May 18, 2003
HOLY SPIRIT BLESS US
The Bread that will Last Forevermore, JESUS CHRIST
He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.
Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.
Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King.
Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons.
Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears.
Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.
Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.
Gregory of Nazianzus, A.D. 381.
The greatest man ever lived on earth is Jesus Christ. He is not just an ordinary person but He is also God who possesses the supernatural ability that exceeds human comprehension. He became one among us so that we may be able to understand his purpose, the why’s and how’s of our faith journey.
This I would like to tell you, people have something in common…
rich or poor, educated or not… we all have a need for a Savior and Lord. We all have a vacuum within us that only Jesus Christ can fill in.
So if all people need Jesus, what’ s in Him that we need to know.
Then, let’s talk about this Jesus, who made the great difference in the history of this world.
Jesus Christ began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.
Matthew 4: 1-2 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”
Jesus Christ commence His ministry with suffering. From conception, it was a public disgrace for her mother. Then, Mary & Joseph walked miles after miles in order to escape from King Herod’s plot to kill the baby Jesus. Jesus Christ was born in a manger while the babies nowadays were born in air-conditioned rooms in the hospitals.
Jesus Christ’s coming to this world is a not an easy go lucky journey.
He came to earth purposely to suffer and died for the redemption of mankind and to set an example for people to follow.
He fasted for 40 days to show us the power of praying and fasting in His ministry. I do believe Jesus Christ loved food just like Filipinos do. But, he has to do that to show us an example for us to emulate.
How many of us here who are willing to sacrifice in the name of Christian service and love?
By nature, man has the tendency to look after the benefits first before doing any service.
If we look at Christ’s ministry, we will discover that he was engage in all forms of self-denial, setting aside His own pleasure for the sake of the people He loves so much.
(Ill) Ima was inviting a lady in the mall to attend our fellowship and her response was, “ invite me, when you have Filipino foods then I will go.”
How about if there is no food, will she come or not?
What is our motivation for joining the Sunday Worship Service?
We all love food , we need to have fellowship meal to make us closer to one another. I believe in that, but eating is not all we need to do here in the fellowship. We need to discover the benefit of sitting around the table in the fellowship hall. It’s our way of sharing one another’s burden through sharing our stories, our joys, our pains, our problems. We can be a blessing by just being a good listener. We can help each other through the good words and advises we tell to our brothers and sisters.
But I have requests to make, first, I encourage you to find different group every time we have meal together. Pls. Sit with different group so that we will have the opportunity to talk to everybody in our fellowship. Let us avoid just sitting with the same group always.
Another thing, please make sure that after our meal, let us all help each other in the cleaning up. I could see the same people doing the clean up. Please take initiative in helping make the social hall neat and clean.
It’s a reality that many people are starving and living below the poverty line, but who is to blame in these situations – the government or the people themselves?
God did not create men to be lazy and poor.
In the Genesis account what God had created are all good and beautiful.
He provided everything to sustain life. Name it you can have it.
But afterwards, what happened to the people he created in His image.
They went astray and did the opposite - they killed and destroyed lives.
My heart was deeply troubled when I read a survey that around 4% of the people here in America have considered themselves god. They just believe in themselves. So what they do , they account it to themselves.
But, I am glad, they only represent a very small portion of our society.
We Christians are still more in numbers. The God we are serving is Almighty and All-powerful God. He is incomparable.
Sad to say that those people who live in poverty would rather believe in luck instead of grace. They would rather join the cult/false religion instead of the true Believers in Christ.
They prefer to ask help from the angel of darkness instead of the True Provider of everything.
They just love to consult the crystal ball and cards and what the stars would say instead of what the Bible tells us in order to enjoy life according to God’s purpose.
I tell you my friends, if people will continue to put their hope and beliefs to these devilish strategies, then, they will never ever experience the joy and benefits of having the Bread of Life in their life. They will live their life with false hope.
Jesus’ hunger is for the sake of His ministry and calling. But, today, people’s hunger is caused by lack of faith and disobedience to our Savior Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 37:25-26, King David said, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants are begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.”
“Matanda na ako’t mulang pagka-bata, Sa tanang buhay ko’y walang nabalita Na sa taong tapat, ang Diyos nagpabaya; O ang anak niya’y naging hampas-lupa.”
There is a promise to those who follow the Bread of Life.
John 6: 48 , Jesus said; “I am the Bread of Life.”
If Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is our food to sustain our spiritual being that will in turn benefit our physical being.
“Walang tamad na anak ng Dios. Walang anak ng Dios na pinabayaan.”
The blessing is there for those who seek the Lord.
Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
In Matthew 7: 7, Jesus said; “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Do you think these statements are true even today?
Yes! Hebrews 13:8 said; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
The secret of abundance in not in the material possessions we have but who do you we in our life. Jesus Christ is the secret of abundance.
The solution to poverty and hunger is Jesus Christ-Bread of life.
Because I believe if only the true Bread of Life (Jesus Christ) reside within our hearts, there will be no Spiritual hunger among us.
My friends this fellowship is teaching us that to suffer for the sake of our Christian testimony is a gain. And in the midst of suffering, we know God is there for us. He is our Jehovah Jireh (Our Great Provider), He is the Way, He is our Comfort, He is our Peace.
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. . . —2 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)
Our sufferings and sacrifices whatever it is, big or small cannot be compared to what Jesus had been through.
Romans 8: 18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Apostle Paul reminded us that whatever your present situation is in terms of sufferings is “not worthy to be compared with the glory” in Christ Jesus.
Again, in Romans 8: 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
My dearly beloved, the Filipino Mission members and supporters are called by God for a purpose. Let us discover day by day His plan purpose for our life and Let the Holy Spirit work within us in order for us to fulfill our mission and do things according to God’s will.
When William Sangster was told he was dying of progressive muscular atrophy, he made four resolutions and faithfully kept them:
1) I will never complain;
2) I will keep the home bright;
3) I will count my blessings;
4) I will try to turn it to gain.
Life is not a bed of roses. There are thorns along the way.
Enjoying the abundance of this life is a choice that we have to make.
Will you accept Jesus Christ? He suffered… He was hungry and yet He is the Bread of Life. AMEN.
