October 30, 2016 – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
The Goal of Personal Salvation
Isaiah 1:10-17 – We should worship God not just with
outward action but with sincere hearts. God promises that when we obey
Him with our whole heart, we will experience the best of the land.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-13 – We are to love God’s truth and righteousness. The work of deception will only work for people who hated the truth.
Psalm 119:137-144
“Hold fast the blessings which God’s grace made available to you.”
Luke 19:1-10
“The Goal of personal salvation is learning to walk in His ways while we are here on earth.”
(v.1-7) Immediately take hold of the opportunities made available by God’s grace.
(v.8-10) Hold fast to what you have received from His grace.
October 26, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp Ricardo Alcaraz)
Standing on an Unshakeable Ground
Hebrews 12:25-28 – See
that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who
refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn
away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shakenot only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,”
indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of
things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let
us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear.
“We must be careful and pay close attention to the Words being said
to us; in a time of shaking and testing, you will know what your
foundations are.”
Let us focus on things that are not changing:
God – Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:18; Hebrews 13:8
Word of God – Matthew 24:35; Psalm 89:34; Isaiah 40:8; Isaiah 55:11
What Christ has done for us – Isaiah 53:4-5; Galatians 3:13-14; Colossians 1:12-14
Who we are in Christ Jesus – 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 2:10
Our fellowship and access to our Father – 1 John 1:3; Fellowship = Partnership
The Authority that we have in the Name of Jesus – John 14:12-14
The Holy Spirit who lives within us – 1 John 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:16
Our better covenant that is based on better promises – Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 8:6
October 23, 2016 – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Sunday Worship Homily
The Goal of a Humble Heart
Jeremiah 14:17-22 – We are to humble ourselves at
all times before the Lord especially at times of trials. We need to see
that our hope is with Him alone and not in anything or anybody else.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 – The Lord will cover those who look to Him as their source of strength.
Psalm 84:1-7
Luke 18:9-14
“It is by humility and not just by need that we receive the mercy of God.”
“You can advance spiritually as you submit to God. But as your faith
is increased, be careful about others who are still struggling in their
faith; let us not be critical about treating others especially when we
are in different levels.”
“We are recipients of God’s grace so let us also show that grace to others.”
(v.9-12) We cannot boast of our accomplishments before God. Faith and Humility impresses God.
(v.13-14) Our merciful Lord welcomes all who come to Him with Humility.
October 19, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr Erel Villanueva)
Answering The Call of God to Pray
Let us answer the call of God to pray, not only for ourselves but for others and to become a praying church.
"God has called us to pray and may we answer that calling."
Ezekiel 22:23-30 - And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The
conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing
the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and
precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her
priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not
distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. The
people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and
mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the
stranger. So I
sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap
before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I
found no one.
Luke 18:1 - Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - pray without ceasing
Ephesians 6:18 - praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
Mark 1:35 - Now
in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out
and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
"Prayer is part of our Christian life. We need to pray to grow spiritually."
"Our desire to pray should result to our consistency in prayer."
"Prayer is Work!"
"Do
not give way to the enemy in distracting you not to pray! He will do
all means to stop you because the enemy trembles when you pray."
Ephesians 5:14 - Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.
"Awake! Get over the things that hinder you to pray."
Romans 15:30 - Now
I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the
love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God
for me
"To be consistent in prayer, we need both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit working in us."
October 12, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
Topic: Being Unshaken, In a Shaking World
Psalm 112:1-8 - Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
Matthew 24:4,24 - And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
October 5, 2016 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz)
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).
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.
