Three Things God Says Don't About Tomorrow

“Do not boast thyself tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”

Proverbs 27:1

There are three things God said don’t  about what tomorrow brings.  The Bible says that we do not boast of tomorrow,  do not worry about tomorrow and do not procrastinate until tomorrow.

I – DO NOT BOAST ABOUT TOMORROW – This means that we are not in control of the future.  Our life is controlled by God.  No amount of money, influence, power, and planning can guarantee tomorrow.  Only God can grant us another sunrise.  James 4:15 says “if the Lord will, we shall live.” We are not to put  our hope in the future but to God who holds our tomorrow.  

II- DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW– Matthew 6:34 tells us to “take therefore no thought  for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”  This means that we will only do what is for today because we will encounter problems when we think of tomorrow and yesterday.  We will fail to properly do our God-given responsibility  if we worry about many things.  Take note that in the last verse of Matthew 6:34, it stated that “ sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  This means each day has enough trouble of its own.  When we worry tomorrow, we’re just borrowing trouble and it will make us irritable.

III- DO NOT PROCRASTINATE UNTIL TOMORROW – Procrastination is the act of putting something  off until  later time.  This means that we must do what we can do for today!  We must value time! William Shakespeare strongly said “defer no time! Delays have dangerous ends!” We must value time and number our days  correctly by serving Him because there is no wasted time in serving God. commands us to prioritize Him first to love Him first. Each day is a gift from God. Luke 9:62-62 reminds us that “no man is fit for the kingdom of God if he ploughs and look back at the others.”  Remember that God rewards diligence not laziness.

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

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)

State of the Harvest Field Address (SOHFA)

                        “Look on the fields for they are ready for harvest.” 

                                                                                                           John 4:35

         When our very own Pastor Abet Falcunit gave a sermon about SOHFA or  “state of the harvest field address”  in  our church, he strongly urged the congregation to “look on the fields to labor for the fruits are ready for harvest” (John 4:35). God is seeking for laborers. Meaning,  God’s purpose for all of us is to serve Him. To serve God to save the souls of those who have not yet accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and savior.  So many works to be done  in the field but the laborers are few to do the harvesting. Pastor Abet also stressed in his sermon that God is compassionate to all of us. If God is compassionate, we must also be compassionate with others. God sees us all precious in His eyes.

          There are more loiterers than laborers. The ADDRESSOR is the Lord while the ADDRESSEE are the disciples or the saved ones in the church.  God did not allow us to die because He has the purpose for all of us…to send us to work in His vineyard…to evangelize and to win souls. 

          In  Isaiah 6:8,  God commissioned Isaiah to labor in the fields. Isaiah heard the voice of the  Lord saying  “whom shall I send”?  Isaiah said, “here am I send me.”God commissioned us all to work in the field. 

The Sweetest, The Simplest And The Profoundest Verse In The Bible

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”    

Romans 10:13

This verse is the sweetest, the simplest and the profoundest verse in the Bible.  This verse has the widest scope,  the grandest personality, and the greatest reality.

I – THE WIDEST SCOPE OF HUMANITY -   “Whosoever.” God covers all humanity to be saved as stated in the Bible verse thru the word “whosoever.” Whosoever means all, you  and any.  No matter what your background is, no matter what you have done, no matter where you came from, no matter what color you are, no matter what you did to yourself. It does’nt matter.  God will save you! Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, God loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass,  God’s love encompasses us completely!

II – THE SIMPLEST ACTIVITY -  “Call!”  This is very simple activity. Just “call” God.   “Call unto me and I will answer thee!”  Jeremiah 33:3. In calling God, we should have genuine humility,  unconditional surrendering,  personal helplessness,  and faith in God’s power and resources. Without calling God we can do nothing.

III -  THE GRANDEST PERSONALITY – “The name of the Lord!”   “That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of  things in heaven, of things under the earth… and every tongue confess that  Jesus Christ is Lord!” Philippians 2:10.  In the name of Jesus means authority,  ability, and adequacy.  “A transformed life is the greatest of all miracles.  Every time a person is “born again” by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the miracle of regeneration is performed.”  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12.

IV -  THE GREATEST REALITY – “Shall be saved.”  “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man shall pluck them out of my hand,”  John 10:28. Our security is not in a place but in person, a person who did not, cannot and will not lie.”

(From the sermons of Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon of Odiongan Baptist Church Inc. odiongan, Romblon, Philippines)

God's Daily Prescription

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep thy commandments.”  Proverbs 3:1

God, being the supreme physician, has daily prescription to us:

I -  DAILY PRIORITY – Matthew 6:33 says  “seek ye first!”  Put God first and we will never be last and all things fall into proper place.  When couples love God first,  they love each other.  Put God first in finances, tithes, interest, hobbies, work, relationship, marriage, friendship, schedule and even in times of trouble.   When we have problems, prayer should be the first choice, not last resort.

II – DAILY POWER – In Christ we are strong.  Outside Christ we are weak. Philippian 4:13 says “We can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth us”.  Romans 8:37 positively reminds us that “Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

III -  DAILY PRECEPTS -  We cannot live without God’s word. It is our bread of life.  Take this word at least once a day or more.  There is no overdose.   Regular Bible reading can cure many illnesses like anxiety, fear, worry and stress.   Reading Bible will make us happy and gain positive outlook in life.

IV – DAILY  PRAISE -  Rejoice always in the Lord.  We should rejoice because we are sons of God, God is sufficient, God has special place for us  in heaven. Jesus said in John 14:1-2 “Let not your heart be troubled….in my fathers house are many mansions…..I go to prepare a place for you.” 

V – DAILY PRAYER – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing.  God doesn’t move in your life when you stop praying.  He moves when you pray. James 5:16 says “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

(From the sermons of Pastor Teofilito A. Rufon of Odiongan Baptist Church)

Faith Under Attack

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

1 Timothy 6:12

Satan will attack our faith through our  faith, funds, family and flesh. Consider how Job resisted devil’s attack to his faith. 

I – Faith – Job’s faith was real. Job is classic example of a man whom faith was tested by the devil. But Job’s faith was not shaken even under attack. His adversity strengthens his life because his faith is real.  Not real faith or artificial faith can be destroyed by  adversity.  Adversity destroys the superficial faith, but adversity strengthens real faith. Don't let your trials blow you down. Let them lift you up. " that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” – Job 1:8

II – Funds – Our funds can be an instrument of devil too. Job knew that everything he has were gifts from God therefore it should be returned and used for the glory of God. "Most people fail to realize that money is both a TEST and a TRUST from God. We can either use our money to serve God or our God will be our money."   “And said, Naked came I out if my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor changed God foolishly.” Job 1:21-22

III – Family – When Job’s family died due to disaster, he did not blame God.  Some people blame God for the natural disasters that killed their family and they turned down their faith away from God.  But Job even under the shadow of death did not gave up his faith, instead he loved more our God.   .” And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  Job 1:18-19.

Yes it is true to take good care of our family to give food, clothing and shelter but too much of it  and putting God as a second option  to the point of ignoring God’s commandment to serve Him is a big mistake.  Sometimes if the one we loved more will cause us to ignore God, he will send instruments or  ways or even  punishment  or  taking our loved ones away from us for us to return . Matthew 10:37  is very clear and warns us that “he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

IV – Flesh  - Did God allow men to suffer?  According to Helen Keller a blind and deaf woman, "there is a purpose to suffering and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine." "Trials and sufferings are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible and to drive us to our knees."

Like Job when satan smote him with boils, Job remained steadfast and faithful to God even his wife told him to curse God. “So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:7-10

According to Joni Earekson Tada a mouth painter, writer who wrote a book entitled “When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the  Almighty” and quadriphlegic Christian,  "God has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.”

(From the sermons of Pastor Teofilito A. Rufon of Odiongan Baptist Church, Inc. Odiongan, Romblon).

Blessed Are The Meek: For They Shall Inherit The Earth

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”  (Matthew  5:5)

The meaning of meek in Hebrew is “to be molded” and “to be controlled.”  Being meek is to submit to God’s will.  Not man’s will. His hand is our molder because he is our potter and we are the clay.  “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.”  (Luke 22:42). Man has his will.  God also has his will. But it’s God’s will that prevail.  When we desire, we must first seek God.  “Delight thyself in the Lord;  and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  (Psalm 37:4).  “In all thy ways acknowledge him,  and he shall direct thy paths.”  (Proverbs 3:6).   In God’s will we  have peace.  In his will is our peace.   We must accept  all things  that work within us to have inner peace.  It is all God’s plan .  There is always a reason and good things that will happen to us if we always submit to God’s purpose.  There is  no such  thing  as chance or luck. “All things work together for good to them that love God.  To them who are called according to his purpose.”  ( Romans 8:28).  

Even  in pain and suffering.  God did not promise us a trouble-free life.  He said that “in this world we shall have tribulation.” Meekness is not so much of questioning and asking or cursing or challenging or blaming  God.  Meekness is more of loving, suffering, acceptance, and contentment.  There is a saying that “God will not bear us a problem we cannot bear.”  A turtle once said:  “no matter how heavy my bearings are, it’s God’s choice to make me carry my shell for it’s the only way I will be protected.”    After we have surpassed the sickness and problems  in our lives, we become an inspiration, to others by telling them not  to fear and not to loss  faith and hope  because we have been through that kind of illness.  Job said “I know that thou canst do everything.” ( Job 42:2). So there is always a reason for every thing that God did for us.  “ Many are the plans in the mind of a man,  but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”  (Proverbs 19:21).  “In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  (I Thessalonians  5:18). 

According to Millard Erickson: “ If we have fully understood who and what God is, we will see him as the supreme being.   We will see him the Lord, the one who is to be pleased and whose will is to be done.   This reminder is needed in our day,  for we have a tendency to slip from a “theocentric” to an “anthropocentric”  ordering of our religious lives.   This leads to what be called “inverted theology.”  Instead of regarding God as our Lord, whose glory is the supreme value and whose will is to be done, we regard him as our servant.  He is expected to meet all of our perceived needs and to answer to our standards of what is right and wrong.   We need to learn from Samuel,  whose response when the Lord called him was,  “Speak, Lord, your servant hears.”   He did not see this as an opportunity to pour  out his concerns to the Lord,  saying “Listen, Lord, your servant speaks.”  When we adopt the latter stance,  we in effect make ourselves God.  We presume to know what is right and what is best.   In so doing,  we take upon ourselves a great responsibility:  to guide our own  lives.   But it is God who knows what is best in the long run.   He is the Almighty and loving Lord.   He has created us, not we him,  and we exist for his Glory,  not he for ours.   We will stand for him in the last judgment,  not he before us.   If we have truly understood God’s nature,  then with Jesus our first concern in prayer will not be for the granting of our desires.  It will rather be “Hallowed be thy name,  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,  on earth as it is in heaven.”

(From Andrew M. Famero’s Exhortation at the Harry Fetalsana’s residence during the Joint Fellowship of Men, Women and Youth)

Take My Life, and Let It Be (Living The Surrendered Life)

“Anyone who does not  give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:33)

 

What does a surrendered life look like?  The answer is TOTAL SURRENDER.  Jesus said that  “anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. And  if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, even his own life cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:26-27).

In 1874, Frances Ridley Havergal  who was just thirty-eight years old,  penned a hymn that has become a beloved treasure of the church.   Written as a prayer,  each line focuses on one dimension of  what it means to be fully surrendered to Christ:

Take My Life,  and Let It Be

Take  my life, and let it be. 

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands, and let them move.

At the impulse of Thy love,

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be.

Swift and beautiful for Thee;

Take my voice, and let them sing,

Always, only, for my King,

Always only,  for my King.

Take my silver and my gold.

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my will, and make it Thine. 

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Here are some questions for  us to answer: 

Have I consciously acknowledged Christ’s ownership of my life? 

Do I live with the conscious realization that all my time belongs to God?

Am I yielding the members (parts) of my body to God as instruments of righteousness?

Do the words that come out of my mouth reveal that my lips and tongue are fully surrendered to God?

Do I give generously,  sacrificially, and gladly to the Lord’s work and to others in need?

Am I wasting my mind on worldly knowledge or pursuits that do not have eternal spiritual value?

Do I consistently seek to know and to do the will of God in practical and daily matters of life?

Am I moody? Temperamental? Hard to please?

Do I enjoy and seek out the friendship of God as much as I do human friendships?

Have I surrenderd all that I am and all that I have to God?

God is asking us every part of our being.  He wants us to consecrate our life to Him:  our body...our tongue...our possessions...our mind...our will...our  affections....our relations and.... ourselves.

(From the book  “Living the Surrendered Life” preached by Mrs. Xenia Solidum  Foja during Joint Fellowship of Men, Women and Youth of Odiongan Baptist Church).

Functions of the Church

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2)

The  main functions of the church are:

Evangelism

Edification

Worship

Social Concern

I -  Evangelism –“Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.”  (Matthew 28:19).  Jesus’ last words to his disciples is evangelism.   The call to evangelize is a command “go.” Jesus said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15).  “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  (John 15:14).  If the church is to be faithful to its Lord and bring joy to his heart, it must be engaged in bringing the gospel to all people whom we like and dislike.  We have to take the gospel everywhere.  “But you shall receive power when the Holy spirit has come upon you; and you will be by witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8).

II – Edification –meaning,  building up or  strong fellowship with each member of the church.  “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:12).  “From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  (Ephesians 4:16). Like the human body parts with its own function, each member has its own role in the church to do. It is not merely the minister or pastor who is to build up other members. Ways by which members of the church are edified are through fellowship, instruction or teaching and preaching. 

In fellowship, Paul speaks  of sharing one another’s experiences like suffering, success, burden, honouring, and rejoicing.  “And whether one member suffer, all members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:26).   Meaning, we are to encourage and sympathize with each other.  Believers are to bear one another’s burden.  “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6:2). In fellowship also, this may entail correction or rebuke which should be administered lovingly.  Jesus laid the pattern of discipline in Matthew 18:15-17. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee and him alone.”  In severe cases, there may even be excommunication from the group , as in the case of immoral man mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2.  The primary reason is to restore such person to righteous living.

In instruction or teaching,  the church also edifies its members through education which is part of discipling. Education may take many forms and occur on many levels like Sunday school, theological seminaries, and divinity schools.  Since the truth of God is found in the Bible, it is a must for a church to send Bible students to Bible schools or mission schools.

In preaching, the church also is edified. Paul speaks of prophesying and referred to this as preaching and exhortation.  “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort.”  (1 Corinthians 14:3-4).  To the end of mutual edification, God has equipped the church with various gifts apportioned and bestowed by the Holy Spirit.  “But all these worketh that one and the self same spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”  (1 Corinthians 12:11) (Romans 12:6-8,  1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:11).

III – Worship – Another function of the church is worship.  If edification focuses on the belivers, worship focuses on God.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:  and so much the more,  as ye see the day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:25).  We declare God’s greatness in worship.  We glorify God and praise him.  Who is God and what God is.

The right pattern in the book of Acts is, worship God, be edified and evangelize.  Worship of God will suffer if oriented only in edification or if service is aimed exclusively at evangelizing unbelievers.

IV -  Social Concern  -  If the church is to carry on his ministry, it will be engaged in some form of ministry to the needy and suffering. “Concern for  the widow, the sojourner is appropriate.”  (Deuteronmy 10:17-19).  “To visit the orphans and widows in their affliction.”  (James 1:27).  God also stressed that faith without action or social concern is dead .  “Even so faith, if it hath no works, is dead,  being alone.  “ (James 2:15-17).  “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth.”  ( 1 John 3:18).  Social concern includes the condemning of unrighteousness as well.   John the Baptist likewise condemned the sin of Herod even though he was imprisoned and lost his liberty and lost his life. (Mark 6:17-29).

(From the Sunday School Preaching of Mr. A. Famero taken from the Book Christian Theology by Millard Erickson).

Secrets of Success

“Cast me not away from thy presence;  and take not thy holy spirit from me”  (Psalm 51:11)

I -  Do Not Joke With Your Quiet Time  -  Your quiet time is when you  pray.  There are 3 important prayer principles: 

1.       Do not worry .  Instead pray.

2.       Don’t quit . Pray persistently.   “ As for me,  I will call upon God;  and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon,  will I pray and cry aloud:  and he shall hear my voice.”  (Psalm 55:16-17)

3.       Don’t doubt.  Pray positively. Alway push!  PUSH  means:  Pray Until Something Happen!  “But let him ask in faith,  not wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”  (James 1:6-7). 

II – Do Not Neglect The Fellowship Of The Saints – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:   and so much the more,  as ye see the day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:25).  “ For if I build again the things which I destroyed,  I make myself a transgressor.”  (Galatians 2:18).

III – Always Hunger And Thirst For God – There are many benefits of staying close to God:

1.        Your case will be given priority. “If ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, and do them; then will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the filed shall yield their fruit.”  (Leviticus 26:3-4).

2.       Your prayers will be answered -  “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble;  I will deliver him,  and honour him.”  (Psalm 91:15).

3.       Your life will never get misled -  “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6).

4.       Your life will be prosperous -  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;  but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,  that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,  and then thou shalt have good success.”  (Joshua 1:8).

5.       You will experience overflowing blessings – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).

6.       Your life will be fruitful  -  “Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of  itself, except it abide in the vine;  no more can ye,  except ye abide in me.  I am the vine,  ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me,  and I in him,  the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing.”  (John 15:4-5).

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

What Have They Seen In Thine House?

“What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, all the things that are in mine house have they seen:  there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.”  (2 Kings 20:15)

What if God suddenly visits our family!  What can be seen in our house? The family is the smallest unit of society yet it is the most important part of the community.  The family is subject to Satan’s wise destruction plans.  King Hezekiah’s life has moral lessons to be learned  in the aspect of  family life and of raising children.  The key Bible verse to ponder and to get lesson  is  “what have you seen in thine house?” One verse that strikes us most!   This is a challenging question to every Father and Mother of a family!  To raise a better home. Here are  four H’s  simply to be followed:

I – Hospitality  - We  must be hospitable.  This should be a culture of a believer.  In our Church we must initiate greetings and warm welcome to our visitors.  And also when someone visits our house we must show  a welcoming atmosphere just like what Hezekiah did. He even showed every thing.  This means all the blessings God gave to us should be repaid by being friendly and  loving our neighbours and visitors.  Not pride and arrogance.  Not being boastful by living in luxury but simple  living by helping the needy and the sick.

II – Holiness -  What can be seen in thine house?  Is there holiness? The Bible says that “we have been crucified with Christ, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” therefore we live in accordance to His will.   In our house, vices should be eliminated.  The enemies should be cast out. There should be totally no ash tray, no bottles of alcohol, no cigarette butts, no nude pictures in the calendar, no gambling playing cards, no vulgar words, no worldly satanic rock music,  no porn magazines instead our house should be seen with Bible verses written in the framed hanged in the walls and  Bible displayed  in the altar.  God said:  “Ye shall  diligently keep the commandments of the  Lord your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee.  And thou shalt do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord..and to cast out all thine enemies.” (Deuteronomy 6:17-19).

III-  Happiness –  What can be seen in your house? Is there  happiness?  Home’s purpose is a place of love.  When was the last you said  I love you to your wife? How can a family be happy if the husband and wife are always quarrelling?  Home is a place of rest.  Father and mother should show happiness not strife. Where did the father or mother  slept last night?  Home should be a place of shelter and security.  Acceptance and understanding should always prevail not misunderstanding and rejection.   “ Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices and strife.  (Proverbs 17:1)

IV -   Harmony – What can be seen in your house?  Being parents,  we should a leader!   To be firm in decisions pertaining to discipline and good governance in the house.  A father who is a provider, protector,  a teacher, and a priest.  A father who provides food, clothing and shelter.  Buy your children with clothes presentable so that  they will be happy.   It is odd to see a father with all the new clothes and new shoes while the wife and children are wearing old and worn out clothes and shoes.  We gave cold beverages and fried chicken to our  friends  while enjoying during drinking spree yet we give sardines and a piece of anchovy  to our children while the wife and parent  are starving  to death and sad,  patiently waiting in the house for our return.  We became termites, not pillars of the family.  A father protects his family and wife.   We only protect our wife during the  days when we are courting and wooing her to become a girlfriend,  but now when marriage ceremony  is over and  old, we walk with our wives so far in a distance while arguing with each other.  We even destroy their lives!   If we know our responsibilities, there is harmony in the house. 

(From Abet F. Falcunitin’s Sunday School Message at Odiongan Baptist Church)

Christmas and Jonah and the Big Fish

“Salvation is of the Lord.”  (Jonah 2:9)

This Christmas,   Jesus is commanding us to follow Him.  To follow His orders. Jonah and the whale’s story focus on salvation.  This Christmas the best gift you can ever give to your friend is the gift of salvation.   And this is the right time.

You may have no riches and material things to give,  but you have the abundance of God’s grace that you can give.   Material things like toys and clothes and foods  and even money are temporary and can be destroyed.  Gifts bought on malls and stores and even imported ones are sometimes fake and did not pass quality assurance.  But the Gospel of Christ and the Bible is genuine,eternal and lasts forever.  It will make man a follower of Christ.  Tell  your families, friends, officemates, neighbours, those in prison and hospital that following the life of Christ is the best  and the happiest  gift they can receive!

Take a glance and consider the life of Jonah.  Jonah’s life was full of lessons.  Jonah disobeyed God.  He ran away from God.  Instead of obeying God’s order to preach the Gospel in Nineveh, he went to Tarshish.  Because of Jonah’s disobedience,  God sent a violent storm!   In our lives, sometimes  God will send storms if we disobey Him!  The storms may be in whatever form like illness, accident, financial difficulty, broken relationship, loss of job, or loss of life.

The storms of our life will pass away because God has prepared it.  God knows how ,  when and why to start and stop the storms!    In the Bible it was said that the  “now the Lord HAD PREPARED a great fish.” (Jonah 1:17).    Meaning, God had prepared our  lives. God knows what will happen to us even to Jonah.  The whole of our life was already a finished plan God had prepared, a master piece.  God created everything , from the weather to the  whale to the forgiveness of Jonah’s disobedience to Jonah’s success of making the Ninevites repent and believe God. God is in control to carry out to accomplish His plan to save us when we are troubled.

We must share the Gospel of Jonah to others.  We must not disregard this and assume we knew better than God.  Jonah though stubborn and always complaining, yet, still God extends His loving arm of mercy and forgiveness that extends beyond all people on earth.

This year’s Christmas may be the appropriate and right time for you to change. God is always telling and reminding us to do right things.   Remember,  God wants you to be an obedient son and to be saved!   The only problem of gift giving is your defying self.  Will you accept His gift? 

(From Andrew's Sermon and Pastor John Abet F. Falcunitin during Baptist Men’s Sunday School )

Why Was The Lord Of Glory Laid In A Manger?

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”   (Luke 2:7)

Why was the lord of glory laid in a manger? The answer are because of alienation,  because of  association, and because of accessibility!

 

I – BECAUSE OF ALIENATION -  We  alienate or reject Jesus because we cannot accept Him as our  God and Saviour.  The people of  Nazareth love Jesus as a teacher, a healer, a defender of the poor but when Jesus said I am God,  they said No!  You’re only son of Joseph the carpenter. We do not  want God because we cannot  leave our comfort  zones  and  give up our properties. 

II – BECAUSE OF ASSOCIATION – Jesus was born to associate with mankind. To experience man’s poverty, problems, and priorities.  “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  (2 Corinthians 8:9). God promised us to meet our needs. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). God knows our needs, trials  and struggles in life.  “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3).  God knows our poverty.  “And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20).

III – BECAUSE OF ACCESSIBILITY – Imagine for a moment that Jesus had been born in Herod’s Palace amid all the riches of that place.  Imagine Him being separated from the common man by the walls and grounds of King’s palace. If that was the case, would you feel the freedom and liberty to come to Him? However , He was born in a manger and thereby he made Himself accessible to all who would come to Him. It is noteworthy to see the visit of the shepherds and the wise men.   This is the reason why God is not interested so much in our talents and treasure but in our time and availability! We must always be accessible to God 24/7 and 365 days a year.

(From Rev. T.A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)

The Biblical Meaning Of Christmas

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...All things were made by Him; without him was not any  thing made that was made..and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”  (John 1:1-5, 10-14)

Christmas means  God is over us, for us, with us and in us!

I – He Is God Over Us –    God is  our Creator, sustainer, Judge, and the Alpha and Omega .“For by him were all things  created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him and for him.”  (Colossians 1:16). He is our sustainer.    “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). He is our Judge.     “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22).   “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  (Revelation 22:13).

II – He is God For Us – Jesus is for us. He offered His life for us though we were sinners.  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).   ^“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  (Romans 8:31).

III – He Is God With Us -   God is with us...very close to us!  God is with us in our highest and lowest, fastest and farthest and lightest and darkest moments of our lives. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).   “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”  (Psalm 138:8-12).

IV- He Is God In Us – Christ is our hope, help and our haven of rest.  “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).   “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”  (Titus 1:2).     “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28).

(From Rev. T.A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)