What is 1 x 1? (Message Outline)

Title: WHAT IS 1 x 1?
Date: May 18, 2008, Sunday, 10 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Ptr.Chinkee Tan
Key Verse: John 6:1-13

JOHN 6: 1-13

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

MAIN POINT:

GOD IS A GOD OF MULTIPLICATION

• What are the principles that we can learn in order for us to experience multiplication in the area of money?

Principle of Stewardship.

• Only what is returned to the owner can be multiplied.

JOHN 6:9

Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish.

• God owns everything.

PSALMS 24:1

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

HAGGAI 2:8

The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.

ROMANS 11:36

For from him through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

LUKE 16:10

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

MAIN POINT:

GOD IS A GOD OF MULTIPLICATION

Principle of Tithing or Returning.

• Something must be blessed before it can multiply.

JOHN 6:11

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks.

MALACHI 3:10-11

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty

MALACHI 3:8

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.

MAIN POINT:

GOD IS A GOD OF MULTIPLICATION

Principle of Offering or Giving.

• Only what is given away can multiply.

JOHN 6: 11-13

And distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6

'Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously'

MAIN POINT:

GOD IS A GOD OF MULTIPLICATION

One Night Only (Outline)

Preaching no.: 3
Key Scriptures: Matthew 26:36-56
Other Verses: Mark 14:32-50; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-12
Date: 04-03-07

The Darkest Hour Of Jesus Christ

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46Rise let us go! Here comes my betrayer!
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
56But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

FACTS ABOUT "DARKEST HOUR"

• 2-4 a.m. is considered the darkest hour
• Idiomatic expression: the day is darkest before the dawn
• 50-65% crimes happen during the darkest hours
• Most Christians are disrupted from sleeping during 2-4 a.m.

FACTS ABOUT GETHSEMANE

• Gethsemane (also spelled Gethsemani) was the garden where, according to the New Testament and Christian traditions, Jesus watched, prayed, and suffered for the sins of the world the night before he was crucified. According to Luke 22:43–44, Jesus' anguish in Gethsemane was so deep that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Gethsemane was also where Christ was betrayed by the disciple Judas Iscariot.
• The garden identified as Gethsemane is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, now within the city of Jerusalem. Located by the garden is the Chruch of All Nations , also known as the Church of the Agony. The ancient church was destroyed by the Sassanids in 614. The church rebuilt on the site by the Crusaders was finally razed, probably in 1219. Also on the Mount of Olives is the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene with its distinct golden, onion-shaped domes (Byzantine/Russian Style). It was built by Russian Tsar Alexander III memory of his mother.
• The name Gethsemane is given in the Greek of the Gospels (Matthew 26:36 and Mark Aramaic 'Gath-Šmânê', meaning 'the oil press' or 'oil vat' (referring to olive oil). It would appear from this that there were a number of olive trees planted around the area at the time. The Gospel of Mark (xiv, 32) calls it chorion, "a place" or "estate"; The Gospel of John (xviii, 1) speaks of it as kepos, a "garden" or "orchard". The garden today is filled with olive trees that might well be descendants of those from the time of Jesus. 14:32) as Γεθσημανι (Gethsêmani). This represents the

BACKGROUND OF THE STORY

• Our Lord after having eaten the Passover and celebrating the supper with His disciples, went with them to the Mount of Olives, and entered the garden of Gethsemane.
• In company with His disciples, the Savior slowly made His way to the garden of Gethsemane. The Passover moon, broad and full, shone from a cloudless sky. The city of pilgrims' tents was hushed into silence.
• Matthew 26:17-19

17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where

do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time

is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"

19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

WHY GETHSEMANE?

• SECOND ADAM: May we not conceive that as in a garden Adam’s self-indulgence ruined us, so in another garden the agonies of the second Adam should restore us. Gethsemane supplies the medicine for the ills which followed upon the forbidden fruit of Eden. No flowers which bloomed upon the banks of the four-fold river were ever so precious to our race as the bitter herbs which grew hard by the black and sullen stream of Kedron. (Genesis 2:8)

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

KEDRON/KIDRON

• Kedron = Cedron, turbid, the winter torrent which flows through the Valley of Jehoshaphat, on the eastern side of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. This valley is known in Scripture only by the name "the brook Kidron." David crossed this brook bare-foot and weeping, when fleeing from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:23, 30), and it was frequently crossed by our Lord in his journeyings to and fro (John 18:1). Here Asa burned the obscene idols of his mother (1 Kings 15:13), and here Athaliah was executed (2 Kings 11:15). It afterwards became the receptacle for all manner of impurities (2 Chr. 29:16; 30:14) and in the time of Josiah this valley was the common cemetery of the city (2 Kings 23:6; comp.Jer. 26:23).
• Through this mountain ravine no water runs, except after heavy rains in the mountains round about Jerusalem. Its length from its head to en-Rogel is 2 3/4 miles. Its precipitous, rocky banks are filled with ancient tombs, especially the left bank opposite the temple area. The greatest desire of the Jews is to be buried there, from the idea that the Kidron is the "valley of Jehoshaphat" mentioned in Joel 3:2.
• Below en-Rogel the Kidron has no historical or sacred interest. It runs in a winding course through the wilderness of Judea to the north-western shore of the Dead Sea. Its whole length, in a straight line, is only some 20 miles, but in this space its descent is about 3,912 feet.
• Recent excavations have brought to light the fact that the old bed of the Kidron is about 40 feet lower than its present bed, and about 70 feet nearer the sanctuary wall.

• GREATER DAVID: May not our Lord also have thought of David, when on that memorable occasion he fled out of the city from his rebellious son, and it is written, “The king also himself passed over the brook Kedron,” and he and his people went up bare-footed and bare-headed, weeping as they went? Behold, the greater David leaves the temple to become desolate, and forsakes the city which had rejected His admonitions, and with a sorrowful heart crosses the foul brook, to find in solitude a solace for His woes. Our Lord Jesus, moreover, meant us to see that our sin changed everything about Him into sorrow, it turned His riches into poverty, His peace into travail, His glory into shame, and so the place of His peaceful retirement, where in hallowed devotion He had been nearest heaven in communication with God, our sin transformed into the focus of His sorrow, the centre of His woe. Where He had enjoyed most, there He must be called to suffer most. Our Lord may also have chosen the garden, because needing every remembrance that could sustain Him in the conflict, He felt refreshed by the memory of former hours which there had passed away so quietly. He had there prayed, and gained strength and comfort. Those gnarled and twisted olives knew Him well; there was scarce a blade of grass in the garden which He had not knelt upon; He had consecrated the spot to fellowship with God. What wonder then that He preferred this favoured soil? Just as a man would choose in sickness to lie in his own bed, so Jesus chose to endure His agony in His own oratory, where the recollections of former communings with His Father would come so vividly before Him.

• USUAL PLACE: See Luke 22:39

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

• JUDAS KNEW THE PLACE:But probably, the chief reason for His resort to Gethsemane was, that it was His well-known haunt, and John tells us, “Judas also knew the place.” Our Lord did not wish to conceal Himself, He did not need to be hunted down like a thief, or searched out by spies. He went boldly to the place where His enemies knew that He was accustomed to pray, for He was willing to be taken to suffering and to death. They did not drag Him off to Pilate’s hall against His will, but He went with them voluntarily. When the hour was come for Him to be betrayed there was He in a place where the traitor could readily find Him, and when Judas would betray Him with a kiss His cheek was ready to receive the traitorous salutation. The blessed Saviour delighted to do the will of the Lord, though it involved obedience to death. (John 18:2)

2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

In Zechariah 13:7:

7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

REASONS FOR CALLING IT AS THE DARKEST HOUR:

1. SIN:

• We are not a surprise to Him. John 3:16 confirms it

a. Death

Romans 6:23
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deuteronomy 24:16
16 Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

Jeremiah 31:30
30 Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—his own teeth will be set on edge.

Ezekiel 3:18
18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

b. Slavery

John 8:34
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Romans 7:25
5 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave
to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

c. Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:26
26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

d. Short-time

Hebrews 11:25
25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

2. SHAME:

Hebrews 12:2
2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. SORROW:

Matthew 26:37
37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

Mark 14:33-34
33He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

a. Troubled

John 12:27
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

b. Very Heavy

Matthew 26:37
37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

c. Sore-Amazed

Mark 14:33-34
33He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

d. Depressed

Matthew 26:38
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

4. SUFFERING:

a. Agony

Luke 22:44
44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

John 11:35
35Jesus wept.

VICTORY OVER DARKNESS:

1. SALVATION:

1 Timothy 1:15
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Acts 4:12
12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Psalm 51:12
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

2. SACRIFICE

Mark 14:12
12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

Hebrews 10:10
10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Chris once for all.

John 15:13
13Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 12:1
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

John 14:27
27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

3. SUBMISSION:

Matthew 26:39
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

1 Peter 3:22
22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

1 Peter 2:13-14
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

4. SURRENDER:

Matthew 26:42
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

1 Corinthians 15:58
58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

GOD LOVES YOU.

THANK YOU JESUS.

Don't Just Live, Get A Life!

Preaching No.: 2
Key Scriptures: Matthew 25:14-28
Other Verses: John 10:10
Date: 10-31-06

Assessing Your Net Worth for God’s Kingdom

• What is your NET WORTH?
• How much do you value the life that God has given you?
• Do you know your NET WORTH?
• Do you really value your NET WORTH?
• Do you take advantage and maximize your NET WORTH for God’s glory?

TRIVIA:
Bill Clinton (1st) : $ 53 Billion
Warren Buffett (2nd) : $ 46 Billion
Carlos Slim Helu (3rd) : $ 30 Billion
Lucio Tan (451) : $ 1.7 Billion
Manny Villar : P 531.2 Million
Juan Flavier : P 1.2 Million
Eddie Gil : $ 10 Billion (?)

VM: Magkano ang net worth nyo?
EG: Yun nga, papaunlarin natin ang Pilipinas.
VM: Hmm, yung net worth nyo po. Magkano?
EG: Yun nga yung una kong gagawin, aayusin ang Pilipinas.
VM: Yung net worth po.
EG: Ano'ng net worth?
VM: (nanlumo sa sagot): Hmm.. yung halaga po ninyo, yung halaga ng mga ari-arian nyo?
EG: Ah, hindi ko masasabi kung magkano ang halaga ko.


Definition:

NET WORTH

• The financial claim by owners on the total assets of a business, calculated as total assets minus total liabilities equals net worth. Also called equity capital and ownership equity.
• Assets minus liabilities. Total assets less total liabilities.
• The worth of a person or company based on the difference between total assets and liabilities.

ASSETS

• Fixed assets include land, machines and buildings; current assets consist of cash, money owed, stock, investments and work in progress; intangible assets are goodwill, trade marks, patents, etc; liquid assets are funds kept in cash or in a form that can be quickly and easily turned into cash.
• Everything owned by a person or corporation which can be used for the payment of debts. Any possession that has value in an exchange.

LIABILITIES

• Anything that is owed to someone else. In the most general sense, a liability is anything that is a hindrance, or puts one at a disadvantage.
• Liabilities are debts.

For us to know our real NET WORTH, must check first what are our ASSETS and LIABILITIES. Your assets may not only refer to your money, not just your cash at hand, cash in the bank, checks and properties. Your liabilities are not just your debts and loans. We’re talking here about you can share and give to the Lord; on how God can use you in the advancement of His Kingdom.

What are your ASSETS?

1. Money/Wealth/Power

• Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
• No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
• For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)
• Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

2. Health/Body

• My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
• Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
• Do not 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. (Roman 6:13)

3. Time/Effort

• There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9)

4. Knowledge/Talents/Skills

• Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
• But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." (Isaiah 49:4)
• Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

5. Relationships

• They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." (Acts 16:31)
• He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
• But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. (1 Timothy 5:4)

What are your LIABILITIES?

1. Pain/Sorrows

• To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:16-17)
• Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." (1 Chronicles 4:9)
• Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)

2. Worries

• Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:25-30)

3. Procrastination

• "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' “‘I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.”Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32)
• For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 30:16)

4. Mediocrity/Average

• At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. (Nehemiah 12:44)
• Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. (Exodus 34:26)
• You must present as the Lord's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you. (Numbers 18:29)

5. Selfishness (Me, Myself and I Syndrome)

• A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. (Proverbs 15:27)
• A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. (Proverbs 28:25)
• Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matthew 23:25)

SELF-ANAYLSIS:

• If you have lived on earth for 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, 50 years and above and assess your NET WORTH, how much will your value be?
• How much of your life have you spent in serving God? Or you spent most of your life in earning money for yourself and for your family?

• It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. (Luke 12:38)

• How much of your time/effort/talents have you given to the Lord?

• Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

• Have you entrusted and charged to the Cross all your liabilities?

• Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)

• How much increase of NET WORTH did you have this year? Are there any losses?
• Are you willing to surrender your whole NET WORTH to God?
  
• Are you just living for yourself?
• Are you an asset to God‘s Kingdom or a liability, instead?
• Do you enjoy what have? Or do you just plan to save it forever?

• The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

• After assessing your life, what is now your Net Worth that you can offer to God?
• What can God find to us when comes?

• "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew (25:23)

THREE KINDS OF STEWARDS:

1. Good Steward (Matthew 25:18)
2. Better Steward (Matthew 25: 17)
3. Best Steward (Matthew 25:16)

What kind of stewards are we?

Make a life, not just a living.
Don’t just live, get a life!

God bless.
To God be the glory!

What To Do With Pain

FEEL your pain.

“He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness;…” (Isaiah 53:3a)

“And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it,” (Luke 19:41)

PAIN
· Instant reaction: ESCAPE
· Could be GOD-GIVEN

“To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs of childbearing...” (Genesis 3:16a)

“…and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22b)

· It has REASON

“For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

· Could be GOD-ALLOWED

“Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave (consent) and notice.” (Matthew 10:29)

· Has PURPOSE.

Do not AUTOMATICALLY escape from pain.

“On that night the king could not sleep; and he ordered that the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, be brought, and they were read before the king.” (Esther 6:1)

“When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.” (Psalm 63:6)

Be ALIVE!
LIVE to the fullest.

HEAR your pain.

Let your pain speak to you about:

· YOU

Pain can speak in ways that PLEASURE or EASE cannot.

“In the day of my trouble I seek (inquire of and desperately require) the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out [in prayer] without slacking up; I refuse to be comforted.” (Psalm 77:2)

“And [the man] said, Then, father, I beseech you to send him to my father's house-- For I have five brothers--so that he may give [solemn] testimony and warn them, lest they too come into this place of torment.” (Luke 16:27-28)

· OTHERS

Pain can SENSITIZE and TEACH.
Pain should make us BETTER not BITTER.

BRING your pain to God in prayer.

“Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)

“But I am poor, sorrowful, and in pain; let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.” (Psalm 69:29)

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in
everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

GOD WANTS YOU WELL.

· Healed
· Comforted
· Many people who were in pain

“So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them.” (Matthew 4:24)

GET RID of pain.
BEAR with pain.

“For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

TRANSCEND your pain.

· Do not DIE because of pain; BUT LIVE in spite of it.
· Do not MOURN because of pain; CELEBRATE LIFE in spite of it.
· Numberless souls go on with life DESPITE pain.
· LIFE has to go on.
· LIFE has meaning and purpose.

“For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” (Ephesians 2:10)

Do not wallow in self-pity.
Do not wallow in regrets.
Do not wallow in bitterness.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Count your blessings.
Triumph over your pain.

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” (Philippians 4:13)

USE your pain.

· To make YOU more Godly or God-dependent
· To make YOU more human
· To make YOU more humane

“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

· GLORIFY God

“Then would I still have consolation--yes, I would leap [for joy] amid unsparing pain [though I shrink from it]--that I have not concealed or denied the words of the Holy One!” (Job 6:10)

We can find comfort and strength in Him.

“He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness;…” (Isaiah 53:3a)

“For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Pain could even be your way to blessing.

FIGHT!

“I have fought the good (worthy, honorable and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

REST.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]” (Matthew 11:28)


This is an outline of Pastor Ed Lapiz’s message entitled, “WHAT TO DO WITH PAIN” last October 31, 2004 at Day By Day Worship City, Makati Cinema Square. This is one of the most memorable and special messages I’ve heard so far. May it bless you as you read. God bless.

Are You Ready For Success?

Preaching No.: 01

Key Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9
Other Verses: Deuteronomy 6:3-5; Psalm 1:1-3; Luke 10:25-28
Date Created: 01-01-06

SUCCESS

1. fortunate accomplishment; attainment of desired object, or result; triumph (Pocket Dictionary)
2. an event that accomplishes its intended purpose; "let's call heads a success and tails a failure"; an attainment that is successful; "his new play was a great success"; a state of prosperity or fame; "he is enjoying great success"; "he does not consider wealth synonymous with success"; achiever: a person with a record of successes; "his son would never be the achiever that his father was"; "only winners need apply"; "if you want to be a success you have to dress like a success" (Google Dictionary)
3. Success to me is having ten honeydew melons, and eating only the top half of each one. (Barbra Streisand)
4. Success goes thus invariably with a certain plus or positive power: an ounce of power must balance an ounce of weight. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
5. The more defects a man may have, the older he is, the less lovable, the more resounding his success. (Marquis de Sade)
6. Your success story is a bigger story than whatever you're trying to say on stage.... Success makes life easier. It doesn't make living easier. (Bruce Springsteen)

All of us want to be successful in all that we do. We do things with careful consideration that it could lead us to the path we desire. In a secular distinction, success is perceived as an end towards which all men wants; and should attain before death comes. But what is the real meaning of “success”? Can success cover up all the failures that one had in his past? How much success can God give/allow to His children? Are there any secrets to attain success? Is success really a relative matter? All these and more questions would somehow clear our concept of success. However, amidst these entire enigmas, the big question remains----ARE YOU READY FOR SUCCESS?

God in His ultimate capacity can give us the answers to all our questions about success. Hence, it is also important to really assess ourselves if we are really ready for success. More than how we define success, or how we could be successful in life, God wants to see our heart attitudes concerning this matter. We could have achieved most of the things that we want, or we could be praying to achieve at least some of those. Yet, getting ready for success is not an ordinary way of preparation. We should take into consideration that inasmuch as we live, we continue to achieve and desire more in life. Success is a never-ending issue as long as you live. Death could only measure it through the things that you left. Whether they may be a legendary memoriam or leaving skeletons in your closets----all of these will be taken into account. Moreover, how do we handle the standards that men put up to measure success? Are we giving in, or have given up, or haven’t been prepared for such things?

God revealed the secrets of success through the life of Joshua. When Moses died, Joshua took over to lead the Israelites into the land which God promised to give them. It was a tough job for Joshua, as Moses’ successor, considering all the achievements that Moses did before. Though faced with such difficulty, Joshua showed and acted upon God expectation and instruction. It was really a challenge for someone like Joshua to continue in leading the Israelites at the peak of their journey. But Joshua was prepared for it, for he had the right heart attitude in facing challenges, failures and successes. God’s instructions made Joshua, the man ripe enough for success.

In Joshua 1:1-9, the Bible tells us how God instructed, prepared and revealed the secrets of success to Joshua, being the new leader of the Israelites. During this time, Israelites were left with Joshua, being the chosen successor of Moses. Their journey through different places such as the wilderness made the Israelites become desperate and apathetic to achieve the land that God promised them. Joshua was left for a quest to lead and prepare these people for success. But through God’s grace, Joshua handled this matter very well. Joshua showed what he’s really made of.

In verse 1-5, it tells us about the turnover of leadership from Moses to Joshua. It also tells about how God entrusted the Israelites into Joshua’s leadership (v.2). God also made a recap of the itinerary that they took since the time of Moses until the leadership of the Israelites was transferred to Joshua (v. 3-4). God gave Joshua the same promise of success that He gave to Moses before; it was also the promise that worked for Joshua and the Israelites (v.5).

But how did Joshua manage to succeed despite the challenge of leading the stubborn Israelites? It is because God prepared, instructed and revealed the secrets of success to Joshua; and these made Joshua ready for success. In verse 6-9, we can see how God made Joshua ready for success and why God prepared Joshua for success.

HOW GOD MADE JOSHUA READY FOR SUCCESS:

1. God boosted Joshua’s confidence; and he was encouraged. (v.6-7a)
2. God instructed Joshua to obey and keep the laws He gave to Moses. (v.7-8)
3. God reminded Joshua of His faithfulness to the Israelites in the past. (v.9)

WHAT MADE JOSHUA READY FOR SUCCESS:

1. Assurance of the fulfillment of God’s promise. (v.6b; 9b)
2. Full trust and obedience to God’s instructions. (v.7b-8a)
3. Submission in the will of God (v.8b)

WHY GOD PREPARED JOSHUA FOR SUCCESS:

1. God saw the right attitude of Joshua’s heart. (v.5)
2. God’s will for him was his will and he did not hesitate.
3. To go “all out” for God was already habitual with (Joshua); it is unfailing prerequisite of eternal success.

**This is just an outline of my first preaching experience at DAR Christian Fellowship. Aside from being a worship leader, I also preach there if there are no pastors available. At first, it was so hard. But through God's grace, I was able to make it through. Thank God!! It's very different from my other preachings because of the crowd/congregation that it caters to. I'm used to preach for the youth and young professionals before. And now, God let me experience to preach for the adults and professionals. Thank God for the wisdom, strength, confidence and grace. Enjoy! More of these soon! God bless!