Ejecting From Our Comfort Zones

Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Title: Ejecting From Our Comfort Zones
Introduction: The African Impala can jump to a height of over ten feet and cover a distance of greater than thirty feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a three foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.

Faith is leaping when you can’t see where you’re going to land. It is taking action based on the unseen fulfillment of God’s promises.

v1-12: Death of John the Baptist
vs13-21: Five thousand people miraculously fed.

Confident in Christ’s Sufferings

Text: Isaiah 53:3-7, 10-12
Title: Confident in Christ’s Suffering
Introduction: As the New Testament presents the Lord Jesus Christ as its theme, so Isaiah presents the Lord Jesus Christ as his theme. Isaiah has been called the 5th evangelist; the Book of Isaiah has been called the 5th Gospel. Christ’s virgin birth, His character, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His second coming are all presented in Isaiah with definiteness and clarity.

STYLE AND CONTENT:

The prophecy of Isaiah is strikingly similar to the entire Bible, which can be seen in the following comparison:

Also, there are some 66 direct quotations from Isaiah in the New Testament.

Bible

66 Books
39 Books in Old Testament
27 Books in New Testament

Book of Isaiah

66 Chapters
39 Chapters on LAW, the Government of God
27 Chapters on GRACE, Salvation of God

This chapter foretells the sufferings of the Messiah, the end for which he was to die, and the advantages resulting to mankind from that event.

All Church Camp 2010

Last week, I had the privilege of joining our All Church Camp at Mt. Carmel, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. The 5-day activity had  a theme of “Small things, they say, yet matters a lot with God” – emphasizing that what often times the world calls small or insignificant, when God or the Bible calls it a big matter, IT IS A BIG MATTER.

We had a great time of fellowship, Bible devotions, games, and of course, the preaching of God’s Word. Great gospel preachers from different parts of Mindanao gave us a fresh dose of God’s Word. We were encouraged, exhorted and “exhaled” by the different preachers. My pastor, Rev. Anselmo Ingay, gave the final message of the camp; he expounded on the life of David the shepherd boy and how God used him to defeat the giant.

Scripture memory was also encouraged during the camp as a t-shirt with the camp logo was promised to those who could memorize all 9 camp verses. It wasn’t easy but it sure was worth it, not only because of the prize, but because of the encouragement those verses will produce one’s heart.

Again, I’m looking forward to next year’s camp. I’m praying that many will be able to attend and God’s power will again be evident through life changing decisions and surrendered lives.

A Mother’s Influence

Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-5
Title: A Mother’s Influence
Introduction: A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I”? When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother.

The Bible is filled with stories written regarding the influence of Mothers. I think of Jochebed, the mother of Moses, whose very name signifies her glory is Jehovah.

Then who could ever forget the beautiful story of Hannah who prayed for a baby boy, and when God gave him to her, she gave him back to God, the prophet Samuel.

There is Ruth, queen of the harvest field, who is in the ancestral line of our Lord.

In the New Testament, there is Mary, the mother of Jesus, preferred among women.

Confident in Christ’s Presence

(Message given to the Ambassadors Department – April 18,2010)

Text: Hebrews 13:5-6
Title: Confident in Christ’s Presence
Introduction: For the past few months, we have learned about being “Confident in Christ”, in His Promises, in His Character, and now, we will learn to to be Confident “in His Presence”.

Philippians 1:6
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The apostle having finished the doctrinal part of this epistle, closes it with practical exhortations to these Hebrews, puts up prayers for them, and sends salutations to them. The exhortations are to brotherly love, and the continuance of it.

I. Exhortation to Contentment - v5

A. A Manner of life

Note – Let your conversation – That is, the whole tenor of your conduct, the manner of your life, or rather the disposition of your hearts in reference to all your secular transactions.

Be without covetousness – Desire nothing more than what God has given you; and especially covet nothing which the Divine Providence has given to another man, for this is the very spirit of robbery.

Luke 8:14
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Read – 1 Tim. 6:9-10

Note – Contentment will make a poor man rich; discontentment will make a rich man poor.

Confident in Christ (theme)

(Message given during the Vision Meeting of the Ambassador’s Department.)

Text: Philippians 1:6
Title: CONFIDENT in CHRIST
Introduction: As we face a brand new year, we can’t help but think of the new opportunities that await us, and with these new opportunities come new opposition. However, it is comforting to be assured of the fact that in spite of all these trials and challenges, we can be “Confident in Christ”. Confident that He is in control, that He will see us through.

DATE: A.D. 62Written at the same time as Ephesians, it is one of the prison epistles.

CITY OF PHILIPPI: Philippi was a Roman colony. Although it was a miniature of Rome and imitated and aped Rome in every way, it was nonetheless a city which had a higher cultural level than other cities visited by Paul.

CHURCH OF PHILIPPI:

1. It was less Jewish and more Gentile than were all others (the names of individuals mentioned are Greek and Roman). This was the first church established in Europe (Acts 16:6-40), which gives special meaning to Gentiles.
2. Women occupied a prominent place in this church. Paul attended, first of all, not the synagogue, but a prayer meeting of women (Acts 16:12-15). A woman named Lydia was the first convert in Europe. Two women were prominent in the church (Philippians 4:2), and there were others who labored in the church (Philippians 4:3).

3. It was generous in its gifts to the Lord’s work (Philippians

4:10-16). Paul cited them as examples to others in giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

Fathers’ Day Tribute

Father’s day is always a special day for us at the Bible Baptist Church. This year was “extra” special as a tribute was presented by the young people for the fathers. The tribute was simply entitled, “A Spiritual Father”.

I had the privilege of bringing the message from Joshua 24:14-15 on the characteristics of a spiritual father. We took time honoring the Lord for giving us men who, in spite the difficulties and trials of this present world, are faithful in rearing up “generational warriors” who’ll take the truth of God’s Word and give to the next generation.

I. THE DEVOTION of a SPIRITUAL FATHER – V14

A. A Heart that Fears the Lord –

1. Knows God – A Heart for God
2. Knows His Precepts

B. Serves the Lord

1. In Sincerity
2. In Truth

C. To God Alone – “put away”

II. THE DIRECTION of a SPIRITUAL FATHER – V15a

A. Away from the Crowd -

B. Toward God’s Plan -

III. THE DECISION of a SPIRITUAL FATHER – V15c

A. Starts with himself – “as for me”

B. Influences and Includes his family – “and my house”

C. Demonstrates Determination – “we will serve the Lord”

Abiding in Prayer

A message given to the Young People #1 last April 19, 2009

Text: John 15:5-8
Title: Abiding in Prayer
Introduction: There is only one way to overcome obstacles and that is through the Lord – Abiding in Prayer. Without Him we can do nothing.

Having a Fixed Heart

Text: Psalm 112:7
Title: Having a Fixed Heart
Introduction: Golf professional Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, ‘Congratulations.’ I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters.”

Youth Soul Winning

We are admonished in the Bible to “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh…” We really don’t have a second chance in this thing called youth. That is way we need to redeem the time and yield ourselves to the Lord.

Last Saturday, the Ambassadors and the Young People #1 teamed up for another round of our Youth Soul Winning. A number of young people went and personally knocked on doors, giving people the gospel of Christ.