The Goal of Being Ever Thankful

web-admin October 9, 2016

October 9, 2016 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Being Ever Thankful”

“Always take time to give the Lord thanks for what He has given to and done for us.”

2 Kings 5:8-15 – We are to be obedient to God especially in following His instructions. When we get our miracles, never forget to thank Him.

2 Timothy 2:8-13 – In Christ, we must remain steadfast, sober-minded, disciplined and diligent.

Psalm 111

Luke 17:11-19

(v.11-14) Merciful and gracious God sees us in our needs.
(v.15-19) Don’t take His blessings for granted but give thanks to Him.

“Faith and obedience always come together.”

“How much do we value what God has done for us?”

“Thanksgiving to God is important! We thank Him with our lives; We serve Him, We worship Him!”

The God-kind of Faith: Necessary or Not?

web-admin October 6, 2016

October 5, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: The God-kind of Faith: Is it Necessary or Not?

Mark 11:22-24 – So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

“To Have Faith in God is to have Faith in the Word of God.”

“Walk as mature sons of God and operate like Him.”

Ephesians 5:1 – Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

The God-Kind of Faith:

Jesus Christ gives us His personal guarantee (“…assuredly I say to you…”)
Jesus gave us the authority. Talk to God about the situation then speak to your situation. (“…whoever says to this mountain…”)
Say what you want to happen. (“…be removed and cast into the sea…”)
Fill your heart with the Word of God by constantly meditating on the Word of God. Then your life will be aligned with the Word that is in you. Doubt cannot live in a faith-filled environment. (“…does not doubt in his heart…”)
Fill your words with faith, hope and love. (“… but believes that those things he says will be done…”)
We get the results! (You will have whatever you say).

The Goal of Doing What We Ought

web-admin October 3, 2016

October 2, 2016 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Doing What We Ought”

“To have faith in the Lord is to serve the Lord. Faith also believes in the purposes God has for us.”

Habakkuk 1:12 – 2:4

2 Timothy 1:1-10 – We are to faithfully use what God has given to fulfill His calling in us.

Psalm 37:1-9

Luke 17:5-10

(v.5-6) We just need to use the faith that we have.
(v.7-10) Just like faith, humility agrees with God.

Principles:

The faith that you have is already POWERFUL and can accomplish amazing things.
You need to USE the faith you already have.
You need to SPEAK what God says to the circumstances you are facing.

Mark 11:22-23 – So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Matthew 17:20 – So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 21:21 – So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

2 Corinthians 4:13 – And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

Romans 10:8-10 – But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Strengthening the Inner Man

web-admin September 29, 2016

September 28, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: Strengthening the Inner Man.

Ephesians 3:14-16 – For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.

How to Strengthen the Inner Man

1.) Worship

John 4:24 – God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 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.

2.) The Word of God

Matthew 4:4 – But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Acts 20:32 – “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Meditating on what God says.

3.) Prayer

Mark 11:23-24 – For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

1 Corinthians 14:4 – He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

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

4.) Fellowship with one another.

Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

The Goal of Sensitivity to the Needy

web-admin September 26, 2016

September 25, 2016 – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Sensitivity to the Needy”

“God blesses us that we might be a blessing to others.”

Amos 6:1-7 – We are to care about God and His purposes. (We should avoid falling into the trap that just because we have what we need, we doesn’t need anything else)

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – We are to fight the good fight of faith.

Psalm 146

Luke 16:19-31

(v.19-21) God’s blessings are meant to be shared.
(v.22-26) How we live now shapes our future.
(v.27-31) Consider seriously the Word of God.

Wait Expectantly to the Revealing of Christ

web-admin September 22, 2016

September 21, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)

Topic: We are to wait expectantly to the revealing of Christ.

Luke 3:15-22 (NASB) – Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

Lamentations 3:21-23 – This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

“When God reveals Himself to us, they are new every morning.”

“God can use you to reveal Himself to others.”

Psalm 68:19 – Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.

Psalm 103:2 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;

1 Corinthians 2:10 – For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

The Goal of Being Faithful

web-admin September 18, 2016

September 18, 2016 – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Being Faithful”

“If the people of the world can be good in the ways of the world, then the people in God’s Kingdom should be wiser in the ways of the Kingdom.”

Amos 8:4-12

Our relationship with God will affect our relationship with others.

1 Timothy 2:1-8

We are to pray always and be diligent especially in praying for others.

Psalm 113:1-9

Luke 16:1-12

(v.1-8) Excel in learning and living out Kingdom principles.
(v.9-12) Recognize and focus on the true riches.

3 Things you can do with your life:

Waste it.
Spend your life (for yourself)
Invest in something greater than you.

The Goal of Seeking the Lost

web-admin September 12, 2016

September 11, 2016 – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Seeking the Lost”

“As we have received His grace and mercy, so let us minister His grace and mercy to others.”

Exodus 32:7-14

Because of God’s righteousness, we need an intercessor…

1 Timothy 1:12-17

God blesses us, so we can become instruments of blessings to others.

Psalm 51:1-10

Luke 15:1-10

When we help bring people to the Kingdom of God, there is more rejoicing in heaven.

(v.1-3) Be thankful for the Mercy of God.
(v.4-10) All Heaven rejoices whenever someone comes back to Him.

Plans written before we were born

web-admin September 8, 2016

September 7, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: Plans Written Before We Were Born

“God wants us to follow the plans He made for us even before we were born.”

Psalm 139:13-16 – For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 10:5-7 – Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’”

John 4:34 – Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

John 5:30 – I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

John 6:38 – For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

“You are not an accident. You are God’s masterpiece. God wants you to finish the plans He made for you.”

The Goal of Being Christ’s Disciple

web-admin September 5, 2016

September 4, 2016 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Being Christ’s Disciple”

“Christ invites us to be disciples who are willing to give up those things that will hinder us from finishing.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Living for God means making the right choices. To obey God, means to choose the way of life, to disobey is to choose death. God told us to choose Life.

Philemon 4-16

Living the christian life of faith means making hard decisions. We must follow our faith not our emotions and purpose. Let us purpose in our hearts to obey God’s commands

Psalm 139:1-6;13-18

Luke 14:26-33

(v.26-27) Our commitment to Christ must be higher than any other commitment.
(v.28-33) Christ is calling us to a total commitment to follow Him until the end.

The Attitude of our Hearts

web-admin September 1, 2016

August 31, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (Dcn. Felipe Panganiban Jr.)

Topic: The Attitude of our Hearts

“We cannot move forward because we have baggages in our hearts; It is the Holy Spirit who will tell us what to change in our lives.”

“If we earnestly confess our sins to God, sins that entangled us, God is just and merciful to forgive us.”

“We should be ready for the great revival of God; change our hearts, our minds and do the Work of God.”

Attitudes that God would like to deal with us:

We often look at men – God hates pleasers of men.
Attitude of always being late.
Our Attitude to prayer, quality time with God.
Commitment to Church

Conditions of our hearts:

Hardened Heart – total absence of loving and conditioning Spirit. The Word of God is like a hammer that will break that hardness of heart.
Coldness of Heart – the Holy Spirit is a fire that will melt that coldness of heart; dwell in the Word.

“All boils down to our decision to obey. Obey while there is time. Come to the Presence of God.”

Jeremiah 15:19-21 – Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, But you must not return to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord. “I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible.”

Proverbs 4:20-27 – My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

The Goal of Preferring Our Brother

web-admin August 29, 2016

August 28, 2016 – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)
Sunday Worship Homily
“The Goal of Preferring Our Brother”

“God doesn’t only want us to enjoy the benefits of His Kingdom but He also wants us to take part in the work of His Kingdom in the Spirit of Humility.”

Proverbs 25:6-12
Hebrews 13:1-8
Psalm 112
Luke 14:1;7-14

In God’s Kingdom we don’t sit in our own glory but God’s.

Only God, decides which part of the body we are, just as He please.

God honors those who honor Him.

I AM BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING