Jesus The Giver Of Peace

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you”

John 14: 27

“Lord make me an instrument of thy peace. That where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury pardon”.

                                                                                            St. Francis of Assissi

We need peace at home, in our society and even between nations.  True faith cannot be given by anyone at any place. Only Jesus can give true peace. But what should we learn about peace? Peace is imparted to us by Jesus in four ways: upward peace, inward peace, outward peace and onward peace.

I-UPWARD PEACE- Upward peace is PEACE WITH GOD.  Therefore, having been  justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans  5:1). To have “peace with God”. Meaning, to live in accordance with God’s will.  First and foremost in order to have peace is to have a good relationship with God. Matthew Henry said that “what peace can they have who are not at peace with God?” When they continue to commit sin? Don’t ask peace if you are not at peace with God.  It is peace with God that is a perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).

II- INWARD PEACE-  is PEACE WITHIN ourselves.  We cannot attain peace from sleeping pills, alcohol, drugs, smoking and other vices.  Problems should be solved by bad habits. Facing the problems and asking for God and someone’s help is the right solution.

III- OUTWARD PEACE– is PEACE WITH OTHERS. If we follow upward and inward peace, peace can be imparted to others outwardly.  St. Francis of  Assissi’s prayer says “Lord make me an instrument of thy peace. That where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury pardon”. Matthew 5:9 also tells that “blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.”

IV- ONWARD PEACE – is EVERLASTING PEACE.  Serenity,  security, stamina, and steadfastness are gifts of peace God imparts to us.  Serenity or silence is not freedom from storm but peace amid the storm. Problems, stress and tensions is putting all things in our own hands, but peace is putting it all in God’s hand.  Stamina means “we don’t ask God to make our life easier but asking God to give us strength to face all trouble.  The mark of a true Christian is steadfastness in times of trouble. According to Marcus Aurelius “be like a cliff against which the waves continuously  break but stands firms and tames the fury of water around it.

(From the Messages of Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon on Sunday Worship)

Living A Christ-Centered Faith

“It’s not how you start the race or where you are during the race. It’s how you cross and finish the line that matters.”  “That the trial of your faith being much precious than gold.”
                                                                                                                  1 Peter 1:6

Living a Christ-centered life means having a timeless faith, tested faith and true faith.

I – TIMELESS FAITH-This means a never ending, ageless, permanent, imperishable, incorruptible and unfailing faith. Jesus said that “those who believe will not perish neither be plucked out my hand” (John 3:16 and John 10:28). Kingdoms and nations have vanished but God’s word will not pass away. We must set our faith in heaven not on earth. John Wesley said “ I value all things only by the price I shall gain in eternity.”  Material things are only temporary but our faith faded not away.  We must be ready to offer and risk our life to God. We must remember that God holds our hands even in the future.

 II- TESTED FAITH–  Our life is like a gold tested in a fiery furnace.  When we have overcome trials we are like gold shining to others. The goldsmith knew that the gold is pure if he can see his reflections  on it.  Like  gold, others must see Jesus in us.  1 Peter 1:6 tells us that “the trial of your faith being much precious than gold. Our faith should be like gold. It does not fear fire. We must not fear adversaries.

III- TRUE FAITH – True faith is like a race. It gives importance more on finishing than starting. True faith means holding on until God comes. We must run the race until the end. “It’s not how you start the race or where you are during the race. It’s how you cross and finish the line that matters.”  We must be strong and not be weary. Keep the faith, be true and faithful to God and finish the race.

(From the Messages of Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon on Sunday Worship)

Your Mountains Can Be Removed

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall remove mountain…and nothing shall be impossible unto you”
                                                            Matthew 17: 20

     In our life, mountains are represented as problems, burden, obstacles, death, that come. These mountains can be removed if we have faith in Jesus.  Here are simple keys to develop great faith that will remove mountain.

I – HEAR THE WORD OF GOD-  It is very simple. Go to church and hear the word of God. Romans 10:17 says “so then faith cometh by hearing,  and hearing by the word of God.  The Bible is very rich in ways to overcome problems. All we need is to hear. The word of God is powerful (Hebrews 4:12).  For what we want in our hearts and minds after hearing the word of God, it will surely happen. Acts 14:10 clearly shows the faith of the crippled man who cannot walk.  But after hearing the word of God from Paul saying “stand up straight on your feet!”, the man leaped and walked! 

II- BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD– Believe and you will see! Not to see is to believe! Believing in God can remove  our problems. Trusting God, not doubting Him and obeying Him will remove our mountains. Jesus always emphasized the importance of believing. Mark 11:23 tells us “whoever says this mountain be removed and cast into the sea and does not doubt in his heart and believes that things may come to pass…you will receive them and it will happen. Our problems doesn't last long.

The phrase "and it came to pass" was stated many times in the Bible meaning our problems will not take long.

III- SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD – We must speak the word of God when we are sick, lonely, and defeated.  Whenever we speak the word, God backs it!  God said “I will not leave you comfortless!” (John 14:18).  Speaking the word of God is life! (John 6:63). When we are speaking the word of God we are tapping the limitless power of God.  Someone said “there is more power in one word of God than all the power of enemies combined.”  

(From the Messages of Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon on Sunday Worship)

I Know Whom I Have Believed

“I know whom I have believed…and am persuaded that He is able…to keep that…which I’ve committed…”

II Timothy 1:12

“No matter what you are going through, there is no pit so deep that God cannot get you out”

Anonymous

Four truths that help us in walking with God.

I – I KNOW JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY- Jesus is the only way in our journey to reach our Father in heaven (John 14:6). There is no other way or name for us to be saved except Jesus.   God is able to save (Zephaniah 3:17). Our Gospel is the only story where the hero dies for the villain. Only Jesus can love, protect us from enemies, provide our needs when poverty surrounds and can give peace when the storms of life are raging.  Jesus saves therefore we should preach, worship and look only to Him. He can change sadness to joy and weakness to strength. He is our everything.

II- I KNOW JESUS IS THE ONLY COMPANION WHEN WE TRAVEL – Matthew 28:20 tells us that He will be with us always even unto the end of the world.  We are never alone even in dark days and trials because as a companion He knows our disappointments.

III- I KNOW JESUS IS THE ONLY DESTINATION – “No man cometh unto the Father except through me“ (John 14:6).  Heaven is haven because Jesus is there.  He is the goal toward which we run the race.

IV – I KNOW JESUS  IS ABLE – The Bible did not say “He might be able”  but “He is able”. This means Jesus has sufficiency in power, skills, qualifications which can abele to to do, aid, succor, assist,  especially when we are tempted (Hebrews 2:18). No matter what you are going through, there is no pit so deep that God cannot get you out. Cast your burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee to lift us up (Psalm 55:22).

V – I KNOW JESUS KEEPS HIS PROMISES-  God promised to secure us to eternity (John 10:28). Nothing can shake  those who are in God’s hand.  God’s hand upholdeth us and no man can ever pluck out of His hand (Psalm 63:8)  God promised amazing things when He comes, like longevity, no more aches and pains, a perpetual health peaceful animal kingdom (Isaiah 11:6), lush earth (Isaiah 35:1) and world at peace (Isaiah 2:4).

(From the Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon’s Sermon on Sunday Worship Services)

Do Not Misuse God's Name

“Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain”

Exodus 20:7

We must not misuse God’s name.  Here are three ways we misuse God’s name.

I – FALSE WITNESS OF GOD- Swearing God’s name falsely  is a sin (Leviticus 19:12).  A lie told in God’s name is worse because we degrade God into the mud with us.  God forbids the misuse of His name.  Example is when we take the oath of office.  In the last sentence it says …”so help me God”. But we do not obey this.  Like politicians after winning election, we break this promise!  The lesson is we must be “truth tellers”.

II- FALSE WORSHIP – Psalm 29:2 tells us to “give to the Lord the glory due unto His name”. Lip service means saying “yes” with our mouth but saying “no”  in our heart by action.  It is called hypocrisy.  We call God master but we obey Him not. We always disobey Him even in worshiping Him.

III- FALSE WORDS ABOUT GOD -  To misuse God’s name means literally  “to lift up to attach it to emptiness”.  Example is the use of expressing “Oh My God”!   We use the name of God  in vain. Without reverence and respect like a simple expression. 

To address misuse of God’s name, we must recognize and exalt His name (Philippians 2:11).  Confess that  Jesus Christ is Lord because there is power in His name. We must use God’s name correctly. We must revere His name.  “Reverence” means to set apart His name in ordinary names.  We put God in the throne of our hearts.  We desire our life to reveal to others the character of God every day.  God’s name is at stake when we commit sin.  We should live in a way that “others see Jesus  in us”.  Those who know Jesus rely and trust on Him (John 20:21).  Through His name we were saved. As the song goes “Take the Name of Jesus With You, Precious Name Oh How Sweet, Hope of Earth and Joy of Heaven.”

(From the Messages of Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon on Sunday Worship)

How To Live In Difficult Times

“Life with God is not immunity  from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.”

C. S. Lewis

Here are four points to follow on how to live in difficult times.

I – STAY FIRM IN GOD’S WORD -  We must hear and be firm in following Jesus so that we can be likened to a house built upon the rock which can withstand difficulties (Matthew 7:24-25).  We must read the Bible because it is like an “Instruction Manual” that  must be read and followed otherwise we will get lost. We must read, live and share the Bible. God promises provision, protection, and presence to those who are firm to follow Him.  We are safe not because of absence of danger but because of  presence of God.

II- STAY PERSISTENT IN PRAYERS – God said “let your requests be made known unto Him” (Philippians 4:6). Prayer is a response to a crisis.  Allow our helplessness to move us to a deeper  and more fervent prayer. Prayer is our weapon to attain peace to live in difficult times.  Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.

III- STAY IN STEP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT- Galatians 5:6 tells us to walk in the spirit.  Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  What makes us strong, move, live, and walk is the work of the Holy Spirit.  Christian living is a spiritual walk.  Those who walk with God reaches the destination 100%. The Holy Spirit is like a Global Positioning System (GPS) used in cars not to be lost. It will lead you where you are going.  Success is always the result of the leading of the Holy Spirit.

IV- FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS- We must always look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Fixed means “glued” at all times. Fixing our eyes in Jesus will not fall us into failure.  We fail if we are not lookingto Him.  We must not look at the ability of other people or rely on our ability but rely to Jesus.  Everything we need is in Jesus. Let us fix our eyes and all will be well.

(From Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)