Wise men were wise because they were:
1. Worshippers
- They knew who to worship (Luke 1:46).
-They went great lengths to worship.
-Worship is obeying God's Word.
2. Indulgent
-They were generous givers.
-They went to worship and offer gifts, wanting to bless Jesus.
-They gave the best gifts that they can offer.
3. Sacrificial
-They traveled a long distance in inconvenient and difficult terrain.
4. Evangelists
-They shared the good news (Prov. 10:1).
*based on Matthew 2:1-12 and 1Cor. 3:19
by Rev. Eugene Hao
Showing posts with label matthew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label matthew. Show all posts
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Before the rooster crows
Jesus declared that the disciples will fall away. Peter actively denied the Saviour whom he lived with, heard, and learned from.
We must be careful that we may fall and fail in our faith if...
1. We compete or compare with others in our faith.
-We must not use others as our gauge in our maturity.
-In Luke 22:24, the road to Gethsemane was filled with argument as to who was most faithful and who was the greatest amongst the disciples.
-Our target is setting Jesus Christ as our personal gauge, and it is useless to compare with each other.
2. We rely on ourselves.
-Luke 22:31-34 says that Peter, hearing that the enemy asked for his failure and that Jesus even prayed for him, declared that hs is ready to go anywhere Jesus does--even death.
-1 Corintians 10:12 reminds us to be careful that we not fall.
3. Our faith is about us
-Considering the pronouns that Peter used, he is considerably self-centered (v. 32 declared that Jesus will be raised from the dead, but Peter focused on his own actions, not hearing that Jesus assured them of Him being raised up).
-John 13:36-38 mentioned that Peter ranted why he cannot follow Jesus, like a spoiled child.
-faith is not doing what we just want to do but what Jesus wants us to do.
STOP RUNNING AWAY, START RUNNING BACK TO JESUS. HE IS RISEN!
*based on Matthew 26:30-35
by Rev. Anthony Hao
We must be careful that we may fall and fail in our faith if...
1. We compete or compare with others in our faith.
-We must not use others as our gauge in our maturity.
-In Luke 22:24, the road to Gethsemane was filled with argument as to who was most faithful and who was the greatest amongst the disciples.
-Our target is setting Jesus Christ as our personal gauge, and it is useless to compare with each other.
2. We rely on ourselves.
-Luke 22:31-34 says that Peter, hearing that the enemy asked for his failure and that Jesus even prayed for him, declared that hs is ready to go anywhere Jesus does--even death.
-1 Corintians 10:12 reminds us to be careful that we not fall.
3. Our faith is about us
-Considering the pronouns that Peter used, he is considerably self-centered (v. 32 declared that Jesus will be raised from the dead, but Peter focused on his own actions, not hearing that Jesus assured them of Him being raised up).
-John 13:36-38 mentioned that Peter ranted why he cannot follow Jesus, like a spoiled child.
-faith is not doing what we just want to do but what Jesus wants us to do.
STOP RUNNING AWAY, START RUNNING BACK TO JESUS. HE IS RISEN!
*based on Matthew 26:30-35
by Rev. Anthony Hao
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Hungry but happy
HOW DO WE ATTAIN LASTING SATISFACTION?
Desire for the right things
-the righteousness of God
-not positional righteousness (that we are simply made righteous by God through Jesus Christ), but practical righteousness (that we do what God requires us)
Establish your priority
-if we desire the right thing, we will make it our top priority
-our life should revolve around obeying God
Stay within God's will
-obedient (hungering and thirsting) in the present tense, a continuing process we undergo
Immerse in God's Word
-commands to Joshua to not let the word depart from him
Reject anything that will hinder
-Hebrews reminds us to through the things that encumber
Expect God's promise
-Psalm 37:4 says delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart
*based on Matther 5:6
by Ptr. Joy Gotico
Desire for the right things
-the righteousness of God
-not positional righteousness (that we are simply made righteous by God through Jesus Christ), but practical righteousness (that we do what God requires us)
Establish your priority
-if we desire the right thing, we will make it our top priority
-our life should revolve around obeying God
Stay within God's will
-obedient (hungering and thirsting) in the present tense, a continuing process we undergo
Immerse in God's Word
-commands to Joshua to not let the word depart from him
Reject anything that will hinder
-Hebrews reminds us to through the things that encumber
Expect God's promise
-Psalm 37:4 says delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart
*based on Matther 5:6
by Ptr. Joy Gotico
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Marks of a True Disciple
1. Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
-the state of being poor: resorting to begging because they know they cannot help themselves
-spiritual poverty means that apart from God, we can do nothing--that there is emptiness left to ourselves
2. Blessed are those who MOURN for they will be COMFORTED
-the state of mourning: recognizing how wretched we are and being truly sorrowful for it.
-there can be no real salvation unless there is a realization of sin that leads to repentance--that only Jesus can fill the void in our hearts.
-it is not just being sorry because we were caught in sin, but because we know that the act of sin is offensive to God.
*based on Matthew 5:1-12
by Rev. Alex Uy
-the state of being poor: resorting to begging because they know they cannot help themselves
-spiritual poverty means that apart from God, we can do nothing--that there is emptiness left to ourselves
2. Blessed are those who MOURN for they will be COMFORTED
-the state of mourning: recognizing how wretched we are and being truly sorrowful for it.
-there can be no real salvation unless there is a realization of sin that leads to repentance--that only Jesus can fill the void in our hearts.
-it is not just being sorry because we were caught in sin, but because we know that the act of sin is offensive to God.
*based on Matthew 5:1-12
by Rev. Alex Uy
Monday, August 30, 2010
From mourning into dancing
Godly mourning brings godly happiness.
-we mourn for personal loss
-we mourn for sin, sorrow, and suffering in the world
-we mourn for our own sin--this is the MOURNING that the beatitudes refers to.
A person knows that he is spiritually poor when he mourns his spiritual condition.
To be comforted, we must recognize what sin does to our lives (Lk.7:46)--leading to unworthiness to anoint Jesus' head.
Sin
- is lawlessness--breaking the law (1John 3:4)
- sometimes leads to physical weakness (Ps32:3-4)
- wreaks havoc in our relationships with each other (Jas4:1)
- places a wedge between sinful man and holy God (Ps66:18)
- must be responded to by repentance--a commitment to change our ways (Lk7:37)
- has been forgiven--and we are free to receive this forgiveness (Lk7:48)
*based on Matthew 5:4; Luke 7:36-50
by Ptr. Joy Gotico
-we mourn for personal loss
-we mourn for sin, sorrow, and suffering in the world
-we mourn for our own sin--this is the MOURNING that the beatitudes refers to.
A person knows that he is spiritually poor when he mourns his spiritual condition.
To be comforted, we must recognize what sin does to our lives (Lk.7:46)--leading to unworthiness to anoint Jesus' head.
Sin
- is lawlessness--breaking the law (1John 3:4)
- sometimes leads to physical weakness (Ps32:3-4)
- wreaks havoc in our relationships with each other (Jas4:1)
- places a wedge between sinful man and holy God (Ps66:18)
- must be responded to by repentance--a commitment to change our ways (Lk7:37)
- has been forgiven--and we are free to receive this forgiveness (Lk7:48)
*based on Matthew 5:4; Luke 7:36-50
by Ptr. Joy Gotico
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Living the Life of Faith
Obedience goes beyond words. (v.21)
Obedience entails repenntance--to obey Jesus
Therefore, let us talk about God's Word
Obedience goes beyond works. (v22)
Just like Judas, we may invoke the Name of Jesus in the supernatural, but we may never have been part of God's kingdom. remember, religious activities do not equate to spiritual.
Therefore, let us think about God's Word
Obedience isimplementing God's will. (v24-29)
The same blue print may be used, but the foundation wherein it is built is a huge difference (1Cor3:10-11)
Therefore let us act by God's Word
GOD DESIRES US TO EVOLVE INTO CHRIST-LIKENESS.
*based on Matthew 7:24-29
by Rev. Rock Manuel
Obedience entails repenntance--to obey Jesus
Therefore, let us talk about God's Word
Obedience goes beyond works. (v22)
Just like Judas, we may invoke the Name of Jesus in the supernatural, but we may never have been part of God's kingdom. remember, religious activities do not equate to spiritual.
Therefore, let us think about God's Word
Obedience isimplementing God's will. (v24-29)
The same blue print may be used, but the foundation wherein it is built is a huge difference (1Cor3:10-11)
Therefore let us act by God's Word
GOD DESIRES US TO EVOLVE INTO CHRIST-LIKENESS.
*based on Matthew 7:24-29
by Rev. Rock Manuel
Monday, July 12, 2010
Are you a good steward?
Steward: anyone given responsibility to take care of something else
-WE ARE ALL STEWARDS (Ps.24:1-2)
I. The Lord entrusts us with treasures to manage, as the Lord determined according to our ability.
-treasures may be in the form of money, but may be some other physical items
-treasures also includes time, skills, abilities, children, and even our bodies
>invest wisely in such things
>we may not "embezzle" or "misuse" our treasures, but doing nothing with them is just as bad.
II. The Lord will call us to give an account
-some will be accountable
-the third slave did not grow the treasures he was entrusted with and even accused the master. He did not own up to his actions.
-regarding the second slave, there was no favor for higher quantity, just a report of eventual result.
III. The Lord gives corresponding rewards to the faithful.
-the reward of more responsibility come with having more privileges
-they may not be material, and may not even be in our lifetime, but there is an certainty in that we will receive gifts.
-another reward is the invitation to be with the Lord.
*based on Matthew 25:14-30
by Rev. Alex Uy
-WE ARE ALL STEWARDS (Ps.24:1-2)
I. The Lord entrusts us with treasures to manage, as the Lord determined according to our ability.
-treasures may be in the form of money, but may be some other physical items
-treasures also includes time, skills, abilities, children, and even our bodies
>invest wisely in such things
>we may not "embezzle" or "misuse" our treasures, but doing nothing with them is just as bad.
II. The Lord will call us to give an account
-some will be accountable
-the third slave did not grow the treasures he was entrusted with and even accused the master. He did not own up to his actions.
-regarding the second slave, there was no favor for higher quantity, just a report of eventual result.
III. The Lord gives corresponding rewards to the faithful.
-the reward of more responsibility come with having more privileges
-they may not be material, and may not even be in our lifetime, but there is an certainty in that we will receive gifts.
-another reward is the invitation to be with the Lord.
*based on Matthew 25:14-30
by Rev. Alex Uy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)