“Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.
What you
brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.” - Haggai 1:8-9
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty. - Haggai 2:9
Church Projects
Pastor’s office & Prayer room at upper front portion of church building
Estimated Cost: Php 200,000.00
Ceiling of ChurchBuilding
Estimated Cost:Php 100,000.00
Air-conditioning: 4 units slender type
Estimated Cost:Php 180,000.00
Mezzanine Floor to accommodate 50 seats
Estimated Cost:Php 70,000.00
Upgrading of Sounds & Musical Instruments
Estimated Cost:Php 100,000.00
6. Transportation Vehicle (1 Multicab and 3 Minibus)
7. Quality White Plastic Chairs 300 pieces
Estimated Cost: Php 120,000.00
We encourage you to be our partner of these projects through prayer and/or financial support. To God be the glory!
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so may you inherit a blessing.
10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Somebody may not be treating you right
There are some who are telling lies about you trying to ruin your reputation
Maybe you were cheated in a business deal and you lost lot of money
Or maybe somebody is telling lie about you and it hinders your promotion
And because of these things, you want them to pay you back
You want to take revenge
But Jesus is telling us right now, "Remember what people did to me. I was beaten. I was insulted. I was crucified. I suffered at the cross because of your sins. But I never fought back."
If you want to live your best life now, learn to trust God to bring justice in your life.
Let God bring you justice in His own way, not our way.
God's way is far better than our way.
God's WAY in bringing justice
W - Work to please God
Whatever is your work today, a teacher, driver, farmer, businessman, housekeeper, or even student, work for God to please Him, not for men.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Crist you are serving.
Story of a man who worked as a mechanic at a large diesel-truck shop. For many years he was not treated properly at his work. His coworkers often made fun of him because he wouldn't go out and party with them after work. He was one of the best mechanics on staff and consistently one of their top producers. But for 7 years, he never received a pay raise, he didn't even get a bonus, he didn't get any sort of increase - because his supervisor didn't like him. But he continued his best. He worked hard and kept his mouth shut. He said he was not working to please his supervisor; but he was working to please God. One day, the owner of the company called him. The owner wasn't involved in the day-to-day operations, so the mechanic had never met him before. But the owner said he was ready to retire, and he was looking somebody to take over the business. "I'd like you to have it," the owner said to the mechanic. But the mechanic said, "I'd would love to have it, but I don't have enough money to buy your business." The owner replied, "You don't need the money. I have money. I'm looking for somebody to take over the business. I'm looking for someone I can trust to continue the work I have started. I want to give it to you." Today, the mechanic owns the company free and clear.
God will do the same thing for us if we just work to please Him.
A - Avenge is of God
Because of human emotion, normally, we react in every situation
Every bad things others had brought us, we get mad and we want to get even
We want to take revenge
Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Story of Joel Olsten and his wife Victoria.There is a person in their lives who cheated them a lot of money in a business deal. Many times, they were tempted to fight the battle in their own strength. They were tempted to want to pay him back and make his life miserable. But they forced themselves to do the right thing, even difficult, and turned over the matter to God. This process continued for several years but they didn't see any change. But they keep reminding themselves that God is a God of justice. One day, God supernaturally stepped in and turned that situation around. The man who cheated them lost his family, his business, his reputation, and everything. God did not only moved that man out of their lives, but He paid them back in abundance for everything they lost. God has prospered them several estates deal so they live in a lovely home and have all the materials things they need. He blessed them with good family. He promoted them and given them postions of leadership. God has done more than they can ask or think.
Life of David.Saul haunted David and want to kill him because of jealousy. But God delivered the life of Saul to David. When Saul and his men rested in a cave, David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe but did not kill him. He spared the life of Saul. In the last chapter of 1 Samuel, the Philistines attacked Saul and his army. His sons died in this battle, and Saul was wounded critically that he himself took his own life by his sword. And later on, David became the king.
1 Samuel 24:12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
David gave the vengeance to the Lord.
Y - Yield Christ's humility, forgiveness, and love in your life
Christ's Humility. Philippians 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ's Forgiveness.Jesus was tortured, insulted, and was crucified
Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Christ's Love. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
To those who have wronged us, express to them your humility and Gof will lift us up; forgive them and God will also forgive us; and love them and God will also show his love for us.
2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our own lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows
Conclusion
Let God gives us justice in His own way
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled...
God has His own time when He will give us justice
Just wait patiently and just trust Him
When He gives justice, He will also give us abundant blessings.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give.
Hebrews 9:27-28 Just as man destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
No pain, no gain
But we have gained something not of our pain, but of Christ's pain
PAIN of Christ brought us
P - Pardon
Forgiveness of sins
Heb. 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people
Healing
1 Peter 2:24 ...by his wounds you have been healed
Hebrews 10:17 "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
A - Access
We have now a direct access to God without the intervention of any person (priest, pastor, or even Mary)
Matthew 27:50-51 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At than moment the curtain of the temple was torn in from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
Hebrews 10:19-21 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God
I - Inheritance
God has promise us eternal life
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may received the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from sins committed under the first covenant.
Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believe, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory
N - New Life
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave us right to become children of God
2 Corinthian 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things has gone, the new has come!
Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
How could we value God's pain?
We value God's PAIN by our GAIN
G - Gratefulness or Gratitude
We should express our thanks and appreciation to God through our worship and our service
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
A - Accomplishment
God has commanded us to accomplish something
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
God is much concerned with our accomplishment, not just our involvement
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
Philippians 1:29 because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
I - Importance
God should be our priority
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Do everything for God's pleasure
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
N - No more sinning
Do not waste God’s sacrifice and sufferings by going back to your old life
2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left
Romans 6:12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do no offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
TAB version: Ang lahat ng kapaitan, at kagalitan, at pagkakaalit, at kadaldalan, at panglilibak, ay mangaalis nawa sa inyo, pati ng lahat ng masasamang akala: At magmagandang-loob kayo sa isa't isa, mga mahabagin, na mangagpatawaran kayo sa isa't isa, gaya naman ng pagpapatawad sa inyo ng Dios kay Cristo.
God has given us a new life to enjoy and to live in peace
But some of us still cannot move on
The reason why some cannot move on is because there is still a yoke of bitterness in their livesThey are imprisoned by their past pain and bitterness
All of us has these pain and bitterness in the past but don't let these prevent us to move on and enjoy life God has given
We have a choice, we can chose to be imprisoned by our pain and become bitter, or we can choose to be free and let God handles everything
Story of a young woman who once poisoned by her past
She had been married for several years but could not have a normal relationship with her husband. For some reason, she couldn't fully give herself to her husband. She loves him but she couldn't stand to make him close to her and have intimacy. This problem was destroying their relationship. She tried to change, but she couldn't do it. She asked God if what's wrong. Why she was acting that way? Why she can't be a normal wife? One day she had a dream, and it reminded what had happened to her when she was a young girl. She was a victim of rape before. And the anger and hatred for those boys who sexually assaulted her were buried in her heart and produced bitterness and was affecting her relationship with her husband. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she recognized she had to deal with that unforgiveness, or she would never have a healthy relationship. So she decided to release all that hurt and pain. She said, "God, You know it wasn't right. You know what they did to me. But I'm not going to hold on to it any longer." She said, "I'm not going to allow the pain from the past to poison my present and my future. God, I forgive those boys right now."And from that moment, she was able to enjoy a healthy relationship with her husband. She couldn't change by dealing with the fruit; she had to get down to the root. And once bitter root was gone, she was able to break free from her past.
Do not bury bitterness in your heart because it will produce bitterness
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many (Na pakaingatan na baka ang sinoma'y di makaabot sa biyaya ng Dios; baka kayo'y bagabagin ng anomang ugat ng kapaitan na sumisibol, at dahil dito'y mahawa ang marami;)
Don't let bitterness take root. Cut the root immediately
If you want to live the best life with God, CUT your bitterness
C - Check your heart
Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognize by its fruit
If you experience bitterness in your life today, check your heart, maybe you have planted bitterness
Check your heart, maybe you have unforgiveness, anger, hatred, etc...
Check your heart, maybe your past is poisoning your present life
Check your heart, you can have success on the outside, but if there is bitterness on the inside, it will waste your victory
Check your heart, maybe you are chained by your bitterness
Ask God's help to check your heart
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting
U - Unleash the chain of bitterness
Eph. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness...
Unleash bitterness that is yoking you and causing you not to move freely
Forgive those who hurt you, those who betrayed you, those who told lie about you
For your emotional and spiritual health, let it go.
Unforgiveness promotes sickness physically, emotionally, and spiritually
When you don't forgive, you are not hurting the other person. You are not hurting God. You are hurting yourselves.
Unforgiveness makes your prayer unanswered because God will not listen to you (lack of needs, no healing, financial problem, etc.)
Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins
The most unhappy people in the world are those who have unforgiveness in their hearts
The bitterness is a chain that keep you from moving freely, so unleash it
When you forgive, you are releasing the chain of bitterness in your life
T - Take your freedom
Once you unleash your bitterness, you are now free
Take the freedom, and enjoy the life God has set for us
You can't do anything about past, but you can do something for today and in the future
Don't look back anymore at your bitter past, you are now free.
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
TAB version
1 Kaya nga sa pagkakaroon namin ng ministeriong ito, ayon sa aming tinanggap na kaawaan, ay hindi kami nanghihina.
2 Bagkus tinanggihan namin ang mga kahiyahiyang bagay na nangatatago, na hindi kami nagsisilakad sa katusuhan, ni nagsisigamit man na may daya ng mga salita ng Dios; kundi sa pagpapahayag ng katotohanan ay ipinagtatagubilin ang aming sarili sa bawa't budhi ng mga tao sa harapan ng Dios.
3 At kung ang aming evangelio ay natatalukbungan pa, ay may talukbong sa mga napapahamak:
4 Na binulag ng dios ng sanglibutang ito ang mga pagiisip ng mga hindi nagsisisampalataya, upang sa kanila'y huwag sumilang ang kaliwanagan ng evangelio ng kaluwalhatian ni Cristo, na siyang larawan ng Dios.
5 Sapagka't hindi namin ipinangangaral ang aming sarili, kundi si Cristo Jesus na Panginoon, at kami ay gaya ng inyong mga alipin dahil kay Cristo.
6 Yamang ang Dios, ang nagsabi, Magniningning ang ilaw sa kadiliman, na siyang nagningning sa aming mga puso, upang magbigay ng liwanag ng pagkakilala sa kaluwalhatian ng Dios sa mukha ni Jesucristo.
7 Nguni't taglay namin ang kayamanang ito sa mga sisidlang-lupa, upang ang dakilang kalakhan ng kapangyarihan ay maging mula sa Dios, at huwag mula sa aming sarili;
NIV v7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us
V2 - v6 tells that the gospel is shared to people plainly, honestly, no twisting of truth, no deception
But still the gospel is closed to unbelievers because Satan, the god of this age has blinded their minds
But even this is the case, Paul still preached the gospel because it is Jesus whom he preached, not himself
God said that His light should shine into our hearts that Jesus will be known through us
In v7 the treasure (the gospel - the good news of forgiveness and the promise of eternal life with God) is inside the jars of clay
The jars made up of clay is an ordinary and breakable thing, where the treasure is put
This is to draw the attention of people to the treasure, not on the jar
The jars of clay are the carrier and messenger of the gospel
God use even ordinary people to carry the gospel
Why God put His treasure in jars made of clay?
A - Approval
A - Aim
A - All-important
A - Assurance
1. Approval (God's approval that we are valuable)
It is God who gives value
God value even the jars of clay
The money we are using, which is valuable to us, only the Central Bank approves it value
And to us, we are valuable because God made us valuable
God values a person regardless of status and position
When God said you have a greater value, even people put you down, even you are in difficult situation, you still have greater value
Like money that has been put into mud, it is still money and has value
God put His treasure in a jars of clay
God value even ordinary people
Life of Jeremiah (Jer. 1)
Jer. 1:6 "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child" - too young and inexperience
He was appointed by God as a prophet (v5)
His mission is to go to everyone God has sent him and say whatever the command of God (v7)
Appointed over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant (v10)
His tool as a prophet is his mouth
But his weakness is his mouth (v6)
But God used Jeremiah's weakness to accomplish God's plan
v18-19 Sapagka't, narito, ginawa kita sa araw na ito, na nakukutaang bayan, at pinakahaliging bakal, at pinaka kutang tanso, laban sa buong lupain, laban sa mga hari sa Juda, laban sa mga prinsipe niyaon, laban sa mga saserdote niyaon, at laban sa bayan ng lupain. 19 At sila'y magsisilaban sa iyo; nguni't hindi sila mangananaig laban sa iyo: sapagka't ako'y sumasa iyo, sabi ng Panginoon, upang iligtas ka.
God will protect those He value
Life of David (1 Samuel 16:11)
The youngest Son of Jesse
Just a shepherd
But annointed by God to be King
Life of Gideon
Belongs to the weakest clan
Least in the family (Judges 6:15)
But God chose him to be mighty warrior (Judges 6:12)
Why we are valuable? Because of God's approval that we are valuable
2. Aim (God's aim or purpose of our value)
God gives value for a purpose
God value the jars of clay because the treasure will be put inside the jars
God valued Jeremiah for a purpose - to be a prophet and His mission is to go to everyone God has sent him and say whatever the command of God and appointed over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant (v10)
God used Jeremiah to be an instrument of His purpose
God valued David for a purpose of being a King of God's people, the Israelite
God valued Gideon for a purpose of being a mighty warrior to lead the army of Israel to defeat the enemy of God's people, the Medianites
God valued people to be an instrument of His purpose, not man's purpose, so that God will be honored and glorified
We are valued by God as an important instrument of His purpose, to be a jar of His treasure, to be the carrier and messenger of the gospel
It is not for our honor but for God's honor and glory
3. All-important (The most important to God)
What is inside the jar is more important than the jar
The money is more valuable than the bank
The gift inside the box is more important than the box
The purpose of a tool is more important than the tool itself
Our value should not be more important than God's purpose
The treasure of God is put in jars of clay (ordinary and breakable) so that the attention will focus in the treasure, not on jars
The gospel should be more important than any of us, more important than our work, our position, our situation
We should live in a life that what will be seen in us are not ourselves but the glory of God.
People should notice, not our status, not our position, not our situation, but what they should see is the gospel and the power of God that is working in us.
If we value ourselves greater than God's purpose for us, then it is an act of pride, and God hate it
Consequences of David's pride
Pride of King David - he took census to boast he has large army (1 Chronicles 21; 2 Samuel 24)
Numbers 1, 26 - God commanded Moses to take census but in time of David, the census made by David was not the will of God
Census revealed that Israelites had 1.3 million army
David admitted his sin v 10
God sent plague and kill 70,000
David asked forgiveness and plague stopped
When we value ourselves greater than God's treasure, God will put us down
1 Peter 5:5 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time
4. Assurance (God's assurance for us)
The money that has been put to mud has still its value, but once tear into pieces, it has no value anymore
Jars of clay are highly breakable and once broken, it has no value
This is to show that the jar itself has no power, but under God's power
V7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us
We, as an instrument of God, are nothing without God.
We cannot serve the purpose of God if we just rely on our own
We are highly breakable because of our sinful nature, because we have our own desire as human
But God has an assurance that our value will not be teared down, if and only if, we live by the Spirit
Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
TAB version Sinasabi ko nga, Magsilakad kayo ayon sa Espiritu, at hindi ninyo gagawin ang mga pita ng laman. Sapagka't ang laman ay nagnanasa ng laban sa Espiritu, at ang Espiritu ay laban sa laman; sapagka't ang mga ito ay nagkakalaban; upang huwag ninyong gawin ang bagay na inyong ibigin.
We, as highly breakable will be stronger than we think because we belong to Christ if and only if the Spirit of God lives in us
Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Conclusion
Our prayer should always be, "Holy Spirit take control of my life."
We are valued by God because we are instrument of His purpose
Our lives should always live in God's purpose
We are the carrier and messenger of the gospel of God
Whatever situation we are today, whoevere we are, driver, teacher, businessman, farmer, an ordinary person, let us use our position and situation to serve God's purpose - that this gospel should be preached to everyone
1 Cor. 7:24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Let us not use our situation to serve our own desire but the desire of God
Let us not allow our situation to hinder us in serving God, but use it for serving God
And we need the Holy Spirit to live in us so than we can be a person God wants us to be
Make your life a radiance of God's glory through the help of Holy Spirit
?!.?! There are things in my life that i know and you know, you know but i don't know, i know but you don't know, and the secret one, only God knows...but one thing I'm sure...I am God's best!!! I am God's chosen!!!
