hands.
I have read a lot of testimonies telling people how they achieved success in life because of the offerings of Christians who have the open minds…open hearts and a willing hand to put something in the offering plates.
WANTED!!! God is looking for Christians whose eyes are open to see the needs of his fellowmen... Christians who can hear the cry of the needy ….
Christians who can feel how it is to be in need…
Jesus Christ said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6: 38
LORD, WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU?
We have our Time, Talents & Treasures.
Your life is a gift from God. What you do with your life is your gift to Him.
We are very special to Jesus Christ.
He showed it when He said, “This is My body which is broken for you.”
And he continued, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
As we celebrate the Holy Communion, let us remember the suffering of Jesus Christ and bear in mind that He did it, because He loves us so much.
There is no other name that was given for you and me to be saved.
There is no one who ever lived in this world who willingly gave His life with a promise to give us eternal life… and His name… His name… His name is JESUS CHRIST.
He gave His all for you and for me. What can you give Him?…… Amen.
