The Family of God : In The Yoke of Obeying Jesus

web-admin July 9, 2017

July 9, 2017, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 9)
Theme: “The Family of God: In The Yoke of Obeying Jesus”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Only as we submit to Christ’s lordship will we find rest.”

Songs of Solomon 2:8-13

Romans 7:21-8:1

Psalm 45:7-15

Matthew 11:16-19;25-30

1.(v.16-19) Do not refuse to follow Christ

2.(v.25-27) Let us be child-like and humble when we come to Christ.

3.(v.28-30) Submission to Christ’s Lordship is not a burden but refreshing.

The Holy Spirit : The Sanctifier

web-admin July 5, 2017

July 5, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Erel Villanueva)

Topic: The Holy Spirit : The Sanctifier

sanctifier – to separate us and make us holy.

Sanctification of the Holy Spirit

Romans 15:16 – that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

1 Peter 1:2 – elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

“The Work of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify us.”

How the Holy Spirit Works/Sanctifies us:

1.) Through the Word of God; the Holy Spirit will convict us through the Word of God.

John 16:8 – And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment

2.) Through other people

“The Holy Spirit uses other people to build your character.”

3.) Through Circumstances

“Circumstances – so we can test and exercise our faith.”

“All these will allow us to conform in the image and likeness of God.”

“It will cleanse the attitude of our hearts.”

2 Conrinthians 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Family of God : For the Love of Him Above All

web-admin July 2, 2017

July 2, 2017, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 8)
Theme: “The Family of God: For the Love of Him Above All”
Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva

“May we see that God desires our love and may we grow in His love.”

Jeremiah 28:5-9; 15-17

Romans 6:16-23

Psalm 89:1-3;19-21;36-37

Matthew 10:37-42

“Our love of God must be supreme over all.”

“Do not let your family or relatives hinder you in proclaiming the Kingdom of God.”

“God wants us to love Him first and He will take care and love our families.”

6-28-2017 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Teachings

Flowing With The Holy Spirit

web-admin June 28, 2017

June 28, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: How To Participate With The Helper (“The Holy Spirit”) – Part 4 (Flowing With The Holy Spirit)

Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Know How to Respond to the Holy Spirit

Genesis 1:1-2 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

hovering – to move softly, in a relaxed manner.

“From the beginning, the Holy Spirit is already active (hovering). He gently leads us.”

Luke 4:1 – Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Galatians 5:18 – But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Attitudes we should have as we flow/walk with the Holy Spirit

John 16:13 – However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

1.) When He comes, make Him feel welcome in your life; give time for Him to speak in your life.

2.) We should seek Him

Luke 11:9-13 – “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

“Create an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to come (Worship, Prayer)”

3.) Give Him full control of your life

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 – Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Lord Holy Spirit – He is your Master

Things We Should stay away from: That will hurt the Holy Spirit

1.) Don’t be ignorant of the Holy Spirit

2.) Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit

3.) Don’t insult His presence

(4 to 6) To be continued…

The Family of God : Under The Tutelage of Its Master

web-admin June 25, 2017

June 25, 2017, CEC Foundation Day & 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 7)
Theme: “The Family of God: Under The Tutelage of Its Master”
Homily by Fr. Fernando Ilustre

“God reminds us to continually walk in the plans and purposes He has set for us.”

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Romans 6:1-11

Psalm 69:10-18

Matthew 10:24-33

Kinds of fear

fear of persecution (v.24-26) – Jesus said “Do not fear.”. Persecution should not stop us from doing the will of God in our lives.
fear of death (v.28) – Our life here on earth is temporary; but God’s plan for us is to be with Him until eternity
fear of not being valued (v.29) – God sees you as an asset to His Kingdom; See yourself as God sees you.

How To Participate With The Helper – Part 3

web-admin June 21, 2017

June 21, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: How To Participate With The Helper (“The Holy Spirit”) – Part 3 (Through the Gift of Tongues)

1 Corinthians 12:1 – Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant

Ignorant – not just the absence of knowledge but also the absence of experience.

“The presence of God’s gift in your life is because of God’s goodness; not because you are more special to God than others.”

“The number of gifts operating in your life is not because you are more loved; God wants to use you to build His Kingdom.”

“Operating the gifts requires faith; faith steps out of your comfort zone.”

Acts 2:17-18 – And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11;31

Word of wisdom – something that has not yet happened

Word of knowledge – something that already happened

1 Corinthians 14:1-5; 14-15; 17-18

Jude 1:20 – But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit

“We build up ourselves by speaking in tongues”

“You are praying in dependence on; as directed by the Holy Spirit”

The Family of God: Unto the Lord a Kingdom of Priests

web-admin June 18, 2017

June 18, 2017, 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 6)
Theme: “The Family of God: Unto the Lord a Kingdom of Priests”
Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva

“We are all Priests as part of the Family of God. (1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood…)”

Exodus 19:1-9a

Romans 5:1-8

Psalm 50:1-7; 15-17; 22-23

Matthew 10:1-8

6-14-2017 Archbishop Ricado Alcaraz Sermon

How To Participate With The Helper – Part 2

web-admin June 14, 2017

June 14, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: How To Participate With The Helper (“The Holy Spirit”) – Part 2

“The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to each one for the profit of all.”

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The Family of God: In the Image of the Trinity

web-admin June 11, 2017

June 11, 2017, Trinity Sunday
Theme: “The Family of God: In the Image of the Trinity”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“We are in covenant with the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”

“A covenant is a permanent relationship.”

Genesis 1:26-2:4 – God created everything. God is Almighty, eternal and God of all things.

2 Corinthians 13:5-11 – We are to make sure that we are living in the faith that God has given to us.

Psalm 8

Matthew 28:16-20

1.(v.16-17) God is not intimidated by our faults & weaknesses.

2.(v18-20) We enjoy the authority and the power of the Holy Trinity.

“Do not be scared to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel; light will always be greater than darkness.”

“You will only know who you are in Christ, once you understand His authority over your life.”

6-7-2017 Archbishop Ricardo Alcaraz Sermon

How To Participate With The Helper

web-admin June 7, 2017

June 7, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: How To Participate With The Helper (“The Holy Spirit”) – Part 1

“The Holy Spirit helps us understand what the Lord has given us.”

John 16:5-7 – “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

“The Holy Spirit helps us do the work that Jesus wants us to do.”

John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 15:26-27 – “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 16:13-14 – However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

1 Corinthians 2:9-12

“The Holy Spirit understands the heart of the Father and reveals it to our spirit; the Spirit of God and the spirit of man.”

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Resurrection Life Builds Regeneration

web-admin June 4, 2017

June 4, 2017, Pentecost Sunday
Theme: “Resurrection Life Builds Regeneration”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

Acts 2:1-7; 12-21 – Pentecost is the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:3-13 – The Holy Spirit distributes many and varied gifts to Christ’s body according to God’s will and purpose.

Psalm 104:24-31

John 7:37-39

1.(v.37) We must first come and receive Christ

2.(v.38-39) We can pass on the abundant life that Christ gave us.

“God doesn’t just give us enough, He gives us more than enough.”

“As we have received Christ, let us also bring new life of Christ to others.”

5-31-2017 - Fr. Fernando Ilustre Teachings

Our Eyes Fixed Into Heaven, Our Feet Firm In The Earth

web-admin May 31, 2017

May 31, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)

Topic: Our Eyes Fixed Into Heaven, Our Feet Firm In The Earth

Acts 1:9-12 – Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

“Our dependence is in God alone.”

Colossians 3:1-2 – If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

“Set your eyes on things above where Christ is seated.”

“We become witnesses to what God has done for us.”

I AM BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING